Staying Courageous in the Stormy Seasons—Devotional Reading, August 23, 2023
Perceiving oneself as blessed should prevent the onset of discouragement and depression when the stormy seasons enter and escalate in our lives. But our human hearts are fragile. When the rains of distress pour on us, often, we share our dilemmas with friends and family who cannot provide the answers or actions to resolve our circumstances.
Yes, we can seek emotional support during the storms [trials], but we need to bring our prayerful petitions for help to God first.
“…But those who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.” —Psalm 34:10
Trending Social media posts state, “God is silent, He never answered my prayers.” There is a disconnect between our comprehension of seeking God and God’s definition of seeking Him. We desire a God-on-Demand who rescues us immediately from our tribulations. With little time devoted to worshipping God, we do not understand His ways, nor do we possess the willingness to suffer. So we pray once or twice and give up on God because we desire immediate cessation of the storms.
“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
Jesus gave us many warnings that we would suffer hardships throughout our earthly journey. Without a firm foundation in the strength of Christ, we easily succumb to the tribulations which bring stormy waves of sorrow and hopelessness. Yet, it is the stormy seasons that build our faith and give us courage.
Not every storm is a trial allowed by God to change our character. Depending solely on our judgment and distrusting others can lead to detrimental choices and substantial adverse consequences in our lives. We agree that busyness impacts most people. With little time left, we are too busy to pray for God’s wisdom and study the Scriptures for guidance.
The Bible is our Guidebook that we use to find out, “What decisions should I make based on the Scriptures?” So instead of feeling blessed, we are overwhelmed from attempting to navigate through life without Divine Help. Excluding God from one’s life produces spiritual unrest, and disconnects us from the Source of life.
Still, we are not in a hopeless predicament. In humility, we acknowledge our disobedience and repent if we caused the storm. Even if we are the cause of our storm, God never forsakes us. We must have steadfast courage and undoubting faith to believe in God and His promises. God is our Source, He gives us the spiritual strength to endure every storm.
Character-changing storms usually have a longer duration and feel as if they will never end. Pray and ask God to reveal the unrighteous behaviors that He is using the stormy season to purge from your character. There are four Chapters—1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5, Ephesians 5, and James 3—that God expects for every believer to study and measure their characters against. With a prayer of surrender pray for the Divine strength to persevere and endure.
Some storms are the result of spiritual warfare, especially conflict with others. Even so, Christ gives His permission before any trials from Satan are brought into our lives. God will never allow Satan to crush the righteous! Read Job Chapter 1.
During the Stormy Seasons, Pray Often for Divine Help!
David had many troubles but wrote the steps we need to take during the seasons of hardships and also gave us wonderful words of encouragement, God always delivers the righteous!
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” —Psalm 34:15-16
“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.” —Psalm 34:17-18
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:19
Choosing to surrender to God on a daily basis is a personal decision that demonstrates our love for Him. Jesus designed us to have a dependent relationship with Him, built on love, trust, and obedience. These spiritual qualities not only keep us connected to Christ, but also ensure that we are following God’s will.
David’s Petition: “Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.” —Psalm 27:7
The winds of tribulations are harsh, blowing with such force that we fall. We must cry out for Help! Who can persevere through the storm without Christ’s strength? Never forget that God’s goal is to save our souls and give us eternal life.
Spiritual maturity is demonstrated through God-reliance. No one is stronger than the one who depends on God!
Reflect on your lifestyle and make drastic changes if you do not have time to put God first! Developing a lifestyle of worship is intentional and takes concerted action on our part. When our lives are peaceful and we diligently pray and study the Bible every day, our dependency on God acts as a spiritual catalyst to immediately cry out to God when our stormy trials begin.
God knows that building our faith, trust, and confidence and changing our character into the likeness of Christ is achieved in the stormy seasons. Yes, the seasons that make us wish for Jesus to say, Peace be still, are working for our good and His glory!
Even if the intensity and duration of the storm lasts longer than we anticipated, practicing God-Reliance gives us unwavering confidence fueled by our faith and trust in God’s promises of deliverance.
Pray in faith and wait. God’s promises are Yes to which we say, Amen!
Scripture: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:19
Prayer: God, we thank You for Your Divine Love. Please forgive our self-reliance and doubt. Lord, we are in a storm and need Your strength to make it through. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Live Wisely…Because the Days Are Evil Devotional Reading August 21, 2023
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise…” —Ephesians 5:15, NIV
God desires that we live happy and healthy lives, but He warns us that we need godly wisdom to stay on the Righteous Path which leads to eternal life. Many people proclaim that Life is good! Yet, their perception of the good life is based on human wisdom, their accomplishments, financial stability, and tangible goods.
Not only have we incorporated self-reliance into our belief system, we readily use human-made standards to make decisions and measure success. Without wisdom, we cannot know the will of God. Nor can we discern spiritual warfare and live our best lives without the Holy Spirit’s insight and guidance. But most importantly, without godly wisdom, we cannot receive eternal life, because our thoughts and decisions will never align with God’s plans.
