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.

It’s an Urgent Matter: Please Talk to God

The quest for simpler lifestyles to achieve peace and tranquility in the busyness of our lives is at an all-time high. Most of us routinely practice precautions to safeguard our physical safety. Businesses are paying attention to the increase of consumers making healthy choices regarding nutritional foods and purchasing clothing and equipment for physical exercise. And Psychologists continue to recommend guarding our mental and emotional health by using stress-reducing techniques and staying clear of toxic relationships.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

We are moving in the right direction, except for improving our spiritual health. When hardships, significant life events, or seasons of darkness overwhelm us, we still do not invite God to be our First-Responder. Prayer must be our immediate “911” call. We carry too many burdens when we fail to cast our cares on Jesus. Without consistent prayer, our faith depletes, and anxiety and worries consume our thoughts. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Matthew 6:27

Prayer is our connection to God, the source of our strength. “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. Jesus warns us that we can do nothing without him.

The only way to stay connected to the vine is through continuous prayer. We can pray anytime of the day and night to optimize our spiritual health by growing closer to God. Remember, prayer is our lifeline. Make the commitment to have a strong bond with God. Prayer is the only way we can receive life-giving nourishment from the Vine–Jesus Christ.

“Just have a little talk with Jesus and tell him all about your troubles. He will hear the faintest cry, He will answer by and by.”

Happy Sabbath!

Bible Study: 1 Thessalonians 5

God, we desire to build our relationship with you and to improve our spiritual health. We thank you for the Sabbath, your gift to humanity. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

©2021 Sonya Johnson

Our Talents and Abilities

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Most of us have received gifts chosen out of love but forced us to smile and secretly wonder, “What will I do with it?” There is only one Giver of perfect gifts. God always provides us with excellent gifts. Unfortunately, many of us do not recognize that we have received our spiritual gifts [some individuals receive multiple gifts] or we lack understanding of using the gift.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17.

Gifts are usually tangible items of value that we can see, touch, and use for our purpose. But God’s priority is giving us intangible gifts. The writer, artist, mathematician, musician, motivational speaker, or athlete demonstrate their talents and abilities given by God. Do you easily provide comfort and encouragement? John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.” John 3:27. Spiritual gifts enable us to achieve spiritual growth by honoring God and serving others.

Many years ago, I worked with a nurse who was an artist. She would often ask me to explain God’s love but refused to attend church or interact with believers. One evening at work, she shared that as a child, she grew up in an orphanage where she was physically beaten every day because of her outward beauty. Then she asked if she could show me some pictures. Truthfully, I didn’t know what to expect. When I looked at the beautiful images that reflected artistic genius, I realized that God is merciful. From her pain, God had gifted her with the ability to express “perfect beauty” on canvas.

God placed on my heart to invite her to my church’s health fair, where she brought her paintings for display and taught a class where we learned to paint even if our previous experience was only drawing stick figures. During our next shift, she thanked me for inviting her to church and asked if I had disclosed her background. I answered no and explained that would be a grevious sin against God, and a breach of trust and confidentiality. She then expressed that she felt God’s love from everyone, and finally believed that God does love us. All praise and glory to God.

God has a variety of spiritual gifts. Your gift will probably be different from my gift. Yet, God never leaves anyone empty. If you are not aware of your gift or doubt the reason for your abilities, Peter, Jesus’ disciple, explains:

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

Living for God requires daily worship through knowledge of the scriptures, constantly praying, having complete faith and trust in God’s plans, and being a servant–helping others. We should never bring attention to ourselves. We use our spiritual gifts [talents, abilities] to bring attention to God. With humility and obedience, our thoughts, words, and actions will reflect the character of Jesus Christ.

