Holy Spirit – Page 7 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

That’s Who You Are — Megan Tibbits

God’s Relentless Love

Our Heavenly Father Cares – Sabbath Devotional – February 28, 2025

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” —Matthew 5:17

The Ten Commandments [Exodus 20], God’s Moral Law not only gives us the attributes of a righteous character but also reveals God’s boundaries for our behaviors and lifestyles. The Fruit of the Spirit is the Character of Christ: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Although our nation’s laws were originally developed from the Ten Commandments, compromised values have introduced plea bargaining, and loopholes, yet, God’s Commandments and Righteous Precepts are valid [only the ceremonial sacrificial law of animals has been abolished]. With love, God reminds us, “I do not change” so we are not deceived by false teachings that His Law was done away with or nailed to the cross.

“You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.” —1 Corinthians 6: 20

“This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 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 4:9-10

Many Christians do not understand the relentless love required of God to give His Only Son, Jesus, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead to become human and suffer on this earth to save our souls. And we certainly do not understand our active role in our salvation, or we would faithfully seek and obey God’s will and plans every day.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1, NIV). With our cooperation, the Holy Spirit gradually transforms our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). Living sacrificial lives is revealed through the spoken words, Lord, I surrender myself to You, I ask You to reveal your plans for today. And then we actively work on our salvation by obeying God instead of fulfilling our desires.

“Abraham said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’ ” —Genesis 22:5

Abraham teaches us that faithful obedience is our highest worship to God. Putting God first is essential for living a life of faith-driven obedience. Our response to the mercies of a new day in a morning prayer of consecration reveals that we love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.

” ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” —Luke 22: 42-44

Although Abraham’s obedience to sacrifice Isaac, his only son [whom he loved with all of his heart] is perceived as the most difficult test of faith, Jesus gives us the ultimate example of faithful obedience when He died on Calvary’s Cross to fulfill the Plan of Redemption.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV

Saved by grace is a privilege, graciously gifted to us by God. Our salvation is based on faith in Christ and obedience to God. “If you love me keep my Commandments.” Disobedience has devastating consequences on our character. Living outside of God’s will changes our mindset, we lose our spiritual perception and easily choose sinful compromise over righteousness.

“…Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16

Throughout the Bible, we have evidence that God has always required the human effort of faith and obedience. Living holy is impossible without Christ’s strength. We need help to overcome our thoughts, choices, and lifestyles that reflect the carnal desires of our hearts. Think of your life as a Spiritual Journey with Jesus Christ. Pray for help! “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

“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

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” —2 Timothy 1:7

God developed the battle plan to overcome our sinful tendencies. We are not helpless in the fight between good and evil. Satan cannot coerce or force us to disobey God. From the moment we are tempted, the Holy Spirit alerts us through our thoughts we are facing a sinful situation. We begin to feel uneasy within our spirit. At that moment, we pray for strength and use our self-control by proclaiming, I will not sin against God, or we ignore the warning and choose to sin.

God’s Love is Relentless! Loving God produces appreciation for His faithfulness and propels us to consecrate ourselves daily to live holy, obedient, and sacrificial lives. From our willingness to obey, Jesus empowers us with His supernatural strength. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the guidance to live as Victorious Overcomers preparing for the Second Coming of our Triumphant King.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14:1-3

Lord God, we thank You for Your relentless love and ask for the strength to overcome our internal desires and fight against the external opposition to separate us from You. We love You and consecrate ourselves to strive for righteousness as we prepare daily for Jesus’ Second Coming. In Jesus’Holy Name, Amen.

Waiting On the Lord Is the Test

Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – February 26, 2025

Waiting isn’t just a passive attitude about life, rather it is active stillness. To wait on the Lord means to use one’s faith to pause and expect further instructions. It means to remain in your present circumstances doing whatever you are doing until God gives you a word of instruction to do otherwise.

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” —Psalm 27:13-14

Waiting on God is intentional, focused, and fully believing in His desire to grant us victory. Waiting requires that we posture ourselves to hear God’s Voice and surrender through obedience. There is no such thing as waiting on God without praying for His guidance and obeying His plans. Often, the duration of a lengthy wait causes us to lose hope and we begin to worry and strategize.

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

We must remember that God is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory! Faith requires Courage and Dependency on our Loving and Omniscient Father. God uses time to accomplish His goal of strengthening our weak and wavering faith. Faith is believing that God’s covenant promises are steadfast regardless of how we perceive our circumstances. Pray, Praise, and Wait!

“But they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” —Isaiah 40:31

Lord God, even though it doesn’t feel good, we thank You for the wait because Your thoughts and plans always end in victory. We ask for a change of heart due to our habits of self-reliance to one that desires to honor and reverence You through faithful obedience. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray for increased faith and the strength to wait despite the length of time. Amen.

The Mother Bird Knows Where to Go for Safety. Jesus is our Rock Who Shelters Us In Every Storm.

Facing Job Loss? Our God Is Faithful

Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – February 24, 2025

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” —Matthew 6:26

Recently, after sunrise, I heard a bird singing to the top of its voice to which I responded, “Sing little one, sing!” As I started singing, I reflected deeply on God’s blessings to His creations, human beings continuously receive showers of blessings that we often forget to thank God for. Like the birds, we should sing praises of gratitude every day because we are blessed and highly favored.

The Dilemma: Within the past three years, thousands of individuals have lost their primary source of income due to job loss. “Financial hardship due to job loss refers to a difficult financial situation that arises when someone loses their job, leading to a sudden drop in income and making it challenging to cover essential expenses like housing, food, utilities, and debt payments.”

Jesus’ Response to Our Dilemma: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” —Matthew 6:31-33

Do not worry! We cannot possess a heart filled with faith and gratitude if we are anxious and worried [seeds of fear] about tomorrow, next week, or next month. Live one day at a time! Limit your conversation regarding your loss of income with everyone but God. This is the time to establish a season of prayer and learning to recognize when the Holy Spirit is speaking to you.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.’ ” —Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV

“While many people believe that God must always get what He wants, the Bible tells a quite different story. Over and over, Scripture depicts God as experiencing unfulfilled desires. In many instances, God explicitly declares that what is happening is the opposite of what He wants.” SSNet.org

Redirecting Our Faith and Focus: Yes, it is extremely heartbreaking and painful to face financial loss, yet as believers, we should not possess a spirit of hopelessness nor should we think that our loss is due to God punishing us. Do we believe that our Heavenly Father cares and His promises are a binding covenant to provide for us? When chaos disrupts our stable lives, we use our faith [weak or strong] to believe in God’s love and pray for Divine Help!

“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ ” —Isaiah 46:10

God is Omniscient—He knows the end from the beginning. Yes, He knows that you have not been faithful in serving Him. Move forward by confessing your sins with genuine repentance, and renew your covenant of surrender and faithful obedience. With joyful expectation, ask God for help and thank Him in the same prayer for sustaining you in your time of need. Faith proclaims, I believe God has a plan for taking care of me [and my family]. Yes and Amen!

When faith-based prayer is our first response and the Bible is our spiritual compass, we receive the Divine wisdom that allows us to perceive life through spiritual eyes. The spiritual path we travel leads to victory because it is paved by the footsteps of Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit. True worship is giving ourselves daily through the covenant of total surrender and consecrating oneself to follow and obey Jesus Christ.

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?” —Jeremiah 32:27

God testifies of His Righteous Character and Unlimited Power. The Lord is capable of anything and can overcome any obstacle! Both converted [depend on God and obey His will] and unconverted believers [self-reliance is their roadblock to faithfully trusting God] acknowledge that God exists. The believers with converted hearts know that God is always Faithful, so they acknowledge His Sovereignty by coming daily to the Throne of Grace to ask for help every day.

“So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). It is only by trusting in God’s promises and immutable power that keep us faithful when facing life’s extreme challenges. From establishing and maintaining a lifestyle of devout prayer, consistent Bible Study, and thanking God daily for our provisions, our faith strengthens.

“I the LORD do not change…” (Malachi 3:6). The righteous know their only option for victory is to constantly depend on their Heavenly Father. Financial loss is a storm that is not easily resolved. To persevere through the storm, we must put forth the human effort of faith in God which is reinforced by studying the Scriptures, where God reveals who He is and how He intervenes in our lives.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.” —Lamentations 3:25-26

God is never in a hurry. The wait is testing our faith. Jesus promises to always be with us. Even if the waves are crashing against the boat [Mark 4], He asks, “Where is your faith?” Our Father does not want us to strategize or ask others to help us financially. He will reveal His Divine plan and send dedicated believers who give without expecting repayment to help in your time of need. Do not think or speak words of doubt or discouragement that reveal distrust in God’s Love and Sovereignty.

Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” —Psalm 27:14

Spending time with God at least twice a day in personal worship is imperative to receive His guidance and strength. In the season of waiting, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of downsizing to decrease your financial expenses. God promises to supply our necessities, and we use our faith to depend on our Heavenly Father’s promises, still, we must become good stewards of our finances by eliminating unnecessary expenditures.

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven…” —Ecclesiastes 3:1

Yes, at times, the storm lasts longer than we expected, still, the storm cannot last forever. Do not let the flashing lightning of circumstances [Bills due] become a diversion! The loud thunder [Satan presenting high-interest loans] is designed to weaken our faith. The blessings of God are never in deceptive tactics that promise quick resolutions of fast money.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” —Matthew 6:34

In Isaiah 65:24, Jesus says, “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Calculate your necessary expenses for the month. Pray and present the monetary amount to Jesus who is our Intercessor and thank God in advance for His blessings of the financial provisions. We do not have to beg continuously asking God to help us. Pray in faith and believe that God will provide.

“In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” —Psalm 4:8

When we trust Jesus, we can sleep in peace. By praying and proclaiming steadfast faith in God, we remain focused on Yahweh Yireh, The LORD will Provide. Not only will we receive our provisions, but Jesus navigates us safely through the tumultuous waves and empowers us with His Divine strength to persevere through the duration of the storm.

“But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.” —Luke 8:23

Unlike Jesus’ disciples, we must not wait until our situation is out of control before we ask for Divine help. From the moment the storm begins, pray! The storm not only tests and strengthens our faith but also reminds us that human effort has its limits. “God, Your will be done in my life” is our daily request. Believe, Pray, Praise, and Wait.

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). Yes, it is in the raging storms that we learn to depend on our Triumphant King Jesus who is in the storm with us and promises to always give us peace. Thank You, Jesus!

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” —Isaiah 43:2, NLT

Lord God, we admit that our faith is weak. Still, we approach Your Throne of Grace in faith, asking You to supply all of our provisions in a time of devastating loss. We pray for the strength to endure and the wisdom to identify the things we need to let go of. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

The Impact of the Digital Age On Christianity

Our Heavenly Father Cares – Sabbath Devotional – February 21, 2025

“Digital literacy encompasses the skills required to use technology safely, effectively, and responsibly.”

Who doesn’t love Digital Information and Communication? Not only can we access an infinite amount of knowledge, but we can communicate with individuals across the continents. From the remote mountainous villages to the rugged terrain of the desert, “approximately 67% of the world’s population has access to digital information, meaning they have internet access.”

According to recent health data, unfortunately, we have failed to use technology responsibly.”… with the unending quest for digital information, we have experienced a profound impact on our health, excessive screentime has resulted in an epidemic of Neurological Decline. Health guidelines define ‘excessive screen time’ as more than two hours of recreational screen time per day.

“New research suggests that too much screen time can reshape our brains, and there are a few neurological red flags to watch out for in your own habits.” Red Flags: “Increasingly fragmented attention spans, impaired working memory, difficulty with decision-making, decreased inhibitory control, poor concentration, problems with deep thinking, and a tendency to be easily distracted.”

An Increase in Ophthalmic Diseases: “Excessive blue light exposure from screens is primarily linked to eye issues like digital eye strain, dry eyes, and potentially contributes to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that can lead to vision loss.”

Most importantly, the Digital Age has also negatively impacted the Christian believer’s spiritual goals. From devoting most of our downtime to online activity, we have exchanged prayer and Bible Study for a Recreational Digital Diet. Discussions with other believers are no longer praises of God’s goodness, our values have changed to coincide with secular worldviews, and earthly concerns overshadow our salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:2

Whether our area of interest is financial investments, global economics, political alliances, entertainment, gaming, or watching reels, digital distractions are monopolizing our time. We are unaware that the influx of natural disasters, political corruption, immorality, and social unrest indicates the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. 2 Timothy 3 reveals that we are living in perilous times.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.’ ” —Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV

When God propelled us into this futuristic Digital Age, His plans and goals for the Christian Community were very different from our use of technology, God desired to remove the barriers that prevented us from witnessing the Plan of Redemption—Jesus Saves! Throughout this world.

The Challenge: Calculate your screen time versus the time spent in worship [Prayer and Bible Study].

Like Eve, we have been deceived. We have put our desires above obeying God without thinking about the spiritual consequences. It is not a coincidence that the habit of too much screen time decreases our attention span and creates eye fatigue. Satan, our enemy knows that we require alert eyes, concentration, and discipline to engage in spiritually transformative worship with our Creator God.

We can separate ourselves and remove external distractions, yet our greatest distraction is the internal battle within our minds. Our cellular devices are intertwined with our very existence. When was the last time that you were separated from your phone for an extended period?

The Root Cause: The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). God reveals the real issue: We inherited hearts with desires that naturally rebel against God. Secular Information and pleasurable activities are addictive because they are appealing and satisfy our carnal desires.

Take Action! As long as we have breath in our bodies, and the desire to change, we can change! Our Triumphant King waits for us to return to our spiritual senses and ask for His Divine Help to overcome our Digital Dependency.

“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

Reflect on why you accepted Christ as your personal Savior. Confess, repent, and pray for the supernatural strength to return to God. Although we cannot use human strength alone to live righteously, we can place boundaries on the time spent pursuing knowledge and pleasure that does nothing for us spiritually. We have Jesus Christ, our Savior and Heavenly Intercessor who has promised to give us strength in the times of our weaknesses.

“When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father.” —Matthew 6:6

From personal experience, letting go of excessive screentime is one of the toughest battles you will ever fight. Set aside a 2-hour slot for at least two days to consecrate yourself through prayer, fasting [no food], and studying the Bible. For 2 hours place your cellular device on silent and in another location. This is possible because you will use a hardcopy Bible to study [NKJV is recommended due to Scriptural omissions in many other translations].

Before studying the Bible, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength, wisdom, and discernment. Begin with Genesis and study one chapter a day for two consecutive days. The book of Genesis has 50 chapters which will extend your Bible study of Genesis to 100 days. Repetition reinforces learning and invites the Holy Spirit to reveal deeper insight into the word of God required for spiritual growth and transformation.

As Christians, living responsibly indicates that we are actively working on our salvation and preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When breaking the habit of Digital dependency [that has been practiced for many years], you will experience many roller coaster feelings and the overwhelming drive to retrieve your device even during worship. Keep praying and practice self-control!

“To everything, there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven…” —Ecclesiastes 3:1.

“…making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.” —Ephesians 5:16, Amplified Bible

“Time is a gift from God, and none of us know how much of it we are allotted. Only God knows how much time each of us has on this earth.” Our thoughts, behaviors, habits, and decisions reflect whether or not we have chosen the future reward of Eternal life. Our earthly lives are the only opportunity to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to sanctify and transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ.

From the human effort of establishing and practicing boundaries in our digital activity, we are empowered with Jesus’ Divine Strength. It is the Holy Spirit who transforms our desires, guiding us away from wasting precious time pursuing the secular instead of righteousness.

Prayer is our soul’s connection to the Almighty God and the Scriptures are God’s spoken words, Living, Active, and filled with His Power! We cannot remain the same when we enter God’s presence! His Power is Life-Changing.

“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked—spiritually unprepared—and men will not see his shame.” —Revelation 16:15, Amplified Bible

Lord God, we confess and repent that our time is no longer devoted to seeking You. We ask You for the strength to overcome our innate desires and habits that prevent us from worshiping You in spirit and truth. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

We Are the Beloved of Christ

Our Heavenly Father Cares Sabbath Devotional – February 14, 2025

“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. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” —John 14:1-3

Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled the great Plan of Redemption. If we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we do not have to pay the penalty for the wages of sin. The commitment to follow Christ requires us to live a sacrificial life as He did. Through faith, we seek God’s will and obey His plans because we love Him and trust that He knows and does what is best for us.

“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 22:14

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). God knew that our spiritual journey would be tumultuous and filled with countless human-made doctrines, therefore, He gave us the Holy Bible which contains the Ten Commandments—His Moral Law. The Bible is our spiritual guide to receiving Eternal life.

“We love Him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Because our experiences with love differ, we desperately need the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom to understand God’s love. When we know within our hearts that God loves us, we receive validation of our worth and importance to God, therefore, our identity is not dependent on varied opinions and worldviews.

