Holy Spirit – Page 34 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

This is My Father’s World—Happy Blessed Sabbath!

Our God reigns forever more! Hallelujah! Amen.

The Most Effective and Powerful Prayer: “God, Help Me!”

Sabbath Devotional, September 23, 2023

“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” —Isaiah 65:24

“God help me! These three words reveal our surrender and the desire to place our faith in the presence and power of God. Although this prayer is mainly prayed in desperation, facing the challenges we cannot resolve, the daily spoken prayer of “God help me”, acknowledges the Sovereignty of a Supreme and Loving God and establishes unwavering faith and trust in peaceful or turbulent times.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” —1 Peter 4:7, NLT

Reflection: Do we believe God is a loving Heavenly Father who cares about us?

Our lives are filled with challenges that impact our daily routines. These are the unexpected and frustrating things that are certain to arise and disrupt our day. Including God relieves the burden of trying to figure out resolutions and we receive peace knowing that He can never fail.

Need a problem solved on your job, with your neighbors, children, husband, or wife, or facing the uncertainty of a life-changing circumstance? Go to God!

Make your first response an immediate prayer asking for God’s help. When facing obstacles, adopt the standard of “the need to know.” Not every family member or friend should be included in our dilemmas. Too many voices prevent us from hearing God’s Voice. We take our burdens to God because He gives us a fail-proof resolution that brings victory!

“Pray without ceasing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:17

Regularly seeking God in daily activities builds our faith and trust in God. When stormy trials and tribulations arise that we could never resolve, we will not fixate on the obstacles, our initial reaction will be to pray the faith-filled prayer of “God, help me!” The habit of including God in every aspect of our lives reassures us that our Father cares and gives us confidence in His love and power.

Our God is awesome! He created us to depend on His power. Praying the powerful prayer of, “God help me” invites our loving, Heavenly Father into our lives. Not only will He fulfill His promises and exercise His Sovereign power, but you will receive the peace and joy that comes from trusting in God. And always remember to thank Him for loving and helping you in times of peace and struggle.

Continuous Communication with God Produces a Courageous Christian!

From our intentional faith in God, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength to keep moving forward and helps us overcome challenges with ease and grace. Our faith will be like a mountain that cannot be removed. Today, begin a new spiritual habit by praying for God’s Divine Intervention throughout your waking hours.

To pray without ceasing is much more than having morning and evening worship. If you are ready for a life full of peace, joy, and happiness that can only come from a Majestic God who gives victorious outcomes then Pray, Pray, Pray!

O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth! —Psalm 8, NKJV

Prayer: “God, Help Us! We thank You in advance for Your Love and Divine Intervention. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Battle From the Winner’s Perspective

The Battle From the Winner’s Perspective Devotional, September 21, 2023

The Battle From Jesus, Our Commander’s Perspective: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” —Revelation 22:13

When the Apostle John was given the heavenly vision, he described Jesus’ appearance [study Revelation chapter 1]. “…and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and Death.” —Revelation 1:16-18

The War Has Already Been Won

On Calvary’s cross, Jesus won the battle between good and evil and life and death. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely, I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20).

We Are in the Battle for Our Lives!

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles [schemes] of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” —Ephesians 6:10-13

The strife and temptations that believers face every day are not a coincidence. We are in a spiritual battle with the fallen angel Lucifer who was cast out of heaven onto the earth. Lucifer now known as Satan convinced one-third of the angels to follow his evil surmising’s against God. And he has convinced humanity, beginning with Adam and Eve that God is an unfair Judge and withholds the best from the righteous.

Sadly, many believers have accepted Satan’s false claims about God as true. Although we cannot imagine a believer speaking those words, the behaviors of self-reliance, the refusal to surrender and obey God, and taking action to bring our plans to fruition without praying and waiting for God’s guidance are evidence that we do not believe God will give us the best.

In Ephesians chapter 6, the Apostle Paul reveals the spiritual preparation necessary to fight against satanic spiritual warfare. Soldier mentality reveals the desire to serve and obey, to give one’s best, and to win the battle.

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”—Ephesians 6:14-18

As soldiers in God’s Army, we must “put on” to be prepared for the battle against Satan. Paul uses military terminology in his analogy of the method by which Roman soldiers suited up for face-to-face combat. “Putting on the Whole Armor of God” begins with the courageous mindset that we are enlisted as spiritual soldiers in God’s Army when we accept Christ as our personal Savior. we make a covenant vow to have faith, trust, obey, and surrender ourselves to Jesus Christ, our Commander.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” —Matthew 24:14

Through the Holy Spirit, every person will receive the invitation to join God’s Army before Jesus comes. Many believers who were excited when they accepted the gift of salvation have fallen away because they didn’t realize that serving God requires a lifetime in the battle zone. Failure to study the Bible produces fear and hopelessness. We cannot receive spiritual strength and courage unless we have faith and knowledge of God’s promises and His divine role in our lives.

Signing Up as a Soldier—Gideon and the 300 Soldiers—The Godly Process of Elimination

“And the Lord said to Gideon, ‘The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me,’ saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.” —Judges 7:2-3

When God instructed Gideon to reduce the number of men, the first round of elimination was to identify the fearful and instruct them to return home.

