Tag: Sabbath

This Day With God

This Day With God Devotional Reading and Podcast

“Give us this day our daily bread.” –Matthew 6:11

Receiving a new day is the gift-wrapped mercies from our loving, Heavenly Father. It is with joy that we have the opportunity to put the frustrations and failures of yesterday behind us. Nor should we try to anticipate the unexpected events of today or tomorrow. Faithfully trust God and pray for help if the known events of today are threatening to take away your joy and peace. The newness of this day should reflect a joyful heart along with praying and singing praises of gratitude.

Reflection for today and every day should begin by focusing on our relationship with Jesus. Each of us falls short in the hearing and doing of the Word of God. Believing in God is more meaningful than proclaiming the spoken words of, I am a Christian.

God knows that our spiritual journey is the most challenging aspect of our lives. It is a journey that we cannot travel alone. Faith, prayer, and diligent study of the Scriptures keeps us connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ.

“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” –Isaiah 65:24

Let this become one of your go-to scriptures. God knows our every thought. Never attempt to resolve any hardship or sorrow without God. He knows that we need His Divine intervention and Jesus reassures us, “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).

Living a faith-based life requires dedication to God. The distractions of spiritual warfare threaten to break our connection to Christ. With steadfast perseverance, we make a covenant vow to keep God first. Still, this is where human effort falls short. Despite our best intentions, we require spiritual help to stay on the Path of Righteousness.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5

Rely on God! It takes spiritual discernment and wisdom to recognize the daily distractions that prevent us from maintaining our relationship with Christ first. Pray for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in your life as soon as you awaken. Never forget that our human effort will never be enough. We must receive Divine intervention to have victory through Christ.

Develop the discipline of not allowing distractions to disrupt your day. I remember one of my best friends [who now is asleep until Jesus returns] would always respond when she was asked to do anything, “I have to pray first, receive my answer, and I will let you know.”

Loving God is giving Him first place in our hearts, minds, and lives. Our desire is for Jesus to be the Lover of our souls. When we comprehend the reality that Jesus sacrificed His life for us and promises to sustain our lives, we can say, Yes, to His will and will eagerly accept His decisions. Surrendering to God is a free will choice. When we make a habit of letting our first response of asking God to show us the way, we stay in alignment with His perfect will. Live to always to please God.

Possessing the Love, Humility, Faith, Trust, and Obedience of Children

“He said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.'” (Matthew 18:3)

We decide every day if we will commit ourselves to God. Our love for God is proven by the prayer that Jesus prayed daily, “Father, not my will, but Your will be done in my life.” From a loving heart flows humility, faith, trust, and obedience. Without obedience to God, we think and make the same wayward decisions as unbelievers. Yes, like young children, we love and live with joyful anticipation by eagerly believing, trusting, and waiting on the Lord.

Holiness is demonstrated by having an obedient mind that is in Jesus Christ.

Serving God requires a heart transformation. We were born in sin. The struggle to do right is real. Even the apostle Paul said, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15). One of my prayers is, “Lord, save me from myself.” Our lifestyle of self-denial helps us to “…be doers of the word…(James 1:22).

God’s Standard for the Righteous: “…Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2).

The word for holy in Hebrew is qadash [pronounced kaw-dash], which means to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, holy, sanctified, and separate. We have a reward of eternal life promised to us by King Jesus if we choose to accept it.

The Holy Spirit’s Awesome and Mysterious Power

Holiness is striving for righteousness which is right doing. We cannot attain the righteous standards nor experience spiritual transformation [that God requires] without the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit. Staying close to God by praying and inviting the presence and power of the Holy Spirit enables us to discern the truth, gain wisdom, and most importantly, hear God’s voice.

Pray brothers and sisters! Prayer is our lifeline to heaven. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). When faced with the spiritual warfare of distractions, fatigue, confusion, anxiety, worry, stress, and discouragement, pray for comfort. Do not wait for something drastic to happen before you pray. Include every challenge in your life and take it to God in prayer. Our Heavenly Father is waiting to hear from us.

Serving God is all or nothing. From embracing forms of worldliness, many believers have left their First Love–Jesus. If you are confused about your spiritual status, think about the people in your social circle. Do your conversations reflect your relationship with Christ? In our daily activities, do we see every interaction with others as an opportunity to witness? Is it important that we help those in need?

What can we do with our blessing of a new day to reflect our love for Christ? The darkness of hopelessness pervades humanity and leaves many with the desire to stop living. People from all walks of life are consistently medicating themselves with alcohol and illicit substances. Show love, kindness, and gentleness to yourself and to everyone else who you interact with. We cannot live with a mindset of not wanting to get involved. We represent Jesus who is the Light of the world.

Prayer: God, we thank You for the blessing of a new day. We desire to dedicate ourselves totally to Your will. We pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. And we ask You to reveal those whom we can encourage today and every day. In Jesus’ powerful name, we claim victory. Amen.

Created in His Image–For What Purpose?

Created in His Image—For What Purpose? Sabbath Devotional Reading and Podcast

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” –Psalm 139:14

Have you ever wondered about God’s plans for humanity? With over 8 billion people on the planet, it seems impossible that everyone would have a purpose that would make a difference. Yet, we must trust in God when He says that there are plans for each of us. Without God, we are only living to exist. A mindset filled with uncertainty leads to discouragement, depression, anxiety, and worries.

Yes, the question of Why am I here? is frequently asked. God has the answer in the Scriptures. God says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Spiritual Gifts: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

God has equipped us with innate gifts and talents that enable us to live joyful, productive, purpose-driven lives. We have talents that allow us to work and earn money to obtain our life necessities. Our earthly labors require time management skills, structure, and discipline. Although our jobs provide monetary compensation to take care of ourselves and our families, they are secondary to our spiritual assignment from God.

Do Not Let Your Career Become a Roadblock! Give us this day our daily bread is asking God for today’s necessities of life along with the daily strength to perform our spiritual purpose and our tasks of labor. For His grace and mercies, at the end of the day, we thank God for the mental and physical strength to achieve our accomplishments.

God defines His role in our purpose. “LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Christian believers have three responsibilities, to worship God every day, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker” (Psalm 95:6). At every given opportunity, we are to witness the love of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, “Go, and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:18-20). And to help those in need, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?” (1 John 3:17).

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33

Jesus warned us that our earthly lives would be filled with disappointment. Satan, our enemy loves for our emotions to escalate in response to our activities of daily life. When we pray, the Holy Spirit gives us strength from Jesus who reminds us that He is the Source of our daily strength. We are the only created beings that can think, reason, and choose to have faith and trust in a Higher Power outside of ourselves.

“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” –Deuteronomy 31:6

When we choose to have a relationship with the Creator, we are guaranteed victorious outcomes from all adversities. Jesus told the apostle Paul, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness'” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Jesus’ strength is power!

Faith is the catalyst that allows us to proclaim that all things are possible with Christ. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Divine intervention requires that we do our part first by believing the scriptural promises of God. We remain courageous while living out God’s purpose because His plans are perfect. We never have to figure out the answers.

Humans can persevere and overcome challenges when we pray for Divine Intervention. When God is involved, be prepared for a change in your life.

Why am I here and what is my purpose? Think of yourself as one of God’s priceless investments.

Before God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26, first part), we know that God’s heart was full of love and we can only imagine that He was excited to see replicas of “His likeness.”

Maybe we cannot imagine the beauty and perfection of the Garden of Eden. Yet, our Earth has areas so phenomenal that the beauty of nature is a magnificent expression of God’s adoration and majesty. From a loving heart, Jesus created humanity, the earth, the world, and the universe for us to live happy, joyful, and contented lives.

God, our Heavenly Father, freely pours out His love, grace, and mercies to us every day. Yet, the wonderful gift was allowing Jesus to die to redeem us from the second and final death. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

Why did God create humanity? We were created to worship and give God the highest praise from His agape love. We were created to love God and one another, marry, and have children. Even so, we were given free will of choice.

In Psalm 118, King David begins his song to remind us that God created us to worship and give Him our praises of gratitude, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 118:1).

One of my favorite writers states, “We were created for dignity, purity, and elevation of character in this life, and for joy unspeakable and full of glory in the future immortal life.” EGW

He created people out of love for the purpose of sharing love. People were created to love God and each other. Additionally, when God created people, he gave them good work to do so that they might experience God’s goodness and reflect his image in how they care for the world and each other. https://www.gcu.edu/blog/theology-ministry/dear-theophilus-why-did-god-create-world

Jesus promised in Matthew chapter 6 that He would give us all of our provisions when we seek the Kingdom of God first. Has God given us too much? The thought comes to mind of parents who love and adore their children. Their home is filled with affection, laughter, and adequate playtime. They patiently teach good morals and values, only for that one child to reject their love, disobey, and rebel against everything good and lovely.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to Reveal Your Purpose

Maybe we have never thought about the reason we were born to live in such a time as this. God has a pre-determined purpose for each of us. Do we love God enough to obey and do His will? Do we love God enough that we desire to live with Him eternally? If not, we are like rebellious children who continuously reject their parent’s love.

After some deep, reflective thinking, I am not proud of the disobedient choices that I have made with my gift of free will. Yet, my spiritual insight into why I was created has given me the desire to love God through humility and obedience. Yes, I can love and live differently with the deeper understanding and wisdom the Holy Spirit gives when I commit to my God-given purpose.

I pray that we will whisper a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s steadfast love, for Jesus’ love and His continuous service to humanity as our Heavenly Intercessor, and for the Holy Spirit, who is our Teacher revealing the truth that we are not deceived and our Comforter in the seasons of hardships and sorrows. Nor can we forget the guardian angels who serve humanity to protect us against physical danger and spiritual warfare.

“Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!” –Psalm 105:4

The commitment to fulfill our spiritual purpose on earth reflects obedience and demonstrates our love, honor, and respect for the Creator God. Our life on earth reveals our decision to choose God first.

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” –Psalm 118:29

Prayer: God, we confess and repent of possessing a rebellious mind. We love You. Thank you for creating us in your image. Please reveal our spiritual purpose. We give You the praise, honor, and glory that You deserve. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Where Is the Promise?

Where Is the Promise? Devotional Reading and Podcast

“A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” –Proverbs 16:9

We diligently prayed and asked God to let us be accepted into the university, start our business, change jobs, purchase a vehicle or house, get married, or after miscarriages, have children. God gave us a yes answer, but when we do not receive the promise immediately, we become impatient.

Where is the promise? Distracted by the delay causes us to forget that we live by God’s standards and not the prevailing worldviews of completing self-made accomplishments at a certain stage in life.

God has given each of us innate talents, spiritual gifts, and the ability to dream. Why do some people move forward and make achievements while others never see their desires come to fruition? Several reasons prevent us from receiving God’s promises: Doubt, unbelief, impatience, ingratitude, and rushing ahead of God by taking steps to make it happen faster.

One deception that many believers embrace is the comparison game–we begin to measure our lives by comparing ourselves to the success of others. My friends and siblings have achieved their goals. We begin to think wayward thoughts, Why am I last on God’s list? Comparison breeds impatience, disappointment, and disbelief in God’s timing and perfect plan for our lives.

“The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” –Proverbs 20:24 NLT

Biblical history reveals that humanity’s challenges and emotional responses are already documented in the Scriptures. Our wavering faith in God is predictable behavior.

Abraham and Sarah’s Promise

In Genesis chapter 18, Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent. When he looked up three men were standing by him, knowing that these men were heavenly visitors, he bowed himself to the ground and offered them food. After eating, the Lord asked, “…Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here in the tent.” (verse 9).

The Promise: “And the LORD said, ‘I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.” –Genesis 18:10, the first part

Sarah’s Response: “…Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'” –Genesis 18:10-12

Jesus’ Response: “And the Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.’ –Genesis 18:13-14

Sarah’s Attempted Coverup: “But Sarah denied it, saying, ‘I did not laugh,’ for she was afraid. And He said, ‘No, but you did laugh!'” –Genesis 18:15

Sarah represents two groups of believers, those who react with unbelief to God’s promise for them because they look at their circumstances instead of believing in the power of God. And the second group of believers wholeheartedly believe that God will give them exactly what He has promised, but their joyful anticipation turns into doubt when they have to wait for an extended time to receive their promise.

God knows the state of our hearts. He knows who will react with doubt and who will lose hope. Did our promise die? If God said it then He will do it. We are the stumbling block. We are the reason that our promise did not come to fruition.

“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

What can we do now? Go back to the Promise-maker! In God’s mercy, He waits for us to confess and repent that we have a heart full of doubt and unbelief in His promises and power. Our Heavenly Father is not punitive! He will help us change our unbelief into a faith that grows daily.

Accept God’s timing! We cannot rush the process of spiritual growth and development. For our faith to grow, we will be given obstacles and trials that require us to depend on God. Our goal is not to receive the promise that is on hold. Never forget that faith is the foundation of our relationship with Christ.

Faith keeps us believing in the plan of Salvation. Faith keeps us steadfast when the storms of life appear to overtake us. Faith is required for us to receive the strength from Jesus to endure and persevere when our natural tendency is to give up! Faith empowers us to hold onto every promise that God has made to humanity. And our faith will give us the joyful anticipation to believe that we are on the verge of receiving our promise from God, despite the waiting period.