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” —Colossians 2:9
We live in a time of mass information. So many voices and the majority are expressing their opinions based on their thought processes. Why are we so eager to embrace empty philosophies? The exclusion of godly wisdom places us in enemy territory! Without spiritual discernment, God warns us that we will be deceived by satanic false doctrines that are gift-wrapped in the appearance of God’s Divine Truth.
When we rely on human knowledge and understanding, we place ourselves in a vulnerable position. God tells us that we are being cheated! Something about the word cheat causes our emotions to become riled up—upset or angry. The definition of the word Cheat: an act of fraud, swindling, hoax, or deception. Oxford Dictionary
We are living in dangerous, evil times. The Amplified translation of Colossians 2:8 gives us [an easily understood] insight into the methods based on human wisdom used by Satan.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.” —Colossians 2:8, Amplified Bible
Sometimes the programs or infomercials that we watch or listen to are so absurd that our only logical response is to laugh. But Satan is not shooting fiery darts at those who can be easily deceived, he knows they offer no resistance to the deceptive intellectual babble of our era. Satan is after the children of God!
Satan doesn’t present human theories that we will easily dismiss, he develops a personalized plan using spoken words that provoke us to fall into temptation. Many believers love God but rely on their knowledge, intellectual thoughts, outcomes from prior experience, and strategies. They are intermittent Bible readers who do not have a spiritual foundation based on Biblical truth. Sadly, these are the people who, upon hearing new religious concepts, quickly accept them as true, without questioning their validity.
Yet, there is another group of believers who study the Bible and pray for wisdom from the Holy Spirit, but they hear the new concept from a reputable pastor, speaker, or social media post, and it piques their interest. They are striving to stay on the Path of Righteousness, but sometimes get caught up by Satan’s expertly deceitful tactics. God tells us to test the spirits—search the Scriptures, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal whether or not the message is God’s Truth.
We cannot place our total confidence in the presenter. Many times personal feelings, the desire for likes, or using guesswork, results in the speaker giving inaccurate explanations of God’s Holy Word. It is imperative that we have a relationship with Christ based on our love, faith, and knowledge of the Bible which contain Holy Words breathed by God to men anointed by the Holy Spirit.
Without Exception, there is only One Truth and One Meaning to every Scripture in the Bible.
God’s expectation is that we will use the Bible to measure every sermon or doctrine. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher who always gives us a 100% accurate understanding of the Scriptures. Every believer has the opportunity to study and learn Biblical Truth. Studying God’s Truth under the guidance of the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual nourishment, feeding our minds and souls by imparting peace, power, spiritual knowledge, and godly wisdom.
Two weeks ago, I listened to a pastor who stated that Matthias was not the twelfth disciple that replaced Judas. Because the Apostles cast lots when choosing the replacement disciple, He surmised that God would not use that method to choose a disciple. He believes that God chose Paul as the twelfth apostle.
After hearing this concept, I studied Acts Chapter 1. As I thought about his opposing doctrine, I began to think deeply because my interest was piqued. But I didn’t feel right. I prayed a simple prayer, Holy Spirit, is this true? All praises to God, the Holy Spirit immediately came to my rescue by flooding my mind with answers.
The Holy Spirit reminded me of three things: 1. In our earthly lives, we will never understand God’s ways. 2. The Bible is God-breathed and does not contain any mistakes! 3. A statement I previously heard on how to avoid the acceptance of false doctrines.
In a recent question-and-answer program by a pastor, I have listened to for many years, stated, “We are living in the last days. You will hear many new concepts of God’s Truth, pray for wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit, and use this question to measure the information with, “Is this information Biblical and does it have anything to do with my salvation?’ “
Satan knows his time is running out. None of us are above hearing false doctrines that we readily accept or ponder in our minds. Our Arch-enemy is using every deceptive tactic to attempt to cheat the very elect—those who are striving to live righteously. Stay prayerful! Diligently study the Scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit!
Because the Bible gives us God’s instructions on living righteously in these evil days, the Scriptures below provide guidance on living wisely through possessing godly wisdom.
” ‘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.’ ” —Isaiah 55:8-9
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” —Proverbs 14:12
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” —Proverbs 26:12
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” —1 Corinthians 5:20
There is only one way for us to receive heavenly wisdom: “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. 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.” —James 1:5-6
Because our hearts are carnal and our understanding does not align with God’s thoughts, the Apostle James gives us the characteristics of heavenly wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. —James 3:13-18
Prayer: God, we desperately need the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, guidance, and spiritual discernment every day. Lord, we pray for You to shelter us from the fiery darts of false doctrines and ask for a spirit of humility to permeate our minds and souls as we prepare for Your soon coming. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray, Amen.
Living in Preparation for Eternity Devotional Reading August 20, 2023
We are living on the threshold of eternity. Are you living wisely? Does your life reflect the Righteousness of Christ?
