Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 19, 2024
“It shall come to pass
That before they call, I will answer;
And while they are still speaking,
I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24
STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 10, 2024
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16
One powerful way to build your faith and trust in God is to change your response to life-impacting events. Whether facing routine challenges or major hardships, every obstacle is a disruption to our lives. When feeling overwhelmed by the busyness of life or a situation arises that human intervention cannot resolve, how do we respond?
Discussing the presenting challenges with spouses, family, and friends is a natural response, but learned behaviors and habits that promote self-reliance by using our thoughts to develop solutions always decrease our faith and dependency on God. To maintain obedience to God, we must stand down our immediate emotional responses to reach out to others before we pray.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” —Hebrews 11:6, NIV
The defining characteristic of a Christian believer is to live a faith-based life totally dependent on God. We cannot please God by using varied responses according to the given situation. Therefore, we obey Christ’s command by changing our first response from discussing our challenges with others [which promotes worry and minimizes God’s infinite power] to “Let’s pray about this right now!”
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:6-7
Yes, it is a daily struggle to live a life of self-denial by exercising faith over escalating feelings. Even so, with humility, we use our wavering mustard seed faith and place our burdens at Jesus’ feet. Remember God has foreknowledge of every obstacle, trial, and hardship we face.
Depending on God gives us a peace that permeates our minds, bodies, and souls. Our Father always gives us the strength to endure and provides comfort and hope for the given day—take no thought for tomorrow. And in His timing, we receive a victorious outcome that brings glory and honor to His Holy Name.
“When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.” —Psalm 91:15
Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor loves us, He patiently waits for us to come to the Throne of Grace, and ask for help. Worship shifts our Focus from our Problems to the Almighty God, the Problem Solver. We ask for Divine Intervention and whisper words of gratitude because our challenges are resolved.
“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). Pray in faith and wait. The wait tests our faith! As the days pass, will we remain steadfast and courageously trust in God’s promise to fight our battles?
Now is the time for us to actively participate in our spiritual growth by abiding in Christ through unceasing prayer. Faith bonds us to Christ. Come what may, our confidence and trust is in God! From our daily commitment to surrender, we have total access to God’s unlimited love and power.
The strength of our relationship with Christ is dependent on our decision to redirect our focus and live a Christ-centered, faith-based life. “Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24, BSB).
Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for being the Great, I AM! In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
© 2024 SDJ, For the rest of my life, I will give Christ the best of my life
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 7, 2024
Son of God: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16
Son of Man: “On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.” —Isaiah 11:10
I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). While walking on this earth, Jesus declared Himself as the Son of God. Although rejected by most of the Jewish people, Jesus was the Messiah whom Isaiah prophesied “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ ” (Matthew 22:37).
For anyone who is married and in love, they strive to please their spouse. The foundation of all healthy and growing relationships is unselfish love. Our relationship with Christ is also based on unselfish love. From Christ’s blood sacrifice, He proved His overwhelming, selfless love for humanity. Does our relationship with Christ proclaim unselfish love and loyalty for the Son of God?
“Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him” (John 14:15).
In the parent-child relationship, love, respect, and honor are demonstrated through the child’s obedience. As children of God, our daily worship includes the prayer to know, understand, and obey His will. To prevent us from following our thoughts, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we diligently search the Scriptures which God uses first to speak His will to us.
“My people perish because of lack of knowledge.” —Hosea 4:6
To please God is to faithfully obey Him. The Bible is the Voice of God. The Scriptures reveal God’s answers to every life situation. The Bible is our Spiritual Roadmap that converts the heart and keeps us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness leading from earth to heaven.
“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.” —Psalm 119:97-98, 104
The Old Testament proclaims God’s Laws as the highest authority and Righteous Principles to live holy, sacrificial lives. The exciting history of God’s loving Character and Divine Intervention along with countless life stories of rescuing us from sin and restoring us in the fullness of joy and peace remains unchanged.
The New Testament portrays Christ’s earthly life, His Ascension as King, and teaches us how to apply God’s Righteous Principles to practical living. As we gain knowledge, the Holy Spirit converts our hearts, we experience spiritual growth and transformation and learn how to live righteously. But most importantly, we learn to honor Jesus as our Triumphant King.
Christianity is the only religion that accepts Jesus as the Son of God. Yet, there is ambivalence in the minds of many Christians who do not understand Christ’s authority and His role in their lives. Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God, He is also God. The Scriptures substantiate Jesus as God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead.
Jesus Proclaimed Himself as God: “He took the divine name ‘I AM’ for Himself (John 8:58, from Exodus 3:14). He said that the way to the Father is through Him (Matthew 11:27, John 14:1-7). He made Himself equal with God (John 5:18). He proclaimed that whoever saw Him saw the Father (John 14:9).”
According to Bible Theologians and Scholars, Hebrews, chapter 1 is a record of Christ’s Coronation after He ascended to heaven. From this chapter alone, God reveals that Jesus is also God. Not only does God, the Father call Jesus, “God” but He also refers to Him as “Lord.”
“But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions. And: ‘You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.’ ” —Hebrews 1:8-10
God’s Supreme Revelation: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…holding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” —Hebrews 1:1-3
Jesus Authority Over Humanity: “…as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. ” —John 17:2, 5
Our perception of Christ reveals if our study of the Scriptures is selective or nonexistent, we become fixated on Jesus’ atoning sacrifice alone and attempt to achieve righteousness through our works. Because we lack knowledge of His Preeminence, we live a life that dishonors Jesus as God [He is the Second Person of the Triune Godhead] who sits at the Right Hand of God, the Father.
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him…” (Colossians 1:9-10).
Two characteristics demonstrate Jesus Christ is the Supreme Ruler of our lives: The active desire to be filled with the knowledge of His will and the decision to walk worthy in our earthly journey as His disciples. For us to understand Christ’s Kingly role, we must search the Scriptures, praying for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and discernment, and in submission, we bow and worship our King with faithful obedience.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:10-11
We have a decision to make that is long overdue. Living for Christ: We strive for a sanctified life demonstrated by heartfelt love and the surrender of our will. “Not my will but Your will be done” is our daily prayer [covenant] to faithfully honor God through obedience. From our desire to honor Christ’s Righteous Dominion as our Supreme Ruler, we will receive our reward of the Crown of Life when He comes.
“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.” —Revelation 19:11
A Life Lived Against Christ: The decision to fulfill our desires under the banner of Christianity will end in facing Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” as the Judge and Warrior. There is no excuse for a Christian believer to hold the same spiritual status as the unrighteous. We are not thinking clearly.
“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
Jesus the Son of God and Son of Man is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Christ has given us the warning, “…without Me, you can do nothing.” Jesus Christ has full authority over every human being. Without bowing to our Lord, Savior, and King, sadly, our lives will be lived in vain, and we will perform the rituals of Christianity but never receive heart conversion and spiritual transformation.
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble…” —2 Peter 1:10
The worries of life should never be experienced by saints of God. We have hope through Christ! Without Surrender, our minds become unsure and we develop a spirit of insecurity hoping for eternal life. Yet, we must not commit sins of presumption—thinking we will receive eternal life although we place our desires over the will of God. Our salvation and destiny rely on the choices we make every day.
“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’ ” (2 Corinthians 12:9). From living an earthly life as the Son of Man, Jesus experienced the trials and temptations we face. He extends the invitation, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” —Philippians 1:6
When we understand the overwhelming love of Christ who assures us that He will give us the Divine Help to live a sacrificial and surrendered holy life, we will renounce sin. Prepare daily to receive His Divine Strength from inviting Jesus, God, [the Son of God and Son of Man] to be the King and Supreme Ruler of your life.
Prayer: “Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right [steadfast] spirit within Me.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
© 2024 SDJ—I will live the rest of my life by giving Christ the best of my life!
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 5, 2024
“Thus says the LORD God to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.’ ” —Ezekiel 37:5
For His love and faithfulness, Christ is worthy to be praised! He is YAHWEH who imparts His sustaining Ruah breath of life to His creations. “Ruah is the wind that parted the waters and created dry land, it is the very breath that God breathed into humans in our creation…” wildwoodgathering.org
“O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, His mercy endures forever.” —Psalm 118:1
To worship God in Spirit and Truth is a command for the righteous to love, honor, and reverence the Most High with faithful obedience. From the moment we open our eyes to the mercies of a new day, our first response is to whisper prayers of praise and gratitude to Jesus, our First Love, and the Sustainer of Life.
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.” —1 Chronicles 29:11
The angels exalt Christ, the Commander of angel armies by lovingly fulfilling their purpose—to serve humanity. We exalt Christ by willingly consecrating our minds, bodies, and souls to fulfill God’s will and plans for the given day. Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom, discernment, and Jesus’ strength to fulfill God’s will.
“Hallelujah! Give praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.” —Psalm 113:1
Obedience to God is our highest worship. A heartfelt covenant of daily surrender rises to the Throne of Grace as praise-filled melodies proclaiming King Jesus is the LORD of our lives. The mercy of a new day is a constant reminder that God is Great and He is Faithful. Never-ending prayers and songs of praise reveal our desire to give Him glory, honor, and gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice.
We are nearing home! Daily surrender is the spiritual catalyst that ignites the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the image of Christ. Life on earth is preparing us for a life of eternal worship to our Triumphant King in the New Heaven and New Earth.
“O LORD, I will praise you…Behold, God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Praise the LORD, call upon his name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Sing to the LORD, For he has done excellent things; This is known in all the Earth.” —Isaiah 12:1-2, 4,5
Prayer: God, for the rest of my life, I will give you the best of my life. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen. © 2024 SDJ
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:29-30
Talk to Jesus every day. He is our Best Friend. When we need comfort, He gives us spiritual peace that permeates our minds, bodies, and souls. The love He has for us was demonstrated on the cross on Calvary. “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
We were chosen to live in the 21st Century. Every aspect of our being was designed by our Creator, Jesus, God, the Son. He has a purpose for everyone who will give their heart to Him—to live with Him eternally in the New Heaven and New Earth. We belong to God. We are Never alone! Divine Help is only a prayer away. Jesus, our Savior is now reigning as the Triumphant King in heaven. One day soon, He will return for us. Hallelujah! Amen.
Pray and meditate on this Scripture: The Way, the Truth, and the Life
“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
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 1, 2024
Sola Scriptura: The Scripture is our Supreme authority in all spiritual matters and gives us the God-breathed Truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual transformation. The Scriptures reveal the Eternal Triune Godhead: God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, God, the Holy Spirit, who has no beginning and ending and the attributes of their Righteous Characters.
History of the Bible
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17
“…knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” —2 Peter 1:20-21
From Genesis to Revelation, the theme of the Bible is God’s Agape Love for humanity and every living animal and plant. Yet, as humans created in their image, we are the apple of His eye. To save our souls, God gifted Jesus, His only Son to step down from His throne to suffer, bleed, and die so that we would not experience the penalty of the wages of sin.
God’s love, grace, and mercies are abundantly revealed in every promise, Divine intervention, and corrective discipline. The Holy Scriptures were given for us to know God’s Righteous Character, His Commandments, and Precepts, and is the only Standard of Truth by which we are commanded to live. Great His is love, faithfulness, and mercies.
Martyrdom Paved the Way for Us to Receive the Bible
The history of Christianity includes the Bible’s translation into English by William Tyndale in the 1500s for which he was condemned of heresy and burned at the stake in Germany. Although he was called to be a martyr, God demonstrated His Sovereignty and proved that despite Satan’s evil plans, He is the Supreme Ruler of this world. Four English translations were published within four years following William Tyndale’s death.
Before his execution, William Tyndale prayed that God would impress upon King James to complete the English translation, interpretation, and printing of the Bible. A group of 54 Bible scholars were appointed to be used by God to complete the task. In 1611, the King James Version (English) of the Bible was printed. Tyndale’s sacrificial offering of his life for the Bible to be made available to millions of people globally gives us something to reflect on, how far are we willing to go in taking up our cross to follow Christ?
The Light to Guide Us on the Narrow Path
The Bible is our Spiritual Guide to living holy. Our desire to study and obey the Scriptures has waned. Without Scriptural knowledge, we cannot experience spiritual transformation or know the will of God. Many are studying the Bible for intellectual knowledge instead of praying for God to give them a clean heart.
We require astute knowledge and spiritual discernment to understand the Scriptures and strengthen our faith. God, the Holy Spirit is not intrusive, we must pray for His presence, power, and Divine wisdom before we study the Scriptures.
The Holy Spirit will only enter a clean temple. We ask for forgiveness of sins before we open our Bibles—an unclean heart cannot be in God’s presence. The Bible is Holy—filled with God-breathed words of life. Studying the Scriptures invites the presence of God into our worship.
Full cooperation is required for the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts and transform our characters. We are saved by Grace through faith. Our faith is the spiritual conduit that connects our hearts to Christ’s heart. It is Christ who imputes and imparts His Righteousness to every surrendered believer to live holy, sanctified lives pleasing to God.
Satan’s Deceptions
Satan age old trick is to plant the seed of doubt in our hearts. He deceives many believers with “Did God really say?” How are we falling for his lies? He begins with the Scriptures. By twisting and blending a little Truth with his interpretations, he uses others to entrap us into believing false doctrines. Many believers refuse to study and obey the Old Testament because someone preached a sermon that the New Covenant abolished the law given at Mount Sinai.
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” —Matthew 5:17
“And on the seventh day, God ended His work which He had done…and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” —Genesis 2:2-3
God clearly states the Old Testament is still valid [not one jot or tittle will change]. The Ten Commandments are the Moral Code we live by. The first four commandments are man’s duty to God and the remaining six are man’s duty to one another. Satan’s first attack was to place doubt in Eve’s mind and he continues to make us doubt that God’s Original Plans are not valid in 2024.
The 24-hour rest from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset is a God-given time of Spiritual Restoration in which we enjoy the highest level of spiritual worship with God. All secular activities are ceased. Sabbath rest, restoration, and relaxation increase our dependency on our Heavenly Father and provide optimal spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.
The Sabbath is Holy. The Fourth commandment is a covenant between God and the righteous. God was fully aware that we needed to give Him one-seventh of our week to break the bonds of spiritual warfare and draw us close to Him. Satan is cunning, he knows that if we believe the seventh-day Creation Sabbath was changed, he can easily convince us to live a life of compromise and disobedience.
Still, one must consider that if Jesus says all of the commandments are valid then all of Heaven observes and has worshiped on the Seventh-day Sabbath every week since Creation. The seventh-day Sabbath is eternal, we will worship on the Creation Sabbath in Heaven and the New Heaven and New Earth. God never abolishes what He deems as Holy.
When conflict arises between human modifications and God’s law, it is best to obey God. What difference does a day make to God? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if God changed His command to keep the seventh-day Sabbath Holy. All human-made thoughts result in disobedience. Cain offered the sacrifice that he determined God should receive, “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain…” (Jude 11)
When Christ cried, “It is finished!” His sacrificial offering for our Redemption was accepted by God, the Father. The veil tearing from top to bottom indicated the Ceremonial Law—animal sacrifice was done away with. We do not acknowledge the magnitude of false doctrines and the impact of satanic evil on believers as the Apostles Paul and Peter did. How far will we allow Satan to go in appealing to our heart’s desires and separate us from God?
Every day, our love for God is challenged by the raging war within our hearts, prevailing worldviews, and the delightful earthly treasures that appeal to our senses. Some believers are so hypnotized and spiritually blinded that they no longer worship God in Spirit and Truth. We cannot think wrong and do right. Without daily consecration and fasting, the enticement of temptation and sinful desires will always gain victory.
If we truly love God then our love and loyalty are evidenced by changing our mindset to obey every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The righteous live by Sola Scriptura—by Scripture alone, therefore our agonizing prayer is for God to search our hearts and reveal any evil thing that results in disobedience.
From the Scriptures, We Learn These Truths
God is love and He is Just. Faithful Obedience to His Righteous commands and precepts are non-negotiable. We were created with the free will of choice, but cannot save ourselves through self-governance. Faith produces spiritual works, but our works will not save us.
The Evolution theory is a feeble attempt to replace the Power, Glory, and Majesty of Jesus Christ, our Creator, Sovereign King of kings, and Lord of lords. The anatomy and physiology of the human mind and body are a replica of Divinity and will always supersede every human-made technological advancement that attempts to minimize the spiritual wisdom we receive from the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is our road map. We do not have to develop counterproductive strategies when facing hardships, we pray and study to receive God’s guidance even in our daily routine activities. Through the Scriptures, God reveals His will and plans for our lives. When we give God our best, our prayers change, in faith, we not only pray a daily prayer of surrender, but saints of the Most High are praying, Come, Lord Jesus, and take us away from this sin-cursed earth.
Some study for intellectual knowledge, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). How is it possible for us to delve into the Holy Scriptures and remain the same? Only one obstacle stands between us and the conversion of our hearts—disobedience to God. How long will we tread on God’s love and mercies?
“For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times” (Proverbs 24:16). “Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand” (Psalm 27:34).
Even in our disobedience, we receive our Father’s loving mercies. God is not punitive or vengeful. Yes, we suffer the consequences of disobedience, still, we are never alone or abandoned in our spiritual journey whether we are suffering consequences or the hardships of trials.
In John 16:33, Jesus forewarned us of a life of trials. Tribulations and suffering are not punitive actions of an unjust God—they pave the way for our characters to be transformed into Christ-like Characters. Every surrendered and obedient believer receives Jesus’ strength and the power to endure and persevere through their fiery trials and to live as Overcomers.
We open our Bibles, pray for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit, and receive God’s Divine resolution for our challenges and we receive the strength to walk on the water in faith when suffering from tumultuous trials and tribulations. Although our trials can be severe and lengthy, God gives us the strength to endure.
God does not withhold blessings. Every good gift is from the Father above. God’s blessings always glorify and honor His Holy Name. His answer of no reflects the things we ask for in the long run will compromise our salvation and reward of eternal life.
We must give up the pursuit of earthly prosperity, The love of money and tangible possessions demonstrates the worship of mammon—the idol of materialism. God does not choose our final destiny, we decide or not to live as Christ lived, a sacrificial life of humility and obedience to God, the Father which is required to receive our Crown of Life.
How deep the Father’s love for us! Through His Divine Love, the Spirit of Truth was sent to teach us the absolute Truth of every Holy Scripture. We can renounce sin, abolish all false doctrines, and with a made of mind, worship God with immense gratitude in the power of His might!
Not one book or human-made theory can challenge the authenticity of the Holy Writ. The Scriptures are all-inclusive, not only do we receive the spiritual power to “Be holy, for I am Holy,” but Jesus promises, “I will heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
The Scriptures shine joy upon our sorrow, hope upon our discouragement, light upon our darkness. They give direction for our confusion, certainty in our perplexity, strength in our weakness, and wisdom in our ignorance. When we meditate upon the Word of God and by faith trust its promises, God’s life-giving power energizes our entire being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. ssnet.org
“And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, ‘Strike this army with blindness.’ So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.” —2 Kings 6:17-18
Our unfailing duty to God is to revere and honor Him through faithful obedience and to live by Scripture alone! It is the contrite and surrendered heart that receives the deepest spiritual discernment. The Holy Spirit works great and mighty feats of imparting wisdom and discernment to open our eyes to perceive the Power of God. We serve the same Mighty and Powerful God that Elisha served. It’s time to live a faith-based, consecrated life that brings God’s unlimited power into our lives.
The Bible is the greatest Book of all. Our faith and trust in God are strengthened when we study the faith and courage of our Biblical heroes. They prayed in faith because they believed in the Mighty Power of God. The Old Testament reveals God’s love and Divine Intervention to give victory in the most daunting situations. From living a consecrated and obedient life, our God will demonstrate that He is God alone, every day He is still parting Red Seas.
To surrender is to receive Jesus’ peace. Live by Sola Scriptura: The Holy God-breathed words of Righteousness.
Christ is waiting for us to turn our focus from distractions, discard false teachings, and live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We have an enemy working overtime to steal our souls and our reward of the Crown of Life. Fight using the Scriptures as Jesus did when tempted in the wilderness.
It is time for us to study the Scriptures and pray for heart conversion and spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ, and we will receive Divine Power. Only then can we boldly proclaim, Satan, I rebuke you in the Mighty Name of Jesus, and he will flee. The Struggle is Real, but Victory is Sure through Christ Jesus! ©2024 SDJ
“Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25
Surrender Reveals Our Love for God
Our greatest act of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ is based on love. Because God is Sovereign and Omniscient, in humility, our daily prayer is, Lord, what do you want me to do?
