God – Page 7 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Worshiping God In Spirit and Truth

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – January 19, 2025

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” —John 4:24

Spirit: “Worshiping in spirit means worshiping from within, without formalism or traditionalism. It means having a new disposition and a humble, grateful heart.”
Truth: “Worshiping in truth means worshiping based on a correct understanding of God and what He requires. It means having a true perception of God and obeying His word [The Bible].”
Balance: “Worshiping in spirit and truth requires a balance of emotion and thought. Without emotion, worship can be lifeless, and without truth, worship is empty.”

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:25

The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sin it means [Christ] taking away our sins, and filling the emptiness with the graces of the Holy Spirit. It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. It means a heart emptied of self and blessed with the abiding presence of Christ. When Christ reigns in the soul there is purity and freedom from sin. The glory, the fulness, and the completeness of the gospel plan are fulfilled in the life. —Christ’s Object Lessons

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” —Luke 6:46

God’s Love is unconditional, yet to receive His benefits [including the reward of Eternal Life] requires total obedience to His Righteous Conditions of Participation in the Plan of Redemption. Obedience is worship that reveals our love, loyalty, and willingness to seek God’s Divine will. Our affirmation of “I choose not to sin against God” reveals our steadfast love and faith in God and renounces self-reliance.

Obedience Is Worship

God’s Promise to Abraham: “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.” —Genesis 17:4-5, NIV

God Tests Abraham’s Faith: “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ ” —Genesis 22:1-2

It is quite amazing that God would ask faithful Abraham to sacrifice Isaac whose birth fulfilled God’s promise to make Abraham the father of nations. “Child Sacrifice of the first-born sons was a common practice among pagan tribes to ensure their land would reap the prosperity of abundant crops” (myjewishlearning.com).

God always tests our faith, and Abraham understood this was a test of faith. Still, the spiritual meaning of God commanding the sacrifice of Isaac was it foreshadowed [an indication of a future event] God sacrificing Jesus, His only Son on Calvary’s Cross. “The story shows how God provided a substitute for Isaac’s sacrifice, just as he would later provide Jesus as a substitute for all of humanity’s sins.”

Abraham’s Response: “On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’ ” —Genesis 22:4-5, NIV

Abraham’s directive to his servants indicates that he understood God’s requisite of total obedience and one of profound faith. “When we learn to walk by faith and not by feeling, we will have help from God just when we need it, and His peace will come into our hearts.” The defining characteristic of a true believer is Faith in God demonstrated by a life of surrender and obedience.

Scriptures Identifying God, the Father Required Obedience From Jesus

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).
“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29).
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).
“[Christ]…who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:7-8).
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus was One with God, yet, when clothed in human flesh, Jesus was never presumptuous and remained devoted to God, the Father, always seeking His will through constant prayer. Even in Gethsemane when Jesus asked His Father to take the cup away, God’s answer was “No, Son,” Jesus obeyed by fulfilling the Plan of Redemption for you and me.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.” —John 6:38

Brothers and Sisters, we are too distracted by earthly success and trinkets to reflect deeply on Jesus’ obedient sacrifice to save our souls. Abraham identified obedience as steadfast worship to God, “We will worship and then we will come back to you.” We must have the mind of Christ who always surrendered and obeyed God in His earthly life. Without total surrender to God, we develop a rebellious spirit as Cain did leading to a spiritual separation from God.

Making the commitment to faithfully obey God is to worship Him in spirit and truth. We express gratitude for the mercies of a new day through surrender. Our prayers should ascend to Christ, our Intercessor, and Mediator throughout our waking hours asking for the Holy Spirit to teach us how to recognize God’s Voice.

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). Worship is a lifestyle of reverencing God. We desperately need the Divine strength and power of the Holy Spirit to stand down our carnal desires and overcome daily temptation. Obedience aligns our hearts with the will of God which is the only way to worship God in spirit and truth.

“The acceptance of the Saviour brings a glow of perfect peace, perfect love, perfect assurance. The beauty and fragrance of the character of Christ revealed in the life, testifies that God has indeed sent His Son into the world to be its Saviour” (Christ’s Object Lessons).

Prayer: Lord God, teach us how to worship You in spirit and truth. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

The Challenge of Trusting In God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – January 15, 2025

This year one of the churches I attend is declaring 2025 as a Leap Year for spiritual growth which requires dedication, discipline, and total dependency on God.

The LEAP Year Covenant

This year, I am committing to a life fully devoted to Christ! I am done with empty wishes, hollow resolutions, and vain declarations. This year, I will take a leap.

I will be driven by prayer; fueled by the word; fed by purpose; and clothed in faith. I will be committed, intentional, specific, and focused on my assignment.

I refuse to be the same old person, with the same old thoughts, in the same old place. By the grace of God, I am preparing myself for a leap year in 2025!

On Sunday, 1/12, I excitedly made the covenant with God to live fully devoted to Christ. Today is Wednesday, 1/15, and spiritually things are not going as well as I expected. Yesterday, Google Photos sent a memory reminder that I should have ignored and it triggered memories of yesteryear that were counterproductive.

This morning, I decided to volunteer without praying beforehand and a few hours later, I felt turmoil regarding the situation and asked myself, What were you thinking? So, I prayed and asked God to let the offer fall through. If not, then I will use a new-found courage to rescind my well-meaning but not God-approved offer of my services.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41

Transparency and honesty are required when we make a covenant to fully surrender and trust God with our lives and then mess up. Self-reliance is often our initial response to appealing offers and activities, but to remain faithful to God, our focus must be on learning His plans for our lives. Love for God reveals itself through humility. Never stay on the detour of disobedience! Acknowledge, confess, repent, and reaffirm your desire to faithfully trust God from that moment forward.

To exclude God is to play the Game of Chance with our lives. We are forewarned not to trust our feelings or understanding. Not only does self-reliance oppose God’s will, but a spirit of disobedience develops, separating us from God, and placing us on the broad path that leads to destruction. Our world is in chaos, and we are living in perilous times, now is not the time to risk losing our future reward of eternal life.

Even the apostle Paul lamented over the inner turmoil of faithfully obeying God: “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:19-20).

“The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.” —Psalm 37:23-24

“The righteous are characterized by their ability to rise after falling. This resilience is rooted in their faith and trust in God, who provides strength and guidance.”

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 1:9

Thankfully, when we fall, our genuine confession and repentance always allow us to receive God’s forgiveness, and Jesus extends His hand of mercy and lifts us up.

“Pray without ceasing” [pray continuously over every aspect of your life] (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

Lord God, we are in the struggle of internal conflict and external opposition, yet, You are our Safety. We have fallen and repent for the wilful disobedience of excluding You from our lives. We desire to renew our covenant of trusting You in 2025. Hear our petition and empower us with the spiritual strength to let go of self-reliance which is enmity against You. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

“God, I Give You My Heart”

Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – January 3-4, 2025

“Jesus declared, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ” —Matthew 22:37

In 2025, we have the opportunity to live differently by fully dedicating ourselves to God. Love for God is the foundation of our appreciation for Christ’s sacrificial gift of His life to redeem us from sin. True love for God and Jesus Christ reveals a believer who practices the spiritual commitment to honor and revere God. When we choose to possess humility and a teachable spirit, God, the Holy Spirit converts our hearts and begins the lifelong work of spiritual transformation.

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” —1 John 2:15

“Give us this day” equates to a daily test of our love, faith, and trust in God. From the moment we open our eyes to the new day, we are the recipients of God’s love, grace, and mercy, how will we respond? The [always present] conflict within our hearts forces us to choose between pleasing ourselves or surrendering in humility to God. Our choice reflects the true status of our heart—either I give my heart to God, or it belongs to me.

“O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.” —Proverbs 23:26

The earnest cry of “God, not my will, but Your will be done” or “Lord, reveal to me Your plan for today” reveals our desire to surrender to God for the new day of mercies. Giving our heart to God acknowledges that we understand our plight with sin, we cannot gain victory over sin without Divine Help.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’ ” —Matthew 16:24

Can you recall a school exam that required one essay answer or fill-in-the-blank instead of multiple choice with various answers? Jesus tells us if we desire to follow Him there is only one way, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Salvation has one path. The only way for us to inherit eternal life is to surrender our heart and its never-ending desires. Taking up our cross involves no human deviations, we must obey God.