Sarah was 90 years old and Abraham was 100 when Isaac was born. Is there anything too hard for God?

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

Prayer: God, we confess and repent for our faithlessness in Your promises and Your power. We desire for our faith to grow and to have a closer relationship with Christ. We commit to waiting until you say that we are ready to receive our promises. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

God’s Promises, Presence, and Power

Sabbath Devotional Reading–God’s Promises, Presence, and Power

In 1963, a TV program starring David Janssen called The Fugitive, a man who was innocent but deemed guilty due to circumstantial evidence. Besides running for his life and hiding from the misguided authorities, his concentration was divided because he was also attempting to prove his innocence.

The show lasted for four seasons. Yet, it is quite interesting that the TV series imitated the story of David, the analogy of an innocent man who becomes a fugitive–running for his life.

First Samuel chapters 18 to 22 give us an in-depth account of David’s struggle to stay alive. How does one transition from a shepherd boy whom God used to kill Goliath to becoming a fugitive running from the same king who celebrated his victory over Goliath?

From Shepherd Boy to a Fugitive

After the slaying of Goliath, King Saul kept David with him, and would not permit him to return to his father’s house. The king was aware that God had a divine purpose for David. He possessed courage, strong warrior traits, and leadership qualities unusual for a young man his age. After God gave David and the soldiers victory over the Philistines, all was well until Saul heard the Israelite women’s song honoring David.

“As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistines, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. And as the women danced, they sang out: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.’ And Saul was furious and resented this song. ‘They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,’ he said, ‘but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?…'” –1 Samuel 18:6-8

The demon of jealousy entered the heart of the king. He was angry because David was exalted above himself in the song of the women of Israel. Patriarchs and Prophets

Because of Saul’s unrepentant and disobedient spirit, God told Samuel that He had rejected the self-exalting king. The prophet Samuel loved Saul like a son, which led to an emotional response to God’s decision. He petitioned God through prayer to reconsider removing Saul as king.

God’s answer: “The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.'” –1 Samuel 16:1

God’s Promise: God chose David to be King Saul’s replacement as king of Israel. “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David…” (1 Samuel 16:13).

God’s Presence: Although we do not know the exact number of years that David ran from King Saul, scholars estimate between 8 to 13 years. From a human perspective, it is difficult to understand the reason for David’s extreme hardship of living in caves and constantly on the run. Yet, God was aware of David’s strengths and weaknesses and the adversity required to shape his character and prepare him to lead the nation of Israel as their king. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4).

God’s Power: Every moment of every day, God was with David. Saul tried with all of his might to kill the giant slayer and the next king of Israel, but he failed. Read 1 Samuel chapter 24 to learn how God’s Divine Intervention adds an unexpected twist to King Saul’s relentless pursuit of David.

David did not avoid Saul using strategic maneuvers or relying on his knowledge and skills. David was more than a victorious warrior of battles, he was a prayer warrior who communicated with God about every tribulation he faced. Not only did he praise God in hard times, but David also wrote an entire book of songs [the book of Psalms] that demonstrate his love and appreciation for God.

As children of God, we face spiritual warfare every day that comes in many forms. Psalm chapter 34 is a song of praise proclaiming “The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God.” David was captured and taken before King Abimelech. He pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

Psalm 34 contains thirteen of God’s promises to the righteous. Study the Scriptures and pray diligently for the anointing of the Holy Spirit in your life. Each of us will face time as a fugitive. At some point, we will have a hardship in our lives where family or friends cannot help us.

Spiritual Insight and Wisdom are Received From Divine Revelation

Although we may feel abandoned while in the wilderness of overwhelming hardships, from David’s life as a young shepherd boy to a fugitive, and finally becoming the King of Israel, we gain spiritual insight into who God is and the victory that comes from facing adversity when we pray for help. Despite life’s tough challenges, our faith should remain steadfast. Never forget that we serve a loving God who says, I change not!

Remain teachable by studying the Bible and praying. The human effort of maintaining our relationship with Jesus allows us to have steadfast faith in the most challenging times. Like David, although pursued by the enemy, our confidence and courage should never waver. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).

Yes, we know who will deliver us from all of our troubles–our Dependable God who fulfills all of His promises, whose presence can be felt by whoever asks for Divine help, and who has the power to prevent, reverse, and remove all warfare against our lives.

Prayer: God, we thank you for Your promises, presence, and power. In faith, we surrender our hearts and commit to serving You as obedient disciples. Thank you for giving us the Sabbath– a time to rest our minds and bodies by shutting out the secular noise. We pray for spiritual insight, wisdom, and a blessing as we commune with You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Duality of Humanity

The Duality of Humanity Devotional Reading

The high calling of living righteously every day and preparing for eternal life appears to be a source of conflict in our lives. With the demands of daily living, how can we look beyond our day and also prepare for life in the New Heaven and New Earth? Is it possible to achieve both simultaneously?

Has God set unachievable standards for those created in His image? Most worldviews are in opposition to God’s truth except one, Work Smarter, Not Harder. Let’s expand the concept from Work Smarter to “Live Smarter, Not Harder.”

When studying Creation, we learn that God has a systematic approach that ends in completion. His goal was to create the world. God did not multi-task when creating the world. No unfinished tasks had to be pushed to the next day. Humanity has been given a Divine Blueprint for how we are to live.

Divine Intervention: God’s ultimate goal is for us to receive the reward of eternal life. Human Effort: Our daily lives reflect the spiritual steps we are taking to live in harmony with God’s plan for us.

Sanctification is the lifelong journey of daily spiritual growth and development into the likeness of Christ. Our spiritual journey is a continuous struggle because our transformation requires the continuous acquisition of knowledge and wisdom through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, prayer, and study of the Scriptures. Still, many Christians reject God’s perfect plan for their lives to Live Smarter, Not Harder as reflected by their lifestyle.

Can you imagine having a friend who says to you, “I really hate technology and all the changes in this world because of it?” I would remain silent and with a giant wave of sorrow, accept that the relationship with my friend has just ended.

We look at others in disbelief who do not embrace advancements to make one’s life function at an optimal level of wellness. Life is dynamic–Change must and will happen whether we willingly accept progression or not.

God Requires Spiritual Progression: “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

Sadly, many Christian believers fall into the statistics of having a resistant mindset. We also choose to live harder. Exclusion of God and His divine plan for our lives places us in the same predicament as the transgressor [God says their way is hard]. The acceptance of a worldview of doing it our way not only proclaims that we do not need God, but we also develop a spirit of pride that deceives us into believing that we have the strength, knowledge, and power to plan, achieve our goals, and to resolve any adverse event that will happen in our lives.

Self-reliance always produces the loss of the spiritual benefits we receive from having a relationship with God. Instead of enjoying the peace and contentment that comes from the Triune God [God, the Father, God, Jesus the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit [who has an angel army to serve humanity], we transition into the dark side of life where worry, insecurity, anxiety, and discouragement reside. 

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Opposition to God results in spiritual blindness–we cease to see the purpose of serving and obeying God. Nor is it a priority for us to have a relationship with Jesus and to have the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit. Abiding in Christ and producing fruit that prepares us for the transition from this earthly life to one of immortality in the New Heaven and New Earth are no longer our desires.

Created in the image of God with a dependency on His Divine Intervention throughout our lives is God’s unchangeable plan. Dualism arises when our views are in opposition to God’s righteous standards. The spiritual conflict caused by doing things our way creates a growing chasm between us and God.

“O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” –Jeremiah 10:23

The time will come when our plans or solutions fail. When our lives begin to fall apart, we usually resort to the emotional responses of anger, disappointment, and despair. Why is it so easy for us to blame God for the negative outcomes that come from our decisions? Have you ever thought that it’s just too hard to serve God? Do not give in to your emotions, with God, we are never alone!

“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.” –John 16:33

Without God, the rapid progression of life easily places us into the spiritual dilemma of mismanaging our daily lives and the loss of our reward for eternal life. We need Divine help every day! The dependency of humanity on God was designed to bring us through the vicissitudes of life and ensure that we receive the strength and power from the Holy Spirit to live for today and to prepare for eternal life simultaneously.

““And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” –Revelation 22:12

Live every day with the joyful expectation that Jesus’ promise of Revelation 22:12 will be fulfilled. The challenge is to overcome the spiritual warfare of self-seeking desires that prevent us from total reliance on Divine Intervention. Still, how do we bridge the gap that exists between accomplishing the tasks of living for today and preparing for eternal life?

Humanity requires help! We were created to have a forever relationship with God. Jesus knows that our journey is filled with struggle. The reality is that life with Jesus is meaningful and filled with accomplishments. Let God sustain your life! Go ahead and give every burden to Christ. The practical way to do that is by praying for Divine help and guidance in the routine activities of your life as well as the challenges.

