Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
The priorities and goals that I developed for 2020 have changed drastically since the onset of the coronavirus. Plans to use my insurance paid gym membership to swim 2-3 times a week is not going to happen. Nor will I launch my e-commerce website to sell my handmade crafts. Two of my spiritual goals, to renew my covenant with God, and to increase my time studying the Bible and praying, are going well. By studying the Word, I have yet another spiritual goal to accomplish. According to Galatians 5:22-23, I am missing some “Fruit of the Spirit” in my character.
With reflection, we become aware that our set goals and what we actually accomplish are often inconsistent. Our lives will always have a degree of uncertainty; major life events arise, bringing with it, stormy and unsettling changes. We were created with the resiliency to survive the hard knocks in life. Even so, God waits for us to include him in the resolution of our trials and tribulations.
Many are driven to survive even if it means picking up the pieces and starting over again. Overcoming empowers us to use the knowledge learned from prior mistakes and unexpected life changes. Still, we must wait on God’s plan to resolve our challenges. When we wait on Him, we begin to feel hopeful because He will always provide us with the perfect outcome.
Have you restructured your life to acquiesce to the uncontrollable virus that has infected over a million individuals? With a death toll that rises daily, our lives cannot move forward in a typical manner. From January to the present, maintaining the status of our health is first and foremost as we live under the Stay at Home and Shelter in Place laws. This is not our first pandemic, the Influenza H1N1 virus also infected massive numbers.
“Our last pandemic was in 2009. However, there were antiviral drugs that were released from the FDA for treatment, along with the amazing fact that most individuals age 60+ were immune to the H1N1 virus.” (Lancet, 2020) The WHO, CDC, and FDA established a systematic and aggressive approach to the treatment of the Influenza H1N1, which began in April 2009. By December of 2009, 1 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine were available for administration. Surprisingly, the H1N1 virus lasted for 15 months, not officially ending until August of 2010.
The global socioeconomic status has significantly suffered in 10 years. During the past five years, many businesses have closed and brought with it a shift in the economy–unemployment, and massive consumer debt. The stressors of society have increased by an aging baby boomer population, adult children and grandchildren returning to their parent’s homes, political conflict, increased racial hatred, human trafficking, homelessness, and the rise of chronic diseases in every age group.
There is civil unrest that exists in our societies. From the President to our politicians, and in most homes, the infiltration of conflict and confusion have replaced a peaceful, loving, and nurturing environment. We have become a godless nation filled with greed. The spirit of rebellion is evident by the rising number of individuals still growing infected with the COVID-19 virus. The myths, the misinformation, and the conflict between leadership and medical healthcare providers have resulted in mass confusion among the general public.
Just recently, information has been disseminated on eating healthy to boost the Immune system. As healthcare providers, we are aware at the onset of an infectious disease that many individuals are carriers, they fail to have typical symptoms, yet they infect others. Who can tell the difference between a sneeze caused by allergies versus the coronavirus?
Because of the desire for a quick fix and the demand to continue life as usual, instead of staying at home, the outcry is for face coverings! But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27
The Israelites made demands for God to give them meat to eat instead of the manna that He provided them with. Remember all the free fish we ate in Egypt and the cucumbers, watermelons, leeks, onions, and garlic we had? 6 But now we’ve lost our appetite! Everywhere we look, there’s nothing but manna!” Numbers 11:5-6. Read Numbers chapter 11 for the complete account.
That people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things. Isaiah 45:6-7
Since Adam and Eve, we are aware that Satan has caused sin, disease, and death to humanity. However, Satan cannot go above his limitations set by God. It is his relentless desire to destroy every believer in God because he knows that one day he and his legion of angels will be destroyed. Because of his wickedness, he is not particular with who he destroys, unbelievers easily succumb to Satan’s deceptions. And the believers who are double-minded, and harbor secret desires for worldly pleasures, also fall as prey to Satan’s deceitful schemes.
Our last pandemic had a duration of 16 months. With the current statistics, can we survive 16 months of the coronavirus? I pray for God’s mercies. We do not need a church building to pray for the pestilence in our world. I appeal to you to start fasting and praying for God to have mercy on us and to give the Cease and Desist command for the COVID-19 virus. I am merely standing on His promise found in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Prayer: Dear God, We come to you asking for the forgiveness of our sins and shortcomings. /We ask you to please have mercy on us and heal our land. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.
© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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