In 1999, I was a student nurse preparing for a four-week clinical rotation in Labor and Delivery. The hospital recently incorporated two birthing rooms to which I was assigned under my nurse preceptor. My first patient was a young woman who was a runner and in peak condition. Her labor was under two hours, which caused expedited action from the nursing staff.
As I witnessed the birth of a baby, I felt like falling to my knees and praising God. But reality kept me from performing an action that would have expelled me from the nursing program. The infant cried loudly without any human assistance, and the umbilical cord was tied and cut. The life-line that provided oxygen, nutrients, and the removal of waste was no longer required. The baby’s internal organs immediately kick-started as she continued to exercise her lungs by crying loudly.
The expectation from my preceptor was that I would ask many questions regarding the labor and delivery process. But I was quiet. I could not speak. Through intense study, I was fully aware of the theoretical knowledge of pregnancy, labor, and the birthing process. What I was not prepared for was the awe that I felt inside for the mighty power of God. The birth of a baby is still the most supernatural miracle that I have ever witnessed. The beginning of a new life touches humanity deep into the core of our souls. King David proclaimed, “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.” Psalm 139:14.
Human effort is required to stay connected to God. Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. …” Genesis 1:26. “To be like us” is often misunderstood. Our Heavenly Father never intended for us to feel alone or to live with a survival instinct. We have an example. Three persons of the Godhead, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who are always unified and connected. The angels, heavenly messengers, know their purpose, and that is to serve God and humanity. It is unfortunate that humans created in the image of God readily cut the spiritual cord that connects us to our source of love, grace, mercies, and power.
How do we place ourselves in the predicament of being cut-off?
We cut off our spiritual source when we fail to pray, study the Bible, and spend time in praise and worship. We sever the cord by seeking to fulfill our selfish desires and ambitions. Without the strength and power from Jesus Christ, we easily fall into temptation. Because of sinful desires hidden deep within our hearts (the desires that we do not share with anyone) we disconnect from our Heavenly Father.
Unlike the infant, whose internal organs kick in to sustain life outside of the mother, our attempt to live outside of God brings anxiety, worry, depression, and hopelessness. Sin leads to complete separation from the Trinity Godhead. Jesus tells us the solution: Stay connected, or else we are empty and powerless!
Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me, you can do nothing.… John 15:4-5
Never forget: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
God did not speak us into existence. If God, in all of His majesty, bent down and created Adam from the dust of the ground, then we should praise, worship, and never cut our spiritual cords to God, the source of life. Only God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit can provide us with the spiritual nutrients that flow continuously to keep us connected. Claim your victorious life by never cutting the cord!
Bible Study: John 15
God, we desire to connect to You, our source who loves and cares for us. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 