Surrender – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

To Be Like Jesus: Understanding Christ’s Righteous Character

“The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, Faith meekness temperance against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character, which God expects us to also possess. Because we inherited hearts filled with the desire to sin, we cannot change ourselves without the power of the Holy Spirit.

“…I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.” (Romans 16:19, NLT).

“In…Romans, the apostle Paul speaks about two antagonistic forces trying to shape our lives.”

“On the one hand, the surrounding world, with its various influences, tries to force us daily into its own mold, effecting a conformation in us that works from the outside in.”

Satan’s goal is to manipulate the righteous into sinning against God by any means necessary.

Everyday, we face Satan’s customized temptations that strongly appeal to the desires of our hearts. And he uses people to provoke our emotions, so we react with the bitter fruit of words that do not represent the Righteousness of Christ.

“To counteract this impact, the Holy Spirit is able to transform us inside out in a manner similar to the way a caterpillar metamorphoses into a beautiful butterfly.”

But we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit for our character to be transformed into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character. Are we willing to honor and revere God with daily surrender and faithful obedience?

“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).

Love is the catalyst that motivates us to live as Christ did, always seeking the will of God, His Father.

Without loving God more than ourselves, we will never see our need to acquiesce to His Sovereign Authority by living a life of self-denial and obedience.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24).

Human Effort: Our lifestyle must be one of daily worship, faithful obedience, and self-control. We choose to let go of worldly affections, pursuits, habits, and behaviors because we love God, and desire to follow Jesus.

“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).

We were never created to navigate through the Christian Journey using only human effort. Throughout the Bible, Jesus promises to help us to overcome every hardship and temptation:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

From striving to live righteously, we can depend on Christ to send the Spiritual Reinforcements of Divine Strength, the Wisdom to discern covert deception, and the Power to strengthen our faith.

God expects us to live courageously and with a mindset of total dependency on God. It is with holy boldness that we consistently pray in faith, “Lord, I need Your help to overcome my self-reliancee.”

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

In His earthly life, Christ continually separated Himself from others to pray and ask God, the Father for strength and guidance.

Whether we are at work, driving, or relaxing, we can pray silently, or audibly at any time of the day or night. Staying connected to Christ allows us to perceive life through spiritual eyes, and to receive the strength to obey God.

With humility, we acknowledge that we cannot fight Satan without Divine help. We must live as Prayer Warriors!

“No weapon formed against me will prosper…” (Isaiah 54:17).

Forming the habit of much prayer invites Christ, our Mighty Warrior to send angels to fight Satan’s unseen spiritual warfare, and to protect us from physical harm.

Unlike unbelievers who are constantly deceived, the believer who consistently prays will never fall victim to scams of covert deception.

Prayer allows us to stay connected to Jesus’ Divine Power. Prayer invites the Holy Spirit to keep us on the Path of Righteousness. Only Divinity can empower us to live as victorious overcomers!

A life of surrender and self-denial is the only way for us to be empowered by the Holy Spirit who keeps us on the Path of Righteousness.

God requires us to put Him first. Love for God produces loyalty and the desire to obey Him instead of pursuing our desires.

It is an issue of the heart when we find it difficult to obey God. Self-Reliance is the result of us redirecting our love and faith from God to ourselves.

To overcome self-reliance, from the moment we awaken, we make a covenant vow to put our faith and trust in God by including God in every decision and challenge.

From praying for His will to be done, we are rewarded with the spiritual wisdom and strength to live a sacrificial life dedicated to God. Pray, wait, and obey!

The willingness to surrender with faithful obedience not only keeps us in right standing with God, but we are also rewarded with the spiritual blessings of peace, joy, and happiness.

To emulate Christ, we must know who He is.
Studying the Life of Christ in the Four Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John] is a life-changing experience: “Looking unto Jesus we obtain brighter and more distinct views of God, and by beholding we become changed.”

“Goodness, love for our fellow men, becomes our natural instinct. We develop a character which is the counterpart of the Divine Character. Growing into His likeness, we enlarge our capacity for knowing God.”

“But for that process to happen, we need to consecrate ourselves to God and ask Him to continue the good work that He has started in us (Philippians 1:6).”

“[Every day] we have to make the conscious choice, moment by moment, to walk in the Spirit.”

