Life is a wonderful blessing. We can learn to use our talents and spiritual gifts, choose our careers, and use our emotions to smile, laugh, and celebrate our accomplishments.
Yet, at some point in our lives, every human being shares the common experience of the abyss of emotional pain. When loss occurs, we experience disappointment and a sense of helplessness, often wondering if we had done things differently, could the loss have been prevented? The answer is usually no.
Loss happens in various ways: We lose jobs, our homes from the inability to pay the mortgage and from natural disasters, and wars; relationships, engagements, and marriages end; our health deteriorates; but the most devastating is the death of a loved one, which threatens to consume our very existence.
Jesus tells us that our earthly lives will include hardships: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation [hardships and adversity]; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
As Christian believers, how are we supposed to respond when we experience loss? True Peace and Rest are Found in Jesus: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, NIV).
We use our faith to believe that our Heavenly Father loves us, He is faithful, and keeps our hope alive and thriving by always fulfilling His promises in the Holy Scriptures.
Jesus Promise: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3).
Yes, we will cry many tears in our earthly lives, yet if we invite Jesus into our pain, He promises to heal us. Although physical healing is not promised, Jesus always heals our mental and emotional distress because remaining unhealed interferes with our spiritual growth and transformation.
“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD…” (Jeremiah 30:17). Jesus Christ created us, and He is the One who promises to apply His Healing Balm to soothe our pain and heal our shattered hearts.
Jesus is our Compassionate Shepherd, gently guiding and moving us forward day by day, in little steps; Our Savior never expects us to take giant leaps in our Healing Journey.
Yes, even in our disappointment and despair, we are expected to use our faith to pray daily for strength and believe in Jesus’ infinite love, power, and promises.
Jesus’ Promise of Restoration: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all Grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10, ESV).
When we use our faith [even if it is weak] to trust Jesus, He promises to restore and strengthen us and to give us New Beginnings.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
Lord God, we come to you in our sorrow and brokenness, asking you to heal our hearts and to give us the strength to keep moving forward. We thank You for always loving us and Your never-ending faithfulness. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95:6-7).
Beginning each new day with a heart filled with praise and gratitude to God is a life-changing experience! From focusing on our blessings, our hearts are filled with love, joy, and peace.
Prayers of Gratitude redirects our focus from our desires to God’s overflowing blessings of life, health, an alert and oriented mind, and angelic protection from all harm.
Every day, we should express, “Thank You, God” for our consistent blessings of His guidance, resolving our challenges, and receiving all of our provisions.
Another blessing that we may take for granted, is the freedom to worship God without suffering persecution. Thousands of Christian brothers and sisters must worship God secretly, and we pray that God will give them strength to persevere.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17).
Because God loves us and we trust Him, we know that we have all that we need. Grateful hearts also receive [from Christ] the spiritual gifts of peace, joy, and happiness.
By maintaining a spirit of commitment, we reveal our love, loyalty, and appreciation to Jesus Christ, Yahweh Yireh, our Faithful Provider, who deserves our praise and worship.
King David reminds us throughout the Book of Psalms to place our “full hope, trust, and joy in the LORD, who is our Shield and Helper.”
True joy comes from trusting in Jesus’ Holy Name and thanking Him for His Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercy. Yes and Amen!
Lord God, You have blessed us with another day of life, and we come to You with hearts filled with gratitude for all that You do for us. Yahweh Yireh, our Faithful Provider, we thank You for the sacrificial gift of Your life, for shielding us from unseen spiritual warfare and physical danger, and giving us hope, joy, and peace. In faith and with gratitude, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:3-4).
Every day, we decide if we will enjoy Jesus’ gift of Perfect Peace. Total dependency on Christ produces lives that are peaceful, calm, and enjoyable. If we choose self-reliance, then our lives are comparable to a boisterous, troubled river.
“As drops of water make the river, the little things make up our River of Life.”