Galatians 5:22-23, The Fruit of the Spirit identifies the attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character. In addition, “Love, humility, surrender, faith, trust, and obedience” are the additional package of spiritual characteristics that we must have to remain in right standing with God, only then are we covered with Christ’s Righteousness. Our God-given gifts are love, faith, and a sound mind [Romans 12:3 and 2 Timothy 1:7], we pray for Divine strength and use our gifts to overcome sin and its consequences.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” —1 John 5:3

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). God’s commandments extend beyond the Ten Commandments, the Scriptures give us His Righteous Precepts which guide our thoughts, spoken words, behaviors, and lifestyles. Receiving the reward of the Crown of Life mandates a mindset and the perseverance to live a life of no compromise.

“Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16

Giving our hearts to God is a free-will choice. Righteousness is God’s standard of spiritual excellence that requires our cooperation of daily surrender and obedience empowered by Jesus’ strength. Heart conversion, daily spiritual growth, and character transformation [Sanctification] are performed by the power of the Holy Spirit in our earthly lives to prepare us for the spiritual perfection of eternal life.

Lord God, in humility, we give our hearts to You. We ask You to speak to our hearts and lead us in our earthly journey as we prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray in faith, Amen.

Celebration of Christ Music Videos

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” —Revelation 7:9, NIV

Disclaimer: STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry does not solicit or accept financial donations. Therefore, we do not participate in strategic partnerships or promote other organizations, including Israel for One Ministry. We share the worship videos because they are beautiful, honor God, and bless listeners. The artists and musicians reflect the apostle John’s vision of the harmony of every nation, tribe, people, and language we will enjoy in the New Heaven and New Earth. Peace and Blessings.

Sabbath Sermon – Pastor Wintley Phipps

Does Obedience Matter to God?

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” -John 8:29

Christ is our role model for living a dedicated and obedient life. We cannot follow our own thoughts and inclinations and claim to be children of God. Jesus revealed the key to living as victorious overcomers, we must have the obedient mind of little children. Seeking God’s will through a daily Prayer of Surrender reveals a spirit of humility and love for our gracious Heavenly Father.

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The daily commitment to obey and fulfill His instructions indicates our willingness to please God. Yet, our flesh is weak and drives us to pursue and fulfill our heart’s desires. We require the Divine help of the Holy Spirit to give us Jesus’ strength to stay in God’s perfect will.

Preparing for Kingdom Life is to daily take up our cross and follow Jesus. “Not my will Lord, but Your will be done” invites the Holy Spirit to guide us on the Path of Righteousness.
Obedience proclaims that Jesus Christ is
the Lord of our lives. Be faithful to God through surrender and obedience and on that Great day you will receive your Crown of Life. Peace and Blessings.

Lord God, we come to you confessing our sins of self-reliance and disobedience. We desire to change and today make a covenant vow with you to seek Your will and to obey. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

Let God Bring Down the Walls of Opposition!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – December 8, 2024

“And the Lord said to Joshua: See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do for six days. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets…All the people shall shout with a great shout, then the wall of the city will fall down flat.” —Joshua 6:2-5

“According to historical records, the wall of Jericho was approximately 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) high and 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) wide at the base. It was a stone wall surrounding an ancient settlement, with a notable stone tower inside that reached a height of 8.5 meters (28 feet).” It was considered impenetrable, but God used shouting voices to cause the Wall to crumble like a sand castle on the beach.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart [have courage], because I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33, NLT

Jesus warned us that our lives would be filled with hardships and opposition. Every day we fight against the spiritual warfare of temptation but even the routine activities of life can bring unforeseen problems. Some issues are easily resolved and some have a Domino effect. Pray for help whether the challenge is big or insignificant.

Prayer is Our Lifeline: Prayer alleviates tension and stress, prevents worry and discouragement, and creates a habit of dependency on God who always guarantees victory.

“…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you…” —Isaiah 43:1-2

From this promise, God comforts and reminds us that He never expected us to bring down our Walls of Opposition without His help. Our Father God proclaims, “For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6). Do we believe God’s promises are valid? Every obstacle we face was known to God long before we were born. Yet, He is not an intrusive Father, God always waits for us to ask for help.

