Our primary goal should be to abide in Christ. Setting aside time to separate ourselves and worship God invites the Holy Spirit to give us knowledge, wisdom, and a deeper understanding, so we perceive life through spiritual eyes.
This weekend, commit to setting aside at least 2 hours a day to fast, earnestly pray for a heart-to-heart revival with Christ, and study the Bible.
The Bible is our Spiritual Road Map, and should be studied every day under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. For the next 30-60 days, study the Books of Joshua and Ruth to learn God’s Loving and Righteous Character, and His history of intervening for those who love and obey Him.
Our desire to draw closer to Christ is rewarded with the Strength to persevere and endure this tough journey of life that cannot be accomplished without Divine help. Yes and Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for loving us so much, that you gave Your Only Son, Jesus to redeem us. As we worship with You this Sabbath, we ask for the blessings of Spiritual Renewal and Restoration. We love You, and look forward to the day when Jesus will come again, in whose Worthy Name, we ask this prayer. Amen.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.’ ” (Matthew 6:31-32).
When all is well, it is easy for us to think that our faith and trust is in God. But, the daily challenges we face always reveal the truth of whether our faith is in God, or in ourselves.
If we never take our routine obstacles and minor issues to God, asking for His Divine help then we easily develop a spirit of self-reliance.
The Truth of “Where Is Your Faith?” is revealed when adversity barges into our lives. If our initial response is, “What am I going to do?,” then our faith is displaced, which comes from relying and trusting in our human thoughts and wisdom.
Excerpt from Today’s Devotional: Embracing His Assurance – Elizabeth Viera Talbot
“Our senior pastor, Jon Cicarelli, preached a sermon entitled Fearless. To help the congregation visualize fear, he introduced his talk by showing several underwater photos of people cautiously swimming next to large whales and sharks.”
“As he developed the topic, he asked the congregation to repeat aloud: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” He reminded us that God is competent to handle our lives and that He loves us.”
“Fear is like a giant shadow lurking in the deep waters of our minds.”
“Yet most of what we fear never happens, and the rest is not within our control. This is not the ‘fight or flight’ type of fear but a restlessanxiety that takes over our lives.
“But what if we are actually facing our worst fears?”
“This is what happened to Jairus. He came to Jesus, asking Him to heal his only daughter, who was twelve years old and was dying. On the way to his house, Jesus healed a hemorrhaging woman, who had been sick for twelve years (Luke 8:48).”
Then Jairus’ worst nightmare came true: “While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, ‘Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore’ (verse 49).”
“Jairus must have been very much afraid at that point, because Jesus had to tell him: ‘Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well’ (verse 50). Then Jesus proceeded to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead (verse 54).”
“The treatment Jesus prescribes for fear has always been to choose Faith over fear.”
At some point, in our Christian Journey, every believer has experienced a challenge so overwhelming that fear was our first response. And maybe, you are currently facing a hardship that has revealed your faith in God is weak.
Prayer Is Our Lifeline to Divine Help!
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” (Hebrews 4:16, Amplified Bible).
With humility, we ask for forgiveness [for focusing our faith on ourselves], for God’s Divine Help, and thank Him for His Intervention in the same prayer.
Through prayer, we admit our inability to resolve the vicissitudes of life, and invite God to use His Sovereign Power to intervene.
From studying the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus, and 2 Chronicles 20, we learn that only God can give us the victory!
God never refuses to answer our prayers for His help, yet, His timing will never synchronize with our expectations.
Despite how lengthy the hardships last, we must overcome the desire to step outside God’s will while in the time of waiting.
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14).
Because God sees time as Eternal, He knows our lifespan, and every challenge we will endure in our earthly lives. So, God who governs this world has no need to immediately answer our prayers.
“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24).
Because the Triune God is Omniscient [All-knowing], when we pray for Divine Help, Heavenly Intervention begins immediately.
The Heavenly Chain Reaction for Helping the Righteous
God, the Holy Spirit takes our prayers to God, Jesus, the Son, our Intercessor, Who receives every prayer from the Holy Spirit, and sends His answers through the Holy Spirit.
Not only does Jesus send His Divine strength through the Holy Spirit, but He also sends messenger angels to give us the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical strength to persevere through the daily struggle. Yes and Amen!
We always receive spiritual strength before we receive God’s resolution. By waiting on God, our faith strengthens, and we reveal our desire to faithfully obey and depend on God.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.” (Jeremiah 31:3, BSB).
Lord God, we thank you for Your amazing love. We admit that we have not been faithful, and for this we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we desperately need Your help to overcome these challenges, and to stay on the Path of Righteousness. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 14, 2024
“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” —Jeremiah 10:23
In this world, “The Game of Chance” has many players who take risks daily by making choices that reap negative consequences. Because the unrighteous rely on their educational achievements, strategic thinking, and prior experience, we expect them to make mistakes. “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:19).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” —Proverbs 3:5-8
The Scriptures provide direction and protection for Christian believers. Yes, anyone can gain intellectual knowledge by studying the Bible, but true heart conversion and Sanctification are revealed by humility, daily surrender, and faithful obedience to God. Jesus forewarns us that our plans are built on a foundation of sand when we exclude Him.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” —John 15:4
To abide in Christ is to pray continuously for His Divine guidance. We pray and Jesus answers our prayers through the Holy Spirit who speaks to us through our thoughts and the Scriptures. Seeking God through prayer, receiving an answer [and yes, sometimes the answer is to “Be Still”] invites God to guide us and intervene with His Sovereign power. Every godly decision results in victory because God always wins!
