Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

It takes faith, trust, courage, and perseverance to serve God in today's unstable world. Yet, we are never alone. Pray every day and pray often. Study the Bible. The Scriptures are a Love Letter from God to those who accept Jesus as their personal Savior. You will receive comfort, knowledge, and wisdom from the Holy Spirit. "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3. Be blessed in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Dilemma of a Half-Hearted Commitment

Nursing has allowed me the excellent opportunity of meeting numerous individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Yes, I have been exposed to many concepts and embraced the ones that have improved the quality of my life [living as “We” as opposed to the limited perspective of “Me, Myself, and I”]. Yes, I am my brother and sister’s keeper. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

But there is a danger in being exposed to the various world views, the secular and the worldly pleasures. When our curiosity is piqued, we lose control over our five senses. We are then lured and drawn into the mysterious, the glamorous, and the covert darkness in our world. We become confused as we continue to engage in sinful activities. Eventually, we are desensitized to the consequences of our rebellion against God.

Why are Satan’s plans so effective? He is a fallen angel and has had over 6,000 years to deceive humanity. Only the Trinity–God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are Omniscient–all-knowing. The Creator’s creation would be doomed if Satan could read our minds. Thank you, God. But Satan and his angels easily observe our behaviors. Yes, Satan deceived Eve, but she desired to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. 

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 NKJV. Although Adam and Eve had not witnessed death, God would have given them the essential meaning that death meant the end of life. Whatever Eve’s behaviors were, maybe staring at the beautiful fruit or slowly walking by the tree, Satan saw his opportunity to fulfill her desire to eat from the tree. But most importantly this was his way of retaliating against God for expelling him from heaven. Remember he easily confused the angels that participated in the insurrection against God.

“and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Realistically, who desires to know evil? Let’s consider this scenario: If someone told me, “I know that you are a Christian but if you do this one thing, you will gain the power to see not only your future but the future of others.” This is the got you moment: I am already aware of God’s command on divination, but I am mesmerized by the presenting lie. Why? I desire to gain the ability to see into the future, which results in letting my guard down to the point that I continue to engage in this conversation. I should have responded, “Get behind me Satan” and simply walked away from the temptation. But I listened, thinking that I possessed the power to dance with the devil and come out the winner. The basic childlike concept is that Eve saw the forbidden tree every day and desired to eat the beautiful fruit. She was easily enticed to act on the opportunity to disobey God’s command. 

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what sinful nature desires. These two forces constantly fight each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians 5:17 NLT

The reality is that we cannot live in a bubble or be isolated from the spiritual wickedness of this world. We face a daily spiritual battle with the forces of evil. Did God leave us alone to fight Satan? No! But there are two innate weaknesses that we must accept:

  1. The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9
  2. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. Romans 7:15

God calls out the half-hearted individuals who want to live the hypocritical  blended life of having secret desires and sins, yet attend church or watch virtual sermons, give tithe and offerings, help those in need, etc.

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.'” Revelation 3:15-17 NKJV

We must make a decision: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Did we forget? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:5

Being a once-a-week Christian is a deceptive trick of our enemy-Satan. Our thoughts and desires are revealed in the music we listen to, the words we speak, and the activities we engage in every day. Please know that God does not have a gray area. Either we love, honor, and glorify God, or we fulfill our carnal desires. We often possess a mind troubled with confusion and frustration because we stay in the valley of indecision.

Biblical prophecies are being fulfilled. We are living in the last days. God sounds the alarm by letting us know that we must live a faith-based life with complete trust and obedience to Him. His Son, Jesus Christ is coming soon!

Human Effort: God requires a full-time commitment to seek after righteousness and to live holy. 

Divine Intervention: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12-13.

Prayer: God, we confess that we are serving you half-heartedly, and for this grievous sin, we ask forgiveness. We desire to recommit our hearts, souls, and minds to serve you as the One and Only El-Shaddai. Please impart your strength to us to live as overcomers. We thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Worthy Name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson

Hearing God’s Voice

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NIV

In the quiet of our solitude is the time that our minds are in tune to receive the teaching and comfort from the Holy Spirit. Do you know the third person of the Trinity? He is powerful and is everywhere to everyone who invites Him into their hearts. He is the voice of God. © 2021 Sonya Johnson

Blinded By the God of This Age

Today’s Devotional–Experiencing GOD Day-by-Day–by Henry T. and Richard Blackaby

Blinded by the God of This Age

Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:4

When you are blinded, you cannot see things as they really are, even though others around you see them clearly.  You cannot experience the full reality of all that is around you. You may feel you are experiencing all that there is to life, yet you may be unaware that you are missing what God desires for you.  You may even be in danger because of your blindness and not know it.

Paul warned that the “god of this age” can blind you to the reality of Jesus Christ.  Christ’s presence can make a significant difference in your life.  However, if Satan convinces you to doubt that Christ can do what He promised, he will have blinded you to the reality of what your life is really like and to what it could become.  Others may see what your unbelief causes you to miss, but you will be unaware of it.  Your life may be steadily moving toward disaster, but you will be oblivious to it.

Christ comes to you as light (John 1:4, 5, 9).  He illuminates your sin so that you see its ugliness and destructiveness.  He reveals Himself so that you can appreciate the glory of His person and the marvelous riches He brings.  His presence lights your path so that you can see impending danger. Don’t let the god of this age distort your spiritual vision.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that everything is as it should be when, in fact, you are missing out on so much that God wants to do in your life.  Ask Christ to illuminate your life and let you clearly see your spiritual condition.

Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for thinking, acting, and living as if you are not the Creator of all humanity. We have put many things above you. Thank you for the gifts of grace and mercy. Give us the strength we need to always praise you and have a spirit of gratitude. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen. 2021 Copyright Sonya Johnson

Returning to Jesus, Our First Love

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Do you remember when you first accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? At that moment, you realized that anyone who would suffer and die on the cross to save you from sin that you wanted a relationship with Jesus. The promise of a new life through Jesus Christ and the opportunity for eternal life placed peace and joy in your heart. You were excited to share with others that God is love and Jesus sacrificed his life for us.

You were running well. Who hindered you, not to obey the truth? Galatians 5:7. The vicissitudes [a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant], trials, temptations, and sorrows are more than we can deal with alone. Yes, many have support from friends and family, but they cannot fill the emptiness in our souls. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.“ John 15:5.

Jesus tells us we can do nothing without Him. But we certainly try until we are worn and weary, leaving us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually depleted. Please know the distractions that we focus on will always lead us to the wrong path, causing us to walk further away from Jesus. Eventually, we forget to pray and ask God for help. Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22.

Jesus the Good Shepherd

“The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” John 10:17-18

Search the scriptures, the central theme of the Bible is love. God is unconditional love. Jesus Christ told His Father, “I will die for them that they may have redemption from sin. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved. – Ephesians 2:4-5

Our love for Jesus enables us to serve God with humility, faith, trust, and obedience. We rarely think about the concept that every individual before their death and before the Second Coming of Jesus is given the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with loving devotion.” Jeremiah 31:3. 

Today, recommit your life to God. Jesus’ gift to humanity is priceless. For those who never made the commitment  to follow Jesus, consider this an opportunity to accept and embrace Jesus Christ. We are never alone in our journey. Yes, the road is rugged. Still, we have a powerful and loving spiritual team who loves us, intervenes for us using their divine, supernatural power, and is committed to caring for us until we take our last breath. 

“Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:20.

Prayer: God, we thank you for your unconditional love. We ask for forgiveness for excluding you from our hearts. It is our desire to commit our minds, bodies, and souls to serve you. Jesus, we thank you for suffering and dying for us. Please give us the strength to withstand the stormy and dark seasons in our lives by always stay connected to you. We love you. In Jesus’ worthy name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson

Our Response to Busyness

My visit to the post office to report a missing package with tracking resulted in frustration and disbelief. Hearing “next” was music to my ears, but I observed that the clerk was focused on the two envelopes that I placed on the counter. As I explained the dilemma, I thought, “Okay, she is not paying attention.” And yes, her response, “You will have to take the mail to another post office for correction of your mailing address,” confirmed that she did not listen to the spoken words regarding the missing package. 

We are inundated from sensory overload, job responsibilities, family matters, and so many unexpected challenges that we have lost the attention span required for effective communication, logical deduction, and a well-organized lifestyle. It is not uncommon to explain more than once or assist the customer service rep to resolve the issue.

For the believer, we face another challenge: Putting God first. One of the easiest habits to form is placing God last on our to-do list. We are continuously exhausted. Unable to concentrate, we reschedule our daily Bible study, mumble a short ritualistic prayer, and promise to do better the next day. Our relationship with God quickly becomes non-existent. We become desensitized as we self-program automated responses to the escalating stress of busyness.

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. Some people do realize they are burned out, but lack the mental and physical strength to initiate change. Take a mental health day and develop strategies for reorganization. Red flags–physical exhaustion, decrease in productivity and interest in fun activities along with increased heartrate and blood pressure are a few of the signs of continual stress. Ineffective habits are an accelerant that eventually push us to reach the breaking point. Either we develop an action plan to prevent serious and unnecessary consequences, or when unexpected challenges arise, we will not have the mental and emotional resources to resolve our life-events.

Busyness has no conscience or restraints–always seeking to consume us like an out-of-control wildfire. Where do we begin? Create a balanced and realistic schedule starting with the #1 power-draining source: the job. Unless you are self-employed, 40 hours per week is more than enough to give to someone else’s company. Take a calendar and prioritize your schedule–if you have a family then the entire family should be involved in the strategic planning of decluttering and downsizing the giant to-do lists. Make an exclusion list of all non-productive, time-wasting activities, and stick to it.

