The Beauty of Solitude: Time Alone In God’s Presence

On my first day of orientation as a Nursing Supervisor, I recall an unusual job training method conducted by Allison, the Regional Director, who informed me that for the next three days, I would spend time alone studying and learning the organization’s policies and nursing protocols.

When I entered the conference room, half of the table was covered with 4-inch binders bursting at the seams. From Monday to Wednesday, I studied for eight hours each day, absorbing all of the information my frontal lobe could manage.

On Thursday, Allison entered the conference room and stated, “I know that you do not understand why I instructed you to spend alone learning these policies and procedures, but in time, you will.”

Much to my surprise, I learned that although healthcare professionals must abide by the state’s licensure regulations for delivering care, regardless of their professional status, personal morals and values significantly impact a person’s judgment, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities.

It was disappointing to address the numerous policy violations during my tenure, which required staff remediation and additional training due to their knowledge deficits. The plan of correction included changes in the initial orientation and continuous education for the staff.

As I reflected on this past experience, I thought about Allison’s productive and effective training strategy of learning in solitude. From not spending time alone with God in personal worship, many believers have a knowledge deficit of God’s Righteous Character and how to live righteously because of the failure to study the Holy Scriptures.

Reflection: How are we managing our God-given gift of Time? “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV).

Each new day, we stand at the Spiritual Crossroads: We must choose, will we put God first, or ourselves? Do we have a God-First mindset? Our initial morning thoughts reveal who our priority is: God or ourselves. If our default is reflecting on the busy day ahead, then sadly, we are number one.

Loving God requires the sacrificial gift of using our time to worship Him every day. We should not try to squeeze God into a busy schedule, but from the moment we awaken, our gratitude for another day of life is expressed by asking God to reveal His plans for the new day. Because God is God, He deserves the First Fruits of our gift of time in morning worship.

Evening worship is our opportunity to reflect on and to thank our Heavenly Father for the many blessings of provisions and protection from unseen spiritual warfare, physical harm, and the strength to complete our daily activities.

Which activities are covertly consuming our time? Are we spending more time at the gym than in worship? Or working countless hours of overtime in the pursuit of success and financial stability? Is Social Media, or watching the World News and Politics, our way of relaxing instead of praying? If we have a family, are the children’s schedules packed with numerous extracurricular activities that prevent daily family worship?

How do we put God first when we face countless distractions, crammed schedules, and overwhelming responsibilities? Managing our time not only requires the Big Chop, but we must also ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, so that nothing comes before our God-First commitment and our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Over 6,000 years ago, Jesus revealed The Perfect Time Management Plan: “He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while’—for there were many [people who were continually] coming and going, and they could not even find time to eat.” (Mark 16:31, Amplified Bible).

“Following Christ’s Example: Jesus often withdrew for solitary prayer, demonstrating that even He needed this time for wisdom and strength, [from God, the Father] a vital example for His followers.”

“Solitude isn’t loneliness; it’s a purposeful withdrawal for spiritual connection, allowing one to enjoy God’s presence and power, transforming moments of being alone into encounters with the Divine.”

One of Satan’s greatest deceptions that many believers have embraced is that we do not have to study the Bible. In fact, a most recent study finds that only “11-15% of Christians study the Bible daily.” But to remain committed, faithful, and obedient to God requires that we study the Holy Scriptures for ourselves.

“My people perish because of the lack of knowledge.”(Hosea 4:6). The Bible is our Spiritual Roadmap: Staying on the Narrow Path of Righteousness Requires Divine Intervention and Human Effort.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reveals God’s Love, the attributes of His Righteous Character, Jesus’ earthly ministry, Promises, Prophecies, and teaches us how to live righteously. Before studying the Scriptures, we ask the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom, discernment, and clarity of God’s Word.

Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'”

In faith, we ask for Divine Strength, and put forth the human effort to learn God’s Righteous Character, and obey His Commands, Precepts, and Principles. It is the Holy Scriptures that teach us how to prepare ourselves daily to receive our reward of Christ’s promise to take the righteous to Heaven when He comes again [Revelation 21-22].

“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).

In the quiet stillness of solitude, through prayer and studying the Holy Scriptures, Jesus gives us the Living Water and the Bread of Life necessary for our Spiritual Nourishment, and the Holy Spirit instructs us to do our part [obeying God], guiding us moment by moment as we strive to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

From dedicating time to be in the presence of God, we are changed into the likeness of Christ’s Beautiful Character, and as the Apostle Paul did, in the strength of Christ, we can also proclaim:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Lord God, we commit our time that You have gifted us with to worship You in Spirit and Truth. We thank You for Your faithfulness even when we are not, and for our unfaithfulness, we ask for forgiveness. We look forward to the day when Jesus will come again and take us to Heaven. Until then, we ask You to empower us with Your strength to persevere through this journey of life. In Jesus’ Loving and Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Rest Breaks: A Time to Receive Spiritual Renewal and Restoration

Today, I looked at my Air Purifier that runs 24/7 and wondered how much more time it has left. It is easy to replace machines, just purchase another one, but most are treating their minds and bodies like machines that can be easily replaced.

How did we get to the point of despising these much-needed, rejuvenating times of rest? We have embraced the non-stop busyness of always being in a hurry which doesn’t give our fearfully and wonderfully made minds and bodies time to renew, restore, and regenerate itself.

Rest vs Sleep: They are not the same.

“For most, feeling tired or worn down might make you think you need more sleep. While quality sleep is critical to feeling whole, rest is so much more than your nightly hours of shut-eye.”

“Rest involves your whole being, not just your body. With complete and regular rest, you will restore your health, enhance your performance, and achieve an amazing sense of wellness.”

“So many small — but impactful — bouts of rest can be incorporated into your everyday routine.”

Take Routine Time Outs

“Removing yourself from a stressful situation or anxious environment might be all you need to take a mental and physical break. Think of it as your own little “time out” to connect with your thoughts, feelings and body. Even a short, calming prayer can help you rejuvenate in body, mind and spirit.”

The Lack of Rest is Dangerous to Our Spiritual Relationship with God

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’ ” (Mark 6:31, NIV).

Jesus, the Creator of humanity, in His earthly life also adhered to the principles of maintaining one’s health by establishing boundaries. Our Savior never expected His disciples to follow the rigid schedule that He endured.

As terrible as it sounds, truthfully, when we are mentally fatigued, the last thing that we desire to do is to study the Scriptures, Pray, and be in the Divine presence of God.

Our inability to concentrate, pay attention to the small details, use critical thinking, and sound judgment are greatly impacted by our lack of regenerative rest periods. Mental fatigue impacts our ability to think outside of an emotional responses.

Satan uses our overloaded schedules to distract us from spending time with God, and to present alternative [demonic] modalities, burning sage, secular music, Eastern meditation, alcohol, mushroom tea, CBD, and hours of scrolling on social media designed to produce a false state of euphoria.

Many Christian believers who are reading this devotional may not be aware that we are living in the last days of Earth’s history. To clarify, we are not in the End Times which occur right before Jesus comes again. 

The Apostle Paul defines the characteristics of Perilous Times, which is now.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power…” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Jesus has not kept secrets from us, in the Book of Revelation, we know how the story ends. In Matthew chapter 24, the signs that Jesus gave to his disciples are rapidly being fulfilled!

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8).

Jesus’ forewarning is not to instill fear, but to give us the opportunity to review our lives and to eliminate any roadblocks that will prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life.

Take a day off to separate yourself, silence all distractions, and scrutinize your lifestyle. Pray for guidance and perform the task of prioritizing and eliminating all activities that prevent your ability to incorporate small blocks of spiritual rest breaks throughout your waking hours.

I can recall working for United Healthcare as a Quality nurse with the responsibility of assisting physicians to deliver patient care within Medicare’s guidelines. Every day it was a taxing effort to prepare ourselves to present the monthly reports of deficiencies to the Doctors, which always produced an escalated level of resistance.

One day, I felt extreme burnout and fatigue, and recall thinking, “I cannot do this job much longer.” The Holy Spirit spoke through my thoughts instructing me to take my lunch break in my vehicle. Yes, for an hour, I listened to inspirational music, sang, prayed for strength, and mental clarity, and God intervened by renewing my strength, and changing my perception of the position, Do not take the pushbacks personally.

Begin and end your day with prayer and study of the Scriptures. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in incorporating several short rest breaks, using them as a time to ask for clarity, strength, and wisdom.

Whisper a prayer, listen to music, sing, and reflect on God’s Faithfulness, thanking Him for His never-ending love and mercies.