The Destruction of Jericho “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.’ ” —Joshua 6:1-5
Joshua received God’s instructions to march around the city of Jericho. Imagine the unbelief of Jericho’s inhabitants who thought the walls were impenetrable. In Isaiah 55, verses 8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
God’s ultimate desire when He gifted the life of His Son, Jesus was to save our souls. Our plans should extend well beyond our earthly lives. We plan for the future not as unbelievers chasing fame and fortune, we walk in Jesus’ footsteps by committing ourselves daily to God, “Not my will, but Your will be done.”
“Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness…” —Hebrews 3:8
In this life, we choose to accept God’s Plan of Redemption through prayerful surrender and faithful obedience. We deny ourselves by not participating in the sinner’s rebellious Game of Chance. Either we will live for ourselves or live for God. If we choose God then our reward of mansions and living in a perfect and sinless New Heaven and New Earth for eternity is promised to us by Jesus who will return to this Earth as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Where do you stand? A Player who bows to no one by following their thoughts and inclinations or a Servant of the Most High God who reverently bows to His Divine Sovereignty by seeking His will and ways?
Prayer: Lord God, in humility, we bow to Your Sovereign Kingship asking for Your Divine Guidance and blessings on our lives. We pray for Your direction and protection from the enemy who seeks to kill and destroy our lives. Teach us to hear Your Voice. We thank You and ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Be Strong and Courageous – Devotional – January 26, 2024
“Be strong and of good courage…” “Only be strong and very courageous…” “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18
Following Moses’ death, God appointed Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land. Although most are familiar with the ninth verse of God’s command for Joshua to be strong and courageous, God repeated this command four times. What is the reason God placed such a great emphasis on strength and courage that He would repeat this command multiple times?
“Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him [anointed Him]. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.” —Deuteronomy 34:9
Although Joshua was a God-fearing [dedicated and reverent] man of God who appeared to have infallible strength, he relied greatly on Moses who was his spiritual leader, mentor, and friend. Certainly, we can relate to losing a loved one and coping with the emptiness. We serve a loving God who always allows a period of grieving, yet, with God’s strength, we must move forward with courage even if it is with baby steps.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ‘Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.’ ” —Joshua 1:1-3
Most of life’s hardships change the course of our lives. Still, God calls for us to be strong and possess courage. The Israelites required a steadfast spiritual leader following Moses’ death. When God revealed to Joshua that he was the next leader the assignment required an immediate answer of yes.
“…Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9
When we are chosen by God, He has already equipped us for our assignment. With humility and gratitude, we thank Him for the privilege of representing Christ. Joshua’s heart was filled with humility and the desire to faithfully obey God, but his fear overshadowed the motivation to step into the role of Israel’s next leader. God does not make mistakes, so He requires obedience according to His timing.
“Since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.” —Deuteronomy 34:10-12
Joshua was God-appointed but his fears produced a mental and emotional roadblock to moving forward [without Moses] and leading the stubborn, disobedient Israelites. But we must take notice of how God handles our emotions. God never said, I know that you feel that you are not ready to be appointed as the leader over these stubborn people, so your fear is an expected reaction. No, God said, “Only be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:7).
“Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because they have not wholly followed Me” —Numbers 32:11
Fact: God always intervenes by removing the people, places, and things that prevent us from moving forward in our spiritual journey including fulfilling our God-ordained assignments.
“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 we are not in harm’s way and possess fear, we have a serious heart issue of unbelief in the power of God. Fear reveals a lack of faith and trust in God. In Revelation chapter 21, verse 8, Jesus says the cowardly will not enter heaven. Self-reliance, focusing on situations that are humanly impossible to resolve, possessing a timid spirit that prevents us from witnessing, and the dread of an unknown future are indicators of fear.
Fear is a demonic stronghold over the person’s mind. A Christian believer who is fearful is in the same predicament as unbelievers. Fear separates us from God and impedes our spiritual transformation. When we are faithful to God, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our unrighteous characteristics and gives us the strength to overcome all inherited tendencies and learned behaviors.
“Overall, 75% of young respondents said, ‘The future is frightening.’ · More than 50% of survey respondents said they felt ‘sad, anxious, angry, …’ ” http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
The percentage of people who are suffering from life’s instability and hardships is increasing at epidemic proportions. Many do not have peace because of fear of the unknown future. Believing that God is Sovereign and in control of His world gives us peace.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord…” (Jeremiah 34:17).
When God heals us, He never separates our mental, emotional, and physical condition from our spiritual condition. Despite our past, God has promised to heal our infirmities when we place all of our faith and trust in Him. Throughout the Bible are countless examples of healing and victory for those who have the faith to be made well.
The Bible is our Spiritual Guidebook. In studying the Bible, we find stories of those who faced great tribulations including the loss of their lives [Study Hebrews chapter 11, verses 32-39], yet they remained faithful to God. Studying the Biblical stories of humanity’s struggle and God’s love and Divine Intervention strengthens our faith and trust in the mighty power of God.
Let your worship consist of Bible study and prayer to receive the spiritual nourishment required for your mind, body, and soul. Focus on your relationship with Christ and let go of fear! Do not let your mind focus on the “what if.” Commit to memory, Christ’s promise “…for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Stepping outside of our comfort zone to fulfill our God-given spiritual assignment is necessary to live a strong and courageous earthly life and also prepares us for an eternal life with Christ Jesus.
Prayer: God, we are letting go of our fears. Please teach us to live for today. We ask for You to reveal our spiritual assignment and for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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