Tag: love others

The Battle From the Winner’s Perspective

The Battle From the Winner’s Perspective Devotional, September 21, 2023

The Battle From Jesus, Our Commander’s Perspective: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” —Revelation 22:13

When the Apostle John was given the heavenly vision, he described Jesus’ appearance [study Revelation chapter 1]. “…and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and Death.” —Revelation 1:16-18

The War Has Already Been Won

On Calvary’s cross, Jesus won the battle between good and evil and life and death. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely, I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20).

We Are in the Battle for Our Lives!

“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. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” —Ephesians 6:10-13

The strife and temptations that believers face every day are not a coincidence. We are in a spiritual battle with the fallen angel Lucifer who was cast out of heaven onto the earth. Lucifer now known as Satan convinced one-third of the angels to follow his evil surmising’s against God. And he has convinced humanity, beginning with Adam and Eve that God is an unfair Judge and withholds the best from the righteous.

Sadly, many believers have accepted Satan’s false claims about God as true. Although we cannot imagine a believer speaking those words, the behaviors of self-reliance, the refusal to surrender and obey God, and taking action to bring our plans to fruition without praying and waiting for God’s guidance are evidence that we do not believe God will give us the best.

In Ephesians chapter 6, the Apostle Paul reveals the spiritual preparation necessary to fight against satanic spiritual warfare. Soldier mentality reveals the desire to serve and obey, to give one’s best, and to win the battle.

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”—Ephesians 6:14-18

As soldiers in God’s Army, we must “put on” to be prepared for the battle against Satan. Paul uses military terminology in his analogy of the method by which Roman soldiers suited up for face-to-face combat. “Putting on the Whole Armor of God” begins with the courageous mindset that we are enlisted as spiritual soldiers in God’s Army when we accept Christ as our personal Savior. we make a covenant vow to have faith, trust, obey, and surrender ourselves to Jesus Christ, our Commander.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” —Matthew 24:14

Through the Holy Spirit, every person will receive the invitation to join God’s Army before Jesus comes. Many believers who were excited when they accepted the gift of salvation have fallen away because they didn’t realize that serving God requires a lifetime in the battle zone. Failure to study the Bible produces fear and hopelessness. We cannot receive spiritual strength and courage unless we have faith and knowledge of God’s promises and His divine role in our lives.

Signing Up as a Soldier—Gideon and the 300 Soldiers—The Godly Process of Elimination

“And the Lord said to Gideon, ‘The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me,’ saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.” —Judges 7:2-3

When God instructed Gideon to reduce the number of men, the first round of elimination was to identify the fearful and instruct them to return home.

Our Commander identifies Himself

“The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name.” —Exodus 15:3; “Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” —Psalm 24:8; “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war.” —Revelation 19:11

The Godly Process of Elimination

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8 KJV

Many translations use the adjective cowardly instead of fearful. Still, we must note that Jesus mentions the characteristic of fearfulness first—there will be no cowards in heaven. We may rationalize that some people are born timid. When we give our hearts to Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us, and we receive the holy boldness to witness and the spiritual strength to actively resist temptation—no one can convince or persuade us to do wrong! It is a conscious decision to choose sin.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” —Ephesians 6:10

Can you imagine that your country engages in war and the soldiers chosen to fight the enemy are timid? We readily admit that God is powerful, but most Christians do not acknowledge that Satan is an evil angel with power and he uses it against the righteous believers. His only goal is for us to lose our reward of eternal life.

Fact: The war of good and evil involves your soul. There are only two destinies, eternal life or the second death by fire. Study Revelation chapter 20 with a focus on verses 7-9. Satan knows that he will be destroyed. The Apostle John describes the number of people who will be destroyed as innumerable, he compares them to sand…their “…number is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 21:8, last part).

Paul tells us to “Stand!” Fearful believers render themselves ineligible to be soldiers in God’s Army. Cowardly behaviors include hiding your Christianity from others, being afraid to witness, possessing a wavering mindset of God’s truth because you fear exclusion from your friends, coworkers, and family, maintaining a neutral position on social injustices and sinful lifestyles, and embracing worldviews and practicing compromising behaviors to maintain relationships with friends and family.

“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

Satan has limitations. He is not Omniscient [All-Knowing], Omnipotent [All-Powerful], nor can he compel [force] us to sin!

Jesus tells us the requirement for following Him: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” —Luke 14:26

The hate that Jesus refers to is not the evil emotion of hatred we feel toward others. Jesus used hate as a metaphor to describe the sacrifice we must make to love God first above everyone else on this earth. Recently a pastor described the condition of most people, including believers living in these last days, “Pleasing oneself is prevalent. People worship themselves as idols and strive to please themselves by fulfilling all of their carnal desires.”

“Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” —Matthew 22:37

Who have you put above God? Yourself, family, or friends? Even in marriage, will the believer compromise to make their spouse happy? Jesus told the church in Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).

Our relationship with Christ is one-to-one! Although we can ask others to pray for us, the warfare, trials, and tribulations we face are custom-made for each believer. No other person can fight our daily spiritual battles. Many believers have fallen away because of the perseverance, endurance, and continuous courage and strength required to be a soldier [follower] of Christ.

“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

When humanity was created, Jesus equipped us with power, love, a sound mind, and a measure of faith. It is our faith in God that cancels all fear!

Our spiritual journey begins as babes in Christ and our spiritual nourishment begins as milk. Studying Genesis chapters 1-4 and the life of Christ in the Four Gospels is an excellent starting point. A new believer requires spiritual support and mentoring from the church that baptized them into membership. They should attend Bible Study classes in addition to personal studying to receive a foundation of God’s Truth.

As we grow and mature in Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us a deeper spiritual understanding and wisdom of the Scriptures, resulting in eating the meat of the Bible, which allows us to receive the transformation of our minds and characters. Whether we are new or mature believers, we must do our part by studying the Scriptures and praying for wisdom, discernment, and help from the Holy Spirit, our Teacher.

Accepting Christ as our personal Savior is not complex—every day little children accept Jesus. If we tell our testimony of Jesus’ love and how He transforms us and gives us a new life, then the Holy Spirit will take over if the person has a receptive heart. Witnessing strengthens our relationship with Christ.

Prepare for the Battle!

The human effort of daily preparation requires a desire to be faithful, to surrender, and to obey God. From the moment we awaken, through penitent prayer, we express gratitude for receiving God’s new mercies for another day of life and we pray for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Our prayer of surrender acknowledges that God’s Divine Intervention is needed to receive the blessings of wisdom, discernment, and the spiritual, mental, and emotional strength necessary from the Holy Spirit to stand against Satan’s deceptive temptations and strategies to defeat us for that day.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10

Yes, our Heavenly Father knows that we need His help to overcome. And He promises to be with us when we fulfill our commitment to honor and reverence Him. Being in the spiritual position of right standing with God requires courage. We renounce sin by choosing to avoid the people, activities, and situations that would result in disobedience to God.

The book of Revelation is vivid in its description of the battle Satan is waging on the inhabitants of this earth. The Spiritual Warfare of good versus evil is one that believers face every day. The majority of our battles are with people who are being used as instruments of Satan. The conflict usually involves foolish arguments designed to rob us of our God-given peace.

If Satan can manipulate and use a situation to upset us then he has accomplished his goal for that day. Without praying when we face challenges, our first response will be fueled by our emotions.

“Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. — 1 Peter 5:6-7

Soldier Behavior: Love God. Love Others. Love yourself. Be humble, gentle, and kind. Pray and use silence. Avoid foolish arguments. Speak fewer words. Use discretion and wisdom. Be decisive and stand firm. Renounce sin and worldviews. Pray continuously. Study the Scriptures. Get ready and stay ready! Read Revelation chapters 21 and 22 once a week to remind yourself of the great reward Jesus has for you.

We are living in the last days of perilous times. The Holy Spirit is working to transform our character into the likeness of Christ. The life we live on this earth demonstrates that we understand the spiritual battle has been won and we have decided to follow Jesus all the way or not. “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” (Ephesians 6:24).

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for Your great love and the sacrifice of Your life to win the war against sin and Satan. We commit our minds, bodies, and souls to follow you all the way. We desire to have eternal life and pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We give You the honor and glory You rightfully deserve as our King. And we ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

The Commandments of Love

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself’ “. Matthew 22:37-39

Love God, Love Yourself, and Love Others ❤❤❤

Witnessing to Others is An Essential Factor of Spiritual Growth

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.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Living As the Light of the World

“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

The Freedom to Worship

SHOUT the Cry of Freedom!

Religious Liberty

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

It is a blessing to enjoy reading the Bible, praying, and singing during praise and worship to the Most-High God in my home or church. In fact, I can go outside of my house, read the Bible, pray, and sing on any public domain I choose without repercussion. People may not like it, but the First Amendment is our platform for exercising religious freedom.

Unfortunately, many individuals never consider those who will never own a Bible or secretly worship God at the risk of exclusion from their families and society. Even worse is facing long-term imprisonment for renouncing the prevailing traditional or pagan worship and proclaiming belief in God. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

The history of persecution for serving the “Christian God” is recorded in the Bible. Who can forget Saul, the hunter of Christians? Only God could redeem such a diabolical man and transform into the Apostle Paul. This devout Man of God actively wrote instructions for the churches and encouraged Christians to keep moving forward as they strive for the mark.

Will we experience persecution for serving God? Yes. Currently, some individuals are facing exclusion and isolation in their homes because they have chosen Christianity over their traditional or cultural religions. Consider the expansion of diversity that causes conflict between God’s standards and the world’s acceptance. What about the office parties or gatherings that we cannot attend because of the godly standards we uphold?

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:12-14

We must take advantage of the freedom we enjoy: studying the Bible, praying without ceasing, witnessing to others, attending church, and watching virtual services without censorship. Please pray daily for those suffering because they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Bible Study: 2 Corinthians 12

Prayer: God, we thank you for the ability to serve you in freedom. But we pray for those who are excluded, isolated, and persecuted for accepting Jesus as their Savior. We ask you to give them strength, and hope to never give up because you love and care for them. We pray for perseverance as we await the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. And we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson

Now This Is LOVE!

SHOUT the Cry of Victory 30 Days of Prayer Day 15

I have come to the conclusion that we [believers] do not love God enough.

Honestly, I cannot think of one person that is willing to die for me. Nor can I think of anyone who would promise to supply all of my needs for my entire life. And who can I talk to twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week? Even my best friend would get tired of hearing my voice after a while. This is the whole conclusion of the matter: I am ready to LOVE God with all of my heart, soul, and mind.

Bible verse: Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Prayer: God, please help us to get rid of the distractions that bombard our lives to the point that we are unable to love you. Thank you, for your love, grace, and mercies. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson

Surround Yourself With Love

Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy 2:22

I recently read that we should ask God to reveal the people who really love us and remove those who do not have a genuine love for God. If they love God, then their words, behaviors, and actions reflect their love for us. God reminds us that He has no tolerance for the human mix of love and hate. Either we have a heart full of love or hate. “Whoever claims to love God, yet, hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20

Because I have struggled with separating myself from toxic friends and family, God reached out by allowing me to read a devotional about letting people go. Please know that the “believers” are family members and long-term friendships. Still, I took a leap of faith and prayed this prayer, “Dear God, please reveal to me the family and friends who love you and have love for me. And give me the courage and strength to remove the remaining people from my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1 Corinthians 13 gives us God’s standards for love. When we study the love chapter, please note that love does not include mistreatment nor the lack of compassion. Imagine asking for help and receiving the response of “I will pray for you, but right now I have things to do,” or they give this reason for not answering your phone calls and text messages: “Don’t take it personally, I just haven’t felt like talking [to you].”

Love for God is the determining factor that identifies who we should include in our lives. It is usually easy to eliminate friends that do not have our best interests in mind. But how do you handle the situation when being unequally yoked extends to a spouse or family members? Unhealthy relationships destroy our ability to focus on God. Please know that we have invited a significant problem into our faith-based life when we tolerate toxic people that make life even harder for us.

Having unconditional love in our hearts does not mean that we become victims of emotional abuse.

Our only decision is to Put God first! I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols. Isaiah 46:8. People, places, and things can easily become our idols if they interfere with our relationship with God.

Do not be mismatched with unbelievers, for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together or what does light have in common with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 NASB

Run from individuals that are confused as to who they are serving. They have compromised and blended worldly habits into their “sanctified” lifestyle. Also, please stay away from mean people! Spouses, family members, and the people in our social circles always impact our relationship with God in a positive or negative aspect. If you are seeking peace and victory, make certain that the people surrounding you are not stumbling blocks. We cannot have a covenant relationship with God or enjoy peace and inner joy when we allow: lack of support, toxic communication, jealousy, controlling behaviors, resentment, dishonesty, disrespect, and negative financial behaviors.

You Are in the Right Relationship When It Is Helping Your Walk With God, Not Hurting It. God is love! And He desires that we surround ourselves with caring and compassionate people who love God and love us.

Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself

Bible Study: 1 Corinthians 13

Prayer: God, we desire to have a relationship with you based on love, faith, trust, and obedience. Thank you for loving us first. We ask that you rescue and protect us from the people who would harm us emotionally. Please bring people into our lives who love you and love others. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

©2021 Sonya Johnson