How would you react to this Spiritual Assignment from God knowing that you would be excluded from your family and friends who would not understand?
When God calls us to do His will, it always involves a sacrificial offering that not only proclaims our love and loyalty but also brings honor and glory to His Holy Name.
Prayer: God, we pray for the strength and the courage to do Your will. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray. Amen.
What Matters the Most in Your Life? Today’s Devotional October 22, 2023
“The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just.” —Isaiah 26:7, NKJV
“The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.” —Isaiah 26:7, BSB
For most of my life, the focus of my attention has been inward. Yes, my focus was on the fulfillment of educational goals, travel, and purchasing things to make my life comfortable. Even though I have always loved Christ, now as I reflect, I realize that most of my pursuits had nothing to do with my relationship with Christ.
Perilous times are upon us, as prophesied in the Scriptures. Jesus said in Matthew 24, that wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places are the beginning of sorrows. The pastors who have consecrated their lives to God are preaching different sermons—telling us to turn our eyes from worldly pursuits and to focus on Christ. The Holy Spirit is revealing the message to the faithful to prepare themselves because time is winding down.
What matters the most in our lives? Jesus gives us the answer.
“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
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ” —Matthew 22:37
Love is the Catalyst that Gives us the Desire to Receive Spiritual Transformation
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:1-2
From Old Testament times to Jesus’ earthly ministry, we have received the command to make God our first love. In Romans 12, the apostle Paul is teaching believers what it means to live the Christian life of sacrifice. Unless our hearts are overflowing with love for Christ, we can never change our focus from ourselves to God.
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” —Revelation 22:7
Do we believe that we are living on the edge of eternity? Do we have the desire to put God first? Do we have the desire to surrender and consecrate our lives to God?
While waiting for Jesus’ coming, we are told to prepare daily by praying for God’s will to be revealed and to diligently study the Scriptures, especially the book of Revelation. Sadly, in 2023, many believers have chosen to focus on past obstacles, present distractions, and future accomplishments which prevent them from keeping their eyes on the prize of eternal life.
Focus on the Past: The past obstacles that produced disappointments affect these believers mentally and emotionally by destroying their optimism and skewing their perception of the ability to move forward. Because their focus is on things that once existed, they do not recognize their self-worth as determined by God. Not seeing beyond yesteryear prevents them from fulfilling God’s plans and robs them of having optimal health and happiness which comes from using their spiritual gifts and innate talents to glorify God. Because their minds are overwhelmed with memories, this group of believers have forgotten Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3.
Focus on the Present: These believers’ lives are filled with the distractions of the worldviews they have readily embraced. They feed their carnal desires of seeking material wealth, enjoying an easy lifestyle, and practicing self-reliance by using human wisdom to interpret the definition of a spiritually productive lifestyle. Because they listen to the many voices of the influencers, they assume responsibilities that lead them away from God. From working excessive overtime and spending wasteful hours on social media, programs, and other activities based on pleasure, their focus is on living their best life on this earth. Their eyes are focused on the earthly prizes which prevents them from recognizing their spiritual decline. They do not have time to think about life in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Focus on the Future: These are the believers with strategic minds. They have calculated the necessary steps to produce a future utopia [an imagined place or state of things where everything is perfect] of heaven on earth. The future is perceived as the end of continuous challenges and the opportunity to live one’s best life. These believers are always focused, they are steadily pursuing academic and financial goals, and some eagerly look forward to retirement without any demands. Because they have designed their perfect future, which keeps their focus on looking ahead, they do not have the desire to fulfill God-given spiritual assignments in their lives. They look forward to a glorious future but it does not include life anywhere else but on this earth.
“…As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” —Romans 10:15
Yet, God has a faithful remnant. This group of people have a divine mission which is symbolized in the Three Angels’ messages [Revelation 14]. Their mission is to proclaim the “everlasting gospel” to humanity, to call true believers out of false religion (represented by Babylon), and to prepare the world for the final end-time crisis.”
