psalms – Page 2 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Improving the Quality of Our Lives -Devotional – January 16, 2024

“Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.” —Isaiah 46:4

Having steadfast faith in God is the first step to improving the quality of our lives. Despite our rocky journey, if we remember that nothing comes as a surprise to God then we can live in peace. Christ is the Solid Rock. As long as we maintain our relationship with Him through surrender, faith, obedience, and prayer, we have the assurance that the Holy Spirit will guide us through every adversity and bring victory to our lives.

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’ ” (Psalm 27:8). Begin and end your day with worship. Separate yourself for uninterrupted time with God. When we enter the presence of God, we receive spiritual strength and peace. Despite our circumstances, we can trust God to give us victory.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies…” (Psalm 103:1-5). Always focus and meditate on the faithfulness and goodness of our Great God. Pray little prayers of gratitude throughout your waking hours for continuous spiritual refreshment.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ ” (Hebrews 13:5). Practice need over greed. This earth is our temporary home.
“Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies” (Psalm 27:11). Pay close attention to the spiritual warfare of distractions. We should not involve ourselves in matters that consume our time and steal our joy and peace. God never places us in chaotic situations. Always pray before you say yes.
“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). Strive for a gentle, Christ-like character. Live peacefully with others. Exercise self-control by using silence when facing confrontation. Pray for Divine intervention. God always resolves our battles when we surrender to His power.
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Do not harbor a spirit of offense! Unforgiveness is a sin. Anger, resentment, and vengeful thoughts are bitter fruits of hate. Establish boundaries, but let go of all unloving tendencies. We have too much to lose [our heavenly reward]. Christ never retaliated.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). King David realized that our eyes must be lifted above the highest earthly point toward heaven to live courageously. Dependence on God is an outward sign of internal surrender. Our Omnipotent Father waits for us to seek His help.
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms” (Psalm 95:1-2). We were created to worship God. Our lives are sustained by Him. Praise defeats all anxieties and worries. Give glory and honor to our Loving God because He gave us His Son, Jesus.
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (3 John 1:2, NIV). Our minds, bodies, and souls belong to God. Taking care of our mental, emotional, and physical health is vital for a steadfast relationship with Christ. Choose the most nutritious foods, learn to cook, and incorporate exercise into your lifestyle [preferably in nature]. Reduce stimuli by limiting the things you watch and listen to. Cease negative thoughts and spoken words. Pray often, laugh, and possess a heart of gratitude.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Change your definition of love according to the Scriptures.

“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

Our foundation is Christ with whom we must have a loving, heart-to-heart relationship based on our love for God. Our quality of life is directly linked to the amount of love that we have for God. His plans for us are above and beyond all that we could imagine.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Have you ever thought about how we often try to outdo God by striving for the best possible quality of life? It’s tempting to think that we can control everything and make our lives perfect, but we should take a step back and consider whether this is really the right approach. Trust God with your life!

Prayer: God, we surrender to Your loving plan for our lives. We ask for forgiveness for not trusting You. Thank You for never-ending grace, mercies, provisions, and protection, yet, most of all we thank You for the gift of Jesus and the plan of Redemption. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.