Tag: love faith sabbath

Gratitude is a Lifestyle – Developing A Grateful Heart

David’s Prayer of Praise and Gratitude: “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5, NIV).

God is the Source and Sustainer of Life, and the Giver of All Good Gifts: Yes, we love blessings! Yet when we think of God’s blessings, it usually produces thoughts of receiving money and tangible possessions.

But King David reminds us that the Spiritual blessings of God’s Love, Redemption, Forgiveness, Grace, Mercies, Patience, and Divine Strength are crucial to our spiritual walk with Christ because they empower us to live righteously.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16). We value our daily gift of another day because the Scriptures remind us, “…For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”(James 4:14).

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV).

Every modality that is purchased with money, promising peace, is a counterfeit. Satan can mimic many things, but he will never be able to reproduce Jesus’ gift of Divine Peace.

To every believer, Jesus’ gift of peace is freely given, but only a few Christians actually experience the joy and happiness that come from having continuous spiritual peace.

“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6).

A key obstacle to receiving Jesus’ peace is our failure to study the Bible, leaving us unaware of God’s expectations. The only alternative is to follow our thoughts and inclinations, which prevents the Holy Spirit from guiding us in our earthly journey.

No Peace From Traveling on the Highway of Self-Governance: Let’s face it, we live in an environment where the prevailing worldview is to rely on one’s thoughts and emotions.

Although the pursuit of happiness is the goal, traveling the world’s Expressway requires a lifestyle of self-reliance, which keeps the mind in overdrive. Relying on our thoughts to navigate this tumultuous journey comes at a high price; we have no time to commune with God in personal worship.

Without relying on Divine wisdom and discernment, the brain is overwhelmed by constant overthinking every day. Self-reliance demands payment that leads to spiritual and emotional bankruptcy. Self-gratification requires the continuous development of strategies that must be reevaluated and quickly restructured when failure occurs. 

Enough is never enough! King Solomon tells us the human heart can never be satisfied: “Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.” (Ecclesiastes 1:8, NLT).

The decision to exclude God produces a state of “Emotional Exhaustion Leading to Spiritual Confusion that Separates Us From God.” Sadly, like the prodigal son, it usually takes a crisis to return to God on bended knees before we come to our senses.

The Spiritual Steps to Restoration and Receiving Jesus’ Peace

Changing Lanes: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

God’s perspective is always spiritual. Jesus reminds us that we cannot save our souls. Staying on the Path of Righteousness has always required Divine Help. When Christ, our Shepherd, tells us that we were created without the ability to guide ourselves, we believe Him without question.

The Plan of Redemption includes the gift of Salvation, which is freely given to those who believe and accept Jesus as their Savior. But certainly it was not free for Jesus Christ, who was required to die a heinous death on Calvary’s Cross.

When we truly love God, we are grateful that through Christ, we have received the option of not paying the wages of sin. Loving God is demonstrated by seeking His will through daily personal worship, which should not be a burden.

Gratitude is Obedience: Daily personal worship [Prayer and Bible study] is a lifestyle that reveals a converted and sanctified heart willing to acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority.

The Standing Invitation: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16, NLT).

Jesus is Still Interceding for the Righteous

Jesus Christ, Yeshua, our Heavenly Intercessor, receives our prayers, forgives our sins, covers us with His Righteousness, gives us our daily provisions, heals our minds and bodies, and sends angels to constantly protect us from unseen spiritual warfare and physical danger [Psalm 91].

We have a relentless enemy who desires our souls! Yes, believers, we are the target in The Great Controversy of Good and Evil! Our fight is not against flesh and blood.

Jesus’ Warning: “…He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44, NIV).

Satan, our greatest enemy, has deceived many to believe that we can live as we please and still inherit our Crown of Life. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22).

Through daily Consecration, we realign ourselves with God’s Divine Purpose by choosing to exit from the Road of Self-Governance back to the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

The Sacrificial Life Is the Only Life Acceptable to God

“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).

A couple of years ago, I watched a documentary filmed in Japan on the reinvented life of a retired college professor who practiced the concept of “Need Over Greed.”

Although she developed a mindset of gratitude from the practice of “enough is enough and zero waste,” she denied any religious affiliation with her lifestyle.

Need Over Greed and Minimalism are lifestyle changes that require continuous discipline, practiced by unbelievers who never acknowledge God, which should raise a Red Flag for believers.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self control].” (2 Timothy 1:7).

We have 24/7 access to Jesus, who promises to give us the Divine Strength to live a disciplined, righteous life. The Apostle Paul tells us that we were created with spiritual gifts, so when tempted, we pray for Jesus’ supernatural strength to overcome; still, God expects us to use self-control.

Throughout the Bible, we learn that God is Love, and He has always fulfilled His promises to “never leave us.” We have Jesus Christ, the Mighty Warrior, who promises to fight our battles, giving us hope and peace: “No weapon formed against you will prosper.”

Gratitude for God goes beyond spoken words. Every day, our gratitude is reflected through a lifestyle of surrender and faithful obedience. We love Him because He first loved us. Yes and Amen!

The Pathway to Peace is Paved With Gratitude

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Bible Study: Galatians 5; Ephesians 6

Prayer: Thank You, Most Gracious, Heavenly Father, for Your Amazing and Continuous Love. Forgive us for nurturing a spirit of self-reliance. We acknowledge that we can do nothing without You. Lead us, guide us, correct us, and protect us as we navigate through our spiritual journey. We commit to living a life that reveals our desire to give You the honor, glory, and praise that You rightfully deserve. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray this prayer of gratitude, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Do the Circumstances Demand a Goodbye?

Practical Solutions for Impractical Times – Devotional – November 17, 2025

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15, NIV).

My siblings and I were raised by Christian parents who obeyed God’s command “to separate ourselves from unbelievers.” Our friends were the children of Christian parents who also had a relationship with our parents. And yes, we attended Christian schools, where we were taught Biblical Principles, with emphasis on loving and obeying God.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Mathew 7:21).

Disobedience always demands payment! Sadly, as I matured, although I attended church, I did not continue to practice the godly principles that our parents, schools, and church taught us. I formed relationships with unbelievers, and gradually, I transitioned from striving to live righteously to living a compromised life of sin.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?”(1 Corinthians 6:9). “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NLT).

From Genesis to Revelation, God repeatedly commands us to separate ourselves from unbelievers, which includes romantic liaisons and socializing with family members and coworkers who have not accepted Christ as their personal Savior.

“…The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT).

Because we are living in the Last Days, many Christians feel lonely and often meet individuals [Satan’s temptation] who appear to be believers. The initial conversation captures their interest, and yes, they may attend church, [which is not an indicator of love and loyalty to God], so we assume the person is God-sent.

Satan’s schemes include placing people in our path who appear righteous, often verbalizing that God is good, but the Apostle Paul says, they are pretenders “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5).

Without praying and asking God to reveal whether or not He sent the person, the only other choice is to follow our emotions. If we exchange numbers and quickly begin a relationship with an unbeliever who has no real relationship with Jesus Christ, then time will reveal their true nature. From excluding God, either we choose a life of compromise, or end up suffering from a broken heart.

Satan’s Playground: There is no need to elaborate on the Online Chat and Dating sites because a Holy and Righteous God would never condescend Himself to bless sites where sin is masked behind fake characters that are easily masterminded to deceive others.

Never Place the Familiar Over the Divine!

Satan knows the believers who worship God with dedication and obedience are usually tough as nails in their love and loyalty to God, so he uses another covert strategy, “the path of least resistance.” The roaring lion uses his strongest tactic: Satan uses our family members to entice us.

The Invitation: Yes, our unbelieving family members know we are Christians, but they cannot think on a spiritual level. The invite to the baby shower, birthday party, or a night out is genuine because it has been a long time since they have seen us. Without praying for Divine guidance, even the strongest Christian is subject to embracing temptations when family ties are part of the temptation.

The Compromise: You said yes, and it was wonderful being around your family. Yes, they served alcoholic drinks, and profanities filled the atmosphere, but we justify their behaviors because that is their lifestyle.

The Fall: We are excited; it feels good to be around our family. As we leave, with hugs and smiles, we decide to interact with our relatives by attending future get-togethers.

Satan Wins: Inclusion boosts our self-worth, so we tell ourselves, I need to be more involved with my family, and at that moment, our life of compromise begins. We follow our thoughts in every aspect of our lives instead of praying for Divine Wisdom.

The Spiritual Decline of Disobedience: When a believer forms relationships with unbelievers, the believer has denied loyalty to Christ by choosing wilful disobedience to God’s command to separate ourselves from those who are walking in spiritual darkness.

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:33, ESV). Disobedience to God is the spiritual indicator that the believer’s heart has already changed. The decision to compromise and socialize with “bad company,” without repentance, places the believer on equal ground with the unbeliever—from a spiritual perspective, the believer is also lost.

“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13). Compromise requires that we begin a life of pretense, appearing godly to others, but God knows our hearts.

“The Narrow and Wide Gates: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, NIV).

Leaving the Path of Righteousness begins with the one disobedient choice that places us on the detour exit leading to the Path of Disobedience. Satan is happy; he feels that he has taken another believer away from Christ.

Disobedience is a Catalyst for a Domino Effect: From disobeying one of God’s Commands, we lose our spiritual connection to Christ, which predisposes us to committing multiple sins against God.

Satan continues to tempt us in other areas because distractions keep our focus on ourselves, which is required to keep us traveling on the Broad Road. Sin not only separates us from God, but it also impairs our judgment and desensitizes us to the point that we can no longer discern truth from error.

Christ Knocks On the Door of Our Hearts: Our Loving Shepherd attempts to bring His lost sheep back into His arms. The Holy Spirit begins speaking to our conscience, so we can never say that we didn’t know that we were living outside of the will of God.

Because we were created with the free will of choice, God will never coerce us to return to His safety. There is no middle road. Either we will continue in our rebellion against God, or, like the prodigal son, come to our senses and repent.

We Are the Generation of Believers Living In the Last Days: “…In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.” (Jude 1:18-19, NIV).

Satan does not care about the unrighteous or half-committed Christians; they are already serving him. Since Lucifer was cast out of Heaven, now known as Satan, he is in a spiritual battle with Jesus Christ, vying for the souls of believers who are striving to faithfully follow Christ.

Yes, that is you and me! Our enemy’s goal is to manipulate the righteous heirs of Christ into abandoning God by tempting us to engage in spiritually incompatible relationships. And many have fallen into his trap, exchanging their Crown of Life for short-lived pleasure.

God’s Character and Ways remain the same. Nowhere in the Bible do we find where a stranger suddenly enters someone’s life and they become romantically involved with each other.

God Requires That We Put Him First: To receive his promise, God instructed Abram to leave his family and relocate to the land that He promised him.

When Our Relationships Lead to Either Choosing Them or God, Then the Circumstances Demand An Immediate Goodbye!

Reflect on your relationships; if they do not lead you closer to God, then the people you have given access to your life are pulling you away from God. Let them go!

If you are thinking it’s too late, I have been in this relationship for a long time. Unless you are married, you have already crossed the line of living a pure and holy life. Living together or engaging in sexual immorality indicates you have chosen to relinquish your reward of Eternal Life [Revelation 22:15].

If children are involved, they must be taken care of emotionally and financially. Pray for God’s guidance. He has the answers to all of our dilemmas. But we cannot continue to live in sin and be saved.

The Road to Restoration: What does God require of us? Our Father is Love! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ (1 John 1:9).

Pray and repent, asking God to forgive you for the sins against Him. Establish a New Covenant with Christ by ceasing all relationships that do not honor God, whether romantic or with unbelieving family and friends.

“Let us then approach God’s Throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 14:6, NIV).

Establish a time for morning and evening worship. We must honor God with Faithful Obedience, which is our highest worship. Pray and ask God to direct you in all of your decision-making, including future relationships.

The Road to Restoration Also Requires Spiritual and Emotional Healing: God knows that letting go of relationships causes deep heart wounds. We may feel as if our breath has ceased to exist. Expressing our sorrow is healthy as long as we are not embracing anger or bitterness.

New Beginnings require a lot of prayer. We can ask our Loving Savior a thousand times a day for comfort and strength. Christ experienced immense grief and sorrow at a level that no human could tolerate, and live.

Establish a time for morning and evening worship. Begin to study the Bible: Genesis 1-3; Psalm 23; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13; Romans 12; and Revelation 21-22 are good for starters.

Listen to Christian music that honors God. David tells us to praise God with our voice. Praise God with singing; Inspirational music reaches deep into the depths of our souls, soothing our emotional pain.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles [schemes] of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11).

Today’s believers face many challenges in our Christian Journey, but living righteously should not be one of our hardships. Through prayer, we have 24/7 unlimited access to Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor and Triumphant King, who promises to heal our broken hearts and strengthen us in times of weakness.

Keep Your Eyes Focused on Christ: Our Primary Goal Is To Experience the Daily Spiritual Growth and Transformation Required to Receive Our Reward of Eternal Life

Our relationship with Christ is a priority! We are the generation of believers who are living in the Last Days described in 2 Timothy 3. Considering the current conditions, we do not have time to waste being involved in meaningless relationships. There is an old spiritual song that says, “If you don’t want to go [to heaven], don’t hinder me.”

The King is Coming Sooner Than We Think: “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.” (Romans 12:1, NIV).

Lord God, we love You and desire to renew our covenant vow to worship You with faith, loyalty, and obedience. We ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all relationships in our lives that do not honor and glorify You. Lord, we ask for the strength to persevere through this journey of life as we prepare for eternity. We ask this prayer in faith and in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

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.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Every Believer Must Fight Two Battles: External and Internal, Pray for Help!

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding]. (John 16:33, Amplified Bible)

The External Opposition

“Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4).

God’s Answer: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NIV).

Spiritual Warfare is invisible to the human eye, still every believer is targeted. In the Great Controversy of Good and Evil, we are the focus. Satan uses people and temptations to fulfill His schemes in the attempt to separate us from God.

Internal Conflict: Our Minds [Hearts] Are the Battlefield

Internal: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Since it is easier to choose wrong, we must pray to overcome our heart’s desires, which are never satisfied.

“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” (James 1:14 NLT)

Though we can never be coerced to sin against God, every temptation is customized according to our desires and habits. Satan is not Omniscient, therefore he cannot read our minds, but he observes our habits and hears our spoken words.

The battles of Spiritual Warfare and the Desires of our Hearts are lifelong battles for which we desperately need Divine Strength to overcome!

The Struggle Is Real, but Victory Is Sure Through Jesus Christ

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).

Although Satan has not changed his deceptive strategies since the Garden of Eden, his knowledge and wisdom supersedes human knowledge.

Yes, we were created in the Image of God, still, we were created lower than the angels. We cannot fight Satan, formerly known as Lucifer, the highest ranking angel, without the strength of Jesus, the Commander of Angel Armies.

True heart conversion reveals itself by acknowledging, “I was created to depend on God.”

Without involving God in our battles, we place ourselves in a spiritual dilemma, because we cannot win the war within, or the invisible warfare, without asking Jesus Christ, our Mighty Warrior for His Divine Help.

We Must Live As Prayer Warriors

“To pray without ceasing” means to pray continuously throughout our day for Spiritual wisdom, discernment, guidance, and strength. Prayer keeps us connected to Christ.

“The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14).

The key to Victory is to possess a spirit of humility, always realizing your limitations. Before responding, or making decisions, always hesitate, and pray.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). To build our faith, and test our obedience, there is always a waiting period when we pray for Divine Help. Resist the urge to help God.

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

Who can fight against Christ, our Mighty Warrior and win?

God’s Promise: “I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).

Bible Study: Exodus 14, 2 Chronicles 20, Psalm 37

Lord God, in these continuous Battles of Life, we desperately need Your Divine Help. We ask for the wisdom to use self-control when facing external opposition and internal conflict by persevering and waiting until you provide resolution. Lord, we thank You for Your Amazing Love and Divine protection. We ask this prayer in faith, and with joyful anticipation, we know that You will give us the victory. In Jesus’ Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Remaining Victorious When Facing the War of Words

“But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…”

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 1:20-23).

