Jesus – Page 23 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Internal Battle of Surrendering to God’s Will

The Internal Battle of Surrendering to God’s Will – Devotional – January 19, 2024

“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

Self-reliance is promoted as a character strength, yet for a Christian to function outside God’s will is not substantiated by the Scriptures. Our role model is Jesus. Faith, Trust, and Obedience are the righteous characteristics that Christ possessed in His earthly life. Jesus prayed continuously for God’s will to be revealed and without fail, He obeyed even unto the death on the cross.

“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

Our love for God is demonstrated by our dependency on Him. God reveals His promise to sustain us by giving us the mercies of a new day. We are covered by grace and our prayers of repentance are answered with the mercy of never-ending forgiveness. Our response of gratitude is expressed in a prayer of surrender asking for the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will for the given day.

The truth is that the concept of surrender causes conflict in our minds and souls. Taking up our cross is to win the raging, internal battle by choosing to surrender and obey God instead of following our heart’s desires to please ourselves. Reflection on our lifestyles reveals whether or not we are in alignment with God’s will.

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” —Jeremiah 10:23, NIV

When our actions reveal carefully planned agendas without God’s approval, we are manifesting symptoms of the heart condition, pride. Although it is the trend [even among Christians] to make plans, move forward, and then pray for God’s blessing, we are disobeying His Scriptural commands.

Unwavering love for God is the catalyst that propels us to disregard our heart’s carnal tendencies of unfaithfulness and disobedience. Love produces loyalty to God instead of self-satisfaction.

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

Self-reliance is the bitter fruit of pride that always produces sinful behaviors in opposition to God’s plans. Disobedience separates us from God and gives us the same status as the unrighteous. Still, we were created with the free will of choice, but we must choose who we will serve. God does not accept a form of sacrificial prayers from prideful, disobedient hearts who are following their paths of earthly success.

Who is more loving and powerful than our Father God? The desire to sustain our lives is a rejection of God’s promises. Our plans can easily take a detour which brings overwhelming situations and burdens. At some point, our self-reliance will hit a roadblock. Never worrying about life’s cares is only possible through a faithful dependency on God.

Loving God is the most important attribute of our character. Surrender is the loving humility that reverences and honors the Most-High God without hesitation. Daily surrender reveals that we are preparing for Kingdom life where the righteous will easily worship and obey God.

Yes, the faithful who surrendered on earth to the Sovereignty of God will receive their Heavenly reward, living forever in His presence and giving King Jesus their highest praise of worship and adoration. Amen. Praise the Lord!

Prayer: God, we are thankful for Your abundant love, grace, and mercies. Please reveal Your perfect will for us today. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Improving the Quality of Our Lives

Improving the Quality of Our Lives -Devotional – January 16, 2024

“Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.” —Isaiah 46:4

Having steadfast faith in God is the first step to improving the quality of our lives. Despite our rocky journey, if we remember that nothing comes as a surprise to God then we can live in peace. Christ is the Solid Rock. As long as we maintain our relationship with Him through surrender, faith, obedience, and prayer, we have the assurance that the Holy Spirit will guide us through every adversity and bring victory to our lives.

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’ ” (Psalm 27:8). Begin and end your day with worship. Separate yourself for uninterrupted time with God. When we enter the presence of God, we receive spiritual strength and peace. Despite our circumstances, we can trust God to give us victory.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies…” (Psalm 103:1-5). Always focus and meditate on the faithfulness and goodness of our Great God. Pray little prayers of gratitude throughout your waking hours for continuous spiritual refreshment.
“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). Practice need over greed. This earth is our temporary home.
“Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies” (Psalm 27:11). Pay close attention to the spiritual warfare of distractions. We should not involve ourselves in matters that consume our time and steal our joy and peace. God never places us in chaotic situations. Always pray before you say yes.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). Strive for a gentle, Christ-like character. Live peacefully with others. Exercise self-control by using silence when facing confrontation. Pray for Divine intervention. God always resolves our battles when we surrender to His power.
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Do not harbor a spirit of offense! Unforgiveness is a sin. Anger, resentment, and vengeful thoughts are bitter fruits of hate. Establish boundaries, but let go of all unloving tendencies. We have too much to lose [our heavenly reward]. Christ never retaliated.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). King David realized that our eyes must be lifted above the highest earthly point toward heaven to live courageously. Dependence on God is an outward sign of internal surrender. Our Omnipotent Father waits for us to seek His help.
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms” (Psalm 95:1-2). We were created to worship God. Our lives are sustained by Him. Praise defeats all anxieties and worries. Give glory and honor to our Loving God because He gave us His Son, Jesus.
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (3 John 1:2, NIV). Our minds, bodies, and souls belong to God. Taking care of our mental, emotional, and physical health is vital for a steadfast relationship with Christ. Choose the most nutritious foods, learn to cook, and incorporate exercise into your lifestyle [preferably in nature]. Reduce stimuli by limiting the things you watch and listen to. Cease negative thoughts and spoken words. Pray often, laugh, and possess a heart of gratitude.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Change your definition of love according to the Scriptures.