The command given by Jesus that many Christians refuse to follow “Go and make disciples” is found in Matthew 28:18-20. Is any message more important than the Plan of Salvation and Redemption through Jesus Christ?
Witnessing is not complicated when our life revolves around Christ. John 3:16 reveals God’s love for humanity. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ ” (John 14:26). Salvation is not complicated! When we do our part, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual understanding based on the person’s willingness to accept Christ as their Savior.
The step of human effort is met with Divine power as evidenced by young children with limited maturity and knowledge accepting Jesus. The simple truth is Jesus loves us and Jesus saves us. The simple heartfelt prayer of “Lord, forgive me of my sins, I accept You as my Savior.” demonstrates faith and we become Christ’s disciples. Yes, He changes our lives! Hallelujah! Amen!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9
What matters the most to us is revealed by our pursuits, habits, and lifestyles. God never forces us to love Him. We are free moral agents who choose our final destiny. The beautiful news is we are the recipients of God’s grace and mercies. We have been given the privilege to change our priorities and habits that lead us away from God and prevent us from receiving our reward of eternal life.
Re-consecration: All God requires of us is to pray and ask for forgiveness for our self-satisfying pursuits and for us to rededicate ourselves to Him. Our heavenly reward is closer than we think. Love God, Love Others, and Love yourself!
What matters the most in the believer’s life is our relationship with Jesus Christ!
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14:1-3, NKJV
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our First Love! We ask forgiveness for focusing on the obstacles, distractions, and the self-accomplishments of this earthly life. We desire to live with You forever and ever. From this day forward, we give ourselves to You. We pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Thank you for Your grace and mercies. In Your Holy Name, we ask this prayer, Amen.
Lay Every Burden at the Feet of Jesus — Today’s Devotional October 20, 2023
Humanity’s Plight: “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
This morning as I thought about the challenges I faced, I felt weary. Still, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to breathe on me and give me strength. After I said, Amen, I began to hear a bird chirping its little song of gratitude to God. I smiled. Immediately the Holy Spirit brought Jesus’ promise to my remembrance: “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
Yes, we are of more value than the birds! God did not give His Son, Jesus to save the birds, Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for us. Although every believer knows that Jesus died to redeem humanity and the Bible contains hundreds of God’s promises, it appears there is a roadblock that prevents most believers from relying on Jesus’ promises when we face our tribulations.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of. a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:7
When burdens overwhelm our lives, believers react in one of three ways:
The Fearful Believers: Their fear manifests as anxiety, worry, and thinking about the situation over and over [which produces mental, emotional, and physical weariness]. They usually pray for help but also include family and friends asking for their opinions on how they should resolve the unresolvable challenge. The fearful believer also has a time limit on waiting for God to perform a miracle. They pray and wait for two to three days but when their prayers are met with silence, they become discouraged and fall into the pit of despondency.
The Overconfident Believers: They have a spirit of self-reliance. Reflecting inwardly on their many accomplishments, prior experience, and the ability to develop strategies that have brought resolution in the past, they fail to pray because their mind is consumed with themselves. Their time is spent on developing fail-proof strategies. Sadly, these believers end up with feelings of anger toward God, blame God for their misfortunes, and usually continue their lives as unbelievers.
The Faithful Believers: Yes, the faithful ones rely on God. They are the prayer warriors, the ones who easily remember and tell others of the miracles that God has consistently performed throughout their lives. The faithful will direct others to study the Scriptures such as Joseph’s [Genesis chapters 37-50] and David’s [1 Samuel chapters 21-23, Living as a fugitive when King Saul threatened to kill him] lengthy trials and tribulations. The faithful will pray for you, but they will use the Word of God to preach the truth. They boldly proclaim, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God. “
Did you know that humans are creatures of habit? It’s a proven psychological fact! Interestingly, most of our behaviors can be predicted based on our consistent habits. If psychologists utilize theories based on predictable behaviors then we have the assurance that our Sovereign Omniscient God knows how we will react.
