God Resolves Life’s Toughest Issues Devotional Reading, July 28, 2023
When studying the life of David, we learn that David had tougher issues in His life than most of us can imagine. As a fugitive, he lived in caves while on the run from the jealous King Saul for 15 years before he became King. And then his favorite son, Absalom turned the people against him to overthrow his father and take the position of King. Again, David fled for his life.
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.” —Psalm 34:17
Throughout the book of Psalms, David prayed for God to intervene against his enemies. One of our toughest challenges is external conflict. How do we handle the supervisor or coworker who does their best to make our lives miserable? Strife is abundant in many homes often caused by a spouse, children, or extended family members who we must interact with every day.
In John 16, verse 33, Jesus reminds us that our lives will include many tribulations. “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.”
Spiritual Warfare: Satan uses people, especially loved ones and coworkers with whom we interact with daily to wreck our peace and joy. Conflict resolution is a Band-Aid, there are no human strategies that can change a person’s heart. Our response to conflict is determined by our intimate knowledge of God’s Character and whether or not we faithfully trust His promises.
One of my favorite Scriptures is found in Exodus chapter 14. The children of Israel perceived their situation as hopeless. But God reassured them that He would take care of the Egyptians. “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 [remain quiet] hold your peace.’ ” —Exodus 14:13-14
David tells us the action we need to take: “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.” —Psalm 34:6
Reflection: Do I believe in God’s power and promises?
David embraced the fact that only God can resolve our toughest issues, especially when the people we love or see every day are involved. Many times, we feel overwhelmed by our situation, perceiving it as unresolvable. But it is taking us too long to grasp this concept—the righteous have many benefits! Without studying the Scriptures, we do not know God’s Character or His steadfast promises to fight all of our battles!
There is a vast difference between the heart of a believer and one of unbelievers who have no boundaries. The love of God keeps the believer from returning evil for evil. Conflict with family and those in management positions abusing their authority produces hurt, disappointment, and anger. Yet, we must keep the negative emotions of worry, discouragement, hopelessness, anger, and thoughts of retaliation in check.
Human Effort: 1. Pray for spiritual strength to overcome counterproductive emotions., 2. Pray for God’s Divine Intervention, and 3. Study 1 Corinthians 13, the “Love Chapter.”
Learn how to love by God’s Righteous standards. The Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23] defines the characteristics of the Christian believer. Conduct yourself as a child of God by maintaining righteous behavior. Do not argue, or harbor anger, and unforgiveness in your heart. Be aware of your facial expressions and remain silent.
“But I say unto you, ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. ‘ ” —Matthew 5:43–44
Jesus commands us to love our enemies, yet, we should not tolerate prolonged mental, emotional, or physical abuse. God sees what they are doing and He knows the evil in their hearts. Still, He waits for us to pray for Divine Help! Remain faithful and loving. We represent the love of Christ to others. And while we are waiting on God, we must hold our peace and fully rely on God! Remember, we do not have the power to fight spiritual warfare without Divine Help!
Praise to our Almighty God: Our Warrior God specializes in fighting battles! And you know what? He always wins the war! And He has already won your battle!
Scripture: “Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles, Or the LORD will see your gloating and be displeased, And turn His anger away from your enemy.” —Proverbs 24:17-18 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Prayer: God, we desperately need Your Help to resolve the hostile situation we are facing. With faith, we will wait on You, stand still, and be quiet. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Self-Control Leads to Optimal Health Sabbath Devotional July 21, 2023
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which is God’s.” —1 Corinthians 6:20
By managing our time and being mindful of the stimuli we allow to influence us, we can improve our intellect and strengthen our relationship with Christ. Yet, many believers are suffering from anxiety and worries which have escalated to physical illnesses from the never-ending stressors of life. Instead of having the peace of God, their lives are filled with chaos.
Something is wrong! Despite having to-do lists, they often find themselves struggling to complete their daily tasks. Never having enough time causes their lives to become a burden. When we perceive a situation as impossible, we develop a sense of hopelessness which leaves us feeling too drained to pray. The lack of prayer always isolates the believer from God resulting in the emotional distress of discouragement, guilt, and a sense of failure.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” —Romans 12:2
Unfortunately, Christians are just as vulnerable and caught up in today’s increasingly rapid pace of life which causes more problems than it solves. Overwork and busyness lead to mental fatigue, poor nutrition, a decline in our cognition, emotional instability, poor physical health, and spiritual bankruptcy. Overwhelmed by the chaos, we stop praying and forget God’s many promises to help us in our distress.
Overloaded schedules along with the hurried pace of life create mental weariness and physical fatigue that obscures the mental acuity necessary to identify the reasons for one’s chaotic lifestyle. As we go about our daily lives, we are often confronted with “Distractions” that always hinder the completion of everyday tasks and goals. While it may be easy to dismiss these distractions as normal occurrences, it’s important to remember they are a form of spiritual warfare.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” —Ephesians 6:11-12, NIV
Although we are constantly engaged in spiritual battles, we can discern the difference between distractions and trials by the outcomes. Distractions are temptations that separate us from God by turning our attention away from Him. Trials enable us to grow spiritually and develop a righteous character. When facing the unexpected challenges of spiritual warfare, we must remain vigilant and prepared to fight.
We know the daily distractions that trouble us are warfare because they are always the things that capture our interests and cater to our preferences. This is not a coincidence. Temptations are skillfully developed by Satan and his evil angels [present on this earth] to disrupt our peace and separate us from God. Yet, Satan and his demonic angels have limitations enforced by Christ—they are not Omniscient, All-Knowing, and cannot read our minds. We are creatures of habit, so they create personalized distractions by simply observing our behaviors and habits.
Satan also uses people to interrupt our already busy life. Although we are commanded to help others, we must pray for wisdom in our level of involvement and monitor our time spent outside of our too-busy lives. Our priorities are to maintain our relationship with Christ and establish a healthy balance in our lives.
Reflection: Are my decisions [or someone else’s decisions] producing my chaotic lifestyle? Yes!
The number one distraction in 2023 is excessive screen time. At the end of the day, to relax, we watch our favorite programs, enjoy social media, play online games, shop online, or text and talk on our cell phones. We lose track of time and before we realize it, we have spent hours entertaining ourselves instead of praying a prayer of gratitude for our provisions and asking for spiritual strength.
“Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.” —2 John 1:8
It is easy to feel defeated when thinking about an unhealthy lifestyle. Where does the energy come from to make changes? To acknowledge our situation by admitting that something is definitely wrong but failing to take action because we don’t know where to start will never produce good results.
The only way for believers to possess an optimal level of health is to stay on the Path of Righteousness and we need Divine Help to accomplish that life-long goal!
Self-control is the answer to most of our difficulties. Yet, we require spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit who empowers us to develop action plans to rid ourselves of all the unhealthy habits that allowed various forms of chaos into our lives.
“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
We are not helpless! God always requires human effort before we receive Divine Help. God has given us the ability to practice self-control. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is the ability to control our thoughts, emotions, and actions. We can say no to distractions and disruptions.
“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
Every human being created in the image of God has received the gift of a rational mind with the power to think, the ability to reason, and to be resourceful by making choices that enhance our lives. We are capable of assessing the causative factors which prevent us from achieving optimal health in every area of our lives and taking appropriate actions to immediately remedy the situation.
Without biblical knowledge and a spiritual understanding of the Scriptures, we will not practice self-control or strive to live our best life. Our desires will lead us to follow the same destructive path that unbelievers are on.
In studying the Creation of Earth, found in Genesis chapter 1, we notice that Jesus was intentional and systematic in creating the Earth. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:3-4).
Human Effort Required: When studying the Creation story, there is something that we probably have overlooked—”And God saw that it was good.” Jesus did not rush through the Creation process, He paused to affirm that everything He created on that day was good before He moved forward. With humility, we must possess the willingness to take a daily pause break and ask ourselves, Am I living my best life? Pray for Divine Help to change your mindset and lifestyle. Confess and repent of the lack of self-control, and take action to change your life!
We were created to live healthy, productive lives. Invest in yourself by eliminating all obstacles that threaten to weaken your sound mind, physical health, and spiritual relationship with Christ. Commit to strengthening your mind, body, and soul, by practicing self-control. It is not an easy task! And others may be offended by your decision to abruptly change your lifestyle, but remain strong, every Christian has the spiritual responsibility to uphold God’s Righteous Standards!
Establish boundaries for yourself and for those who tread on your time or bring chaos into your life.
Eliminate purchasing tangible items. You have everything you need. An overabundance of physical things creates a cluttered mind and a spirit of greed.
Time Management–Too many things on your to-do list prevent you from enjoying life. Make a realistic schedule that includes time with God. Rest and relaxation along with the ability to laugh and have fun creates a work-life-spiritual balance.
Purchase nutritious foods and cook your meals. High-Calorie convenience foods rob the body of strength and wreck the intellect.
Choose an alternate outside environment to exercise. We require fresh air and sunshine. The gym is okay when the weather is bad, but does nothing for us spiritually. God created nature for us!
Change your temperament. Impatience, harshness, anger, unforgiveness, and criticism are negative behaviors that prevent God’s internal gifts of peace and joy.
Learn to establish boundaries regarding your time. For those who desire constant help and favors, do not enable them. And respectfully decline invitations that serve little to no purpose in your life.
With positive changes, you can enjoy the peace of God. Once your lifestyle begins to improve, take a break. Go on a mini vacation, preferably a nature trip, even if it’s only for one day. You will feel re-energized and gain confidence from your effort to create positive changes.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.” —Psalm 34:17
God honors our diligence when we do our part in restoring equilibrium to our mind and body. The Holy Spirit will empower you by refreshing your mind, body, and soul. Deliverance from our troubles is one of God’s promises.
Pray: Utilize some of your extra time by spending additional time in worship. God is our priority. We receive mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit. Always take the time to pray for guidance, wisdom, and protection.
Study the Word of God: Choose a chapter of the Bible and study it every day. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you discernment of God’s Truth. It is best to read the same chapter twice a day. If you cannot recall a significant part of what you studied then do not move forward. Restudy the chapter for 2-3 days.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13
We can achieve optimal mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health! Since the stress of former counterproductive habits is eliminated, consider new hobbies and activities. Yet, we must always be on guard for the distractions and habits that kept us in the bondage of chaos. Take a daily pause and prayer break to ask for the Divine strength and wisdom to stay on track to living a life of optimal health.
Throughout our day, we can meditate on the Scriptures, listen to inspirational music and pray. The Holy Spirit will provide spiritual vitality to our minds, bodies, and souls. With determination, self-control, and Divine help, our lives will be organized and filled with peace and our hearts with overflowing joy.
With the human effort of self-control and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can live spiritually healthy and prosperous lives. Amen!
Scripture: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” —3 John 2
Prayer: God, we are taking a pause and prayer break to ask for Your Divine Intervention in our lives. We are tired of the turmoil that is impacting our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. We are tired of the turmoil that is impacting our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Please reveal the changes we need to make in our lifestyles. Thank You for the beauty of the Sabbath. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name, 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.
Deliverance From All of Our Troubles, Sabbath Devotional Reading, June 30, 2023
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him And saved him out of all his troubles.” —Psalm 34:4,6
When David wrote the 34th chapter of Psalm, he was a fugitive, living in caves, and on the run from King Saul who planned to kill him. Although we cannot relate to his extreme situation, all of us have experiential knowledge of how it feels to have troubles that we cannot resolve. Yet, David gives us his testimony that God is faithful and will always deliver us when we pray in faith and wait on the Lord.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:17,19
“The Contemporary English Version of Psalm 34, verses 17 and 19 reads: “When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles. The Lord’s people may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them safely through.”
With confidence, we trust our Heavenly Father to answer our cries for help. The Bible reveals that God is a Loving Father who promises to take care of the righteous by giving us victory over all obstacles. We pray and are ever hopeful for a quick answer to our prayers.
How do we react when we have to wait for God’s Divine Intervention?
David was a fugitive for many years. Bible scholars tell us he became king at the age of 30. He was a young teenager when anointed by the prophet Samuel. A guestimate would be between 15 and 20 years living on the run. Although David tells us that God always keeps His promises and to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14), most believers begin to experience anxiety and worry within 24 hours of praying for God’s Divine Intervention.
Reflection: Why do I have the expectation that God will answer my prayers immediately?
The Waiting Period—When will God answer my prayers? And why hasn’t God answered my prayers?
We begin to overthink and create various reasons why God has not immediately answered our prayers. Sadly, we become discouraged or angry because God is silent. But impatience is a bitter fruit that causes us to lose faith, resulting in us not trusting in God’s promises and His power.
As our emotions escalate, our faith dwindles! Without a biblical foundation and consistent prayer, in troublesome times, our faith is weak or nonexistent. Suffering from spiritual malnutrition, we easily place ourselves under a dark cloud of unbelief and worry consumes our thoughts.
God is Omniscience—All-Knowing. We can have the assurance that God has knowledge of every trial and unexpected life event before they happen. Yes, He allowed us to journey through this tribulation. And He already knows how we will react! Prayer Warriors will keep on praying and believing in faith, but those who are sporadic in praying and studying the Scriptures will falter almost immediately.
It is comforting to know that God is infallible and incapable of making mistakes. Our Heavenly Father knows the level of faith each of us possesses and whether it will remain unwavering. Will we strengthen our faith while waiting or will we attempt to solve the issue on our own?
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:31
Jesus asks the question: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” —Luke 6:46
Waiting on God is not only a spiritual test, waiting produces spiritual growth! Our love for Christ is demonstrated through obedience. Never minimize the spiritual importance of obeying God. How crucial is obedience to our righteousness? Obedience to God results in living an earthly life that allows the Holy Spirit to change our character in preparation to receive eternal life.
God expects every believer to have the spiritual qualities that are required for us to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
” ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Mark 12:30
“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
Psalm 34:15: NKJV—”The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.” CEV—”If you obey the Lord, he will watch over you and answer your prayers.”
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. —Psalm 34:18. NIV—”The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
The characteristic of a broken heart is bitter disappointment producing sorrow and grief. “Contrite means ‘penitent,’ humbled by our own sins and failures, seeking after God.” openthebible.org
“…At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.” —Isaiah 60:22
Waiting on God requires much faith and a spirit of humility demonstrated by our heart’s desire to reverence and honor God by seeking His will. We can develop the mindset, “I don’t mind waiting on God because His resolution to my challenges is perfect.”
Will we feel discouraged [at times] while waiting? Yes! Never forget that God is transforming us. Waiting on God has a purpose—waiting through troublesome times produces perseverance and a righteous character! The human effort of remaining patient, faithful, and obedient is honored by God. Continue or start having daily worship [praying and studying the Scriptures] to build your faith and endurance. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you spiritual strength while waiting for your breakthrough miracle of deliverance.
Waiting is not punishment nor indication that God has forgotten. David waited 15 years before He became king at the age of 30. During the waiting, God is transforming our character and strengthening our faith. Trusting in God is more than verbalizing the spoken words of “God, I trust You.” We are guaranteed a victorious outcome if we remain steadfast until we receive deliverance.
Scripture Reading: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ ” 13 “I would have lost heart [courage], unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! ” —Psalm 27, Verses 7,8,13, and 14
Prayer: Hear our prayer, O LORD, forgive us of our transgressions, and deliver us from our adversity. We ask for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to give us the spiritual strength to persevere through this trial. Jesus, we need You to help us to remain steadfast during the time of waiting for the promise of deliverance. We pray in faith and in Jesus’ Worthy Name, we ask these things. Amen.
The following quote from John Bradshaw summarizes our world’s spiritual and moral decline.
In recent times, the world has witnessed events that just a few years ago might have seemed unbelievable. Flooding, record temperatures, and devastating fires have given evidence that our planet is fragile. Traditional moral values have been turned upside down, while defenders of biblical standards have been ridiculed. Social media has become an ocean of unbridled anger and malice. Cancel culture ruins lives, careers, and reputations.
Politics has become openly hostile, seemingly devoid of the collegiality that once characterized political discourse. The lingering COVID-19 crisis revealed that in no time at all, the attention of the entire world can be fixed on a single, polarizing issue. John Bradshaw, It is Written
“And the LORD said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…” Genesis 6:3
“So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” Genesis 6:12
There are 8 billion people on this earth. Can you imagine that only a few would be saved and receive eternal life? Humanity is on a rapid and progressive journey toward the time of Noah. Many who were steadfastly serving God have fallen because of their carnal desires. Biblical prophecies are being fulfilled, yet, we continue to live casual, carefree lives.
Satan has introduced the noise of entertainment, the sports arena, politics, social unrest, violence, and addiction to social media to distract the people of God. Yet, the greatest entry into a believer’s life is from unequal relationships between believers and unbelievers. “Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
We have become mesmerized by the intentional deception of preaching false interpretations of the Scriptures. How is the prosperity message being tolerated and accepted in many of our churches? The reason for the popularity of false prosperity messages is our desire for earthly treasure. The line separating need from greed is blurred. We desire tangible things that we can see with our eyes.
A recent survey among Christians reveals that only one in nine studies the Bible every day. Our interest in fulfilling our heart”s desires has resulted in a disinterest in studying and obeying God’s commands in the Bible.
Baptism by immersion is only practiced by a few Bible-based churches. Witnessing to others and community outreach participation by members are almost non-existent. Most Prayer meetings and Bible studies are virtual because of the low attendance in-house. Weekly church attendance is not indicative of a heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus Christ.
The time is now for an honest, self-reflection and praying the prayer of David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
Human Effort: Serving God requires an intentional mindset of striving to be holy. “…Be holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Jesus lived as a man who was tempted like we are, yet, He did not sin. It is impossible to live holy without praying for the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit. Our commitment involves putting God first and seeking His guidance in every area of our lives.
Divine Intervention: “I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me too because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27, ERV)
The human effort of daily surrender, faith, obedience, perseverance, prayer, and Bible study prepares us for the anointing and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In these last days of earth’s history, we need God’s Divine Intervention to stay on the Path of Righteousness. Although the Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the earth, from the whisper of a prayer, we can have the Spirit of God within us to lead, teach, and give us spiritual wisdom and discernment.
Bible Study: Acts 3, The Day of Pentecost
Prayer: God, we desperately need Your help. We commit our hearts to you and ask to be anointed with the Holy Spirit. Thank You for your Divine Intervention. We pray for knowledge, wisdom, and discernment. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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