Globally Mental Health has reached a Crisis. While Christians have their faith in God to rely on, many individuals who know nothing about Jesus are suffering. They ask, “What is my purpose in life?” Many are losing their will to live.
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” —Romans 10:1
As a Christian believer who worked as a Behavioral/Mental Health Nurse, I am asking every believer to pray for those who are fighting mental and emotional diagnoses. Jesus died for every human being that has lived and is living on the planet Earth. “For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve” (James 5:16, CEB).
Lord God, we come to You this Sabbath asking for Your healing touch for those who have no hope. We pray for Your Divine Intervention to touch the hearts of the believers who are eager to be disciples and tell others that Jesus loves them. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 25, 2024
This morning, I read a Devotional on the New Heaven and New Earth. Although the author included many Scriptures from Revelation chapters 21 and 22, her descriptive words expressed a deep longing, joyful anticipation, and excitement from the thought of living forever with God, Jesus, and the heavenly angels in a perfect universe. Upon reading her written words, I felt overjoyed. Yes, the Holy Spirit ignited a fire in my heart.
“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” —Revelation 21:10-11
After the Devotional, I opened my Bible to study Revelation chapters 21 and 22. Why did it require someone else’s desire for heaven to ignite the desire in my heart? As I reflected on Jesus’ promise of coming soon and His description of the new replacing the former sorrowful things, I had a come-to-Jesus right now experience. My spiritual focus needed realignment because the heartfelt desire for heaven is not based on intellectual knowledge.
Truthfully, the embers of my enthusiasm for eternal life were nearly extinguished by earthly concerns. I know that I am not alone. Sermons and digital content on the Second Coming of Jesus are rarely found. How did the Christian Community lose our joyful excitement over Jesus’ promises in John 14:1-3 and the book of Revelation?
What earthly magnet is pulling us away from excitedly preparing every day for Jesus’ Second Coming and receiving our heavenly reward of eternal life?
We are sojourners traveling on a chosen path that is tedious because God requires every believer to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. But we must never forget this temporary journey has an eternal heavenly destiny. The earthly life that we love is a distraction that has led us to feel comfortable with our present spiritual status.
Reflection: Is our answer a resounding Yes? “Am I living a sacrificial life holy and pleasing to God? If Jesus came today, would I receive eternal life? “
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” —2 Peter 1:10-11
How do we make our calling and election sure?
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” —2 Peter 1:5-7
“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —2 Peter 1:8, NIV
How do we prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming? Jesus reminds us that the gate is narrow and few enter in. We choose to renounce sin. And we ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle our fire and desire for heaven. Our love for God is manifested by daily consecration, surrender, faithful obedience, much prayer, Bible study, and daily preparation for eternal life which reveals true heart conversion.
Like David, we pray, “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).
“…the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people…” —1 Samuel 13:14
David was the appointed ruler who replaced the disobedient King Saul. God honored David by identifying him as, “A man after His own heart.” From studying his life and the Psalms, how was it possible for sinful David to hold such a high spiritual status with God? King David always acknowledged the dilemma of being born into iniquity—we have a deceitful heart and without the Lord, we are helpless to change ourselves.
“Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” —Psalm 141:1, 4
David’s response to his sinful nature was to persistently approach the Throne of Grace with humility and surrender. The Psalms are not only songs, but, they are prayers [desperate cries for God’s help] for the deliverance of inheriting a carnal heart that is driven to sin against God. David acknowledged, confessed, and repented of the sinful thoughts that dominated his mind.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10
The Spiritual transformation required to receive eternal life occurs in our earthly lives. Until Christ comes again, we will face the internal battle of good and evil. Our response to overcoming a heart that is driven to please itself is to consistently fall to our knees. The Holy Spirit empowers us to change learned behaviors, inherited character traits, and secret desires.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5
We are the only obstacle that prevents us from becoming men and women after God’s own heart. Yes, we must strive to live righteously, yet, the breakthrough to victory over sin is to acknowledge that we desperately need Jesus Christ. When we stay before the Throne of Grace, Jesus our Heavenly Intercessor covers us with His Righteousness, and we are presented as righteous to God, the Father.
