Tag: Holy Spirit

The Call to Live Holy

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 16, 2024

The era of compromise and middle-ground Christianity has escalated to an all-time high in the Christian community. Although the lines between God’s Truth and false doctrines appear to be blurred, God says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

From studying the Scriptures, we learn the attributes of God’s Righteous Character and His expectations of all believers. Although I could write words of wisdom explaining the daily surrender and faithful obedience required to serve God, God speaks for Himself in the Scriptures.

“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. 17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. 18 ‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” —Isaiah 1:16-18, NIV

The Freewill Choice is Ours to Make: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” —Joshua 24:15

The Nation of Israel worshiped pagan idols and made sacrificial offerings to God as commanded, but God exposed them by instructing Joshua to openly present their unfaithfulness to God. You and I must also make a choice, either we will strive for holiness with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, or live according to our desires and inclinations.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” —James 1:12

Lord God, we choose You and ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, empower us with strength from the Holy Spirit, and teach us how to live holy. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

God’s Abundant Gift of New Mercies

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 15,2024

Every day Christ covers us with His love, grace, and mercies. What will we do to honor Him for the gifted mercies of this new day? With a grateful heart, strive to live holy by giving up sinful habits and asking God to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Make the commitment to really love God and you will begin to view life through the spiritual eyes of Christ.

Mercy is one of God’s greatest love blessings that we often take for granted. What will we do to honor God for His continuous mercies? Every believer has access to the Divine Help of the Holy Spirit who empowers us with Christ’s strength to live committed and holy lives. Through prayer, we ask for and receive God’s supernatural power. We desperately need heavenly intervention to live as righteous overcomers.

We cannot afford to cherish and practice sin. Our lifestyle reveals whether or not we love God and appreciate His free gifts. Our thoughts, spoken words, habits, friends, and pursuits reveal if we are allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our character and heart into the likeness of Christ. Embrace God’s new mercies with an open heart. Amen.

“…I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3 AMP Bible

Lord God, thank You for Your unfailing love, grace, and mercies. Because we love and honor You, with gratitude, we commit ourselves to serve You with surrender and faithful obedience. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Are You Making Good and Godly Decisions?

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 14, 2024

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” —Jeremiah 10:23

In this world, “The Game of Chance” has many players who take risks daily by making choices that reap negative consequences. Because the unrighteous rely on their educational achievements, strategic thinking, and prior experience, we expect them to make mistakes. “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:19).

“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

The Scriptures provide direction and protection for Christian believers. Yes, anyone can gain intellectual knowledge by studying the Bible, but true heart conversion and Sanctification are revealed by humility, daily surrender, and faithful obedience to God. Jesus forewarns us that our plans are built on a foundation of sand when we exclude Him.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” —John 15:4

To abide in Christ is to pray continuously for His Divine guidance. We pray and Jesus answers our prayers through the Holy Spirit who speaks to us through our thoughts and the Scriptures. Seeking God through prayer, receiving an answer [and yes, sometimes the answer is to “Be Still”] invites God to guide us and intervene with His Sovereign power. Every godly decision results in victory because God always wins!

The Destruction of Jericho
“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.’ ” —Joshua 6:1-5

Joshua received God’s instructions to march around the city of Jericho. Imagine the unbelief of Jericho’s inhabitants who thought the walls were impenetrable. In Isaiah 55, verses 8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s ultimate desire when He gifted the life of His Son, Jesus was to save our souls. Our plans should extend well beyond our earthly lives. We plan for the future not as unbelievers chasing fame and fortune, we walk in Jesus’ footsteps by committing ourselves daily to God, “Not my will, but Your will be done.”

“Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness…” —Hebrews 3:8

In this life, we choose to accept God’s Plan of Redemption through prayerful surrender and faithful obedience. We deny ourselves by not participating in the sinner’s rebellious Game of Chance. Either we will live for ourselves or live for God. If we choose God then our reward of mansions and living in a perfect and sinless New Heaven and New Earth for eternity is promised to us by Jesus who will return to this Earth as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Where do you stand? A Player who bows to no one by following their thoughts and inclinations or a Servant of the Most High God who reverently bows to His Divine Sovereignty by seeking His will and ways?

Prayer: Lord God, in humility, we bow to Your Sovereign Kingship asking for Your Divine Guidance and blessings on our lives. We pray for Your direction and protection from the enemy who seeks to kill and destroy our lives. Teach us to hear Your Voice. We thank You and ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Three Principles for Standing Firm in These Last Days

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 13, 2024

“… For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day.” —Timothy 1:12.

Know Christ – Reflect on your life and compare it to five years ago, has your relationship with Christ grown closer or become more distant? How did Christ live when He was on this earth? Although he had 12 disciples who witnessed His Godly power, Christ had to rely on God, the Father for strength. His disciples remained unchanged for most of their journey with Jesus. They lacked faith and spiritual growth because they desired earthly prestige and power.

At some point in every believer’s life “… every earthly support will be cut off…” We will experience a crisis that only God can intervene and resolve. We must know who Christ is and have a faith-based intimate relationship with Him. When facing satanic attacks, Christ alone will keep us safe. Jesus is leading us to fully depend only on Him. Each new morning, surrender to God and pray for Divine wisdom, strength, power, and solutions to your problems. In the peaceful times, develop a life of prayer and Bible Study.

“Sanctify them by Your truth, your word is truth.” —John 17:17

Know His Word! – Although it is not popular in the Christian community to study the Scriptures, we will not stand against false teachings and temptations without studying the Bible nor can we serve God with love and loyalty when He is a stranger. Most importantly, our hearts cannot be converted and our characters transformed without Scriptural knowledge. Those who lack the knowledge of God’s Word will easily be persuaded by the enemy to sin against God. “We must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ to be able to stand.”

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” —Ephesians 1:18-19

Know His Power! – The Triune God is Sovereign: God, the Father, Jesus, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit have always existed [Refer to Genesis 1]. In John chapter 1, the apostle confirms that Jesus known as “the Word” created all things. “Jesus spoke and the Earth was created…think about the power of Christ delivering Israel from Egyptian bondage, Christ used the wind to part the mighty Red Sea and the Israelites walked through the Red Sea on dry land. Joshua and the Israelites shouted, but it was the Power of Christ who knocked down the walls of Jericho.”

Signs of the Last Days: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” —2 Timothy 3:1-5

Do we really know what time it is? We were created with free will to choose who we would serve. Either we will prepare now to stand as courageous soldiers who are loyal to God or not. God gave Jesus, His only Son to redeem us from the wages of sin which is the final death. “Christ has the power to deliver us from our past and empower us for the future. Christ has the power to deliver us from the guilt of sin and the grip of sin.” As we draw closer to the end of time, commit to stand with Christ.

Quotations: Pastor Mark Finley

A Personal Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want nothing between my soul and my Savior. I confess and ask for the forgiveness of my sins. I desire a personal relationship with You. Jesus, I want to saturate my mind with Your Word and to know Your Mighty Power working within Me. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

“Be Strong and Courageous!”

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional -October 8, 2024

“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

For three years, I have resided on the East Florida Coast. In 2022, I prepared spiritually and physically for my first hurricane, Ian was headed for my city, but at the last minute, it took a sharp turn toward Orlando. We experienced high gusty winds but sustained no damage. Truly God keeps His promises and answers our prayers. “Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

Today is October 8th, tomorrow Hurricane Milton is expected to hit the Florida West Coast and continue through the central and east areas exiting into the Atlantic Ocean. Many individuals have evacuated from Tampa and the cities in the direct path of Milton. I have committed to praying and fasting for God’s divine intervention. After all, He is the Creator of the Universe and is committed to protecting the righteous.

This morning, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the story of Joshua, who replaced Moses as the leader of Israel after his death. Joshua had insecurities because he focused on his abilities. In Joshua, chapter 1, three times, God reminded Joshua to be strong and courageous because He was with him.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” —Deuteronomy 31:6

Whatever we face in our lives, God is already aware. Our role in serving God is to redirect our focus on His Love and Sovereign power instead of our circumstances. Yes, we must use wisdom when facing adversity, but our faith in God is the attribute that moves Him to intervene for us.

Hebrews 4:16, (ESV) says, “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.”

It is time for us to live as the faith warriors described in Hebrews 11. Pray, pray, pray. If Elijah prayed for the rain to stop for three years and God answered his prayer, how much more will He do for us when we exercise faith in Him? Whether facing life’s stormy trials or stormy weather, we must intentionally proclaim, “I trust the Sovereign God with my life!” Amen.

“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 3:5-6

Lord God, we pray this Intercessory prayer for those facing Hurricane Milton that You will keep us safe. We also pray for the safety of the First Responders who risk their lives to save others. And we continue to pray for those who lost loved ones and their possessions from Hurricane Helene. God, we ask you to send Your angels to this earth to hold back the winds and devastation of satanic strife. We trust in You and Your promises and ask this prayer in faith. In Jesus’ Holy and Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions