Category: Uncategorized

2023: Totally Doing His Will

The mighty rushing wind of the Holy Spirit is moving fervently through this earth anointing the hearts of the faithful. Through answered prayers and the diligent study of the Scriptures, many hearts are accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Yes, we believe that God has selected, appointed, and anointed us to carry the torch. And in humble obedience, we are witnessing of Jesus’ love, grace, and mercy to everyone who will listen.

But, Wait! Salvation is for all. And God shows no favoritism. Exactly! The difference is that we acknowledge that God is enough in our lives. We give ourselves daily to the saving power of Christ. With intentional commitment we stay connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ. We fully understand that we are saved by grace. And because of our faith, the Holy Spirit has filled us like cups overflowing with an overwhelming love for an Awesome God. Our response is to continually seek God through prayer and to renew our covenant vow every day to totally do His will.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” –2 Corinthians 12:9

Sonya Darcell Johnson, Steps2successwithsolutions.com 2023

The Misconception of Spiritual Defeat

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NIV

Faith allows us to have a deep dependency on God. We abide in Christ to receive His fortifying protection from the continuous spiritual warfare that many believe will produce the destitution of Defeat.

Satan can only be successful in his ploys to defeat us when we help him. Sounds crazy? Distractions are his proven strategies to bait and switch our focus from Christ to our circumstances.

Loving and Trusting Jesus allows us to receive His never-ending power. Jesus is our only Hope. Human Effort plus Divine Intervention equals Victory!

Ending Our Struggle with Sin

The story was told about a well-known pastor conducting a revival in a small town. After the service ended, he was approached by a young man who said, “I don’t like your religion, you can’t party, drink, smoke, gamble when playing cards, or have girlfriends.” The pastor responded, “Oh, I can do those things and more, but I no longer desire to do those things because I gave my heart to Jesus Christ.”

Question: Do you believe that Jesus ends our struggle with sin?

Answer: When Jesus died and rose from the dead, He ascended back to heaven. His death and resurrection completed the Plan of Salvation–to redeem humanity from their sins when we confess and ask for forgiveness. Surrendering our hearts to Jesus requires that we love Jesus. We love Him because He loved us first. He paid for our redemption with His life. And Jesus has promised us in John 14:1-3 that He will come again and take us to heaven to live forever with Him in a perfect world without sin, sorrow, crying, and death.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Ephesians 2:1-3

We were spiritually dead in sin before our transformation. Ruled by the carnal desires of our flesh, we gave ourselves to Satan, the prince of the power of the air. The desires, habits, people, places, and things that we used to do have been cleansed away by the precious blood of Jesus. We are so grateful for a Savior who rescued us that we walk away from a prior life like it never existed.

How is spiritual transformation possible?

Remember that God created us in His image, and He created us with a soul that is connected to Him for the duration of our lives. The emptiness of sin overshadows our connection to Christ, but it is impossible for us to ever be totally disconnected. The Plan of Salvation was in place before humanity was created. God knew that we would have a sinful nature. Yes, we have a continuous inner conflict between right and wrong, but in staying connected to Jesus, He gives us the strength to overcome our passionate desires.

Christ has the power to make us alive!

“What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me?” Psalm 116:12

Wait Quietly On the Lord

In a tumultuous world, we are living in perilous times of discontent and confusion. Still, this is our Father’s world. Everything that we are and everything we will become depends on our relationship of love, faith, meekness, and obedience to God.

Remaining steadfast despite the circumstances is possible when we believe God’s promises. Jesus says be of good cheer [be courageous], I have overcome the world and the problems that you face. Remaining in God’s Righteous Right Hand gives us steadfast hope and allows us to live with joyful expectation. Wait quietly on the Lord.

2023: Invest in Your Health

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

Today I researched holistic health strategies as related to achieving the wellness of optimal health. Did you know that home cooking your food is the number one preventative against poor health?

For many, cooking involves the use of air fryers and microwaves. Yet, cooking on a stove and using a conventional oven allows one to receive the highest level of nutrients for digestion and assimilation on a cellular level in the human body.

What are the guidelines for choosing healthy foods? Moderate in calories, low salt, low fat, and no processed sugars. 2,000 calories per day should provide necessary nutrients for the average adult.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the building blocks for maintaining a Be Ready Stay Ready Immune System. The colors green, orange, red, yellow, and purple should be consumed daily. Complex carbohydrates along with adequate protein from legumes, fish, and poultry will leave you energetic and change your perception of life in general.

Be creative. Personally, I do not care for one pot meals. Who says our plate has to be limited to only three varieties of food?

Healthy eating is part of having a healthy lifestyle. It is not a diet. Your mind and tastebuds require retraining to achieve optimal health.

Change is intentional. A healthy lifestyle requires an alteration in our thought processes along with strategic planning. Because our choice of food is from learned behaviors, we require Divine Intervention to change from eating foods that supply little nutrients.

Our health is of the utmost concern to God. Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He healed many who had mental, emotional, and physical illnesses. When we consume foods based on taste or habits our bodies will fail us by succumbing to chronic diseases. We were created in God’s image to live long, productive, joyous lives.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19

Involve God in your desire to take care of your temple. Pray for help! Develop your goals. Purchase a journal. Eliminate time-consuming distractions. Learn your body’s rhythm. When are you hungry? Consider taking a mid-afternoon snack to work to prevent raging hunger that results in ordering fast food on the way home.

Be intentional with your food choices. Purchase your food weaknesses in smaller sizes–one pint of ice cream instead of a half gallon. Consider making your own ice cream with fruit. Shop for food on a full stomach–the junk stuff will be less appealing.

The most exciting part of pursuing optimal health is the body’s response–high energy, weight loss, mood stability, increase in mental acuity, and the overall feeling that comes from your accomplishment of loving you.

The only way for us to achieve optimal health is to lovingly care for the fearfully and wonderfully made minds and bodies gifted by our Heavenly Father.

I have achieved and maintained optimal health for two years. Go ahead! It’s a great way to live!

https://www.aetna.com/health-guide/health-benefits-of-home-cooking.html