“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

Our foundation is Christ with whom we must have a loving, heart-to-heart relationship based on our love for God. Our quality of life is directly linked to the amount of love that we have for God. His plans for us are above and beyond all that we could imagine.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Have you ever thought about how we often try to outdo God by striving for the best possible quality of life? It’s tempting to think that we can control everything and make our lives perfect, but we should take a step back and consider whether this is really the right approach. Trust God with your life!

Prayer: God, we surrender to Your loving plan for our lives. We ask for forgiveness for not trusting You. Thank You for never-ending grace, mercies, provisions, and protection, yet, most of all we thank You for the gift of Jesus and the plan of Redemption. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.

Can We Identify the Truth?

Can We Identify the Truth? – Devotional – January 15, 2024

Years ago, I served as a juror on a murder trial involving war between two gangs. As jurors, we were heavily guarded by New York State Troopers and escorted through an underground tunnel. The trial was long. We heard many testimonies, pre-meditated perjury, and a Defense Attorney who skillfully defended his client for 4-6 hours, giving us 2 hours to deliberate. At the end of the trial, we could not distinguish the truth from the perjured testimonies due to overwhelming discrepancies.

Spiritually, Can We Recognize God’s Truth versus Deception?

Plan A: Satan develops customized distractions to prevent us from thinking clearly and to wear us down. Adding distractions to our crammed schedules leaves us searching for quick remedies. The busyness that we succumb to has decreased our ability to recognize that something is not right. As a result of the rapid pace, we are too exhausted to focus on God and worship Him in spirit and truth. There is no free time for meaningful personal worship. We know that prayer and studying the Bible provide knowledge and give us spiritual renewal, so we tell ourselves hopefully, we will have time tomorrow.

Satan’s Plan B: The quick fix of social media has become the pastor and church for many who proclaim Christ as their Savior. Watching a 1 to 3-minute reel is easier than taking the time to pray and study the Bible. We scroll to gain Biblical principles from people who appear to be credible. Yes, it sounds as if they are speaking the Truth. Once we establish social media as our main resource for Scriptural knowledge, the Deceiver has lured many into the web of accepting convoluted or false beliefs. If we decide to let social media content feed our souls then we will be deceived.

Test the Spirits—”Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” —1 John 4:1

Companies use celebrities and sports figures to endorse their products. They are fully aware the person’s name and reputation will increase their profit margins. Satan uses believers whose hearts are filled with pride to deceive others. Social media attention can become addictive. The majority of comments posted are giving praise to the presenter. Presenting the Scriptures as suggestions instead of requisites makes it easier to increase followers and likes, but undermines God’s Righteous standards.

We live in an unprecedented era of hearing spoken words from never-ending voices. Satan is aware that it takes minimal effort to deceive the spiritually unlearned. Without the Holy Spirit, and self-study of the Bible, we cannot discern the difference between the truth of the Holy Scriptures and false doctrines blended with a little truth designed to entice and deceive.

Not everyone in the media is intentionally mismanaging the Word of God. Still, we have become too comfortable with trusting human knowledge and interpretation of the Scriptures. How can one tell if they are hearing God’s Truth if they do not possess Biblical knowledge and receive discernment given by the Holy Spirit?

Obvious Red Flags: Giving opinions without Scripture, Deviating several times from the main point, choosing one Scripture to justify the presenting “truth,” never mentioning the name of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, and the once saved always saved concepts. The lack of Bible study has many Christians asking the same question as unbelievers, “What is Truth?”