Powerful Message of Truth. It was my mother who told me that I would never grow spiritually, or have the desire to follow Christ until I began studying the Scriptures to learn His Loving Character.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). The Scriptures are God’s Spoken Words revealing His Loving Character.

From our willingness to receive Spiritual Nourishment, the Holy Spirit deepens our understanding of our Heavenly Father’s Love.

Under the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit, search the Scriptures daily to learn who God says He is: “I Am Who I Am.”

“In the beginning God created…” Studying the Book of Genesis gives us insight into Jesus’ history of intervening in the lives of the righteous to give them victory.

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

From the Holy Writ, we learn that Jesus, God, the Son is Elohim Shomri, God, Our Protector who dispatches angelic protection to shield us from the evil one’s diabolical schemes.

As we come into the knowledge of the Truth, we no longer perceive God’s Commandments and Righteous Precepts as being restrictive.

Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the spiritual wisdom to understand that God’s Directives were given to shield us from evil, and to guide our steps.

We require Biblical knowledge for the Holy Spirit to speak to us when temptation threatens to detour us from the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

We strive to honor God with love and loyalty because every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God empowers us in our spiritual journey from Earth to Heaven.

Prayer and Bible Study are Faith-builders!

The Scriptures give us knowledge of Christ’s Righteousness and instruct us on how to live a sacrificial life of worship and obedience.

In the strength of Jesus Christ, while we are overcoming the trials and temptations in our earthly journey, the Holy Spirit is performing the daily transformation of our character into the likeness of our Lord and Savior’s Righteousness.

Preparing for Eternity One Day At a Time in the Strength of Our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ. Peace and Blessings!

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, Both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25).

We Overcome Through Christ’s Strength

“Be holy, for I Am Holy. (1 Peter 1:16).

Living Holy Is to Be Set Apart from Worldly Habits and Pursuits

The Holy Spirit will teach us how to be holy. Since Satan knows his time is short, he is doubling his efforts to distract us from our commitment to God.

What does God require of us?

“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).

We intentionally renounce sinful habits, behaviors, and separate ourselves from unbelievers, which includes family and friends who Satan uses to easily persuade us to sin against God.

Our responsibility is to spend time with God. Prayer is our highest form of worship to God. Pray consistently, and much more than once or twice a day, and study the Bible, which gives us Spiritual Nourishment.

If you have never studied the Bible, begin with Genesis, which teaches us God’s Righteous and Loving Character, His overwhelming love for those created in His image, the attributes of a Christian character, and His faithful commitment to helping the righteous to overcome temptation and adversity.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path…I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:105, 111).

We should never rush through the Bible. The Book of Genesis contains 52 chapters. Set aside 60 days to study. Our goal is to become Forever Learners of God’s word, which transforms our character, and teaches us how to live righteously, and to depend on God.

Worship Is Placing Ourselves In God’s Holy Presence

Separate yourself from all distractions and people. Place your phone on do not disturb, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and discernment of God’s Truth, and the strength to live by His words.

The purpose of studying the Bible is to learn and practice God’s expectations of His sons and daughters, to receive His instructions not only when facing dilemmas, but also before making decisions that affect our daily routine of life.

We must have Scriptural knowledge before our minds, characters, and personalities are transformed by the Holy Spirit, which is a lifelong spiritual journey.

“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” (Revelation 16:15, NLT).

What does it mean to keep our clothing ready, and not be naked and ashamed?

“Being ‘clothed’ spiritually means to be covered with the Robe of Christ’s Righteousness, while being ‘naked’ spiritually means to be exposed in one’s own sins and self-righteousness.”

“It takes the right situation to reveal a person’s true character.”

God tells us that every secret within our hearts will be exposed. When we harbor secret sins, which are never a secret to God, He allows a situation to happen, which exposes the true status of our hearts, and we learn who we really are.

We can never change ourselves, or stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness without asking for Divine Help every day.

Christ did not create us to use our thoughts, and limited human wisdom and strength to overcome the conflict of our internal desires and the external opposition of Satan’s temptations.

Whisper prayers throughout your waking hours asking God for strength. Your prayers will be answered. The Holy Spirit will empower you with Jesus’ Strength, Wisdom, and Discernment, this is the only way, we can live as Overcomers.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Personal Testimony

This is how I changed my relationship with Christ. Every day as soon as I awaken, I consecrate my mind, body, and soul to God. I have personal worship twice-a-day, spending time studying the Scriptures and praying throughout my day for strength.

I stopped making decisions without praying, waiting, listening for God’s voice, and then obeying His instructions. Truthfully, this is still my struggle to not impulsively follow my thoughts.

Before making a decision always, Pause, Pray, and Wait on the Lord to answer your prayer. God perceives time as Eternal, so He is never in a hurry.

Spiritual Growth and Character Development Occurs In Small Steps

The Holy Spirit changes us daily, but gradually. And you will recognize that you are changing spiritually because you will start feeling differently about “Sin.”

There are things you won’t be able to talk about, programs you will cease watching, and listening to, and you will spend less time on social media, and let go of other habits that caused you to waste your time instead of worshiping God.

Sanctification is the progressive transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities, and we must cooperate fully with the Holy Spirit to be changed.

Jesus placed great emphasis on loving God, the Father. Because our hearts are filled with self-love, we must possess genuine love for God to put Him first.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27).

Loving God with everything we have, is written in four different Chapters of the Bible. Our relationship with Christ is only possible when we love and are loyal to God, the Father.

To be a Christian requires that we possess a teachable spirit of humility, and the willingness to surrender daily, and faithfully obey God.

God gave us the spiritual gifts of love, power, a sound mind, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).

“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 12:2, NIV).

Daily worship enables us to recognize who we are in Christ Jesus. When our identity is anchored in Christ, we will not engage in sinful practices.

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

The King is coming sooner than we think. We can never overcome temptations and adversity using our thoughts, strategies, and strength. Several times a day, pray for Jesus to give you His strength, wisdom, and discernment.

Let go of everything that does not please God! Nothing on this Earth is worth exchanging your Crown of Life for. Peace and Blessings.

Lord God, we need you. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, to give us a pure heart, and baptize our hearts with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We thank You for Your Love, Grace, and Mercies, and ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Jesus, Our Loving Shepherd

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. (Psalm 95:6-7).

With deep reflection, I began to think about the relationship between sheep and their shepherd. We can learn from the animals who consistently demonstrate love, loyalty, and obedience to their shepherd.

“Sheep behave with loyalty, recognition, and trust toward their shepherd, responding to their voice, scent, and presence, which signals food, safety, and care.”

“Their behavior includes following the shepherd, calming in their presence, recognizing their unique traits, and learning routines associated with their herder.”

“This bond is built on the shepherd’s consistent provision of resources and protection.”

Following and Guidance:
“Sheep will follow their shepherd willingly, knowing that the shepherd provides food, water, and guidance for their well-being.”

I began to think about our relationship with Jesus, our Loving Shepherd who desires to provide for us and protect us from Satan, our enemy. Yet, we must willingly choose to follow Jesus.

Our Greatest Challenge: We inherited hearts overflowing with desires that rebel against God’s plans for our lives.

It is easier to pursue our desires than to surrender in faithful obedience and follow our Shepherd.

Ask yourself, “What is keeping me from following Jesus, my Shepherd?”

Set aside some alone time to think about the desires, habits, and pursuits preventing you from making the commitment to become a faithful follower.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me…” (John 10:14).

Jesus reminds us that He knows the pure motives of His sheep. They are the Believers who abide in Him by maintaining a heart-to-heart relationship through daily surrender.

The Characteristics of Faithful Sheep

Through daily personal worship, we consecrate ourselves utilizing Jesus’ prayer to His Father, Not my will, but Your will be done.” (Luke 22:42).

When our hearts are converted, we readily surrender ourselves to worship God in Spirit and Truth. Love and loyalty for our Shepherd is demonstrated by intentional obedience, which is our highest act of worship to God.

As time slips rapidly into eternity, we are confronted with the choice, Who will I follow? Jesus, or myself?

Our Triumphant King’s promise: “…Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the Crown of life. (Revelation 2:10).

The behaviors of the righteous: Follow Jesus, renounce sin, relinquish your desires, and prepare daily for His Soon Coming.

“Commit everything you do to the Lord [YAHWEH]. Trust Him, and He will help you.” (Psalm 37:5, NLT).

Lord God, thank You for giving us freedom from a sin debt that left us spiritually bankrupt. Jesus, You are our Shepherd, we give ourselves to You. Lead us, correct us, protect us, and cleanse us from the unrighteousness of our heart’s desires. With praise and faithful obedience, we thank You, God, and lift Your Name on High for the gift of Jesus. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.