Living a double life takes a toll on humanity. Whether we are self-employed or working for an employer, adhering to company policies require structure and discipline. Unfortunately, it is our personal lives that are usually out-of-sync and loaded with most of the unnecessary stressors. Perform a thorough evaluation of your lifestyle. It may take giant leaps to incorporate structure and discipline into your lifestyle. Remain flexible, but not to the point that progress is hindered. An honest self-assessment identifying negative traits such as procrastination or always running late will promote equilibrium in your safe haven, and mind-body.

God has a no-fail remedy for our busyness, which He established at the end of creation. And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27.

And on the seventh day, God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Genesis 2:2-3

The spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical renewal and revitalization during the 24 hours of the Sabbath cannot occur with any other activity or inactivity. Sabbath-keepers enjoy the evidence-based blessings of peace, joy, increased energy, and decreased mental, emotional, and physical health issues. Most importantly, our faith and trust in God become pillars during the stormy trials. We can laugh out loud every day despite our challenges.

The Sabbath provides long-lasting energy for the other six days. We do not require caffeinated stimulants to get us through our day. Growing closer to God gives us the desire to treat our bodies as the temple of God [Read 1 Corinthians 3:16]. We live to please God when our love for Him strengthens and grows deeper. Choosing and cooking healthy nutrients consisting of super-foods promote strength, building of the immune-system, and provide aging-retardant qualities. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31.

When fed properly, our bodies function at their optimal level. We are rewarded with extra energy that acts as a catalyst to exercise our bodies daily. Search for a place where you are surrounded by the plant kingdom. Being in nature gives us the chance to appreciate the environment that God lovingly gave to us for our enjoyment. Birds, butterflies, the trees standing as soldiers, and the diversity of the beautiful flowers speak to our entire psyche and reminds us that God is the Master Designer.

Remember, God is not a religion or a denomination. He is our Creator and our Heavenly Father who always knows what is best for us. 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

Keeping the Sabbath is a personal choice. During my adolescence, I was the only Sabbath-keeper in my family. Not all family members will agree, but start with you. Make and share a list of the activities you will not participate in from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. You will be surprised at the restoration that takes place each week as you begin to relax and enjoy time with God. You will feel energized and refreshed from studying the Bible, praying, listening to inspirational music along with extra sleep or peaceful moments. I frequently enjoy worshipping God in nature on the Sabbath. 

Preparing for the Sabbath occurs during the six days of the week to perform our time-consuming tasks. [Read Exodus 20:8-11]. When our relationship with God is built on love and devotion, we receive spiritual strength. God honors our obedience by giving us unexpected blessings. Many self-help books and sleep apps use marketing tactics to promote peace and wellness. Yet, they are no competition against the Creator. It costs nothing to accept God’s weekly sabbatical as the only plan that promotes wellness and results in spiritual victory.

And today, I discovered that we have another money-maker, authors scripting the various ways to hear God’s voice, God speaks for himself: Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10. We have the Trinity, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who can speak to us at any time. God created us with a soul that stays connected to Him. It is our faithful prayers that invite the Holy Spirit, our Teacher to relay the Voice of God. Have you ever had a thought of how to solve a problem, warning of pending danger, recognition of a false teaching, answer to an exam question, a scripture that you finally understand, or received comfort during a season of darkness? 

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

Take charge of the busyness that threatens your well-being by giving the Creator the opportunity to change your life. 

Prayer: God, we are weary and worn from the busyness that we presently have no control over. We pray for the wisdom and the strength to renovate our present lifestyles. May we have the courage to embrace and receive the gift of the Sabbath. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson

Good Ole Soul Food Recipes

A friend shared this with me. I pray that you are blessed. Sonya Johnson

At the grocery store this morning, I heard a loud crash and something shattering. Being nosy, I walked towards the sound and saw some people whispering and looking back to the end of the next aisle. When I walked down that aisle, I saw an older lady had hit a shelf and many things had fallen to the ground and broke. She was kneeling on the floor embarrassed, frantically trying to clean up.


I felt so bad for her, and everyone was just standing there staring at her. So I went and knelt beside her and told her not to worry and started helping her pick up the broken pieces. After about a minute, the store manager came and knelt beside us and said, “Leave it, we will clean this up.” The lady, totally embarrassed said, “I need to pay for all this first.” The manager smiled, helped her to her feet and said, “No ma’am, we have insurance for this, you do not have to pay anything!”


If you have read this far, I would like for you to give me a minute. Wherever you are, close your eyes, and imagine God doing the same for you!


Collecting the pieces of your broken heart from all the blows life has thrown at you. The bill for your faults, sin and folly has already been paid through the precious blood of Christ. God will heal all your wounds. He wants to gently lift you to your feet again, clean up your mess, and pick up all the broken pieces. He wants to heal you! He wants to take care of your soul!


We can have that same insurance and it’s called GRACE! 💪💪
Somebody say, Amen. Melissa Johnson