When we encounter challenges, many of us tend to categorize them into two lists. First list: We exclude God from our daily struggles, trying to handle the small issues that interrupt our busy schedules with quick answers. Second list: We temporarily let go of self-reliance, using God as a last resort because we realize that we are facing major adversities that human effort cannot resolve.
But it is often the little situations, the ones that appear to be easily resolved, that can unexpectedly change the watery flow of our River from peaceful to raging rapids.
Because small challenges can quickly escalate and detour from what is expected to happen, the outcomes of human strategies are always unreliable; even our best interventions can lead to unexpected consequences.
“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…” (Proverbs 3:5-7).
Trusting our thoughts always requires that we redirect our faith and trust from Christ to ourselves; not only are we carrying burdens that we were not created to carry, but our beautiful gift of Jesus’ peace has been replaced by a raging current of anxiety, worry, and sleepless nights.
Jesus is a Loving and Protective Shepherd who tells us to pray and bring “all” of our challenges to Him: “Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (1 Peter 5:7, Amplified Bible).
Even when we have trusted ourselves and things are messy, we can always approach the Throne of Grace, repent, and ask Christ to help in our time of need. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 13:8, NIV).
“The peaceful waters of God focus on rest, restoration, and Divine guidance, most notably in Psalm 23:2, where the Lord leads believers to ‘still waters,’ restoring [the peace within their] soul. These waters symbolize safety, spiritual nourishment, and trust in God’s provision.”
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.” (Psalm 23:1-3, NIV).
Lord God, we confess that we have excluded You by not asking for Your help, and we ask You to forgive us for the sin of self-reliance. We are feeling anxious because we are facing circumstances that we did not anticipate. Lord, we desperately need Your Divine Intervention to restore our peace and resolve our adversities. And we ask You to give us the strength to persevere through our hardships. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the One who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27, NLT)
Although the Monarch of Egypt could have easily commanded that Moses be put to death for relaying God’s message of freeing Israel from slavery, Moses placed his faith in God, courageously telling Pharaoh ten times, “God said, ‘Let My people go, that they may serve Me.'”
It was not until the tenth and final plague, “the death of the Egyptian firstborn males, both human and animal,” that Pharaoh was humbled, allowing the Israelites to leave Egypt, initiating the Exodus.
Because God, the Father, loved humanity, He required Jesus to die on Calvary’s Cross to redeem us from the slavery of sin [Romans 6:23]. Yes, Jesus paid the price of our freedom, still, love must be reciprocal; we must also serve God with love, faithful obedience, and a daily sacrificial offering:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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 12:1-2, ESV].
The believer’s life is one of sacrifice. We must renounce sin, secular music, violent games, pornography, same-sex programs, gambling, drinking, using mood-enhancing substances, sexual immorality, unmarried and living together, relationships with unbelievers, and employment where covert corruptness exists.
With faith and humility, we must let go of all selfish desires to follow Christ. Yet one of the Christian community’s greatest mistakes is the practice of “Self-reliance.” If we awaken with a personal agenda and the strategies to complete our goals without ever praying and asking God to reveal His plans for the new day, then God is not first in our lives.
Through self-evaluation, we should pray, asking God to reveal any stumbling blocks in our lives that would prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life. We have become too comfortable in our earthly lives. Instead of seeing ourselves as “Temporary Travelers on a Temporary Earth,” our focus is on pursuing our desires and goals, leaving little time for a personal relationship with Christ.
Truthfully, we know how we are spending our time. Jobs, personal habits, and relationships that cause us to put God in second place, we must let go of. The day will come when God commands us to “Let go” of whatever is causing us to place God as number two.
God’s Command to Abram: “Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.'” (Genesis 12:1).
Abraham’s Response: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8). God moved Abram from a pagan land, changed his name to Abraham, and made him the father of a great nation.
Reflection: Think deeply on how you would respond if God commanded you not to marry the person you are deeply in love with, resign from your job, not purchase the home or vehicle, or relocate to another state or country?