The Incident In the Synagogue on Sabbath: Anger Incites the Congregation to Become a Mob

Luke 4:14-30 records Jesus’ Rejection in Nazareth: “He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.” (Luke 4:16-17, NIV).

“…And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’ ” (Luke 4:22, NIV).

The Outcome of Unleashed Anger

“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and took Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him off the cliff.” (Luke 4:28-29, NIV).

It’s hard to believe that religious men who proclaim to serve God would transition from worshiping God to an angry mob [in the Synagogue] from hearing the spoken words of God’s Truth.

Truthfully, Jesus endured much suffering including the constant barrage of angry, hostile words from those who refused to accept Him as anything other than Joseph’s, the poor carpenter’s, son.

Understanding Spiritual Warfare [Ephesians 6]

Satan’s most effective tool is to use people, especially familiar people to antagonize us with the goal of enticing us to commit grievous sins against God by speaking, or messaging sinful words of retaliation.

” ‘In your anger do not sin:’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold [a stronghold].” (Luke 4:26-27, NIV).

Yes, anger is a God-given emotion that prevents us from accepting injustices, corruption, and heinous crimes that plague our world. However, the problem is that many believers cannot control their anger, easily responding with harsh words against the offender.

Righteous Anger only applies to God who tells us, “…There is none righteous, no, not one…”(Romans 3:10). We are sinners saved by Grace who must guard our words [and thoughts] to remain covered by the Righteousness of Christ.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and  self-discipline [self control].” (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT).

From embracing the Spirit of Offense, we place ourselves in extreme danger spiritually; uncontrolled anger crosses all righteous boundaries, separating us from God, and prevents the Holy Spirit from dwelling within us.

We desperately need spiritual reinforcement everyday. To rise above offensive words is only possible when we surrender daily to live a Faith-based, Christ-centered life reflected by the daily personal worship of prayer and Bible Study.

Jesus did not attempt to use His personal strength to overcome aggression, but prayed continuously for God’s strength and wisdom, receiving the Divine Power to overcome, and remain victorious when facing adversity.

From studying the life of Christ, we learn how He responded to hostility with the Holy Scriptures: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52, NIV).

Jesus possessed godly wisdom and discernment, answering direct questions with Holy Writ. Still, He also used silence when facing His accusers. If our goal is to be like Christ then we will pray and control our emotional responses when facing the War of Words.

Reflection: Are you willing to suffer the necessary hardships and challenges required of every believer?

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18).

The Apostle Paul also teaches us that the believer’s life is one of continuous suffering for Christ, yet, if we remain faithful, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit through daily surrender, we will receive the reward of Eternal Life.

The Struggle to Control Our Anger Is Real: The Reasons We Are Easily Offended

  1. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). We do not understand the true condition of our inherited sinful hearts; it is easier to become angry than to remain calm and unbothered.
  2. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9). We become angry when we do not understand our true identity and value found in Christ Jesus.

None of us are perfect. Every human being possesses character weaknesses, still, God knows the true condition of our hearts.

If we hear, or read words defaming our character, and the accusations are not true in the sight of God then we have the assurance that we are facing spiritual warfare, pray, and God will intervene.

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Through daily personal worship, we commit ourselves to a life of humility, surrender, and faithful obedience, which invites the power of the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, giving us the strength to remain silent when interacting with angry individuals.

“Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.” (Proverbs 18:2, NIV).

The person who delivers angry words is not interested in maintaining peace, or participating in conflict resolution, but waiting for a response that will always result in escalation.

When facing conflict, if we control our anger, the Holy Spirit will speak to us, “Remain silent.”  If we obey then He empowers us to use our gift of self-control. We must decide if we will obey the commands of the Holy Spirit, or to rant, and sin against God.

Excerpt from ” In Contact With Others” Devotional, EGW

“We cannot afford to let our spirits chafe over any real or supposed wrong done to ourselves…”

“Self is the enemy we most need to fear. No form of vice has a more [devastating] effect upon the character than has human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit. No other victory we can gain will be so precious as the victory gained over self…”

“We should not allow our feelings to be easily wounded. We are to live, not to guard our feelings or our reputation, but to save souls. As we become interested in the salvation of souls we cease to mind the little differences that so often arise in our association with one another.”

Jesus’ Disciples Reveal Their Lack of Self-control

Two of Jesus’ disciples, the brothers, James, and John were called “the Sons of Thunder” because of their fiery tempers. When the people of Samaria sent a messenger to Jesus telling Him not to come to their town, the brothers responded with this question to Jesus:

“And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ ” (Luke 9:54).

Jesus’ Response: “But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.’ ” (Luke 9:55).

Christ’s Righteous Character: “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).

“It takes the right situation to reveal our real character.” When Christians become offended by harsh, hateful words, the true [unconverted] condition of our hearts is revealed.

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25, KJV).

Jesus Christ is our Perfect Role Model

Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual journey of growth and transformation of our sinful hearts into the Righteous Character of Christ. The Christian Journey is the toughest one we will ever face!

“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.” (2 Timothy 2:23).

A Christian believer should never become involved in arguments, or debates. Even when discussing the Bible, if dissension begins, we should pray, and end the conversation with, “God, bless you.”

With humility, we must strive every day to be a faithful and disciplined follower of Christ. From cooperating with the Holy Spirit, we receive the spiritual discernment to recognize the enemy’s spiritual warfare of covert attacks.

When a situation includes emotional escalation, we implement the Best Spiritual Practice, Prayer. If we form the habit of whispering prayers throughout our day when facing opposition, our immediate response is a prayer for Divine help!

Our True Identity Is Found in Christ: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

We are chosen by God to be a representative of Christ. Our responsibility is to always represent the humility of Christ, even when offensive, undeserving words are unleashed against us.

” ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay’ is found in Romans 12:19 and is also quoted in Deuteronomy 32:35. “This verse is a command for believers not to seek their own revenge but to leave retribution to God who alone has the authority to judge and repay.”

Our Response to Offensive Words: Whether face to face, or text messaging, we whisper a prayer for Divine strength and remain silent. Do not respond!

Workplace Conflict: We should not tolerate conflict in the workplace. Follow the company’s policies for reporting incidents to your Supervisor and Human Resources.

Abuse in the Home: God does not require us to stay in abusive marriages and relationships, which impair our ability to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

Living in an environment of aggression and conflict prevents us from enjoying God’s gift of spiritual peace, which is needed for the spiritual growth and transformation required to receive Eternal Life.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Ephesians 4:31, NIV).

Yes, like Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, at some point in our lives, most believers will face hostile words cutting like a sword, but we must never forget that our goal is Heavenly.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, NIV).

We are sojourners, temporary travelers living on a temporary Earth. Included in our Life Journey are many trials and hardships including Satan’s Spiritual Warfare designed to make us react using our inherited sinful tendencies.

Our lives will not always be like this! Whatever adversities we face, we should memorize and remind ourselves daily of Jesus’ promise in John 14: 1-3.

We are sons and daughters of the Most-High God, preparing every day to receive our reward of the Crown of Life in the New Heaven and New Earth where the atmosphere will be saturated with eternal love, peace, joy, and happiness. Yes and Amen!

“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne.”  (Revelation 3:21, NIV).

Bible Study: Luke 4:14-30

Lord God, we thank you for speaking to our hearts and reminding us of our spiritual status as a royal priesthood who will receive our Crown of Life, if we are faithful and obedient to Your Righteous Precepts and Commands. Lord, we ask for forgiveness for the times that we have failed to represent You by responding with anger and sinful words of retaliation. We ask for the Divine Strength, Wisdom, and the Discernment to recognize and overcome spiritual warfare. We look forward to the day when we will live in a world of love, peace, and harmony, and Jesus, we thank You for the gift of Your life that makes it possible for us to live forever with You. We ask this prayer in the Powerful Name of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

We Pray, Ask, Wait, and God Says, No

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14).

Although our spiritual journey is unique, every believer has experienced the disappointment of God saying, “No,” to our heartfelt prayers requesting the things we desire.

God immediately denies requests that He knows are guaranteed to prevent our spiritual growth, development, and transformation, which is required for Eternal Life.

Everything God does brings honor and glory to His Name; therefore, He does not bless us if we do not possess the spiritual maturity to focus on the Giver instead of the gift.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, ESV).

With love, God agreed to Jesus’ voluntary sacrifice to die on Calvary to save us from the penalty of sin, which is the final death. God’s ultimate goal has always been to save our souls.

Sadly, many Christians disagree with God’s greatest desire for us to live with Him throughout eternity in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Wait! Who would accept Christ as their personal Savior and not desire His promise to give us the reward of Eternal Life?

“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11, Amplified Bible).

When we ask God to bless us with a specific request and His answer is No, many of us are upset, especially when we see others with an abundance of money and material possessions.

God’s future plan of giving us a Crown of Life is steadfast, yet it is conditional. From the time we awaken, with a prayer of faith, we seek God’s plans, asking for the spiritual strength to obey, persevere, and complete His plans. 

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29). Jesus reveals that the character trait of faithful obedience is required to stay aligned with God’s Perfect Plans for our lives.

The Believer’s Struggle is not only against the daily External Opposition of temptations, but we also must fight against the never-ending Internal Conflict of our desires.

It is easier to desire financial and material abundance instead of living a Christ-centered, faith-based life of self-denial. Because we inherited sinful hearts, enough is never enough. In Jeremiah 17:9, God says, The human heart is never satisfied!

When God says, No, we often feel that He is not a Loving and Gracious God. Regardless, God reminds us that He will not change His decision.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

God does not perceive time as we perceive time; His Omniscient perspective of time is Eternal. Since He knows how long we will live, there is no reason for God to hurry up and bless us. Abraham was 100 years of age when Isaac was born.

There are 8 billion plus people on the planet Earth, and God knows every hardship, setback, disappointment, acts of obedience, and willful disobedience, along with every temptation, and victory we will experience in our lives from conception to birth to death.

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.” (James 4:14, CSB).

We can pray for and receive spiritual wisdom, but God tells us that we cannot look beyond today, so focus on the responsibilities and blessings of the given day. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34).

We feel slighted when God says “No,” because we have been deceived by Satan to think that we have the time and the right to pursue whatever makes us happy.

Signs of Living in the Last Days

In America, Religious Liberty and Freedom of Speech, two Constitutional Rights, are gradually being withdrawn. Many individuals have lost their employment for posting personal opinions regarding current global events on Social Media.

If the Christian Community began diligently studying the Bible, we would understand God’s refusal to give us what we are asking for. According to Matthew 24 and 2 Timothy 3, we learn that Bible Prophecies are rapidly being fulfilled, and we are currently living in the Last Days.

Although we do not know the exact time, those who are praying and preparing every day for Revelation 22:12, we recognize that Jesus, our Triumphant King, is coming sooner than we think.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). We need Scriptural knowledge to fully understand our Heavenly Father’s Love and His desire to keep us from losing our spiritual focus, so the Holy Spirit can perform the work of Sanctification in our lives.

Misalignment with God’s Will and Plans

In 2016, I was employed as a Quality Nurse reviewing medical documentation for a national Home Healthcare Company. I imagined a very long career, possibly leading to retirement.

In my 8th month of employment, we received notification from the Corporate office that the branch would be relocated to a beautiful business park 45 minutes away from our current location.

I was very excited, but also realized that my high-mileage vehicle was not reliable for traveling 2.5 hours per day. Without praying for God’s approval, I went to the Nissan dealership and purchased a new vehicle.

God’s Warning Was Not Perceived!

Just before my purchase, I had a very interesting conversation with the office secretary. We became friends, and when I shared my plan to purchase a new vehicle, the answer she gave me was very disconcerting.

“Sonya, how do you know that everyone in this location will be relocated to the business park?” I simply did not respond because to me, it did not matter.

I rationalized that the office could not meet healthcare regulations without a quality nurse who reviewed and approved all medical documentation before submission for Medicare reimbursement.

Two months later, following our conversation, I met with the Director, who informed me that Corporate had made the decision to eliminate the position of all branch office Quality nurses. All quality reviews would be sourced to the Corporate office, which was located five hours from our branch office.

Because of my desire to have a new vehicle, I did not recognize that God was speaking to me through our office secretary, who was aware of the Corporate plan before the nursing staff was informed.

Sadly, three of the staff nurses were also unable to travel the additional distance, but were not eligible for unemployment because they were offered additional compensation to work from the new location, but could not travel due to school-age children.

Although I immediately found a 35-week contract assignment that paid well, I was not prepared for a change in my health status. I began to experience severe pain in both knees, which indicated the progression of my diagnosis of Osteoarthritis. 

I can recall the shock of leaving my Orthopedic Doctor’s office with a mid-thigh to mid-calf brace on my left leg. Yet, from listening to the Doctor’s treatment plan, I knew my nursing career had ended. His recommendation to immediately apply for Social Security Disability [SSD] made me realize that we should never plan our lives according to our thoughts.

Because I did not pray for guidance before purchasing a new vehicle, instead of keeping my vehicle that was paid for, I was facing the consequences of making a decision outside of the will of God.

The new monthly note, along with sustaining the vehicle’s insurance and routine maintenance costs, consumed 100% of my unemployment compensation and was draining my savings.

Not only did the constant worry keep me mentally and spiritually drained, but the stress from not having internal peace also exacerbated my physical level of pain,

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).

God is still merciful and does not leave us stranded when we genuinely repent of our wrongdoing. Although there was a 3-year waiting list for SSD applications, God rerouted my disability packet to another state, and my disability was approved in a record time of two months.

Fast forward to 2025, and from studying the Bible, I have learned that the human heart never loses its desire to acquire material possessions [the non-essentials], but we must practice our God-given gift of self-control [2 Timothy 1:7] with the commitment to live a sacrificial, obedient life, holy and acceptable to God.

“God, reveal Your will to me and I will obey,” is the daily prayer of surrender that honors God’s Sovereignty, and is not an easy prayer! But to love God is to honor Him with faithful obedience, which reveals our desire to be aligned with His perfect will.

Pray, Wait, and Obey!

God’s Love never changes. And His answers of No are not punitive, but demonstrate His immense love for us. We should never compare ourselves to others, often wondering why God is blessing them, but not us. Many believers step outside of God’s will by blessing themselves [like I did]; not every material acquisition is a gift from God

When God says “No,” our response should be, “Thank you, God for loving and protecting me from the future consequences that are impossible for me to anticipate.”

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].” (James 1:17, Amplified Bible). Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: James 1, Revelation chapters 21-22.

Lord God, we thank You for being a Loving and Protective Heavenly Father who knows every temptation we will endure in our lives. Lord, please give us the strength and the courage to overcome the internal conflict in our hearts of choosing loyalty and obedience to Your plans versus pursuing our desires without Your Divine blessing. In faith, we accept Your perfect will for our lives. We love You, thank You, and ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Sabbath Peace and Blessings – Our Heavenly Father Loves Us

“I have loved you with an everlasting love…” No other love can compete with God’s love. We do not have to earn His love. Even when we stray by following our own thoughts, He still loves us.

In times of correction and hardships, we may not feel loved, but our Heavenly Father has an Eternal plan of a Forever Life living with Him where abundant Agape love will permeate the New Heaven and New Earth.

So, He uses trials and hardships to chisel away the inherited stubbornness and selfishness in our hearts that threatens to destroy His perfect plans.

God blessed us with the Holy Sabbath to receive a much-needed 24 hours of rest, and a time in which, we receive spiritual renewal, and mental, emotional, and physical restoration.

The Sabbath is a God-given gift. We place the cares of our lives into His hands, and intentionally redirect our focus to God, our Father by worshiping Him with love, reverence, honor, and adoration.

Lord God, we thank You for Your love and Your beautiful gift of the seventh-day Sabbath. We look forward to the time when we will worship with You and the angels from Sabbath to Sabbath. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry