Jesus is Our Safe Place Devotional Reading July 13, 2023
When we think of safety, we usually think of our physical safety. But our spiritual, mental, and emotional safety are also important to our well-being. Our mind-body equilibrium is threatened when we perceive unexpected life events, trials, and hardships as overwhelming. All of us have experienced distressing times that leave our minds and souls greatly troubled.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1
From within the depths of our souls, we have a void that only God can fill. Jesus created us to have an unbreakable bond with God which is never severed until we breathe our last breath of life. Our loving Savior is always aware of the vicissitudes of life and the continuous spiritual warfare that threatens to crush our hopes, leaving us feeling discouraged and defeated.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls…” —Matthew 11:28-29
The faithful have many promises of comfort from our Heavenly Father that soothes the troubled mind. It is a freewill decision to take action and receive the comfort and peace that only comes from being safe in the arms of our Lord and Savior.
“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.” —Psalm 5:1-2
Do you believe in the One who laid down His life and possessed the Divine power to raise Himself from the chains of death? If yes, then believe that Jesus will fulfill His promises by presenting all of your burdens to Him in prayer.
“Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak, O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled…” —Psalm 6:2-3
When we feel alone and no one can provide us with respite from our distress, we must take our heart’s sorrows to God in prayer. We limit God’s ability to help us when we doubt Him. The giant waves of unbelief in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit keep our minds in turmoil. But Jesus Christ knows that He is Omnipotent and just like He reminded Jeremiah, He reminds us of His love and power.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” —Jeremiah 32:27
Pray and ask Jesus to provide you with comfort and healing. Be honest and confess your unbelief. Ask for the anointing of the Comforter. Once you have prayed a prayer of faith, meditate quietly and allow the Holy Spirit to give you spiritual, mental, and emotional strength and healing.
“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
Prayer: God, we present ourselves to You asking for deliverance from the anxieties and worries that keep us awake at night. We ask for forgiveness for our unbelief in Your love and power. We pray for comfort for our troubled minds and souls. Hear our prayer, O Lord, and put gladness in our hearts. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.
Our Role in Spiritual Self-Governance Devotional Reading— July 12, 2023
For most of my life, I held firm to the thought that humanity cannot self-govern based on the lack of desire and learned behaviors. Yet, I just listened to a Devotional Reading entitled “Prove Yourself” in which the author, E.G. White, provides biblical proof that God created us with the ability to govern ourselves if we willingly ask for the indwelling and help of the Holy Spirit.
Praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit, I began researching the Christian believer’s role in spiritual self-governance. And then I prayed again asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the plain-talk breakdown of a theologically complex subject.
We have received God-given Innate Gifts: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:7
We are recipients of God’s Grace: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV
We have the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, Guide, and the Giver of all Spiritual Gifts: 1. “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him–the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2). 2. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Since we were born into sin—inherited from our earthly parents, Adam and Eve, we require the continuous help of the Holy Spirit: “The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9
“The Christian principle of self-government is God ruling internally from the heart of the believer. In order to have true liberty, man must willingly (voluntarily) be governed internally by the Spirit and the Word of God [the Bible] rather than by external forces. Government is first internal (causative), then extends outwardly (effect).” Dr. Elizabeth Youmans
“Create a clean [pure] heart in me, O God, and renew a right [faithful, steadfast] spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10
Do we desire to have clean hearts by living righteously? Are we willing to surrender and obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives? Our internal heart’s desires reveal themselves through our external lifestyles indicating if we put God first and have the desire to follow and obey Him.
How do we begin and end each day? What are we praying for? Our prayers of surrender must be specific: “Lord, I surrender myself to You today. I ask You to anoint my mind with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and I pray for the wisdom and discernment to recognize and resist the spiritual warfare of temptation. Give me the strength to overcome my internal battle of desiring the things that are not part of Your plan for my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Leviticus chapters 19 and 20 record the Lord’s emphasis on being holy. The word for holy in Hebrew is “qadash,” which means to be sanctified, consecrated, and dedicated or to be separated from the world and worldliness.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” —2 Corinthians 5:17
As new creatures, our love for God is demonstrated by clean [pure] hearts as evidenced by our faith, obedience, and surrender to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We intentionally avoid sin and worldly activities when striving to live Holy. In humility, we realize that we desperately need Divine Intervention to overcome temptation and sinful habits which is reflected in the time we spend in prayer and Bible study.
Our way of living reflects whether we have surrendered ourselves fully to God or not. If we continue to engage in the same behaviors as we did before accepting Jesus as our Savior, it indicates that we still have corrupt hearts.
We must be honest in our spiritual self-assessment: “Do I desire to be a child of God or a slave of Satan?” There is no middle ground. Either we are thinking, speaking, and practicing our previous sinful behaviors by falling into the same temptations of pursuing self-satisfaction or we recognize that we are sinners saved by grace and intentionally surrender and consecrate ourselves to God every day.
Our Spiritual Responsibility: “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” —1 Chronicles 16:11.
During a church’s Children’s story, the question was asked, Have you ever prayed and asked God to help you? The little boy who appeared to be about 7 or 8 years old answered, Yes, I didn’t understand how to do the math problems. I prayed and asked Jesus to help me, and He did, I got all of the answers right.
Like a young child who does not have the intellectual maturity to analyze and try to figure out how God will intervene, all we need to do is pray in faith and believe that when we ask for the presence or help of the Holy Spirit, we will receive an immediate answer of yes to our prayers.
The Holy Spirit who can be everywhere to everyone remains a mystery. Jesus told Nicodemus: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” —John 3:8
God honors those who desire to have a pure heart and put forth the effort to invite the Holy Spirit to govern their lives. We use our sound minds to make the right choices in conjunction with the power of the Holy Spirit. Our resistance to the evil of worldly temptations requires using self-control and immediately praying for the Divine Strength to overcome.
Although we practice spiritual self-governance, we cannot fight spiritual warfare or transform ourselves into the likeness of Christ without the Holy Spirit. Because of the inheritance of a sinful heart, we need the intervention of the Holy Spirit every second, minute, and hour of the day. Jesus promised if we ask for the Holy Spirit’s Divine Power, we will receive it.
Breathe on me, Breath of God Until my heart is pure Until my will is one with Thine To do and to endure…Edwin Hatch
We need the Breath of the Holy Spirit to breathe on us throughout our earthly journey. Human Effort and Divine Intervention is the only way we will continue on the Path of Righteousness. Sanctification is a lifelong [earthly] journey of spiritual transformation. And we desperately need all the Divine Help that is available!
How do we know the Holy Spirit is working within to transform us?
Praying and studying the Scriptures become second nature. Our hearts overflow with love for God. We strive to have a clean heart through surrender, faith, and obedience. We resist temptation and sinful activities by saying a firm no to our desires and the influence of others. We seek to please God by praying for the revelation of His will and governing our desires to be aligned with His will.
Yes, the Christian’s ability to practice spiritual self-governance along with the Holy Spirit’s presence gives us the power to overcome sin. With faith and God’s grace from which we have received the Holy Spirit, we can live righteously and have clean hearts.
Prayer: God, we ask You to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We desire a clean heart. We pray for the Breath of the Holy Spirit to breathe on us. Lord, we express our willingness to surrender to Your will and make a covenant vow to faithfully obey that we may be governed by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray. Amen.
God’s Chosen Path Always Includes Spiritual Adversity Devotional Reading, July 10, 2023
“And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” —Matthew 27:46
The pitiful cry of those last words uttered by Jesus on the cross indicates His immense grief from being separated from God, His Father. Jesus’ words of desperation and agony were not a result of the physical pain from the beatings, nails in his hands and feet, or the crown of thorns on His head but from bearing the sins of every human being from the creation of Adam and Eve to every person born on the planet Earth.
Accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior places us on a Chosen Path [of Righteousness] which requires faith, trust, obedience, and daily surrender to God. To stay on the Chosen Path, we must endure spiritual trials and tribulations. The walk with Jesus is the toughest journey we will ever face in our earthly lives.
Spiritual Adversity is referred to in different ways: Trials, Tribulations, Hardships, Storms, and Dark Seasons. Yes, these adjectives describe the troubles, suffering, persecution, and difficulties that always produce mental, emotional, and spiritual distress, and often include physical challenges. Certainly, if we had a choice, we would avoid spiritual adversity at all costs. Yet, these challenges that we must endure in life test and build our faith, trust, love, hope, and perseverance which produces spiritual growth and transformation.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.’ ” —Matthew 16:24
Many post-modern churches are deviating from Bible-based sermons and not promoting daily Bible study among their congregants. Without the word of God as their foundation, feelings of despair and loneliness arise in the minds of both existing and new members when they encounter spiritual adversity. The absence of biblical teachings can create a false impression that serving God is an effortless journey free from hardships.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14
The Path of Righteousness is narrow with godly standards which can only be achieved with the human effort of daily surrender and the Divine Strength of the Holy Spirit. Still, we are not acceptable as we are, we require spiritual makeovers to receive eternal life. Sanctification, the spiritual transformation of our hearts and characters into the likeness of Christ’s Character is a life-long process. Only the sufferings from spiritual adversity produce a righteous character.
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you…” —1 Peter 4:12
Wait! So, as Christians, we are required to suffer throughout our earthly lives?
Spiritual Suffering is never for naught [it is not meaningless]. It always produces the spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities that are required to live eternally in the presence of a Holy and Righteous God.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” —1 Peter 5:12
Contrary to the human contrived theory of God crushing us like grapes, the Apostle Peter clarifies that every trial we suffer has an end-time that is determined by God. Our Heavenly Father never leaves us hopeless!
Reflection: What is your perception of having a relationship with Christ?
“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” —1 Peter 4:16, 19
We are modern disciples who follow in Christ’s earthly footsteps. Never be ashamed to suffer for the glory of God! It is a privilege to suffer for Christ. If God allowed Jesus who was sinless to suffer for humanity, then we must also be willing and endure our spiritual suffering.
“How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. For to this, you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps…” —1 Peter 2:20-21
“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done. Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.” —Luke 22:42-43
God did not forget that Jesus, His Son was human on this earth. God, the Father whose name is Love sent an angel to minister to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Our prayers for strength are answered immediately by the Holy Spirit. Never forget that God will dispatch a messenger angel to comfort us at any time of the day or night.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” —John 14:27
We must maintain our faith and confidence in Jesus’ promise that He will never forsake us during adversity. If Jesus said He will give us peace then His word is steadfast—always reliable and never-changing!
Daily worship strengthens our faith and trust in God. From the diligent study of the Scriptures, we learn of humanity’s failures, Jesus’ earthly life, and the abiding love that He has for the human beings created in His image and whom He died for.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33
We have biblical proof that God will bring us through every spiritual trial, tribulation, and adversity victoriously. And from our suffering, we gain a deeper relationship with Christ, a righteous character, spiritual insight, and our reward of eternal life.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” —James 1:12
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus begins with these lyrics, “O soul are you weary and troubled No light in the darkness you see…” Chorus: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace.”
Spiritual understanding and the willingness to stay on our Chosen Path which includes adversity produces spiritual growth and character transformation.
Prayer: Thank You, God, for preparing us in our earthly journey through much suffering so that we will be ready to receive our reward of eternal life when Jesus comes. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Witnessing to Others is An Essential Factor of Spiritual Growth Devotional Reading July 9, 2023
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 5:16
Reflection: What are we doing with our spiritual knowledge and spiritual gifts?
Sadly, we are distracted by the things of this earth. Many Christians never think about The Great Commission—Jesus’ command to Go and make disciples. Yet, every believer has received the Spiritual Assignment to tell others there is a Savior, Jesus Christ who loves them and died on the cross to redeem them from sin and its deadly consequences.
As employees, we are expected to excel in our job responsibilities, and our productivity usually results in merit raises. Similarly, as believers, we have a spiritual obligation to share our faith with others. While attending church services and giving offerings are Christian duties, they are not the actions that Jesus will reward us for when He returns. Every believer has received the assignment of witnessing to others which takes precedence over our earthly activities.
