Victory – 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.

Pavel Goia: Communism Couldn’t Stop Me From Keeping the Sabbath

Run to Jesus! He Is Our Mighty Warrior

Jesus speaking to His disciples: “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me…” (John 14:30, NLT).

As Jesus hung on the cross, Satan thought He had won. But on that early Sunday morning, when God, the Father sent Heaven’s angels to roll back the stone. Our Savior awakened from the sleep of death, and walked out of the tomb, then Satan knew that he was defeated. Yes and Amen!

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians (6:12).

In Ephesians chapter 6, the Apostle Paul explains that every believer is involved in the battle of spiritual warfare. Yes, in the Great Controversy of Good and Evil, Satan is fighting Jesus for our souls.

But our greatest enemy does not have power over us, or our free will of choice. Satan cannot force us to sin against God, we willingly choose to embrace temptation.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24, NIV).

The Battlefield is Our Mind!

Every day, we are tempted to embrace the unbeliever’s lifestyle of chasing prosperity, pleasure, and the self-gratification of appetite, and sexual immorality.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). Even believers have desires for wealth and success that do not align with the Righteousness of Christ.

Excessive spending, countless hours on social media, and relationships with unbelievers may appear to be insignificant, but every temptation has the ulterior motive of being a catalyst to forming habits that prevent us from praying and studying the Bible, which separate us from God.

Divine Intervention Is Always Available: “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).

Jesus does not allow Satan to ambush us with countless deceptions, our Shepherd and King places limits on the enemy’s schemes and attacks against believers. Without Divine boundaries placed on Satan, we would feel hopeless, and defeated.

Feeling Defeated? Check Your Spiritual Connection with Christ.

When we face continuous battles, we are disconnected from Christ. Our desires, choices, and lifestyles indicate whether or not, we are spiritually connected to Christ.

Reflect on your current lifestyle. Are you loyal to Christ? Or, is your priority to please self?

The Compromise: Satan has deceived many believers who have detoured from the Path of Righteousness because they are pursuing their desires. Sadly, they don’t even realize they are disconnected from Christ.

We cannot blend Christ’s Righteousness with the sinful desires for wealth, success, and an easy life, and remain spiritually connected to Christ.

Ways We Disconnect from Christ: Failure to have daily worship. Not praying and studying the Bible. Never praying for God to reveal His plans, or asking for God’s guidance. Engaging in sinful behaviors and habits. Having relationships with unbelievers. Following our own thoughts, and seeking the advice of self-proclaimed influencers and experts.

The Lifestyle of the Disconnected

It may appear that Satan is good to unbelievers because they possess the world’s wealth. But one of Satan’s greatest deceptions are the worldviews that wealth produces wisdom, and a mindset of euphoric peace.

Unbelievers live a miserable life because their mind is always in a state of discontent. They are constantly developing strategies to increase their economic wealth and social status.

It is easy to boast about living the dream, but behind closed doors, unbelievers are anxious, worried, and stressed everyday. And yes, Satan constantly disturbs the minds of those who are loyal to him.

Unbelievers do not receive God’s gift of peace, nor, do they have the constant angelic protection given by Jesus to His faithful followers to fight Satan’s attacks of causing mental anguish and physical harm.

“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).

Disconnected? Seeking Restoration with Christ Requires Repentance and the Daily Commitment to Surrender and Obey

“Be holy for I am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).

Run to Jesus! Reconnecting to Christ requires a change in our priorities and lifestyle. The commitment to living righteously includes choosing right over wrong when tempted, and being guided by the Holy Spirit when making decisions.

There is no logical reason for us to let Satan beat us down. Living righteously includes having Total Access to Jesus Christ. We can only fight Satan’s manipulative schemes and win when we are empowered with Jesus’ Divine strength.

Thinking and living according to God’s Righteous Principles requires Steadfast Faith, and the daily Spiritual Reinforcements of Prayer, Bible Study, Faith, Surrender, and Obedience, which keep us spiritually linked to Christ.

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33, CSB).

Yes, in our earthly journey, we will face spiritual warfare, but Satan is defeated! Invite Jesus Christ, our Mighty Warrior to fight your battles. He always wins!