How did Jesus use his gifts? The Lamb of God born into poverty used His gifts to offer love, compassion, and healing to those who suffered from mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual illnesses. “And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” John 8:29.
If you are struggling in your relationship with Christ, pray and ask God to reveal your spiritual gifts and His plan and purpose for your life.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Bible Study: 1 Peter 4

God, we desire spiritual growth and to do Your will. Please reveal our spiritual gifts and your plan and purpose for our lives. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Just Say Yes

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” John 5:6

Jesus is waiting for our faith-based answer of ” Yes.” Whatever is going on in your life, He was aware before it happened. It’s time for us to rely on God in every situation. “Is there anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

Trust God

God, we are saying, yes. We give you every burden, every situation, and every hardship to You. And we will faithfully wait until you bring victory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Can you wait?

If you have an appointment at 2 pm, what would your response be if you were told, “there is a delay, and asked, Can you wait?” Honestly, I would immediately become annoyed. However, I would suppress those feelings and answer the question with the question, “How long do I have to wait?” The answer, “Unfortunately, I don’t know,” would make the top of my ears turn red and warm to touch. Since childhood, this has been my body’s automatic response to becoming upset.

Impatience is my downfall. I can pretend to accept and tolerate the “Can you wait?” situation, but God knows my innermost thoughts. And yes, I do realize this is a serious problem.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23.

We are unique because of genetics, life experience, fingerprints, appearance, etc. My spiritual weaknesses could be your strengths and vice-versa. Even so, as believers, we have the commonality of accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. We committed to become Christ-like [a new creature in Christ] 2 Corinthians 5:17. Thankfully, God knew that we needed help, so He specifically defined the characteristics we must possess to become holy and acceptable to Him.

The Apostle Paul summarizes Galatians 5:16-26 as Living By the Spirit’s Power. Because of sin, we have to strive–and persevere to change the sinful characteristics that come naturally to all of humanity. So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. Galatians 5:16. I have heard many individuals confidently say that God understands our weaknesses, which is our sins. But Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Human Effort + Divine Intervention= A Victorious Outcome

God’s love: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Because of His steadfast love for humanity, God gives us free access to divine intervention. It is through the prayers of confession and repentance that we receive the grace and mercies of forgiveness and, yet, another chance to get it right. “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. Praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live righteously. Studying the Bible is the spiritual mirror that enables us to see our sins.

We must endure the tests for us to possess the Fruit of the Spirit. Always striving for the mark are the words of the Apostle. After studying Galatians 5, I realize the next time someone asks, “Can you wait?” this is the test and my opportunity for spiritual growth.

Bible Study: Galatians 5

God, thank you for your grace, mercies, and the patience to guide us through our spiritual journey of faith, obedience, change, and growth. We desire a closer relationship with You. We ask this prayer 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.

We Have Crossed the Line

When a couple decides to have children, and the pregnancy test results are positive, they are filled with happiness and joy. From the decision to create humanity, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26 to the creation of Adam and Eve’s home, the Garden of Eden, I am confident that God was overjoyed to create us.

Just as parents prepare to take care of their baby, God committed to taking care of us even before we were conceived. “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5. And the promise to care for us extends throughout our lifetime: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4.

What happened that made us cross the line into an area of worry and anxiety? 

We were excited when we found out that Jesus died and was resurrected to redeem us from our sins. And then we read that our heavenly Father promised to take care of us:

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:31-33

Because Jesus’ life on earth included unexpected hardships, He forewarned us to expect suffering: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. We should possess joy, peace, and happiness because Jesus made the commitment to take care of all of our trials and sorrows.

When a baby is in need, it simply cries. Prayer, connects us to the source! Through prayer, our cries for help reach the ears of God, who already knows what we need. Still, God requires the human effort of humility and faith. We cannot let our hardships overshadow our faith in God. Pray and look forward to watching how God will solve your challenges. God intentionally limited our strength and power because He desires that we totally rely on him.  

Get back on the other side of the line by believing in God’s love, promises, grace, and mercies. We can rid ourselves of feeling down and out and full of anxieties and worries. From this moment forward, memorize God’s promises and live according to the guarantee that God will take care of you. Whisper a prayer each new day and place your life in the loving arms of God, our Father.

Bible Reading: Psalm 23 and 27

God, we often fail to remember your promises and power. Thank you for loving and taking care of us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. 

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.