Our Commander identifies Himself

“The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name.” —Exodus 15:3; “Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” —Psalm 24:8; “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

The Godly Process of Elimination

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8 KJV

Many translations use the adjective cowardly instead of fearful. Still, we must note that Jesus mentions the characteristic of fearfulness first—there will be no cowards in heaven. We may rationalize that some people are born timid. When we give our hearts to Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us, and we receive the holy boldness to witness and the spiritual strength to actively resist temptation—no one can convince or persuade us to do wrong! It is a conscious decision to choose sin.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” —Ephesians 6:10

Can you imagine that your country engages in war and the soldiers chosen to fight the enemy are timid? We readily admit that God is powerful, but most Christians do not acknowledge that Satan is an evil angel with power and he uses it against the righteous believers. His only goal is for us to lose our reward of eternal life.

Fact: The war of good and evil involves your soul. There are only two destinies, eternal life or the second death by fire. Study Revelation chapter 20 with a focus on verses 7-9. Satan knows that he will be destroyed. The Apostle John describes the number of people who will be destroyed as innumerable, he compares them to sand…their “…number is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 21:8, last part).

Paul tells us to “Stand!” Fearful believers render themselves ineligible to be soldiers in God’s Army. Cowardly behaviors include hiding your Christianity from others, being afraid to witness, possessing a wavering mindset of God’s truth because you fear exclusion from your friends, coworkers, and family, maintaining a neutral position on social injustices and sinful lifestyles, and embracing worldviews and practicing compromising behaviors to maintain relationships with friends and family.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

Satan has limitations. He is not Omniscient [All-Knowing], Omnipotent [All-Powerful], nor can he compel [force] us to sin!

Jesus tells us the requirement for following Him: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” —Luke 14:26

The hate that Jesus refers to is not the evil emotion of hatred we feel toward others. Jesus used hate as a metaphor to describe the sacrifice we must make to love God first above everyone else on this earth. Recently a pastor described the condition of most people, including believers living in these last days, “Pleasing oneself is prevalent. People worship themselves as idols and strive to please themselves by fulfilling all of their carnal desires.”

“Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” —Matthew 22:37

Who have you put above God? Yourself, family, or friends? Even in marriage, will the believer compromise to make their spouse happy? Jesus told the church in Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).

Our relationship with Christ is one-to-one! Although we can ask others to pray for us, the warfare, trials, and tribulations we face are custom-made for each believer. No other person can fight our daily spiritual battles. Many believers have fallen away because of the perseverance, endurance, and continuous courage and strength required to be a soldier [follower] of Christ.

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

When humanity was created, Jesus equipped us with power, love, a sound mind, and a measure of faith. It is our faith in God that cancels all fear!

Our spiritual journey begins as babes in Christ and our spiritual nourishment begins as milk. Studying Genesis chapters 1-4 and the life of Christ in the Four Gospels is an excellent starting point. A new believer requires spiritual support and mentoring from the church that baptized them into membership. They should attend Bible Study classes in addition to personal studying to receive a foundation of God’s Truth.

As we grow and mature in Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us a deeper spiritual understanding and wisdom of the Scriptures, resulting in eating the meat of the Bible, which allows us to receive the transformation of our minds and characters. Whether we are new or mature believers, we must do our part by studying the Scriptures and praying for wisdom, discernment, and help from the Holy Spirit, our Teacher.

Accepting Christ as our personal Savior is not complex—every day little children accept Jesus. If we tell our testimony of Jesus’ love and how He transforms us and gives us a new life, then the Holy Spirit will take over if the person has a receptive heart. Witnessing strengthens our relationship with Christ.

Prepare for the Battle!

The human effort of daily preparation requires a desire to be faithful, to surrender, and to obey God. From the moment we awaken, through penitent prayer, we express gratitude for receiving God’s new mercies for another day of life and we pray for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Our prayer of surrender acknowledges that God’s Divine Intervention is needed to receive the blessings of wisdom, discernment, and the spiritual, mental, and emotional strength necessary from the Holy Spirit to stand against Satan’s deceptive temptations and strategies to defeat us for that day.

“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 41:10

Yes, our Heavenly Father knows that we need His help to overcome. And He promises to be with us when we fulfill our commitment to honor and reverence Him. Being in the spiritual position of right standing with God requires courage. We renounce sin by choosing to avoid the people, activities, and situations that would result in disobedience to God.

The book of Revelation is vivid in its description of the battle Satan is waging on the inhabitants of this earth. The Spiritual Warfare of good versus evil is one that believers face every day. The majority of our battles are with people who are being used as instruments of Satan. The conflict usually involves foolish arguments designed to rob us of our God-given peace.

If Satan can manipulate and use a situation to upset us then he has accomplished his goal for that day. Without praying when we face challenges, our first response will be fueled by our emotions.

“Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. — 1 Peter 5:6-7

Soldier Behavior: Love God. Love Others. Love yourself. Be humble, gentle, and kind. Pray and use silence. Avoid foolish arguments. Speak fewer words. Use discretion and wisdom. Be decisive and stand firm. Renounce sin and worldviews. Pray continuously. Study the Scriptures. Get ready and stay ready! Read Revelation chapters 21 and 22 once a week to remind yourself of the great reward Jesus has for you.

