Jesus is Lord – Page 15 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Fruit of Self-Control

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 Safety of Abiding in Christ—Angelic Protection

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 11, 2024

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

Around noon, the Pastor made an urgent phone call to his elders, deacons, and prayer warriors. He gave a simple explanation, “Come to the church prepared to pray for Robert, our missionary working overseas, God says, he is in danger.” The men arrived and went into a season of prayer for Robert’s safety. Although the timeline is unknown for this story, due to the prevailing circumstances, communication was very limited between the two countries.

The first time Robert attended church after completing his mission trip, he noticed that a time for sharing testimonies was part of the service. The pastor asked for two people to give a testimony of God intervening in an impossible situation. Robert stood, but due to the two-year lapse, the pastor did not recognize him until he began speaking.

During my missionary assignment, I was responsible for disseminating the monthly supplies, we received from those who supported our goal to serve the community. I was traveling on a narrow road known for its danger from dusk until dawn. Anyone who mistakenly traveled during this time would be confronted by a group of indigenous men who formed a human roadblock to rob and often take the lives of those in the vehicle. Although, I allowed enough travel time to pass through the area while it was still light, the conditions of the road extended my travel time. As I entered the danger zone, I heard a sound indicating that one of my tires was flat. Alone and covered by the thick darkness, I knew that my circumstances were bleak, still, I prayed in faith for God to keep me safe. As I laid the flashlight on the ground, I could not see beyond its limited area of light. I realized that I was in harm’s way, but focused on quickly changing the tire and continued my journey. The next morning when I shared the story with my guide, translator, and fellow missionary, he expressed amazement that I was not attacked by the waiting men. Later that evening, during dinner, he shared the following story, Today, I went to visit the men [who attack others] and gave them some of the supplies that you brought. While we were talking, I asked if they saw you on the road changing your tire, to which they responded yes. I then asked, Why didn’t you attack him? They told me not only were they going to steal the supplies, but had also decided to kill this missionary man who taught of a strange God, but he had 26 large bodyguards with swords of light standing around him, they were afraid and ran away.

At this point, the Pastor asked the men who prayed for Robert to stand up and count off, there were exactly 26 men who prayed with the pastor on that day. Yet, there is one more powerful element to add to Christ’s Divine intervention of sending 26 warrior angels to protect Robert, although there was a great time difference between the two countries, the season of prayer occurred at the same time that Robert was changing the tire.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” —Psalm 91:14-16

All of heaven is actively involved in the believer’s life. Not only do we have angelic protection to save us from situations meant for death, but our guardian angels fight spiritual warfare, and are involved in our daily activities of life. God has given us precious promises that declare His love and dedication to humanity. In verses 14-16, from our love for God, we are promised deliverance, exaltation, answered prayers, protection from trouble, honor, long life, and the promise of salvation.

Christ, our Lord and Savior is the Commander of angel armies whose primary assignment is the protection of the righteous. Like the breath in our bodies, we rarely think of or thank God for the mercies of angelic protection we receive 24/7 against the unseen dangers of spiritual warfare and the physical calamities that could easily end our lives.

The warfare of distractions is a cunning strategy that steals our time and prevents us from praying, studying the Scriptures, and meditating on the goodness of God. Today, reflect on the busyness of your life and ask the Holy Spirit to identify the obstacles that prevent you from focusing on our Heavenly Father’s abundant love and never-ending mercies of protection.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” —Proverbs 18:10

Angelic protection is only one of the privileges we receive from abiding in Christ. When we are willing to dedicate our time to worship by giving praises of gratitude to God, we reveal our appreciation for receiving the mercies we do not deserve. The practice of worshiping God with a grateful heart in our earthly lives prepares us for heavenly worship where we will give reverence, honor, and glory to our Sovereign God throughout eternity. Yes, our lives are not only protected but we are blessed beyond measure.

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.” —Psalm 91:11

God, we thank You for Your love, grace, mercies, and Divine intervention. We thank You for the angelic armies who faithfully obey Your commands to keep us from harm’s way and strengthen us to fight against the schemes and temptations developed to separate us from You. We pray for the wisdom to identify and remove all obstacles that prevent us from loving You with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. We ask this prayer in the Matchless Name of Jesus, Amen.