God’s Gift to His Beloved: “For by grace you are saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). God commands us to “Be holy for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Grace is not only unmerited pardon and mercy for our sins, through the Holy Spirit, God’s Amazing Grace gives us the power to live holy!

“…Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness, I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3). In our times of heart-wrenching distress, God’s Grace meets our deepest needs and out of God’s Heart, we receive His abundant, never-ending, and healing love. We should never feel alone and unloved. “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).

We must understand Grace to prevent us from becoming discouraged in our spiritual journey. Even if we fall, we repent and receive immediate forgiveness. Grace is God’s divine power freely given to transform our lives and make them new. Christ loves us! Spiritually, we are called “The Bride of Christ,” whom He loves immensely and has prepared a forever home for us to live with Him throughout eternity.

The Church is the Bride [Beloved] of Christ—The Righteous Comprise the Church

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” —Ephesians 5:25-27

In the Scriptures, the analogy of earthly marriage is used to represent Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church [which includes all faithful and obedient believers and is not based on denomination] as the Bride of Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus’ focus is on the righteous. In the Heavenly Sanctuary—King Jesus is our Intercessor, continually receiving our prayers, forgiving our sins, and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

God ordained the love of a husband and wife to be the strongest love between human beings. Yet, God’s Love supersedes all earthly love because, unlike our love, His love never ends and is not influenced by circumstances.

Agape Love includes Jesus’ sacrificial death on Calvary’s Cross, and the privilege to confess, repent, and receive God’s forgiveness for all sins [Redemption]. We have received an all-inclusive spiritual package of Divine grace, mercy, strength, wisdom, healing, guidance, and God’s intervention when facing challenges. Yes, we are deeply loved by God!

Sanctification, the lifelong spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities is accomplished daily through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. For all we receive from God, He asks us to love Him through faithful obedience which proves that we serve a Loving and Longsuffering [Patient] Heavenly Father.

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” —Matthew 9:9

The Bride’s Life: Like Matthew, we agree to follow Christ through daily surrender and obedience. In preparation for Jesus’ Second Coming, much prayer and study of the Scriptures is required to fulfill our part in our spiritual growth and maturity.

The Bride’s Sacrificial Commitment: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:1-2

When we love God, worship flows from our hearts, souls, and minds. We seek God’s will instead of our desires. Our salvation requires active participation, we work with the Holy Spirit by renouncing sin. From our willingness to consecrate ourselves to God, we are empowered with Christ’s strength by the Holy Spirit to live as victorious overcomers.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” —Isaiah 61:10

Living holy invites the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and to glorify Christ’s Divine nature through us. We begin to perceive life through spiritual eyes resulting in internal changes. Our thoughts, behaviors, habits, and lifestyles transition from unrighteousness to reflect the Righteousness of Christ. As Christ’s representatives, we are proof that living righteously is possible through the power of 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

Accepting our identity as the Beloved Bride of Christ is to engage in a life of prayer where we can receive the Divine wisdom and strength to withstand the harsh vicissitudes of life and overcome temptations. Every day, we should separate ourselves to reflect on our Savior’s unequivocal love and the sacrificial gift of His life. Never miss the opportunity to pray, praise, and worship in the presence of God!

In John 14, verses 1-3, and Revelation chapters 21-22, Jesus reveals through the prophet John that He never intended for this Earth filled with corruption and evil to be our permanent home. Study Revelation chapters 21-22 often to remind yourself that you are the “Beloved of Christ” and a member of His Church—The Bride who is preparing to live eternally with Christ, our Bridegroom and Triumphant King.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”—Revelation 19:7

Certainly, Jesus is excitedly waiting to come again and receive us—the Church, His Beloved Bride who He paid the highest dowry with His precious blood. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we thank You for loving us and the precious gifts of Your life, grace, and mercy. We desire to love, reverence, honor, and obey You and make a covenant to seek Your will daily. In Jesus’ Loving and Holy Name, Amen.

“Do Not Be Wise In Your Own Opinion”

Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – February 12, 2025

The following is a quote from a recent and powerful sermon on God’s Grace: “Thinking you know everything you need to know is more dangerous than not knowing what you really need to know.” We are living in perilous times filled with instability and uncertainty, yet God comforts us, “I change not.” Always Pray for God’s guidance before making decisions. Do not trust your thoughts or feelings. Trust God and faithfully wait for His answer. Peace and Blessings.

Lord God, we pray for guidance and wisdom as we navigate through this life. Our spiritual journey has been turbulent because too often we have relied on our knowledge instead of asking You for help in our time of need. We ask You to guide us and protect us as we face the spiritual warfare designed to separate us from You. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Changing Our Focus to Christ

Our Heavenly Father Cares Sabbath Devotional – February 7-8, 2025

“Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” —Psalm 103:2, NLT

“God desires that the whole life of His people should be a life of praise.” Every day we should devote at least 10 minutes in solitude to reflect deeply on the benefits and blessings God has showered down from heaven into our lives.

Having breath in our bodies and being in our right minds—alert and oriented—are two of the greatest blessings we receive daily, yet, we often fail to include the gifts of life and cognitive abilities when thanking God for our blessings.

Today, my reflection on God’s Faithfulness even in the countless times I forgot to say, “Thank You, God” prompted the writing of this Devotional of Gratitude. Today we can begin a new habit of thanking our Heavenly Father daily for His continuous love. Amen.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagles” (Psalm 103:1-5).

Lord God, Thank You for Your love, faithfulness, grace, and mercies. You are wonderful, You are Holy, Holy, Holy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Love, Loyalty, and Courage

Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – February 2, 2025

God makes it clear what He expects of us. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” —Micah 6:8

As time progresses, injustices have escalated and moral codes and value systems continue to decline. To remain faithful and uphold our integrity, we must remain focused on Christ who gives us spiritual insight and empowers us with His strength. We cannot remain steadfast and resist overwhelming temptations presented to separate us from God without Divine Intervention.

“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, be steadfast in your faith…” —1 Peter 5:8-9

Prayer is our connection to God. Morning worship is the time to commune with God always asking Him for Divine guidance, wisdom, and strength before we begin our daily activities. Still, we must pray throughout our waking hours to remain spiritually alert and receive the discernment to recognize the stealthy moves of Satan, our greatest enemy who knows his time is short.

“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

Political dissension, social unrest, and natural disasters will increase [Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3], and the battle for our souls will continue until Jesus’ Second Coming. In Jesus’ Powerful Name, we must fight the good fight of Faith every day. Renounce sin and let go of compromising habits and people who do not honor God. If we overcome this sinful world, we are promised the Crown of Life.

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ ” —1 Corinthians 2:9

Love God and remain loyal to Him through faithful obedience. According to the Holy Scriptures, we live in the last days of Earth’s history, but those who maintain a close relationship with Christ have no fears. In John 14, King Jesus reveals His promise to return and give us a forever life in a perfect New Heaven and New Earth filled with love, peace, and happiness. Our Heavenly reward is nearer than we think. Fight, brothers, and sisters against the principalities and spiritual wickedness! [Ephesians 6]. With Christ, we are victorious! Peace and Blessings.

Lord God, as Biblical prophecies, are rapidly being fulfilled, we pray for a spiritual transformation of our hearts and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We commit to a life of no compromise and ask You to cleanse our hearts from all unrighteousness and reveal Your will for our daily lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

The Renewing of Our Mind

Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – January 31, 2024

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” —Romans 12:1-2, NIV

The apostle Paul was given the spiritual assignment of witnessing to the Gentiles [anyone not of Jewish descent] and starting the early Christian Churches. He also faced the challenging task of teaching those who did not know what it meant to serve a Righteous God. The majority of the congregants were from backgrounds of paganism, as a result, ongoing conflict was a normal part of their lives and they brought those behaviors into the church.

During Paul’s time, like now, each individual determined what was morally right and wrong which shaped their perception of life. In studying Paul’s Epistles [letters], we find that he frequently addressed the disputes that arose due to cultural differences and social mores: “Social mores refers to the established customs and moral values within a society that define acceptable behavior…essentially, the unwritten rules that dictate what is considered morally right and wrong within a community.”

Sadly, many 21st-century believers are impacted by the current social mores and worldviews. We practice compromised Christianity as reflected by our lifestyles. Watching programs that contain profanity, sexual immorality, online gambling, chat rooms, and other activities that appeal to our desires and passions are common practices.

“And be not conformed to this world…” We have accepted the societal norm of living according to our version of the truth—resulting in the practice of behaviors that indicate a “worldly form of Christianity.” Although some claim that today’s believers face challenges that are not addressed in the Scriptures propelling them to conform to the world’s standards, God’s Uncompromising Directive is to “Be Holy, for I am holy” ( 1 Peter 1:16).

For new believers, even if the church does not provide mentoring, the Holy Spirit uses various ways to teach the differences between what is common and unholy versus what is righteous. Satan tempts us with the desires of our hearts. Our favorite activities and people create a stronghold on our minds that we cannot overcome without daily prayer, Bible study, and Divine Intervention.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6). Satan, our greatest enemy targets those who fail to study the Bible and pray for wisdom. Since they do not have a spiritual baseline of Scriptural knowledge, he uses social media to present a blurred line between truth and error that is readily accepted. In the Garden of Eden, he asked Eve, “Did God really say…?”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding…Do not be wise in your own opinion.” —Proverbs 3:5,7

Romans chapter 12 is our go-to chapter for living righteously. Paul clearly defines the attributes of a righteous character including the acceptable mindset, spoken words, habits, and behaviors required of all Christians. Our spoken words, behaviors, and habits not only reflect our true characters, but also reveal if we love ourselves over God. Thankfully, there is no guesswork with God who tells us to never trust our hearts!

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” —Romans 12:18, NIV

Testimonial: For many years, I engaged in online sparring which produced great satisfaction and a competitive spirit. One of my favorite challenges was to ask individuals for proof of their statements; otherwise, they were merely sharing opinions that could only convince themselves. The topics discussed were of great interest and required deep thinking. I became so distracted that I lost interest in Bible Study and my prayers were ritualistic and powerless.

God’s Rescue: One day, I watched a program on how Christians should handle controversy. Imagine my surprise when the pastor revealed that he was formerly addicted to sparring on social media. He relayed that while writing a sermon, God revealed His Scriptural guidelines on engaging in controversy. He immediately gave up social media because his allegiance to God overrode a pleasurable habit.

The Struggle: Although I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking to me, I only curtailed my habit by carefully selecting and responding to certain subjects, but I could not stop my habit. While praying, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit that I was sinning against God by sparring with other people instead of using my spiritual gift to witness.

Victory: Praise God through much fasting, prayer, and Bible study, I no longer engage in a cherished habit that dishonored God. Yet, Satan still presents the temptation to spar in various ways, but through prayer and self-control, I remain steadfast in the strength of Christ.

Perform an evaluation of your activities and lifestyle: “Do my thoughts, spoken words, and activities honor God and invite the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual growth and transformation of my character?”

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The renewing of our mind is a daily decision allowing the Holy Spirit to change our character and make us more like Christ. Sanctification [performed by the Holy Spirit] is the lifelong spiritual process of transforming our carnal mind, character, and personality into Christ-likeness.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” —2 Corinthians 5:17

Proclaim your identity in Christ, “I am a follower of Christ and I will not sin against God!” Striving for spiritual and intellectual excellence requires the human effort of establishing and practicing spiritual boundaries based on the Word of God that we refuse to breach. We can desire change, yet, change requires the humility to surrender to God and the courage to say “No” to sin.

Human effort alone does not produce change. We need Christ’s spiritual strength to overcome the unrighteous habits that we enjoy. Discipleship is a lifelong commitment to daily surrender, faithful obedience, much prayer, studying the Bible, and cultivating our minds and talents in our earthly life to prepare for our reward of eternal life.

Transformation: The Holy Spirit can transform your character, making you more like Christ. Spiritual transformation includes overcoming sins, changing your habits, and developing a better disposition.
Cultivating your mind: You can cultivate your mind by studying the Bible, which expands your intellect and strengthens your discernment.
Using your talents: You can use your God-given talents to honor God and the Holy Spirit will work from within and change your character into one that is similar to Christ’s Righteous Character.
Obedience to God: When you faithfully obey God, you will receive spiritual wisdom and discernment which empowers you to view life through spiritual eyes. No longer will you desire worldly activities, your mind will be renewed to align with the righteousness of Christ.
The power of God: We must have Divine intervention to live holy and acceptable lives. It is through God’s grace we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome our inherent tendencies to embrace sin.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. —Psalm 139:23-24

Lord God, we pray for the courage and the strength to let go of sinful thoughts, habits, and lifestyles that separate us from You. We ask for Your Divine help to create in us a clean heart and a renewed mind that desires to pursue righteousness. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.