We are living in the last days of perilous times. The Holy Spirit is working to transform our character into the likeness of Christ. The life we live on this earth demonstrates that we understand the spiritual battle has been won and we have decided to follow Jesus all the way or not. “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” (Ephesians 6:24).

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for Your great love and the sacrifice of Your life to win the war against sin and Satan. We commit our minds, bodies, and souls to follow you all the way. We desire to have eternal life and pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We give You the honor and glory You rightfully deserve as our King. And we ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Trusting in God Always Ends in Victory!

Trusting in God Always Ends in Victory! Devotional Reading September 19, 2023

“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

Many Christians are in a battle of the wills, Our will versus God’s Will. Yes, we love God, but feel more confident relying on our knowledge and life experience. But the decisions we make that intentionally exclude God reveal some facts about the condition of our hearts.

With all of our heart, soul, and mind we love ourselves [before God] by trusting in our ability to produce absolute outcomes.
We practice irreverence by failing to acknowledge and trust in the Omniscient—All-Knowing God.
We embrace the worldview of self-reliance which produces the fruit of disobedience to God

“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 3:7-8

Yes, we were created as free moral agents and have the right to choose, but when we fail to honor God through surrender and faithful obedience, we use our free will to deny God’s Divine Intervention in our lives. Not only do we set ourselves up for failure, but we also take a detour from the Path of Righteousness and lose out on receiving God’s perfect blessings including eternal life.

Throughout the Scriptures, we have evidence of Jesus’ humility and obedience in His earthly life [as the Son of Man] fervently praying to stay in His Father’s will. The desire to trust God is a choice that springs from a heart with overwhelming love for Christ. Our dedication and commitment are to self or God.

“The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.” —Proverbs 4:19

There is no middle ground—either we trust God or we do not trust Him. Trusting in God strengthens our relationship with Christ. Trusting in self separates us spiritually from God. The perception of the power of human wisdom is exaggerated. We cannot foresee the outcome of our choices. Why should we choose to live as unbelievers who fall because they are in spiritual darkness?

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” —Romans 8:5

With spoken words, we can verbalize our belief in God, but without trusting in God, we are certain to suffer the consequences of defeat. You may think that your decision-making skills have given you a good life. Yet, there is no time limit for suffering the consequences that are certain to happen from a believer’s disobedience to God!

As a transformed believer who suffered the hard knocks of relying on my wisdom, there is a better way to live! To believe in God requires total surrender, faith, trust, and obedience. Our obedience demonstrates a heart filled with reverence and honor for God as the Supreme Provider. When I dedicated myself fully to Christ, I began to enjoy the blessings of peace and contentment that come from being aligned with His perfect Will. Yes, trusting in God erases our worries because we have confidence in His promises that can never fail.

Taking everything to God in prayer changes the course of our lives. We learn to rely on the One who gave His only Son, Jesus Christ for us. Our self-reliance and pride are washed away. We eagerly involve God, not only in life-changing decisions but also pray for the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom to efficiently perform our routine activities of daily living.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19

Trusting in God gives us courage and strengthens our faith. From personal experience, I proclaim that our Father always gives Victorious Outcomes to the righteous who trust in Him!

Scripture: “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 NIV).

Prayer: God we pray for the desire, faith, and courage to trust You with our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Ordinary Things of Life

Devotional Reading, September 18, 2023

Think about your priorities. Do they reflect that you are preparing for Eternal Life?

Sadly, we are focusing on the earthly, ordinary things of life that distract us from preparing for the Day of the Lord. The antediluvians—inhabitants of Noah’s era were so preoccupied with their daily tasks and personal desires that they failed to acknowledge the warnings of an impending and great flood that would destroy the earth.

Because of their sinfulness, they could not possess the faith necessary to believe in Noah’s messages, resulting in a lack of desire to enter the ark.

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” —Genesis 6:11

It is phenomenal that the condition of humanity described so many centuries ago is evident again in our world today. Not only are we repeating the same behaviors of those in Noah’s time, but advancements in technology have driven us into a frenzy. We already spend the majority of our free time looking at screens. With the development of AI [Artificial Intelligence] our interest is piqued.

Mentally, we suffer from the negative impacts of spending countless hours staring at screens to keep up with innovation. But the necessity to stay current has produce a life and death adverse effect—believers are suffering from the spiritual desensitization of Jesus’ Second Coming.

The pace of life is one of overwhelming busyness and is filled with numerous voices [secular and religious]. It is the ordinary routine life tasks that result in eating up our time, leaving us no time to worship God every day.

Our Priorities Determine Our Destiny

Busyness has us so mentally and physically fatigued that we do not have time to have a personal relationship with Christ. Or we have those who study the Bible but still live according to their desires because it’s easier to deviate from the truth then to consistently be forced to choose between right and wrong.

“Then Elijah approached all the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people did not answer a word.” —1 Kings 18:21

But our spiritual dilemma requires us to take action and make a choice. Faith, surrender, obedience, prayer, and daily study of the Bible are the non-negotiable requisites for the Christian believer. God must be first!

