The LORD is Your Keeper Devotional Reading August 3, 2023
God Helps Those Who Diligently Seek Him
“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
Reflection: Is there someone in your life or a sinful habit that’s holding you back from fully surrendering to God and living your best life?
You may think, “Right now, my life is good” as you reflect on your actions that have resulted in a productive life. Yes, we congratulate ourselves for a job well done. But while we are basking in self-reliance, King David would like for us to know there is something that you have not considered, The Lord is Your Keeper!
“The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in. From this time forth, and even forevermore.” —Psalm 121:5-8
Self-reliance prevents us from having praise and gratitude for the Lord’s mercies that He abundantly gives to us every day. We would be consumed by Satan’s spiritual warfare if it were not for our Keeper. It is King Jesus who commands the legions of angel armies and assigns them to protect us every second of every day.
Not only does Jesus command the heavenly angels, but He also tells Satan when to stand down and places limitations on the adversity he can bring into our lives [Study Job chapter 1]. Our guardian angels are fighting the unseen battles of wickedness, physical harm, and situations that would cause mental and emotional anguish. We should give praises of gratitude to King Jesus because He will never allow Satan to crush us!
“If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.” — Psalm 124:2-5
Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness for not acknowledging and praising You for keeping us from the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional dangers. We have thought too highly of ourselves. King Jesus, we thank You for being our Keeper. We love You and praise Your Holy Name for Your love, grace, and mercies. And we humbly ask this prayer in Your Name, Amen.
Jesus Says, “The Scriptures Testify of Me” Devotional Reading August 2, 2023
Some Christian believers struggle with the teachings of the Bible. This is not because they are actively studying and unable to comprehend the Scriptures, but rather because it is easier to listen to the multitude of voices claiming to speak God’s truth than to study the Bible on their own.
One of the reasons given for the lack of studying the Bible, there are too many churches teaching too many different doctrines.
What has caused this overwhelming conflict in the Christian Community? One source identifies the origin of the chaos in the following statement: “American Protestantism is diverse, encompassing more than a dozen major denominational families – such as Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and Pentecostals – all with unique beliefs, practices, and histories.” Pew Research Center
Something is not right! The estimate of more than a dozen is actually 9,000 denominations that exist in Protestantism. And the qualifier, “all with unique beliefs, practices, and histories” should cause grave concern in the minds of Christian believers. We cannot change the history of any denomination, but we should have basic knowledge of how the denominational movement began and if the doctrines are Bible-based.
The qualifier, “all with unique beliefs and practices” should raise mental and spiritual red flags. If 9,000 denominations exist and have developed numerous self-interpretations of the Bible, we must ask ourselves, Where do I stand in the battle of God’s Truth versus error?
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that has nothing to be ashamed of, rightly dividing the word of truth.” —2 Timothy 2:15
Every Christian is accountable for the decisions they make and the lifestyle they live. We cannot make excuses for not studying the Bible as part of our daily worship. The refusal or lack of desire to study reveals the condition of our hearts.
God gave us the Bible—The Old and New Testaments to provide us with the Gospel, Truth, and knowledge of the Presence, Power, and Divine and Loving Characteristics of the Triune Godhead: God, the Father, God, Jesus the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.
In Genesis chapter one, we can study the origin of the world, the creation of human beings, and all plant and animal life refuting the humanmade, erroneous concept of evolution.
The Bible explains itself! The authenticity, origin, and purpose of the Holy Scriptures are revealed in the Bible. The Bible also contains the Ten Commandments. health laws, and righteous principles that promote love and unity among believers which are still valid today.
Jesus said, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter [jot], not the least stroke of a pen [tittle], will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. —Matthew 6:13.
We always need Divine Help when studying the Bible! Pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and discernment as you study. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” —John 14:26
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” —Psalm 119:105
The Bible is filled with spiritual treasures that produce spiritual growth and transformation of the believer. As we study, our love, faith, and loyalty increase and we grow closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Fact! The Bible is the only Book that contains no errors. It does not need to be revised or updated. The Author tells us the reason that the Scriptures will stand forever, “For I am the Lord, I do not change…” —Malachi 3:1.
In the Holy Scriptures, we learn of Christ’s Divine Status as God, the Son, and His Divine Character. Jesus, our Heavenly Father is full of Sacrificial Love, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Meekness, Grace, Mercy, Power, Faithfulness, and Unequivocal Righteousness.
2. The entire Bible [Old and New Testament] is about Jesus. “You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me…” —John 5:39, NASB
God, the Father clears all confusion about Jesus’ status as God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead. “But to the Son, He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions [the heavenly angels].’ ” —Hebrews 1:8-9
Jesus Christ created this universe and all living beings. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him, all things consist.” —Colossians 1:16-17
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” —1 Timothy 2:5
Salvation is only through Jesus Christ! No human being can mediate for our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins. We confess and repent of our sins to God in prayer and are forgiven of those sins through our Heavenly Intercessor, Jesus. Every other concept is part of Satan’s deceptions. We learn from the Scriptures that we must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Jesus is the only way humanity can have salvation and redemption from their sins.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ” —John 14:6
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9
3. The Bible is our spiritual mirror and provides God’s blueprint [instructions] for every believer’s life. Through the Scriptures, we obtain spiritual knowledge of God’s moral code, and our responsibilities [surrender, faith, obedience, and love for God and others] when following Christ. The Bible outlines all of God’s laws, precepts, and righteous expectations for believers.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12
4. From the Bible, we have scriptural evidence of the Triune Godhead: God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Although the Holy Spirit is a mystery, we learn from the Scriptures who the Holy Spirit is, He is the third person of the Godhead who gives us spiritual discernment, wisdom, and the strength to overcome temptation.
