Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Oh come let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. Psalm 95:6

Our former Pastor quoted this verse every Sabbath at the beginning of the Divine Worship service. Remembering his deep voice and the emphasis on King David’s admonishment, along with the melodic sounds of the organ, still places my mind in a state of awe and reverence.

We must be humble and approach God as soon as our eyes open. When we begin the day with prayer, we invite our Heavenly Father to impart His strength and power to overcome our personal trials.

Into my heart, come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Victory is mine, victory is mine!

Prayer for Today: Dear God, Thank you for another day of life. I invite you into my heart and mind to give me the strength that I need to be victorious through you. Amen

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Be still and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10

Since childhood, nothing has made me happier than to obtain what I desired. However, I now realize instant gratification has many drawbacks that lead to negative consequences. Lack of self-control is the gateway to selfishness and greed. Soon the seed of undesirable behaviors grow and funds rapidly deplete. Most purchases driven by impulsive behaviors serve only as trophies and become part of a collection easily forgotten. What about unaccounted expenses such as eating out every day which literally has nothing tangible to show for what was spent?

Some time ago I read that Believers should always pray before making purchases. Imagine my surprise when I saw a middle-aged woman shopping in the next aisle of the thrift store with a brand new travel bag in her hand. She carefully examined the beautiful bag and then she bowed her head and begin to pray. After she finished praying, she placed the bag on the rack and left. Immediately, I picked up the bag priced at $42 and purchased it for $5. My thoughts were that she was unaware that all of the handbags were $5 regardless of the tagged original price. I left feeling very proud of myself that I found such a great bargain.

You may agree that I received a blessing for only $5. The truth is that the bag has only been used once, and I do not even remember how it looks. I am sharing my testimony regarding decisions based on desire. I still struggle with instant gratification. However, I pray before making all purchases; and I wait for the Holy Spirit to guide me before spending the resources that God has blessed me with. The good news is that I am learning to accept God’s answer of “No or Not Now.” I possess more self-control which has led to weight loss and a small savings account.

God has proven to me that stopping and listening for His guidance and being obedient has many wonderful blessings that feel better than instant gratification.

Prayer for Today: Dear God, Please give me the desire for your guidance in all aspects of my life. Amen

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Show respect to those who don’t deserve it. It is not about their disrespectful character; it is a reflection of your godly character.

Prayer for Today: Dear God, Please help me to live according to your standards.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Have a blessed and peaceful communion with God.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Popular and trending handmade dolls are crafted with partial faces, either the nose or the mouth is missing from what appears to be a completed project. What are the life experiences that would cause an artisan to create dolls without all of its facial features? Is this how the subsequent generations will view themselves? Are they remnants of the strong relationships that existed in the past? Fractured families and broken bonds permeate our society. We may live hundreds of miles away from our relatives or in close proximity, but fail to have loving relationships with one another.

The answer to strengthening our fragile state of existence is simple-we must learn to love others as God loves us. 1 Corinthians 13 provides the solution to healing the brokenness that many of us possess. Our talents, abilities and even our faith have little value unless we are able to love others. Love is the greatest gift that we have received from our Heavenly Father.

Thankfully we do not have the burden of defining the characteristics of love. God defined love when he created us in His image.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wrong. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

“Three things will last forever–faith hope and love–and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

Prayer for Today: Dear God, Please teach me to love others that I may be healed of my brokenness. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

Prayer for Today: Thank you Lord for a new day! Amen.

Sonya Johnson-Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Therefore come out from among the unbelievers and separate yourself from them says the Lord; don’t touch their filthy things and I will welcome you. 2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But, watch yourself or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1 (NIV)

I am truly blessed that I have enjoyed the fellowship of believers since childhood. The spiritual connection between individuals who love God has always been a source of encouragement during the tough times of life. Enjoying the laughter along with our testimonials of the goodness of God is uniquely special; it creates a bond of loving friendship.

Imagine a get-together with positive energy, no alcoholic beverages, no profanity or other vices. Christians are ordinary people; we discuss the Word of God, family, politics, social injustices, sports, our hobbies, likes and dislikes along with preparation for Christ’s Second Coming. What separates Christian fellowship from that of worldly gatherings is the spiritual awareness that God is omnipresent and that we must guard our thoughts, behaviors, and spoken words.

My social circle is very limited. Following biblical guidance prevents me from one of the world’s greatest defeats-peer pressure. Christian friendship is by no means perfect; we fall into sinful ways on a daily basis. However, our peers jump right in with plain talk, prayer, and godly-scriptural advice. Our responsibility expands beyond physical or emotional needs; we are helping one another prepare for eternal life.

If you do not have a Christian support system, there are steps that you can take to place yourself among your peers.

1. Ask God to send you to a Bible-based church.

2. Attend prayer meeting along with the weekly service.

3. Identify your spiritual gifts and strengths.

4. Express your desire to be an active participant. If you like helping others, Community Services, Homeless Ministries, Nursing Home/Homebound/Hospital visitation are just a few areas that allow you to use your talents.

4. Attend church activities such as potluck dinners and social events.

The Spirit of God is present among true believers. We are known by our fruits. Continue to pray and remain positive. God has already defined the criteria for our peers, and it never includes pressure.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I need to change who I associate with. Please guide me to the right church so I can be embraced by those who love you and are committed to serving you. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

In Jeremiah 18, God reveals the story of the clay becoming marred in the potter’s hands while he was working on it. Instead of the potter throwing the clay aside, using his judgment, he reshapes it into a more suitable pot. God is saying, “Can I not do with you as this potter does? Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.”

We face many relentless trials in our lives that leave us discouraged and hopeless. But, God is still in control and when we invite him in to reshape and mold our hearts, we can rest assured that we will become a new vessel. When the storms of life are raging, let your hope always be in God. No matter what we face, with God, we are promised victory.

Prayer for Today: Dear God, Right now, I feel hopeless in my life. Please reshape my heart, and my mind to believe that you will bring me through all that I am facing. Amen

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB

There are two powerful movements pervading our society: Eating Healthy and Eating Everything. Both have a huge following and both create a domino effect on our bodies and minds. Many who are enslaved to the Eating Everything group have become victims of the Medical profession by giving up their body parts through Bariatric surgery. As a Registered Nurse, I was required to study the subject of Anatomy and Physiology for one year. I took an oath to do no harm to my patients and to provide education on preventive and disease management levels. Therefore, as a healthcare professional, I am truly disturbed by the quick fix method of the partial removal of the digestive system for monetary gain.

Since the age of 11, I have been a member of the Eating Everything group. I love all the fruits and vegetables because I was given healthy meals during my childhood. However, I was raised with the concept of self-gratification. My love for desserts loaded with calories and sugar, along with potato chips, candy, cookies, and ice cream created the desire to consume more calories than my body was equipped to handle. As a result, I continued to gain weight and developed high blood pressure and prediabetes at a young age.

Last year, my physician recommended a gastric sleeve procedure. I immediately contacted my insurance company who informed me that I met the necessary criteria and it would be a covered procedure. The preparation to surrender part of my digestive system brought mixed feelings. I thought that I was ready to do anything to lose weight. Imagine my surprise when the pre-surgical prep required eating a strict diet with a reduced amount to the size of a small jar of baby food. My mind transitioned from that of a helpless patient to the educated mind of a nurse. I felt betrayed by my physician and the entire medical profession who supports the quick fix method. However, my mind was in turmoil, and I had to make a decision-surgery or drastically change my unhealthy eating habits. I began to cry and pray. I confessed to God that I was enslaved to my appetite and had uncontrollable desires for unhealthy food. I didn’t know where and how to start my transition from Eating everything to Eating healthy. But, God had already started working on my behalf.

Due to a 40-year nursing tenure, I have End Stage Osteoarthritis in both of my knees which translates into insufficient cartilage between the bones. I was in pain daily with limited mobility. I started Physical Therapy and that is when God intervened. My Physical Therapist has a Ph.D. and promotes Eating for health to her clients. She provided valuable information on the impact of losing weight to alleviate the chronic pain and stress on my joints. During my initial evaluation, Susan recommended the book-Eat for Health by Joel Fuhrman MD. After sharing my struggle, she asked me to wait a minute while she went to her office, and returned with a copy of the book as a gift.

The great news is that I have learned discipline in an area in my life, that I never thought was possible. My taste buds have been retrained. My out of control desire for self-gratification for food and spending money has been eliminated. I still love cheesecake; but, I no longer must have it or possess the “die trying” to get it mindset. The struggle is real. I still must pray for victory on a daily basis. I am only halfway to my weight loss goal. However, I am free of pain, my waist measurement is 10 inches smaller, and I feel great.

I truly believe in Divine intervention-we don’t have, because we don’t ask.

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Dear God, Please help me to be an overcomer of self-gratification in all areas of my life. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

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 12:2 NLT

Our thoughts determine our actions. If we are shrouded by a negative mindset then our spoken words will be degrading. Most of us have been exposed to individuals who bring the dark rain cloud into every situation; their presence results in a sense of dread to others.

What happens when you realize that you are that person? Acknowledge the mental and emotional pain and dysfunctional environmental influences that have shaped your character to only see or feel gloom and doom. You may justify your mindset by proclaiming that you are a realist or “it is what it is” or it’s the truth. The truth can be expressed in a different manner: Have you thought about the impact on others when you approach life without gratitude?

The aftermath of a thunderstorm or lightning bolt storm usually reveals a beautiful rainbow. Roses which are the most highly desired flower have painful, piercing thorns. God has allowed beauty to remain on this earth in spite of the devastation of sin.

If you are unable to see the beauty in life, the only solution is for you to ask God to transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

Prayer for Today: Dear God, Please help me to change the gloom and doom mindset that I am burdened with. I want to be transformed to know your will and think good thoughts which are pleasing in your sight. Amen

Sonya Johnson Ruiz