The apostle Paul said, “I die daily to sin.” We fight a continuous internal battle waged by the desires of our carnal hearts. It is easier to think and do wrong than to live righteously. To remain in God’s will, we must pray the I surrender prayer every day.

The Scriptures define the humility and character that is required by God to receive eternal life. Many have redefined righteous living according to their mindsets and lifestyles. At the end of the day, we should reflect on our thoughts and actions, “Did I do all to the glory of God?”

Are we witnessing to others every day, face-to-face, or through social media? We are not saved by our works, but our works are evidence of our faithful obedience to God’s commands for the spiritual works of every believer.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” —Revelation 22:12

Either we will live our best life on this earth or in the New Heaven and New Earth. We must decide, will our earthly life reflect our priorities or God’s priorities? Each person determines their own destiny by whom they place their love and loyalty. Pleasing self is a form of idol worship.

Yet, Jesus created us as free moral agents. God will never force us to accept His will. But if we choose to follow our agendas then we should not deceive ourselves into thinking we will receive the reward of eternal life for living a self-seeking lifestyle on this earth.

We Require Divine Intervention to be Spiritually Transformed into Christ’s Likeness

“Can people change the color of their skin, or a leopard remove its spots? If they could then you that do nothing but evil could learn to do what is right.” —Jeremiah 13:23, Good News Translation

Although the trending worldviews proclaim that humans possess the powers of manifestation, self-healing, and mind control, we were created with limited abilities. We cannot change ourselves spiritually, mentally, or emotionally. Truthfully, we struggle with the behaviors that we can change. As creatures of habit, even when diagnosed with chronic illnesses, it usually takes a health crisis to initiate a change in an unhealthy lifestyle.

From our desire to be faithful and obedient, we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives to transform our minds and characters into the Righteousness of Christ—Sanctification. Spiritual growth and development are comparable to that of a baby maturing into an adult. It takes a lifetime of human effort and Divine Intervention to change the innate sinful heart into a righteous heart [mind] and character.

We must fully cooperate with Divinity to be changed into the likeness of Christ.

“For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.” —Galatians 5:17

Preparation for eternal life is not a last-minute decision. It is accomplished by putting God first. Praying every day for His will to be revealed followed by our surrender and obedience invites the Holy Spirit’s presence and power into our lives. Spiritual transformation and obedience to God is possible for every believer who is willing to live righteously!

Preparation not only requires us to have an intentional mindset of obedience and the wilful determination to go all the way with God, but we also place boundaries on the ordinary things of life that distract and prevent us from receiving our reward of eternal life.

Scripture: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” —Revelation 3:21

Prayer: God, we are at a crossroads in our lives that requires us to make the decision to prioritize our desires and make the decision to devote ourselves totally to You. Today, we renew our covenant vow with You. Lord, we pray for the strength to put aside the ordinary things that prevent us from faithfully obeying Your Will. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Our Spiritual Journey—Becoming One with Christ

Our Spiritual Journey—Becoming One with Christ Devotional Reading September 12, 2023

Most of us have the natural desire to travel with other people, or at least one other person. Still, many are adventurous and comfortable exploring this beautiful world alone. Even if we decide to forge ahead on a solo journey, the opportunity to interact with others is always available.

The believer’s spiritual journey requires both a solo effort and interaction with the church family for fellowship. What does it mean for the believer to travel alone and how do they receive spiritual support outside of attending church? The spiritual transformation of our hearts and the strength to stay on the Path of Righteousness only involve two participants, the believer and Christ. Yes, the other deities of the Triune Godhead [God and the Holy Spirit] are involved in every aspect of our spiritual transformation, but our daily walk is with Christ.

Because of Jesus’ sacrificial offering of Himself, He took the penalty of sin [the wages of sin is death] and offered every believer redemption from their sins. Coming to Jesus is not complicated, in love and faith, we believe that He died for us, we confess and repent of our sins, and immediately accepted into the royal family of Christ. “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household’” (Acts 16:31).

Regardless of trending false doctrines, salvation is only available through Christ. The relationship between Christ and ourselves is built on love. We dedicate our lives to Christ and honor Him as our Savior and Heavenly Intercessor.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). Salvation is only available through Jesus Christ who died for the redemption of our sins.
“We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). A heart-to-heart relationship with Christ is possible because we love Him.

Where did our love for Christ come from? God is the Origin of our love:

“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
“And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” —1 John 4:10

Sadly, many new converts do not know what happens next once they have accepted Christ as their personal Savior nor do they understand the concept of salvation.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9

Grace is an attribute of God shown to undeserving human beings. We have received the opportunity to be saved from death which is the penalty for sinful disobedience to God. Because of grace, we can come to God in prayer and confess and repent of our sins and we are forgiven. Our sins are erased!

The habit of prayerful confession and repentance should be practiced daily. There are times that we sin and because our hearts are naturally carnal, we may overlook the sin especially if it is a character trait or habit we need to overcome from our former, unconverted lives.

The second most misunderstood concept is faith. Faith is simply believing in God without questions or doubts. We were created with a measure of faith. Let’s compare our gift of faith to a mustard seed. Through consistent faith and trust in God [even in situations that appear impossible], we believe in God’s Sovereign power to resolve every challenge in our lives.