Run to Jesus! He is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, Forever and Ever, Amen.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” (Revelation 19:11)

Lord God, with humility and surrender,we are running to You, asking you to forgive us for our sins of neglecting you as our First Love. Jesus, we are returning to You, asking for Your Divine wisdom, guidance, strength, and protection, as we face the Warfare in our lives. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in faith and in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Stand Still! Yahweh Nissi Will Fight For You

King Jehoshaphat’s Prayer

“Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord…and said: ‘O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? ‘” (2 Chronicles 20:5-6).

God’s Answer: “And he said, ‘Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s'” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

Yesterday, God revealed that He is Faithful, Sovereign, Powerful, and His promise to resolve, and bring completion to impossible situations is exactly what He does for the righteous who put their faith in Him.

God resolved a complex situation yesterday that brought me to my knees in awe and reverence of His Love and Power! When we place our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and Warrior God, He gives us victory!

God brought me to a Spiritual Crossroads in which I had to decide whether or not, I would place my life, faith, and trust in His hands. I chose God by renewing my covenant of consecration to faithfully obey and trust Him.

Only trust Him! His Banner Over Us Is Love!

Yahweh Nissi “This name…signifies God’s presence and guidance as a banner, ensuring protection and victory in times of conflict.”

Lord God, Great is your Faithfulness. Thank you for being the Warrior God of today, tomorrow, and forever, who promises to protect and fight for us when we place our faith in You. Thank you for revealing your love and protection for those who run to You for help. With love and surrender, we bow our knees to your Sovereign Authority. In Jesus’ Righteous and Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.

Consider Who Is On Your Side

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you…” -2 Chronicles 20:17

Often we forget that God is Omniscient and He knows every aspect of our lives from beginning to the end. The hardships, adversities, and spiritual warfare we face, God is already aware of, and He waits for us to ask for help.

The LORD is on our side! Who can stand against our Warrior God? Use your faith to believe in His Sovereign Power! Pray for help. Remain silent. Be patient. And watch God give you victory that honors His Holy Name. He is a God Who protects the righteous. Yes and Amen!

LORD God, our world is in turmoil, and we are facing obstacles that we cannot eliminate, and problems we cannot resolve. You commanded us to come to the Throne of Grace, and ask for Your help in the times of need. Jesus, we always need You. Thank You in advance for a victorious outcome. In Jesus’ Powerful Name we pray, Amen.

Facing Opposition? We Serve An Omnipotent God

Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – April 17, 2025

“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

Facing opposition? Use your faith to pray and ask for God’s Divine Intervention. Thank Him in advance for resolving your challenges. Remain Silent. Be patient. And wait on the Lord!

Lord God, we come to You asking for Your Divine help with the challenges we currently face and cannot resolve ourselves. We thank you for the victory, and ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

Gaining the Victory Over Internal Conflict and External Opposition

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – December 18, 2024

The Controversy of Good and Evil Produces Daily Internal Conflict and External Opposition: Every Day, Every Believer Faces Conflicts that Threaten Our Relationship with Christ

The Internal Conflict: “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 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.” —Romans 7:18-19

The Apostle Paul, a dedicated disciple, lamented his daily internal battle of choosing good [God’s will] over his evil desires. Our inherent weakness is to use our free will of choice to pursue what we want.

From the moment we awaken, we face the daily test of faith. Will we seek and follow the will of God or pursue our desires? Even after our prayer of surrender, we still face temptations that threaten to overpower a steadfast commitment to God.

The Battle Raging Within: Deep within the human heart, we crave to pursue and fulfill our desires and plans. The world we live in feeds our insatiable urge for self-satisfaction by promoting worldly success as the solution to obtain peace and happiness.

Every day, our senses are bombarded by stimuli and must-know information that our brains gather and store in our memory bank to feed the human desire to possess much more than God has blessed us with. And the internal struggle for self-governance is so strong that we easily disobey God without reservation.

God tells us that the condition of every human heart “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?…” (Jeremiah 17:9). Still, there is a marked difference between an unbeliever and a believer in the decision-making process of bringing their desires to fruition.

“But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don’t know what makes them stumble.” —Proverbs 4:19, CSB

Because the unbeliever’s life choices are always based on self-fulfillment, they strongly rely on their feelings, strategies, prior experience, the predictions and advice of financial strategists, and high-level advisory boards on economic and social affairs.

Although they utilize careful planning and feel their insight includes predicting future outcomes, by trusting their intuition and the influencers, suffering consequences is a normal way of life. Their lives are always filled with chaos, prompting them to seek unproductive ways to purchase false replicas that mimic inner peace.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear [reverence] the Lord and depart from evil.” —Proverbs 3:5-7

Before the believer sins, we contemplate [with deep thoughts] for several days or longer before taking the steps to bring our plans to fruition. When our thoughts clash with God’s thoughts and plans, Divinity responds, and the Holy Spirit alerts us that we are taking a detour from the Path of Righteousness because our plans are outside of God’s will.

The Impact of the Holy Spirit: Not only is our conscience troubled, but we lose our inner peace, and feel as if we are involved in a tug of war that could manifest itself as a change in one’s emotional state—anxiety, the inability to sleep, or an internal restlessness. So the believer can never say, “I didn’t know what I planned to do was against God’s will.” If we ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit then we lose our right standing with God and are no longer traveling on the narrow road with Christ.

For those who strive to please God, our lives always involve the civil war of internal conflict. The Struggle is Real! [Instagram Reel]: As the young woman adamantly expressed her love for God, there was a sharp left turn as she spoke with strong conviction about her reasons for not trusting God with her life, “I need to be in control of my life, I cannot wait for things to work out without my input…”

The story appeared to have a predictable end, but suddenly her self-confidence melted into tears streaming down her face, and the quality of her voice changed. The next spoken words revealed a voice quivering with emotion, “What am I saying? How can I not trust God who has rescued me from bad situations and is still taking care of me?”

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16, NIV

In our times of greatest conflict over the inability to fully surrender to God, Christ intervenes by allowing the Holy Spirit to touch our conscience and make us aware of God’s love versus our heart’s misguided feelings. This spiritual experience is often referred to as “An Invitation to Come to Jesus.”

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 1:19

A New Heart and Spirit: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances…” —Ezekiel 36:26-27

The External Controversy: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” —Ephesians 6:12

Satan, the “Roaring Lion” is the fallen angel Lucifer who God created as the highest covering cherub to be in His presence. Cast down to earth for his rebellion against God, Satan’s angelic intelligence still supersedes human intelligence. The Fall of humanity in Genesis 3 is our reminder of Satan’s superior intellectual powers over the human mind.

“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

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…’ ” —2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV

Jesus reminds us that He is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory! Satan can present temptation but he cannot coerce us to sin against God. We pray for Divine Help, and Jesus responds by giving us His Strength through the Holy Spirit to overcome the external opposition of satanic temptations.

“For God has not given you the spirit of fear but of love power and a sound mind self-control” (1 Timothy 1:7). Yes, we have received spiritual gifts, but from Eve’s encounter with the serpent [whom Satan used to deceive her], we have Biblical evidence that without Christ, we are powerless to overcome temptation and obey God using human effort alone.

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” —John 8:29

Can you imagine living a life of total obedience to God? Much prayer is required to gain victory over ourselves and the tempter. Obedience is our highest worship to God. Christ gave His life to save us from our battle against sin. If we desire eternal life then striving to live holy is within our reach. When tempted, we pray for and receive Jesus’ spiritual empowerment and exert self-control to overcome the enemy’s strategy to separate us from God.

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” —Psalm 37:23-24

We do not have to fall victim to the entrapments of sin nor can circumstances overcome us when we abide in Christ. Prayer and Bible study keep us grounded in Jesus who promises to give us direction in every aspect of our journey. We are loved by God, the Father who utilizes the heavenly angels to also protect us from the evil one. But not even God will interfere with our free will of choice.

God is the Giver of all good gifts and the Sustainer of our lives. Reflect deeply on your privilege of being a recipient of God’s love, grace, and mercies. Humanity is the only living creation that Christ died for and needs to be covered with His Righteousness to live victoriously.

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

Christ’s spiritual provisions include His Divine Strength to overcome our natural tendency to follow our heart’s desires. With consecration, prayer, and fasting, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey the will of God. Under God’s protection, our prayer for help is answered before we say, Amen. And for His love, faithfulness, and protection against internal conflict and external opposition, with gratitude, we shout, Hallelujah and Amen!

Lord God, we pray for the strength to stand down our desires that prevail against Your will. We ask for the blessing of wisdom, and discernment to recognize Satan’s strategic temptations, and pray for Your intervention when facing internal conflict and external opposition. We desire to live holy, acceptable, and obedient lives because we love You. In Jesus’ Loving and Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.

Because of God’s Loving Kindness, Always Rejoice!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – November 19, 2024

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness, I have drawn you.” —Jeremiah 31:3

To understand God’s love, we must diligently search the Scriptures. From tolerating the rebellion of the Israelites for 40 years to His intervention of giving them victory over enemy armies to the gift of Redemption through Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross, we have infallible proof that God’s love for humanity is steadfast.

Yet intellectual knowledge does not affirm or give us confidence in God’s love. Worship must evolve into a lifestyle in which we consistently reflect on God’s Loving and Righteous Character and His faithfulness. From our many challenges, deep within our hearts, we know with conviction that God has given us victory.

“I will never leave you or forsake you is Christ’s promise. God is the Sustainer of our lives. “The Hebrew word ruach (רוּחַ) refers to the breath of God in the Bible and is translated as ‘spirit’ or ‘wind.’ It is a representation of God’s essence, which sustains life and animates all living things.”

God’s Love Revealed in Adversity: “As long as my breath is in me, And the breath of God in my nostrils, My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit.” —Job 27:3-4

Although Job did not understand the severe adversity in his life, he maintained his integrity and the goodness of God by proclaiming his life was sustained by the breath of God. Something is not right when we receive our Heavenly Father’s blessings beyond measure and our temperament reveals unhappiness, anxiety, worry, and fear. Do we believe that God desires our happiness?

Scripture Validates God’s Desire for Our Happiness: The Story of Creation reveals a perfect and breathtaking world that Christ created for Adam and Eve. The planet we live on was made for humanity. Even with Earth’s rapid decline, through actual or virtual traveling, nature still gives us evidence of Jesus, the Master Artist’s love of resplendent beauty.

The apostle Paul tells us to, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). If God promised to give us all of our provisions, Jesus died to redeem us from our sins, protects us from the enemy’s spiritual war, sustains our lives, and is waiting to provide us with a forever home in the New Heaven and New Earth, why aren’t we praising God for His goodness?

King Solomon Identifies Our Source of Unhappiness: Everything Has Its Time: “To everything, there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

1. God’s timing never coincides with our desire for instant gratification. God rarely fast-tracks. With faith, we must “Wait patiently for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14).

2. Our goals do not align with God’s plans to prepare us for Eternal life. We desire total fulfillment in our earthly lives instead of focusing on John 14:1-3.

3. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46). Our heart desires self-governance and self-reliance which opposes God’s requisites to surrender and obey.

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” —John 8:29

Obedience to God is the gateway to living happy, peaceful lives. Every morning, with thanksgiving, we proclaim our love to our Heavenly Father through our vow of surrender and faithful obedience. Our prayer for God’s will to be done demonstrates our love, reverence, and honor to His Sovereignty because we owe our very existence to Him.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” —Genesis 2:7

We rejoice because we are alive! Yes and Amen to receiving God’s mercies of this new day. We show our appreciation of God’s Agape love with praise and singing. Our Heavenly Father is the Supreme Source of Life. Each breath represents God’s breath flowing in and out of our lungs. Thank You, God. Amen.

“In the Bible, there are many benefits to living a faithful and obedient life, including Protection: The Lord saves and protects the righteous from trouble and the wicked. “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience], And He rescues [each of] them.” —Psalm 34:7, Amplified Bible

“…When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19). Despite facing adversity and temptation, Job Chapter 1 shows that our Loving Savior, Jesus Christ protects us by restricting the harm Satan wishes to inflict on righteous believers. Thank You, Triumphant King!

Another gift we seldom acknowledge as a blessing is our careers and jobs. King Solomon reminds us that work is designed to be a blessing and a source of happiness and satisfaction. “What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” —Ecclesiastes 3:9-11, NIV

Career/Job Dissatisfaction: According to TeamStage statistics, “globally almost half of the employees love their job.” So let’s place a guestimate of 48% of those who love their jobs and the majority, 52% are dissatisfied with their present career choice. Not one Christian believer should fall into the majority of individuals who are dissatisfied with their jobs.

