Holy Spirit – Page 16 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Prayer of Moses

In our daily prayers, may we always pray for God to bless others before we ask for blessings for ourselves. Peace and Blessings

Humility to God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 16, 2024

“…God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time…” —1 Peter 5:5-6

Humility is not an innate character trait. As an infant matures into the toddler stage, they portray defiance against most things. The toddler stage is one of the most trying and critical stages of psychological development. If parents do not set boundaries then they will nurture the defiance, and defiant children mature into defiant adults.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46

“God sets up resistance to proud people. Pride, a grave sin in Scripture, is the foundation of other sinful actions. Lucifer exemplified pride when he raged against God (Isaiah 14:12–15), and the first humans displayed pride by disregarding God’s explicit command (Genesis 3:1–7).” Got questions.org

“The Israelites’ persistent struggles with God were often rooted in their pride and unbelief (see Exodus 32:1–6; Hosea 13:6; Amos 4:1–5). Whenever humans sin, their actions can be traced back to a rejection of God and His commands, which is a manifestation of pride.” Got questions.org.

We became followers of Christ to be transformed into His likeness (His Righteous Character), to surrender in faithful obedience, and one day receive our reward of eternal life. Personally, I desire more than living an earthly life infiltrated by corruption, social injustice, and the promotion of the Capitalism credo to be successful and rich.

‘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

Have you reached a point in your Christian journey where you desire what Christ promises? Humility requires loving Christ, obeying God, and serving Him with steadfast faith and heartfelt obedience. Daily we reverence God by praying for His will to be done in our lives. The Holy Spirit communicates God’s will through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures. God never coerces us to obey Him, we must make the decision to follow through in obedience.

Lord God, we desire to serve You. With humility, we pray and ask for Your will to be done in our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Worship Music – Sister Renee Lawrence – Trust His Heart

Recognizing [Covert] Spiritual Warfare Designed to Separate You From God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 9, 2024

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind…” —James 1:5-6, BSB

“In the life of a Christian believer there are no coincidences, luck, karma, or ‘out of nowhere, it just happened.’ ” Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

We know this because, in Psalm 91, God says, “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:9-11).

Our lives are monitored under God’s Omnipotence [Power] and Omniscience [Knowledge]. Not only are we protected by guardian angels who consistently obey Jesus Christ, the Commander of Angel Armies, but nothing arises in our lives without Jesus’ permission. Satan is restrained by the power of God when attempting to wreak havoc in our lives. [Read Job chapter 1 for God’s boundaries on Satan during Job’s tribulations].

The Conditions of Participation God Requires of Believers

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ ” —Psalm 91:1-2

“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

Because we were created with free will of choice, God never coerces us to love and serve Him, yet, we must cooperate with Divinity to receive God’s blessings and protection against our greatest enemy and his evil surmisings. We cannot live as victorious overcomers without Divine Intervention. Abiding in Christ requires faith, daily surrender, obedience, much prayer, and knowledge of the Scriptures which are the Voice of God.

Our Enemy: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” —1 Peter 5:8

The Whole Armor of God
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” —Ephesians 6:10-13

In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul compares our spiritual journey to a Roman soldier who was always prepared to fight in their many battles. Our weapons: Prayer and diligent Bible study. We intentionally keep ourselves in the presence of God by whispering prayers throughout our waking hours. Memorize Scriptures of God’s promises and protection. Study the book of Joshua.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Scriptures and our thoughts and alerts us of spiritual and physical danger. Have you experienced discomfort or not feeling right when facing a given situation? That is the Holy Spirit’s warning that all is not well, and you should walk away. Safety comes from praying before you make decisions, even in the routine activities of daily life, we should seek God’s guidance.

Qualities and Habits Required of Christian Soldiers

Knowing Jesus’ Character. Study the Four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Knowing God’s Righteous Principles and Standards for Pursuing Righteous Living: “Be holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Study the book of Philippians.
Do what is Right! Never compromise under pressure or give in to those with “bad characters” who attempt to influence your walk with Christ. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear [timidity], but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self-control]” (2 Timothy 1:7).
“Pray without ceasing [Never stop praying, ESV]” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. In His earthly life, Jesus prayed constantly, always seeking God, the Father’s will. Pray over every aspect of your life. God is our Guide and Protector, always giving us perfect outcomes.
Study the Bible every day. When Christ was tempted, He quoted the Scriptures,”Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test ‘” (Matthew 4:7, ESV). “This would amount to testing God to keep His Word, instead of obeying God by following His will…” Bible Reference

Enoch, Elijah, Job, Abraham, Esther, Mary, Daniel, and Paul are examples of those who lived according to the will of God. Even when we fall into temptation because we fail to pray and obey, God forgives and comforts us: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psalm 32:8).

