Tag: God

The Christian Believer’s Character and Conduct

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – November 5, 2024

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

As the events of Matthew 24 and 2 Timothy 3 are rapidly being fulfilled, Christ is directing His dedicated disciples to spread His love by emulating His righteous character and conduct. Before Jesus’ return, every person will receive the precious opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior and embrace the Plan of Redemption that enables us to live righteously.

With our cooperation, the Holy Spirit prepares us for Jesus’ Second Coming through the spiritual process of Sanctification. Our lifelong transformation includes the conversion of our hearts, minds, characters, and personalities. We strive to live holy and acceptable lives by embracing and representing Christ’s Righteous Character to others. The Holy Spirit empowers us with Christ’s strength to live as victorious overcomers.

Recently I listened to an Instagram reel on Isaiah’s calling to be a prophet. The sermon emphasized the reverence and honor that the Most High God deserves. Isaiah’s vision reveals God’s Righteousness and Holiness and the utmost worship of the angels. The sermon leads us to a Spiritual Crossroads. Either we choose God’s righteous standards or live by our compromised definition of true Christianity.

The Majesty and Glory of His Righteousness: Isaiah 6:1-3, NIV

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim [angels], each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ “

Reverencing and honoring God is more than attending weekly church service, studying the Bible, giving tithe and offerings, and praying. In Christ’s earthly life, He faithfully obeyed God, the Father. According to our thoughts, all may appear well in our Christian experience, but we cannot judge the status of our relationship with Christ.

Like King David, every day we pray, “God, search my heart…” Faithful obedience to the will of God is required for us to live holy. Our surrender and commitment are evidenced through prayer, “God, what is your will for me today?” Faithful obedience is our highest form of worship and the only worship acceptable to God.

Because of our inherited and fallen nature, we cannot love and revere God as He deserves. We need the Holy Spirit’s intervention. Our propensity toward sinful pleasures results in practicing a compromised version of Christianity. Today’s believers have embraced worldviews, chase their desires, love wealth, and hang out with and have relationships with unbelievers.

Blurred lines of Truth and Error have many wondering, “How do I know if I am a Christian?” Those with converted hearts strive to reverence and honor God through their lifestyle of worship which glorifies God. And yes, many individuals acknowledge God but possess unconverted hearts by continuing to engage in sinful pleasures. “Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you” (1 Peter 4:4, NLT).

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

Does our perception of sin align with God’s definition of sin? No. We may not drink, smoke, or fornicate, yet we fail to surrender and obey the will of God which constitutes disobedience and rebellion against God. It is easy to focus on the sins we don’t do, yet, faithful obedience, praying, and studying the Bible along with standing down all carnal desires is a daily sacrifice required by God or we are in the same predicament as unbelievers.

“Romans 6:15, which says, ‘What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.’ In this verse, Paul responds to the rhetorical question, ‘Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?’ The Apostle Paul’s response is that we cannot equate grace with freedom to sin. He states that Christ died to liberate us from sin, not to permit us to sin.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” —Hosea 4:6

Satan has used the influencers to convince us that we do not need to study the entire Bible. The Old Testament is the only accurate historical overview of the creation of this world and human beings. God provided a detailed history of fallen humanity’s disobedience, their repentance, and continual opposition to Him by continuing to embrace sin. Sadly, in 2024, we repeat the same sinful behaviors because we have no desire to live righteously.

God used Moses to approach Pharoah who eventually freed the Israelites from Egyptian enslavement. Although many offered their sacrificial offerings they continued to secretly worship pagan idols. God extended His love and mercies for 40 years. In Numbers chapter 32, we find that God’s mercies do end: “According to the Bible, Scripture states no one over the age of 20 who left Egypt would enter the Promised Land.” Because of their true dedication, only Joshua and Caleb [over the age of 20] were spared by God.

Love, Grace, and Mercy are not New Testament characteristics of God. The Old Testament proves God has always extended Himself to save humanity from the consequences of rebellion against Him. God is Omniscient—All-knowing. God knew Adam and Eve would disobey by eating from the Forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The conversation between God, the Father, and Jesus, God the Son regarding the Plan of Redemption occurred before the creation of this world and human life. Even before Jesus came to this world fulfilling the Plan of Redemption on Calvary’s Cross, God instituted a ceremonial law—animal sacrifice as a representation of Christ’s Cleansing blood, which provides forgiveness for our sins. Jesus’ death abolished the ceremonial law of sacrifice, not the Ten Commandments.