After creating Adam, Christ gave the first man the responsibility of naming every living animal and caring for his home, the Garden of Eden. When we seek God and ask Him to reveal His plans for our lives, it also includes His choice of our career path. If we obey, we receive His blessing and the empowerment to use our innate gifts and talents for His honor and glory.

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” —Colossians 3:23

When we commit and surrender to God’s will, we enjoy His plans for our lives. With a spirit of humility, we gain satisfaction from our daily work because our priority is to please God. The promotion you hoped for that did not come to fruition was not God’s plan for your life. We may never receive human validation, yet, the true believer does not require praise from others.

The Overwhelming Root of Dissatisfaction: “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

Nothing should motivate us and create happiness more than a job well done. Money is not a motivator! Many individuals receive less compensation than their qualifications, yet, they enjoy peace, joy, and happiness because they obediently fulfill their God-given purpose. Self-sufficiency separates us from God who created us to depend on His plans and power.

Tests, Trials, and Adversity: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” —1 Peter 4:12

Fiery trials are God’s method of saving our souls. Many believers’ characters and personalities do not align with Christ’s Righteous Character [Galatians 5:22-23 and Ephesians 4:32], therefore God allows hardships to test and strengthen their faith and obedience and purge their character defects. Still, we must admit our faults and cooperate with the Holy Spirit for spiritual transformation.

The Prophet Jeremiah Reminds Us of God’s Loving Kindness: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” —Lamentations 3:22-26

“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” —John 17:24

Pray On – Renee Lawrence Worship Music

Through Christ, We Are More Than Conquerors!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 24, 2024

Sometimes in our lives, even though we struggle to remain steadfast, faithful, and obedient to God, we let our guard down or follow our own thoughts, and end up disobeying God. Yes, we feel defeated, but those are the times we need to fall on our knees, ask God for forgiveness, and be reassured of His forgiveness as evidenced by His loving promises of grace and mercy.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” —Psalm 34:17-18

Moving Forward Despite Our Circumstances: “To be ‘more than a conqueror’ means we not only achieve victory, but we are overwhelmingly victorious.”

We must acknowledge the two conflicting spiritual powers in this world to move forward—Good and Evil. Satan is our adversary. “He sends all kinds of life-defeating, joy-stealing attacks to threaten the well-being and faith of God’s children.” In John 16:33, Jesus forewarns us that our lives will be filled with adversity, hardships, trials, and tribulations. Yet, He says to be courageous because He has overcome evil. Christ is our Divine Conqueror!

“The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.” —Psalm 145:8

For today’s believers, challenges can arise in many ways: The constant internal battle of following our desires versus surrender and faithful obedience to God’s will and plans. Financial loss, natural disasters, dissolution of marriages, the break up of relationships, strained family ties, and even the death of loved ones touch our lives.

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). God’s Promise: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). In the Bible, we read real-life stories of human sorrows and God’s intervention. We cannot defeat Satan’s attacks without God.

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

Are we willing to seek God’s help when in despair? The Christian believers who fail to study the Scriptures do not have knowledge of God’s Righteous Character nor do they trust in Him which results in a life infiltrated with anxiety, worry, and spiritual instability.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28

“Yet, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:37-39

“The Apostle Paul is encouraging us to stand firm in our faith when those attacks come, reminding us that not only will we win in the end, but Jesus enables us to win now.”

“To be more than conquerors means we face the trials of life with the certainty that we are not alone. We have a mighty Father who fights for us. We approach the darkest valleys with confidence, knowing that nothing can happen to us that is not permitted by our loving Father for our good….” Christ, our triumphant King places limits on Satan’s attacks on the righteous. Read Job Chapter 1. Nothing we face is a surprise to God.

“…Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” —Jeremiah 31:3

“No sin of ours and no attempt of the enemy can steal the loving care of God from our lives, and that makes us more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.” Through faith in Christ, we commit to trust in God and are rewarded with His promise of love, protection, and deliverance from our distress and persecution.

Reference: All quotations from, “What does it mean that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)?” Gotquestions.org

God, we are facing adversities that only You can resolve. We confess that we have not approached You for help because our faith and trust in You are weakened by self-reliance. And we ask for forgiveness for our doubt and unbelief. Today, we pray in faith, asking for Your Divine Intervention and to “Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.