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10

God, we thank You for being our Heavenly Father who loves us with everlasting love and always forgives and guides us on the Path of Righteousness. Forgive us for our disobedience when we choose self-reliance which opposes Your Perfect will and Your Sovereignty. We ask for wisdom as we seek knowledge. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

Praising God Promotes Health, Happiness, and Healing

Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – September 6, 2024

“Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.” —Psalm 89:15, NKJV

The Result of Trusting God: “I am content, grateful, happy, joyful, and hopeful because my Heavenly Father loves me.” If you can proclaim these words then you fully understand God’s abundant love, His Sovereign power, and believe in His faithful promises of Divine intervention, provisions, and protection.

God is Love! God accepted the loving and voluntary gift of Jesus, His only Son’s life for you and me. Depression, anxiety, and worries in the Christian believer’s life not only reveals the lack of faith and trust in God’s love and power, but we also fail to appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice of the Plan of Redemption to save our souls.

The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were written so we could learn of Jesus’ Righteous Character and His earthly life. From studying the Scriptures, we find that Jesus was hated by the Jewish leaders who constantly plotted to kill him. Jesus prayed for the strength to persevere despite the constant rejection He faced and with God’s power, our Precious Savior completed His earthly mission.

The Holy Scriptures reveal Jesus as patient, loving, kind, and compassionate Savior who was on a spiritual mission to save all who would believe. Christ’s heart overflowed with love for humanity, always performing more miracles of healing than He taught and preached sermons.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS” —Matthew 11:29, NASB

NOTHING TENDS MORE to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings—as much as a duty as it is to pray. If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners and complaining all along the way to our Father’s house? The Ministry of Healing

“Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” —Hebrews 10:38

Who are the “Just?” How can we maintain a spirit of gratitude and praise especially when our circumstances are challenging? By Walking in Faith!

The just are the righteous believers who trust God and wait for His perfect timing. If you want someone acting in your behalf, whether it is health, family issues, or finances, only God has all the knowledge, wisdom, and power to bring us victory despite our challenges. God expects us to depend on Him for spiritual healing as well as resolving the adversities of life.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” —Psalm 27:1,14

David wrote the Psalms which are songs of praise. Yes, many times, he was discouraged because his enemies [including his sons, except for Solomon] plotted continually to take his life. Yet, David never lost hope. In the Psalms, he expressed despair but always transitioned to praising God by expressing faith and trust in our Heavenly Father.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We have one opportunity (our earthly lives) to exercise complete faith and trust in God and to cooperate with the Holy Spirit so our character can be changed into the likeness of Christ. For the gift of His precious blood, we have more than enough reasons to be happy and joyful, and to live a life full of praise and contentment, daily preparing for Jesus’ Second Coming.

“I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.” —Psalm 13:6

God, we commit to faithfully trusting You with our lives. Thank You for the gift of Jesus to redeem us from the consequences of sin. And we praise You because You are always faithful. We pray for a new heart filled with courage, love, faith, and trust. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

Happy, Cheerful, and Joyful In Christ

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 5, 2024

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” —Psalm 16:11

THOSE WHO ABIDE IN JESUS will be happy, cheerful, and joyful in God. A subdued gentleness will mark the voice, reverence for spiritual and eternal things will be expressed in the actions, and music, joyful music, will echo from the lips; for it is wafted (conveyed) from the throne of God. This is the mystery of godliness, not easily explained, but nonetheless felt and enjoyed. EGW

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” —Ezekiel 36:26, NLT

A stubborn and rebellious heart can close its doors to all the sweet influences of the grace of God and all the joy in the Holy Spirit, but the ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. EGW

Lord God, we thank You for Your amazing grace. May we continue to embrace Your loving-kindness and reflect Your love in our interaction with others. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Sing Praises to God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 2, 2024

“Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God,
proclaiming our allegiance to his name.” —Hebrews 13:15, NLT

“GOD IS GLORIFIED by songs of praise from a pure heart filled with love and devotion to Him…Those who adhere strictly to the admonitions and instructions of God’s word, prayerfully seeking to know and do His righteous will not feel the daily petty grievances…” EGW

The life of the Christian includes continuous tests designed to strengthen our faith in God. We are privileged to have heavenly angels protecting us from the dangers of spiritual warfare. In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus promises He will supply all of our provisions of life. We have continuous help from our Heavenly Father who is only a prayer away. There are no reasons we can use to justify feeling depressed, anxious, or worried.

Our hearts should be filled with love, loyalty, gratitude, peace, and praise for the unconditional Agape love given to us by God, the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. We are the benefactors of God’s amazing blessings and protection. We owe Jesus our lives because He gave his life to redeem us from the fatality of sin.

It’s time to focus on Christ instead of our desires and thoughts. Glorifying God in our earthly lives prepares us for an eternal life of joyfully worshiping our Triumphant King Jesus forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 100: “A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People”

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Prayer: Lord God, we are thankful for Your amazing love and compassion toward us. With thanksgiving, we sing praises to Your Holy Name. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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