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” —John 17:24
When our heart-to-heart connection with Christ is strong, we will naturally desire to be where He is. A pure heart gives us the courage to remain steadfast and to look upward despite our earthly struggles. With Christ as our First Love and King, the Holy Spirit sharpens our spiritual focus—Christ’s goal for us to overcome is also our goal. The fire for a heavenly life burns within our hearts and at the forefront of our minds is the desire to hear, Well done!
“This world is not my permanent home, heaven is real, and with God’s help, I will receive my reward of eternal life!”
“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.’ ” —Revelation 21:5-7
In Acts 13:38-39, Paul declares, “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.” This passage expresses the core message of […]
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 20, 2024
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin’ ” —John 8:31-32, 34
“He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.” —Proverbs 21:21
To abide in Christ is to delve into the Scriptures and to obey and follow His commands. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is Truth! The Omniscient eyes of God roam the earth and He sees the true status of our hearts [Hebrews 4:13]. If our love for God is genuine and we desire to know the Truth then we are spiritually connected to the heart of Christ, and the Holy Spirit imparts the wisdom to understand the deeper meaning of the Scriptures and the Righteousness of Christ.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” —Matthew 5:6
Recently I read a post entitled “When will sermons change from feel good and return to the Gospel Truth?” To commit oneself to live a surrendered life, strive for holiness, pray fervently, and study the Scriptures only to hear “feel-good sermons” with selected truths must be a profound disappointment. Yet, one must not despair. Loving God with all of our hearts not only increases our faith, but our dedication allows the Holy Spirit to strengthen our bond with Christ.
“O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.” —Psalm 63:1
The believer who wrote the post on seeking sermons based on spiritual sustenance was alerted by the Holy Spirit [our Spiritual Alarm] that something was not right. Not only will the Holy Spirit convict us of the sin within our hearts, but we will also receive warnings regarding the half-truths of omission when preached, written in many Inspirational books, and posted on the Christian blogs. Sadly, pastors and authors exist who are more interested in member and reader recognition than in Christ’s saving grace and teach messages that reinforce the false belief that eternal life is an easy reward.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” —John 7:38
The believers who are desperately thirsting for Christ, the Living Water receive immediate Divine intervention. God does not allow those who seek to remain spiritually empty nor does He leave them in the darkness of only hearing the feel-good messages. The Holy Spirit responds to our prayers of faith for guidance by always revealing a Bible-based church whose pastoral staff is preparing its members for eternal life.
The apostle Paul wrote a warning for the church: “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).
“The Greek word translated ‘itching’ literally means ‘to itch, rub, scratch, or tickle.’ To want one’s ears ‘tickled’ is to desire massages rather than messages—sermons that charm rather than challenge, entertain rather than edify, and please rather than preach.” Gotquestions.com
The reality is that Biblical prophecies are rapidly being fulfilled. We are the “Last Days” generation who desire to hear and read the all-is-well sermons and blogs that promote happiness and to enjoy one’s life because Christ paid it all. The messages of doing nothing for our spiritual transformation because we are covered by grace, or to do good and believe in your heart that you are going to heaven along with the “Name it and Claim It” prosperity and healing concepts are not Bible-Based.
“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” —Hebrews 12:1-3
How did we transition from praying for the strength to persevere and run daily in the tumultuous Christian race to desiring an earthly life of bliss and contentment? “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).
In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus addressed Judging Others, Asking and Seeking Spiritual Blessings, the Narrow Way versus the Broad Way, Recognizing Signs of False Prophets and Teachers, I Never Knew You, and Building Our Spiritual Foundation on Christ, the Solid Rock. Jesus forewarned us that our lives would be filled with tribulations, yet, we must never lose hope because our victory is found in Him.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” —1 Peter 3:15
Every member of the church is a disciple and was left with the responsibility to do our part in sharing the Gospel Truth. Whether we are Christian bloggers, writers, digital content and social media creators, prayer warriors, musicians, singers, poets, missionaries, Bible teachers, or on the maintenance crew in the upkeep of the church, every believer has the responsibility to tell others that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Praying for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to speak through us and for us only has one outcome, we post the One and Only Entire Truth, not from our perspective, but as willing vessels whom the Holy Spirit anoints. Yes, we have the freedom to use our individual styles of creativity, yet, we must never present God’s Truth as watered-down or carefully designed buffered messages of omission that flatter the readers, viewers, or ourselves.