Elohim Shomri—God is My Protector

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 8, 2023

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1

A refuge is something providing shelter, or a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ” —Ephesians 6:12

From the moment we commit to follow Jesus, we enter a spiritual war zone. Every day, in our earthly journey, the righteous face the continuous opposition of unseen spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare poses the greatest danger to the Christian believer, its ultimate goal is to separate us from God.

For over six thousand years, the great controversy of good and evil has raged—God desires to save our souls, and Satan, the enemy seeks to destroy us. Spiritual warfare affects the entire body of Christ. Yet as believers, we also face custom-designed temptations. Temptations are Satan’s most effective strategy against humanity.

Satan cannot read our minds, but he can observe our behaviors and hear our spoken words [not our secret closet prayers]. He is a powerful fallen angel who devises intricate deceptive schemes to make us fall. We are not tempted by things that repulse us. Our temptations easily entrap us because they appeal to the hidden desires of our hearts.

The Onset of Warfare: Your vehicle has 275,000 miles. You prayed for a new vehicle, but God told you to wait. But you have a spirit of impatience and begin to speak words of worry, How will I get to work without a car? Suddenly, you begin to see many ads for great deals with no money down—the onset of spiritual warfare.

The Sequence of Temptation: You decide to go to the dealership just to look and explore the offers [embraced the temptation]. A couple of hours later you sign the contract [the fall]. You perceive this as God’s blessing [the deception of disobedience]. A few months later, you are laid off from your job.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” —1 Peter 5:8

Being tempted is not a sin. From distrusting God’s plan, we pursue our desires and place ourselves outside of God’s protection and into harm’s way. The scheme to make us fall does not come to fruition until the moment of disobedience. Sadly, we have willingly helped Satan to bring us down. Our rebellion to choose wrong over right reflects that we value our desires over obedience to God.

“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, NIV

Praying for spiritual insight and wisdom invites the Holy Spirit into our battle. We immediately receive the spiritual alert that we are being tempted. Our next step is to say no and to walk away. We cannot allow ourselves to engage in a discussion like Eve. Satan has no power over the believer who relies on Christ through much prayer.

We become vulnerable only when we display an interest in the temptation. If we walk away, Satan will not chase us, he recognizes defeat. It is impossible to rely on our strength to overcome Satan’s stealth strategies. If we dismiss the Holy Spirit’s warnings and use our thoughts or strength to confront temptation, we will sin.

The Sin Dilemma: After we have sinned, the Holy Spirit convicts us. Our response to the conviction determines the trajectory of our lives. Will we run to Christ our Refuge and repent?

“For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up…” —Proverbs 24:16

When the righteous fall, our hearts are filled with anguish and guilt because we have sinned against God. If our next step is a prayer of confession and repentance—to turn away from sin, our Redeemer extends His arms in love, mercy, and forgiveness. We are always forgiven but may endure the consequences of our disobedience. Still, we forgive ourselves, receive comfort and strength from the Holy Spirit, and move forward in our commitment to live as one who is forgiven.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” —Psalm 91:1

To abide in Christ is often misunderstood, but the simplest explanation is to live a surrendered, faithful, and obedient Christ-centered life that focuses on doing God’s will. Only a heart filled with overwhelming love and appreciation of the Plan of Redemption desires the safety that Christ gives.

Daily surrender opens our spiritual eyes, and we begin to recognize our true condition—we cannot make it in this earthly journey without Jesus and His protection. Yes, we are truly grateful for the privilege to have Christ as our Refuge. Elohim Shomri—God is My Protector.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” —Proverbs 18:10

Lord, we thank You for being our Refuge and Strong Tower. Thank You for protecting us from the Spiritual Warfare by keeping us safely in Your arms. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray. Amen.

The Lord is Merciful

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional -February 6, 2024

“Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes, I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.’” —2 Samuel 12:9-11

“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.’” —2 Samuel 12:13-14

Psalm 119 reflects David’s heartfelt plea to God, “Do not leave me to my oppressors.” Although God forgave the king for his wilful sins of adultery and murder, David’s sins brought severe consequences to his life. The Lord extended abundant mercies by sparing David’s life, but His judgment would remain. The curse of oppression and strife was fulfilled and enacted by those in his household just as the prophet foretold.

God is always merciful. David was surrounded by enemies during his entire reign including two of his sons, the princes Absalom and Adonijah who were his greatest enemies. But God did not allow the son’s plans to come to fruition and harm their father. God appointed David’s and Bathsheba’s second son, Solomon to be the heir to David’s throne. Not only was Solomon the wisest man that ever lived, he was allowed to build the temple.

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

We must reflect deeply on the terrible condition of the human heart. David’s sins were heinous, but he felt no remorse. The sin of entitlement resulted in King David abusing his position to pursue his desires. Only when God sent the prophet Nathan to expose David’s sins did he confess and repent. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

“You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.” —Deuteronomy 5:33

We cannot condemn David because we are also following our hearts. Our focus has turned from God to ourselves. As one pastor stated, “We have become the idol that we worship.” When we fail to include God in our daily routines by asking for His guidance, we move forward in our decisions to purchase houses or vehicles, pursue success, and enter into relationships and marriages that are contrary to His will.

Yet there are consequences for the Christians who fulfill their heart’s desires without God’s Divine Blessing. When our perception of what it means to live a faithful and obedient life pleasing to God does not align with His Righteous principles, we lose our right standing with God. Our failure to surrender and seek His will every day is disobedience. From our decision to please ourselves, we exchange the freedom of righteousness for the enslavement of sinful oppression.

God’s desire is for us to worship Him with faithful obedience. “…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence…” (1 Timothy 2:2). God does not excuse any acts of disobedience. Do we understand that our independent thoughts and actions reflect a decision to live according to our dictates? God knows the motives of our hearts and our level of spiritual understanding.

“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger, and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.” —Psalm 145:8-9

Following our hearts [unless it is pursuing Christ] is disobedience and disobedience separates us from God. Yet, even in our sinfulness, our Heavenly Father extends abundant mercies. Using conviction, the Holy Spirit tugs on the heart of the believer who has veered from the Narrow Path of Righteousness. Because of Christ, we have the life-saving option of not staying on the detour road paved by disobedience.

Although the Holy Spirit uses various ways, [feeling the discontent of wrongdoing in our conscience, using our thoughts, Scriptures, sermons, spiritually mature people, and even a post on social media] to expose our sins of disobedience, we never have to use guesswork regarding our specific sins. Every sin secret or open is exposed by God.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Yes, it is a struggle to live holy! We have traveled too far in our spiritual journey to throw away our reward of Eternal life for the temporary pleasures of this world. The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the strength to bring our flesh into subjection to the will of God. With faith and courage, determine that you will stay in the right standing with God.

Prayer: “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.” Psalm 119:37

Let Jesus Guide Your Steps

Our Daily Walk with Christ – Devotional February 5, 2024

“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” —Matthew 22:37

God is Love! Every good and perfect gift including salvation, grace, forgiveness, mercy, and provisions is from His overwhelming love for humanity. Our salvation is dependent on our belief that God is Love and He loves us. Still, we must respond by loving God. Our love for God is the foundation of our heart-to-heart relationship with Christ.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4).

Our identity was predestined by God. From Adam and Eve to modern believers, we have been called and chosen by God to represent His love for humanity and to spread the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because our hearts are naturally carnal, and cannot understand the spiritual things of God, every living being has received a measure of faith—the innate ability to believe.

The Divine intervention of the Holy Spirit is required to elevate our understanding to grasp the magnitude of Christ’s unselfish gift of salvation and God’s love for humanity. We hear or read about Christ and our heart responds. Agape love is the catalyst that activates our faith. It is at that moment of acceptance and belief in Christ when the Holy Spirit moves and touches the person’s heart to say, Yes, I accept Christ as my personal Savior.