What is our daily offering to God? God has always extended His loving grace and mercies even though humanity has a long history of failing to honor, reverence, and appreciate His loving kindness. How do we demonstrate our gratitude for Christ’s love? It’s time for us to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds by obeying Him as revealed through living righteously.

“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” —1 Thessalonians 4:7

Enoch, Joseph, Noah, Esther, Job, and Mary, along with many others, strived to walk with God and pursue holiness as Enoch did. And yes, they were victorious because they surrendered and committed their lives to God. It is possible for us to forsake all worldly pleasures and to put God first in our lives.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” —Exodus 20:3

Reflection: We should cross-examine ourselves: “Where do I stand with God? Is He first in my life? Do my thoughts, spoken words, behaviors, reactions, desires, friends, and interactions with others reveal that I love God? Do I surrender, and strive to live holy? Am I representing the love of God to others?

Christian Characteristics and Conduct

1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

“Everyone who names the name of Christ should so work that others, by seeing his good works, may be led to glorify their Creator and Redeemer.” EGW

Daily, we reflect on Jesus’ Sacrifice and thank Him through our covenant vow of faithful obedience. Revelation chapters 21 and 22 remind us that our earthly lives matter. This life is our one opportunity to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Surrender invites the Holy Spirit to reveal our sins and character flaws. Human effort and Divine Intervention are required for our daily transformation into the likeness of Christ.

In John 14:1-3, Jesus promises eternal life to those who honor God by striving to live holy. Our decision to live in the New Heaven and New Earth is revealed daily through surrender, faithful obedience, and perseverance. The Scriptures tell us that our lives are like vapor and this earthly home is temporary, yet, we do not have to struggle alone in our spiritual journey.

All of heaven is on our side to help us overcome! In the strength of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live righteously, possess a loving character, and conduct ourselves as disciples who decided to live forever and ever with our Triumphant King!

“Meet me in heaven, we’ll join hands together, meet me at the Savior’s side.”

Lord God, we desire our reward of Eternal Life. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Triumphant King. We ask for the strength to renounce sin and to live holy. Anoint us with the Holy Spirit and give us spiritual insight and wisdom as we reveal Your unconditional love to others. We pray in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

©2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Lifting Up the Name of Jesus In Our Christian Journey

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – November 4, 2024

“He must increase and I must decrease.” —John 3:30

The humility demonstrated by the prophet John the Baptist is the righteous trait we must possess to be a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ. In His earthly life, Jesus was always submissive to God, the Father, therefore, we die daily to our desires by surrendering to God’s will and plans. Discipleship requires us to maintain a “…child-like, submissive, and teachable spirit.”

Surrender is a daily act of humility. Every day, we choose to obey God by our prayer, Lord, what will You have me to do? From our prayers, we receive God’s plans and the strength and direction from the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will for the given day. Our faithful obedience is the catalyst for the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts and transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ.

“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

Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of growth and development performed by the Holy Spirit. Our vow of faithful obedience to God, the Father indicates our willingness to strive for holiness. The human effort of surrender extends the invitation for Christ, our Heavenly High Priest, and Intercessor to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Winning the daily battle of surrendering our will and heart’s desires to God is to decide that we will not sin against God and to act accordingly by renouncing sin and overcoming temptation with the power of the Holy Spirit.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:7

Being created in Jesus’ image included the spiritual gifts of power, love, and a sound mind [self-control]. We are not helpless! We choose to sin! Even Satan with all of his evil power cannot coerce us to sin. When we love God and appreciate the gift of His Son, Jesus, our choice of maintaining a steadfast relationship with Him reveals that our hearts are filled with overwhelming love and loyalty for Christ.

“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’ ” —Hebrews 13:6

Living a sacrificial life not only demands self-denial but also requires us to renounce sin and redirect our focus from the affairs of this world to turning our eyes on Jesus. Never compromise your salvation for individuals who have no desire to fully commit themselves to God. And yes, from striving to please God, we will lose many relationships, yet, Jesus promises, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.”

The Narrow Way
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14

To fulfill our roles as disciples of Christ is to pray, seek, and carry out God’s will. Through our contrition and faithful obedience, we receive the blessing of King Jesus’ supernatural strength. We live in perilous times, pray five times more than you are currently praying. Through daily prayer, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the blessings of spiritual wisdom, discernment, and the strength to live righteously.

“But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” —Philippians 3:7-8, BSB

The apostle Paul reminds us that the earthly treasures and relationships we lose for Christ are gainful to our Christian experience and relationship with Christ. Let go of all baggage [people, places, and personal habits] that fail to honor God and impede your spiritual growth. Our lifestyle including associations with peers, family members, social activities, and pursuits reveals whether or not we are lifting up the Name of Jesus. “Be holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

“And [in reverent fear and obedience] Enoch walked with God; and he was not [found among men], because God took him [away to be home with Him].” —Genesis 5:24, Amplified Bible

Most sermons fail to inform us that we may have to walk alone on the Path of Righteousness—without human support. Yet, the Scriptures indicate the believer’s journey with Jesus has always been a one-to-one, heart-to-heart, righteous relationship with God. “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NIV). Christ gives us the assurance that spiritually, we are never alone!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

Living a Christ-centered, Bible-Based life requires much faith, courage, and dependency on God! From a lifestyle of worship, we are showered with Divine joy, peace, and happiness. We have a higher purpose than this world has to offer. Yet, we strive to maintain a spirit of humility in our interactions with others.

Our Christ-like love, righteous thoughts, gentleness, compassionate spoken words, behaviors, and habits are the greatest witness of our commitment to glorifying the Righteous Name of Jesus.

Lord God, we pray for an increase in our faith and the courage to renounce sin in all forms. We ask for blessings of Divine Strength, wisdom, and discernment as we navigate life’s tumultuous journey. Our desire is to receive our Crown of Life when You come again. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

©2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Sabbath Devotional – Let God Guide Your Life

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – November 1, 2024

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” —Isaiah 26:3

It has taken a lifetime for many believers to fully surrender and faithfully obey God. Sadly most refuse by following their thoughts and plans, never receiving God’s greatest blessings of peace, joy, and happiness. The daily prayer of surrender, “Lord, I will follow Your will and plans” places us in right standing with God. “Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things” (Proverbs 13:21).

For the “Yes to God” believers, we have the assurance that we are living our best lives and the rewards are great for honoring God with faithful obedience! Not only are we following the perfect will of God, but we also receive His gifts of inner peace and direction from the Holy Spirit. In fact, mere words are inadequate to express the joy and happiness that God’s Divine peace provides, we never experience worries or suffer from unforeseen consequences!

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. ‘ ” —Matthew 22:37-38

“…you are not your own you were bought with a price…” —1 Corinthians 6:20

If allowing God to guide your steps feels difficult, it reflects a heart issue. Love for God requires dedication and total surrender. Yet, it is truly worthwhile. To live with the assurance that God is always faithful and promises to give us victory despite our circumstances because our obedience aligns us with His will is worth total surrender. May we delight in the love and gifts of Sabbath Peace and Blessings. Amen.

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation.” —Isaiah 12:2

Thank You, God, for the Sabbath and Your sweet gifts of peace, joy, and happiness. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray Amen.

©2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Victorious Overcomers Invite God to Guide Their Steps

God, please speak to my heart and reveal Your will and plans for today. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Daily surrender and consecration allows the Holy Spirit to guide us through the given day. Pray throughout the day to remain close to Christ. Prayer warriors whisper prayers continually because we admit that we cannot navigate through life without God. Following Jesus’ example of separating Himself to talk with God keeps us in right standing with our Heavenly Father. Only full cooperation with Divinity allows us to live our best lives now and prepares us to receive our Crown of Life at Jesus’ Second Coming.

©  2024 Steps to Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Feeling Like An Outsider? Fulfill Your Divine Purpose

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 27, 2024

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

When we fully surrender to God and consecrate ourselves to live as dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ, our mindset and priorities must change to become Christ-like. Yes, the line of separation between righteousness and sinfulness, God’s Biblical view, and the Worldviews, and our relationships with family, and friends grows wider. The converted Christian believer who desires eternal life cannot participate in worldly relationships, conversations, and activities “just to fit in.”

Spiritual Guidelines for Christian Believers

“Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.” —2 Timothy 2:4

“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient…” 2 Timothy 2:23-24

In the apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy [who he was mentoring to be a pastor], Paul advises him to perceive the Christian’s role as soldiers in the Army of God who live to please God. Right standing with God excludes us from most conversations our coworkers initiate and participate in. Discussions to avoid: Political, prejudices, biased opinions, “it is their fault” when referring to socioeconomic status, abortion, alternative lifestyles, and child-rearing practices. Step away from conflict with silence.

Last week, I chatted with one of the delivery drivers who expressed that although his goal is to avoid conflict, his circle of friends love controversy and attempt to coerce him into participating in their rowdy conversations. I told him there are two ways to avoid feeling pressured into verbal sparring. He asked me to explain, “The best option is to remain silent! If asked, “What do you have to say?” respond with this answer, “Nothing.” The second option is to change his social circle.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” —Romans 12:2

The Christian believer must uphold Righteous standards. Accepting Christ as our personal Savior changes our motives, desires, mindset, character, and personality. We were created to fulfill a higher purpose that requires a steadfast relationship with Christ. Our love and loyalty belong to God; therefore, we should avoid conflict, reject the world’s focus on success and financial wealth, and not support sinful lifestyles.

Many believers who dedicate themselves to God by consistently studying the Bible and praying for Divine guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit will experience separation and loneliness. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

In studying the life of Christ, we find that He was rejected and hated by the Jewish leaders who controlled the people through fear and manipulation. In fact, the Four Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John] give us the historical account of Christ’s earthly life. Not only did the Pharisees and Sadducees consistently challenge Jesus, they sent spies to monitor His activities, and constantly planned ways to cause His death. Yet, God, the Father sent angels to protect His Son from harm’s way and Jesus completed His God-given earthly journey.

“Jesus got up early in the morning, left the house, and went out to a secluded place to pray.” —Mark 1:35

Although Jesus had 12 disciples, the Scriptures portray Him as spending much time alone in prayer with God, Jesus proclaimed, “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). Jesus describes His earthly life as “A Man of Sorrows.” Still, He fulfilled God, the Father’s Spiritual Assignment—to complete the Plan of Redemption and now sits on the Right Hand of God, the Father as our Triumphant King! Hallelujah and Amen!

“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.” —Ephesians 6:10-11, Amplified Bible

To serve God fully, we must walk our Chosen Path with steadfast faith, courage, and perseverance. Pray and ask God to reveal your spiritual purpose. Walk in humility and boldness in your Divine Purpose. We must never let Satan’s deceptive strategy of using familiar people deceive us into living a life of compromise.

“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

With courage, we pray to stand down Satan’s continuous temptations of compromise to have relationships with unbelievers who do not desire the reward of eternal life. Our strength is from Jesus and given by the Holy Spirit to every believer who asks. We receive strength by accepting Jesus’ invitation to approach His throne of grace in our time of need.

“Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’ ” —2 Corinthians 6:17

Every day, tell yourself, “I am here because of the will of God. If I do not fit in with others it is God’s purpose that I do not because I have been set aside to fulfill His Divine purpose.”

The Light of Christ has nothing in common with darkness. Our relationship with Christ is a personal one-to-one relationship and is our priority! We use silence as Jesus did when facing His accusers. Every believer should have knowledge of Christ’s earthly life. Every day, study the Bible. The Scriptures are God speaking to us. Our prayers express our innermost secrets to God. Prayer is our greatest weapon and keeps us connected to God.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” —James 1:5

Christ created us to live a life of excellence. If we ask God for His wisdom the Holy Spirit empowers us with Christ’s wisdom to develop our spiritual gifts and natural talents. Fight loneliness through prayer, study the Scriptures, witness by telling strangers, “Jesus loves you, and spend time in nature.

The Christian’s goal is, “I am going to heaven!” We desperately require Divine Intervention to overcome our desires and avoid confrontations that oppose God’s will. Adopt Jesus’ habit by separating yourself daily to pray for the Supernatural strength to live holy. Pray for discernment. Let the Holy Spirit guide you when to speak. Pray fervently before accepting friendships or choosing a spouse.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’ ” —Matthew 7:21

“…For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” —1 Samuel 16:7

Our earthly relationships impact our spiritual standing with Christ. Let God [who examines every human heart] choose your relationships. Our lives are a continuous struggle that requires people dedicated to God who will pray for and with us, and tell us in love when we are outside God’s perfect will. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

When we truly commit to loving God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, Jesus becomes our Best Friend. Fulfill your spiritual purpose for which you will receive the Crown of Life. Our ultimate goal is to receive our Heavenly reward of eternal life. The New Heaven and New Earth will be our Forever Home.

Yes, to live with Christ in a perfect world filled with Agape love and forever friends is worth the sacrificial offering of our lives to God. Daily, affirm your allegiance to God! Only what we do for Him will be rewarded in the end. Yes and Amen! Peace and Blessings.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” —Revelation 22:12-14

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Praying For Inner Peace – “Peace, Be Still!”

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 24, 2024

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Many individuals desire and seek peace. Every day a false man-made peace is marketed to attempt to alleviate our restless and agitated minds. Every day desperate people purchase apps, use mind-altering drugs, and relocate to isolated areas in their desperate search for the world’s version of peace. But true peace is a precious gift from God that cannot be purchased.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’ The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.” —Lamentations 3:22-26, NLT

Jeremiah was known as the “Weeping Prophet.” “Jeremiah came from a priestly family and was called as a youth to be a prophet. His ministry spanned the time before, during, and after the Babylonian capture and exile of some Judeans and the destruction of Jerusalem and the desolation of the land.”

What is spiritual peace? Jesus’ Peace is the divine gift of an inner calm and assurance that permeates our mind, body, and soul. To receive peace, we use our measure of faith to trust in God and remain hopeful because we believe God is Sovereign, loves us, and is always faithful.

God’s peace is given to us through prayer and as mysterious as receiving His peace appears, by faith, we receive Divine peace from Jesus through the Holy Spirit. When we stay connected to Jesus Christ, the Source of Peace, through much prayer, Jesus gives His Peace which flows from Himself. Jesus’ peace is freely given to every believer who proclaims that Jesus is the Lord of their life. Daily surrender is evidence that we love God. Faithful obedience connects us spiritually to God and strengthens our heart-to-heart relationship with Christ.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

To admit to God that our faith is weak is a fact that He already knows. In tough times, we exercise humility by asking God for the courage to move forward in His strength. Jesus knows the human heart, we are frail and will succumb to our circumstances without His Divine strength. Jesus reminded the apostle Paul, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…’ ” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We can enjoy the rich blessing of abundant peace despite our present struggles. Yes, Jesus’ peace is a gift wrapped in His Divine love. From personal experience, praying in faith through total surrender gives us peace that eliminates all worries, anxieties, and fears. “Pray continuously!” Have you placed your life in God’s hands? Even in the raging storms of life, surrendering our will to God invites Jesus to proclaim, “Peace Be Still!”

“It is Well with My Soul” is a Christian hymn written by Horatio Gates Spafford in 1873 that expresses faith in God and peace in times of tragic

loss. He lost his three children, one to sickness, and the two daughters in a shipwreck which only his wife survived. Can we proclaim that it is well with my soul even when walking through a season of financial loss, marital dissolution, life-changing illness, or the death of loved ones?

God knows that harsh situations will cause anguish and many tears of sorrow. If we view God as a loving Heavenly Father whose goal is to save our souls then we will not become angry or blame Him in times of adversity. We were created to be needy and dependent on God. Accepting our limitations by asking for His Divine Help in our deepest sorrows results in an immediate response from our Triumphant King.

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” —Mark 4:39

From our petitions of prayer, Jesus, the Commander of Angel Armies sends His peace through the Holy Spirit and dispatches angels who comfort us. Jesus, God, the Son in His earthly life described Himself as a “Man of Sorrows.” We have a Loving and Compassionate Savior who always provides the Divine peace that soothes our souls and heals our broken hearts.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

Bible Study: Mark 4

Lord God, our storms are raging and we ask in faith for your Divine Help and gift of peace. We need strength and the courage to move forward. Heal our brokenness and direct us on the Path of Righteousness. God, we trust You and rely on You to help us live as victorious overcomers while preparing for Jesus’ Second Coming. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

References: Stand Up Like Jeremiah, Adventist Review

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions