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If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.…1 Corinthians 13:3-5 Berean Study Bible

As individuals differ so will their definition of love differ; it is almost a certainty that our life experience impacts the way that we define love. Being exposed as a child in an environment where love was understood without physical affection or direct healthy touch as a child usually results in the maturation of an unaffectionate adult. Even at social gatherings such as family get-togethers, it is evident in the mood; is the family distant and stoic displayed with monotone voices and a quick cheek-kiss or do they reach out and embrace one another with smiles, hugs, and laughter?

Perhaps your definition of love does not come near to the definition of love that is expressed in 1Corinthians 13. Even so, the characteristics of the unconditional agape love that is given to us in the Word of God are the only defining characteristics that are approved by God. There are many arguments, discussions, and disagreements regarding love, but the hows and the whys of our explanations are for naught unless they align with the Love Chapter-1 Corinthians 13.

Certainly, our Heavenly Father and Creator of all mankind who lovingly picked up the dust into His hands and made us into His image would have the final word and God is the one who makes the final decision on the definition of love.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT

Is there any purpose to meaningless noise? We must discard our prior life experiences and preconceived notions of what Love really is; if the way we love others fails to be an exact match then we do not have love.

Think of it this way, DNA paternity testing can only give two results: Either the man is identified as the biological father or he is not the biological father, there are no other possibilities.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV

The Word of God is plain and straightforward, the words are not coated in sugar or tactfully delivered; God desires that we have a clear understanding of what He requires, our lives are not to be based on what we desire. God’s Word is Truth and the truth is required for our characters to reflect righteousness.

During this holiday season, read 1 Corinthians 13 on a daily basis until you have every characteristic of love memorized and pray for a radical change. When we understand and practice God’s definition of love, we become like Christ who always exhibited love and compassion to others; Christ was selfless while He lived on this earth. It is love, the core value that forgiveness, grace, and mercy flow from like a river nourishing everything in its path. Give yourself the gift of love: Love God, Love Others, and Love yourself!

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for giving us your definition of love. May we strive to change and discard all traits that reflect that we are noisy gongs or clanging cymbals. We pray for forgiveness of the unloving and careless ways that we possess. We ask you to teach us how to love unconditionally and possess forgiveness for those who have wronged us even when they feel no remorse. We thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus who died and rose again that we may have Eternal life if we so choose, and we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 NIV

“The California Gold Rush was a gold rush that began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad.” Period of the California Gold Rush: January 24, 1848 — 1855. Wikipedia

Treasure is still actively pursued by those who have no doubt that valuable gems and artifacts exist even to this day. The traits of a treasure hunter include joyful optimism that he or she will be the one to finally discover what lies deep beneath the earth’s surface. If there are reservations in your mind that the search for treasure has declined or does not exist any longer, then refer to this article, https://bestreviews.com/best-metal-detectors, treasure hunting is a thriving hobby for many individuals.

As I read the reviews for the metal detectors, my heart began to race as I thought about taking my love of treasure hunts to another level; even so, I made the decision not to follow my enthusiasm for the search of metal treasures.

From a spiritual perspective, I am thankful that God does not require us to search for Salvation and Righteousness; all He requires is Faith, believing that He will do exactly what He promises to do for those who acknowledge that He is the One and Only God.

It takes faith to serve an unseen God!

God has provided a map for our spiritual journey; the Bible is full of never-ending treasures of truth for those who have the desire for the greatest treasure of all and that is Eternal life-immortality, living forever and ever in a New Heaven and New Earth with God. We are not required to purchase any items in order to prepare for the treasures that God has for us when His Son, Jesus Christ returns. Only the pure in heart will enjoy living in a beautiful and perfect world with one another, and the Trinity Godhead-God the Father, Jesus, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Although our minds are limited in what we can presently understand, the Book of Revelation chapters 21-22 provides us with a description of the physical beauty of the New Heaven and New Earth. We are told that no more death, nor sorrow, or sin will exist; all corrupt things will be destroyed and the righteous will enjoy the treasures that God is waiting to give us because of our faithfulness to Him.

The disparities that exist between earthly hierarchies in social status, economic wealth and poverty, levels of education, church attendance or material possessions do not entitle us to gain Eternal life; in fact, we can never earn Righteousness by Faith, Grace, Mercy, or the Unconditional Love of God. There are no theories of inclusion based on how much an individual has suffered in their life; there is only one way for us to have Redemption and Eternal Life and that is by accepting our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ–through Righteousness by Faith–which is available to every living human being.

The God-given abilities to possess Faith, to communicate with God through Prayer, and to Study God’s Holy Word are the tools to receive the treasures that God has already given to us. When we obediently follow God’s map for our lives, we are preparing ourselves in this life for the heavenly life; and that is the greatest treasure that we can ever receive.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6: 19-21 ESV

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:19-34

Prayer for today: Dear God, We thank you for the plan that you have for our lives and that is to live forever with you. We ask forgiveness of our sins and shortcomings. We look forward to the day when we will live forever in your presence in the New Heaven and New Earth. We ask for the strength to obey, to study your Word, and to have a deeper relationship with you by praying and remaining faithful. We love you, and we worship you, and we are thankful for the treasure of Eternal life. thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Take time for your body and mind to recuperate from the daily routine of busyness.

Our bodies deserve to be pampered with rest, relaxation, and the time to rejuvenate from the harsh schedule of demands that cause premature aging of our internal organs.

At least for 1 hour a day, take a timeout to focus on what you enjoy; so, if you can’t think of anything because it’s been too long since you’ve had fun, reflect on some good memories when you were younger or think about something that you were really interested in, but gave up on, due to “it’s never enough hours in a day” schedule.

Plan a monthly retreat…it will give you something to look forward to…and your outlook will transition to one of peace and happiness. Utilize your PTO or earned Vacation time to travel during the week, not only is it less hectic, you will save money by paying off-peak rates.

Cease and desist the weekend cramming of everything you need to do for the year in only two days; instead of tasking for 8 hours, rearrange your “To Do” list; schedule your tasks for a maximum of 2 hours, three times a week.

It is vital that we understand and respect our mind-body connection by declining excessive duties and placing boundaries to correct or prevent a dysfunctional lifestyle.

Change your mindset from the future dream that one day when you retire you will take it easy and do everything on your wish list. Start taking advantage of the here and now; respect your body and cherish your beautiful mind.

It’s still a wonderful world!

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for your love; the love that flowed from your heart and caused you to place dust in your hands and create us in your image. We admit that we are mistreating our fearfully and wonderfully made bodies and for this, we ask forgiveness. Please give us the courage to change, and the determination to lovingly care for ourselves. We thank you for the gift of Jesus who took the time to rest when he was on this earth. We ask for the wisdom to develop a balanced healthy lifestyle as we continue to serve you. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

May you feel the warmth from the love of God this Sabbath🙏❤

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Corinthians 3:3 NIV

We live in an era where many diabolical schemes exist and what you see or hear is not necessarily what you will receive. The well-contrived plots are always based on the loss of an individual’s assets; money, property, stocks or other investments. Identity theft, hackers, prepaying for goods and services that are never received, and relationships based on deceit are examples of the dishonesty that we try to avoid, but our society is plagued with the complexities of deception. Even government agencies such as the Social Security Administration and IRS have been targeted and many consumers have been scammed just because they have received a phone call or email with the agency’s identifiers. Bear in mind that you never really know who the individual is that is calling or the sender of the email. If in doubt, do not answer unknown phone numbers and delete the emails of unknown senders. Protect yourself by using reputable individuals or businesses that can provide references and written invoices or contracts.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NLT

Just when we thought that we were familiar with every deception that could impact our lives, God tells us that Satan the Master of Deception has developed elaborate schemes for every Believer of God. Our strategies, knowledge, and prior experiences are weak in comparison to the power of our great enemy; the devil is aware of our true desires and weaknesses when we speak meaningless words that are betrayed by our behaviors and actions.

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. Psalm 8:5 NIV

The Bible tells us that humanity was made a little lower than the angels; we must remember that Satan was created as Lucifer, he is a fallen angel who was cast out of heaven along with a legion of angels that made the decision to go against God. Without God’s divine intervention, we are no match for the satanic forces that coexist with humanity on this earth.

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV

Watching includes praying! Our lives are dependent on God who is faithful in His promise to protect us from all schemes, plots, and lies that originate from evil. We cannot afford to lose out on our reward of Eternal Life by succumbing to plots to separate us from God.

Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Proverbs 4:6 NLT

Every situation in our lives must be presented to God in prayer. We must ask for wisdom, do not rely on feelings, judgment, or past experiences; do not act prematurely, if you truly desire God’s divine intervention then we must wait for His answer.

