Love – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Moment A Small Leopard Cub Plays With Its Mother!

If animals can love like this, then certainly we should love Christ and others with greater love and respect.

https://youtube.com/shorts/5_5K0NzkfQg?si=WA8qETPB21PyLix2

Created With the Free Will to Choose Christ

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17).

A few years ago, I watched a YouTube documentary on adopting a sustainable, zero-waste lifestyle. The Japanese professor shared her amazing story of changing her lifestyle, which included relocating to a rural setting and strictly practicing the concept of “Need Over Greed.”

Although the professor said she was not religious, she verbalized that her entire psyche changed, and she felt peace within. Because of her commitment to making positive lifestyle changes, including healthy boundaries, she indicated that she was caring for her mind and body with love and respect.

Yes, every living creature has basic physiological and psychological needs that must be fulfilled; if not, healthy growth and development cannot occur. Yet that is not our dilemma; many believers have excessive tangible goods and wealth beyond their basic needs, yet we still desire more.

Need Over Greed Is a Spiritual Concept

“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 6:19-20).

Jesus is not teaching us the world’s concept of frugal living—Minimalism, which does not promote obedience to God, or give the principles to transform one’s character into the Righteousness of Christ.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21).

Jesus is teaching us to have our priorities straight, so we can actively participate in the transformation of our characters, minds, and personalities required to receive our reward of Eternal Life. It is impossible to pursue wealth and success and actively participate in the journey of spiritual growth and transformation.

The Current Plight of Christianity: We are too distracted by our desires to have the daily personal worship that keeps us anchored in Christ. Prayer and Bible Study invite the Holy Spirit to give us clarity, wisdom, discernment, and Jesus’ strength to fight against our internal desires.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Without setting aside daily time for personal worship, not only are we excluding ourselves from the presence of God, but we are also living a life of self-direction.

King David’s Prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, KJV). David admitted that we cannot judge ourselves; therefore, he continually asked God to search his heart.

Redirecting Our Faith and Focus to God: Every day, we have the opportunity to communicate with God in prayer to learn His perfect will for that day, obey, fulfill His plans, and receive the Divine wisdom, discernment, and strength to overcome our desires.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12, ESV). Without a heart-to-heart connection with Christ, we instinctively rely on our human wisdom, which never aligns with God’s Divine Will and Plans.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). Not having Scriptural knowledge and the desire to obey God redirects our faith and focus from God to ourselves. From thinking our own thoughts, our lifestyle of self-gratification reveals that we are living in opposition to God’s Righteous Principles.

“And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'” (Luke 12:15, ESV).

God is not surprised that we have not obeyed His command to deny ourselves. Every human heart is driven to please self, which we cannot overcome without the Divine strength of Jesus Christ.

The Onset Begins After Birth: “Babies are naturally self-centered during early development, a stage often beginning around 18 months when they develop a sense of self and possessiveness.”

As we mature through the lifespan, the joy of self-gratification is reinforced through learned behavior, the media, and the assimilation of a materialistic mindset.

For a short time, we are happy, but happiness based on materialism is short-lived, so we must continue to participate in the cycle to maintain our contentment through the acquisition of wealth and possessions.

God’s Command: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Romans 12:2, NIV).

The Scriptures should not be viewed as unyielding restraints. God is a Loving and Protective Heavenly Father who has given us the Spiritual Boundaries [in the Bible] to keep us on the Path of Righteousness.

Chapter 2

Although the Apostle Paul [who was anointed by the Holy Spirit to write most of the New Testament] was a very spiritual and dedicated Christian man of God, he also experienced the battle within: “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:18, NIV).

We were not created to fight the good fight of faith alone. God’s perception of time is Eternal. God knew that in 2025, we would be inundated by the concept of “Pursue Your Desires, More Reveals Power and Prosperity.” The temptations of material acquisition appear overwhelming, but still, we were not created to be helpless.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” (2 Timothy 1:7, Amplified Bible).

The Christian Journey will always include the struggles of internal conflict that arise from the inheritance of a self-gratifying heart, and the external opposition of Satan’s personalized schemes and temptations.

But through the sacrificial offering of Jesus, the Lamb of God’s life, we are freed from the bondage of an insatiable, greedy heart. Divine Help is always a prayer away.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

We have all of Heaven—The Triune God [God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit], along with a countless number of angelic armies who are dedicated to protecting us from spiritual warfare, physical harm, scams, identity theft, and the rest of Satan’s schemes. Yet God’s promises and protection are conditional, and receiving His blessings depends on our willingness to obey our Heavenly Father.