Because we have redirected our faith and trust from God to ourselves, when God commands us to let go or to perform a task that requires a giant leap of faith, we will respond with doubt and fear. Self-reliance destroys our faith and trust in God’s Sovereign and Absolute Power.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). Our independent lifestyles shape our perception of God. Instead of seeing God as the All-Powerful God that He is, we place God on our level, as if He possesses the same human limitations that we were created with.
“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). When God gives us a command, He already has the entire plan worked out that always ends in victory! Know this:
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19).
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:19).
Steadfast Faith Anchors Us to Jesus Christ: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4).
Our faith and courage must be anchored in Jesus Christ, the Rock. Consistent personal worship [Prayer and Bible Study] establishes and maintains our relationship with Christ, and builds our faith and trust in God’s Sovereign Power.
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10). Prayer elevates us spiritually into God’s presence, where we receive a supernatural blessing of the strength to persevere, and the reassurance that God will help us, resulting in renewed hope and peace.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:25). Throughout the Bible, we learn that God always helps the righteous when in faith, we pray, ask, and thank Him in advance for His Divine Intervention.
“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). Every day, we must actively participate in our Salvation. Spiritual growth and transformation can only happen when we do our part: Follow Jesus, pray for guidance, and study the Holy Scriptures to learn God’s Loving and Righteous Character, and do exactly what He requires of us.
In Romans 12:1-2, the Apostle Paul tells us that Sanctification requires the decision to surrender, practice self-denial, and the willingness to faithfully follow Christ, trusting and obeying His plans for our lives.
Manage Your Time Wisely: Designating specific times for worship strengthens our faith and courage because the Holy Spirit provides us with deeper spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and discernment of the Scriptures, God’s Righteous Character, and His promises to deliver us.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). Our relationship with Jesus Christ is a daily spiritual journey that requires faith and the courage to trust in God’s Sovereign Plans and Power.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
The life of a believer is one of total surrender and faithful obedience. We strive to maintain a Christ-Centered, Faith-based commitment to God by praying for the continuous guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:14). Jesus warns us that following Him is a daily, intentional decision to use our faith to trust and obey God. The Path of Righteousness is a “Challenging Road of Faith and Obedience leading to Eternal Life.”
We were created to trust and depend on Christ. It is spiritually impossible to use only human thoughts and efforts to keep ourselves on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
“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.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). If we use our faith to completely trust and rely on Jesus’ wisdom, we will receive spiritual guidance from the Holy Spirit.
The Creation story in Genesis chapters 1-3 reveals God’s Loving Character. From the beginning, Jesus created a most beautiful earthly home that provided all that we would ever need.
Because God is Omniscient [All-Knowing], God knew that Adam and Eve would choose to disobey. Yet, the Plan of Redemption requiring Christ to die on Calvary’s Cross was already established before the creation of humanity.
Reflection: Where do we really stand in our faith journey with Jesus Christ?
“For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good, and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). God’s goal is for the righteous to live forever with Him. Still, every human being chooses their destiny. Only with steadfast faith, trust, and obedience, and the power of the Holy Spirit, can we receive our Eternal reward.
“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).
Lord God, we thank You for Your amazing love and the gift of Your only Son, Jesus Christ, who redeems us from our sins. Lord, we confess that we are not steadfast in our faith and trust, and for this we ask for forgiveness. We desire Eternal Life and ask for the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide us in our choices. Give us the wisdom to prepare ourselves as we seek you through daily prayer and study of the Scriptures. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16, ESV)
In John 16:33, Jesus explains our spiritual journey and His promise to take care of us:
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished]. [Amplified Bible].
In Mark 11, Jesus says that if we have faith and ask anything in His name, we can move mountains. No, it is not literal mountains; Jesus is referring to the hardships and vicissitudes of life.
We start our day with optimism and the intent to accomplish our plans. However, it is the unexpected daily challenges and life-changing adversities that human effort cannot resolve, which threaten to rob us of our joy and peace.
Jesus tells us to be confident; every aspect of our lives is known by our Heavenly Father: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'” (Isaiah 46:9-10, NIV).
Despite the present obstacles, knowing God’s promises and reminding ourselves that God loves us alleviates the burden of trying to figure out an answer. Trusting God is the only way to enjoy our spiritual gift of Jesus’ Perfect Peace.
Consistent Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus Christ, our High Priest and Intercessor, who receives and answers our prayers given to Him from the Holy Spirit. Yes, studying the Holy Scriptures gives us knowledge of God’s Character, but it is using our faith to believe that God is who He says He is that pleases God.
“I Am That I Am” (Exodus 3:14) is a declaration of God’s Eternal, Self-Existent, and Unchanging Nature. God is Omniscient, [All-Knowing], Omnipotent [All-Powerful], and the Absolute Sovereign Authority of this universe. Yes and Amen!
“Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27, Legacy Standard Bible). Following Christ means that we use our faith to completely trust Him with every aspect of our lives.
When facing challenges, we must fight the urge to divide our obstacles into two lists: “The situations I will resolve and the situations I will give to Jesus [because I do not have the ability to resolve these issues].”
“Behold, God is my Helper; the Lord is the Upholder [ Sustainer] of my life.” (Psalm 54:4, ESV). We should never limit the love of God and His commitment to perform miracles. God is interested even in the little details of our lives.
Fight against the thought of, “What am I going to do?” We redirect our faith and focus from ourselves back to God and immediately pray, asking Jesus for His Divine Help and Strength.
I can recall being mentally fatigued at my new job and wondering if I would be able to make a long-term commitment. I whispered a silent prayer, and the Holy Spirit instructed me [through my thoughts] to take my lunch break alone that day.
I went to my vehicle, prayed, and listened to Christian music. By the Holy Spirit, I believed Jesus’ promise of strength. And because of my faith, He strengthened me spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Jesus always replenishes our joy and hope. I finished the day with a smile on my face. From obeying the Holy Spirit to separate and spend time worshiping Jesus, I received the blessings of spiritual encouragement and the energy to keep going beyond my human ability.
“Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” (1 Peter 5:7, Amplified Bible).
When prayer is our first and immediate response, we eliminate the possibilities of our minds being held hostage by the faith-draining emotions of fear, anxiety, and worry.
In faith, we humbly admit our need for God by going to His Throne of Grace. “Jesus, I need Your help with…” is the invitation He waits for, and with joyful expectancy, we have confidence that He will answer our prayer and resolve every challenge.
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14). Pray and Wait on God, whose timing will never match our desire for instant answers and resolutions. Every day, while waiting, maintain your faith, trust, and courage by thanking God for His Divine Help.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). Depending on Christ and waiting for His Divine Resolutions has numerous benefits: Waiting strengthens our faith, facilitates trust and obedience to God, eliminates guesswork, and prevents us from suffering adverse consequences.
I received two miracles this week and can confidently say there is nothing more exciting than receiving God’s Supernatural Blessings, which always surpass our human understanding and strategies.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).
Lord God, we thank You for Your unfailing Love, Grace, and Mercies, which include intervening and resolving every challenge that we ask You to help us with. We ask You to strengthen our faith, as we wait for Your answer. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
“Let us then approach God’s Throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).
In Philippians 4:6-7, Jesus tells us the answer to alleviating all anxiety, we exchange our worries for peace through the power of prayer. As we bring our requests to God, we use our faith [even if it is weak] to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence because we have received the promise that we can always rely on Jesus.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus compared Himself to the Rock. When we place our faith in Christ, we have the assurance that our lives will remain stable because He never changes. Yes and Amen!
When the Israelites faced an impassable Red Sea ahead of them and Pharaoh’s Army behind them, their response was a total lack of faith in God’s Sovereign Power:
“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord…” (Exodus 14:10).
The Faith of Moses: “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.'” (Exodus 14:13-14).
We know how Christ, who called Himself the Angel of the Lord in Exodus 14, our Mighty Warrior, resolved the situation with arrogant Pharaoh and his army—they drowned in the Red Sea: “The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.” (Exodus 14:28, NIV).
Studying the Holy Bible gives us knowledge of how God intervened for the righteous who used their faith to cry out for His Help. Knowing God’s Loving and Righteous Character gives us the courage to believe that God loves us and will always give us the victory.
In Psalm 91, angels are assigned by Christ to keep us safe. God is the Source and Sustainer of our lives. It is His Ruach breath that flows through our bodies. Faith propels us to believe without doubt that our Heavenly Father is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory! Yes and Amen.
God knows our weaknesses, but He reminds us that He does not have human limitations: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
“Each day, we can choose to trade our anxieties for His peace. Our trials and troubles are opportunities to rely on Him.”
Whether facing routine obstacles or humanly impossible dilemmas, a Prayer of Faith should be our First Response. Making prayer a habit when all is well gives us the courage to immediately pray for God’s Divine Help when facing the tough times of adversity.
We use our Faith to “Trade our real-life anxieties for real-time peace.” When we really believe in God’s Sovereign Power, then Peace should come naturally, because God’s promises always remain the same.
“I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9-10).
Lord God, we thank You for Your Love and the Holy Scriptures, which remind us that we are never forgotten. We ask for forgiveness for letting anxiety and worry consume us instead of immediately using our faith to bend our knees to ask You for Help. Lord, give us strength and peace, and we thank You in advance for Your Divine Intervention and Resolution. In faith, we pray in the Powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). The Triune God: God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, not only love us, but the Triune God is Agape Love.
February 14th is designated as an annual day of Love, and causes many to become discouraged because they do not have someone who loves them. Even in a relationship or marriage, human love may also disappoint because our love is always conditional and often moody.
God’s Love Qualifiers: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV).
The words “I love you” are only words if the actions contradict God’s definition of true love. Every believer has received the spiritual gift of Godly Love [2 Timothy 1:7] and is expected to give love that is consistent, respectful, patient, kind, and, most importantly, forgiving.
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3). Thankfully, we can always depend on God’s Agape Love to remain unchanged. Yes and Amen!
And it was from Divine Love that God said, “Let us make man in our image.” We were created by Jesus, Who is Divine Love. Although Adam and Eve disobeyed and humanity continues to reject God, He still loves us!
“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). We received undeserved, unmatched Divine Love and the opportunity to live forever with God when Jesus died on Calvary’s Cross to complete the Plan of Redemption [that was in place before the world was created].
God reiterates His, “Love never fails.” Every day, our hearts beat, and we breathe God’s Ruach breath flowing through our lungs. We are showered with the Divine gifts of love, peace, provisions, and angelic protection that human hearts and hands cannot give us.
Although the Holy Scriptures assure us of God’s Consistent Love, many believers feel unloved and that God is distant because they do not reciprocate God’s Love. If we fail to pray and study the Bible, then we are spiritually disconnected from God, and yes, we will feel empty.
“Why do you keep on saying that I am your Lord, when you refuse to do what I say?” (Luke 6:46, CEV). Without using our faith to trust and obey God, we demonstrate that we are involved in a one-sided love relationship. Sadly, we accept God’s love, but fail to love Him.
“But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24, BSB).
Loving God is more than attending weekly church services; loving God flows from unselfish hearts overflowing with gratitude, and is revealed through trusting, obeying, praying, singing, studying the Holy Scriptures, and thanking Him by placing Him first in our lives.
Jesus, Our Great High Priest: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16, BSB).
Separation, Solitude, and Silence invites the Holy Spirit to lift us up into the Most Holy Presence of God, Jesus Christ, our High Priest, Heavenly Intercessor, and the Only Mediator between God, the Father, and humanity.
Spending time alone with God every day is needed to build a faith-based relationship with Christ. True love for God can only arise from hearts that invite the Holy Spirit to sanctify them in daily personal worship.
True love for God reveals itself through the desire to obey and follow Christ on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. We were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ and cannot think and live as unbelievers who worship themselves by following their thoughts and personal agendas.
Prayer and Bible Study invite the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s Divine Love and to sanctify us—Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of growth and transformation that requires human effort and Divine Intervention. By giving God the firstfruits of our time, we receive spiritual guidance, peace, comfort, and contentment.
God rewards us when we dedicate our gift of time to worship Him in daily personal worship. The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with the Divine Agape Love that transcends human love. It is impossible to feel unloved or hopeless when we take the time to be in God’s Holy and Loving presence.
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39).
All of Heaven is lovingly devoted to humanity: Christ is our Mediator between God, the Father, and humanity. We receive God, the Father’s and Jesus’ Love through the Holy Spirit.
Prayer, Patience, and Perseverance reveal our love and gratitude for God, the Father, who did not hesitate to give Jesus Christ, God the Son, to redeem us from the only outcome of sin [Romans 6:23].
Lord God, we come to You in humility, surrendering our hearts to You, because You deserve all the glory, honor, and praise for saving our souls. We thank You for Your Faithfulness and never-ending Love, Grace, and Mercies. Thank You for the Divine Gift of Jesus, God, Your Son, who has promised to complete the work in us, if we are faithful. Lord, teach us how to love You and to love others. We pray for wisdom, strength, and guidance from the Holy Spirit as we continue our spiritual journey. Today, we ask You for a double spiritual blessing on Your Holy Sabbath; a blessing that will permeate our mind, body, and soul and empower us to redirect our love, faith, and focus from ourselves and this temporary Earth to You and the promise of living in our Forever Home. In faith, we ask these things in Jesus’ Holy and Loving Name, Amen.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).
“Life can be very difficult for all of us, no matter how well things might be going at the moment. But even if they are not going well now, what things can you and should you rejoice about? What is stopping you from doing it?”
We have so many things to rejoice about; we received the blessing of a new day of life, we are alert and oriented, and we were created in the image of God, who vows to love, protect, and provide all of our needs.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11).
And we have received the greatest gift of Redemption from God the Father, who gave us Jesus, His Son, to save our souls from the wages of sin [Romans 6:23]
Despite our challenges, God is Loving and Always Faithful! To have a heart filled with gratitude, we must change our behaviors to reflect that God is Good:
Stop speaking negative words.
Stop sowing seeds of discord [gossiping].
See your life through grateful eyes.
Develop a grateful heart and spirit by praising God throughout the day for His blessings of life, health, and provisions.
Redirect your faith and trust from yourself back to God.
Study the Bible every day.
Whisper prayers throughout your day, thanking God for His abundant blessings of life and asking Him for strength, wisdom, and guidance.
God is Merciful: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Lord God, we want to say that we love You and thank You for Your love, grace, and mercy. Thank You for always forgiving us and hearing and answering our prayers. In faith, and with grateful hearts, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)
“In Revelation, Jesus, God, the Son, identifies Himself as the ‘Alpha and Omega,’ the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing that He is the beginning and the end, the Initiator, and the Sustainer of all creation.”
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” is a foundational biblical declaration from Psalm 24:1 (NIV), affirming that God is the Owner, Creator, and Sovereign Ruler of the world and all its inhabitants. And God has placed extensive boundaries on the devastation that humanity and Satan can cause on His Planet Earth.
Still, we wonder, is God in control of this earth? The answer is an unequivocal Yes! 2 Timothy 3 describes the behaviors that would be prevalent in the Last Days, which exist now. We are temporary travelers living on a temporary Earth that is not our Forever Home. Every day, we should be preparing for John 14:1-3.
Evidence of God Intervening and Correcting Out-of-Control Human Beings
The Tower of Babel: Humanity Thinking They Are Above God
“Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth…”
“But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.'”
So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there, the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4-8, NIV).
Evidence of God’s Loving Intervention for Humanity: “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21).
Adam and Eve’s disobedience not only resulted in their eviction from the Garden of Eden, but their sin required the first death in the universe, as they needed animal skins to protect their bodies from the changing seasons.
We do not give much thought to the death of animals because death is a part of our fallen existence, but immortality always existed; one can only imagine the angels must have been horrified at the presence of blood and the process required to make animal skins for Adam and Eve.
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).
Adam and Eve’s disobedience also required the death of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross. Sin always requires the payment of death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NIV).
Divine Intervention: Because Jesus fulfilled the Plan of Redemption, dying for our sins, we do not have to die for our sins unless we choose to reject Christ. Jesus offers us the option of not experiencing the only possible solution to being born in sin and shaped in iniquity, the second and final death.
The Bible provides indisputable evidence that God has always intervened for the righteous, even in the worst possible situation: facing death at the hands of their enemies.
The Exodus through the Red Sea; the Tower of Babel; Job’s extreme suffering; the three Hebrew young men in the fiery furnace; Daniel in the lion’s den; the angel delivering the apostle Peter from prison; and the earthquake in the jail where Paul and Silas’ chains fell off are just a few of the examples of God’s Divine Mercies intervening, protecting, and enforcing His Power and established boundaries over Satan’s schemes against the righteous on the planet Earth.
Reflecting on our lives reveals that God blesses us with miracles every day that we have never even thanked Him for: Breath, strength, provisions, protection from physical harm, scams, and most importantly, Satan’s Schemes.
The Great Controversy between Good and Evil has raged for over 6,000 years. Without studying the Bible, many are unaware of the invisible Spiritual War that every believer is involved in, every moment of our earthly lives [Ephesians 6].
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the Heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).
Another Bible translation, GWT, states: “This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.” (Ephesians 6:12).
Satan and his angels, who were cast out of heaven, are the powers who govern darkness. Yet they are angels [created beings] who have no power over the Triune GOD: God the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.
One of the spiritual benefits for the faithful, obedient believers who dedicate themselves to surrender and follow Christ is that Christ, the Commander of Angel Armies, has given us the assurance in Psalm 91 that we are protected from Satan by Jesus’ legions of Heavenly angels.
Those who refuse to obey God have forfeited their angelic protection. Satan is so evil that he even punishes the unbelievers who are following him, which is evidenced by the terrible catastrophes and incurable diseases they suffer from.
Temptations, scams, physical danger, terminal illnesses, violence, sexual immorality, human trafficking, pornography, abuse, natural disasters, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, civil and international wars, and the uncontrollable desires to pursue material possessions and wealth are just a few of Satan’s diabolical schemes to persuade humanity to distrust God’s Love, Sovereignty, and Omnipotence.
False Teaching: Satan has convinced many believers that God is punishing the world by unleashing His wrath with disasters and terminal illnesses, but it is Satan who is responsible for death, plagues, famines, hatred, and violence.
Commentary: “We do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Over every man, good and evil angels strive. This is no make believe conflict.”
Commentary: The Invisible Spiritual War is over the souls of Believers: “It does not mimic [earthly] battles in which we are engaged. Satan is the prince of demons. The evil angels over whom he rules [obey and carry out all of his diabolical schemes]. Through them he…instigates all the evil that exists in our world.”
The condition of our world reveals the true nature of the human heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” [Jeremiah 17:9].
Satan knows that the human heart is never satisfied. Eve had everything, including immortality, yet she desired more. We inherited hearts filled with greed, so Satan uses the temptations of earthly treasures and pleasures to distract and persuade us to believe that God does not want us to have the best in life.
God’s Promises to the Righteous
“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8, ESV).
But the believers who pray, study the Holy Scriptures, and are committed to follow Christ with faithful obedience, we cannot be persuaded; we know that God is a Loving and Protective Heavenly Father.
God’s Promise to Keep Us Safe: “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High…no evil shall be allowed to befall you…” (Psalm 91:9-10, NIV); “For He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11).
If you [and your family] awakened this morning and returned home safe without any emotional or physical harm, it is Michael [Jesus Christ], our Triumphant King and Commander of Angel Armies, who assigned angels to keep you [and them] safe.
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” (Nahum 1:7, ESV). If our faith and trust are in God, then we should never doubt God’s Sovereign Authority by asking, Is God still in control of this world?
“For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Brothers and Sisters, do we think that the credit agencies protect our identity from being stolen, or do the banking regulators have the power to prevent hackers [who serve Satan] from draining the money in our bank accounts?
It is God’s Divine Protection keeping our material possessions intact, including the deed of our houses from being duplicated, and sold while we are still living in the house. And it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the wisdom to discern when people are lying to us.
And for all of God’s goodness, have we given Him our reverence, love, loyalty, and gratitude in return?
God’s Answer: “All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the LORD has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us].” (Isaiah 53:6, Amplified Bible).
Truthfully, we have doubted God’s Love and Power; disobeyed Him by following our thoughts and ways; and still living a life of self-reliance by placing our faith and trust in human abilities and wisdom.
Today, God is asking those who doubt His Sovereignty: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” (Job 38:4).
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).
God, the Father, knows the exact date that He will tell Jesus Christ the time is now to bring the faithful to their Heavenly Home: Go, awaken the faithful, the martyrs, and the children from their graves who faithfully served You, and gather the living who followed and obeyed You by living a sacrificial, faithful, and obedient life.
“I Am Coming Quickly: He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly…'” (Revelation 22:20).
The Great Day of the LORD: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16).
Prayer: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
There are times when we face situations that make us realize that we do not know what to do or have the power to change the circumstances. And because we know that human solutions cannot resolve those challenges, we finally surrender to God’s Sovereign Authority, desperately asking for His Divine Intervention.
“Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21).
But there is a problem with that mindset; we have only prayed and asked God for His help because we have hit the wall, knowing that our human efforts are insufficient.
“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 [Reverence] the Lord and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7).
God tells us not to follow our own thoughts and not to be wise in our own eyes, which, if obeyed, keeps us dependent on His perfect plans and prevents us from experiencing negative consequences. Yet many believers see this as a suggestion to disregard, but relying on God is His command.
One of the greatest mistakes that postmodern Christians have made is that we perceive God’s Grace as permission to compromise His Commands, but God has never given us the option to disobey His Righteous Precepts.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Disobedience is the bitter fruit of self-reliance: Not only have we detoured from the Path of Righteousness, but spiritually, we have also separated ourselves from God.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit…” (Romans 8:1).
From choosing to accept and follow Christ, we are freed from the sins that enslave us to Satan. “This freedom is not a license to sin but results in a life where the mind is set on the things of the Spirit, fulfilling the righteousness of the law.”
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In 2 Timothy 1:7, the apostle Paul reveals that believers have received spiritual gifts: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
Satan can tempt us, but he does not have the power to force us to sin against God. Choosing to sin is a wilful act of disobedience which dishonors God, revealing that we love ourselves more than God. Disobedience reveals that we do not value God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy.
From the moment we awaken, we make choices about whether to follow our ideas and strategies. If yes, then we have excluded God from our daily decisions, which fosters a spirit of self-reliance and rebellion against Him.
“Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” (John 9:31). Unless we offer a genuine prayer of repentance in which Christ, our Intercessor, forgives our sins, God reveals in the Scriptures that He does not hear a sinner’s prayer.
“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). Repentance for a spirit of self-reliance and disobedience is required before we can approach the Throne of Grace asking for God’s Divine Intervention.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus, the Son of God Reverenced and Honored God, the Father’s Sovereign Authority over Heaven and Earth.
Jesus prayed, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10). [Hallowed definition: Revered and Honored].
We were created to glorify God. Honoring God with faithful obedience is the entire purpose of the Christian Believer’s life.
Sermon Note: “Your responsibility is to follow Christ and obey His will for your life, and By the time you are done, the LORD will be glorified.” Yes and Amen. Peace and Blessings.
Lord God, we confess that we have followed our thoughts instead of asking You for answers, and for this rebellious sin against You, we ask for forgiveness. Please cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Lord, give us the direction and guidance we desperately need in our daily lives. Our desire is to follow and obey Jesus, our Shepherd and Triumphant King, who promised us Eternal Life. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
You must be logged in to post a comment.