Too much is given, much is expected. We must use our spiritual gifts to scratch itching ears with the powerful, life-changing Truth of the Word of God. Christ has chosen us to write, speak, sing, pray, and share the Scriptural messages of Truth given by the Holy Spirit that challenge, edify, and provoke both the creator and the viewer/hearer to experience deep conviction and desire true conversion of the heart.
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” —Luke 12:40,43
God, we thank You for the gift of Jesus, Your Son that we may receive eternal life if we so choose. Lord, we pray for the courage to share the One and Only Biblical Truth without hesitation even when we are rejected and scorned. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ – Devotional – March 14, 2024
“And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’ ” —Luke 4:17-19
“So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way” (Luke 4:28-30).
In Jesus’ earthly life, He suffered many atrocities including constant rejection and hatred. One of the most significant incidents occurred when He was rejected in Nazareth [the city where He was raised] involving worshipers in the synagogue who turned into an angry mob because Jesus proclaimed He was the Messiah.
Although Satan desired to kill Christ and the Pharisees devised many plots to rid themselves of the Teacher who proclaimed He was the Son of God, God, the Father provided continuous angelic protection throughout the earthly life of His only Son. No harm would ever come to Christ until the Plan of Redemption was completed on Calvary’s cross and Jesus arose from the dead. Refer to Matthew 26:52-54.
“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
As followers of Christ, we must also endure many of life’s ups and downs in our earthly journey. Although most hardships make us feel as if we were the only survivors on a deserted island, nothing could be further from the truth. Because of Jesus’ love and devotion for humanity, He condescended from His Heavenly throne to live a life of sorrow. Jesus the Divine became human and possesses experiential knowledge of our challenges and temptations.
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1
To experience a heart-to-heart bond with Christ, believers are required to possess core characteristics of Righteousness—love, faith, obedience, humility, compassion, and immense gratitude. We must commit the Biblical history of Christ’s life to memory. It is impossible to have a spiritual connection with our Savior and Intercessor when we lack a knowledge base of His life.
Have you noticed there are Four Gospels written by four authors—the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, documenting Jesus’ life on earth? Studying the life of Christ changes our perception of who He is. Jesus is no longer a stranger when we ask the Holy Spirit to give us a deeper spiritual understanding of Christ in our quest for Scriptural knowledge of His life of 33 years.
Not only does Jesus become our First Love, but our faith and trust in Him strengthens. Instead of relying on ourselves, we develop an automatic response of calling on the name of Jesus when facing all hardships. Most importantly, bonding with Christ in our earthly lives prepares us to live with our King eternally.
The worldview of moving forward based on one’s strategic thinking to resolve challenges is the mindset of the transgressing unbelievers who do not mind suffering consequences. Many Christians also practice this concept of self-reliance because they trust themselves above God.
Acknowledging that Christ is the Son of God, but never fully trusting Him leaves us spiritually empty. We can verbalize Jesus’ name, but we will never relinquish our will to God unless we have given Him our hearts. Sadly, traveling on the broad and crooked path of self-reliance separates us from God.
“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
Human reasoning can never compete with or replace God’s Sovereign Omniscience and Omnipotence which always renders Divine outcomes of perfection and completion. We were not created to stand alone in our journey. A dependent relationship with Christ frees us from the need to brainstorm for possible solutions that are destined to fail.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus has extended the invitation to give Him all of our burdens, yet to receive His intervention requires daily surrender. The righteous have privileges and promises that have never come to fruition in the lives of many believers because they have not embraced Christ as their First Love. The rest for our souls is only a humble prayer away, “Jesus, I love You and I need Your help.”
As a testimony, those who have committed their hearts to Christ, receive an all-inclusive daily gift package of love, redeeming grace, peace, rest, contentment, mercies, and 24/7 angelic protection. And in return, all Jesus asks of His greatly beloved is to follow Him in wilful obedience. Taking the leap of faith by placing 100% trust in our gentle and lowly King is our only option if we desire rest [peace of mind, body, and soul] and victorious outcomes.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” —Isaiah 26:3-4
Set a goal for 2024 to study the Four Gospels. Although it may seem strange to take one year to study four books of the Bible, knowing the life of Christ provides the foundation for a dependent love relationship with Him on earth and gives us the desire to live with our King eternally.
Lord, we come to You, bringing every challenge and worry because we have failed to trust You and now we are weary. Thank You for being our Savior, Burden-bearer, and our Protector. Forgive us for taking Your love, grace, mercies, and protection for granted. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ -Devotional – February 12, 2024
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.” —Galatians 5:22-23
The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control…To rule the spirit is to keep self under discipline; to resist evil; to regulate every word and deed by God’s great standard of righteousness. He who has learned to rule his spirit will rise above the slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances, to which we are daily exposed, and these will cease to cast a gloom over his spirit. (Reflecting Christ).
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41
We love God! Yes, we are grateful for the mercies of a new day. Not one Christian awakens with the intent to sin against God. With faithful obedience, we offer ourselves to God through a prayer of surrender, asking Him to reveal His will for the given day.
Still, Jesus forewarned us of the intense struggle required to follow Him. Every day, we experience tribulations [spiritual warfare, temptations, and trials]. Yet, our greatest battle is the internal war of the flesh against the spirit that rages within our hearts [minds].
“For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity].” —Romans 7:15, Amplified Bible
Although our intentions to surrender and obey are good and honest, by the end of our day, we must pray a prayer of confession and repentance because we succumbed to temptation, allowed our emotions to rise up, spoke harsh words, purchased unnecessary things, failed to pray for guidance, followed our thoughts, and the decision brought consequences.
Predetermination, Commitment, and Praying for Divine Help in Our Time of Need
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
“…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25).
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self-control, discipline]” (2 Timothy 1:7).
We received power, love, and a sound mind which allows us to say no. Self-control requires much discipline. No one can force us to disobey God. What is sinful? All decisions, behaviors, spoken words, and actions that do not honor and glorify God.
The answers are found in the Bible. God says, “I change not.” The only law that was abolished was the Ceremonial Law of animal sacrifice. The behaviors and practices that God identified in the Old and New Testaments as sinful are still valid today.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” —Proverbs 14:12
Without diligent study of the Scriptures, a dilemma arises, our perception of sin does not align with God’s definition of sin—transgression of His law and righteous standards. Many of today’s believers do not understand the faith, obedience, and self-control required to live a sanctified life. Because we inherit carnal hearts, without a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ, we are swayed by the world we live in.
The skill of deception is used in covert ways. The secular music, relationships with unbelievers, immodest apparel, chasing success, wealth accumulation, the pursuit of goals [without God’s approval], sexual immorality, cohabitation, yoga, meditation to an idol, marijuana, fermented, and alcoholic drinks, and following our inclinations are worldviews that have crept into our lives.
“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” —1 John 2:6
Jesus’ earthly mission was rigorous, but Jesus was a Prayer Warrior. He is our living example of the spiritual power that God gives to those who seek His will through consistent prayer. Under Jesus’ steadfast guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit, eleven of the twelve apostles were transformed into His likeness. If we surrender ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit and vow to be faithful and obedient, we will receive the Fruit of self-control, and the power to live by it.
“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
Truthfully, we cannot discern our sinful behaviors and habits without asking the Holy Spirit to reveal our unrighteousness. From our love for God, we send up prayers asking Him to search our hearts and reveal every displeasing character trait, habit, and behavior that prevents us from living holy and moving forward in our journey of spiritual growth and transformation.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13
Self-control is a spiritual discipline. To deny oneself of sinful pleasures requires sacrifice. Our deep and abiding love for Christ allows us to let go of worldly habits, behaviors, and friends. To overcome our carnal desires will always require human effort and Divine Intervention. There is no limit when praying for spiritual strength. We pray for strength when we feel strong [lest we fall] and in our weakest moments.
Through Christ, even the weakest are made strong. When we call on the name of Jesus for help, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the strength to accomplish above and beyond our human limits. In the power of Christ, we proclaim, flesh, you will not rule over me! “Be holy, for I am Holy.” Strive for holiness by keeping your focus on Jesus.
“Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right [steadfast] spirit within me.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen
The Lord’s Goodness – Sabbath Devotional – January 27, 2024
We are loved by God who gave us His Son. Christ has the same overwhelming love for us. We receive angelic protection and daily provisions when we are in the right standing with God. In John 14, verses 1-3, we learn that Christ is in heaven preparing a forever home for the righteous believers.
Christ is our Heavenly Intercessor. The Holy Spirit immediately takes our prayers to Christ who answers every prayer according to God’s will. Prayers of confession and repentance, requesting discernment, guidance, protection, blessings, and expressions of gratitude are received by our Mediator, Jesus Christ. His goodness is overwhelming.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Truth to teach and give us discernment of the Holy Scriptures. We pray for and receive the wisdom to live righteously from the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual journey of Sanctification is guided by the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin and gives us the strength to overcome temptation and sin. The Lord’s goodness is without end.
“Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” —Lamentations 3:22-24
Although the prophet Jeremiah laments over his sufferings, he comes to his senses and acknowledges that the Lord is good despite his circumstances. At times our minds may gravitate toward tangible blessings—things that can be destroyed—His goodness of receiving the never-ending mercies of a new day of life, health, and strength is definitely praise-worthy.
“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 [unbelievers] 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. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” —Matthew 6:31-34
Jesus promised to take care of us by giving us daily provisions. This is an area of conflict in our minds because we have embraced the worldview of always worrying about our financial status in the unknown future instead of embracing the blessings that we received for the given day.
Yes, we may anticipate the greatest needs in a few days, next week, or next month, but our faith in Jesus’ promises should calm our fears and erase the false suppositions that we will not have enough for ourselves or our children. The goodness of the Lord includes the provision of our needs, not our desires.
“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
Redirecting our focus on the character of Christ instead of ourselves allows every believer to have experiential knowledge of the Lord’s goodness. Once we recognize the Lord’s goodness, we will understand that we are saved by His grace and clothed with His Righteousness.
We belong to God. Through His Son, Jesus, who has assumed full responsibility for us, we are the recipients of daily blessings. And for the unmerited favor we receive our hearts should overflow with prayers of gratitude. Yes, the Lord is good! He is very, very Good!
Ephesians 3:16-19 Prayer I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. (17) Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (18) And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (19) May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
The Nature of the Holy Spirit – A Mystery Today’s Devotional – January 3, 2024
“And I will pray the father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever—the Spirit of Truth.” —John 14:16-17
“But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.” —John 14:26
“What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” —1 Corinthians 6:19
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Triune Godhead who guides us into all Truth, transforms our minds, characters, and personalities, comforts us with Christ’s peace, gives us godly wisdom, and spiritual discernment, convicts our consciences of sin, and takes our prayers to Christ.
“And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ ” —1 Peter 4:18
God knows we are impacted by our earthly [evil] environment and the countless voices promoting worldviews filled with compromise. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot fight the satanic power of spiritual warfare including daily temptations presented by Satan who uses masterful deceptions.
The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom and discernment to understand God’s love, righteousness, grace, mercy, and the deeper meaning of the Scriptures. We require Spiritual guidance and strength to stay on the Path of Righteousness and to live every day as overcomers. Without the Holy Spirit, we are like the unbelievers who rely on their thoughts, live without a spiritual purpose, and seek peace in all the wrong places.
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:7-8).” Where do we stand as disciples of Christ who are living in these last days? Revelation prophecies are soon to be fulfilled. We are living in times comparable to the abject sinfulness of Noah’s times.
