Tag: love faith sabbath

What More Could He Do?

Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional — March 16, 2025

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8

“What more could He do? The Father loved us so much ‘that He gave His beloved Son’ (John 3:16).” Because of Redemption, we demonstrate our love for God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, God, the Son for their plan to save our souls through daily personal worship, surrender, and faithful obedience.

Prayer is our connection to Jesus who is still serving humanity as our Heavenly Intercessor [Jesus receives our prayers], Forgives our sins, and Mediates for us. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'” (John 14:6).

Daily worship includes consecrating oneself to a sacrificial life—living a Christ-centered, faith-based life. Surrendering our desires in exchange for God’s plans is the greatest challenge in our Journey with Jesus. Although we are gifted with self-control, we must pray for the Divine Strength to overcome temptation.

Worship invites the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts when pursuing our desires and allows us to receive in-depth wisdom to understand and appreciate God’s greatest gift to humanity, The Plan of Redemption. Humility is the spiritual catalyst required to actively participate with the Holy Spirit to receive spiritual wisdom and character transformation.

“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” Philippians 2:12

Christianity is much more than attending church every week. Our salvation requires continuous cooperation with the Holy Spirit. We cannot change ourselves! Heart conversion begins our spiritual journey. Sanctification is the spiritual lifelong process of daily spiritual growth and character transformation.

Yes, the Holy Spirit performs our transformation, but God also requires the human effort of faith, obedience, and works: “Those who have genuine love for God will manifest an earnest desire to know His will and to do it.” Personal worship demonstrates our love for God which is revealed by separating ourselves from life’s distractions to enter into His presence [at least twice a day].

“We have the responsibility to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to live out our faith with humility and reverence, recognizing that God is the Source of our salvation and ability to live a life pleasing to Him.” Without the commitment to faithfully seek God through prayer and study of the Holy Scriptures, the depth of Christ’s amazing love for humanity cannot be understood, nor will we desire to seek and fulfill God’s plans.

“Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.” — John 15:4 (Good News Translation)

We desperately need Jesus to live as overcomers. It is the transforming power of God’s Spoken Words that keeps us grounded and faithful in our relationship with Christ. Scriptural knowledge must include the Life of Christ with an emphasis on His Righteous Character. Still, knowledge alone cannot save us, discipline, self-control, surrender, and obedience demonstrate our willingness to live as faithful followers [disciples] of Christ.

“But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion]” (Luke 5:16). Christ revealed the importance of solitude to maintain His connection to God through prayer. Many believers do not feel that Jesus lived as a human being with limitations as we have, the Scriptures prove that Jesus did not possess the same Divine power on earth as He possessed in heaven.

Jesus’ question to Peter at the time of His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane reveals that Christ was 100% human and had to depend on God, the Father for the strength to live Holy and to perform miracles: “Or Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).

We have the same access to God’s Divine Power as Jesus did in His earthly life. How do we accomplish this? “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ ” (Matthew 22:37).

Loving God is the foundation of our relationship with Jesus Christ. We study the Bible to know who He is and maintain our earth-to-heaven connection to Him through much prayer. From studying “The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John” we gain an intimate, heart-to-heart relationship with Christ. Heartfelt love and faith combined with Biblical knowledge allows us to fall in love with Yeshua and our response will be to do His will.

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4). Yes, without fail, Jesus loves us, but He also clarifies that He must be our first love. Without committing John chapters 16-21 to memory and reflecting on Jesus’ sacrificial gift every day, Calvary’s Cross will not have a life-transforming impact on our hearts. Jesus’ greatest gift to you and me will only be perceived as a historical event. What more could He do?

A Time to Reflect: When we first accepted Christ as our personal Savior, we were excited and readily shared our decision and commitment to becoming a Christian. As time passed, the journey became tough. We had to choose right over wrong, truth instead of worldviews, and we succumbed to the busyness of life. The believer’s lifestyle involves a daily decision to resist the temptations that interfere with the personal worship required to strengthen our relationship with Christ.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” —James 4:8

What more can we do? For Christ to remain our First Love requires intentionality, courage, and time management. Our spiritual perception must be highly sensitized to recognize the desires, interruptions, distractions, and screen time that threaten to keep us from inviting the presence of God into our lives. Consistent worship invites the Holy Spirit to shower us with the blessings of spiritual wisdom, discernment, and strength that we desperately need to renounce sin.  