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; Psalm 34:19 NIV

Bible Verse: Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:14 NIV

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask you to forgive us of our sins, our shortcomings, and to fill us with the Holy Spirit. We ask you to protect us from all of the schemes, the hurt, the harm, and the dangers in this world. We acknowledge that we are powerless against Satan and the forces of evil. God, we know that the temptations that we face every day are meant to separate us from you. We need you, and we ask for wisdom, we pray for the desire to obey your will for our lives. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

When we stand in front of a mirror we have the expectation that it will reflect our image; unfortunately, it is the image that we have formulated in our minds, the image that is always perfect. Think about a shopping experience when the clothing that you selected from the rack did not meet your expectations because the mirror exposed the conflict between reality and what you imagined. The disappointment was overwhelming as you began to search for secondary options; even so, the mirror reflected the only possible image, the true image that was standing in front of it.

The Bible is our spiritual mirror, we may perform good deeds, but our character may not reflect the traits that God desires of us. Do you possess unconditional love? Is God’s love evident as shown to others by your tender-heart?

All of the characteristics that we are to possess originate from and require unconditional love. What is unconditional love? It is the pure love that comes from God; it is the never-ending River of Love that God has within His heart for us and from that river are streams that branch off into the rivers of God’s forgiveness, His grace, and His mercy. It is only when we study the Word of God that we become aware of who God really is; the Bible speaks of and reflects God’s loving character.

Even God possesses a tender-heart. Based on the Fall of Adam and Eve, we become fully aware of God’s tender heart; because of sin, the first animal death occurred in order to provide protective skins of clothing for the couple to live outside of the Garden of Eden. The fallen ones were not destroyed because of their disobedience; in fact, God provided and prepared them for the change in the environment by giving them specific instructions for the lifestyle that was required to live productively.

If there is still confusion regarding God’s tender-heart then reflect on the Plan of Salvation and the death of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ who was the “One and Only One” who could redeem us from sin. Redemption was God’s permission and acceptance of Jesus’ willing sacrifice for humanity; the human race continued because of God’s tender heart overflowing with grace and mercy.

We are the recipients of never-ending forgiveness because of God’s tender-heart; does any parent wish for the destruction of their children?

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

We must do our part to intentionally rid ourselves of “all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, and all other types of evil behavior.” Eternal life requires the cultivation of a tender-heart! Love God, Love Others, and Love yourself.

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for your unconditional love and your tender-heart. We ask forgiveness for every thought or action of malice toward others, and we ask your help in the transformation of our character. We pray for a clean, loving and tender-heart that we may serve thee and treat others with intentional kindness, and never-ending forgiveness. Thank you for the plan of Redemption and the gift of your Son, Jesus, and we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of our Savior Lord, and Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Micah 7:18 NIV

There are many parents who have struggled with at least one child who has always been mischievous and disobedient; the child that rebelled and fought to have his or her own way, in spite of disciplinary efforts, the child who always caused chaos and disrupted the peaceful existence of the family home. It is especially disheartening when the background reveals an upbringing in a healthy environment where love, nurturing, structure and discipline were provided, yet the child failed to respond or to change their wayward behaviors. Unfortunately, the tug-of-war that existed not only disrupted the family dynamics but also left its mark on the other siblings and the parents.

When we study the Word of God, we become acquainted with the Nation of Israel who God loved, protected, delivered, and extended His mercy and compassion by forgiving them of their ongoing rebellion against him. The one and only God, our Heavenly Father endured the willful disobedience of subsequent generations; yet He still extended forgiveness based on grace and mercy. In spite of Israel’s desires to indulge in the worldly pleasures of idol worship and other pagan practices, God still made promises reflecting His grace: “As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders.” Micah 7:15

Even when we strive to give our best to God, we struggle with the battle of fulfilling our own desires which are enmity against God. We have been forewarned of our limitations: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Isaiah 55:8 NLT. When does our rebellion against our Father end? What more can God give to us or do for us that He has not already done?

Rebellion on a spiritual level is quite different from the child’s rebellion which impacts and disrupts the entire family. The sin of disobedience against God destroys the sinner who gradually becomes desensitized to the truth; in fact, that disobedience leads to the same behaviors that were displayed by Pharaoh when Moses and Aaron approached him with God’s command to free Israel from enslavement. “Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.’ ” Exodus 5:2 NIV.

The sin that the sinner loves results in a self-destructive mission that separates them from God; fortunately no one else but the sinner has to suffer from the wages of sin, which is death. Spiritually, we experience the death of our relationship with God when we choose to sin against Him.

Our situation is not hopeless! God has the solution to our rebelliousness:

Repentance is feeling godly remorse and sorrow with the intent to never commit the sin again; repentance is based on humility, and the understanding of God’s grace and mercy, it is acknowledging that it is God and God alone that you have sinned against.

Only God does not place a limit on how many times we can repent and ask Him for forgiveness.

We may ask others for forgiveness when we have committed wrongdoing against them; however, it is God our Heavenly Father that we should confess and repent our sins to, for no other human being has the power to forgive our sins and to cast all of our sins into the depths of the sea, never to be remembered again.

Yes, the choice to sin places us in a miserable situation in our lives; even so, God in his infinite mercy still waits for us to cease our rebellion against him. And He continues to show forth Unconditional Love in spite of our disobedience by promising to forgive us from all unrighteousness.

“For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more. Isaiah 43:25

He will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19

Bible Reading: Micah 7

Prayer for today: Dear God, We come to you with humble hearts as we confess and repent of our sins which are against you. We ask forgiveness for our rebelliousness and our behaviors which indicate we do not know you nor do we have a relationship with you. We pray for the strength to turn from our wicked ways and to serve you with love, and the desire to commit ourselves wholly to you. God, we thank you for your love, your compassion, your grace and mercy, and your promises to cast our sins into the sea of forgiveness. We love you, and we praise your Holy Name. We humbly ask this prayer in the Worthy name of your Son, Jesus who died and rose again that we may have Eternal life if we so choose. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! Psalm 34:19-20 NLT

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24 NLT

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

The holiday season is a very interesting season; with all of the gift-giving, many of us begin to increase our prayer requests to God. We begin to think of the many necessities which are really our personal desires or we may see others receiving blessings, and we begin to pray for that new job, a new vehicle, or maybe healing from an ongoing health condition.

Recently, I listened to a very interesting sermon, entitled “When God says No!” It seems inconceivable that God would not answer our prayers in the affirmative when we have earnestly prayed for deliverance or a much-needed blessing. But God proves to us that we cannot make demands when we pray; historically the Bible substantiates a time when God did not answer the prayer of even a righteous man who was suffering from a physical malady: Although the Apostle Paul prayed for God to remove his physical affliction which he referred to as a thorn in the flesh; God said no!

This was God’s answer to Paul: Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

The real issue lies from within: How do we react when our prayers are not answered in the way that we feel they should be answered? Are we upset, frustrated, depressed, or do we feel forsaken by God?

God cannot go back on His Word nor can He contradict himself! And yes, God answered the Apostle’s prayer; however, it was not in the affirmative to receive healing from his physical condition. The reality is that Paul required a reminder of God’s grace; grace that is given freely to the unworthy; grace is the unmerited favor that keeps our heart beating, grace keeps the perfect levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide flowing in and out of our respiratory system; grace gives our brains the ability to learn, to pursue and achieve our goals; grace allows humanity to make advancements appropriate to the era in which we live, and without asking for grace, God does all of this and much more for humanity.

Spiritually, God’s grace is extended to us in that we may approach him boldly in prayer; God’s grace allows us to communicate with him at any time of the day or night; His grace protects us from being beaten down mentally, emotionally and physically from the evil powers of Satan; God’s grace allows us to get to know him through the study of His Holy Word; God’s grace extends lovingly and unconditionally, and when humanity took the plunge and willingly fell into Sin, God’s grace allowed His, Son, Jesus Christ to relinquish His Divinity, to stoop low and become human in order to die for our sins that we may be redeemed and have the opportunity to have Eternal life. Yet, we cannot live one day without committing sin against God.

Now that we have an increased awareness of God’s grace, our perspective must change! We do not have a reason to be depressed, annoyed or to feel a sense of hopelessness.

Yes, it is the Season to Change our Mindset! Instead of asking, and asking, Let us give God the gifts of our praise, our worship, and our thankfulness for the endless supply of His Grace.

God does answer every prayer and through His Grace, we are blessed and highly favored…We are alive and that is so much better than receiving any material gifts or having a jolly time and a very Merry Christmas.

Bible Reading: Psalm 34

Prayer for today: Dear God, We come to you with praise and thanksgiving for your grace; we thank you for your unmerited favor upon our lives. We acknowledge that your grace has brought us safely through to this point. We ask forgiveness for asking above and beyond what you have blessed us with. You have promised to answer our prayers even before we call on your name. Thank you for loving us, thank you for providing for us, and thank you for the privilege to come to you in prayer. As we strive for spiritual perfection, we ask to be filled with your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the gift of your Son who fulfilled the Plan of Redemption by His death, and now serves as our great Intercessor in Heaven. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Do you need a Character makeover?