Daily surrender not only reveals our love and faithful obedience to our Great God and Loving Savior, but also proclaims our desire to live forever in the presence of our High and Holy King, Jesus Christ. Amen!
STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 26, 2024
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…’ ” —Genesis 1:26
When hardships, sickness, and death enter our lives, we need Christ’s Healing Balm to soothe our anxieties, emotional or physical pain, and sorrows. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows lived a bittersweet life. He knows the extreme side of suffering. Trust Jesus, God the Son to give you His Divine peace and strength. Only His love and power can provide the Spiritual Touch to heal our mental, emotional, and physical infirmities.
We do not have to pray lengthy prayers. The prayer of faith, “Jesus, help me” receives an immediate response from our Loving Savior. Jesus, the Great Physician is meek, loving, and compassionate. Although we are not promised physical healing, we always receive the Divine strength to persevere. All of heaven is involved in the believer’s Chosen Path of suffering. Never stop praying!
When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane, in response to His prayers, God, the Father sent angels to minister and impart Divine strength to His Son needed to complete the Plan of Redemption for you and me. Our prayers for Divine Help receive the same heavenly response.
The Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayers of faith to Christ, our High Priest and Intercessor. We receive Christ’s supernatural strength and peace from the Holy Spirit, and the Commander of angel armies sends His angels to refresh our minds, bodies, and souls with His Living Water. Oh, what love the Father has for us.
Lord God, we pray for those who are experiencing the harsh vicissitudes of war, famine, natural disasters, financial loss, grieving from the death of loved ones, and overwhelming illnesses. We ask for an outpouring of Your strength to comfort and power to heal according to Your will. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen. © SDJ 2024
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 24, 2024
“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” —Deuteronomy 33:25
The perplexities, lengthy trials, and hardships we endure will never overpower us. “We have the promise that…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, NLT). (Joy in Tribulation).
The converted believer’s earthly journey is tumultuous because all unrighteous character traits, sinful desires, and habits must be removed. The journey on our chosen paths differs, yet, God’s goal of the spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities will reach completion until the day before Jesus comes if we are living.
We are granted the mercies of enough time to choose Christ and experience spiritual growth, but the moment we close our eyes in the sleep of death, our spiritual transformation ceases. “For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward…” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The Apostle Paul explains the state of the dead in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.
Salvation is a gift but includes Spiritual Conditions of Participation—we embrace and align our lives with God’s Righteousness. Our human cooperation with the Holy Spirit is manifested by daily surrender and faithful obedience. The Holy Spirit transforms us if we place our faith and trust in God, only then can our hearts be connected to Jesus, our High Priest, and Intercessor. The Holy Spirit teaches, imparts wisdom and strength, and convicts us of our cherished and hidden sins.
“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 14:2-3
When planning spiritual goals, we look beyond our present circumstances, this earthly home is temporary. We must let go of our love for the life we have on Earth. Few believers memorize Revelation chapters 21-22 and reflect on Jesus’ promise to have true happiness in a sinless, most beautiful New Heaven and New Earth. Nothing should distract us from reflecting on the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to see Him face to face and receive our Crown of Life.
In times like these [the last days of Earth’s history], we desperately need to study and memorize the Scriptures that convert our hearts and reveal God’s will for living righteously. We cannot face spiritual warfare without the Spiritual Ammunition of the Word of God. Now is the time to ask the Holy Spirit to fortify our strength so we can live as overcomers destined for heaven.
Our trust and obedience to God must be solid and built on Christ the Solid Rock. Jesus has not only brought us through past trials, but He also promises to hold us in His Righteous Right Hand to guide us safely through our present hardships, temptations, and future tribulations.
Christ rewards our faithfulness by giving us His strength to keep us moving forward on the Narrow Path. We receive Divine wisdom from the Holy Spirit to recognize and overcome satanic deceptions that we cannot discern with our human ability. Our role is to pray and filter the stimuli of the many voices who proclaim their messages are God’s Truth.
