Pray – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

“The LORD Will Fight For You”

Victory Belongs To Jesus: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'” (Matthew 28:18)

In Job Chapters 38-41, The LORD declares His Omnipotence to Job, who desires to question God because of his trial of extreme suffering.

“The LORD asks: ‘Who then is able to stand against ME? Who has proceeded ME, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. (Job 41:10-11).

Throughout the Holy Bible, Reverence for God’s Holiness and Sovereign Authority has always been required to receive His Divine Intervention.

“And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!'” (Revelation 4:8). This Scripture refers to the angels in heaven, who worship God, the Father and God, Jesus, the Son with love, loyalty, and reverence.

Reverence for God’s Divine Authority is demonstrated through daily surrender, faithful obedience, and prayerfully asking for His Plans to be revealed for the given day.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37).

Loving God is to put Him First, as revealed by a life of self-denial, praying for guidance, and following and obeying His plans.

Studying the Bible with the desire to learn and practice God’s Commands and Righteous Precepts invites the Holy Spirit to transform us spiritually, preparing us for an eternity of worship.

Steadfast Faith, Surrender, and Obedience are Spiritual Requisites revealing that our heart is overflowing with love for God, and that our minds are aligned with the Righteousness of Christ.

If we desire God’s Divine Help and to receive our reward of the Eternal Crown of Life [Revelation 2:10; Revelation 22:12] then our thoughts, attitude spoken words, habits, attitude, and lifestyle must reflect God’s command, “Be holy for I Am Holy.”

Reflection: Does our lifestyle and worship reflect that we revere and honor God’s Sovereign Authority and Power?

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

Brothers and Sisters, we live in a time in which, many believers feel intimidated to serve God as He requires. Those who say they are Christian believers, but practice the irreverent lifestyles and actions of other “Christian Believers,” God tells us that He considers them as sinners.

The Lord will not hear a sinner’s prayer unless it is a prayer of confession and repentance: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him.” (John 9:31).

“Then they will cry to the Lord, but He will not answer them; He will hide His face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil.” (Micah 3:4).

Consider this, if you have prayed for God’s Divine Help and never received an answer, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if you are practicing any sins that have separated you from God.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV).

Unless we surrender and consecrate ourselves to God, we cannot perceive God as the Holy and Sovereign Authority of this universe, or the Sustainer of Life. Spiritual discernment is a Spiritual gift that requires faithful obedience to God.

“And the Lord said: ‘…this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me'” (Isaiah 29:13).

Although we attend weekly church services, and do not engage in the worldly practices of sinners, often we are too distracted and too tired to worship God in Spirit and Truth.

God tells us that He must be First in our lives, which includes giving Him a reasonable portion of our gift of time every day through personal worship.

Many believers do not worship God through the daily personal worship of Prayer and Bible Study. If we exclude worship in our earthly lives, how are we preparing for an eternity of worshiping God?

“…let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29).

Core Principles of Reverence

“Reverence for God is a sacred grace of the soul, cultivated through an awareness of His Infinite Presence.”

Core Principles of Reverence

Approach to Prayer: Believers should approach God in Jesus’ name with confidence, but avoid a bold, presumptuous, or overly casual attitude as if addressing an equal or inferior.
The Name of God: God’s Name and titles are holy and must never be spoken lightly, thoughtlessly, or repeated needlessly in conversation or prayer.
Posture in Worship: Kneeling is emphasized in both public and private prayer as the biblical example modeled by Jesus, the apostles, and prophets.
Behavior in the Sanctuary: The house of worship is treated as the ‘gate of heaven,’ requiring sobriety, order, and neatness. In the Bible, spiritual sobriety refers to being reverent, watchful, and disciplined in your faith rather than spiritually intoxicated by worldly distractions.
Believers are advised to avoid common business, using cellular devices to text, idle talking, whispering, laughing, or lingering/gossiping in the aisles after services.
Respect for Scripture: Printed Bibles and sacred words should be handled with deep respect, never used carelessly, and never quoted in jests or light banter.
Living God’s Character: True reverence extends beyond outward [ritual practices of worship] to embodying God’s merciful, gracious, and righteous character in daily life.
Embodying: To show a character trait so clearly that a person or thing becomes a living example.

Throughout the years most Christian churches have dismissed the practice of reverencing God by bowing on one’s knees when praying, but it was not always like this.

As a child, I was taught when to revere God by always bowing on my knees when praying , or if sitting at the table, say a Prayer of Gratitude for the food, still, we always closed our eyes and bowed our heads.

Faithful obedience demonstrates reverence for God: God rejected Cain’s offering, as recorded in Genesis 4:3–5, because of Cain’s heart attitude of disobedience, lack of faith, and reverence.

Like Cain, Adam and Eve’s oldest son, who offered God a sacrifice based on his thoughts, we have been deceived by Satan to think that we can offer praise and worship to the Most-High God based on our thoughts, emotions, and worship practices.

Proper worship invites the Holy Spirit to place us in the presence of God, where we receive the spiritual blessings of Jesus’ gifts of peace, joy, and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey with Jesus.

We were created to obey and worship the Most-High God. Self-reliance is Sin: To worship God when we feel like it, reveals that we think our human thoughts are superior to God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways. Study Isaiah 55:8-9.

Bible stories clearly indicate that only the righteous who honored God by revering His Sovereignty, Supremacy, and Holiness through faithful obedience received His Divine Help and Guidance, ending in Victory.

“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.'” (Exodus 14:13-14)

The Holy Scriptures teach us how to revere God: Study Psalm 95.

Lord God, we humbly bow in Your Holy Presence, asking for the forgiveness of our sins. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to anoint us with Your Holy Spirit. Lord, we desperately need You to lead us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. We ask for wisdom and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. Lord we admit that we can do nothing without You. Although we have tried, we realize that we cannot change ourselves. Lord, reveal any unrighteous characteristics, habits, and people that we need to let go of. Teach us how to be holy. We desire to worship You in Spirit and Truth, reverencing Your Holiness and Sovereign Authority. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of our Savior and Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Struggles Are Not Your Battles: Ask Jesus To Fight For You

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

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” As Christian believers, we should never be burdened with the challenges that consistently happen in our lives.

But, because of our spirit of self-reliance, we miss out on God’s Promises, Blessings, and His Divine Intervention, which always ends in victory.

“Pray continuously.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Through prayer, give God the glory and honor that He deserves by surrendering and asking for His Divine Help. We have access to God’s Sovereign Power 24/7. Pray, ask, wait, and obey.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercies. We ask You to forgive us for the sin of self-reliance, which prevents You from giving us Your Divine Help and receiving our greatest blessings. Jesus, we desperately need Your Intervention. We cannot navigate through this journey of life without Your wisdom, strength, and guidance. King Jesus, we love You and worship Your Holy Name, and in faith, we ask this prayer in Your Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.

The Storms Keep Coming

Study Acts 27-28

Why do storms keep coming? When the storms of life press down upon us that is God talking. When the storms in our personality arise, God is talking.

God’s job is to take charge of the storm and our job is to listen to the lesson He teaches us through the storms.

If we take the time to be still and listen then God’s message to us says, “Be still and know that I am God!”

Peter could tell us what he learned from getting out of the boat and walking on the water: If you want to keep your balance, your equilibrium, don’t look back, do not depend on your knowledge or skills, you must keep your eyes on Jesus.

The man who built his house on the solid rock tells us, If you want to stand tall and strong, and survive the storm, you must build your hope on things eternal.

How do we handle our storms in the Sea of Life? We stay on the boat. The Bible is our life vest. Will our anchor hold?

When the storms keep coming, hold on to the Anchor, Jesus Christ. Hold on to God’s unchanging hand!

Lamentations 3:22-26

In the book of Lamentations Jeremiah was looking at suffering and loss. Because we receive new Mercies every day. God is faithful, never changing.

John 16:33: You will have trouble, but be a good cheer! Give God praise when you’re facing challenges.

Our Compassionate High Priest: Hebrews 4:14-16

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

We are sustained by God’s Grace and Mercies.
We are covered by God’s Mercies!
God’s Mercies are our Portion.
God’s Mercies continue to bless those who wait on Him.

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27).

We have to learn not to give up on God’s Mercies. Jesus has compassion for us. God is faithful! Wait on the Lord! Cling to the One who is Faithful!

Prayer: “Holy Spirit, pray with us and for us as we pray.” We have many troubled thoughts and worries from the storms that have entered our lives. We ask for the Divine peace and strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. In faith, we ask this prayer in the loving and righteous name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sabbath Blessings – We Need Divine Help – Pray Continuously

Lord God, we come to you this Sabbath with gratitude for giving us the wisdom and strength to accomplish our routine duties of life. Yet we feel drained from the many stressors, we faced this week. As we honor Your Sovereignty and the Holy Sabbath, we ask for spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical restoration that only You can provide. Lord, we also pray for the many Christians, who are being persecuted and tortured because they have chosen to follow Jesus. We ask that You give them strength, comfort, and hope during their time of intense suffering. Lord, help us to redirect our focus from these earthly tribulations to Your Promise in John 14:1-3. We realize that we are living in the Last Days, and in faith, we ask for the blessings of the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Even so, come Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ Loving and Righteous Name, we pray, Amen

A Morning Prayer to Begin Your Day – Video Short

https://youtube.com/shorts/zYGaPB79M6M?si=mBR0PXQ3sYtTL2St

He’s Been Faithful – Worship Music Video [12/2/2025 – Reposted with Video Link]

The Christian Journey is not easy. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

When we have done all that we can do, whisper the words, “Jesus, help me,” and our Savior and Shepherd will answer. Thank You, Jesus, for Your Amazing Love.

https://youtu.be/HfllrAHUbxs?si=uSaY8lz3LhRT45pP

The Righteous Name of the LORD Is Our Strength

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3).

September 18, 2025 is a date that God changed my life by giving me a deeper understanding of His plans for my life. The Holy Spirit helped me to prioritize my time and goals, so my relationship with Jesus Christ would grow, and my faith in God would become steadfast.

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6).

This deep spiritual connection happened because I made the intentional decision to spend the entire day with Jesus in the personal worship of prayer, singing, and studying the Holy Scriptures.

Yes, it was an intense effort to discipline my mind to meditate on the written words of God and His goodness. I prayed often for the Holy Spirit to give me the strength to redirect my focus to God.

Jesus tells us that He is the Living Water and the Bread of Life. Although I did not engage in a complete fast yesterday, I ate a minimal diet of mostly fruits and lentil flatbread along with keeping myself hydrated with water.

“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).

The sacrificial life results in total dependency on God, which is greatly rewarded. Not only do we receive spiritual wisdom, peace, and God’s guidance from spending intentional time with Him, but we also receive answers to the complexities in our lives that are impossible for us to resolve.

Christ Delivers Us From the Chains of Sin

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1).

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).

Attempting to use our strength against the internal desires of our hearts and the external temptations of this world always results in failure. We must have the strength of Christ to live as a Victorious Overcomer!

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10).

Many times it is difficult for us to realize the overwhelming love Jesus has for us. From Jesus’ sacrificial death on Calvary’s Cross, God proclaims that we are valued beyond our finite understanding. Yes, we are Heaven’s priority. Yes and Amen.

Our decision to consecrate ourselves daily to God by dedicating frequent time in solitary worship [free from distractions and other people] invites the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, gifting us with deeper spiritual insight, and empowering us with the strength of Christ.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV).

Everyday, we have an opportunity to bond with Christ. Our love for God is the foundation for using our faith to prayerfully consecrate ourselves in surrender to God with the commitment to follow Christ, our Shepherd.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

“Knowing the time means recognizing the urgency and significance of life, especially in light of Christ’s imminent return and the brevity of human existence, and therefore should be lived with wisdom, a focus on God’s will, and the mindful use of every opportunity to honor God.”

Time is precious. Doing our part is to be grateful for God’s gift of time. Many believers do not even give God one hour a day in personal worship.

With a God-first commitment, we let go of the habits of time-consuming recreational activities, and distractions which prevent us from worshiping God in Spirit and Truth.

Intentional time with God in daily personal worship is essential for the Holy Spirit to transform our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character, which is required to receive our reward of Eternal Life.

LORD God, we thank You for the gift of a new day. We confess our sin of wasting the precious time that You have given us. We ask you to help us to prioritize our lives according to Your perfect will and plans. And ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.

Stop! Pray Before Making That Decision

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).

“Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:7, NIV).

Without God’s guidance, “our decisions and actual behaviors bring consequences. And the painful truth, which we all have experienced, is that we alone don’t suffer from the consequences of our wrong actions. Others, sometimes many others, even innocent others, suffer, as well. Such is the nature of sin.”

Reflection: “In what ways have you suffered from others’ sins? Or, what are ways others have suffered from your sins?

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)

“What is our only hope?” Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who washes away our sins, and changes us into His likeness and Divine character is our only hope.

Lord God, we have made too many mistakes that have produced consequences. We pray for Your guidance in this tumultuous journey of life. God, we need Your Divine wisdom and direction before making this decision. Teach us how to distinguish Your voice from our thoughts. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

The Conflict of Not Knowing What to Do

Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – April 11, 2025

“…For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” -2 Chronicles 20:12

When King Jehoshaphat acknowledged the impossibility of using human effort to win the pending war from pagan armies, his first response was prayer.

Every day, we face dilemmas that require God’s Divine intervention. If we live by this rule of always seeking God’s answer, whether it is a minor issue or a difficult life-changing dilemma then we are guaranteed a victorious outcome.

One thing is for certain, we should never ask for secular advice. Even those who are considered experts are looking at the situation from their perspective. Spiritually, unbelievers can never perceive a situation as God sees it.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes…” Proverbs 3:7

Truthfully, believers who serve God with obedience and steadfast faith still need help. Involve God in every aspect of your life by asking for spiritual wisdom and guidance before making decisions.

Pray and wait for God’s guidance. If we make prayer our first response and wait for God’s answer then He will resolve all of our challenges for our good and His glory.

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

Lord God, we admit that we do not know what to do and ask for Your Divine Help in resolving this impossible situation. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we ask this prayer in faith, Amen.

The Challenge of Trusting In God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – January 15, 2025

This year one of the churches I attend is declaring 2025 as a Leap Year for spiritual growth which requires dedication, discipline, and total dependency on God.

The LEAP Year Covenant

This year, I am committing to a life fully devoted to Christ! I am done with empty wishes, hollow resolutions, and vain declarations. This year, I will take a leap.

I will be driven by prayer; fueled by the word; fed by purpose; and clothed in faith. I will be committed, intentional, specific, and focused on my assignment.

I refuse to be the same old person, with the same old thoughts, in the same old place. By the grace of God, I am preparing myself for a leap year in 2025!

On Sunday, 1/12, I excitedly made the covenant with God to live fully devoted to Christ. Today is Wednesday, 1/15, and spiritually things are not going as well as I expected. Yesterday, Google Photos sent a memory reminder that I should have ignored and it triggered memories of yesteryear that were counterproductive.

This morning, I decided to volunteer without praying beforehand and a few hours later, I felt turmoil regarding the situation and asked myself, What were you thinking? So, I prayed and asked God to let the offer fall through. If not, then I will use a new-found courage to rescind my well-meaning but not God-approved offer of my services.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41

Transparency and honesty are required when we make a covenant to fully surrender and trust God with our lives and then mess up. Self-reliance is often our initial response to appealing offers and activities, but to remain faithful to God, our focus must be on learning His plans for our lives. Love for God reveals itself through humility. Never stay on the detour of disobedience! Acknowledge, confess, repent, and reaffirm your desire to faithfully trust God from that moment forward.

To exclude God is to play the Game of Chance with our lives. We are forewarned not to trust our feelings or understanding. Not only does self-reliance oppose God’s will, but a spirit of disobedience develops, separating us from God, and placing us on the broad path that leads to destruction. Our world is in chaos, and we are living in perilous times, now is not the time to risk losing our future reward of eternal life.

Even the apostle Paul lamented over the inner turmoil of faithfully obeying God: “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:19-20).

“The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.” —Psalm 37:23-24

“The righteous are characterized by their ability to rise after falling. This resilience is rooted in their faith and trust in God, who provides strength and guidance.”

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 1:9

Thankfully, when we fall, our genuine confession and repentance always allow us to receive God’s forgiveness, and Jesus extends His hand of mercy and lifts us up.

“Pray without ceasing” [pray continuously over every aspect of your life] (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

Lord God, we are in the struggle of internal conflict and external opposition, yet, You are our Safety. We have fallen and repent for the wilful disobedience of excluding You from our lives. We desire to renew our covenant of trusting You in 2025. Hear our petition and empower us with the spiritual strength to let go of self-reliance which is enmity against You. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.