Brothers and Sisters, consider the unbelieving Japanese professor who used discipline and self-control to change her life. Something is not right when unbelievers can successfully use their strength to exercise restraint, and we who accepted Christ as our personal Savior, who promises to give us Divine Help available 24/7, so easily give in to our desires.

Chapter 3

The Sacrificial Life Is the Only Way to Obey God’s Good, Pleasing, and Perfect Will

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

By choosing to love God, we instinctively desire to obey Him. Personal worship expresses our gratitude to God, our Father, for His Love and the gift of His Only Son, Jesus Christ.

Our morning worship begins with the commitment to living a holy and acceptable life of self-denial. We surrender to God because He deserves our loyalty and faithful obedience; therefore, we use the discipline of self-control to renounce our desires.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10). Yes, we approach God in prayer for help to resist temptation, still there are times when we give in to our weaknesses. Our Father is still gracious. Through prayer, we have total access to ask for His Divine Help and forgiveness.

God’s love and mercy are always extended when we repent. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father never changes. Not only does Christ promise to never leave or forsake us, He tells us to move forward and continue to fight against our internal desires and external temptations using His strength: “My strength is made perfect in your weakness.”

From engaging in consistent Bible Study, we learn God’s Loving Character and His history of intervening when the righteous run to Him for help, which strengthens our faith. We can never pray too much. Continuous Prayer connects us to Christ, who gives us His Spiritual strength to live day by day as Victorious Overcomers!

God knows that we cannot fight this Spiritual War alone! Heaven responds immediately to our cries for help. Still, we must put forth the human effort to choose to use our spiritual gifts of power and self-control to courageously renounce our desires by remaining steadfast to the conviction, “I will not sin against God!”

Throughout the Bible, we have examples of dedicated worshipers who did not sin against God. Their lifestyle reveals the habit of consistent communication with God. Daniel prayed three times a day, and for his faithfulness, he was chosen to receive prophetic visions of the future, which he did not understand.

“And he said to me, ‘O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.’ While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.” (Daniel 10:11).

Because of Daniel’s love, faith, and loyalty, Jesus Christ, the Commander of Angel Armies, sent the angel Gabriel to give Daniel the interpretation of his visions. Yes, Daniel admits he was terrified, but Gabriel’s words, “Daniel, man greatly beloved…” were a message directly from Christ.

When we choose to live a sacrificial life, determined to faithfully obey God, dedicating ourselves to a life of prayer is easily accomplished. Prayer is our Spiritual Lifeline to Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor; there is no other way for us to receive spiritual nourishment and strength.

Prayer and studying the Holy Scriptures not only keep us anchored in Christ, but we also recognize our identity as royal heirs who will inherit our Eternal Crown of Life, which consistently reminds us of who our allegiance is to.

Sanctification is the gradual [daily] spiritual process of growth and transformation required for every believer to, yet character transformation depends on our willingness to obey God.

If we are participating with the Holy Spirit, then we will begin to notice changes in our behaviors. Not only do we stop desiring the things we used to pursue, but we also receive wisdom and the discernment to perceive life through the eyes of Christ.

“You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today.” (Deuteronomy 11:27, NLT).”

The Nation of Israel struggled to obey God because they were mesmerized by the practices of pagan worship. If we expect to be blessed, which includes receiving our Crown of Life, we must cease pursuing our desires.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21).

The continuous challenge for every believer is to remain loyal to God by staying connected to Christ; only then can we win the battle of Obedience versus Disobedience to God. Without surrendering ourselves in faith and humility to God, we are driven by our internal desires that we cannot control.

How do we win? We choose to have a “God First” mindset that only comes from loving the Lord, our God, with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. A spirit of humility invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with the Divine Strength to overcome and win the battles within and externally.

“But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). All of Heaven is dedicated to helping us overcome our innate character traits of a selfish heart. Preparing for Eternal Life One Day At a Time.

Lord God, we desperately need Your help. You know our hearts and the consequences of embracing and pursuing greed. Lord, we confess that we have followed our hearts instead of obeying Your command to not seek earthly treasures, and for this sin, we ask for forgiveness. We ask You for guidance and strength. Teach us how to hear Your Voice speaking to us instead of following our wayward thoughts leading to self-gratification. We look forward to the day when Your Son, Jesus, and our Triumphant King will come again. We ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sabbath Peace and Blessings

For the next 24 hours, immerse yourself in the Holy Scriptures, asking the Holy Spirit to empower you with wisdom, discernment, and the strength to apply God’s Righteous Principles to your life.