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). Never place your confidence in human wisdom. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all beliefs that are not in agreement with God’s Bible-Based Truth. Jesus’ battle plan of sending the Teacher, the Spirit of Truth prevents us from accepting Satan’s erroneous interpretations of the Holy Scriptures.
“The conditions of receiving spiritual discernment and wisdom require that we have an honest, pure heart, and the desire to know God’s will, which can only happen when we surrender to God.” Pastor M. Finley
Pray before you study. Our love, loyalty, and allegiance are to the Most High God. The Spirit of Truth supersedes all human interpretations of the Scriptures. One of our greatest challenges is letting go of beliefs not substantiated by the Bible. Only an unconverted heart refuses to acknowledge their belief system does not coincide with God’s Truth when the Holy Spirit reveals error. We cannot worship God in Spirit and Truth by holding onto misinterpretations and false beliefs that hinder our spiritual growth.
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” —Jeremiah 33:3
Our goal is to hear well done. Monitor the time spent on entertainment, disruptions, and distractions by creating a Spiritual cease-and-desist order to take back control over your God-given time. Make Jesus your Best Friend. We form an unbreakable bond by talking to Christ throughout our waking hours. Our spiritual goal is to grow stronger and become part of the remnant who have the Faith of Jesus Christ.
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.” —Revelation 14:12
According to the Daniel and Revelation prophecies, we face a future of end-time prophetic turmoil with intense spiritual conflict that will challenge our faith in God. Preparing now through consistent prayer, fasting, and study invites the Holy Spirit to give us a continuous outpouring of spiritual reinforcement. The Holy Spirit is our only guarantee of remaining steadfast. We desperately need to go deeper in our spiritual walk with Christ and like John become the disciples that Jesus loves.
“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters…” Revelation 1:12-15
The Roman Emperor Titus exiled John the Revelator [affectionately known as the disciple that Jesus loved] to the Isle of Patmos. Even so, John’s banishment was part of Christ’s perfect plan. The disciple’s tribulation of isolation was for our benefit—the book of Revelation contains the history of the early Christian churches to the future End Time prophecies that foretell a repeat of Christian persecution.
Covered by God’s grace and living off of abundant mercies is a blessed privilege that we do not deserve. We have received Jesus’ warning and directive to His Apostle for future believers: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). Praise God, Revelation ends with Christ and the righteous as Victors standing on the Sea of Glass and Satan and all evil destroyed!
Since Jesus cast Satan and his angels to the Earth, we have always been his focus in the Great Controversy between good and evil. Now is the time to cultivate an aversion to the evil of sin. The truly converted heart does not suffer from an internal conflict of choosing Christ over Satan. We know that we cannot save ourselves and our only hope is Jesus Christ!
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” —James 4:10
God has given Christ, His Son, and sent the Holy Spirit, our Teacher so we can live as overcomers who receive their blessed reward of immortality when Christ comes again with majesty and glory. Take sufficient time and study the book of Revelation under the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Revelation’s plain truth prophecies will impact you as no other book of the Bible.
If you truly desire Eternal life then study the books of Daniel and Revelation. Your perception of this Earth will radically change, and you will strive to live a sacrificial, surrendered life pleasing to God. From our failure to study Bible prophecies and the Old Testament, we only have a limited understanding of the Characters of God, the Father, and Christ, God, the Son.
The lack of knowledge of Redemption, Sanctification, the Judgment, and Eternal life makes it impossible for us to live holy and surrendered lives because there is missing knowledge vital to our salvation. Not knowing the complete story tempts us to fill in the blanks with our interpretations, leaves us vulnerable to Satan’s many deceptions, and we do not possess the spiritual enthusiasm for the Second Coming of Christ.
Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed the earthly arrival of the Messiah. From Adam and Eve to Jacob, Daniel, and King David, to Malachi chapter 4 which describes the Great Day of God, we have Scriptural evidence the plan of Salvation was revealed to those living in the Old Testament times, “The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever” (Psalm 37:29).
Our Triumphant King is coming soon! One day the righteous will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Yes, the King of Glory will introduce us to our Heavenly home, “…’ Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’ ” (Matthew 25:34). Amen and Amen! © 2024 SDJ
Lord God, we pray for the strength to persevere in this earthly journey and to keep our eyes focused on You as we walk on our Chosen Path. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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