Christ has given us no assurance that to attain the perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace and Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected…. O.F.C.P308 Ellen G. White

Change is necessary if we are striving for Eternal Life. We have to take a hard look from within and evaluate how far our character is from the character that God requires.

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 NLT

We must let go of bad attitudes, anger, hostility, unforgiveness, impatience, and all other characteristics that do not reflect that we are Saints of God. It is not enough for us to wear the label as a Christian–appearing as a beautifully gift-wrapped package and hold onto ungodly traits that we have cultivated due to heredity or environment.

It is our sinful nature that we can secretly hide from others; even so, God is fully aware of who we truly are from the inside out. Remember to always pray, study the Word of God, to resist temptation by walking away from conflict, and to form the habit of Silence.

It is when we choose to remain silent that God can demonstrate His mighty power; our Spiritual team will intervene on our behalf when we acquiesce to the Holy Spirit. We can listen with spiritual ears and hear the instructions and see the manner in which God will manifest his power.

Yes, it will be one of the greatest challenges to begin the work of modifying our character. However, if we are obedient to God, then we will overcome, and begin to reflect that we are clean from the inside out. God is willing and able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to fill us with His precious Holy Spirit.

Do your part today…you will love the new and improved you!

Bible Reading: Galatians 5

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask forgiveness for the sinful traits that we have proudly cultivated and held on to. From this day forward, we desire a complete spiritual makeover of our character that is enmity against you. We desire to be cleansed from all unrighteousness and to be filled with your Holy Spirit. We believe and we receive the blessings that come from being Christ-like from the inside out. We love you, and we praise your Holy Name, and we humbly ask this prayer in the Worthy name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers. Isaiah 65:24 NLT

Living in Orlando provided lucrative employment opportunities; however, there was a price to pay for living near major attractions, i.e, SeaWorld and Disney; constant noise pollution, gridlock traffic, and living between two major streets with 6 lanes that compared to highways in other cities.

One Sabbath following the church service, we decided to visit one of our favorite places; a beautiful marina facing the St. Johns River located about one hour from where we lived. We had experienced some tough work-related challenges during the week and by the time Sabbath arrived, we were desperate for a peaceful place to relax for a couple of hours. The weather was pleasant in Orlando and we looked forward to sitting in our stadium chairs taking in the tranquility that peaceful waters and birds flying overhead provided. Yes, we craved for the much-needed solace from our day-to-day hustle of busy lives in the large metropolitan city of Orlando.

Once we entered the road in front of the river we began to smile and speak of the natural beauty of the earth that God created for humanity. We placed our chairs under a huge shade tree and started to chat about the spiritually uplifting church service while taking in the magnificent scenery of the sun’s rays hitting the water. As we watched the birds gracefully flying overhead the temperature suddenly rose and became unbearably hot; Central Florida is a very moody area regarding weather conditions that include unpredicted torrential downpours, lightning storms, extreme humidity, and very high temperatures. Our attention turned from the therapeutic natural scenery to our body’s reaction of profuse sweating, expressing disappointment, we agreed that the heat was unbearable and prepared to leave. At that moment, a cool breeze embraced our bodies without one leaf stirring on the tree, and it remained until our bodies felt relief. We immediately prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for the divine intervention that we received, and many years later we still reminisce about our miraculous cool breeze.

There is no scientific explanation for what occurred that day, God intervened on our behalf; He always knows what we need in our lives. Even when we fail to recognize that His grace is given freely without us asking for it, God overlooks the limitations of our finite minds, and He shows us that He loves us unconditionally.

When our trials hit hard like the hot desert sun, God is always there to provide the cool breezes that save us from further distress. If we learn to recognize and acknowledge His love in peaceful times, then it will become a natural habit to call on Him when the sweltering heat of tribulations overwhelm us and we are desperate for relief.

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Isaiah 55:6

Bible Reading: Isaiah 55

Prayer for today: Dear God, We thank you for providing the cool breezes in our lives even when we fail to call on your name. We ask you to forgive us for our lack of faith and our forgetfulness of your love and the victories that you have provided for us in the time of distress. We desire to have a deeper relationship with you. Thank you for your unmerited grace that you freely give without us even asking for it. Please have mercy on us as we do our part in seeking you in the good times and in the bad times. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son, Christ Jesus. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019