Nothing compares to receiving a spiritual boost of Jesus’ Supernatural strength!

“Yet those who hope in Yahweh will gain new power; They will mount up with wings like eagles; They will run and not get tired; They will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31, LSB). Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we come to you weary and fatigued by the responsibilities in our lives. We ask for Your Divine guidance in eliminating all unnecessary activities that have distanced us from You. Jesus, we need your strength and wisdom to persevere through this journey of life. And we thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

How Does God Define Worship?

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him” (John 4:23).

Personal worship is a lifestyle of total surrender and faithful obedience to God. True heart conversion is manifested by seeking God’s will every day, we desire to please God because we love Him.

“He [Abraham] said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you’ ” (Genesis 22:5).

Abraham demonstrated an obedient response to God’s command to sacrifice, Isaac, his only son because he trusted God. Yes, it was the greatest test of Abraham’s faith, but Abraham believed that God would fulfill the promise He had given to him before Isaac was born.

From our devout love for God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we acquiesce to His Authority because He is God, the Sovereign Ruler of this universe who sustains our lives.

Through prayer, we ask for God’s plans to be revealed for our lives, and then we fulfill His plans through obedience and perseverance. God honors consistent worship, yet, the rejection of Cain’s sacrifice teaches us that we cannot offer God what we think He deserves.

From our willingness to surrender and obey, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts, and the Scriptures, giving us the wisdom and guidance required to follow God’s plans, and to live righteously.

“But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6, Amplified Bible).

For personal worship, Jesus tells us to separate ourselves from everyone else. Personal worship should not include our cellular devices, or other people. Distractions prevent us from experiencing one-to-one communion in the presence of God.

God is Holy, and we reverence Him with the utmost respect. The power of God manifests itself through the Holy Spirit. We receive spiritual discernment, strength, and renewed endurance to run the Christian race, despite our obstacles.

Daniel prayed three times a day. When thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel’s faith remained strong because he believed that God is who He says He is, our Faithful, and Powerful Deliverer who promises us victory when we depend on Him.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NLT).

Personal worship is the only way to maintain our relationship with Jesus Christ who covers us with His Righteousness. Worship begins in our hearts. From spending time with God, the Believers who consecrate themselves daily receive a life-changing experience from the Holy Spirit.

Eternal life will include worshiping God every day. Our earthly lives are the only opportunity that we have to establish the habit of honoring God through personal worship.

Because we live in perilous times, we desperately need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptations, recognize false teachings, and to keep us the Path of Righteousness. We cannot fight spiritual warfare without angelic protection and intervention.

Many believers attend weekly church services, but never grow spiritually because they fail to maintain a heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus through the daily commitment of personal worship.

Ritualistic worship accomplishes nothing, we feel no remorse for our sinful lifestyles. One cannot experience spiritual growth from attending church once a week, which explains why many can live a double life of committing sin, but still attend church without feeling guilty.

Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of being transformed into the image of Christ. Daily worship invites the Holy Spirit to give us a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, and strengthen our faith in God.

Faithful obedience and surrender are the requisites for worshiping God in spirit and truth. Spiritual growth and maturity is the work of the Holy Spirit that requires our cooperation of humility, faith, and abiding in Christ through prayer and Bible study.

Praise and worship for God is manifested beyond external expression. We must love God more than ourselves. Love is the catalyst that propels us to present ourselves as a Living Sacrifice to God by exchanging our desires for His Perfect Plans.

“I appeal to you, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2, ESV me).

Lord God, we come to you in humility and surrender ready to fulfill your will and plans for our lives. We pray for guidance, wisdom, discernment, and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. We ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

The Serenity of the Holy Sabbath

“Just forget about yourself, concentrate on Him, and worship, Christ, the Lord, Worship Him, Christ, the Lord.”

The separation of oneself from all routine activities on the Sabbath invites the Holy Spirit to impart Jesus’ Divine gift of peace which provides a spiritual calm and assurance deep within our hearts and souls.

The Sabbath is a time of reflection on God’s love, faithfulness, goodness, and mercies. It is a time to express gratitude for His Love gift of Jesus Christ. We place our faith and trust in His promises because we are confident that our Father’s plans always work for the good of those who love the Lord.

The Sabbath is 24 hours of focused attention on worshiping God and receiving the shower of blessings of spiritual knowledge, wisdom, guidance, and strength. To commune with God in spirit and truth provides overwhelming joy and happiness.

