Who Do You Obey?

The Bible teaches us to obey God rather than man, especially when human laws contradict God’s commands. Obedience to God is expressed through following Jesus’s teachings, which involve loving God, loving others.

God’s commands are not optional suggestions, they are absolute requirements. Not obeying God is a grave mistake that can lead to disastrous consequences in this life and the next.

Obedience to God brings blessings, protection, and ultimately eternal salvation. It’s important to remember that usually men do not care about your soul. But God does 100% of the time. God knows what’s best for us and will never lead us astray.

His wisdom surpasses our understanding, and His ways are higher than our ways.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways. And my thoughts than your thoughts” -Isaiah 55:9

No matter what challenges or temptations we face, we should always strive to obey God. Trusting in Him completely and following His commands faithfully.

True freedom comes from surrendering our will to God’s perfect plan for our lives. Embracing obedience leads us towards peace, joy, and fulfillment beyond measure.

Remember, sin, even if it is legalized by man is still sin in the eyes of God. Legality doesn’t equate to morality, regarding yours, mine, or anyone else’s opinion. Isaiah 5:20-21 tells us,

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own sight, and prudent in their own sight.”

It’s always wise to remember that “all things are lawful for us, but all things are not helpful. All things may be lawful, but don’t be brought under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:12).

Spiritual Survival

Huntington Canyon -Utah

How do we survive with a dark world in the period before Jesus’s return? I often wonder if I am strong enough to endure what is coming. But I think it relies on cultivating our faith, discerning truth from deception, and living a godly life through obedience to God‘s word.

The key is seeking personal revelation and inner spiritual capacity to receive it, and fostering gratitude, and hope while participating with communities that are like-minded, and remaining watchful.

We need to develop spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation, this will help guide our decisions navigate crisis and discern spiritual deceptions.

I think we need to learn to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, this is the secret of survival and living a quality life.

We must practice repentance and closeness with God. Making sincere effort to repent and draw close to God to be spiritually prepared for the challenges we face.

To discern truth, we need to know the Word of God. And be willing to obey and follow it to avoid spiritual darkness of heresy, and deception when it comes up. We need to learn to distinguish, truth from the adversary, deceptions to help avoid spiritual traps and temptations.

This includes focusing on the rise Jesus, and trust in His saving power. And practicing holiness and goodness, which means living a life of wholeness and to do good to others.

We must also find a Bible -based church and actively engaged in it, this will provide support and grounding during times of spiritual turmoil.

It’s important to cultivate hope and optimism. Embracing hope, happiness, and optimism rather than succumb to fear and worry.

1 Timothy 4: 1-2 tells us,

“The Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron.”

We must maintain strong faith in God and Jesus, stay watchful and alert for deception and constantly engaging in spiritual practices, like prayer, scripture, study, and worship.

“Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking who, he may devour, withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers (sisters) who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings” -1 Peter 5:8-9

Studying and obeying God Word helps us to gain discernment and avoid spiritual deception.

There are ways to protect us spiritually, like resisting the devil by standing firm in our faith. Putting on the whole armor of God, we must equip ourselves with spiritual protection, provided by God. We must guard our hearts, Proverbs . 4:23 tells us to protect our hearts, which is the wellspring of life.

1 Corinthians 15:58 reminds us to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the Lords work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

We must stand firm in faith, to persevere, knowing that God is faithful to keep us blameless on the day of Christ Jesus.

Skills

What skill would you like to learn?

I would like to learn medical coding. Translating healthcare services into codes. Learning medical terminology, anatomy and physiology would be a new challenge for me.

The Details

What details of your life could you pay more attention to?

There are many things we should all pay more attention to. We take too much for granted.

The small overlooked things that make up daily existence, the smell of coffee in the morning, a smile from a stranger, the sound of rain on the window. These details that stitched together, form the fabric of life.

When we slow down and true experience, what’s happening around us, we are fully here, not locked and thought rushing to the next thing. Like isn’t shaped by big events alone it’s shaped by daily rituals, fleeting conversations, and quiet details. These things create the texture of life and paying attention helps us find meaning in the ordinary.

The Symbol Of Redemption

Fall has arrived

In the Bible, silver symbolize redemption because it was used as a price for a torment and ransom in the Old Testament, such as a half shekel given for atonement for each person‘s life. An ancient times this monetary value of silver became a biblical metaphor for the price paid for somebody’s salvation, with Jesus‘s blood being the ultimate redemption price that purchased souls from Sin. 1 Peter 1:18-19 states this.

“Knowing that you were redeemed not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers.”

The Israelites were required to give a half a shekel of silver as a ransom for their lives, and offering the concept of redemption through a valuable price.

The Tabernacle in the Old Testament was founded on silver, with pills resting on silver sockets, illustrating that the foundation of Israel’s worship was redemption.

The 30 pieces of silver Judas received to be betrayed. Jesus highlighted the immense cost of redemption and the spiritual corruption that can arise from valuing material wealth over spiritual truth.

The symbolic meaning of silver:

Purification: Silver is a symbol of purity and refinement, because it undergoes intense heat to remove its impurities. This process is metaphorically linked to spiritual purification of believers from sin, making them acceptable to God.

The Value of a Soul: The association of silver with value and wealth in an ancient world, combined with a use in the context of atonement, it serves to emphasize the great price of a soul in the profound significance of Jesus’s redemptive act,

The Foundation Of The Lord

Electric Lake

When the whole world is unsound those who are following Jesus are on a sound foundation.

Ephesians 2:20 tells us we are built a foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone. The material on which we lay our foundation determines the strength of the structure it is built on.

As I look at the things going on in America, I see confusion, lack of moral compass and lack of respect towards others.

The message of a powerful foundation emphasizes the critical importance of a solid spiritual foundation for a stable, resilient life, that is built on the Word of God.

A proper foundation protects us against the storms of life, while a fault he found foundation leads to collapse. The power of God’s foundation lies, and his ability to provide a life of clarity, purpose, and strength, when faced with challenges, that ultimately ensures our spiritual survival and well-being.

The importance of a strong foundation lies in everything we do, whether, physically, or spiritually, having a solid foundation is crucial. Just like a building needs a strong foundation to be stable and durable, our lives require a firm foundation. The quality of our foundation determines the stability and success of our endeavors.

I think our foundational problems are the most challenging issues we face. when our foundation is corrupted, it affects our entire destiny. A faulty foundation limits potential and hinders progress while a healthy foundation leads to a healthier life and better outcomes.

Many people are currently living, confused lives not because of their present actions, but because of past mistakes were negative actions of others. Learning institutions seem to teach that there is no foundation on which to live. No purpose in life. And no creator. If we have none of those things, there is no responsibility, or accountability for action. The consequences of these actions can linger for years and an impact lives in various ways. I think it is essential to recognize an address these issues to break free from a faulty influence.

No matter what challenges we face during to having a strong foundation, we can choose to take a different path, even though some will continue to follow negative patterns set by other people, but we have the power to break free from these cycles.

It’s not enough to simply wish for deliverance or speak empty words. We must have a clear desire for change and take action to rebuild our foundation. By tapping into the power of Jesus, we can transform our lives and brag free from the limitations of a faulty foundation.

Having a strong foundation is crucial for any successful and fulfilling life. Our foundation encompasses our roots, family history and past actions. It is essential to address any negative influences from, our past and align ourselves with God’s principles. By doing this, we can rebuild our foundation and experience with the transformative power of Jesus in our lives.

My Priority Tomorrow

What’s your #1 priority tomorrow?

After prayer and meditation. I have to go to the bank because of a computer mistake there. One place said they were paid but the money is still in my account.

My main priority is to fix the issue. Hopefully it will be simple.

Hard Work

In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?

When hard work makes someone feel fulfilled it is usually because there is alignment between our efforts and something deeply meaningful to them.

I like seeing the results of my hard work, when it’s connected to a purpose. Pushing myself proves that I will work with all my heart.

The Bible says in Colossians 3:23 tells us that Whatever you do, to do it with all your heart, to work for the Lord, not for a human master or boss.

Faith Is An Act Of Courage

Faith in dark times is hard, but it’s also an act of courage to stand in the dark and believe that there is light around you. The smallest flame in the dark has an impact, so your faith doesn’t have to be huge, it just needs a flicker to help you shift your perspective. Faith will be better, and you can figure it out, knowing that God has your back.

In believing that faith is an act of courage, I tell myself every day. Two things are constants -faith and fear these things struggle with each other, so I choose faith. Courage is choosing to look fear in the face and move forward. Our courage can come in many forms, but having faith is one way to be courageous, to do the hard things, and take an unpopular stance, and to be the change. Faith is what gives us the courage to do it. It could be faith in God. Faith gives us that extra push to get through the fear and to the other side.

It’s quite simple, when we lack faith, we typically find ourselves in fear. We can only be strong in one or the other, think of it as a tug of war, some days, faith wins, and some times fear wins. We have control over what is winning that tug of war in our lives.

When we lack faith, we allow our fears to drive our decisions. Our goal should be to have faith and use that faith to allow us to have the courage to move forward, even in the face of fear.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” -Joshua 1:9

Our Refuge And Our Strength

We are living in uncertain times. All we have to do is look around to see it’s everywhere. Psalm 46:1-3 tells us “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas, though its waters roar are are troubled, though the mountains tremble with there swelling. There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the Holy place of the tents of the Most High.”

These scriptures are declaration of faith that God provides a secure place and immense power around the world, chaos and trouble. In today’s world these scriptures serve as a reminder that even when circumstances feel overwhelming and unstable, God remains constant, trustworthy, and an ever present source of help, peace, and hope.

By turning to God and prayer and faith, we can’t find resilience, overcome, fear, and experience, divine support, knowing that our security comes from God and not earthly circumstances.

God acts as a secure shelter, or hiding place, protecting us from ourdanger, and is also a powerful source of strength when we are weak.

God’s assistance is not distant or absent, He is actively with us in our time of need.

There is no need to fear, even when the world seems to crumble, because God is in control and His power is absolute.

In a world filled with uncertainty, societal problems, and natural disasters, we can find peace by remembering God’s unchanging, nature and presence.

It’s important when we face personal trials, anxiety, or life, overwhelming pressures , that we stay encouraged and turned to God for strength, guidance, and hope.

We need to trust in God’s sovereignty. Even when we are surrounded by chaos, the message of Psalm 46 encourages us to trust that God is on His throne and has a plan, which can bring us hope and resilience.

My Positive Traits

What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

I think one of my most valuable traits id my ability to have “hyper-empathy” for others.

I can sense others’ emotions easily, and I’m quick to comfort and support people by putting others’ feelings before my own. I tend to go out of my way to prevent others from experiencing pain.

I often act as a guard to shield others.

I sometimes overextend myself to try and fix things for people. I have to remember that God has a purpose for other people’s pain. And that I need to step out of the way.

But, along with this hyper- empathy I have difficulty trusting others. Because I’ve been let down, betrayed, and hurt, I tend not to open up and accept help from others. I also tend to isolate emotionally. Even if I need help, I will sometimes struggle through my own problems because I don’t trust others.