From the Earth’s beauty that is still intact and the progression of technology, we know that God desires us to be well-rounded—possessing a diverse set of skills, experiences, and interests. Even so, our highest priority is to remain a steadfast Christian amidst the constant presence of evil. Without hesitation, we learn to say No to time-wasting activities that do not enhance our spiritual and personal growth.

“Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes.” —Isaiah 5:1-2

“What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it?
Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes?” —Isaiah 5:4

The parable identifies our spiritual status of whether we are good grapes or wild grapes. Every day our decisions, habits, and lifestyles demonstrate love for Christ or love for ourselves. Only the good grapes seek to do more for Christ through a sacrificial life of faithful dedication.

God gave His beloved Son, Jesus to save our souls by giving us the option of choosing Redemption and living forever in the New Heaven and New Earth. Now Jesus asks, “What more can I do for humanity?” “It is finished!”

Lord God, we surrender ourselves to Your perfect will. Thank You for loving us unconditionally and dying on Calvary. Thank You for giving us the option to overcome sin and choose a life of righteousness. We realize that You have given Your all. Lord, we pray for the desire and strength to love You by faithfully doing our part through daily consecration. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Speaking Words Of Gratitude

Our Heavenly Father Cares – Sabbath Devotional

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

One aspect of life that every Christian believer experiences is disappointment. Yet, with tears and words of gratitude, we thank God for His ever-loving care. Our struggles encourage us to seek comfort through Christ and prepare us for an eternal life filled with love, peace, joy, and happiness.

Jesus says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” which is our Heavenly Father’s encouragement to remind us that He is always with us.

Praying for comfort and peace is a prayer that is immediately answered by our Savior and Intercessor, Jesus Christ. Thanking God for His amazing love always soothes our emotions. Words of gratitude invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen us with Jesus’ healing power, and our hopelessness transitions to hope. God will not allow our circumstances to remain unresolved. Yes and Amen.

Lord God, we thank You for never leaving us or forsaking us. We ask for the blessings of comfort, peace, and strength in our times of suffering and distress. Thank You for our Spiritual Respite of the Sabbath. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray in faith, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Sabbath Peace and Blessings  –  Elohim Shomri, Our Protector

“The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” —Psalm 121:5

From the moment we awaken, we are actively involved in the ongoing battle of good and evil. Without heavenly angelic intervention, we could never overcome humanity’s greatest enemy—Satan, the stealthy “roaring lion” who desires to separate us from God by presenting personalized and dangerous temptations of worldly pleasures and treasures that appeal to each of our heart’s desires.

The Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God: “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [deception] And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge…” —Psalm 91:3-4

Throughout our waking hours, we should whisper prayers of gratitude for Christ’s continuous protection from unseen and seen harm provided by His angelic armies. Unknowingly, we face harm through covert schemes of powerful deceptions, identity theft, financial scams, fake love relationships targeting the lonely, coercion, and many other dangers developed to devastate our lives.

It was not our human wisdom that prevented us from sustaining major losses. The righteous are blessed with guardian angels who protect us from the evil of unseen spiritual warfare. Near-miss vehicle collisions, personal falls without injury, and protection from highly contagious diseases are only a few of God’s Divine blessings of protection.

“…When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” —Isaiah 59:19

It is not good luck, charms, chants. or ancient spirits that protect us. Our safety from all hurt and harm is a result of God’s overwhelming love and continuous mercies of providing angelic protection to keep us safe. God’s protection knows no boundaries, He also protects us from from succumbing to temptation.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” —1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT

Even when facing temptation, we receive a warning from the Holy Spirit that something is not right! The disturbance of our inner peace and feelings of unease arises from the Holy Spirit who alerts our guardian angels, who always obey Jesus Christ, their Commander, to warn and protect us. God’s promises of protection are timeless, and valid, and include today’s Christian believers.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” —Isaiah 43:1-3

The Scriptures reveal God’s Love and His continuous Intervention in our lives. We are loved beyond measure! We must love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength to worship Him in spirit and truth with faithful obedience. If we do not worship God in our earthly lives, certainly, we will not desire an eternal life of worshiping God.

This Sabbath [and every day] separate yourself at least twice daily to enjoy a time of intimate worship of praying, studying the Scriptures, and singing songs of gratitude to Elohim Shomri.

“Elohim Shomri” translates to ‘God our Protector’ or ‘God my Protector,’ emphasizing God’s role as a Provider of safety and protection.’

“Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you…” —Isaiah 43:4

Bible Study: Psalm 91, Psalm 121, and 2 Kings 6

Lord God, for your never-ending love, mercies, faithfulness, and protection we say, Hallelujah and Thank You! We ask for a much-needed spiritual blessing of wisdom and strength on your Holy Sabbath. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Sabbath Peace and Blessings — A Sabbath Prayer

Lord God, we thank You for Your Relentless Love and Divine Intervention. We pray for those whose lives are overcome by the turmoil of war, famine, natural disasters, and social and political unrest. Please strengthen us in our daily journey and we ask for a blessing of peace and restoration of hope as we worship You on this Holy Sabbath. With expectancy, we humbly ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

God’s Relentless Love

Our Heavenly Father Cares – Sabbath Devotional – February 28, 2025

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” —Matthew 5:17

The Ten Commandments [Exodus 20], God’s Moral Law not only gives us the attributes of a righteous character but also reveals God’s boundaries for our behaviors and lifestyles. The Fruit of the Spirit is the Character of Christ: “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).

Although our nation’s laws were originally developed from the Ten Commandments, compromised values have introduced plea bargaining, and loopholes, yet, God’s Commandments and Righteous Precepts are valid [only the ceremonial sacrificial law of animals has been abolished]. With love, God reminds us, “I do not change” so we are not deceived by false teachings that His Law was done away with or nailed to the cross.

“You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.”  —1 Corinthians 6: 20

“This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” —1 John 4:9-10

Many Christians do not understand the relentless love required of God to give His Only Son, Jesus, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead to become human and suffer on this earth to save our souls. And we certainly do not understand our active role in our salvation, or we would faithfully seek and obey God’s will and plans every day. 

“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). With our cooperation, the Holy Spirit gradually transforms our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). Living sacrificial lives is revealed through the spoken words, Lord, I surrender myself to You, I ask You to reveal your plans for today. And then we actively work on our salvation by obeying God instead of fulfilling our desires.

“Abraham said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’ ” —Genesis 22:5

Abraham teaches us that faithful obedience is our highest worship to God. Putting God first is essential for living a life of faith-driven obedience. Our response to the mercies of a new day in a morning prayer of consecration reveals that we love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.

” ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” —Luke 22: 42-44

Although Abraham’s obedience to sacrifice Isaac, his only son [whom he loved with all of his heart] is perceived as the most difficult test of faith, Jesus gives us the ultimate example of faithful obedience when He died on Calvary’s Cross to fulfill the Plan of Redemption.

“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

Saved by grace is a privilege, graciously gifted to us by God. Our salvation is based on faith in Christ and obedience to God. “If you love me keep my Commandments.” Disobedience has devastating consequences on our character. Living outside of God’s will changes our mindset, we lose our spiritual perception and easily choose sinful compromise over righteousness.

“…Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16

Throughout the Bible, we have evidence that God has always required the human effort of faith and obedience. Living holy is impossible without Christ’s strength. We need help to overcome our thoughts, choices, and lifestyles that reflect the carnal desires of our hearts. Think of your life as a Spiritual Journey with Jesus Christ. Pray for help! “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” —2 Timothy 1:7

God developed the battle plan to overcome our sinful tendencies. We are not helpless in the fight between good and evil. Satan cannot coerce or force us to disobey God. From the moment we are tempted, the Holy Spirit alerts us through our thoughts we are facing a sinful situation. We begin to feel uneasy within our spirit. At that moment, we pray for strength and use our self-control by proclaiming, I will not sin against God, or we ignore the warning and choose to sin.

God’s Love is Relentless! Loving God produces appreciation for His faithfulness and propels us to consecrate ourselves daily to live holy, obedient, and sacrificial lives. From our willingness to obey, Jesus empowers us with His supernatural strength. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the guidance to live as Victorious Overcomers preparing for the Second Coming of our Triumphant King.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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

Lord God, we thank You for Your relentless love and ask for the strength to overcome our internal desires and fight against the external opposition to separate us from You. We love You and consecrate ourselves to strive for righteousness as we prepare daily for Jesus’ Second Coming. In Jesus’Holy Name, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS to Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

We Are the Beloved of Christ

Our Heavenly Father Cares Sabbath Devotional – February 14, 2025

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. 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. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” —John 14:1-3

Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled the great Plan of Redemption. If we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we do not have to pay the penalty for the wages of sin. The commitment to follow Christ requires us to live a sacrificial life as He did. Through faith, we seek God’s will and obey His plans because we love Him and trust that He knows and does what is best for us.

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” —Revelation 22:14

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). God knew that our spiritual journey would be tumultuous and filled with countless human-made doctrines, therefore, He gave us the Holy Bible which contains the Ten Commandments—His Moral Law. The Bible is our spiritual guide to receiving Eternal life.

“We love Him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Because our experiences with love differ, we desperately need the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom to understand God’s love. When we know within our hearts that God loves us, we receive validation of our worth and importance to God, therefore, our identity is not dependent on varied opinions and worldviews.

God’s Gift to His Beloved: “For by grace you are saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). God commands us to “Be holy for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Grace is not only unmerited pardon and mercy for our sins, through the Holy Spirit, God’s Amazing Grace gives us the power to live holy!

“…Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness, I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3). In our times of heart-wrenching distress, God’s Grace meets our deepest needs and out of God’s Heart, we receive His abundant, never-ending, and healing love. We should never feel alone and unloved. “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).

We must understand Grace to prevent us from becoming discouraged in our spiritual journey. Even if we fall, we repent and receive immediate forgiveness. Grace is God’s divine power freely given to transform our lives and make them new. Christ loves us! Spiritually, we are called “The Bride of Christ,” whom He loves immensely and has prepared a forever home for us to live with Him throughout eternity.

The Church is the Bride [Beloved] of Christ—The Righteous Comprise the Church

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” —Ephesians 5:25-27

In the Scriptures, the analogy of earthly marriage is used to represent Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church [which includes all faithful and obedient believers and is not based on denomination] as the Bride of Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus’ focus is on the righteous. In the Heavenly Sanctuary—King Jesus is our Intercessor, continually receiving our prayers, forgiving our sins, and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

God ordained the love of a husband and wife to be the strongest love between human beings. Yet, God’s Love supersedes all earthly love because, unlike our love, His love never ends and is not influenced by circumstances.

Agape Love includes Jesus’ sacrificial death on Calvary’s Cross, and the privilege to confess, repent, and receive God’s forgiveness for all sins [Redemption]. We have received an all-inclusive spiritual package of Divine grace, mercy, strength, wisdom, healing, guidance, and God’s intervention when facing challenges. Yes, we are deeply loved by God!

Sanctification, the lifelong spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities is accomplished daily through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. For all we receive from God, He asks us to love Him through faithful obedience which proves that we serve a Loving and Longsuffering [Patient] Heavenly Father.

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” —Matthew 9:9

The Bride’s Life: Like Matthew, we agree to follow Christ through daily surrender and obedience. In preparation for Jesus’ Second Coming, much prayer and study of the Scriptures is required to fulfill our part in our spiritual growth and maturity.

The Bride’s Sacrificial Commitment: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:1-2

When we love God, worship flows from our hearts, souls, and minds. We seek God’s will instead of our desires. Our salvation requires active participation, we work with the Holy Spirit by renouncing sin. From our willingness to consecrate ourselves to God, we are empowered with Christ’s strength by the Holy Spirit to live as victorious overcomers.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” —Isaiah 61:10

Living holy invites the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and to glorify Christ’s Divine nature through us. We begin to perceive life through spiritual eyes resulting in internal changes. Our thoughts, behaviors, habits, and lifestyles transition from unrighteousness to reflect the Righteousness of Christ. As Christ’s representatives, we are proof that living righteously is possible through the power of God.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

Accepting our identity as the Beloved Bride of Christ is to engage in a life of prayer where we can receive the Divine wisdom and strength to withstand the harsh vicissitudes of life and overcome temptations. Every day, we should separate ourselves to reflect on our Savior’s unequivocal love and the sacrificial gift of His life. Never miss the opportunity to pray, praise, and worship in the presence of God!

In John 14, verses 1-3, and Revelation chapters 21-22, Jesus reveals through the prophet John that He never intended for this Earth filled with corruption and evil to be our permanent home. Study Revelation chapters 21-22 often to remind yourself that you are the “Beloved of Christ” and a member of His Church—The Bride who is preparing to live eternally with Christ, our Bridegroom and Triumphant King.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”—Revelation 19:7

Certainly, Jesus is excitedly waiting to come again and receive us—the Church, His Beloved Bride who He paid the highest dowry with His precious blood. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we thank You for loving us and the precious gifts of Your life, grace, and mercy. We desire to love, reverence, honor, and obey You and make a covenant to seek Your will daily. In Jesus’ Loving and Holy Name, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry