All is Well!

Every day there is breaking news of the tsunami-like wave of the COVID-19 virus, and the political battles, along with a pending economic depression, and the attempt to repair the great divide based on race, religion, economic and social status. Many countries are fighting internal and external wars with the civil unrest that escalates moment by moment.

Amidst the turbulence we are experiencing; still, it is possible to have complete peace of mind. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. Serving God has perks beyond what we can possibly imagine. We are nurtured and protected from the instability of mental and emotional highs and lows. Peace is a gift! It is up to us whether or not we seek God and place ourselves in His hands.

Although I desired the gift of peace, I still felt discontent from within. What additional actions did I need to take to receive complete peace of mind? Striving to build a stronger relationship with God led me to study the Bible, searching for its treasures, and obediently following the spiritual course pre-planned by God for His people. The Word of God provided the reassurance that God is in control and has every intention of taking care of those who are faithful. So why didn’t I possess the peace that the Apostle Paul spoke about in Philippians?

I must admit that my communication with God was minimal and limited to daily ritualistic morning and evening prayers. Deciding to improve my relationship with God required that I reflect on the amount of time I spend worshiping every day. When I calculated the time that I spent in praise and worship, believe me, it was an eye-opening experience. How was it possible that outside of studying the Bible and writing inspirational messages that my prayer time did not even add up to 30 minutes?

Throughout the years, I have heard many reasons for not placing God first by giving Him the time and praise that He is worthy of receiving: “It’s Quality versus Quantity,” “God understands that we have busy lives,” “He knows that we are doing the best we can,” “My job, my family,” etc. None of these reasons are biblically based, nor can we substantiate our lack of commitment to our Heavenly Father, who is full of grace and mercy.

If you are ready for a life-changing experience with God, align yourself with the instructions on praying given by Jesus in Matthew 6. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:6. 

Today, I decided to obey Jesus’ words and place myself in a quiet room without distractions. At the beginning of my prayer, the usual words left my mouth; but as I tried to speak, my words turned into praises for God as never before. My experience is one that I share because it left me determined to prepare for Eternal life. I was rewarded with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who has demonstrated to me that when we are obedient and faithful to God, our hearts become in sync with God’s purpose for us. 

The Holy Spirit has revealed to me how I must think, speak, and live according to God’s plan of Righteousness by Faith. I have recommitted myself to God and will let Him guide my steps. The powerful blessing that I received is available to everyone that diligently seeks His will. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33. It was only a simple act of obedience that led to a complete transformation, and now I will forever proclaim that with God, “All is Well!”

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

Bible Readings: Matthew 6, Acts 2

God, thank you for the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those who diligently seek you. We are living in terrible times, yet you give us the gift of peace if we desire to receive it. Thank you for loving us and giving us the reassurance that with you, “All is Well!” We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author.