The foundation of our relationship with Christ is based on love—His love for us is always consistent, but sadly, our love for Christ is changeable, often vacillating because of our heart’s desires and circumstances.
The love we have for God is revealed every day by our goals, plans, thoughts, spoken words, and actions which demonstrate our faithfulness to God. From our faith springs trust, obedience, and the desire to stay connected to Christ, the Source of our lives.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” —Ephesians 5:15-17
Every believer reaches a crossroads in their relationship with God which requires a declaration of who is first in their life. There is no middle ground, either God is first or we are first. For us to serve God, we must give a sacrificial offering. The things we treasure the most, money, material goods, relationships, and jobs are the object of our sacrifice.
Where do we stand when God tells us to let go? God is not punitive. The people, jobs, material goods, wealth, goals, and plans that He is asking us to let go of are preventing us from fulfilling God’s ultimate purpose for each of us. To live with the goal of self-seeking accomplishments does not align with God’s goal of the Holy Spirit guiding and preparing us [through this earthly life] to receive our reward of eternal life when Jesus comes.
“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?’ ” —Luke 9:23-25
Jesus tells us that we must take up our cross and follow Him. Taking up our cross is to surrender ourselves through prayer every day. Following Christ places us on the Path of Righteousness, yet, the human effort of faith and obedience along with the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit keeps us on the Narrow Path.
The Narrow Way—”Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14
Do we understand that our earthly struggle cannot end in victory if we fail to love, obey, and follow the will of God? Obedience is not a natural response when the requirement is in opposition to our desires. Whether we understand the prophecies in the book of Revelation or not, one thing is certain, we are living in the last days of Earth’s history.
Receiving our reward requires diligent earthly preparation. Our daily worship of surrendering to God changes our perspective of time. We use our time wisely to pray and stay in alignment with the will of God. Surrendering to Christ gives us an internal spiritual transformation and an external purpose. We no longer live for ourselves, our desire is to live in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Staying in Alignment with God Requires Action!
Salvation is not passive! Our goal is to love Christ and faithfully obey His commandments. We strive to live holy by avoiding wilful disobedience. The Holy Spirit will alert us if we are detouring from the Path.
We Are Christ’s Disciples—John 17:20-23
What does God expect of us? To live righteously, for our character to reflect the Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23], study the Scriptures, pray continuously, use our spiritual gifts and natural talents, witness Jesus’ love and the Plan of Salvation, and help those in need.
The Great Commission—”And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ ” —Matthew 28:18-20 Amen.
The Believer’s Outreach Calling—In our walk with Christ, we are expected to witness the love of Christ to others. God has granted us advancements in technology that allow us to reach people wherever a satellite signal exists. Jesus clarifies that the reward in Revelation chapter 22, verse 12—”And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”
Receiving our reward is not only based on our willingness to serve, but also to perform our spiritual assignment of witnessing and helping others every day which proves our love, loyalty, faithfulness, and obedience to God. Every believer is expected to actively complete their earthly work as determined by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Serving God requires us to follow in the footsteps of Christ in His earthly ministry.
Attending church and giving tithe and offerings are God’s expectations of our service to Him. It is our outreach efforts of witnessing and helping others that we feel are optional. The parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew chapter 25, verses 31-46, is regarding two groups of believers. Sadly, the goats never thought they were required to be active disciples.
We have arrived and live in the perilous times that the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to Timothy.
“But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” —2 Timothy 3:1-5
Satan has deceived many to have a false concept of God that He is a Punisher. And when we hear sermons or study the Bible about the destruction of the wicked and this earth, we experience feelings of “Doom and Gloom.”
If we study Revelation chapters 19 through 22 and do not get excited then our hearts are not filled with love, faith, and obedience to God. There is a better life for the faithful, righteous who surrender themselves every day and are actively working as Christ’s disciples. And our minds are focused on seeing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and living with Him forever and ever. Amen.
Scripture: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” —Revelation 22:20-21
Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for not doing Your will and fulfilling our spiritual work of telling others of the love of Christ. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to bless us with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We pray for wisdom and direction to do Your will. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray. Amen.
Christ-Shaped Lives, Receiving Daily Spiritual Transformation August 19, 2023
“…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” —Ephesians 4:22-24
Although we could never receive spiritual transformation by works alone, the Human Effort of surrender, faith, and obedience allows us to receive the Divine intervention of the Holy Spirit who produces an internal transformation of our minds and characters.
Our willingness to become a follower [disciple] of Christ enables the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to change the direction of our lives. Our former sinful mindsets, beliefs, and desires change. Instead of pursuing worldly success and hanging out with unbelievers, we seek goodness [righteousness] instead of greatness.
Today, I realized that we are so blessed to have a loving God who allowed His Son, Jesus, to complete the Plan of Redemption for humanity. And because of our carnal nature, we have the Holy Spirit who enables us to receive spiritual transformation by teaching and guiding us to stay on the Path of Righteousness.
Scripture: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:29-32
Prayer: Lord, give us direction as we travel through this earthly journey so that we may remain faithful, and willingly obey by doing Your will. We pray for the Fruit of the Spirit as we witness to others by spreading the message of Your love, grace, and mercies through our spoken words and behaviors. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Fiction and Fantasy—The Twins of Spiritual Warfare Devotional Reading, August 14, 2023
Do not fixate on your desires! When developing new plans, present them to God in prayer, wait for His blessing of approval, and then move forward. S. Johnson
Throughout my life, I have always loved being on the road. I became a Road Warrior in my early twenties. Reflecting on my years of traveling extensively throughout the United States, still brings joy and excitement to my heart. Driving was something that I had to do, and yes, my life was filled with happiness from the new experiences. But two unexpected life events [a mid-life divorce and a physical disability] changed the direction of my life. And my presenting circumstances forced me to become a virtual world traveler.
Yet, I refused to accept the fact that I had to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Every day I would spend a lot of time remembering my former life and verbalizing my desire to travel again. Every day the wheels of my mind kept spinning to develop a plan to resume life on the road. Being dissatisfied with my present life affected my mental and emotional health, I developed insomnia and a dark cloud of discouragement permeated my mind.
Still, I am not one to easily give up. So I asked myself, What changes could I make to resume my former lifestyle of traveling?
One day while I was looking through my YouTube feed, I saw the solution to restart my passion for traveling, Van Life. I did six months of extensive research and decided this option would work. All of my discouragement quickly dissipated as I developed a comprehensive plan for living a minimalist lifestyle in a van.
I was well-organized with my habit of searching for van life videos at night and saving them to Watch Later. The next morning, after quick worship, I watched a few videos on the downside of van life as a single woman. Unless you become part of a van-life community, the instability of searching for the best places to park and live from day to day is a stressor. Unpredictable weather, the unexpected expenses of vehicle maintenance, food planning, and most importantly, staying on high alert for remaining safe were among the top challenges of van life.
Still, I was not intimidated. From my travel experiences, I was confident and quite proud of my strategic plans to enjoy freedom from paying rent. Yes, I could live on the road and travel again in my well-designed, minimalist, stealth van.
“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” —Jeremiah 10:23, NIV
But our loving God intervened! The next two videos were made by single, professional, female van-life communities which brought my fantasy of van life to a halt! Many voiced their personal beliefs of worshiping nature, transcendental meditation, drinking wine, and smoking marijuana along with varied philosophies, morals, and values which brought me to the reality that I would be an isolated van-lifer because of my Christianity.
Reflection: What plans have you made for yourself that exclude the blessing of God’s approval?
Believers are no exception to planning their lives without God’s divine intervention. We pursue careers, financial stability, start businesses, relocate, purchase homes and vehicles, become involved in relationships and marriages with people who have not surrendered to God, and develop retirement plans without praying and waiting for God to reveal His plans for our lives.
“Fiction explores what is possible but not true, while fantasy explores what is impossible.” Adazing website
From our desires, we create a fictional life, which drives us to develop impossible plans [fantasy] for us to fulfill. Yes, we can strategize and develop plans down to the smallest detail, but the fixation on our desires causes us to forget one crucial element—the unknown and unstable future. Whether or not we have taken into consideration that life will always bring unexpected changes, we do not view those changes as beyond our control.
We are confident with our projected outcomes based on human wisdom. Sadly, our thoughts have taken us beyond our human capabilities. We imagine that our future is in our hands, but the unknown future belongs to God. Only the Omniscient God can provide a perfect and expected end for us.
When our desires exclude God, we invite spiritual warfare into our lives. Moving forward with our self-made plans provides the perfect opportunity for Satan to help us in bringing those plans to fruition. No, he cannot read our minds, but his evil angels observe our behaviors and present to us the things which appear to be a blessing. Because we are fixated on our fictional plans which we do not see as impossible [fantasy], we never consider that failure or suffering from unforeseen consequences of moving ahead without God is a possibility.
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” —Romans 7:18-20, ESV
Yes, for as long as we live on this earth, as Christians, we will remain in the battle of good versus evil. Satan knows that we fight every day to overcome temptations and sin against God. For protection against the warfare of succumbing to our desires, we must pray a prayer of surrender every day.
“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
God promises to give us hope and a perfect end when our plans are in alignment with His plans for our lives. Surrender, trust, and obedience are the spiritual character traits we must possess to be in the right standing with God. Our loyalty and dedication to God are only possible if we love God more than our heart’s desires and are committed to doing His will by obeying and following His plans.
How can we keep our minds from developing fictional plans based on the illusions of fantasy? Ask yourself, do my plans honor and glorify God?
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” —Philippians 4:8
Pray in faith and learn to listen for the Holy Spirit speaking to you through your thoughts which are always in alignment with the Scriptures. God has given us the ability to dream, yet, our dreams must align with the reality of His plans. God is the only one that can order our steps and give us a victorious outcome based on His promises and His power!