We should study the Bible every day. Always pray, search the Scriptures, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s Truth so you will have knowledge of God’s expectations for the righteous. If a spoken message does not coincide with the Scriptures then you know that it is not God’s Truth. Thankfully, we have God’s Righteous Standard—the Holy Scriptures for comparison. Be certain that your beliefs are Biblical truth.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” —John 14:16-18

From our desire to grow closer to God, we can receive the same spiritual power as those in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. As believers who are living in Perilous Times, we desperately need the Divine empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live righteously. Not only are we facing an escalation of worldly temptations, but the warfare of false doctrines has invaded the Christian community.

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path.” —Psalm 119:105

Studying the Scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is spiritually refreshing and uplifting. We receive God’s Truth which sustains our minds, bodies, and souls. Studying the Bible every day is the human effort required to receive spiritual transformation and have a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ. Daily we commit ourselves as a living sacrifice to God through personal worship. Allow uninterrupted time for prayer, Bible study, and reflection on the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead who gives us the deeper meaning of God’s Truth and teaches us how to apply the Scriptures to our lives. God has provided all that we need to abide in Christ, to live righteously, overcome temptation, and recognize false teachings. Through His Spirit of Truth, we receive the gifts of knowledge, wisdom, discernment, and the spiritual ability to recognize God’s Truth.

Prayer: God, we pray for wisdom and discernment as we study Your Holy Scriptures. We ask You to guard us from the many deceptions designed to make us fall. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

God Will Sustain You

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5

In the harsh, bitter, and lonely times
Trust God with Your Life
His Love and Mercies are Forever
Pray for Guidance and Be Still
Stop Striving and Worrying
Put your Faith and Trust in God!
God is Faithful and Never Changes

Trusting in the God of Completion

Trusting in the God of Completion – Devotional – January 8, 2024

“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

When studying the Bible, we learn about God’s Divine character. God is consistent and dependable, He always gives definitive instructions that result in victory. Believers are instructed to “Wait on the Lord, ” and “Do not trust your own understanding.” We are never told to follow our thoughts, develop strategies, or move forward unless directed by God. We know that the Holy Spirit is directing us because the outcome always brings glory and honor to God.

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

Always pray and take your burdens, trials, and hardships to the throne of Grace first. Be very cautious when sharing your dilemma with others. Do not ask for answers or recommendations. When asking for prayer only disclose that you are facing a hard trial. An anointed prayer warrior will never ask you for additional information. Sometimes God uses a man or woman of God to relay His answer, but the person He uses is completely unaware of your circumstances.

Free will of Choice: Completion or Consequences

If we desire Divine intervention, God requires a prayer of faith asking for His help. Yet, there is a time of waiting. During the wait, either we will acknowledge [honor and reverence] God demonstrated through faith, trust, obedience, and patience, or, we will despise the waiting that we perceive as God’s silence and inactivity and follow our inclinations which results in suffering consequences.

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” —Psalm 37:7

The righteous do not have to suffer consequences! Only when we choose to disobey God can we reap sorrow and regret. There is a well-kept secret in the Christian community regarding, “I did it my way.” Many believers fail to share their true testimony—from their act of disobedience [following their thoughts and strategies] it appeared that all was well for a long time, yet, the consequences came to fruition many years later.

God’s Way: Completion and a Victorious Outcome!

“Our soul waits for the Lord, He is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20

Based on the miracles of the parting of the Red Sea, Naaman being healed of leprosy, Kings Asa and Hezekiah winning impossible battles, and Hannah, Sarah, and Elizabeth having babies after years of infertility, we witness the love and power of a God who gives victory to those who obey and wait.

Yes, it is a struggle to patiently wait. During the wait, pray without ceasing, study the Scriptures, and use your power of a sound mind to stand down all wayward thoughts and feelings of impatience. Ask for help! The Holy Spirit empowers us to exercise self-control and resist our thoughts.

Obedience to God is always rewarded! When you experience the blessings [spiritual, material, healing…] pouring down from the windows of heaven because of the decision to be a faithful follower of Christ, your perception of God and relationship with Christ deepens. You will have a testimony to share that focuses on the goodness of God!

We have a loving Heavenly Father who desires the best for us and deserves our faith, trust, and obedience. Who else can we trust with our lives? The righteous who wait on the Lord stay in His perfect will and live peaceful and abundant lives without suffering consequences. It’s time that we trust in the God of completion and experience His victorious outcomes. Amen.

Prayer: Thank You God for providing stability in our lives. We desire to put our faith and trust in You because we love You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.

Called to Share in Christ’s Suffering

Called to Share in Christ’s Suffering
Devotional – January 5, 2024

Called to Share in Christ’s Suffering -Sabbath Devotional – January 5, 2024

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” —1 Peter 4:1-2

Today, the Holy Spirit gave me a new perspective on suffering trials and hardships. It is an honor to be chosen to suffer for Christ. In suffering, we relinquish self-reliance and choose righteousness over sin. Through daily self-surrender, we enter into a deeper love relationship with Christ, the Redeemer of this world. Because of God’s great love and faithfulness, we are not called to live a life of poverty and continuous suffering.

Yet, if we had the option, most would never choose suffering even if our reward of eternal life was at risk. Thankfully, God’s Divine Intervention designed our paths to produce the righteousness required for holiness in this life and the next life. God allows the trials that we must endure for the Holy Spirit to complete our spiritual restoration and transformation.

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

Our reward is eternal, filled with love, joy, peace, and happiness, living forever in a sinless world with Christ, our King.

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

Prayer: God, we thank You for covering us with Your grace and the mercies that allow us to live righteously. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Nature of the Holy Spirit – A Mystery

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.

God Desires to Give Us Eternal Blessings

Devotional – January 2, 2024

Our lives would reach levels that we could never anticipate if we kept our focus on God. God’s thoughts, ways, and plans include Eternal blessings. Pray for the spiritual insight and the wisdom to reach for the hand of God who will lead you from this earthly existence to Revelation chapters 21-22.

STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Reflecting on the Majesty and Glory of the Triune God

Reflecting on the Majesty and Glory of the Triune God – Sabbath Devotional – December 29, 2023

It was very saddening and disappointing to read the advice given to a new believer on a recent IG post. The majority did not speak about God’s love, majesty, power, grace, and abundant mercies. Instead, they gave many warnings about Satan’s power.

Ephesians chapter 6 tells us that spiritual warfare is real and we must stay faithful and armor ourselves through prayer and studying the word of God. Still, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with countless examples of God’s love and divine intervention for those created in His image.

Has Christianity declined to the point that our focus is on Satan and the fear of spiritual warfare instead of the love and Omnipotence of God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit?

We should never give credence to any power in heaven or earth above the Triune God. If so, we are not fully committed to God and need a revival of our love for Christ. As believers, we face constant battles [internal and external], which is the reason the Apostle Paul emphasized putting on the full armor of God along with maintaining unity and fellowship in the Christian community.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6

We hear and share a lot of non-essential information. Nothing compares to the gospel message of Jesus Christ. By witnessing, we can fight against the trending belief that Satan is more powerful than God. Witnessing is easily accomplished with the use of technology. Use social media to share Scriptures revealing God’s powerful love and faithfulness to humanity.

Many who are desperately seeking peace have not heard the message of a loving and powerful Savior who specializes in new beginnings. Living in perilous times requires that we also think of those who are living hopelessly in this dark world. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ!

“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is His name: Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:2-3

How well do you know God’s character? We will lose interest in God if we only have a minimal understanding of Him. From dedicating time to studying the Scriptures, God becomes real to us. The Holy Spirit, our Teacher, gives us a deeper understanding of God’s power and majesty, as well as the spiritual strength to live a holy life.

Our preparation for eternal life begins in our earthly lives. Worshiping God is the reason we were created. We serve a loving Father who patiently waits to commune with us. Persevere in prayer! Let your prayers be specific—pray for guidance, wisdom, and discernment from the Holy Spirit.

With faithful dedication, you will rejoice in your experiential knowledge of an awesome God to whom you will readily give all of your honor, glory, and praise, and share His goodness with others.

Prayer: God, we pray for a revival in our hearts so we will have the desire to seek and abide in You. We ask You to reveal Your plan and give us guidance in using our spiritual gifts to witness. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

Jesus Makes a Difference in Our Lives

Jesus Makes a Difference in Our Lives – Today’s Devotional – December 27, 2023

The pastor’s question, “Does your heart belong to Jesus?” was not rhetorical, yet the congregation remained quiet. Not one person responded with an affirmative answer. He then stated, “I expected to hear a resounding Amen to that question.”

“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin…” —Romans 6:12-13

Documentaries have always been my absolute favorite. I enjoy learning about different cultures and ways of life around the world. My interest was piqued by the previews of a particular documentary that focused on amazing homes throughout the world built by indigenous persons.

The first hour was amazing—the creativity and skills revealed men and women using natural materials to build structurally sound homes that rivaled many of the proven architectural concepts. But halfway through the documentary, the content shifted from exploring different types of homes to an in-depth explanation of how one can enter the spirit world and worship the spirits of deceased ancestors.

I had a decision to make, would I ignore the discussion of pagan practices and continue watching the program?

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” —Proverbs 4:23, NLT

All stimuli that we embrace through our eyes and ears impact our morals, values, and most importantly our relationship with Christ. Satan always appeals to our senses of vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch to pull us into sinful activities. Striving to live holy is a challenge we face every day. Do not make your life harder by embracing worldviews and habits that are not easily forgotten.

The Old Testament documents the inner struggle of the Israelites who were mesmerized by the sensuality of paganism. Sadly, the chosen people who cried out to God for deliverance from Egyptian bondage never let go of idol worship. Due to a history of wilful disobedience, God only granted Joshua and Caleb from that generation and those who were under the age of 20 to enter the Promised Land.

Today’s idols are not wooden statutes nor would most Christians ever consider an in-person visit to a pagan church, yet modern Christians have more idols than documented in the Bible. Our money, jobs, relationships, entertainment, pursuit of desires and goals, and the use of our time are dedicated to pleasing ourselves.

Yet, we worship technology! Families no longer communicate with each other or enjoy meals together because everyone is on their devices. Advanced technology along with social media has pulled many Christians into embracing the corrupt content of popular programs, games, and online worldly conversations. Whether in ancient or modern times, idols still accomplish the same purpose—to separate us from God.

None are exempt from the influence and desensitization by the worldviews, violence, and greed that are an accepted way of life. Guarding our hearts [minds], eyes, ears, and spoken words every day is a tough assignment. Our activities will either draw us closer to Christ, or we will live as once-a-week Christians, attending church but never having a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ because of our misaligned habits.

Reflection: The answer to “Does my heart belong to Jesus?” is revealed by our decisions, actions, and lifestyles. We may be perplexed about many things, but we know whether or not our hearts belong to Jesus.

Old Testament: “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

New Testament: “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

How can we understand Agape love? 1 Corinthians 13 is the Love Chapter from God’s heart to our hearts. For us to surrender our hearts to Christ, we must love as Jesus loves God, His Father, and fallen humanity. Surrender requires faith! Once we consecrate ourselves to God, the Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to understand the magnitude of Jesus’ Righteous Love.

David prayed often for God to search his heart and reveal all wickedness. Much prayer is needed daily for our hearts to remain connected to Christ. Whether your prayers are silent or audible, talk to Jesus throughout your day. With the innumerable distractions we face, building a relationship with Christ requires steadfast dedication and great communication. We can never pray too much.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” —Philippians 4:8

The Bible reveals God’s great love for humanity. Most of the stories of God’s Divine intervention are in the Old Testament. The books of Joshua and Judges reveal that we serve a Warrior God. Yes, our Defender empowered a fickle people to win seemingly impossible battles against the massive armies of pagan kings. Although the children of Israel had a track record of disobedience, God revealed His tender heart when they repented of their sins by giving them victorious outcomes.

The Love and Life of Christ

The Four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give four perspectives of Jesus’ earthly life. His Righteous Character impacted and changed the hearts of these men whose minds were focused on who would be the greatest. From studying the Scriptures, we learn our Savior’s character—His life demonstrated love, grace, and compassion that no human being will ever possess, still, we can strive to become Christ-like in our characters and temperaments.

Certainly, if we took the time to learn who Jesus is, and love Him, we would surrender our hearts to the One who says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly [humble] in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13

Internal Spiritual Transformation is Always Silent

Yes, Jesus makes a difference in our lives! When our hearts belong to Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome the temptations of sinful pleasures. We love, think, and act differently because we are being transformed from the inside. The Holy Spirit gives us the Divine strength needed to change our character and habits.

Christ’s Love Removes the Stains of Our Sins. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Prayer: Jesus, we love You and thank You for Your amazing love. We invite You into our hearts and ask You to change us into Your likeness. In Your Holy Name, we pray, Amen.