Christ’s Disciples: The disciples were face-to-face and walked with Jesus, the Son of God for three years. Because of their hidden agenda of always wondering who would be the greatest their faith and spiritual understanding remained weak for most of Christ’s earthly ministry. Except for John, the other disciples fearfully abandoned Jesus when He was crucified.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” —Acts 1:8
When Christ ascended, His disciples finally realized their desire to be great in an earthly kingdom would not happen. Yet, on the Day of Pentecost, all of Christ’s love, patience, and teachings given to His disciples, the Holy Spirit brought to fruition. Do we have a hidden agenda? Christ’s command to live holy and to be witnesses not only applied to His eleven disciples but we are also given the same spiritual responsibilities.
Yes, we desperately need the advocacy and power of the Holy Spirit! Most believers are familiar only with the name of the Holy Spirit. One of the reasons we suffer needlessly and become discouraged is that we attempt to use our strength to change and to live righteously. In the Scriptures, Jesus explained who the Holy Spirit is—the Spirit of Truth and His definitive purpose.
Because we do not enjoy studying the Bible, we seek human-derived explanations of the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit which leads many to believe that He is optional in the believer’s life. Thankfully, God decided to only disclose certain aspects of His great power. We have enough on our plates without seeking human explanations regarding the mystery of the Spirit of Truth.
Reflection: Describe yourself from a spiritual perspective. It’s okay to be unsure. Everyone has weaknesses based on the desires of their hearts. What are your weaknesses? Since we cannot judge ourselves, the Spirit of Truth always reveals our sins.
Once we acknowledge, confess, and repent of our sinful traits, learned behaviors, and unrighteous desires, we receive God’s forgiveness and Divine intervention. Although we receive the supernatural strength to discard all unrighteous behaviors and habits, we must also practice self-control.
“Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.” —Psalm 37:24
Do not become discouraged when you fall! Confess, repent, and start over that same day. Spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ’s character takes a lifetime of the Holy Spirit’s power and human cooperation.
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Our only strength is a heart filled with overwhelming love for God. Our love and loyalty produce the fruits of humility, faith, trust, and obedience [all of these characteristics are a result of using our free will of choice]. We choose to surrender to God’s will and plans. When we have a love relationship with Christ then we receive spiritual attributes given to us by the Holy Spirit.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” —Romans 8:26
Do we need the Holy Spirit? He is the One who takes our feeble prayers and presents them to King Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor who hears and answers our prayers. God, the Holy Spirit delivers our prayers to God, Jesus the Son. “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4).
Prayer: God, we thank You for Your overwhelming love and dedication to humanity. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Thank You for interceding on our behalf. Thank You Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit to lead us from our earthly journey to our heavenly home. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray. Amen.
The Gift of a New Heart – Today’s Devotional – December 19, 2023
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” —2 Corinthians 5:17
God performs the spiritual transformation of our hearts. The Holy Spirit [the Spirit of God] works within us to change our hearts [our minds] and character into the righteousness of Christ. Still, the human effort of surrender and faithful obedience is the requisite for the Spirit of God to exercise His transforming power within us.
“If you love me, keep my commandments.” —John 14:15
Blended human concepts say we can be half-Christian and half-worldly. Yet, Jesus gives us the simple explanation that loving Him means total obedience to His righteous commands. Every day, we fight an internal battle to receive a new heart. Will we surrender to God or the innate cravings of our carnal hearts and appetites?
Our dilemma: “The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9
Our thoughts always gravitate toward ourselves. Think deeply about your desires. The human heart [without Christ] naturally desires pleasure. Two areas that we easily succumb to are material treasures and appetite [food and sex]. The desire for tangible possessions and self-seeking gratification is inherent [within us] from birth.
God’s Goal: For Us to Reflect, Reveal, and Resemble Jesus
“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” —Ezekiel 36:26
The power of God supersedes all hereditary traits, learned behaviors, habits, and addictions. With our measure of faith, we accept Christ as our Savior. The Bible teaches us about the righteousness we must possess. By studying Christ’s life in the Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John] we learn by His example the character and lifestyle required for eternal life.