“Behold I am the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). From studying the Scriptures, we gain an intellectual knowledge of our Heavenly Father’s Righteous Character of love, continuous patience, protection, grace, and mercies. But faith is the spiritual catalyst that allows us to believe that God loves us and that His promises apply to our lives.

“The Omnis of God:” Omnibenevolent: God is Love; Omnipotent: God is All-Powerful; Omniscient: God is All-Knowing; and Omnipresent: God is everywhere!

“I AM THAT I AM…” (Exodus 3:14). God is not who we think He is, God is who He says He is. Yahweh not only reveals His Character but also proclaims His Sovereignty in the Holy Bible. There are mysteries about God that we will never know, but we know enough for us to include Him in every aspect of life and honor and reverence God with faithful obedience.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” —Hebrews 11:6

What is faith? “Faith is believing in the Steadfast love and Sovereign power of God.” Every human being has been gifted with a measure of faith that God desires to grow from weak and wavering to steadfast and powerful. What is our role in the growth and development of our faith? The evidence of true heart conversion is shown through a lifestyle of worship, which includes surrender, obedience, continuous prayer, diligent Bible study, and dependence on God.

God has the ultimate plan for building our faith in Him: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” —1 Peter 4:12

Why so much opposition? Since we do not have the power to increase our faith, God allows the tests and hardships to strengthen our faith and dependence on Him. Every opposition we face is approved by Christ to build our faith in God. Like the child’s father who said to Jesus, “I believe, but help my unbelief,” we must be honest in the self-assessment of our faith.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30

Whether our faith is weak or strong, we can immediately pray a prayer of faith asking God to intervene and in that same prayer we whisper words of gratitude thanking God for already working it out. No circumstance or opposition should prevent us from praying. Jesus tells us to come to Him—Always pray!

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

We are confident that our prayers for Divine Help are immediately answered by Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor and Triumphant King. Do not rely on your feelings, believe the Scriptures! “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

The secret to remaining faithful is to redirect our focus from the Wall to using our faith to anchor ourselves in Christ, our Redeemer. Jesus is in the Heavenly Sanctuary not only answering our prayers but also praying for us. Never let opposition shake your faith in God. Our Father is Love, we are the focus of His love (John 3:16), and His power is Invincible!

Pray often to remain steadfast while waiting on God. Since God’s timing is never our timing, King David advises us to, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14). While waiting, pray a daily prayer of gratitude thanking God for the victory.

The Struggle is Real, but Victory is God’s Promise! Although we live in an unstable world, one thing is for certain, God’s Divine Intervention always ends in victory! God is not a God of yesteryear, He is still performing miracles in the lives of those who faithfully obey and trust in Him. Our God will never forsake us, He is still knocking down the Walls of Opposition!

Lord God, we believe in Your promises to bring down our walls of opposition. We ask in faith for Your Divine Help, to give us strength, and an increase in faith. In Jesus Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

The Word of God Is a Living Force

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – December 5, 2024

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God is a Living Force with the power to change our lives and transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ. Still, we are required to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to receive the spiritual gift of daily transformation.

The Believer’s Creed: “I can come to Jesus just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.”

True conversion of the human heart is revealed by loving and obeying God, loving others, and possessing a teachable spirit of humility. God’s Righteous standard for the Christian character is the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23.

To receive the reward of eternal life, we must strive to live holy. The human effort of surrender and obedience invites the Holy Spirit to transform us and to cover us with Christ Righteousness. Peace and Blessings!

Lord God, we pray for a revival in our hearts and the dedication to serve you with love and obedience. We ask you to send the Spirit of Truth to give us wisdom and discernment as we study the holy scriptures. In Jesus’ Righteous Name we pray, Amen.

Gaither Vocal Band – You Are My All In All – Worship Music Video

Sabbath Peace and Blessings – November 22, 2024

“This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” —Psalm 118:24

Lord God, we give You the honor, glory, and praise for giving us a weekly spiritual oasis to commune with You. We pray for renewal, peace, and contentment. We also pray for those who are living in war-ravaged areas. Please protect them and grant Your Divine provisions and peace. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.