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” —2 Timothy 1:9

Our response to accepting Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives reflects that we agree with the responsibility to think, act, and live holy. We are chosen and called by God to live a pure life. Because of Christ, we are redeemed from our sins, saved by grace, and clothed in His Righteousness. In reverence and gratitude to the Almighty God, we pray for the spiritual strength to overcome innate sinful tendencies and do our part by striving to live acceptable lives pleasing to God.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” —1 Peter 2:9

We are who God says we are—chosen royalty. Imagine being informed that your family lineage suggests they belonged to royalty. Certainly, you would think very differently of yourself, not with conceit and pride, but you would strive to honor your family’s status.

With excitement, you research to find out more information and seek to reflect on their royal status by establishing higher moral standards. Your lifestyle would not only reflect integrity and honor you would avoid everything that would cause disgrace or reproach to your family.

“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” —Revelation 19:16

Applying those same principles from a spiritual perspective, we excitedly accept the gift and privilege of being royal children of Christ, our King. Through personal worship, we reinforce our covenant vow of love and loyalty to live a life honoring God. Faithful obedience as evidenced by the daily surrender of our will demonstrates that we bow to Jesus, our Sovereign King.

How do we make the transition to live holy? We acknowledge and accept our identity in Christ. We offer prayers of confession, repentance, and praises of gratitude. And we agree to be led by Christ!

David’s Prayer: “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 Royal Guidebook: The Holy Bible is God’s Voice of Instruction. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, we diligently study the Scriptures to learn God’s commandments and principles of Righteousness. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Holiness requires our hearts to be filled with humility and surrender. We give up thinking our thoughts and plans by praying daily for God’s will to be revealed. To live holy requires a shift in one’s thinking and a marked change in our character. To follow Christ instead of our inclinations can never be accomplished through methods of self-achievement.

A life of holiness requires much prayer. From our prayers for help, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the Divine strength to overcome our desires and fulfill God’s plans. Still, we must practice the discipline and self-control required to obey God. Spiritual growth does not happen in leaps and bounds, it is a slow and continuous process.

Immediately, following our commitment to Christ, we begin the Journey of Sanctification—the lifelong spiritual process of our minds, characters, and personalities being changed by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of Christ. To enter the Narrow gate and stay on the Path of Righteousness, we put forth the human effort to fully cooperate with Divinity by fulfilling our commitment to always be led by the Spirit of God.

God, we pray for the wisdom to hear Your Voice and the strength to faithfully obey Your will. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

When All is Well

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 4, 2024

Many years ago, I was shopping in a one-owner business in New Jersey. It was a refreshing experience because the owner was a kind, chatty person with a big smile and a cheerful and friendly personality. We spoke briefly about the large variety of needful things in the store and I resumed browsing.

A few moments later, another customer entered, and the owner stated, Good day, How are you? to which the man replied, “I’m living the life, it doesn’t get better than this.” The owner never responded. It wasn’t only the spoken words that caused the silence, it was the deliberate boastful and arrogant tone of voice that dismissed any further communication.

Without a steadfast relationship with Christ based on surrender and faithful obedience, we readily accept the worldview of self-made success by listening to the strategies of unbelievers who boast of their many accomplishments and encourage others to follow in the same path. They too possess the mindset of ”I’m living the life, it doesn’t get better than this.”

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” —Joshua 1:9, NIV

If you are a believer and are pleased with your decisions, your choices, and your lifestyle without praying for Divine approval or for God’s will to be done in your life then you have a reason to be concerned. Our behaviors expose the condition of our hearts—either we are for God or against God. To live independently of God’s will and plans indicates that we are not safe in the arms of Jesus.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ ” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV). Despite the intensity of our struggle, if we pray in faith and meditate on God’s promises, we will remain confident of His Sovereign Power.

Our Struggle Has Purpose: There is no need to become discouraged, the continuous battles indicate that we are not following our inclinations, thoughts, and strategies, and most importantly the Holy Spirit is transforming our minds and characters for eternal life.

Jesus assures us that in our daily struggle, if we make Him the Lord of our lives by prayerfully seeking His will [even in our routine duties] we can remain courageous because He is greater than our adversities.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” —John 14:27

The Struggle is Real, but Victory is Sure! Our peace is reflected in a hopeful and positive outlook because Christ gives us peace and guides us through every struggle. Our unwavering faith and trust is in Christ! When asked, How are you doing? with a grateful heart, proclaim with confidence, I am blessed by God!

Lord God, we thank You for the struggle that will save our souls and prepare us to live with You eternally. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

Worshiping God in Spirit and Truth

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 2, 2024

“Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.” —Exodus 5:29

From the Glory of the Lord, Moses’ face revealed the Shekinah radiance that comes from worshiping in the presence of God. Thankfully, we have the privilege of entering God’s presence and enjoy a mountaintop experience during times of collective and personal worship.

“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).

Reflection: From God’s open invitation, we can approach God in reverent worship any time of the day or night. Are we readily seeking God to receive the only transforming power available to humanity?

Often there is a vast difference between our understanding of worshiping God in Spirit and Truth and God’s definition of worshiping Him. Worship requires a heart filled with love and total surrender to the will of God. Every day, we pray in faith, asking for God’s will to be revealed for the given day. Obedience to God is our sacrificial worship. Once we know His plans, we follow through by doing His will.

Worship is a lifestyle. Worship engages our mental and moral powers as we emotionally prepare ourselves to physically be in the presence of God. Worship extends beyond attending church. We incorporate deep, meaningful personal worship [at least twice a day] into our service to God.

“Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.” —Isaiah 6:2

In today’s Christian community, reverence for God has substantially declined. A few days ago, I was watching a South African music video and when I observed the level of reverence [most of the congregation were on their knees with uplifted hands] during the song of worship, I immediately repented for not reverencing God as He deserves. God is Sovereign and He is Holy!

“The fear [reverence] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10). God is Holy! Through our intentional posture of surrender [on bended knees, if physically possible], we remind ourselves and acknowledge that God is not only Sovereign, but He is the reason we have life.

Personal worship requires meaningful preparation. We set aside uninterrupted time, eliminate all distractions, and leave our silenced cellular devices in another area. With the Bible in hand, we take a deep breath, proclaim praises of gratitude for our life, health, and strength, and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment during our Bible study.

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms [songs].” —Psalm 95:2

Worship is a time of rejoicing to thank God for all that He has done and all that He will do in our lives. We cannot let our feelings determine our perception of the goodness of God. It is a privilege to enter the presence of God. Whether we are in times of peace or hardships and sorrows, we give Him praise because He is always faithful.

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

We begin by emptying our hearts of selfish desires and self-seeking attention with a prayer of repentance. We express our love for God by asking for His will to be revealed on the given day. The remainder of our prayer is dependent on our free expression between ourselves and God.

Pray honest prayers. God is not offended when we offer spoken words of truth. We do not have to be ashamed of confessing that our faith is weak, or we feel sad, disappointed, or due to a major life change, we do not know how to move forward. With God there is no pretense, He knows the true condition of our hearts.

What can we expect to receive during worship? “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

Through worship, the Holy Spirit imparts the spiritual and physical sustenance that is required for the given day, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). The Holy Spirit convicts and identifies our sins and unrighteous character traits. We receive the strength to change our habits and behaviors.

Sanctification—being transformed into the likeness of Christ [His love and character] and possessing the Fruit of the Spirit takes a lifetime.

God’s ultimate goal is to prepare us for eternal life. From our desire to be in the presence of God, we receive the benefits of His Shekinah glory. When we continue to persevere by offering our sacrifice of obedience to God in worship, our minds, characters, and personalities are transformed. From the depths of our spiritually energized souls, like Moses, our faces reflect the radiance of the Glory of God! Amen.

Prayer: God, we come to You offering ourselves as a living sacrifice. We make a covenant vow to surrender in faithful obedience to Your will. Lord, we praise You for the gift of Your life and the privilege of worshiping You. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Jesus is With You in the Storm

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional Reading – January 31, 2024

“But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear.” —Matthew 14:26

When the disciples were in the storm that raged in the darkness of the early hours before dawn, Jesus appeared to them by walking on the water. Their reaction was one of immense fear which had its roots in the prevailing pagan ideologies of ghosts which supposedly represented the visible spirit of a deceased person.

Once Jesus spoke the comforting words, “It is I,” only Peter used his little measure of faith to verbalize the challenge, “…’ Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water “(Matthew 14:28). Proud Peter stepped out of the boat onto the tumultuous waves walking with confidence toward Jesus.

Quickly, pride became fear when Peter allowed himself to become distracted by turning his head away from Jesus. Yes, he had many unrighteous characteristics but Peter believed that Jesus was the Son of God which provoked his cry of desperation, “Lord, save me!”

Deep within Peter’s heart, he was confident in Christ’s power to save him from sinking into the watery grave. We can learn from Peter’s experience. Never lose sight of the Sovereign power of Jesus, the Son of God. Memorize His promise never to leave us or forsake us. Jesus is with us in every dark storm.

Yes, He knows that our faith is weak and we will easily become distracted by our circumstances. Still, with a love we cannot understand, He tells us to “Come.” Our faith may compare to a grain of sand, but keep praying and believing! We are not hopeless! In the rugged storms that produce disruption and sorrow, Jesus is with us from the beginning to the end.

Persevere by holding onto your faith in Christ. We were created with the resilience to make it through every storm when we depend on the strength of Christ to empower us. We have the assurance that when the desired spiritual growth and transformation has occurred, Jesus will say to our storm, “Peace be still.”

Thank You, Lord, for never leaving us in our hardships and sorrow. We praise You for being our Shelter in the storms of life. Jesus, we love You. Amen.

Celebrating God’s Goodness

Celebrating God’s Goodness – Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – January 29, 2024

“…And you shall take for yourself on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.” Leviticus 23:40, NKJV

This morning, we received a wonderful blessing, the mercies of a new day. To awaken with a sound mind, reasonable health, the gift of provisions, and the ability to take care of yourself and your loved ones reveals the faithfulness of our Loving Heavenly Father. Thank You, Most Merciful God!

Whether all is well or in seasons of dark hardships, God expects us to celebrate His goodness with our continuous praise. From our prayer of acknowledgment and gratitude for God’s faithfulness, we celebrate through prayer, singing, and studying Scriptures to reflect on each day. Jesus forewarned us that our lives would include tribulations, yet, He promised to be with us. Our circumstances should never prevent us from celebrating the grace of God.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” —John 16:33, Amplified Bible

When the Season of Darkness Comes

We find it easy to praise God when our lives are peaceful but take a moment to reflect on your typical response when your seasons change. How do you perceive God when life is harsh? Our Father God is not unloving, He gave us emotions to express sorrow and happiness. Yet we are expected to look beyond our circumstances and express much praise from our grateful hearts because God sustains our lives in every season.

If our hearts are filled with despair, anger, resentment, or hopelessness then we do not understand God’s Character or His ultimate goal of producing the Spiritual Transformation necessary for us to receive Eternal life. Our response reveals whether or not we have faith and trust in God. Spoken words are the most powerful indicator of how we really feel about God.

“Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.” —Psalm 44:21

Our words reveal the innermost thoughts and secrets of our hearts. Distrust in God is conveyed by our spoken words. “Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]” (Ephesians 4:29).

Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. Because the Israelites refused to obey God, Jerusalem was destroyed and most were taken into Babylonian captivity. In Lamentations [to lament sorrows] chapter 3, God gives us proof of the normal human response to tribulations. We read the prophet Jeremiah’s expression of immense sorrow for the people’s predicament due to their history of continuous disobedience.

“Remember my affliction and roaming…My soul still remembers And sinks within me. —Lamentations 3:19-20

Yet in verse 21, Jeremiah remembers that God is always good and transitions from Sorrow to Praise. “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion, says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” —Lamentations 3:21-24

Although Jeremiah expressed anguish, he pressed beyond his sorrow and acknowledged the never-ending goodness of God, “Great is His Faithfulness!” His celebration of God continues, “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).

Christ promises to guide us through our seasons of trials and hardships, “I will never leave you or forsake you. ” We pray for strength and the Holy Spirit imparts the Divine, Supernatural Strength necessary for us to travel our Chosen Path with joy and perseverance.

From the diligent study of the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals the Characters of God and Christ. As believers, we need the foundation of the Scriptures to have a steadfast relationship with Christ, or we will possess roller-coaster faith based on changing circumstances. The Bible substantiates God’s faithfulness. Our role is to trust in God, and His promises, and give Him praise.

God’s Instructions to the Israelites While in Captivity—Live a Productive Life

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’ ” —Jeremiah 29:4-5

In studying the 70 years of Israel’s captivity, we find that God is a fair and loving God. Not only does He give them the length of their punishment, but God gives them hope. “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7).

Reflection: Are we celebrating God’s Love and mercies in every season of life?

We are to look up in hope in the darkness. Praise God with words of love, honor, and adoration by thanking Him throughout your waking hours with little prayers of gratitude. Even in the severe storms of nature, the sky is not encapsulated in total darkness, light is always present. Christ is our Source of Light!

God never allows our lives to be overshadowed by total darkness. We have a Father who gives us the brightness of hope when we choose to express gratitude in the unwelcome but spiritually required seasons of struggle. The righteousness of character, mind, and personality is God’s standard for us to receive our reward of eternal life.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” —2 Peter 3:9, NIV

It is the seasons of struggle that produce the Fruit of the Spirit. We are never alone, Christ is in the struggle with us. He covers us with His Righteousness. Praise the Lord! Sanctification is a lifetime spiritual journey that requires human surrender and obedience to God’s will and plans. If our goal is eternal life then we celebrate God’s Divine intervention for keeping us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness that leads from earth to heaven.

In your daily walk with Christ, celebrate the goodness of God every day by speaking, praying, and singing words of praise. Acknowledge God’s love for giving His only Son, Jesus to pay the penalty for humanity’s sins. Whisper prayers of gratitude for His long-suffering desire that none should be lost.

When we recognize the overwhelming love and compassionate mercies we receive every day, even in the darkness, we will look up and behold the Light of Christ shining through. Our hearts will be filled with joy, and our words of praise will flow, “I just can’t stop praising His name, Jesus!”

Lord God, we celebrate Your Holy Name. You are Worthy of our never-ending praise. Thank You for allowing the seasons of darkness to transform us into Your likeness. Thank you for giving us the hope of living one day in a perfect New Heaven and New Earth. Jesus, we love You. In Your Righteous Name, we pray. Amen!

Jesus’ Invitation: Follow Me

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – January 28, 2024

To walk with Jesus requires the same surrender and obedience to God that He demonstrated in His earthly life. Jesus’ constant prayer of “Not my will, but Your will be done was His primary focus.” Like Christ, God has a Chosen Path for every believer.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” —Proverbs 14:12

Although our paths differ, all believers have the same responsibilities to God. To give up our personal agendas and plans is a requisite that will cause many Christians to fail in their relationship with Christ. We cannot navigate through life thinking our own thoughts and using our standards and be in right standing with God.

“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

When Jesus said to Matthew, the corrupt tax collector, “Follow me” there was no hesitancy. Matthew understood that He was surrendering to Christ and letting go of his former ways of thinking and living. From Matthew’s obedience, Jesus transformed His disciple from the habits of oppressing the poor and stealing for the self-gain of wealth to a man of God.

If we are committed to following Christ we pursue Him daily by praying the faith prayer of “I surrender myself to You, my Lord and Savior.” The Holy Spirit intervenes by revealing God’s daily agenda and giving us the wisdom, discernment, and strength to live as Victorious Overcomers. Our thoughts, spoken words, and decisions reflect that we are walking side by side with Jesus on our Chosen Path leading to eternal life.

Lord, we choose to follow you through total surrender and obedience. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.