As followers of Christ, God expects us to represent and reveal the Righteousness of Christ in our behaviors, attitudes, and spoken words.
“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” —Deuteronomy 6:5
Our love for God is the catalyst for letting go of relationships with unbelievers and all worldly pleasures and practices that fail to reflect a life of holiness. The human effort of daily prayer of surrender invites the Holy Spirit to give us the spiritual strength required for the transformation of our hearts.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” —Proverbs 3:5
Loving God includes trusting Him with our earthly lives because He is the only One who can lead us into eternal life. His promise to give us a new heart also includes receiving the spiritual power to overcome and be victorious over all of our carnal desires!
“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31).
Prayer: Lord, we pray for the strength to surrender and to faithfully obey You. We desire new hearts. Help us to become the people You created us to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Investing in Your Future with Christ – Today’s Devotional – December 7, 2023
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” —3 John 1:2
Although the world associates material wealth with prosperity, God defines prosperity as having an intimate relationship with His Son, Jesus, and receiving the daily transforming power of the Holy Spirit for one’s character to be changed into the likeness of Christ. To live a prosperous life has nothing to do with the accumulation of wealth!
Prosperity is the abundance of life given to us by God and requires human effort and Divine Intervention. It is the Holy Spirit who imparts the Divine power and wisdom necessary for our souls to prosper. Transformation is not passive, we must surrender and faithfully obey to actively participate in our spiritual growth and transformation.
The preparation required to receive our reward of a heavenly life with Christ occurs every day in our earthly lives. The Voice of God is heard through the Scriptures. We pray for daily spiritual guidance and strength from the Holy Spirit to prevent our drive to follow our inclinations [which are always in opposition to God].
The believer who attempts to live on human effort alone cannot maintain their earthly spiritual walk with God. Nor can they achieve optimal mental, emotional, and physical health according to God’s Righteous Standards.
Steps for Investing in Your Future with Christ
Spiritual Health: Nurturing our souls requires human cooperation with the Holy Spirit who transforms our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ.
Our morning prayer includes the request for the power, presence, and wisdom from the Holy Spirit to guide us throughout our activities for the given day. We are responsible for keeping the channel of communication open between heaven and earth by maintaining a life of continuous prayer, praise, and worship.
Without knowledge of Biblical principles and godly wisdom, our spiritual perception is nonexistent. Studying and obeying the Scriptures provides us with the sustenance to live as victorious overcomers. Thankfully, we have the Bible as our Spiritual Roadmap which instructs us in every aspect of life. In the Scriptures, God has given us the righteous standards that He expects us to obey.
Our responsibility in God’s Divine plan is to surrender to His will and remain faithful and obedient as we strive for holiness.
Everything we need to know about God and living holy is spoken as the plain Truth in the Bible. There is no guesswork in serving God. Through the Scriptures and our conscience, the Holy Spirit speaks to us providing the daily instructions to keep us on the Path of Righteousness.
Yes, we will always face temptations, still maintaining an optimal level of spiritual health is not a challenge because we have the Divine Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit who is just a prayer away.
Knowing our Status in Christ and Living According to the Word of God
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own…” —1 Corinthians 6:19
Mental and Emotional Health—We entrust our minds to those who are not in alignment with God. The prevailing theories that exist in the Mental/Behavioral Health arena are in direct opposition to the Scriptures. The forgiveness of those who abused, mistreated, betrayed, and abandoned you is a spiritual area of major conflict in the Christian community.
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:32
Psychologists and therapists tell us it takes time to process forgiveness. Since we are not promised tomorrow, the best option is to forgive our enemies by praying for them every day that they will accept Christ as their personal Savior. Praying for others changes our perception—we begin to view life through the eyes of Christ.
Stop listening to other people who are not responsible for your destiny. Always obey God! We know that God says we must forgive to be forgiven by Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor, so we trust and obey Him and move forward.
“Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” —Jeremiah 17:14, NIV
Like the prophet Jeremiah, pray and ask Dr. Jesus to heal your mind, body, and soul. No, we cannot change our past atrocities but Jesus is willing to make us well. And when He heals there are no residual mental or emotional scars.
Once we rid ourselves of grudges and forgive those who have dealt with us treacherously, we will receive our healing through the mighty power of Christ Jesus! Reinforce your faith by studying the Bible. The Scriptures redirect our focus from ourselves to Christ. By memorizing Bible stories and God’s promises, we receive hope to live abundant prosperous lives.
Through the Divine power of the Holy Spirit, we receive restoration and the supernatural strength to function beyond our normal abilities. Instead of hurtful memories, Yehovah Rapha [our Healer] will perform a clean sweep and give us the strength to move forward into the New Beginnings of a brighter future.
Our Physical Health impacts our spiritual, mental, and emotional health. If our bodies are unhealthy from the intentional input of fast food high-calorie, sugary, non-nutritional junk foods then every aspect of our minds and bodies is suffering.
Although the focus of the medical community remains on patients who are overweight, some individuals have a normal body weight, yet, their blood work reveals hidden abnormal diagnoses.
The homeostasis that Jesus created our minds and bodies to possess does not exist without the intake of health-sustaining food and exercise. Although many prefer the gym, walking outside in nature is the best exercise.
When our bodies and minds are sluggish from disease-producing foods and the lack of physical inactivity, we will not have an interest in studying the Scriptures or doing our part to receive spiritual growth and transformation.
“When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony [overeating]. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.” —Proverbs 23:1-3
You are what you eat! Satan uses appetite to enslave many believers. They focus on the pleasure of satisfying their tastebuds which pull us into the pride of life. Appetite is a vice when uncontrolled and develops into the worst addiction!
The scavengers of the earth were created to clean the debris of dead animals. The pig, warthog, hyenas, vultures, crab, shrimp, and lobsters are just a few examples of animal cleaners who will eat everything they can swallow. Sadly many believers think nothing of eating scavenger animals that society has deemed as gourmet delicacies.
Invest in your health: God’s instructions in Leviticus on clean and unclean food are not outdated.
“Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.” —Proverbs 26:2
The Food and Drug Administration’s warnings on food-borne diseases and contamination are at the highest peak in the history of humanity. We live in a society where Instant Gratification rules. But the innate cravings for what we desire to be available immediately have penalties—internal damage to our mental, emotional, and physical health.
We trust the second-hand preparation of our foods and drinks to others. We eagerly order processed foods prepared behind closed doors or assume the preparer’s hygiene is as meticulous as our hygienic habits. There is a problem with empowering strangers to handle the most important aspect of our God-given responsibility—caring for our minds, bodies, and souls using godly wisdom.
Improper handwashing is the number one cause of disease transmission. Unless a child is trained to practice personal hygiene principles, they live with compromised standards as an adult. Food-grade gloves do not prevent pathogens [disease-causing organisms] from invading food and drinks.
Change your schedule, cease buying processed foods, incorporate fresh fruits, vegetables, and clean fish and meat into your diet, and [learn to] prepare and cook your meals.
Pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit to guide your food choices and give you an in-depth understanding of God’s health principles. An unclean diet consists of more than food intake. Let go of all profane people, programs, and habits that introduce the degradation of sin into your temple.
Invest in your Destiny: The Divine Spirit of God will not enter an unclean and unholy person who intentionally abuses themselves through pride of appetite, laziness, and sinful pleasures.
The Excellence of Wisdom
“All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands And right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. —Proverbs 8:8-11
Invest in your heavenly future: Live as one who is forgiven. Acknowledge that your mind and body are the temple in which the Holy Spirit resides and ensure that your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health are truly prospering. In our earthly lives, God has allowed us to learn and practice the righteous principles that prepare us for the transition from earth to heaven when Jesus comes again.
Prayer: God, we pray for spiritual wisdom as we invest in our future to gain and maintain optimal health. Thank You for the privilege of being created in Your image. We pray for a closer relationship with Christ. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
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