Make constant praying a new habit and watch as your life transforms. Recently in a sermon, Pastor Wintley Phipps stated the key to his steadfast faith is his prayer life, he admonishes every believer to whisper a prayer every hour while awake. Communication with God allows the empowerment and anointing of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
God is not concerned about our comfort; He will do whatever is necessary for our faith to become steadfast. We cannot resolve spiritually allowed trials. And if we attempt to carry out our feeble solutions, God says our thoughts are like a crooked path. Trials and tribulations bring every believer to the Crossroads of Faith and Trust in God.
Either we will put all of our efforts into self-resolution tactics which are certain to fail or we will confess that our faith is weak but keep striving by placing the little faith we have in God. God loves us and He will do whatever it takes for our spiritual growth and transformation. Yes, our Heavenly Father is preparing us to live with Him forever and ever. Amen!
I will readily admit that I am a fearful believer who is striving to grow my faith in God. Since January of 2023, my life has been filled with a succession of trials. Yet, I will continue to trust God in the struggle to become a faithful believer. It is not enough to possess knowledge of the Scriptures. For us to transition from fearful to rock-solid faithful believers, we must believe that God is in control of His world and He allows continuous, lengthy trials to strengthen our faith.
And for those who possess the spirit of self-reliance, there is a better way to live. Never give up on God! Acknowledge your human limitations, confess, repent, and begin walking on the Path of Righteousness. Every day, trust God through surrender and acknowledge His Love and Omnipotence. Victory only comes through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
God requires that our faith continue to grow throughout our earthly lives. Yet, there are believers whose faith has matured into total reliance on God. For the faithful believers, keep striving, pray for your brothers and sisters who are on the spiritual journey of strengthening our faith, and share your testimonies of God’s faithfulness.
Lay Every Burden at the Feet of Jesus
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” —Hebrews 4:15, ESV
Brothers and Sisters, think and live as overcomers by striving through your trials and tribulations. We receive power from the Holy Spirit to withstand our disappointments and hardships. The outcome is total reliance on God which gives us Steadfast Faith. We are nearing Home! Our King Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is returning for the faithful! Hallelujah! Amen.
Profiting from Trials 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. —James 1:2-8
Prayer: God, we confess that we have not put our faith and trust in You. We desire to have steadfast faith. We ask for the presence, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit to give us strength when we are weak and weary. Lord, we know that You are All-Powerful. We surrender and make the vow to become totally reliant on You. Thank You for your love, grace, and mercies. Thank You Jesus for giving Your life for us. Help us to have a renewed conviction in our faith. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” —Proverbs 31:30
A Woman of God will never be like a woman of the world. A Woman of God strives to please God by seeking His will every day through prayer and study of the Scriptures. This woman surrenders herself through humility and faithful obedience. Her daily prayers for the presence, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit ascend to God like a sweet-smelling aroma.
A Woman of God will never be like a woman of the world. She prays before speaking, ensuring her words are gentle and reflect Christ’s character. This woman avoids strife and conflict by remaining silent. Why? Because her lamp is filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Although her silence is perceived by others as a weakness of character, her silence reveals a spirit of self-control and strength empowered by the Holy Spirit. She relies on Divine Intervention to overcome her natural tendency to speak words fueled by angry emotions. Yes, this woman acquiesces to the Sovereignty of God because she believes in His promise to fight her battles.
A Woman of God will never be like a woman of the world. She does not adorn herself with many jewels of worthless trinkets and gaudy make-up to seek worldly attention. Nor is her dress too short, her top cut too low, or her pants too tight. No, a Woman of God dresses modestly because she is preparing to receive her heavenly crown and white linen robe from her Majestic King, Jesus Christ.
A single Woman of God can never be like a single woman of the world because she lives a chaste life. She reverences and honors God with her mind and body knowing that her temple is filled with the Holy Spirit. This Woman of God has a social circle of believers who pray and support each other spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
A married Woman of God will never be like a married woman of the world who constantly opposes her husband. The [Proverbs 31] wife pursues righteousness by honoring God first and then her husband. When conflict arises, she honors God and her husband by praying and asking for Divine Help, not from her family or friends. [Disclaimer: Abusive marriages usually require additional human intervention to remove oneself and children.]
The married Woman of God knows that she is honored by God because her attributes are written in the Bible [Proverbs 31]. She prays for her husband and children and helps them to prepare for eternal life. This wife and mother is patient and loving because she represents the love of Christ to her children. This Woman of God understands the deeper meaning of her marriage—it is holy and represents Christ’s love for His church.
A Woman of God [single or married] separates herself from worldly people unless she is witnessing the love and saving power of Jesus Christ. Every day, this woman dedicates her mind, body, and soul to God. Yes, a Woman of God appreciates God’s grace and mercies and offers her heart, the only gift that she can give to the King. No, the Woman of God can never be like the woman of the world because she strives every day to live a sanctified life pleasing to God. After all, her eyes are on the prize—Revelation 22:12.
Prayer: God, your daughters are striving to possess the Character of Christ by living holy and acceptable lives. Many times, we have failed and fallen into sinful behaviors. And for our disobedience and disloyalty, we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we need Your strength to overcome our carnal desires. Hear our prayer and answer our pleas for help. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with Your Holy Spirit as we strive to represent Christ to a lost and dying world. Bless us with peace and joy. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.
The worldview of self-reliance has infiltrated the Christian Community of believers. Yet, at some point, every person will come to the Crossroads of life. Only then do we humble ourselves and bow to the Sovereignty of an Almighty God. Surrender to God is an internal battle that we fight every day. Our carnal hearts are driven to trust ourselves but we were created to follow Christ and seek God’s will.
Total surrender requires the character traits of humility, faith, and obedience. Even Jesus, the Commander of angel armies had to learn obedience to God, His earthly parents, and the prevailing laws. Still, His greatest test, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).
We cannot navigate through this life without Divine Intervention. Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor promised us the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Guide to direct us through this journey called life. Only with Divine Power can we enter through the narrow gate and stay on the narrow Path of Righteousness. Yes, the journey on our Chosen Path is rugged and full of disappointment. We will suffer tribulations that will bring us to our knees and hardships that produce a river of tears.
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny himself.” —2 Timothy 2:13
Despite the challenges, we can rely on the three powers of the Triune God to bring us victory! I am a witness that God gives the faithful New Beginnings. Rid yourself of the satanic habit of self-reliance. Consecrate your life to God! Trust Him with your life! He is the God who says, “Is there anything too hard for me?” His promises are Yes to which we say Amen!
Sonya Johnson, Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries
Jesus Gives Us a New Identity of Self-Worth, Today’s Devotional October 15, 2023
One of the most amazing phenomena in nature is the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Spiritually, I believe that Jesus was intentional in using the metaphor of caterpillar to butterfly to represent His love and mighty wonder-working power to transform us into His likeness.
Growing up in a home without love and nurturing results in an adult who suffers from insecurity and low self-worth. From an unhealthy childhood, we live a life of compromise by trusting the wrong people and making choices that always result in outcomes with negative consequences.
We accept the brokenness of our beginnings because we do not understand the love and power of a God who heals and specializes in new beginnings. Thankfully, we do not have to continue in the brokenness that has impacted our perception of our worth. God knows the beginning to the end of every person’s life. And He is always ready to intervene by healing and restoring us if we choose to be made whole.
Through our relationship with Christ, we can receive a spiritual, mental, and emotional makeover, at any point in our lives. The Apostle Paul says, “We are new creatures in Christ Jesus.” The human effort of acknowledging, accepting, and asking for a “New Beginning” requires a giant leap of faith!
Before Our Existence: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” —Psalm 139:13-14
In Psalm 139, we are told that “God Has Perfect Knowledge of Man.” God was fully aware of the unhealthy environment which produced your fractured mental and emotional state. He knows your fragile heart and the desire to be loved and appreciated. Agape love is the love that looks beyond our faults and sees our needs.
“When Jesus saw [the man] lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well? ‘” — John 5:6.
Yes, Jesus promises to heal our broken hearts. Just like He asked the lame man, “Do you want to be made well?” Jesus is asking us the same question. By surrendering our fragile hearts and exercising the faith and trust that Jesus is our Healer, with love and compassion, He makes us well. Not only does He heal us, but Jesus also gives us His strength and victory over our past. Pray for His Divine help!
Psalm 32:8 NKJV: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”
Psalm 32:8 NLT: “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Praise God that we do not have to use guesswork in our earthly lives. From trusting God with every aspect of our lives, day by day, our little faith begins growing. Our faith will flourish when we totally depend on God. Like God’s love, there are no limits on the growth of one’s faith. Believe In God, because our Victory is Sure!
Through Christ, we are overcomers! Let the Holy Spirit guide you! Pray fervently before making every decision! God’s thoughts and ways are much higher than our thoughts. Never again will we live a life of compromise just to be loved and accepted by others. Our brokenness will be replaced with spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical wellness. Do you want to be made well?
Scripture: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.” —Isaiah 40:28-29
Prayer: God, we know that you are Omniscient. And You knew our beginnings would produce broken hearts. Yet, You promised to do a new thing, to make us over, and cover us with the Righteousness of Christ. We desire to be healed and made whole. Lord, we surrender and consecrate our minds, bodies, and souls to You. We pray for healing and ask You to make us well. We believe and ask this prayer in the Powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.
If every believer would witness to one person a day, we would fulfill Jesus’ command to “Go.” Telling our personal testimony of how Jesus saved us is the most effective method of witnessing to others. When we give our hearts to Christ which requires faith, He cleanses us from all of the unrighteousness of sin and makes us a new person. We think, speak, and act differently because we are covered with His righteousness and the Holy Spirit abides within us.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ ” —Matthew 28:18-20
Choose to View God As Good – Happy Sabbath – Pray for God’s Mercies Sabbath Devotional, October 13, 2023
The struggles of this life are becoming more challenging. Many countries are experiencing war and famine which produces overwhelming sorrow, grief, and death. The innocent men, women, children, and babies are not only wounded physically but also mentally and emotionally. Why does God allow these terrible atrocities?
I invite you to study Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 18-22. Jesus speaks of the events that will happen in these perilous times of the last days of Earth’s history.
Although Satan causes disasters, wars, countless diseases, and deaths, God must allow the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. These events lead to the Great Day of Jesus, King of Kings, and Lord of Lord’s Second Coming. We know how the story ends! Choose your destiny by faithfully serving God in humility and obedience.
God is good in that He gave Jesus to die for us. God is good because we are saved by His Grace. God is good because He promises to protect the righteous at the end of time. Study Psalm 91. God is good because His love and mercies are freely given to the human beings who continue to reject Him.
God is good because He will never allow Satan to destroy the earth or all humanity. God is good because He never changes and we know the expected end of this Earth. God is more than good because He has given us sufficient time to choose Him. God is more than good because the righteous will live forever with Him in the New Heaven and New Earth!
Prayer: God, our hearts are filled with sorrow and despair. We ask You to extend mercy to the innocent victims of every war that exists throughout this world. Hunger, hatred, and the evil of violence have escalated as we have never seen before. Lord, we thank You for the Sabbath and ask You to bring peace to each of us according to Your will. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” —Psalm 8:4
Created in the image of God who considers us friends and has called us to be a royal priesthood should have us singing praises and praying prayers of gratitude every day. God’s Divine love transcends our expectations by involving all of heaven in our lives.
We have three Divine Powers whose attributes are Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence. All-powerful, All-knowing, and spiritually present everywhere are the characteristics of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In Psalm 91, David tells us that Jesus, the Commander of angel armies has appointed and commanded guardian angels to keep us safe—physically and from spiritual warfare.
The Omnipresence of the Divine Godhead: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” —Psalm 139:7-10
To clarify, all of heaven is involved in the lives of the righteous. Although God blesses the unjust, His conditional promises throughout the Bible are for the righteous believer. Who are the righteous?
Christ is the Spiritual Foundation of the righteous. We love Him and have dedicated our hearts, minds, and souls to our Lord and Savior. We seek Him through prayer and study the Scriptures because we desire an intimate relationship with Jesus, our First Love. Not only do we trust Him with our lives, we believe in every promise found in the Scriptures. Studying the Scriptures and becoming prayer warriors are engraved into our spiritual DNA.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” —Psalm 1:1-2
David tells us the righteous delight or they are joyful from obeying God’s laws and precepts. The righteous keep God’s commandments. The righteous have characteristics that the unrighteous do not possess—they are faithful, trusting, and obey God by surrendering and seeking the will of God every day.
Another notable difference between the righteous and the unrighteous is the righteous establish and maintain a total dependency on God. Yes, in prayer, we take all of our cares of daily living, the uncertainties of unexpected life events, and the fiery darts of spiritual warfare to God in prayer.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10.
The righteous are constantly aware that we are sinners saved by grace and our righteousness is as filthy rags. Yet, we know that Christ covers us with His Righteousness. The righteous repent daily of their sins whether intentional, unintentional, known, or unknown. They pray, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit, and patiently wait on the Lord.
The righteous strive to live holy lives by avoiding all forms of sin and calling on God for help in times of temptation. Still, the righteous will fall, but we have the confidence that we can ask for forgiveness and depend on Christ, our High Priest to mediate and intercede for us.
“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
Christ is our True Mediator. He is our Spiritual Connection from earth to heaven. He covers us with His righteousness and presents us as faultless before the throne of God. Christ makes Intercession for us. Our penitent prayers are taken to Christ by the Holy Spirit. And for this, He deserves our love, loyalty, and commitment to shun all sin. Through Christ, our unrighteousness is washed away with His precious blood. Thank You, Jesus!
The righteous diligently seek God by praying and studying the Scriptures every day. The righteous always put God first. Still, the righteous understand they cannot live righteously without being covered by grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The righteous are Christ’s disciples who witness His love to others. They pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal opportunities to share their testimony of how Jesus reached out to them and saved their souls from sin.
“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” —John 12:26
To dedicate one’s life to Christ can only happen when Christ is our First Love. It is a daily commitment that allows us to receive spiritual insight and strength from the Holy Spirit to stay on the Path of Righteousness. Through prayer and Bible study, we develop an intimate, ever-growing relationship with Jesus. We desire to be like Christ and fully cooperate with Divinity for our character to change [Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:32].
Not only does God honor us, but the Holy Spirit gives us discernment and protects us from false teachings, comforts us mentally and emotionally, and imparts the spiritual wisdom to stay out of harm’s way. We have angelic forces with the God-given power to protect us physically and to fight spiritual warfare which our human eyes cannot see. Although the righteous suffer devastating life events, we do not lose our minds or our hope in Christ. With tears, in humility and faith, we pray “God, help me.”
“He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —1 Corinthians 1:8
Finally, we are preparing every day for that Great Day when Jesus comes. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus promises the righteous a reward of eternal life in a perfect, sinless New Heaven and New Earth where love is overflowing. Amen.
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” —Proverbs 3:24
This scripture has a deeper spiritual meaning that goes beyond a peaceful night’s sleep. When we strive to live righteously, eventually, we may fall asleep in death, but we have no worries. From our faithful obedience to Christ in our earthly lives, on that glorious day when the first trumpet sounds, all of heaven will be involved when the dead in Christ rise first. Whether we are risen or alive, we will see King Jesus who is coming for the righteous!
Keep striving brothers and sisters, our struggle in this earthly life isn’t for nothing. Never forget, that the Divine Godhead, the Three Powers, God the Father, Jesus, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit along with heavenly angels are taking care of us. Amen! Hallelujah!
Prayer: God, we thank You for Your gift of Divine Intervention in our lives. We pray for strength, guidance, and protection from all evil. We love You. And we ask this prayer, in the Matchless Name of Jesus, Amen and Amen.
“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” —Ephesians 5:2
When I was in nursing school, our written exams consisted of multiple-choice questions with four answers. The purpose was to prove our knowledge of theory and develop critical thinking skills and astute judgment. Nurses are responsible for making decisions that not only impact the patient’s health but we must also use interventions to facilitate a favorable outcome.
Not only did we have to think right, we had to read the clinical question, eliminate the incorrect answers, and choose the right answer within two minutes per question. We learned the skill of remaining focused during many distractions.
Focusing on Distractions Produce the Failure to Perceive the Truth
Two of the answers were considered distractors and easily eliminated. But the remaining two were very similar with one exception, the right answer always represented the standard of care determined by the State Board of Nursing. Many of the students attempted to justify their wrong answers, but the correct answer always includes the rationale and is absolute—without exception.
When we think of the ability of the human mind to develop stringent standards for patient care, how much more should we reverence the love of our Great God and His infinite knowledge expressed through Jesus Christ?
” ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” (9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9
Question: Does Jesus care? Provide an answer based on personal experience that does not include money or tangible items.
The challenge for today’s Christians is they cannot give a spiritual rationale [testimony] for the question, “Does Jesus care?” How do we so easily forget the blessings that we receive daily?
Distracted by Our Desires
We cannot witness that Jesus cares for humanity based off of testimonies of financial gain. Sadly, many Christians have embraced the unbeliever’s mindset—we are placing our focus on the distractors in this world. Financial blessings are what we pray for. According to many Bible-believing pastors, the number one desire of most believers involves some form of financial prosperity.
Although God blesses us financially by giving us the provisions of daily living, we cannot provide the correct spiritual rationale to prove that Jesus cares for humanity based on the acquisition of money, houses, and vehicles.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16
The love story filled with care and compassion began before the world was created. It was God, the Father, and Jesus who had the Father and Son talk about His death that was required to save our souls. Redemption and the Plan of Salvation were not afterthoughts or a quick-fix plan after Adam and Eve sinned.
God’s love provided us with the gift of His Precious Son, Jesus. And Jesus said, “Yes, Father, I will die for them.” Does Jesus Care?
The Absolute Truth and Spiritual Rationale for Jesus’ care and compassion are proclaimed by His sacrifice and current role as our Heavenly Intercessor. Every word in the Holy Scriptures proclaims that Jesus cares! Yet, it is our relationship with Christ that provides the foundation for us to possess experiential knowledge of His love, care, and compassion.
Our personal testimonies of victory [which every believer should be able to share] are proof that we have a Loving Savior who cares.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” —Psalm 147:3
Testimony: This year I prayed for healing. Jesus healed me of an incurable and progressive heart condition that occurred secondary to having two years of uncontrolled asthma despite therapeutic intervention. When I gave the most recent cardiology report to my pulmonologist [lung specialist], in August, he read the report and did not make one comment. Does Jesus care? Yes!
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you.” –1 Peter 5:6-7
The humility that the Apostle Peter speaks of is revealed in our desire and prayer to surrender every day to the will of God. Yes, it is a tough commitment to surrender, but obedience results in blessings of benefits for the righteous.
Testimony: Jesus has not only given me the blessings of physical healing, but He also gave me new beginnings and healed my emotional hurt from a very painful divorce. Although I am unworthy, Christ continues to give me an overabundance of God’s grace and mercies. My focus has changed greatly since surrendering to God. I talk to Jesus throughout my waking hours because He cares!
The Apostle Paul frequently shared his story of the encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Our testimonies not only reveal our appreciation for a Loving Savior, but the Holy Spirit gives us strength and a deeper spiritual insight into the Character of Christ and our purpose.
Every believer’s purpose is to share testimonies that glorify God. We have a higher spiritual purpose—to share the love of Christ. From receiving the gifts of physical and emotional healing, I know that Jesus expects me to proclaim His love, care, and compassion to a world filled with hopelessness. Does Jesus care? Yes, I know that my Jesus cares!
Scripture: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:17-19
Prayer: Lord, we glorify and honor You. Thank You for Your abundant love, grace, and mercies. Thank You for caring about humanity and giving Your life for us. Jesus, we love You and ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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