Peace and joy are the gifts we receive when we willingly surrender to His will and plans which are custom-made for every person.

How deep is your level of commitment to God? Are you willing to surrender Your will in obedience to God? Each morning, take at least 15 minutes or more to have meaningful worship with our Heavenly Father. Approach God with a spirit of gratitude and confess your need for Him. Ask for the anointing, wisdom, and discernment from the Holy Spirit upon your life.

Time with God allows the Holy Spirit to give you the spiritual blessing of the Divine strength to endure, persevere and overcome for today and eagerly look forward to your reward of eternal life.

Prayer: God, we need You. We ask for the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Distractions–The Enemy that Always Wins

Distractions—The Enemy that Always Wins Devotional Reading

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. –Psalm 90:12

Think of your plans and goals for yesterday, how well did you do? Did you accomplish the tasks according to their priority on your to-do list? What did you do with the leftover time? And did you fall asleep with peaceful thoughts from the joy of your accomplishments?

The War of Distractions

The questions are pertinent because we are involved in an intense battle of strategic spiritual warfare intended to make us lose everything God has planned to bless us with now and eternally. As one contemplates the busyness of life, we have grown accustomed to accepting distractions as a natural element that rightfully belongs in our lives.

Distractions are often hidden from plain sight. Always have a million things on the to-do lists or make promises to help because you can’t say no without feeling guilty? Distractions make us waste valuable time from our lives that we can never retrieve.

Distractions make us lose the ability to dream, and prevent us from developing our spiritual gifts and natural talents. Nor can we receive the blessings from using our God-given spiritual assignment to tell others of the love of Jesus Christ because Distractions rob us of the life-giving sustaining power of God.

Distraction Alert!!! The Covert Strategy of Multitasking is a Manmade Concept!

Biblical references prove that God is Completion. Let us look at the story of Creation. In six days God used a systematic approach for the completion of His work for that day. The affirmation “And God saw that it was good.” is repeated four times. There were no thoughts about manipulating tomorrow’s schedule to squeeze in the things that were not completed in the day’s 24-hour cycle of time.

“God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:5

Our concept of time is out of sync with God’s time. Sunset is the beginning of a new day. In the evening, say a prayer, and ask God to give you the wisdom to change your present routine. Develop one or two realistic goals before you go to bed. Be specific by placing a one or two-hour-time parameter that you will complete during your daytime hours.

Eliminating distractions requires courage and discipline! Stand your ground against all distractors. Perform an honest self-evaluation. Are you embracing distractions? If yes, then admit that you are working against yourself and take aggressive steps to remedy the situation.

The Restorative Benefits of Completion–“A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.” Proverbs 13:19

When our lives are out of sync with their natural order, we will never enjoy the blessings of peace and joy that come from making accomplishments. King Solomon says that accomplishments are sweet to the soul, indicating the spiritual aspect of completion. We do not find peace in tranquil locations nor achieve optimal mental, emotional, and physical health without following God’s plan for the human beings He created in His image.

The Journey to Complete Spiritual Restoration includes the Challenge of Overcoming Distractions

“Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.” Psalm 27:11

We have a choice to make. Eliminate the struggle caused by oneness—we have Divine Intervention available. God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us is lifelong. Yes. God is a God of Completion. When Jesus created us in their image, He knew the forever dependency that was required to sustain humanity.

Stopping the repetitious cycle is possible! Do not live in misery because of Satan’s spiritual warfare of distractions. Let go of your learned thought processes from the influencers who can do nothing but give misconstrued advice. Let go of habits and people who constantly introduce suffering into your life. Satan uses the familiar to keep us overwhelmed.

Embrace God’s Righteous Standard of Completion to overcome the Enemy of Distractions. God Always Produces Victorious Overcomers!

“I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said, ‘You are My servant.’ I have chosen and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

God created us to live on this earth in the peace and prosperity that comes from receiving His abundant blessings. Our willingness to have a heartfelt relationship with Christ not only gives us joy, contentment, peace, and happiness, but we also receive knowledge and wisdom from the Holy Spirit to live productive and structured lives. Created in His image, we receive the power to achieve completion of the tasks to maintain a life of spiritual equilibrium.

Prayer: God, we desperately need Your help. Please reveal the distractions that prevent us from making accomplishments and having the daily joy that comes from completion. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.