In 2021, I was in Walmart and feeling down due to a great disappointment. As I pushed the cart, deep into thought, a man passing me said, “God loves you, everything is going to be all right.” When we are in spiritual alignment with God, the Holy Spirit reveals our spiritual gifts which the Apostle Paul tells us are different for each person, but have one purpose and that is to tell others about Jesus.
Witnessing not only gives encouragement and hope to others, it also strengthens our relationship with Christ. We receive spiritual growth by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit who will reveal creative ways to witness. A smile, asking, “How is your day going?” and letting someone ahead of you who realizes they need to turn left reveal the love of Christ in our hearts.
Remain prayerful! Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the opportunities to witness. We may never know the impact of our small acts of kindness on others, yet, when we do our part, the Holy Spirit will intervene and continue the work on their receptive hearts. In addition, our hearts soften and are filled with Agape love, compassion, and kindness.
Last week, I was chatting with my neighbor who is 21 and will graduate from college next year. He mentioned that he desires to get married within a couple of years, but was discouraged because of the challenges of meeting someone loving, kind, and with good family values. My advice, when looking for a marriage partner, involve God by praying and asking Him to give you a good wife. God knows the person’s heart and He never makes mistakes. His response was, “Although, I am not religious that makes sense, thank you.”
We live in an age of technological advances and utilize cellular devices and computers every day. Statistics reveal that social media is one of our favorite activities. God has given us an advantage that missionaries never dreamed of—to communicate face-to-face without being in the same physical location. Every believer is a disciple and a missionary. We have a great work to do before Jesus’ Second Coming.
Jesus clarifies in Revelation that we will receive a reward according to our work. The Great Commission is our work. There is no greater work than to walk on the path that Jesus walked on in His earthly life—to minister to the spiritual needs of others.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” —Revelation 22:12
Prayer: God, we pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal our spiritual gifts and how we can use them to witness to others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” —Mark 2:27
Jesus’ words remind us that the Sabbath day was meant to be a blessing rather than a burden to those who observe it. While others long for vacations, Sabbath-keepers eagerly look forward to their weekly Spiritual Spa. God honors our obedience by blessing us with spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical renewal and restoration.
The Creation Sabbath is 24 hours of God-focused, intentional worship and communion with our Heavenly Father. Yes, the Sabbath definitely gives us a reason to rejoice. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
The Mystery of the Holy Spirit—Receiving Spiritual Wisdom, Sabbath Devotional July 7, 2023
Jesus Promises to Give Us the Holy Spirit—”If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” —John 14:15-17
Who has access to the Holy Spirit? Jesus’ answer: Everyone who accepts and loves Him as their personal Savior. Yet, there is an additional requirement, obedience as evidenced by keeping His commandments.
The Apostle Paul Speaks of the Holy Spirit Giving Us Spiritual Wisdom and Discernment
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” —1 Corinthians 2:10-12
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” —1 Corinthians 2:13-14
Have you prayed for and embraced the power of the Holy Spirit in your daily walk with Christ? Many Christians avoid praying for the anointing of the Holy Spirit who provides us with spiritual guidance in our daily lives. Do I purchase the house, vehicle, change jobs, start the business, marry this person, or relocate? These are life decisions that will never bring negative consequences when we pray for guidance and answers from the Holy Spirit.
When facing the struggles of life-changing events such as major illnesses, divorce, the death of a loved one, or job loss, we cannot use our limited concepts and strategies to resolve these battles. Even in our grief and loss, we must remind ourselves that we do not know our future. Let the Holy Spirit guide you through God’s plan. Pray continuously for comfort and the strength to obey His plan to restart your life.
We cannot avoid catastrophic life events, but the Holy Spirit fulfills various roles in our lives. He is our Comforter and Teacher who is just a prayer away. We always need the Holy Spirit’s Help!
Satan is attacking us every day with spiritual warfare. Many believers fall victim to the temptations of sexual immorality, using substances to calm their nerves, pursuing success, purchasing earthly treasures, and many other forms of compromise. Who can stay on the Path of Righteousness without the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit every day?
Facing the Spiritual Warfare of False Teachings
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good…” —1 Thessalonians 5:21
Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot discern God’s [One and Only] Truth. We are living in the last days of perilous times. Confusion and strife are rampant in the Christian community due to varied interpretations of the Scriptures. Every day we hear the adulterated version of the Scriptures in which the speaker blends a little truth, their opinions, and many false concepts.
” ‘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
Whether listening to a sermon online, in church, or viewing a [Christian] social media post, pray and ask the Holy Spirit if the message is Bible-based and an accurate interpretation of God’s Truth. Always search the Bible and compare the message to the Holy Scriptures.
Many speakers make social media reels who never pray for spiritual discernment. Listen carefully, if they fail to quote at least one Scripture and where it is found in the Bible or frequently use the words “I and me” about themselves then Christ is not being glorified.
A speech is not a sermon—Sermons always give glory to the Triune God! Even a personal testimony should glorify God, not ourselves. Without the Holy Spirit’s gift of wisdom and our effort to diligently study the Bible, we will accept erroneous concepts. Satan makes everything he uses to deceive us look and sound altogether lovely.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” —John 14:26
As believers, we rely on the Holy Spirit to not only warn us of false teachings but also to give us spiritual discernment when studying the Bible. However, we must remember to pray and ask for the gifts of spiritual understanding and discernment every time we delve into God’s Word.
Studying the Bible is teamwork—you and your Teacher, the Holy Spirit. We cannot rely on our cognitive processes alone to understand the Holy Scriptures. Our minds are overexposed to stimuli that influence our perspective of God and the Bible. We are living in a time when human wisdom is valued over godly wisdom. Even so, there can be no suppositions or guesswork when studying the God-breathed Scriptures.
Always pray before you open the Bible. Remember, we are never left to fend for ourselves when we invite the Holy Spirit into our worship and study of the Scriptures.
Testimony: Something phenomenal happens when we awaken and pray daily for the anointing, presence, wisdom, and discernment of the Holy Spirit. Humility and surrender reveals our heart’s desire for God’s continuous guidance. The Holy Spirit provides us with spiritual insight. We see life with open eyes. From the godly wisdom we receive, we honor the Sovereignty of God and value our relationship with Christ. Yes, we place God first and foremost in our lives.
Not only does the Holy Spirit reveal the deepest spiritual things that our human minds cannot normally comprehend, but we also begin to hear the still, small voice of God [through our thoughts and He brings the Scriptures we have studied to our remembrance].
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” —Isaiah 30:21
Every believer has access to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit. At least twice a day, go to your secret place of prayer with the desire and expectation to hear from the Holy Spirit. Wherever we worship, even if in our vehicle, we reverently invite the presence of God into our worship. Get rid of all distractions. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, first part).
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” —Matthew 6:33
The manifestation of the Holy Spirit is evident in those who ask for the spiritual attributes of His mysterious power. There is a peace that allows us to know that “It is Well” with our souls. We have the confidence and courage that we can rely on the Divine wisdom and guidance of God’s Spirit to keep us on the Path of Righteousness and to counteract Satan’s deceptive tactics.
Never forget, we are in a Spiritual War! Embrace the need for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can align our priorities with God’s plan and will for our lives. With humility and obedience, we become transformed into a disciple of Christ, one who perseveres and willingly follows their Savior.
Remaining consistent in praying for the Holy Spirit produces spiritual growth. Our focus changes, we no longer desire the foolish things of this world. Seeking righteousness comes from the mindset of, “I want to be transformed into the Character of Christ in preparation to worship God forever in a perfect and sinless world.”
Prayer: Lord, we ask You for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily walk with You. We need Your Divine Help to prepare us for eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth. We thank You for the gift of 24/7 access to our Spiritual Team. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray. Amen.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 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, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven, for He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” Matthew 5:43-47
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
Self-Denial, the Characteristic Blessed by God Devotional Reading July 5, 2023
“Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ ” —Matthew 19:21
Benevolence: a loving and voluntary contribution, a free gift of time and money in helping others without the expectation of something in return.
At one time there were marked differences in the characters of Christian believers and unbelievers. We helped those in need because we loved Jesus. From the diligent study of Christ’s life, we acknowledged that it was our Christian duty to follow in the footsteps of Christ who ministered by alleviating the sufferings of others. We gave without hesitation! And God blessed us with all of our needs because of our heartfelt compassion to help others who were suffering.
The transition of giving of our time and financial resources has always been a focus of Bible-based churches. Community Outreach ministries had an overabundance of donations, clothing, household items, and non-perishable goods along with church members who willingly and actively participated in meeting the needs of others.
As we have progressed in our walk of life, our focus has turned from Jesus and helping others to ourselves. We have jumped into the worldview pot that started on simmer [not too much extravagance] but is now at a raging boil [buy everything you desire]. And inside the pot is only one ingredient “Me, Me, Me,” and one ultimate purpose, self-gratification.
Sadly, we have developed a spirit of selfishness without feeling any remorse. The line that is used to differentiate between need and greed is blurred. With a sense of entitlement, we keep purchasing earthly treasures. And with every unnecessary purchase to please our desires, we are separated from God and our spiritual reward of eternal life.
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” — 1 Timothy 6:9-10
Reflection: Do I have a heart filled with the pursuit of self-gratification?
Sin’s gift: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” —Jeremiah 17:9
We were born with a heart [mind] that is out of control. We are driven to think sinful thoughts and easily perform sinful behaviors. Even the apostle Paul who strived to live righteously revealed his struggle, “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).
“So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12, BSB).
The habit of Accumulation is a difficult habit to overcome. And we will never have victory without constant prayer. Tell yourself, “Enough is Enough!” Approach life with a spirit of humility always seeking God’s guidance before spending the money that He has blessed you with.
God is aware of the weed of sin and its desires that are always growing rapidly within us. We cannot overcome our sin of greed without God! Do we have the heartfelt desire to change? With the human effort of self-control and the Divine Help of the Holy Spirit, every sinful inclination, inherited tendency, and learned behavior can be eradicated.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12
Satan desires that we never study the Bible. He can present temptations to which we easily succumb when we lack spiritual knowledge! Change your perception of the Bible. God has given us the Scriptures for the protection and edification of our minds, bodies, and souls.
The Holy Bible, our Guide identifies the sinful condition of our hearts. Yet, we have Spiritual Guidance from countless Scriptures on living a victorious life through Jesus Christ. We are promised victory over the battle within when we forsake our inner desires and pray for the Holy Spirit’s intervention.
The Good News: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.” —Isaiah 30:21
God has also given us the ability to receive His guidance through our inner voice—our conscience. We have a soul-to-God connection that is never severed until our physical death. Go to your quiet place to pray and meditate when you feel the urge to spend money frivolously. If you are in the store, do not give in to the “Sale” sign. Pray for strength and walk away! Pray constantly for spiritual wisdom and discernment to learn the difference between necessity and want.
Our Heavenly Father’s goal is the spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities in our earthly lives. But He never forces us to change. We must decide to let go of all unrighteousness including wasting God’s resources.
Take immediate action to rid yourself of overage. Pray with conviction! And then look in your closet, storage containers, junk drawers, and garages for items that you have not used for 6 months or more. Donate to churches that have community programs and to non-profit organizations that resell at low prices.
Giving must become a habit to overcome our innate selfishness. Continual giving provides a double blessing, to the giver and the receiver. In giving, we become changed, our selfishness dies and the persons in need are blessed.
Scripture: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” —2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Prayer: God we confess and ask for forgiveness of wasting the financial resources You have blessed us with on the accumulation of earthly treasures. We ask for the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to overcome this sinful habit. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.
The Desire to Receive Your Heavenly Reward of Eternal Life Devotional Reading July 3, 2023
“Not My will, but Thine be done.” —Luke 22:42
Every person who accepts Jesus as their personal Savior must travel the Chosen Path which requires the humility of daily surrender and obedience. Jesus surrendered His will to God, His Father to take the cup of suffering which led to a horrendous death on Calvary’s Cross, and we must surrender our will to Christ to receive our reward of eternal life.
For many, the gift of Jesus’ life for our salvation and redemption from sin has lost its significant meaning. Our earthly desires have overpowered the desire to surrender and walk with Jesus. Our prayers reflect a half-hearted commitment to Christ, we pray, “Lord, bless me with…” as opposed to praying “Lord, I surrender myself to You today.”
Reflection: Am I willing to surrender and travel the tough [but rewarding] path Christ has chosen for me?
“…And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:20
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14:1-3
The Condition: “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
Jesus gave us these precious promises to keep our minds focused on Him. Our Loving Savior desires for us to know “Your earthly journey of following Me cannot be done without receiving My Strength and My Grace.” More than ever, we need spiritual strength, wisdom, and discernment from the Holy Spirit to recognize and fight off the daily and continuous attacks of spiritual warfare.
Reflection: How much time do I give to God in daily worship?
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” —Matthew 6:6
Prayer, Bible Study, and Meditation require intentional time with God. The busyness of life prevents us from separating ourselves and having meaningful worship with God.
The Dilemma: Our hearts are filled with earthly desires. And we are continuously overwhelmed by the daily schedules overflowing with distractions [which is Satan’s spiritual warfare]. Every day Satan makes personalized plans of temptation to keep us from having a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ. His overall agenda is for us to be lost because his destiny of destruction is certain.
Human Effort: With the concerted effort of praying and studying the Scriptures even the weakest Christian receives strength from the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation. If we do our part by remaining faithful and obedient, we have the promise of Divine Intervention to keep us on our Chosen Path.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” —James 1:5, NIV
Without godly wisdom, we cannot recognize the distractions that steal our time away from God. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal every individual and personal habit that is preventing you from surrendering and obeying God. You will be surprised that your Chosen Path requires letting go of most of the people, places, and things that you enjoy. The spiritual reward of eternal life requires going deeper with Christ.
“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose]…” Philippians 4:13, Amplified Bible
Distancing ourselves from the obstacles that prevent us from receiving daily spiritual growth and transformation is necessary to live righteously. Once the Holy Spirit has revealed the obstacles, we pray for the Divine strength, wisdom, and courage to take the earthly steps of surrender and obedience. Letting go is not an easy task. Add spiritual fasting to overcome the desire to keep anything that prevents receiving your crown from King Jesus.
Remember that our Chosen Path is decided by Christ who requires the same surrender and obedience that God required of Him in His earthly journey. Choose a time of seclusion and think deeply about your heavenly reward. Whom do you love more than Christ? What programs and online activities are you willing to give up?
The daily tests proving our commitment to Christ always require us to change our behaviors and lifestyles. We will be tempted to return to the former things that keep us from total surrender. The characteristics of Surrender and Obedience are not innate desires—pleasing our carnal desires is the battle within of good versus evil that we inherited and will face until the day of Jesus’ Second Coming. Yet, we can overcome with prayer, perseverance, and daily spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” —2 Timothy 1:7, NLT
Witnessing to others by gently telling them you have decided to spend more time with God may not be received well, but do it anyway. One of the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit is self-control. The human effort of telling ourselves no is possible because we were born with innate spiritual gifts from God.
“But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” —Hebrews 11:6
God created us to worship Him in our earthly lives which prepares us to worship Him eternally in the New Heaven and New Earth. The sacrificial gift of Jesus was an expression of love that we will never fully understand until we are changed and made perfect when Jesus comes. Yet, we can gain deeper spiritual insight by staying in His presence. Seeing life through spiritual eyes reveals that immediate change is required to walk on the Narrow Path with Jesus.
By our willingness to surrender, obey, and diligently seek God through prayer and study of the Scriptures, we have the promises of God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit’s Divine Intervention to keep us on our Chosen Path that leads to a glorious, eternal life in Heaven.
Through the sacrifice of Jesus’ life, we are the recipients of God’s Grace and Mercies. The Human Effort of Surrender and Obedience is always rewarded by God. We receive spiritual discernment to recognize and resist temptation. From our prayer for Divine Help, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, along with our guardian angels, to fight the spiritual warfare that Satan masterminds to separate us from God.
Scripture Reading: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness…’ “…That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.…” —2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Prayer: Lord, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. We commit to following You by dedicating ourselves to fully surrender and obey Your Will. Thank You for the gift of Salvation and Your grace and mercies. We ask for spiritual insight, strength, godly wisdom, and direction as we travel on the Narrow, Chosen Path of Righteousness. We ask this prayer in Your Worthy Name, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
You must be logged in to post a comment.