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” —Jeremiah 32:27

Taking our eyes off of the situation and placing them on God’s ability allows our faith to grow abundantly. Imagine your faith growing from a tiny mustard seed to the size of an avocado seed. Yet, the growth of our faith and trust in God has no limits. If we only memorize one Scripture, it should be Jeremiah 32, verse 27.

Our Spiritual Journey Involves Daily Spiritual Change and Growth

Reflection: We can come to Jesus just as we are, but we cannot stay as we are. Tell yourself, “My present character is unacceptable to God.”

Sanctification is the spiritual transformation of our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ’s Character which is necessary to receive eternal life. We cannot change ourselves. In humility and surrender, we acknowledge our sinful traits and habits, repent, cease the sinful behaviors, and ask the Holy Spirit to change us and guard us from succumbing to temptation. Never forget, that it takes an entire lifetime to become like Christ.

We can do our part in experiencing spiritual transformation because God has gifted us with innate gifts: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self-discipline and self-control]” (2 Timothy 1:7).

The core value of loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind is the catalyst to daily spiritual growth and transformation.

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” —Philippians 2:8

The willingness to surrender every day to the will of God and the commitment to serving Him with love, faith, obedience, and loyalty is God’s expectation of every believer. God required the same righteous characteristics from Jesus in His earthly life. Before Jesus was born as a human, His mind was one with God. Jesus commanded angel armies who obeyed His directives. Still, God His Father required that Jesus learn obedience.

Spiritual Growth in Marriage

How does our individual walk with Christ and Sanctification apply to a marriage? Although in marriage, two become one, salvation is still one-to-one with Christ. God intended for the husband and wife to spiritually support and help each other to live righteously and prepare for eternal life.

Yet, the willingness to surrender, reverence, and worship God in Spirit and Truth through faithful obedience is an individual choice. Having a first love for Christ is from a responsive heart filled with love for God. Husbands and wives will be judged separately by God. They should not attempt to persuade one another to love and serve God. “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30).

Satan knows his time is short on this earth. He is using any means necessary to separate us from God. Now he is targeting single Christians by presenting people who believe in God but are not dedicated to serving God. Many believers are involved in unequally yoked relationships that eventually cause the believer to reach a crossroads in their relationship with Christ—will I choose Christ or the person I am in love with?

I read a post where a young woman shared a story about never letting another person change you according to their mindset. After dating for a few years, her significant other told her that he wanted to share some good news with her. Naturally, she assumed that he would ask her to marry him, which he did when they met over dinner. But she noticed there was no ring presented with the spoken desire for her to be his wife. Still, she loved him, so it didn’t matter. She was shocked by his next statement, “Before we get married, you need to give up your cats, I can’t imagine living with cats.” Fast forwarding to the end, she immediately broke off the relationship. The majority of women responding to her post disagreed with her decision. Yet, the spiritual issue is deeper than putting one’s pets over a significant other. This was a long-term relationship. His masquerade of pretense equates to deception. His attempt to manipulate her response by presenting the proposal with an ultimatum revealed his true nature of a selfish heart and a corrupt character.

Practical Living Guidelines

“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

Remember, only God knows the true condition of a person’s heart, desires, and innermost thoughts. Living in these perilous times and last days requires Divine Intervention. Believers face many obstacles in their earthly journey. When we love God, we will pray and wait before we decide to accept people as friends into our lives. It is a daily struggle to stay on the straight and narrow Path of Righteousness. Why enter into relationships with those who are stumbling blocks and do not love and put God first?

The healthiest relationships are a result of men and women of God who have a genuine love for God and others. We must possess loving and forgiving hearts, share Biblical views, morals, and values, and strive to put God first. Whether we have similar likes and dislikes, no person can ever be a carbon copy of someone else. We differ in our strengths, weaknesses, personality, habits, and perception of life in general. Our uniqueness is God-given. No two people can ever develop, mature, dream, or think alike because we were created as free moral agents. Let the Holy Spirit guide you.

Each believer’s spiritual journey differs–several factors impact our spiritual growth and development. Do we love God and put Him first? Is Jesus our LORD and Savior? Are we faithful? Have we consecrated ourselves to God? Do we seek God’s will every day through prayer? Are we diligent Bible students?

Based on our faith, love, and loyalty, we trust God due to our knowledge of the Scriptures and our desire to accept God’s will. We have Divine help [24/7] from the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live righteously, avoid mistakes, and experience spiritual growth. Obedience takes our relationship with Christ to the highest level. The Holy Spirit guides us to let go of unholy character traits which are a sum total of our hereditary tendencies and life experiences. Our new character reflects Christ and we begin to possess the Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23].

From our willingness to go all the way with Christ, we receive evidence of daily transformation: We value our times of personal worship. We have inner peace. We gain spiritual insight which results in a change of our perception of God. Our lifestyle choices reflect obedience to God. And we begin to recognize the Holy Spirit speaking to us through our thoughts and the Scriptures. Most importantly, we seek the will of God before making life decisions.

Spiritual growth and transformation are an exciting part of our spiritual journey. Yet, it takes courage! We cannot expect our family and friends to understand our walk with Christ. As we grow deeper in our relationship with Christ, we will lose some friends, family, and sometimes a spouse who will not embrace our journey. Persevere anyway, there is a crown and robe and an abundant eternal life waiting for us. King Jesus is coming soon. Amen!

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

Prayer: God, we pray for strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit to accept our Higher Calling and to stay on the Path of Righteousness. We ask this prayer in faith. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

The Confidence in Knowing that God is On Your Side

Devotional Reading September 11, 2023

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” —Ephesians 6:10-11

Where does humanity fit into the great controversy between the literal supernatural powers of good and evil?

For the righteous, we are the seed of Abraham who has made a covenant with Christ, the Source of the believer’s strength. Yet, we are the target of Satan’s spiritual warfare in which we are powerless without Divine Help. We derive our power from the Source of Life, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“We love Him because he first loved us.” —1 John 4:19

Our relationship with Christ is based on love. Through the gift of His life, Jesus has already proven His overwhelming love for us. Still, Jesus serves as our Heavenly Intercessor. Through Him, we receive Agape love, salvation, God’s grace, mercy, and the forgiveness of our sins. It is our choice to embrace His love through surrender and faithful obedience to His commandments and God’s will.

The Believers Requirement: The relationship with Christ requires a heart filled with love, surrender, faith, and obedience—Jesus must be our First Love.

As we progress into the unknown future, from studying Revelation prophecies, we know the battle of spiritual warfare will intensify. As the prophetic events unfold, those who fail to make a steadfast commitment of consecration and surrender to Christ will lose their courage to fight the good fight of faith. The connection to God is one that we establish and maintain through our daily worship practices of reverencing and honoring God. Christ is our anchor!

For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. —Ephesians 3:14-19

In our personal worship, we separate ourselves from spouses, children, and electronic devices to have alone time with God. It takes a concerted effort to maintain our one-to-one relationship with Christ. From our willingness to put God first, we receive strength, discernment, and wisdom from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “…but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed'” (1 Samuel 2:30, last part).

The Spiritual Conflict we face every day requires the sacrificial practice of putting God first. Facing the tasks of daily living along with the unexpected life events combined with ongoing spiritual warfare would leave us defeated without spiritual nourishment and reinforcement.

We cannot live off of yesterday’s worship. Every day we receive new mercies that require our commitment to much praying, studying the Bible, and taking the time to include the quietness of spiritual meditation. Our desire to listen to the Voice of God allows the Holy Spirit to reveal a deeper insight into our relationship with Christ. With a heart filled with gratitude, we can reflect on the goodness of God despite the circumstances.

“Strength for every current and future conflict is to be found in the believer’s solidarity [oneness] with the resurrected and exalted Christ.” John K. McVay, PhD

God’s Promise: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me, says the LORD.” — Isaiah 54:16-17

Although the battle is continuous, God has ensured that we can be Victorious Overcomers! All three members of the Triune Godhead are involved in every believer’s life. We have guardian angels who fight Satan and his evil angels 24/7. Thankfully we are unaware of these battles because our eyes are shielded from the activities in the spiritual realm.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” —Isaiah 40:29

God’s promises to give us power through the Holy Spirit to fight against the battles of evil. Our role is to consecrate ourselves as soldiers in God’s Army. Striving to live holy is possible when we totally surrender ourselves to God. The human effort of putting God first by seeking Him in prayer throughout our waking hours unleashes God’s power and promises.

“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God:” —Deuteronomy 28:1-2

God honors our dedication and obedience! We receive many blessings including the blessings of peace and joy from having the assurance that we are living in the perfect will of God. From our faithfulness, we have unwavering confidence and courage in the power and might of the Lord. It pays to serve the LORD!

Scripture: “Our soul waits for the LORD, He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.” — Psalm 33:20-21

Prayer: Lord, draw us close to you, closer than before, closer than we have ever been with You. We promise to dedicate ourselves to You by giving You the honor, the glory, and the praise for the rest of our lives, In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

The Call to Stand—Be Strong in the LORD!

Devotional Reading—September 10, 2023

“Pray without ceasing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:17

Today, I agonized in prayer all day into the evening regarding a powerful stronghold—I was fixated on thoughts for two days that I knew would cause me to lose eternal life. Yet, I could not stop the anger from thinking about the situation. Although I have read many Scriptures on continuous praying, I have never prayed like this before. But, I desperately needed God’s help!

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” —Psalm 34:15, 17-18

If I did not continue to persevere in prayer, I would have failed to gain spiritual victory. I kept praying! Finally, around 7 p.m., I received deliverance and the command to let go and move forward in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Now, I am able to understand from a spiritual perspective why God allowed the incident to happen.

The peace that I feel is from the Holy Spirit breathing into my soul. Yes, it feels as if a mighty, rushing wind of Divine peace and strength went through my mind, body, and soul. We should never limit the times that we pray! Prayer invites the presence of God into our minds, hearts, and souls. One thing is for sure, we will always experience change, and gain spiritual insight, and the victory from staying in God’s presence.

Reflection: What is the lifestyle, habit, or relationship that is preventing you from fully devoting yourself to God?

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

We are rapidly moving forward in the last days of Earth’s history. Jesus is coming soon!

To make it through this journey of life and stay on the Path of Righteousness, we need to stay connected to the Source, Jesus Christ. We are told to boldly come to the throne of grace in prayer. We need Help! There are no surprises regarding the spiritual warfare the Christian believer will face in these perilous times. We cannot stay on the narrow Path without the Holy Spirit’s constant intervention which is only available through our prayers of surrender.

Jesus’ Warning: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

The Reason for Our Spiritual Warfare: “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” —John 14:27

We Are Fighting Against Satan, a Fallen Angel: “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

Like a lion in the African Savannah stalking his prey and using stealth moves hidden behind the tall grass or bushes, Satan has increased his warfare against the Saints of the Most-High God.

“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” —Revelation 12:12

Yes, Satan knows that his time is running out. Through observation of our habits, spoken words, and the people we hang out with, he uses our heart’s desires to easily deceive us. Many believers who were once strong in the Lord, are separated from God because they followed the whims of their hearts.

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” —Matthew 24:7

With the increase in natural disasters, the events of Matthew chapter 24 are rapidly being fulfilled. Live with a spiritual sense of urgency and the determination to possess faithful obedience to God. Pray diligently before making [all] decisions! The outcome is only guaranteed when God is involved.

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

Pray before you invite anyone into your social circle. Not everyone who believes in God serves God. And there are many individuals who are comfortable living on this earth who never think about eternal life.

Put on the Whole Armor of God—Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…Ephesians 6:10-18

The Apostle Paul invites believers once they are fully armed to do what ancient Israel did before they engaged in battle against their enemies—and that is, to Pray! The time is now for us to pray specific prayers to overcome our weaknesses, habits, and unrighteous character traits. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us wisdom, spiritual discernment of the truth, and the spiritual strength to live as victorious overcomers. Yet, we must pray and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Christ.

Jesus’ Promise: “To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” —Revelation 3:21-22

Prayer: God, we pray for those who need Your help in overcoming the habits, relationships, thoughts, and desires that keep them from fully surrendering to You in faithful obedience. Many times, our victory is only a prayer away, yet, we fail to call on You for the strength to overcome. Lord, help us to realize that our lives are not our own and You are coming soon. We pray for the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit and the humility to do Your will. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.

How Far Are You Willing to Go for God?

Recognizing the Signs of Change

Recognizing the Signs of Change Devotional Reading September 7, 2023

Since 2020, an unstable economy has forced many retail companies to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Despite their best efforts and the help of the most influential financial strategists, the desires of consumers change like the weather. “Record profits mean a business is strong and its jobs secure. Meager profits indicate a weak business and insecure jobs. No profits ultimately mean bankruptcy and no jobs.” informationstation.org

Future projections are based on anticipated performance. Although companies project with confidence, there are no guarantees. Expert or not, the human mind cannot anticipate the unforeseen drastic change from having a successful business with a large customer base and rising profits to one of failure in a very short time. Customer loyalty is an unpredictable behavior that most companies have to rely on. To remain competitive, companies must remain innovative and competitive by including consumer whims and current trends.

Once a company recognizes declining profits, it must use a quick-fix method. Remaining solvent involves cutting your losses. The strategy of identifying low-performing stores always results in permanent closures. Financial decline in a company’s operating budget always leads to extensive job loss. Massive layoffs are something that we have a strong distaste for, but downsizing employees is always the first option in saving a business. The options used to keep a business solvent are few and drastic measures must be taken to prevent further financial loss.

The question that most consumers ask is, Didn’t they recognize the problem of a decline in sales before hundreds of employees had to lose their jobs?

Yes, but they have no control over the lifestyles of Minimalists and Homesteaders who value need over greed. These populations have the mindset of buying only the things they need for practical use and utilizing repurposing for zero waste. The Baby Boomer generation who comprises 21% of the total population already have everything they need and usually have excessive tangible goods stored in a spare bedroom, closets, and the garage.

Bed, Bath, Beyond, The Christmas Store, Tuesday Morning, and many other retail stores have filed for bankruptcy. Macy’s and CVS Pharmacy are two businesses that were restructured by massive store closures and decreased hours of operation. Yet, some companies made strategic moves that were highly successful. Last year, the new CEO of Amazon improved poor shipping practices and laid off excessive staff which resulted in record profits.

As I thought about the expert financial strategies necessary for a business to maintain its profit margin in 2023 and meet future projections, I reflected on the downward spiral of Christianity. Spiritual bankruptcy is at an all-time high. The average Christian believer is too preoccupied with the busyness of daily life and personal pursuits to consider the status of their relationship with God or to notice that Bible prophecies are being fulfilled.

Reflection: What spiritual strategies are you practicing every day to ensure your preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus?

Perilous Times: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” —2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV

Without spiritual discernment, we will not recognize the spiritual significance of climate change. An unstable economy, a virus that will never be eradicated, the increase in global natural disasters, open corruption, and the pursuit of greed are signs of the perilous times of the last days. We should not surmise that these events are coincidental. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7).

What is preventing us from not living as if Jesus is coming soon?

We have become desensitized to receiving the reward of eternal life because our desires, plans, and agendas are based on self-worship. Satan is deceiving believers with two distractions; pursue your personal goals and we have plenty of time to live our best lives–just do it!

Studying the Bible and dedicating oneself to God has been replaced by the pursuit of personal dreams and goals, and purchasing homes and vehicles. Seeking a lifestyle of pleasure through world travel has enticed believers to invest their money into themselves. Trip Advisor now offers memberships to assist consumers in fulfilling their desire to make travel a permanent part of their lifestyle.

The era when Christians put God first by fasting and praying for spiritual strength, wisdom, and guidance from the Holy Spirit has passed. Weekly Prayer services have decreased because members are too busy or too tired to attend. Our lifestyles reveal ritualistic worship practices–attending weekly church services and hearing the Word of God but not praying, meditating, and studying the Scriptures. Nor do we acknowledge that the spiritual transformation of our hearts requires the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reflection: When was the last time you listened to a sermon on preparing for Jesus’ Coming?

Sermons are no longer Bible-based and Christ-centered. Yes, our character must change, but there is a serious issue when an entire sermon focuses on the emotional needs of the members. Still, the most popular, well-accepted sermons are those that teach the false prosperity theory. The Christ-centered teachings that emphasize the faith and obedience required to have a steadfast relationship with Christ are rarely preached.

Recognizing Changes in Your Relationship with Christ

For many Christians, their relationship with Christ is in Spiritual Bankruptcy and sadly, they never even recognized the change. Recently I listened to a pastor who lives by this creed, “Not my will, O God, but your will be done.” This faithful prayer of daily surrender along with praying for strength and guidance several times a day, studying the Bible, and asking for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to reveal the unrighteousness in your character is the lifestyle we must embrace to prepare for eternal life.

Our Spiritual Assignment: God has called us to witness to those who are lost in sin. For us to witness, we must have an active relationship with Christ based on the power of the Holy Spirit, a life of much prayer, and knowledge of the Scriptures. Our testimony of Jesus Saves encourages others to accept Jesus as their personal Savior.

Preparing for eternity requires morning and evening worship which invites the presence of God into our hearts, minds, and souls.

Listening to sermons cannot replace the need for daily Bible Study. The lack of Scriptural knowledge makes us an easy target for Satan’s deceptions. “My people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). The Bible is the greatest Book of all times! In Matthew chapter 24 and the book of Revelation, Jesus forewarns us of the prophetic signs of living in the last days and the end times right before His Second Coming.

2 Peter 3 Scoffers [Mockers]

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” —2 Peter 3:9

Sadly, many believers have Scoffer’s Mentality—not with spoken words, but our pursuits reveal that we lack the spiritual insight to recognize the signs of the last days. Spiritual bankruptcy is not easily recognized by the person—because we cannot judge our shortcomings. We are unaware of the decline in our relationship with Christ because we measure ourselves against self-made standards. In fact, we think that all is well with our soul and are prepared to receive our reward of Eternal life.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9

“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” —Romans 7:15

Focusing on ourselves is a powerful distraction and is driven by our natural, carnal hearts. Not only do we have external battles from Satan’s fiery darts of spiritual warfare, but our minds are an internal battlefield. We do not have the power to overcome our sinful inclinations without praying for the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit.

How can we determine if we are in spiritual bankruptcy?

Reflect on your lifestyle. Where does God fit into your daily agenda? Is He first?
Our prayers reveal the status of our hearts. The daily prayer of surrender is one in which we commit to do God’s will.
Studying the Bible requires time and effort. Through prayer, we invite the Holy Spirit who gives us discernment of the Scriptures in our times of worship with God.
Love and faith in God are the catalysts for obedience. To obey God is a steadfast decision to actively follow the commandments and precepts of God.
Every believer has received a spiritual calling from God. We fulfill our calling by using our gifts and innate talents to glorify God by serving others.

Change is inevitable! Yet, not all change is negative. Spiritual change is necessary in our earthly journey with Christ.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” —Revelation 22:12

From our willingness to have spiritual growth and transformation, the Holy Spirit uses our love for God, our faith, obedience, and His power to change us into the likeness of Christ. Our perception of God begins to change—we perceive Him as Righteous and Holy—and we pursue righteousness.

Yes, our desires change and we make choices that align with the will of God. Spiritual growth is demonstrated by a lifestyle of modesty and self-control which shows reverence and honor to the Holy God we esteem above all others. We glorify God through our kind demeanor, gentle spoken words, and godly actions.

The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and discernment of God’s Truth as we seek knowledge from the Scriptures. One of the most exciting changes is when we can recognize the Holy Spirit speaking to us through our thoughts. To be close to God by abiding in Christ has its benefits and blessings.

To prevent spiritual bankruptcy, we desperately need help from the Holy Spirit to establish and maintain our relationship with Christ. Through our commitment and surrender, we will experience spiritual growth which exceeds all possible human projections. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” —Jeremiah 32:27

Bible Study: 2 Peter 3

Prayer: God, we pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that we cannot recognize the signs of spiritual decline. We pray for the strength to restructure our lives so that we can live righteously every day as we prepare for Jesus’ Coming. We love You. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.