Thank You God for providing a time of spiritual recovery and restoration from the vicissitudes of life. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Sabbath Peace and Blessings  –  Elohim Shomri, Our Protector

“The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” —Psalm 121:5

From the moment we awaken, we are actively involved in the ongoing battle of good and evil. Without heavenly angelic intervention, we could never overcome humanity’s greatest enemy—Satan, the stealthy “roaring lion” who desires to separate us from God by presenting personalized and dangerous temptations of worldly pleasures and treasures that appeal to each of our heart’s desires.

The Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God: “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [deception] And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge…” —Psalm 91:3-4

Throughout our waking hours, we should whisper prayers of gratitude for Christ’s continuous protection from unseen and seen harm provided by His angelic armies. Unknowingly, we face harm through covert schemes of powerful deceptions, identity theft, financial scams, fake love relationships targeting the lonely, coercion, and many other dangers developed to devastate our lives.

It was not our human wisdom that prevented us from sustaining major losses. The righteous are blessed with guardian angels who protect us from the evil of unseen spiritual warfare. Near-miss vehicle collisions, personal falls without injury, and protection from highly contagious diseases are only a few of God’s Divine blessings of protection.

“…When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” —Isaiah 59:19

It is not good luck, charms, chants. or ancient spirits that protect us. Our safety from all hurt and harm is a result of God’s overwhelming love and continuous mercies of providing angelic protection to keep us safe. God’s protection knows no boundaries, He also protects us from from succumbing to temptation.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” —1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT

Even when facing temptation, we receive a warning from the Holy Spirit that something is not right! The disturbance of our inner peace and feelings of unease arises from the Holy Spirit who alerts our guardian angels, who always obey Jesus Christ, their Commander, to warn and protect us. God’s promises of protection are timeless, and valid, and include today’s Christian believers.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” —Isaiah 43:1-3

The Scriptures reveal God’s Love and His continuous Intervention in our lives. We are loved beyond measure! We must love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength to worship Him in spirit and truth with faithful obedience. If we do not worship God in our earthly lives, certainly, we will not desire an eternal life of worshiping God.

This Sabbath [and every day] separate yourself at least twice daily to enjoy a time of intimate worship of praying, studying the Scriptures, and singing songs of gratitude to Elohim Shomri.

“Elohim Shomri” translates to ‘God our Protector’ or ‘God my Protector,’ emphasizing God’s role as a Provider of safety and protection.’

“Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you…” —Isaiah 43:4

Bible Study: Psalm 91, Psalm 121, and 2 Kings 6

Lord God, for your never-ending love, mercies, faithfulness, and protection we say, Hallelujah and Thank You! We ask for a much-needed spiritual blessing of wisdom and strength on your Holy Sabbath. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Giving God Your Best

Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – August 23, 2024

“In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” —Proverbs 3:6

The struggle to put God first impacts every Christian Believer. Still, in this modern world, we can put God first through consecration, prayer, Bible study, and monitoring our time closely. We make plans that either include or exclude God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

Excerpt from Livingontheedge.org: “First, God has a plan for every nation on this earth. In addition, He has a plan for every man, woman, and child on this planet, too. His plan can be contained in one word: LIFE. By comparison, Satan has an agenda as well. His agenda can be summed up in an opposing word: DEATH. He has an intricate plan for every nation and every person, and it’s to steal, kill, and destroy.

“It is incredibly easy to think the world consists of what we see in our worlds every day, and completely miss the larger picture. There’s an invisible battle happening all around us: life and death are fiercely competing for our devotion.” Livingontheedge.org

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8

The apostle Peter describes every believer’s struggle with spiritual warfare in their earthly lives. Jesus told Peter, “Satan is trying to sift you like wheat, but I am praying for you.” Following Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter’s internal struggle of fear included denying Christ three times. Yet, he was reconciled with Christ and became an integral leader in the “Day of Pentecost” [Acts 2].

Reflection: Are we denying Christ by our desires, decisions, and lifestyles?

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” —2 Timothy 1:7

To give God our best requires steadfast spiritual strength, the human effort of perseverance, resistance, and the ability to say no when everyone else is engaging in worldly pleasures. We pray often to receive Jesus’ Divine Strength and Wisdom through the Holy Spirit, yet, we must exercise the gift of self-control in our daily activities of life.

“Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16

Living holy requires our cooperation with God. We cannot achieve holiness without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Giving God our best is to have planned times of worship twice daily. Prayer keeps us connected to God, the Source of Power. Studying the Bible is necessary because God communicates His Righteous Character and His expectations of our daily walk with Christ. The Holy Scriptures define living holy.

“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” —Hosea 4:6

The Bible is our Spiritual Guide and Roadmap, preparing us for our reward of eternal life. The Old Testament tells us of the real-life struggles of individuals like Joseph [sold into slavery by his brothers, Elijah [Queen Jezebel seeking to kill him], Queen Esther [boldly entering the King’s presence without an invitation], and Daniel [in the lion’s den]. From the New Testament, we learn Christ’s earthly life and His love, devotion, and obedience to God, His Father.

“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. BSB

Our confidence in God’s Love and Sovereignty gives us strength and the courage to fight the good fight of faith when we face temptation and daunting situations. Giving God our best is placing all of our faith and trust in Him. Knowledge of God’s Divine Character produces obedience in the heart of a true believer who allows the Holy Spirit to convert their hearts.

Give God your best by praying throughout your waking hours, studying the Scriptures, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you on the Path of Righteousness. Having confidence in God, who will never fail you, requires astute knowledge of His loving character. God has promised to always give us victory when we strive to give Him our best. Sabbath Peace and Blessings!

Lord God, we thank You for Your Divine Love. It is our desire to give You our best. We ask for the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. We pray for a blessing as we celebrate the Sabbath. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Worship God in Spirit and in Truth —Sabbath Peace and Blessings

Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – May 24, 2024

“But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” —John 4:23-24

The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sin it means taking away our sins and filling the vacuum with the graces of the Holy Spirit. It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. It means a heart emptied of self and blessed with the abiding presence of Christ. When Christ reigns in the soul there is purity and freedom from sin.

The glory, the fulness, and the completeness of the gospel plan are fulfilled in the life. The acceptance of the Saviour brings a glow of perfect peace, perfect love, perfect assurance. The beauty and fragrance of the character of Christ revealed in the life, testifies that God has indeed sent His Son into the world to be its Saviour.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 419, EGW

Lord, we can do nothing without Your power and strength. We ask You to accept our covenant to serve You in faithful obedience and to anoint us with joy and peace as we worship You on this Sabbath Day. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024, SDJ, For the rest of my life, I will give Christ the best of my life

LORD, I Praise You!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 5, 2024

“Thus says the LORD God to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.’ ” —Ezekiel 37:5

For His love and faithfulness, Christ is worthy to be praised! He is YAHWEH who imparts His sustaining Ruah breath of life to His creations. “Ruah is the wind that parted the waters and created dry land, it is the very breath that God breathed into humans in our creation…” wildwoodgathering.org

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, His mercy endures forever.” —Psalm 118:1

To worship God in Spirit and Truth is a command for the righteous to love, honor, and reverence the Most High with faithful obedience. From the moment we open our eyes to the mercies of a new day, our first response is to whisper prayers of praise and gratitude to Jesus, our First Love, and the Sustainer of Life.

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.” —1 Chronicles 29:11

The angels exalt Christ, the Commander of angel armies by lovingly fulfilling their purpose—to serve humanity. We exalt Christ by willingly consecrating our minds, bodies, and souls to fulfill God’s will and plans for the given day. Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom, discernment, and Jesus’ strength to fulfill God’s will.

“Hallelujah! Give praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.” —Psalm 113:1

Obedience to God is our highest worship. A heartfelt covenant of daily surrender rises to the Throne of Grace as praise-filled melodies proclaiming King Jesus is the LORD of our lives. The mercy of a new day is a constant reminder that God is Great and He is Faithful. Never-ending prayers and songs of praise reveal our desire to give Him glory, honor, and gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice.

We are nearing home! Daily surrender is the spiritual catalyst that ignites the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the image of Christ. Life on earth is preparing us for a life of eternal worship to our Triumphant King in the New Heaven and New Earth.

“O LORD, I will praise you…Behold, God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Praise the LORD, call upon his name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Sing to the LORD, For he has done excellent things; This is known in all the Earth.” —Isaiah 12:1-2, 4,5

Prayer: God, for the rest of my life, I will give you the best of my life. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen. © 2024 SDJ