Weekly Scripture Reading: The Life of Joseph, Genesis chapters 37-50
Prayer: God, we pray for protection from our wayward thoughts and plans. We ask You to block every aspect of the spiritual warfare of delusion from our lives. Lord, we surrender ourselves to You and commit to pray and wait for Your plans to be revealed in our lives. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray, Amen.
Develop a Spirit of Gratitude Devotional Reading August 13, 2023
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” —Psalm 136:1
This morning, I watched a Christian program on “Counting Our Blessings.” The speaker mentioned the Fruit of the Spirit and said, “I have always wondered why gratitude was not a fruit mentioned by the Apostle Paul.”
I begin to reflect on the meaning of gratitude—to possess a spirit of thankfulness. Because Jesus created us as free moral agents, the Holy Spirit cannot place gratitude in our hearts. Gratitude is a response that is only found in a heart overflowing with love for Christ.
Praise and gratitude are more than saying, thank you. Gratitude is an expression of worship. A spirit of gratitude enables us to praise God with words of thanksgiving in turbulent times as well as peaceful times.
A believer who expresses gratitude to God for all their blessings reveals a heart filled with love and appreciation for Christ, whereas a believer who only prays and is thankful for material possessions reveals a greater love for themselves.
“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” —1 John 2:16, NLT
Sadly many of us have embraced the worldview of pursuing one’s desires which displaces our love from Christ to tangible things. Taking the time to reflect on your desires, pursuits, and possessions reveals the status of your heart and relationship with Christ. Self-love not only prevents us from having a spirit of gratitude, we cannot experience spiritual growth and transformation.
Reflection: What am I praying for? Change your prayers from asking God to thanking God.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:19-21
Many Christians are unaware of the spiritual status of their hearts because they attend church and give tithe and offerings. They believe that their love for Christ is shown through the actions they take. Yet, Christ says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Obedience requires total surrender! Christ must be our First love. And we make God a priority in every aspect of our lives.
Jesus’ Spoken Words: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
“Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” —Romans 13:14
We only have one opportunity to develop and cultivate a heart filled with love and gratitude and that is in our earthly lives. When Jesus returns, the character traits and behaviors we exhibited in our daily lives will remain as they are. Therefore, we must persevere to cultivate a loving heart filled with gratitude that is expressed through our spoken words in prayer.
We can change! Loving God is evidenced by putting Him first. We have enough stuff. The perilous times described by the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3 are now. Still, it is a personal decision to redirect our focus on Christ by making Him our First Love.
Our Loving Savior deserves our surrender and commitment to bless His Holy Name throughout the day. And that level of praise can only come from a heart overflowing with love and gratitude for the One who gave His life for humanity.
Thought for Today: Cultivate a spirit of gratitude and you will begin to see life through spiritual eyes.
Prayer: Lord, we praise and bless Your Holy Name. We ask for forgiveness for loving ourselves before You. Our focus has shifted to things instead of gratitude for Your love, grace, and mercies. Jesus, thank You for every provision and the mercies of blessing us with many of our desires. Lord, we love and thank You for reminding us that our characters must change if we desire eternal life. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.
Guidance From the Spirit of Truth—The Holy Spirit Devotional Reading August 11, 2023
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9
The word of the hymns “I Surrender All” and “Have Thine Own Way” indicate the writers understood our part in the plan of Salvation and the conditions of our relationship with Christ. To serve Christ requires a spirit of humility and a prayer of daily commitment. The love in our hearts acts as a catalyst to faithfully follow Jesus through surrender and obedience.
Yet, we need Divine Help in our daily spiritual journey of Sanctification—living holy and righteously and experiencing spiritual growth and transformation of our character into the Character of Christ.
“I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth [the Holy Spirit] who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me too, because you have been with me from the beginning.” —John 15:26-27
Like Jesus’ disciples who struggled greatly in their journey of spiritual transformation, our Savior knew that all future believers would need Divine Intervention to remain faithful disciples. His promise to send the Holy Spirit was evidenced after His ascension on the Day of Pentecost. Study Acts chapter 2.
Jesus identified the Holy Spirit using the pronoun “He.” The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune Godhead—God, the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. Sadly, there is a disconnect in our belief that the Holy Spirit is necessary for our spiritual journey. If Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help His disciples who were physically with Him then we definitely need the Spirit of Truth to continue on the Path of Righteousness in our earthly experience.
“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.” —Isaiah 55:8-9
Because we tend to minimize or discard truth that is beyond our understanding—the power of the Holy Spirit is a mystery—we find it easier to exclude the presence and power of the Holy Spirit from our lives. Still, we must have the Divine power of the Holy Spirit to maintain our relationship with Christ, to discern truth from error, and to gain an in-depth understanding of the Scriptures.
The Holy Spirit reminds us of the Divine precepts on how to live righteously and warns us of the deceptions and temptations of spiritual warfare. We are no match for the evil schemes of Satan our enemy. The Holy Spirit is also our Protector.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
We must acknowledge our human disadvantage of being born into sin, shaped by iniquity, and possessing a carnal heart. Our thoughts are influenced by our childhood experiences, friends, family, worldviews, politics, social media, and denominational doctrines. Without the Holy Spirit, we will never comprehend God’s Agape Love or the plan of Salvation—it is through our faith we are saved by God’s grace.
We can read and memorize chapters of the Bible, but without using our faith to pray and invite the Holy Spirit into our life, we will never experience spiritual transformation. Some atheists read the Bible for knowledge or appreciate its documentation of ancient times, but they do not have faith in its teachings. Without faith, the Holy Spirit cannot give us spiritual wisdom, understanding of Salvation, God’s Sovereignty, the impact of sin, and how to live righteously.
When we fail to pray in faith for the power of the Holy Spirit, we are in the same predicament as atheists. We read the Bible, apply our human understanding, and become discouraged because we feel that God is distant. In the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit. It is the oil of the Holy Spirit that fills the emptiness of our spiritual vessel.
We would be hopelessly lost without the Spirit of Truth who takes our seed of faith and expands our knowledge and wisdom of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher who imparts us with a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Bible. As we gain discernment and wisdom of Biblical truths, our relationship with Christ grows, and we begin to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” —Matthew 21:22
How does one receive the presence and power of the Holy Spirit? Daily, we pray in faith and ask for the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our lives.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” —1 Corinthians 6:19
Jesus created us as vessels to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Imagine a clean bottle that you fill with oil. To be filled with the Holy Spirit requires that our mind and body be a clean vessel. We demonstrate our love for God through faith and obedience.
What does total surrender look like? “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15, ESV. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance…” —1 Peter 1:14, ESV
Our decision to shun evil by choosing not to willfully sin is strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Some temptations are so powerful, we need to cry out loud for Divine Help to overcome them. Yes, we need the power of the Holy Spirit!
David’s prayer, “Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) provides us the model prayer demonstrating faith, humility, repentance, and surrender.
To be empowered with righteous attributes, our hearts must possess love and loyalty to God.
First, we must love God more than we love ourselves or anyone else. And we must possess the desire to live holy. We strive for righteousness through our faith in Christ Jesus. Without the intentional desire to live holy, we do not see the need to surrender or obey God. The human attributes of surrender, faith, and obedience are a freewill choice and reveal our love and mindset toward Christ.
“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
Another role of 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
With so many voices speaking their version of God’s truth, How do I know the Holy Spirit is speaking to me? Develop the habit of a consistent prayer life. Pray several times a day. It is not the length of our prayers that move God. Prayer is a two-way conversation. Include time for meditation and you will begin to recognize that your spiritual thoughts are from the Holy Spirit speaking to you.
A word of caution, do not manipulate the message. God never goes against His Holy Word found in the Bible. If you are praying for a material possession or a romantic relationship, wait on the Lord! The Holy Spirit does not always answer immediately. We know it is of God when supernatural miracles begin to happen and the request is brought to fruition.
In faith, we pray and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray with confidence because we can rely on the promises of God. God’s promises are steadfast and demonstrate the declaration of His Character—I change not!
“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
On Wednesday night, I prayed for spiritual guidance regarding a complex situation. At 3:30 am, Thursday morning when I awakened, in my thoughts, the Holy Spirit gave me the steps that I needed to take for complete resolution.
The Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Scriptures [Study the Bible]. The answers we receive represent Divine completion and provide Divine resolution. Not only do we receive answers, but the Holy Spirit is also our Comforter who ministers to our minds and souls by giving us peace and contentment.
When we receive direction from the Holy Spirit, there is no guesswork or confusion. The Holy Spirit knows our level of spiritual understanding and meets us exactly where we are in our spiritual journey. We can always count on the Spirit of Truth to give us clear and concise answers that provide clarity. And because God is a God of Completion, He does everything to glorify His Holy Name.
We claim the blessing of the Holy Spirit through our faith. In prayer, we surrender ourselves every day to be guided and controlled by the Divine power of the Holy Spirit. In humility, we wait for spiritual guidance and intervention. From our obedience and long-suffering, we receive a double blessing. Not only do we receive resolution, but we also receive spiritual empowerment. When we are faithful, we can tell others by sharing our praise testimony of God’s faithfulness and our victorious outcome.
“And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear [reverence] the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” —Deuteronomy 10:12
Without a total heart and soul love for God, we will never reverence Him or accept His Righteous Precepts and Righteous Standards. Obedience is our highest form of worship. Active faith is demonstrated by surrender and obedience. God knows the true condition of our hearts, either we love Him or we do not. There is no middle ground!
Remember, we were not created to stand alone. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome the temptations of spiritual warfare. Not only do we have carnal hearts, but the worldviews that conflict with the word of God have caused us to compromise and accept watered-down versions of God’s Truth. We cannot save ourselves! Nor can we resolve the conflicts and challenges that leave us without answers. Do we need the Holy Spirit? Every second of our lives!
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” —Acts 2:1-2
Even though everyone in the place witnessed the anointing of the Holy Spirit, some doubters accused the apostles of being drunk with new wine. Study Acts chapter 2. Without faith, we reject the Holy Spirit and all evidence of His power.
The Holy Spirit enables us to view life through spiritual eyes. It is not climate change that is impacting our earth. We are living in the last days. The perilous times that the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Timothy 3 describe our present earthly conditions. Jesus is coming soon! The Holy Spirit empowers us to live righteously on this planet earth that is plagued with increasing sinfulness.
God is Holy! The Bible is our Spiritual Mirror. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual discernment of the Scriptures and continuous guidance to overcome life’s challenges. Yet, we must choose to receive spiritual empowerment. We can never pray enough! When we pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayers and presenting them to Christ, our Intercessor.
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:6
Worship is asking and inviting the presence of God into our life. Every prayer that we utter should reflect our willingness to surrender. Asking for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is a prayer that is answered immediately. Separate yourself and meditate while worshiping God. Changing our mindset to accept that the Holy Spirit is not an option empowers us to prepare for eternal life.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.… Matthew 7:13-14
Is it possible to live a godly life, stay on the narrow Path of Righteousness, and receive our reward of eternal life without the Divine power of the Holy Spirit? The answer is No.
Prayer: God, we desperately need the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our daily lives. We pray for the forgiveness of our sins, especially our wilful disobedience. Give us a clean heart and teach us how to hear Your Voice. Lord, we pray for wisdom, discernment, and guidance from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Living with peace and joy is only possible when we surrender ourselves to Christ. If you decide to place your life in His hands when all is well then you will faithfully trust Him in the situations that are humanly impossible to resolve.
Prayer of Gratitude: Jesus, You Are the only answer. We thank You for Your overwhelming love, grace, and mercies. Amen.
The Lion, The Lamb, and the Sheep Sabbath Devotional Reading, August 4, 2023
The lion has been dubbed the King of the Beasts. The roar of a mature male lion can travel up to five miles, showcasing its powerful presence and traits of pride, fearlessness, aggression, and self-reliance. The King walks as if he owns the entire savannah and he follows no one.
In watching animal documentaries on lions, I noticed lions only fear one animal [the elephant], and that is because of the grave danger that the elephant poses to their physical safety. The majority of lions are in a family [known as a pride] consisting of two to three generations. Yet, it’s not uncommon to spot solitary lions on the savannah, but their survival is a constant battle, and usually end up succumbing to starvation.
In the Bible, symbolically the lion represents Jesus, the Lion of Judah [Revelation 5]. The Apostle Peter says that the devil prowls like a roaring lion and the prophet Isaiah tells us the the lion and no ravenous beast which represent the wicked will be on the Highway of Holiness [Isaiah chapter 35].
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” —1 Peter 5:8, NIV
Many of us are familiar with the Apostle Peter’s metaphor and warning regarding Satan as a roaring lion seeking to destroy every believer’s faith and obedience to God. Yet, many are unaware of the spiritual meaning and how to apply this warning to their lives. The decision to follow Christ causes Satan to hate us. Yes, our arch-enemy’s goal is to separate every believer from God by any means necessary!
Satan—The Roaring Lion
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” —Ephesians 6:12
We cannot pretend that Satan does not exist. Every believer must acknowledge that Satan is on this earth, that he is a fallen angel, and that he possesses power. Although most Christians do not engage in pagan practices, we invite sin into our lives through our participation in worldly activities.
Our compromise of accepting worldviews has desensitized us to the danger of sin. Looking at ourselves is like seeing our reflection in a mirror. We only see the outside, we need the Bible, God’s spiritual mirror to reveal the condition of our hearts.
“To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ” —Titus 1:15
One of Satan’s most effective strategies is to devour us through his schemes of temptation. All of our temptations are custom-made, the sins we succumb to reveal the desires of our hearts. Like the lion who is hidden in the grass, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to chase and attack its prey, Satan is very patient. He and his evil angels observe our behaviors and habits [our weaknesses] then with perfect timing we are presented with irresistible temptations.
The Gateway of Temptations
Satan uses common things to distract us, watching movies whose rating is strong language, listening to secular music that we sing and dance to, and spending money on frivolous desires. Like the lion who successfully hunts and kills his prey, Satan is cunning and infiltrates our lives using stealth moves. Under the umbrella of Love, we invite unbelievers with worldly mindsets into our social circles as friends and establish dating relationships that lead to living together or unequally yoked marriages.
Satan’s Easy Prey—The Christians Who Have No Time for Worship, Praying, or Bible Study
In 2023, Satan’s number one scheme is to use distractions that waste our valuable time. Instead of having time for meaningful worship—praying and studying, we are too tired. Our to-do list is unrealistic, or we use social media, the cell phone, and online activities to relax. Mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted, we say a quick prayer and promise to study the Bible tomorrow and fall asleep.
The other open door that allows Satan to enter our lives is through false teachings. In our busyness, we do not take the time to pray or study the Bible. Because of our daily schedules, we listen to sermons and social media posts which appear to be God’s Truth, yet are not Bible-based. The false teaching that we hear sounds good because it is a blend of a little truth and a lot of self-interpretation by the speaker.
Even lions who are on the brink of starvation never forget the elephant is always dangerous. Because we are not living according to God’s righteous precepts, our minds and conscience have changed. We do not sense any danger to our spiritual condition when pursuing life’s pleasures that appear to be harmless fun and enjoyment.
Remember, Satan does not present situations that would cause us to immediately recognize as threatening to our relationship with Christ. He uses familiar activities and people as bait to make us easily fall. If temptation was not appealing to our desires then we could easily turn and say no.
Reflection: Is there any part of my lifestyle that God considers to be unrighteous?
To remain spiritually alert and of a sound mind, we must be consistent in our worship. Staying spiritually nourished requires a daily commitment to God. Without prayer and meditation, Bible study, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are like the lion who is alone in the savannah. In a state of spiritual starvation, we cannot recognize Satan’s schemes, nor do we have the power to resist his covert deceptions.
We cannot fight Satan without Divine Intervention! The Apostle Paul tells us to put on The Whole Armor of God—Study Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10-18.
The spiritual battle we face in these perilous times requires more than praying once or twice a day. We can never pray too much! Fighting the enemy cannot be accomplished without spiritual reinforcement. Still, we need Divine Help that is immediately available by praying, “God, help me!”
Jesus promised us the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to give us the discernment and strength that is required to do our part as a soldier in God’s Army.
The Faithful Ones—Christ’s Sheep
Despite the enemy’s schemes, Christ has many dedicated faithful followers—His sheep surrender daily by striving to faithfully obey and trust Jesus, their Divine Shepherd.
“Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” —Psalm 100:3
Why Does the Bible Compare Us to Sheep?
Sheep have no sense of direction. …
Sheep are defenseless. …
Sheep can’t get up without help. …
Sheep are emotional and recognize the Shepherd’s voice. …
Sheep are not meant to carry burdens. …
Sheep will settle for less. …
Sheep are valuable. …
Sheep can not care for themselves when wounded. Mom RemadeWebsite
Jesus Christ, Our Shepherd: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” —Matthew 9:36-37
Jesus Christ, Our Savior: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” —Isaiah 53:6
Despite our sins and shortcomings, we serve a loving and compassionate Savior and Shepherd who died for us and seeks to bring us back into His flock.
Scripture Reading: “Then Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” —Luke 15:3-7, NIV
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” —John 1:29
Jesus, the Matchless Lamb of God offered Himself as our sacrifice. We have a Savior and Shepherd who gave His life for us. When we stray, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our conscience. We are never abandoned by Christ! Yet, we are never coerced to return to the flock. Love for Jesus is the foundation of our relationship with Him.
Our response to the Shepherd’s call requires more than saying yes, we must renounce sin and overcome the roaring lion’s temptations by praying and using self-control. Do not rely on your human wisdom! Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the people, places, and habits that are keeping you bound under the roaring lion’s power.
The blood of the Lamb of God cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Total reliance on Jesus, our Savior, and Shepherd along with the steadfast desire to live a faithful life of humility, surrender, and obedience is required to stay in our Shepherd’s safekeeping. Through prayer, consecration, and diligent study of the Bible, we commit daily to follow Jesus.
Our characters, habits, and lifestyles reflect whether or not we are following the Shepherd. The decision to follow Jesus is not an easy journey. As sheep, we acknowledge that we are dependent on our Shepherd to guide us safely through this earthly pasture.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” —John 10:27
The sheep listen and follow their Loving Shepherd because we trust Him with our lives. We know that the Shepherd has the power to make the roaring lion stand down and retreat. Every day, we need the love, guidance, and mercies of rescue from Jesus, our Shepherd.
Even in hardships, always remember, we are preparing for kingdom life one day at a time. And if we trust Jesus with our lives, He will safely guide us to the Heavenly pasture where we will live with Him forever and ever. Amen.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” —Matthew 5:8
Prayer: Lord, we pray for the humility to surrender ourselves to You. We thank You for being our Lion of Judah and our Shepherd. Jesus, we love You. We pray for strength and wisdom as we follow You in our spiritual journey. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
As a little girl, my mother taught me to love and obey Jesus. All my life, I have been waiting for Jesus to come. And I must confess that I am glad He did not come sooner because I would not have been ready. Now, I strive every day to surrender my life in faith, love, and obedience.
Jesus promised us in John 14 that He was going to prepare a place for us and He would come again. Surrender and commit your life to loving and serving Him. Broaden your perspective by thinking outside of the box of this earthly life. Prepare yourself for eternal life by surrendering your heart, mind, and soul to love God.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” —2 Peter 3:9
Prayer: Lord, we ask You for an abundant spiritual blessing of inner strength through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We pray to be rooted and grounded in love that keeps our eyes focused on You. We thank You for the blessing of the Sabbath. And we pray for those who have committed to serving You but are suffering from persecution. We ask You to comfort and strengthen them. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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