In 2 Timothy 3, the Apostle Paul described the time we are living in, The Last Days. To keep moving forward in our spiritual journey with Christ, we must be anchored to Christ through the study of the Bible, and much prayer.

Lord God, we pray and ask for the wisdom to see life through spiritual eyes. We know that You are coming soon, and Lord, we ask You to give us direction, so we stay on the Path of Righteousness. We ask for a double blessing on this Holy Sabbath. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Loving Heart of Christ

“From one man He [Jesus] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” (Acts 17:26).

Sociology was one of my first academic classes required for my nursing degree. I can recall an assignment of openly confronting prejudice by exposing our inner feelings of “I dislike this group of people because…”

Being truthful required a spoken answer of identifying the individuals who we targeted our discrimination against, and giving the reasons for our prejudice.

As we listened to each other’s [mostly absurd] answers, we realized that learned behaviors [usually from parents and family members] produced unsubstantiated discrimination and prejudice against those who had never harmed us.

Shame and embarrassment permeated the atmosphere, yet there was an interesting twist when I verbalized my answer of, “I am not prejudiced,” which was met by a sharp rebuttal from our professor, “It is impossible for you not to be prejudiced!”

With confidence, I disclosed to my professor and classmates that I was raised by parents who taught us to love everyone.

From a young child, my mother taught us the magnitude of God’s love by singing this song, “Jesus loves the little children of the world. Whether red, or yellow, black, or white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

“We love because He first loved us.”(1 John 4:19).

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:19).

Possessing the Loving Heart of Christ

The Love Commandments: “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV).

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11).

The sign of a converted heart is one that is filled with God’s love. God is love. We were Created from Love, and Redeemed by Love.

“The Samaritan woman said to Him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)” (John 4:9, NIV).

Jesus demonstrated love in His ministry by speaking powerful messages of hope. He exhibited patience, compassion, and the healing of countless multitudes of people without regard to their backgrounds.

God’s love will permeate Heaven’s atmosphere. And only believers who love others freely in their earthly lives will receive the glorious reward of living forever in the Lovely New Heaven and New Earth.

Reflection: Are there any biases or prejudices hidden in your heart that would prevent you from receiving your reward of Eternal Life?

“Prejudice can stem from the perception that certain groups or ideas pose a threat to one’s own belief system or way of life.”

In the Scriptures, God reveals that either we love or hate. There is no middle of the road feeling of “dislike” identified in the Bible. Disliking others reveals that we do not have the loving heart of Christ.

Because the manner in which we were raised varies, our different experiences define our perception of love, and define our boundaries of inclusion. But once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we embrace love as defined by God.

God gives us His characteristics of Agape love in 1 Corinthians 13.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, NIV).

Love Your Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…’ ” (Matthew 5:43-45).

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” (Proverbs 10:12).

God will never condone biases for any reason. If we focus on our differences then it is easy to target those who embrace unbelief in God, practice pagan worship, celebrate various cultural customs, and live alternative lifestyles.

Yes, God hates sin, but He loves humanity, including sinners. “Jesus was and is absolutely inclusive. There is no ‘them versus us’ at the foot of the cross; Jesus paid the highest price for each one of us.”

Love Is the Catalyst for the Spiritual Transformation of Our Hearts

Sanctification is the lifelong, daily, and gradual Spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities into the Righteousness of Christ’s Loving Character, performed daily by the Holy Spirit.

The Prerequisite of Sanctification: We must possess the Righteous Characteristics of Christ: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV).

Christians who have hearts filled with Christ’s love shine brightly. They will know we are Christians when our temperament is gentle, our smile is genuine, and our spoken words are positive and uplifting.

“Heaven will be more diverse than we can imagine, with every people, nation, color, tongue, and gender (Revelation 5:9). Father, grant us your grace, that as Christians we may display your inclusive outlook, here and now. In Jesus’ Loving Name, Amen!”

Prayer: King David’s prayer must be our prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, KJV). Yes and Amen.

The Greatest Love

Following Jesus is the best decision, we will ever make. Yes, life is filled with unexpected challenges, but Jesus promises to give us His strength, so we can move forward. Trust Jesus with your life. No love can come close to our Creator’s love for us. Pray, Obey, and Persevere! Peace and Blessings!

Jesus, we thank You for Your everlasting love. LORD, we dedicate ourselves to follow You with faithful obedience. Give us wisdom, strength, direction, correction, and protection from the spiritual warfare designed to separate us from You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Christ Invites Us to Give Him All of Our Challenges

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’ ” (Matthew 11:28).

Unexpected challenges do not knock, waiting for us to open the door so they can enter. No, hardships and adversities are unwelcome intruders who have master keys and enter with unpredictability. Even believers often find it difficult to agree on most subjects, but there is a strong consensus that suffering is always challenging and leads to discouragement.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5).

Although I followed God’s plans, this week, I faced two extremely difficult challenges that discouraged me. Obedience to God should always bring a deep sense of inner peace. So, what happened? I forgot Jesus’ warning that even when we obey God, unexpected adversity can arise, causing us to feel defeated.

Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV). Truthfully, because we serve God, we feel that our lives should be easier, but an easy life is not Biblical. No Bible hero, and certainly not Jesus, the Son of God, was exempt from harsh trials.

“O my God, my soul is cast down within me…” (Psalm 42:6). David was a skillful musician and singer, but many do not understand “the man after God’s own heart.” He never pretended that all was well when it wasn’t. The Psalms are songs of prayer, and the longest book in the Bible. Prayer is a spiritual lifesaver, keeping us connected to the Source of Life.

God knows that our response to trials and troubles will not be positive. Through prayer, we receive answers from Scripture, making it essential for our spiritual well-being. Studying the Bible is not optional. Like David, I prayed, and the Holy Spirit instructed me to study Psalm 42.

Daily personal worship invites the Holy Spirit to speak to us through our thoughts. While writing this devotional, the Holy Spirit reminded me that “The Christian’s Journey on the Path of Righteousness Always Involves Suffering.”

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

“We can come to Jesus just as we are, but we cannot stay just like we are.” Spiritual growth and transformation of our mind, character, and personality, building our faith, and molding us into the righteous character of Christ are required to receive Eternal Life, and can only be accomplished through trials and adversities.

The hard times of suffering are a part of Christianity that we fail to embrace or appreciate. I am not a new believer, and throughout my journey, I have heard so few sermons on the suffering required to follow Jesus. Who is teaching or preaching the sermons telling us that the journey on the Path of Righteousness is tough, so when adversity comes in like a tsunami, we immediately fall to our knees in prayer, asking for help?

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne”(Revelation 3:21).

“My people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). We cannot rely on anyone else to teach us the Gospel Truth of the Bible. Too many believers are giving up on God because they do not know the Truth. The book of Job reveals that Job lived a sinless life, still he endured extreme suffering, but overcame, and received many blessings.

“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Ecclesiastes 7:8, ESV).

Sanctification requires humility, long-suffering [patience], and the teamwork of Human Effort and Divine Intervention. Spiritual transformation requires our entire [earthly] life. If we use our faith and obedience to cooperate with God, then every day the Holy Spirit gradually transforms us. Spiritual growth never happens in leaps and bounds; it is the little steps that keep us moving forward.

God’s thoughts, ways, and plans always take time. God is Eternal. He views our lives from beginning to end. Because God knows our lifespan, there is no need for Him to rush in giving us His blessings or fulfilling His promises.

“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14, NLT).

Still, God always fulfills His promises. We know that from the story of Abraham and Sarah who were 100 and 90 years of age when Isaac was born. One thing is for certain, God’s timing will never align with our timing.

The worldview of “Do it now” strongly opposes the righteous characteristic of patience, which is a Fruit of the Spirit. Instant gratification is the downfall of any Christian who embraces the mindset of “I have to have it now!”

Not all adversity or roadblocks are related to the faith journey of spiritual growth. We must also consider if we became impatient and attempted to expedite the process by following our thoughts.

Our Plans: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’ ” (James 4:13-15, NIV).

Our God-given gift of Free Will of Choice allows us to choose following our thoughts and desires, or surrendering to and obeying God’s Perfect Plans, which always end in Victory.

God’s Plans: “O LORD, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself; It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life]” (Jeremiah 10:23, Amplified Bible).

Does God honor those who faithfully obey Him? The three Hebrew young men were not destroyed in King Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, Daniel slept with the lions in their den, and yes, Peter lost faith when walking on the water, but he was the only one of the disciples who was courageous enough to step out of the boat, and Jesus saved Peter. And when the Apostle Paul was bitten by the venomous snake, the people waited for him to die, but he lived [Acts 28:3-6].

The same Christ who intervened in the Old and New Testaments is still waiting for the righteous to approach Him in prayer. Who else can help us but God?

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Trust Jesus with your life! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). We have a very patient and loving Shepherd who knows that our hearts, faith, and courage are weak. Still, our Loving Jesus, who is our High Priest and Heavenly Intercessor, waits for us to ask for His help.

“The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in prayer, specifically in conveying our prayers to Christ. The Holy Spirit acts as a Divine Intercessor, bringing our sincere, faith-filled prayers to the Father through Christ.” (EGW)

The lessons I learned: When we faithfully follow and obey God’s Directives, yes, we may still face adversity; even so, when we follow in Jesus’ footsteps by committing ourselves to a life of prayer, asking for Divine Help and Strength, we immediately receive the ability to make it through our challenges. Not only did I learn more about God’s Loving Character and humanity’s weaknesses from studying the Psalms, but I also received Jesus’ strength, comfort, and a victorious outcome [a miracle]. Yes and Amen.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Jesus Christ is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory!

Lord God, we thank You for creating us, loving us, intervening for us, and taking care of us. We love You, and worship Your Holy Name. Lord, teach us to pray that we can depend on You instead of ourselves. We also pray for a Divine blessing during the Holy Sabbath, and ask this prayer, in the Righteous and Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Trusting In God Guarantees A Secure Life

“Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [unbelievers] seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” —Matthew 6:31-34

Worrying about the future is the greatest insecurity that humanity suffers from. We can expect unbelievers to suffer from roller coaster emotions, but something is not right when Christians also manifest the same mental and emotional unrest as our unbelieving counterparts.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.” —Proverbs 3:7

How did we veer off of God’s Chosen Path? Most believers do not wake up and decide to abandon God’s Perfect Plans; detouring off the Path of Righteousness is a gradual process. We begin by making daily decisions without God, resulting in the redirection of our faith from God to ourselves.

If our confidence has always been in our life experience and the speculations of analysts, we probably do not realize that we are disobeying God. When the nation of Israel was taken into Babylonian captivity, “The Lord could not give them prosperity, He could not fulfill His covenant with them…”

Because compromised Christianity is at its highest level, not too many sermons or reels emphasize that “To obey God is His Command.” Studying the Bible under the direction of the Teacher, the Holy Spirit is the only guarantee of knowing, understanding, and living God’s Absolute Truth.

The Plague of Worrying continues to spread, overpowering our desire to prepare for Jesus’ Second Advent. The message of living Holy through the Power of Jesus Christ is no longer the focus of most churches.

Sadly, because of our discouragement and unhappy lifestyles, pastors are burdened by the necessity to preach sermons on how to have peace instead of helping their members prepare to receive their Crown of Life.

“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)

Salvation is not a shared gift. Our relationship with Christ is built on our love, faith, and the desire to follow Him. Using our faith to trust in God’s Sovereign Authority is a foundational belief of Christianity.

“Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you…” (Isaiah 55:3).

Trusting in God and His Faithfulness is our security. With humility, we reverence God with obedience because He gave Jesus to Redeem us, saving us from death. Certainly, God deserves our love and loyalty.

What does God tell us about Himself and His Intervention in our lives?

God Declares His Omnipotence: “…Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. (Job 41:10-11).

Spiritual Security is only possible when we use our faith to believe that God is Who He says He is.

God’s Command to Us: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you ‘ ” (Hebrews 13:5).

The Love of Money has distracted us to the point that we are fixated on the growth of our financial portfolios as opposed to spiritual growth.

Inflation, tariffs, the Dow, our 401k, and interest rates are guaranteed to fluctuate, but our faith and trust in God and His promises must remain steadfast.

According to the latest study, only 30% of Christians globally study the Bible, and many do not own a Bible. Yet, the 30% who stay in God’s word, we can sleep like newborn babies. Our goal is to go to heaven.

“Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18). The Apostle John in Revelation saw a number of people like the sands of the sea who received Eternal Life.

Every human being has been given the spiritual gift of a measure of Faith. Yes, God knows who will remain faithful throughout their earthly lives by only bowing to Him, but we choose our destiny.

Despite the obstacles, those who have consecrated themselves to obey God will receive Jesus’ Power and Strength every day. Embracing God’s Divine Plans invites the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy, giving us the wisdom to maintain a steadfast relationship with our Shepherd.

“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12).

Restructuring our time spent on pleasure is imperative to invest in our salvation. We should enjoy uninterrupted time in daily personal worship with God through consecration, prayer, and studying the Scriptures.

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’ ” (Psalm 27:8). Our love for God is the catalyst to fall to our knees and spend more time in His presence.

When we form the habits of Prayer and Bible Study, we are nurturing our faith, which invites the Holy Spirit to strengthen our trust in God and give us Divine peace.

It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us with Jesus’ Divine strength and wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes.

The Holy Spirit, who transforms us daily into the Righteous Character of Christ, can only perform Sanctification when we fully cooperate by seeking God’s will and obeying His plans.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6).

From obeying God’s command to seek and surrender to Him, we allow God to secure our future. Obedience gives us the assurance Jesus will finish our transformation before He comes [Philippians 1:6].

God desires for us to enjoy peace and happiness in our earthly lives. Still we must commit to align ourselves with our Heavenly Father’s thoughts and ways. Our testimony of victory is based on an unwavering faith in God’s love and faithfulness.

We have a lot to be thankful for, our greatest gift is Jesus Christ who covers us with His Righteousness, presenting us as holy to God, the Father when we fulfill God’s Righteous Conditions of Participation in our salvation.

All of God’s promises are conditional, including Eternal Life. John 14:1-3 is Jesus’ promise to prepare our new home [Revelation 21-22]; still, we must acquiesce to His Sovereignty as children obey their parents. Pray, Obey, and Persevere!

“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, KJV).

In the King James translation of the promise God gave to Jeremiah is one of hope and certainty of our future. Jesus Christ fulfilled “The Plan of Redemption,” which includes returning to this planet to take the righteous to our Forever Home in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Study Revelation chapters 21-22, Romans 12, Galatians 5, and strive to live holy. “…The future belongs to the Lord. And our futures are secure when we put our trust in Him…” Yes and Amen.

God is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory!

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you…”

“For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…you are precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you…Fear not, for I am with you…” (Isaiah 43:1-5).

Lord God, we desire to draw closer to you. We repent of self-reliance. With gratitude, we thank You for the gift of Your life. We ask you to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and give us guidance through our earthly journey. Jesus, we need spiritual wisdom, discernment, and the strength to keep moving forward. In Your Holy Name, we ask this prayer in faith, Amen.

Trust God, He Always Gives Us a Life of Stability and Hope

Many years ago, I recall having a conversation with a retired army Sergeant, mid-40s, who shared something profound, “Unless you have chosen the military, or a travel position, relocating from state to state, and changing jobs several times reveals mental and emotional instability, and unfortunately, the person’s well-being and finances are also negatively impacted.

Yes, our lives change, and many times those unexpected and unwanted changes produce great uncertainty. The Believer’s only viable option is to pray for God’s help, but instead of dropping to our knees, we often use our feelings and preferences to make quick decisions that produce unforeseen consequences.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). We are deceived by the worldviews of self-governance, instant gratification, and convenience. Every day, like the unbelievers, we use our prior experience and strategies to make decisions, excluding God from our lives.

In Proverbs chapter 3, God warns us, “Do not listen to your thoughts.” Because we have formed the habit of resolving our challenges, not only do we listen to our thoughts, but we also seek the advice of family and friends who give us well-meaning suggestions; still, it is not what God desires.

Sadly, when we end up suffering devastating consequences, which produce regret and sorrow, only then are we ready to turn to God. Thankfully, our Father loves us, always responding to prayers of repentance and asking for Divine help.

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). God knows our lives from beginning to end, so nothing comes as a surprise to Him. With humility, Pray and Wait for God’s instructions.

Facing consequences produces mental distress and emotional unrest. How do we redirect our focus to differentiate God’s voice from our thoughts? Genesis 12 is the story of God speaking to Abram, later known as Abraham.

“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you…”

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.’ ” (Genesis 12:1-2,4-5).

On the way to Canaan, Abram and his family had to travel through Egypt. Because of fear Abram told a lie that Sarai was his sister instead of his wife, placing her in a predicament with Pharaoh. God intervened and rescued Sarai from the situation. Study Genesis 12:10-20.

Yes, Abram immediately obeyed God and left all that was familiar to him, but he let fear override his knowledge of God’s power. Our Father God is loving and merciful, the Old Testament has countless stories of God rescuing humanity from their willful disobedience.

Unlike Our Plans, God’s Plans Always Have Divine Purpose and Glorify His Holy Name

We know that Abram’s move to Canaan was God’s Divine will; not only does God fulfill His wonderful promise to Abram, but with his New Beginnings, God changes his name to Abraham [Genesis 17:5].

God is Love, Giving Us New Beginnings [with Conditions] Even When We Sin Against Him

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, You, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:17, NIV).

Redirecting our faith from ourselves to God is demonstrated by letting go of our spirit of self-reliance, embracing a spirit of humility, and surrendering to God’s Sovereignty through praying, fasting, and waiting on God.

God’s Promise: “Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24, BSB).

To hear His voice, we must repent for living a life of self-reliance and approach God with a different mindset and a posture of surrender. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, who uses the Scriptures [Study the Bible] and prayer to reveal His instructions.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘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, NIV).

God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts, and easily recognized by His Perfect Plans of Miraculous and Powerful Interventions. The phenomenal plan of rescue and restoration that you’re thinking of came from God. We know it is Him because the Holy Spirit also gives us spiritual peace.

Even if our knowledge of the Bible is scant, God meets us with loving kindness where we are and uses different methods to reveal His plans for resolution. Yet, we must not commit the sin of presumption.

God’s warning, “My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6, NIV). God expects us to worship Him daily through prayer, obedience, and studying the Scriptures.

Although we mess up, when we repent, God always intervenes to stabilize our lives. Without God’s mercies, we would be hopeless. God will never deny us help, but He may not allow us to keep our desires.

There is always a price to pay for willful disobedience. We may lose the job, the house, the car, the relationship, or the marriage that God never intended for us to have.

Every believer will face circumstances that place us at the Spiritual Crossroads, which always requires that we make a decision of either following God or pleasing ourselves.

Following Christ is to live a selfless, sacrificial life. Yes, we will experience hardships, but God never crushes us, which serves no spiritual purpose. Even in the storms, we can rely on a stable foundation, Christ, the Solid Rock, our Shepherd, and King.

A life consecrated to serve God with faithful obedience gives us the peaceful assurance of Jesus’ promise, “I am with you always even until the end of this world.”

Lord God, we are facing adversity, and need Your help. We come to You asking for rescue and restoration. Lord, we repent of the sin of self-reliance that has brought consequences, we cannot resolve. We pray for direction, protection, and correction in our journey of New Beginnings. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

“This Scripture emphasizes the stability and strength that comes from relying on God. The psalmist is confident in the face of adversity because he knows God is with him. In essence, Psalm 16:8 is a declaration of faith, trust, and dependence on God, leading to a life of steadfastness and assurance.”

“To You, O Lord, I Lift Up My Soul”

“For you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in Mercy to all those who call upon You (Psalm 86:4- 5).

The book of Psalms reflects David’s love, faith, and trust in God. Throughout history, no musician, or songwriter can equal the heartfelt Psalms [Songs of Praise, Worship, and Petitions], which are prayers from the depths of David’s heart.

“In the day of my trouble I will call upon you, for you will answer me” (Psalm 86:7).

Many do not understand David’s prayers and feel that he was depressed. No, he understood God’s Love and Sovereign Authority, and the limitations of human effort to resolve life’s challenges.

David, the shepherd boy who played his harp in the fields was given the supernatural strength to kill bears and lions with his hands. Yes, young David tenderly cared for his sheep, matured into a mighty warrior, and was honored by God to become King over Judah and Israel, yet David was hated.

“O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to your servant. Show me a sign for good that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You Lord have helped me and comforted me” (Psalm 86:14, 16-17).

David’s petitions reveal an unwavering faith in God, reliance on the power of prayer, and the belief that humanity was created to depend on God, Jesus Christ, the Creator, therefore, he honored God by continuously crying out to Him for Divine help.

“For great Is Your mercy toward me” (Psalm 86:13).

We have received the mercies of a new day, will we pray and obey, or move ahead to fulfill our desires and plans? Sadly, many Christians have embraced the worldview of self-sufficiency resulting in the exclusion of God from their lives.

If our first response to challenges and adversity is to ask ourselves, “How am I going to resolve this?” then we have separated ourselves from God. Christ always prayed with the intent to seek and obey God, the Father’s will. [Read John 8:29].

The Bible teaches us that unless we love God more than ourselves, and like Christ, surrender daily by seeking His Divine will and plans, we will not receive the eternal reward that God desires to give us.

We accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior because we love and honor Him for His great sacrificial offering on Calvary’s Cross. Every day, we must remind ourselves that we desperately desire Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3.

Yes, faith, reverence, and loyalty are fruits of a loving heart that readily acquiesces to God’s Sovereignty in total surrender and obedience.

“Teach me your way, O Lord” (Psalm 86:11).

God is Sovereign, Holy, Righteous, and Majestic, the angels cover their faces when worshiping Him. Daily surrender develops a spirit of humility, “God, not my will, but Your will be done” preparing us for a forever life of worship.

Our earthly lives are the only opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit to change our character into the Righteousness of Christ. Sanctification is performed by the Holy Spirit and is the spiritual process of mind, character, and personality transformation that requires a lifetime.

When our hearts are overflowing with love for God, our perception changes, and like David, we begin to cry out continuously with praise, worship, and petitions asking for Divine Help. Yes and Amen!

“Bow down your ear, O LORD, hear me; for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life…You are my God; Save your servant who trusts in You! (Psalm 86 1-2).

Lord God, we ask for forgiveness for not honoring you with the worship of surrender and obedience. Lord, we ask you to show us your mercy, and grant us Your salvation. We pray for Your guidance, which is the only way that we can stay on the Path of Righteousness. We ask this prayer in faith, and in the Sovereign Name of Jesus, our Triumphant King, Amen.

Rest Breaks: A Time to Receive Spiritual Renewal and Restoration

Today, I looked at my Air Purifier that runs 24/7 and wondered how much more time it has left. It is easy to replace machines, just purchase another one, but most are treating their minds and bodies like machines that can be easily replaced.

How did we get to the point of despising these much-needed, rejuvenating times of rest? We have embraced the non-stop busyness of always being in a hurry which doesn’t give our fearfully and wonderfully made minds and bodies time to renew, restore, and regenerate itself.

Rest vs Sleep: They are not the same.

“For most, feeling tired or worn down might make you think you need more sleep. While quality sleep is critical to feeling whole, rest is so much more than your nightly hours of shut-eye.”

“Rest involves your whole being, not just your body. With complete and regular rest, you will restore your health, enhance your performance, and achieve an amazing sense of wellness.”

“So many small — but impactful — bouts of rest can be incorporated into your everyday routine.”

Take Routine Time Outs

“Removing yourself from a stressful situation or anxious environment might be all you need to take a mental and physical break. Think of it as your own little “time out” to connect with your thoughts, feelings and body. Even a short, calming prayer can help you rejuvenate in body, mind and spirit.”

The Lack of Rest is Dangerous to Our Spiritual Relationship with God

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’ ” (Mark 6:31, NIV).

Jesus, the Creator of humanity, in His earthly life also adhered to the principles of maintaining one’s health by establishing boundaries. Our Savior never expected His disciples to follow the rigid schedule that He endured.

As terrible as it sounds, truthfully, when we are mentally fatigued, the last thing that we desire to do is to study the Scriptures, Pray, and be in the Divine presence of God.

Our inability to concentrate, pay attention to the small details, use critical thinking, and sound judgment are greatly impacted by our lack of regenerative rest periods. Mental fatigue impacts our ability to think outside of an emotional responses.

Satan uses our overloaded schedules to distract us from spending time with God, and to present alternative [demonic] modalities, burning sage, secular music, Eastern meditation, alcohol, mushroom tea, CBD, and hours of scrolling on social media designed to produce a false state of euphoria.

Many Christian believers who are reading this devotional may not be aware that we are living in the last days of Earth’s history. To clarify, we are not in the End Times which occur right before Jesus comes again.

The Apostle Paul defines the characteristics of Perilous Times, which is now.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power…” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Jesus has not kept secrets from us, in the Book of Revelation, we know how the story ends. In Matthew chapter 24, the signs that Jesus gave to his disciples are rapidly being fulfilled!

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8).

Jesus’ forewarning is not to instill fear, but to give us the opportunity to review our lives and to eliminate any roadblocks that will prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life.

Take a day off to separate yourself, silence all distractions, and scrutinize your lifestyle. Pray for guidance and perform the task of prioritizing and eliminating all activities that prevent your ability to incorporate small blocks of spiritual rest breaks throughout your waking hours.

I can recall working for United Healthcare as a Quality nurse with the responsibility of assisting physicians to deliver patient care within Medicare’s guidelines. Every day it was a taxing effort to prepare ourselves to present the monthly reports of deficiencies to the Doctors, which always produced an escalated level of resistance.

One day, I felt extreme burnout and fatigue, and recall thinking, “I cannot do this job much longer.” The Holy Spirit spoke through my thoughts instructing me to take my lunch break in my vehicle. Yes, for an hour, I listened to inspirational music, sang, prayed for strength, and mental clarity, and God intervened by renewing my strength, and changing my perception of the position, Do not take the pushbacks personally.

Begin and end your day with prayer and study of the Scriptures. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in incorporating several short rest breaks, using them as a time to ask for clarity, strength, and wisdom.

Whisper a prayer, listen to music, sing, and reflect on God’s Faithfulness, thanking Him for His never-ending love and mercies.

Nothing compares to receiving a spiritual boost of Jesus’ Supernatural strength!

“Yet those who hope in Yahweh will gain new power; They will mount up with wings like eagles; They will run and not get tired; They will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31, LSB). Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we come to you weary and fatigued by the responsibilities in our lives. We ask for Your Divine guidance in eliminating all unnecessary activities that have distanced us from You. Jesus, we need your strength and wisdom to persevere through this journey of life. And we thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.