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ ” —Matthew 3:16-17
Jesus Promises the disciples to send the Holy Spirit after His Ascension: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” —John 16:13-14
5. The Scriptures provide us with God’s definitive plan for the afterlife of the righteous and the demise of the wicked. Every religion except Christianity has erroneous concepts which teach by humanity’s works [doing good] one can gain a blissful afterlife.
Trust the word of God over any belief, doctrine, or concept that cannot be substantiated by the Scriptures. As we grow closer to Christ, the Holy Spirit alerts us that the false teaching we heard is not from God.
I can remember hearing a pastor say that when Jesus comes and we go to heaven that we will cry over our family and loved ones that did not make it. Believe me, he was surprised to receive my email reminder that Jesus says in Revelation 21, verse 4, “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.”
Remember, we cannot rely on our limited human wisdom [which God considers foolishness] to self-interpret His Righteous Precepts. Always pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth of the Scriptures. Another false teaching is that the wicked will burn forever. Would God be loving and a fair and just God if people were suffering in hell’s fire for eternity?
“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.’ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” —Revelation 21:6-7
The afterlife for the righteous is eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth and the wicked do not have an afterlife, they will be destroyed by fire [Malachi 4].
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8
We choose our destiny! “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22
The believers who have the opportunity to study the Bible and choose not to learn of the precious precepts will fall victim to sin, doubt, worry, and unbelief. They will not have the biblical foundation that prevents them from accepting false teachings as God’s Truth. Nor can they have faith and trust or obey God whom they know nothing about.
God has given us His Divine Guidebook to edify our minds and souls. Studying the Bible is food for the soul. Without Biblical knowledge of God’s Character, His Promises, the Life of Christ, Salvation, and Redemption, and the Holy Spirit’s Purpose, we are in Spiritual Bankruptcy! Fill your emptiness with the spiritual nourishment of the Scriptures and faithfully obey God’s Truth by hiding the word of God in your heart.
Inspirational Quote: “Truth is inspired and guarded by God and truth will triumph!” Acts of the Apostles
Reflection: Why should I diligently pray and study the Holy Scriptures?
Jesus warns us “The Way is Narrow.”
“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
Prayer: God, we thank You for giving us Your precious words in the Holy Bible. We also thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We desire to know more about Your saving grace and commit to studying the Bible every day. We ask for forgiveness for not studying Your Holy word. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Worthy name, Amen.
The Believer’s Prayers of Self-Examination Devotional Reading July 31, 2023
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” —2 Corinthians 13:5
Every day with prayer and meditation, we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the inner condition of our hearts. Only a committed believer who desires to be steadfast and faithful to God will pray these continuous prayers of total surrender.
It is indeed a humbling experience to examine ourselves using God’s Righteous principles as our standard. With deep introspection of our minds, characters, and lifestyles, we die daily to sin by placing ourselves on the altar of sacrifice to shun evil and go all the way with Christ.
The Amplified Bible says, “Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers.” —2 Corinthians 13:5, [first part]
Five characteristics reveal whether or not our relationship with Christ is growing and developing.
Our love for God is demonstrated by putting Him first. The time we spend every day in God’s presence through worship reveals our love and the desire to fully surrender our hearts and lives.
We are faithful and obedient by always praying for His will to be revealed through the Holy Spirit. We receive God’s blessings because our decisions are in alignment with His plans.
Our lifestyle reveals that we are striving for holiness. We let go of all worldly behaviors and relationships. Yes, we will fall, but with a repentant heart, we confess, ask for forgiveness, and continue to persevere by moving forward.
We study the Holy Scriptures under the guidance of our Teacher, the Holy Spirit, praying for discernment and the wisdom to apply the word of God to our lives.
We pray continuously throughout our waking hours —prayers of thanksgiving, prayers asking for Divine Intervention and Guidance, and the spiritual strength to overcome temptation.
When we are living for ourselves [still participating in worldly activities], yet attend church weekly, give tithe and offerings, and work in the church’s outreach ministries once or twice a month, but our prayer life and Bible study are inconsistent, the waters of our thought processes become muddy.
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41
Yes, we love God, but we also love the things of the world! Our minds end up in a spiritual conflict that we cannot resolve—we are easily led astray because the desires of our hearts have led to spiritual blindness.
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” —James 4:3
The sins that we consider to be insignificant are the very sins that separate us from God. Chasing our dreams, disliking others, watching programs with profanity and sexual content, spending money on frivolous things, relaxing for hours on social media, online gambling, using recreational drugs or sipping on a glass of wine, working overtime to the point of exhaustion, unhealthy diets, and relationships with unbelievers are some of the sins that we overlook because they are enjoyable.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” —1 John 2:15
We measure ourselves by using unbelievers as the standard and console ourselves that our activities do not compare to the wickedness of the world. Sadly, we think all is well. But our appreciation of holiness disappears. Sometimes we fall into a routine of going through the motions of religious practices, but our thoughts and goals are influenced by worldly values.
Losing the ability to differentiate between truth and error, our relationship with Christ becomes stagnant. Eventually, we lose the desire to pray and consecrate ourselves to God. Focusing on a lifestyle of pleasing ourselves distracts us from recognizing the warning signs from the Holy Spirit that our relationship with Christ is failing.
Our spiritual decline continues because we have created a middle ground of compromise that prevents us from putting God first. We say that we love God, but no longer strive to live a faithful and obedient life. Jesus calls our status lukewarm [Revelation 3:14-18].
Something happens when we are caught in the middle—we begin to manipulate our prayers. In fact, “Manipulation of prayers is a covert tactic used by many Christians who enjoy the pleasures of sin.” The wording of our prayers change so the Holy Spirit does not have the opportunity to convict us of our sins.
Last Sabbath, I listened to the testimony of a young Christian woman who revealed that she intentionally manipulated her prayers. To avoid feeling conviction for her sinful actions, she carefully chose words that only expressed feelings of gratitude toward God, or she asked for material blessings. She admitted that her prayers never acknowledged or included the confession and repentance of her sins.
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” —Isaiah 59:2
As time passed, she became discouraged which rapidly progressed to hopelessness. From studying the Bible, she knew that she was in a place of spiritual darkness that almost stopped her from serving God. Yet, she decided to pray a final prayer, asking for help from the Holy Spirit who revealed that her persistence of sinful activities led to her separation from God.
But Satan did not want to release her from sin’s bondage. Instead of feeling joy and peace from God’s forgiveness, she faced a mental and emotional roadblock. Although this young woman was aware of God’s love and immediate forgiveness, she was unable to move forward due to the thoughts of overwhelming guilt.
She began to ask herself, “How did I get to the point in my life where I manipulated my prayers to avoid the conviction of sin? I pretended to be a steadfast Christian, and lived a double life in front of my family.” Her past actions prevented her from embracing the promises of God’s forgiveness and complete restoration. After much self-humiliation, she disclosed her dilemma to her father who recommended that she study the book of Psalms.
The Psalms reveal David’s spiritual, mental, and emotional real-life struggles that Christian believers face today. Our nature is sinful! The thoughts, habits, and spoken words that we overlook and fail to perceive as sinful persist because we judge ourselves using unbelievers as our standard instead of Christ.
King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and ordered for her husband to be placed on the frontline in battle [knowing he would be killed]. Have you ever wondered why David did not feel guilt over his actions? Pride led him to believe that as a King he was entitled to everything he desired without boundaries.
Certainly, David continued to pray after committing these heinous sins, but most likely manipulated his prayers so he would not be convicted of his sins. Even so, God is Holy and Righteous! The prophet Samuel anointed David as king when he was a teenage boy. David was in his early 30s and the prime of his life when he became king. Still, a Righteous God did not tolerate, nor would God overlook the King’s open sins without confession and repentance.
God extended mercy to David by giving him an opportunity to repent. God revealed David’s sins to the prophet Nathan who used a parable to disclose to David that God was aware of his sins. “Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?” (2 Samuel 12:9a). Until David was approached by the prophet Nathan [Study 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12], he felt no remorse for his sins of adultery and premeditated murder.
The Confession: “So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.” —2 Samuel 12:13. “For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight…” —Psalm 51:3-4
King David’s prayer of repentance is recorded in Psalm chapter 51. Like David, many believers have embraced sinful habits and fail to pray for repentance. Every day they manipulate their prayers to reflect gratitude or to make requests from God but fail to pray prayers of surrender, confession, and repentance because they do not want to be convicted of the sins they enjoy.
Day by Day and moment by moment, our lifestyles, spoken words, and habits either reflect our sinful desires or the righteousness of Christ. The choices we make reveal the condition of our hearts and those choices impact our relationship with Christ. Spiritual growth begins from the inside and expresses itself through our love, loyalty, and obedience to God.
Reflection: “Am I manipulating my prayers to avoid the Holy Spirit’s conviction of my sins against God?”
The power of the Holy Spirit is incredible! Every believer receives warnings that their lives are not in sync with Christ’s righteousness. God is calling for His people to disconnect themselves from worldly pursuits and social activities. We have one earthly life to prepare for the heavenly life.
The human effort of shunning evil habits and forming relationships with unbelievers along with the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to change the course of our lives. It is not enough to desire heaven! God has given us His Righteous expectation, “Be Holy, for I am Holy!”
The choice to use the covert tactic of manipulation in our prayers to reject the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin produces deadly consequences. An unholy earthly life will not result in receiving the reward of eternal life.
To receive eternal life, we must pray honest prayers of confession and repentance with the intent to renounce sin and its pleasures. Every day we must renew our covenant with Christ. We are not compelled to sin. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for humanity—we are the only recipients who require spiritual strength. Through our prayers, we invite the Holy Spirit to cleanse our minds and hearts to receive the fullness of Salvation and the Righteousness of Christ.
By faith, surrender, and obedience, we receive righteousness through the grace of God. Every day we have the opportunity to choose right doing over sinful activities. When the Spirit of God is flooding our souls, we delight in living righteously. Our decisions, works, and lifestyles reflect the power of the Holy Spirit who is transforming our minds and characters.
Sanctification is a lifelong spiritual journey of the transformation of our characters into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character. Yes, we are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Christ Jesus, still, we cannot live holy and acceptable lives unless we confess and repent of our sins.
Our heartfelt prayers should reflect the desire for the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. Because we face an internal battle of carnal desires versus living holy and acceptable lives, we must seek God in prayer every day by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal all hidden sins. The human requirement of daily spiritual self-examination is reflected in the words of our prayers.
In surrender, we ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of every thought, behavior, habit, and spoken word that will prevent us from receiving our reward of eternal life.
In humility, we pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Depending on the God Who Always Provides Devotional Reading July 30, 2023
At some point in life, we will have to depend on the faithfulness of God. Feeling confident because all is well and relying on our status of possessing financial wealth destroys our faith and trust in God. Our mindset and lifestyle proclaim that we do not need God’s Divine Help.
Reflection: How often do I pray and thank God for my daily provisions? Is studying the Holy Scriptures a priority in my daily schedule?
Studying the Bible is food for the soul Without knowing God’s Character and Promises, the Life of Christ, and the Holy Spirit’s Purpose, we are in Spiritual Bankruptcy!
“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
Establishing a relationship with the God who provides when all is well prepares us for the tribulations we will suffer at some point in our lives. Studying the Bible lays the foundation of faith and trust in God and is strengthened day by day. Through the habit of daily prayer, our connection with God allows us to “Be of good cheer—to have steadfast faith and courage” when the seasons of life change.
Without a Spiritual Foundation of God’s Promises
We will fall victim to doubt, worry, and unbelief We will accept false teachings as God’s Truth We will not have faith and trust in God We will not pray, believe, and patiently wait on God
Study 1 Kings 18 and 2 Kings 4
The Powerful God of Biblical Times who demonstrated His love for humanity reassures us that He does not change. Walk this earthly journey in faith and obedience. When unexpected circumstances arise, we have no worries because we have placed our confidence and unwavering faith in God.
Yes, Jehovah-Jireh who reigns with Majesty and Power not only gives us the daily spiritual strength to persevere, but He also promises to supply the physical provisions to sustain our lives!
Prayer: Lord God, we pray for those who believe that You exist, but do not know Your Character and Promises. Thank You for being the only Constant Foundation in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jehovah-Rapha, The God Who [Still] Heals Devotional Reading, July 24, 2023
From Miriam to Naaman to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethsaida and throughout the Bible, we read of the many times that Jesus healed those created in His image. Not only did Jesus use prophets in the Old Testament as human instruments who received God’s Divine power to heal others, but in Jesus’ life on earth, His ministry was one of spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical healing.
The Apostle John tells us, “This is the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” —John 21:24-25
One of my favorite miracles is the one of Jesus raising the widow’s son from the dead in Nain found in Luke chapter 7, verses 11-17.
And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still.
And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
After the people witnessed Jesus speaking the words for the young man to arise, the people feared and glorified God and those same people spread the message of Jesus raising the widow’s son throughout Judaea and the region. According to historians, Judaea was approximately 185 miles in length.
Whether we study Jesus’ life and His ministry of healing and raising the dead, hear others’ testimonies of healing or receive healing ourselves, there is a vast difference in our response to Jesus’ healing power, we tell very few individuals. The same Jesus who walked this earth with love and compassion, healing and raising the dead is the same Jesus in heaven who is our Heavenly Intercessor and Healer.
Testimony: In March of 2021, I relocated to the Eastern Florida Coast. After living in states with snowy winters, I was overjoyed because of the scenic ocean and the tropical weather. But my joy was short-lived. Two months later, I was in the hospital emergency room experiencing a full-blown asthma attack.
For the remainder of 2021 and 2022, I had multiple visits to the emergency room. I was prescribed a steroid nasal spray, steroid daily inhalers, a rescue inhaler, and around-the-clock nebulizer treatments. My diagnosis, Uncontrolled Asthma. All medications have adverse side effects ranging from minimum to maximum impact on the patient.
I experienced maximum side effects. Not only did the sound of my voice change to a raspy tone, but the medication also produced tachycardia [fast heart rate] and arrhythmia [abnormal heart rhythm], resulting in my pulmonologist changing my medication. My condition did not improve which resulted in additional prescriptions for oral steroids and receiving intravenous steroid medication in the emergency room.
In June of 2022, I had an Echocardiogram which revealed four abnormal heart conditions [side effects from steroids and uncontrolled asthma]. One of the conditions involved the pulmonary artery and is considered incurable and progressive. My prior medical history included a normal heart, yet, without the proper exchange of oxygen in my lungs, my life would be nonexistent. During the consult with my pulmonologist, we agreed that I would continue my current polypharmacy medication regimen.
On December 29th, 2022, I had an emergency room visit for another vicious asthma attack. The patient treatment area behind the double doors was full of patients diagnosed with COVID, so the waiting area was converted into an overflow area for the triage and treatment of additional patients. As a nurse, I was aware that my Immune system was compromised from two years of unstable asthma.
Although I wore a mask for the ER visit in December, on January 5th, I was back in the emergency room with a subsequent asthma attack and was also diagnosed with COVID. I was treated with more Intravenous steroids and given prescriptions for anti-nausea and oral steroid medications.
The COVID variant that I contracted included severe nausea and vomiting which impacted my ability to eat and drink. For three weeks, I lived off of fruit cups and sips of water and ginger ale resulting in an unhealthy weight loss of 15 lbs. My physical strength was greatly impacted. And I also lost my senses of smell and taste for eight weeks which finally returned at the end of February 2023.
Every day, I prayed a prayer of repentance and was prepared to die. But one day, while I was watching a video short on Isaiah 60:22, “… At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.” I heard the words, “I will heal you.” And I believed!
“The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness, You restore him to full health.” —Psalm 41:3
Although my recovery was very slow, I did not die! Nor do I have any residual effects from COVID or the massive amounts of steroids that I received. My voice returned to its normal pitch and tone. I have regained my physical strength. But most importantly my faith in God has matured. I have come to totally rely on God’s will for my life. “Be still and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10).
Fast forward to June of 2023 for my second Echocardiogram which revealed that my heart is normal! The incurable, progressive condition involving my heart’s pulmonary artery no longer exists! And my asthma is controlled with the use of only one inhaler. I am no longer on nasal spray or oral steroids, nor do I have to use a nebulizer. And no more ER hospital visits since January 5th. I know who my Healer is and I praise the Worthy Name of Jesus every day!
When I felt that I would die, I did not pray a prayer of negotiation, “God, if You heal me, I will __,” [fill in the blank]. I focused on my relationship with Christ, praying for His will to be done with prayers of heartfelt surrender and repentance.
Although, Jesus spoke to me and said, I will heal you, there were times during my slow recovery period when I felt discouraged and forsaken by God. I had to learn to be faithful and totally depend on God. His timing is always the right timing! And it wasn’t until my faith strengthened and I committed my life to God that I received complete healing.
Does God say no to our prayers asking to be healed? Sometimes we do not receive physical healing.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” —2 Corinthians 12:9
The Apostle Paul prayed three times for the thorn in his flesh to be removed, but three times Jesus answered no. There was no bitterness in Paul’s heart, he accepted the will of God for His life. Despite his poor eyesight, 13-14 books of the 27 books of the New Testament are attributed to the Apostle Paul.
And when Paul knew that the end of his earthly journey was near, he proclaimed, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” —2 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV
Sometimes we must drink from the bitter cup, yet, never lose your faith in God. If we are faithful in adversity, remember that God is always faithful. He will sustain us even if we do not receive physical healing. Pray and believe! Jesus always gives us spiritual healing of peace, joy, contentment, and mental and emotional strength.
Our primary focus on healing must be on the spiritual condition of our hearts. “Lord, please cleanse me from all unrighteousness and fill me with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.” Are we preparing ourselves for the Second Coming of Jesus and eternal life where our minds and bodies will be made perfect?
If we receive healing, what will we do with our restored minds and bodies? Will we possess a heart of gratitude like the one of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed and returned to say, Thank You? Will we dedicate our hearts, minds, and souls to serving God till our last breath? Will we tell everyone about Jesus’ love, grace, and mercies—sharing our testimony of healing?
Our response to the healing power of Jehovah-Rapha should reflect the same response as those who spread the message of Jesus raising the widow of Nain’s son to life. In a world filled with mental and physical illnesses, despair, and hopelessness, someone needs to share that we have a Savior, Jesus Christ who is a Healer. Will that someone be you?
Jehovah-Rapha is a Healer! “And Christ is the same compassionate physician now that He was during His earthly ministry. In Him, there is healing balm for every disease, restoring power for every infirmity.” EGW
Scripture: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed.” —Isaiah 53:5
Prayer: Jesus, by your stripes, we are healed. We thank You for Your love, grace, mercies, and healing power. We love You. Amen.
Our Role in Spiritual Self-Governance Devotional Reading— July 12, 2023
For most of my life, I held firm to the thought that humanity cannot self-govern based on the lack of desire and learned behaviors. Yet, I just listened to a Devotional Reading entitled “Prove Yourself” in which the author, E.G. White, provides biblical proof that God created us with the ability to govern ourselves if we willingly ask for the indwelling and help of the Holy Spirit.
Praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit, I began researching the Christian believer’s role in spiritual self-governance. And then I prayed again asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the plain-talk breakdown of a theologically complex subject.
We have received God-given Innate Gifts: “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
We are recipients of God’s Grace: “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, NIV
We have the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, Guide, and the Giver of all Spiritual Gifts: 1. “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him–the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2). 2. “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).
Since we were born into sin—inherited from our earthly parents, Adam and Eve, we require the continuous help of the Holy Spirit: “The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9
“The Christian principle of self-government is God ruling internally from the heart of the believer. In order to have true liberty, man must willingly (voluntarily) be governed internally by the Spirit and the Word of God [the Bible] rather than by external forces. Government is first internal (causative), then extends outwardly (effect).” Dr. Elizabeth Youmans
“Create a clean [pure] heart in me, O God, and renew a right [faithful, steadfast] spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10
Do we desire to have clean hearts by living righteously? Are we willing to surrender and obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives? Our internal heart’s desires reveal themselves through our external lifestyles indicating if we put God first and have the desire to follow and obey Him.
How do we begin and end each day? What are we praying for? Our prayers of surrender must be specific: “Lord, I surrender myself to You today. I ask You to anoint my mind with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and I pray for the wisdom and discernment to recognize and resist the spiritual warfare of temptation. Give me the strength to overcome my internal battle of desiring the things that are not part of Your plan for my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Leviticus chapters 19 and 20 record the Lord’s emphasis on being holy. The word for holy in Hebrew is “qadash,” which means to be sanctified, consecrated, and dedicated or to be separated from the world and worldliness.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” —2 Corinthians 5:17
As new creatures, our love for God is demonstrated by clean [pure] hearts as evidenced by our faith, obedience, and surrender to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We intentionally avoid sin and worldly activities when striving to live Holy. In humility, we realize that we desperately need Divine Intervention to overcome temptation and sinful habits which is reflected in the time we spend in prayer and Bible study.
Our way of living reflects whether we have surrendered ourselves fully to God or not. If we continue to engage in the same behaviors as we did before accepting Jesus as our Savior, it indicates that we still have corrupt hearts.
We must be honest in our spiritual self-assessment: “Do I desire to be a child of God or a slave of Satan?” There is no middle ground. Either we are thinking, speaking, and practicing our previous sinful behaviors by falling into the same temptations of pursuing self-satisfaction or we recognize that we are sinners saved by grace and intentionally surrender and consecrate ourselves to God every day.
Our Spiritual Responsibility: “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” —1 Chronicles 16:11.
During a church’s Children’s story, the question was asked, Have you ever prayed and asked God to help you? The little boy who appeared to be about 7 or 8 years old answered, Yes, I didn’t understand how to do the math problems. I prayed and asked Jesus to help me, and He did, I got all of the answers right.
Like a young child who does not have the intellectual maturity to analyze and try to figure out how God will intervene, all we need to do is pray in faith and believe that when we ask for the presence or help of the Holy Spirit, we will receive an immediate answer of yes to our prayers.
The Holy Spirit who can be everywhere to everyone remains a mystery. Jesus told Nicodemus: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” —John 3:8
God honors those who desire to have a pure heart and put forth the effort to invite the Holy Spirit to govern their lives. We use our sound minds to make the right choices in conjunction with the power of the Holy Spirit. Our resistance to the evil of worldly temptations requires using self-control and immediately praying for the Divine Strength to overcome.
Although we practice spiritual self-governance, we cannot fight spiritual warfare or transform ourselves into the likeness of Christ without the Holy Spirit. Because of the inheritance of a sinful heart, we need the intervention of the Holy Spirit every second, minute, and hour of the day. Jesus promised if we ask for the Holy Spirit’s Divine Power, we will receive it.
Breathe on me, Breath of God Until my heart is pure Until my will is one with Thine To do and to endure…Edwin Hatch
We need the Breath of the Holy Spirit to breathe on us throughout our earthly journey. Human Effort and Divine Intervention is the only way we will continue on the Path of Righteousness. Sanctification is a lifelong [earthly] journey of spiritual transformation. And we desperately need all the Divine Help that is available!
How do we know the Holy Spirit is working within to transform us?
Praying and studying the Scriptures become second nature. Our hearts overflow with love for God. We strive to have a clean heart through surrender, faith, and obedience. We resist temptation and sinful activities by saying a firm no to our desires and the influence of others. We seek to please God by praying for the revelation of His will and governing our desires to be aligned with His will.
Yes, the Christian’s ability to practice spiritual self-governance along with the Holy Spirit’s presence gives us the power to overcome sin. With faith and God’s grace from which we have received the Holy Spirit, we can live righteously and have clean hearts.
Prayer: God, we ask You to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We desire a clean heart. We pray for the Breath of the Holy Spirit to breathe on us. Lord, we express our willingness to surrender to Your will and make a covenant vow to faithfully obey that we may be governed by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray. Amen.
In Adversity, The LORD is Our Fortress Devotional Reading June 19, 2023
“I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, My God in Him I will trust.'” —Psalm 91:2
David lived as a fugitive for many years, running and hiding from King Saul who was jealous of David’s God-given strength and wisdom. Without faithfully relying on God’s promises of deliverance and protection, David would have quickly developed feelings of hopelessness from the adversity of living in caves.
“…While they take counsel together against me, they scheme to take away my life. But as for me, I trust in you, O LORD, I say, You are my God. My times are in Your hand, deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, Save me for Your mercies’ sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon you, let the wicked be ashamed…” —Psalm 31:13-17
Every believer has to travel down a path filled with adversities that cause us disappointment, sorrow, and frustration. We lose jobs, our plans fail, marriages end in divorce, health issues arise, the children act up, and friends and family avoid us because we are always going through trials. And to make matters worse, we begin to feel that God doesn’t love us.
During hard times, we easily forget God’s promises. But James, Jesus’ brother tells us, “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.” —James 1:3-4.
Trials are not punishment! None of us are acceptable “as-is.” Adversity produces spiritual growth and transformation if we remain faithful to God. There is something that I have come to realize during my hard times—I become fixated on my circumstances instead of the POWER of God.
Nothing that we experience is a surprise to God. In a recent sermon, the speaker stated that Satan has to have Jesus’ permission before any spiritual warfare can come into our lives. It makes perfect sense that God has placed boundaries on Satan or he would take our lives whenever he felt like it. Thank You Jesus for your love and never-ending protection against the evil one!
Jesus gave his life for us! His magnitude of everlasting Love is a love that we will never fully understand in our earthly existence. Still, change your perception of God and make the commitment to see yourself differently. You have a Heavenly Father who knows the number of hairs on your head! You are a righteous believer of the Most-High God and the righteous have privileges!
Read David’s prayer in Psalm 31, verses 13 to 17. David reverently prayed for God to deliver him from his enemies. Even on the run, hiding out in caves, David prayed with confidence. He knew that God would deliver him from his enemies. Wait faithfully for your promise of deliverance! God never fails!
Our Father God is Watching and Listening: “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
God’s Unbreakable Promise: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:17-19
Prayer: LORD God, “…how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You. Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men. You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence.” Heavenly Father, we come to You praying for Your help and the strength to persevere in these hard struggles of life. We believe that You will lead us through because of Your promise to never leave us or forsake us. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.
Reverence to the Almighty God Sabbath Devotional June 16, 2023
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!'” —Isaiah 6:1-6
What is reverence?
“True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the Unseen, every heart should be deeply impressed. The hour and place of prayer are sacred because God is there. And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor, the feeling that inspires it will be deepened.”—”Prophets and Kings,” pages 48, 49.
‘You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.’ —Leviticus 20:26
We can only have a spirit of reverence if we perceive and honor God as a Loving Father who is Holy, Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent. God deserves our reverence, praise, worship, and gratitude because He is God!
In His earthly life, Jesus exemplified the steps we need to take to reverence God in our personal worship. Jesus knew that His disciples were distracted because they had their own agendas. And He took the necessary steps to always give God His full attention. Communing with God requires reverence, therefore, Jesus always separated himself from others in His personal worship with God, His Father.
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” —Matthew 6:6
Jesus advises us to go to our secret place to pray. Our relationship with God is one-to-one. Separate yourself from your husband, wife, family, and friends when having personal worship. Follow Jesus’ example by focusing your full attention on God. When we pray, study the Bible, and give praises through singing or listening to inspirational music, we are inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit into our worship experience.
“Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.” —Leviticus 20:7
Do you consider yourself to be part of a royal priesthood that was chosen and called to live holy? Truthfully, we do not understand the concepts of being consecrated or having godly righteousness.
Most of us do not understand the depth and importance of reverencing God for various reasons: 1. The world is sinful and values nothing as sacred. 2. We do not understand that God is Holy because our worldview is to treat everything as common. 3. We do not view our time as valuable and do not set aside even 30 minutes away from screen time and other people to have a personal worship experience with God. 4. The Bible—our Spiritual Guide which explains God’s Character and the Righteous characteristics we must possess, we refuse to study and obey.
Only one in nine Christians study the Bible. Because our focus is on the common [worldly] things of life, our priorities are skewed. We have lost the desire to be set apart and to be different from the world. Our time is dedicated to ourselves. Without making intentional time to study every day, we don’t know who God is and His expectation of us.
Time for God: “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. this is the first and greatest commandment. ‘ ” —Matthew 22:37-38, We have the responsibility to put God first. Take the time to eliminate the secular activities that prevent having a meaningful worship experience with God every day.
“But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” — Habakkuk 2:20
Creating the atmosphere to invite God’s presence is vital: We need silence! Do not bring in cellular devices during your worship with God. They are a distraction that prevents one from placing their full attention on God. Our cell phones are used for common activities and should not be present during our time of worship. It’s a matter of reverence.
Listening to Inspirational instrumental music is an option if you have another device besides your cell phone. Choose your music before having worship to ensure that ads are not popping up in the middle of your time with God. Many people love silence. Whatever is necessary for you to receive the blessing of God, Just do It! The habit of reverential worship enables us to develop a posture of humility and creates an atmosphere that prepares us to worship God.
If your home has too many distractions then choose another place to worship. Our intent is to focus on God and to give Him our full attention. One of my most powerful worship experiences was in a secluded area at the beach. Sit in your vehicle, go to the park, or do whatever it takes to have solitude and quiet. Keeping our focus on God and enjoying His presence renews our minds and bodies and keeps us hopeful in every situation.
Wherever we choose to worship, the expectation is that the presence of the Holy Spirit will be there. Remember, God is not intrusive! We must invite the Spirit of God into our lives. Pray for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Our desire is to receive a spiritual blessing along with mental, emotional, and physical healing, divine strength, wisdom, and godly understanding.
Purchase a Bible: As a devout Christian, it is essential to own a physical copy of the Bible for studying purposes. Despite the convenience of digital formats, there is a unique experience in holding a tangible Bible and reading its God-inspired words. The biblical stories of humanity’s successes and shortcomings, as well as its precious promises, are irreplaceable sources of blessings.
“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD.” —Isaiah 55:8
Not Just a Book: Studying the Scriptures always requires the presence of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom and understanding of God’s Truth cannot be ascertained by using our finite—limited thought processes. Without exception, living in the last days is a challenge to every believer. We cannot live righteously by relying on our thoughts or life experience. More than ever, we need to memorize the Scriptures to give us the knowledge to overcome spiritual warfare!
How can we effectively study the Bible? Decide on a specific time to have worship. Place yourself on “Do Not Disturb.” Choose a chapter and read aloud the verses with pauses. Think deeply about the words. My go-to chapter is Isaiah 40. The chapter is focused on God telling Isaiah to relay His words of comfort to the discouraged people [because of the consequences of their habitual disobedience].
Apply the Scriptures to your life: As I reflect on Isaiah 40, I contemplate the sins committed by the Nation of Israel, and the forgiveness that our Merciful God extends to us when we confess and repent. Despite our wilful disobedience, God always forgives us. In particular, verses 28 to 31 convey a profound promise of God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy towards all of humanity.
Make your Bible Study personal. Reflect deeply on the love and graciousness of God. Reverence for God reveals that our hearts are filled with love, adoration, and gratitude for the Giver of all good gifts including unlimited forgiveness. Our lives are in His Righteous Right Hand. Love Him! He is Holy, Holy, Holy!
Scripture: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” —1 John 4:9-10
God is holy (Revelation 15:4). God is great (mighty) (Deuteronomy 10:17). God is good and He only does wondrous things (1 Samuel 12:24, Psalm 72:18). God is faithful (Isaiah 25:1). God is forgiving (Psalm 130:4). God is our Judge (Psalm 50:6, Revelation 14:7, Malachi 3:16).
Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness for treating You like You are common. We love You and we praise Your Holy Name! We pray for strength and wisdom to reverence You through our posture and our lifestyle. Lord, we seek to renew our covenant vow to serve You. As we take the time to have a daily reverent worship experience with You, we pray for a spiritual blessing. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we pray in the Matchless Name of Jesus. Amen.
Not for Sale: Peace of Mind Devotional Reading June 4, 2023
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” —Romans 15:13
The pressures of life from routine duties and unexpected events along with constant news regarding the economic decline and increasing social problems and crime on every level have many wishing for an escape from the vicissitudes of an out-of-control world. Van and RV Life has hundreds of individuals and families joining and promoting a lifestyle that promises freedom and peace. And one in five city dwellers is leaving to pursue a simpler life in rural [country] areas.
We can purchase acres of land with silky blades of grass, magnificent shade trees and a brook flowing with clear, cool water, still, peace of mind does not come from placing ourselves in an environment of quiet seclusion or joining the popular nomadic lifestyle. Nor is peace the concerted effort to just breathe or attempt to empty the mind using erroneous man-made techniques.
Yoga, CBD, alcoholic drinks, meditation [that does not include focusing on the Most-High and Holy God], chants, stress-relief gummies, New Age music, relaxation apps, and everything for sale promising peace of mind are feeble attempts to soothe the minds and souls that are disconnected from the Creator God.
New-age is a genre of music intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management to bring about a state of ecstasy rather than trance, or to create a peaceful atmosphere in homes or other environments. Wikipedia
Many Christians financially support the companies that promote these deceptive modalities as providing peace of mind. They are brainwashed because they have accepted the temporary and hypnotic effect on their minds to equal God’s, Divine Peace. A euphoric state of mind easily becomes something that we will desire every day. And they begin to tell others about the wonderful products that produce calming effects on one’s mind.
The Spiritual Warfare of viewing the company’s countless ads on Social Media convince us their peace of mind products will make a difference in our mental and emotional status. With the current social and economic problems we face, Satan knows that humanity is desperate for any semblance of peace. And the profit margins increase as society becomes addicted to anything legal that is promoted to take the edge off and provide “peace of mind”.
Fact Check: When life’s challenges produce stress, we are vulnerable and willing to purchase empty promises. Yet the reality is that peace of mind is not an item that can be bought with a credit card.
What Does it Mean to Have Peace of Mind? Peace of mind, from a biblical perspective, involves more than just relieving anxiety or stress. It involves your entire soul being at rest (2 Corinthians 2:13) because you’re trusting God (Isaiah 26:3) and presenting your concerns in every situation to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). True peace of mind comes from God, rather than from anyone or anything in the world (John 14:27). Not only does God give people peace, but “he himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). That kind of peace of mind is completely reliable in any circumstances. https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/scriptures-on-peace-of-mind.html
The History of Seeking Peace Outside of God: “Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.” —Isaiah 2:8
The pursuit of peace of mind through other methodologies including idol worship is an ancient practice. Even in biblical times, the Israelites were stressed out because God required obedience. So, they embraced alternative lifestyles that enabled them to escape the pressures of living a godly life. The book of Isaiah contains many warnings from God to give up idol worship.
Pagan worship practices have always included the use of mind-altering substances. Many of the Israelites were involved in idol worship which included Child Sacrifice. God had to specifically address this horrible practice, “You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech…” (Leviticus 18:21). It is impossible for parents with sound and sober minds to sacrifice their children.
“Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink…” Isaiah 5:22.
Why didn’t the Israelites have peace of mind? Most did not love God or desire to serve Him. When comparing God’s Righteous laws to the wicked and pleasurable pagan practices which included substances that produced a temporary state of euphoric peace, they followed their heart’s desires.
Jesus’ Promise: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Peace is a Spiritual gift from Jesus Christ. The believer is nourished with a life-sustaining inner tranquil calmness despite their external circumstances. Unceasing prayer and diligent study of the Scriptures along with surrender and obedience allow us to receive Jesus’ peace.
Peace is a result of obedience–seeking and striving to live in the perfect will of God. The receiver has met the spiritual criteria of loving God and remaining loyal to Him by always putting God first. Prayers of daily surrender demonstrate our desire to faithfully trust and obey the Creator God. Sweet peace permeates our entire being [mind and soul] when we are aligned with God’s will.
Although obedience to God requires intentional human effort, we cannot achieve true obedience without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. We need Divine help 24/7 to stay on the Path of Righteousness.
“Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty” (1 Samuel 12:21). God’s righteous principles will never change. We seek alternative modalities to give us peace because we do not have the desire to fully surrender and trust and obey God. Deep within our hearts, we know that God does not accept any form of compromise. So, we replace Spiritual peace with purchasing the empty promises of worthless things.
Despite our attempts to bypass God and redefine peace, we will never have true peace of mind without a steadfast relationship with Christ. Satan can manifest many things, but he cannot manifest God’s precious gift of peace. Nor does humanity have the ability to replicate any product that resembles the peace that passes all understanding. Spiritual peace flows from heaven to earth!
Without a relationship with Christ based on love, faith, trust, and obedience, we cannot and will never enjoy the Divine gift of everlasting peace. God’s peace is priceless!
Scripture: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7
Jesus’ Prayer of Humility: “Not my will but Your will be done.”
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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