Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3: 5-6 NLT

Have you ever been accused of something that you did not do? Most of us can answer yes to that question: whether the incident occurred in childhood or as an adult, false accusations always cause damage to the innocent victim. False accusations are deliberately created because the accuser possesses negative emotions toward the accused and that is the foundation that enables the diabolical lie to begin. Those who have been victimized usually have suffered undeserved consequences in the form of punitive actions that resulted in many losses including their good reputations.

There is a fact of life that we must understand and accept: Satan has power! He has the ability to remind us that he contrived a deceitful plot to place doubt in the minds of Adam and Eve which led to their willful decision to disobey God’s command not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Fall of Humanity began in the Garden of Eden and Satan is still actively pursuing those who were created by God. Satan is fully aware of our weaknesses through observation; he listens to our spoken words, he observes our behaviors, and he uses the ungodly character traits that we possess to tempt us into committing sinful actions against our bodies and against other individuals.

Ungodly character traits include negative emotions=Sin in our lives!

“Pam (2013) defines negative emotions ‘as an unpleasant or unhappy emotion which is evoked in individuals to express a negative effect towards an event or person.’ ”

What are some of the negative emotions that we are capable of possessing? We may harbor jealousy, covetousness, unhappiness, anger, fear, guilt, disgust, shame, contempt, or pride. Yes, within each of our hearts we possess the darkness of sin; those seeds of wickedness waiting for the right person or the perfect situation to activate negative emotions that we displace and use to hurt others, or we internalize and we use to hurt our own bodies.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 NIV

Through the study of God’s Word, we are forewarned of the condition of the human heart; no one is exempt because all were born in sin and shaped by iniquity, Psalm 51:5. It is me, it is you, it is every one that is capable of possessing the evil traits that lie dormant within our hearts. Even so, God has not left us in a hopeless situation; it is our choice to succumb to evil tendencies, traits, and emotions.

One of my favorite religious authors who wrote this in the 19th-century states:

The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go of its hold upon Christ before Satan can exercise his power upon us. But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold. Every point in which we fail of meeting the divine standard is an open door by which he can enter to tempt and destroy us. Desire of Ages 125. Ellen G. White

Remember that Satan is the greatest Accuser against humanity; it is his mission to use the weaknesses that lie within our wicked hearts to always present us as guilty before God. Yet, the Accuser forgets that the Plan of Salvation includes Redemption and Forgiveness for the accused:

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

It is you, it is me, it is all of us that stand as the accused before God; however, Jesus serves as our heavenly Intercessor who is waiting to defend us, extending love, grace, and mercies when we confess and repent of our sins. In the heavenly courts, we are never viewed as the Victim, we are the Redeemed whose sins have been washed away by our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

Stay in His Presence

Bible Reading: 1 John 1

Prayer for today: Dear God, We pray this prayer of forgiveness for the wickedness of our hearts displayed by negative emotions, and hurtful words or actions against others and ourselves. It is our desire to be cleansed from all unrighteousness and to be filled with your Holy Spirit. We love you and we thank you for the death of your Son, Jesus, that we may be redeemed from our sins. We ask you to, “Create in us a clean heart, O God, and to renew a right spirit within us.” Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

 

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 NIV

Upon the completion of the nursing program, I had yet another major hurdle to jump and that was to take the NCLEX RN licensure exam. Without successfully passing the exam, all of my educational achievements were meaningless; if I failed to pass, I would only possess theoretical knowledge without the ability to practice nursing. There were many changes that I was required to make; giving 100% dedication to my studies, and placing all social activities on hold, but the sacrifice was well worth it, going through the struggle as a student enabled me to graduate with honors and enjoy a 40-year nursing career, prior to retiring.

Do you remember when you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Even with living a sinful lifestyle, you found out that there was a God who would readily accept you, and He would forgive you of all of your sins if you only asked Him. Were you excited when you realized the Plan of Salvation offered forgiveness and a new life through Christ if you simply believed, and prayed a prayer of confession and repentance? As a new Believer, the peace that came from knowing that you were forgiven provided the fortitude to keep moving forward in your spiritual walk with God.

Yes, as Believers, we are forgiven! Even so, it takes more than just knowing that we are forgiven, we must live our lives as one who is forgiven. Redemption mandated that Divinity become humanity; Redemption required the death of Jesus; Redemption of humanity caused unjust cruelty against Christ, the Son of God who endured rejection, suffering and the shedding of His blood in order for humanity to be forgiven.

Living as if we are forgiven requires giving up our desires, the submission of our will to God through humility and obedience, diligent prayer, and consistent studying of the Word of God. Our character must reflect the Fruit of the Spirit, and we must love our neighbor-that includes everyone as ourselves. There is another crucial aspect of living as if you are forgiven: Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 NIV

It takes our everything to serve the Lord! We cannot hold onto worldly pleasures and live a Holy life.

God loves those who He created in His image, and would never ask anything of us that His grace and mercies would not make possible for us to achieve. It is only by the power of God that we are able to live as if we are forgiven.

Divine Intervention plus Human Effort equals a Victorious Outcome

Although studying the Word of God, provides us with a spiritual knowledge base of who God is and what He requires; it is not enough, we must live every moment of our lives as David prayed: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Bible Reading: Psalm 19

Prayer for today: Dear God, You have given us everything that we need to live our lives holy and acceptable unto you. We ask you to forgive us for taking your grace and mercies for granted. We confess that we have allowed ourselves to be swayed by the pleasures of this world and have forgotten that you sacrificed your life in order for us to be saved from our sins. We ask you to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to fill us with your Holy Spirit. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 NLT

It is the season to love, to share, to be happy….even so, there are some who do not view the holiday season or any other time of the year to simply reach out and to bless others. Because of sin, our hearts possess a natural tendency toward darkness which displays itself by the inability to give and to receive love. When we do not possess true agape love, our lives are self-centered, always striving to please our personal desires. The focus to pursue what makes us happy is in conflict with our purpose in life; loving and serving God and loving and serving others.

For the Believer, our purpose in life is already pre-determined by God; we are to love one another, and that love will manifest itself by extending what God has blessed us with to bless others. When we are unable to possess true agape love, we do not possess the Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23, which are necessary characteristics in order to fulfill God’s future purpose for us to live in the New Heaven and the New Earth.

No, loving others is not easy, but a Christlike love means loving, forgiving, accepting and honoring even those who are different and difficult. We can only give love when our hearts are full of God’s love. That is our only option. Any other attempt to define loving others simply will not work!

Love God, Love Others, Love yourself

Bible Reading: Galatians 5

Prayer for today: Dear God, We thank you for the ability to love you and to love others. We ask forgiveness for not obeying your commands to give unconditional love. During this time of the holiday season, please help us to realize there are individuals who do not have the necessities of life. We thank you for the abundance that you have blessed us with and we ask that you direct us to those who need our help. We pray for obedience to follow the purpose that you have for each of our lives. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

 

 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

How is it possible, after experiencing all of the struggles in life that we will be able to live in a perfect world without tears, death, sorrow, crying, pain or any disruption of peace and happiness? Our finite minds cannot imagine living on a New Earth void of sin and all of its terrible effects; even so, we must accept the promises of God as the absolute truth.

God was fully aware of all of the adversities that we would face in our lifetime, and He knew that many believers would succumb to accept the worldly belief that “you only live once.” But for those of us who love the Lord our God with all of our hearts, soul, and mind and possess complete faith, trust, and obedience to the will of God for our lives, we believe God’s promises of another life and that is Eternal life.

We must think about the many blessings and miracles that God has given to us when we needed it, and wasn’t He always on time? There is nothing that we can do by human effort to achieve the rewards that will compare to the promises of God for those who remain faithful to him. Remember that God does not ask for our help in the fulfillment of His promises; all He asks of us is to be faithful and just believe.

If God said it, then He will do it. He is Omnipotent; He is Omniscient; He is love; He possesses the power that we can never fully comprehend. Oh yes, a change is coming!

We must prepare ourselves now by letting go of all the distractions that appear to fulfill the emptiness in our lives. Make the commitment to search for the treasures of hope and promise by diligently studying the Bible; stay connected to the Vine-Jesus Christ through the daily communication of prayer.

It is the power of God that brings forth change; He is waiting for us to take action by having unwavering faith. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our all and all.

Have faith in God to bring the end of tears,
Have faith in God; no death, no pain, no fears.
Have faith in God through the eternal years.
Have faith, dear friend, in God. Unknown

Bible Reading: ” Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s house. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4 NLT

Prayer for today: Dear God, We are your children who have wavering faith; we are those who forget about your love, your power, and your precious promises that one day a change is coming. We ask forgiveness for the times that we are filled with doubt and the times that we forget just how Omnipotent you are. Forgive us for attempting to use our feeble abilities to help you instead of exercising our faith and believing that you will provide for all of our needs according to your riches in heaven. We pray for the humility to accept your will for our lives. Thank you for the death of your Son, Jesus Christ who arose from the dead and will come again to give us immortality and the reward of life in the New Heaven and the New Earth. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

We must learn to give everything to God in prayer. Always live by Faith! Miracles still happen.

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18-19

During one of our recent Mother-Daughter visits, I realized that it is a great blessing to have a mother who is a believing Christian. As we reflected on Jesus’ blood sacrifice for us and our part in honoring and valuing the gift of Redemption, she made a profound remark, “Many individuals feel that when they stop living a worldly life or give tithe and offerings that they are sacrificing, but sinful human beings cannot sacrifice, we do what is required of us out of love for God and the fact that Jesus died for us.”

Our lives are a priceless gift from Jesus Christ, God’s only Son who agreed to die for humanity even before we were created. In order to comprehend what it took for the Plan of Salvation to be brought into fruition, we must realize that there was communication between God and Jesus. Because God is Omniscient, His Son, Jesus is also Omniscient; both were aware that when humanity was created, the chain reaction of doubting God would lead to disobedience, and as a result, we would fall into the abyss of sin, and the dilemma of choosing good over evil would continue throughout the ages.

Yet we are still making the decision to live according to our interpretation of Salvation.

Chance is our enemy; we may doubt that it will ever happen to us, but eventually, we pay the high price by suffering the consequences for our disobedience and disregard of warnings.

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT

There is a current trend of the “inclusion of all” among believers, and they feel that their social circle should include relationships with unbelievers. We cannot hang out with those who are not walking in the light. It is a false concept that the believer will sway the unbeliever; even when Jesus’ disciples witnessed they went out in pairs. Separation is part of the boundaries that God has established for us and with good reason: Without God, we do not possess the strength to overcome temptation; and even with God’s promise of deliverance from temptation, we should not willingly place ourselves in situations that will lead to compromise.

He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? Luke 6:39 NIV

Do not be deceived! Walking in the light is a daily struggle of denial to sin and a steadfast commitment to God. When we fail to follow God’s commands, we will always pay the consequences for disobedience. God is fully aware of our plight to choose sin instead of righteousness, and He has provided us with a Spiritual Network which includes a unified Body of Believers.

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5 NLT

There is a common bond amongst believers, our love for God supersedes everything else and our lifestyle is a reflection of that love. We have committed our minds, bodies, and souls to accept Righteousness by Faith; we love others as Christ loves us by extending forgiveness; we graciously accept our commission to witness and to serve those in need; we are preparing for the Second coming of Jesus Christ by giving up anything that compromises our relationship with God, and above all, we seek harmony and peace with all individuals regardless of their ethnicity, religious or socioeconomic backgrounds.

Yes, we acknowledge that we are imperfect sinners, yet because of God’s grace and His mercies we are extended forgiveness by the confession and repentance of our sins to God, and we are grateful for God’s new mercies that are extended to us every day of our lives.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 ESV

We must possess the mindset of living an uncompromised life; doing whatever it takes–giving up people, places, and things–in order for us to Walk in the Light.

Bible Reading: John 8:12-30

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask forgiveness for living a life of compromise. We have not taken the time to really reflect on the greatest gift from your Son, Jesus; His death and resurrection have made it possible for us to walk in the light. We pray for the strength to change and to give up everything that prevents us from preparing for Eternal life. We pray for the unbelievers that as we witness they will receive the gift of Salvation because you desire that none will be lost. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 ESV

We think about many things on a daily basis; in fact, most of us are exposed to information overload which impacts our ability to maintain a well-balanced lifestyle. Although our world is dynamic-constantly changing, the continuous flow of information delivered through spoken, and written channels results in a bombardment that impacts our mind-body connection; and causes an imbalance that we were not created to endure on a sustained basis.

Unless we set boundaries, the stressors of daily life will prevent us from enjoying the quiet peace that our bodies require to maintain homeostasis-internal balance. Without relaxation, and intentional solitude we begin to travel the fast track leading to mental and physical burnout which causes an acceleration of the aging process of our brains and bodies.

When we continue to push beyond healthy limits, internal mechanisms are jump-started as the body attempts to protect itself by giving noticeable signs and symptoms; yawning, dozing off, forgetfulness, lack of energy, extreme mental and physical fatigue, change in emotions or moodiness, headaches or an increase in illnesses, especially colds.

Continuous exposure to overwhelming stress affects our relationship with God, we may possess the desire to have spiritual growth and to draw closer to God; but our state of physical exhaustion or mental fatigue prevents us from praying effectual prayers and taking the time to have focused studies of the Word of God. It is unfortunate that our praise and worship time with God is the first to diminish when we are overloaded with secular activities.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Revelation 21:1 ESV

Thankfully, we do have the ability to make spiritually healthy decisions for immediate changes; recognition and elimination of the distractions that prevent our spiritual growth is the first step to regaining a balanced lifestyle. In order to prepare ourselves for the New Heaven and New Earth that is described in Revelation chapters 21 and 22, we must begin now by prioritizing; Communing with God should be first and foremost in our day-to-day activities of life.

Each day, search for a quiet place to relax or take a power nap if required; dismiss all secular thoughts and prevent distractions; when refreshed, establish a time of deep worship by praying and reading Revelation chapters 21 & 22 until you have the description of heaven committed to memory.

In our imperfect world, we are still afforded the opportunity to achieve spiritual growth, to establish habits of praise and worship and to look forward to what God has in store for us in His perfect world–the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Stay in His presence!

Bible Readings: Revelation 21-22

Prayer for today: Dear Lord and Father of all mankind, We thank you for the ability to praise and worship you as we prepare for Eternal life in the New Heaven and the New Earth. We confess that we have not spent the time necessary to grow closer to you and we ask forgiveness of our sins that have caused separation from you. We ask for your Divine intervention as we change our lifestyle to eliminate all unnecessary distractions. We look forward to living in the perfect world with you forever and ever. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body, I will see God. I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought. Job 19:25-27 NLT

The vicissitudes of life are the difficulties, the trials, the financial shortages, the broken marriages, the family troubles, the illnesses, the devastating loss of loved ones, and the terrible loss of material possessions. The weakness that all humanity possesses is that we experience the one event that overwhelms us and causes us to give up and lose faith in God.

God is aware of every trial that we will face in our lives prior to the occurrence of said trial. It is those very trials that will build our faith and trust in God if we just turn to him and ask for His Divine intervention in our lives. The loving God that bent down and picked up the dust in His hands and made us into his image is the same God who knows the number of hairs on our heads: And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Luke 12:7

God will never forsake us: Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

Our Heavenly Father has forewarned us of the severity of the tribulations that we must face; even so, He is faithful and just in all of His ways. Remember, Job was a righteous man and extremely dedicated to God, even God acknowledged that he was blameless, but Job experienced the devastation of catastrophic loss; material possessions, death of all of his children, a wife who turned away from God, and disloyal friends who accused him of committing sin against God to receive this level of punishment.

Even God did not spare Jesus from the death that was required to fulfill the Plan of Redemption: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32. Before the fall of Adam and Eve, the plan to redeem humanity was in place; the Omniscient God required the sacrifice and death of His sinless Son, Jesus, in order for the human race to continue.

We must never give up on God; He is always with us and just a prayer away. If we dedicate our lives to God, then He will fulfill every promise that He has made. We must make a personal commitment by acknowledging that God is always with us!

Stay in His presence through believing, praying, and studying the Bible!

Bible Reading: Job 1

Prayer for today: Dear God, We want to take the time to praise your name. We love you and we thank you for your great faithfulness and your mercies that you have blessed us with every day of our lives. Please forgive us for the doubt that we hold onto in spite of knowing who you are. Thank you for the Plan of Redemption that we may have the opportunity for Eternal life. As we continue to grow closer to you, we ask for your Divine intervention upon our lives. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Norway

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14: 23 NIV

The gift of creativity flows from generation to generation in our family and since I was a young girl I have been able to crochet, knit, sew, and design all types of crafts. Many years have passed and I have finally made the decision to focus on crocheting, using yarn and a hook to create little masterpieces.

Crochet lovers are a strong community with several hundred social media pages of which I am an active member of 3-4 groups. Yesterday, I read a very interesting dilemma that was posted regarding a friendship that ended where the crocheter made a prior commitment to make a baby blanket for her friend and now had ambivalent feelings on completing the blanket and giving it to her ex-friend.

If we possess a mindset of not acknowledging the decrease in the morality of our societies then peruse the social media sites every now and then. Not only were 99% of the responses directing the individual to complete the blanket and keep it for herself, but there were also many individuals who advised her to ask for money so she would not experience a total loss.

Should I get involved? I am very selective in responding to dilemmas on social media; after all, this is not the purpose of a crocheting site, it is meant to share pictures of your completed items and ask for assistance with issues that involve making items from yarn. I prayed, asking God for the words to post that would provide peace to the person who has experienced the loss of her best friend and who is in a state of confusion because she is asking strangers to help resolve her problem.

Blog entry: The cessation of friendship does not justify changing one’s prior commitment to complete the blanket; in fact, the action of others should not impact our morals or our values. Please complete the blanket and send it to her without pursuing compensation.

It is human nature to base our responses according to the actions of others; however, as believers, we must always stand for the truth, regardless of the situation. We will face challenges involving immorality, declining values, lies, conspiracies, and godlessness in every form. Our decision is either to live for God and obediently follow all of His commands or commit grievous sins against God by living for ourselves.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 ESV

The Bible is God’s Word: it reflects the truth, it is concise, and simplistic enough for a child to understand without any confusion. We are not given options, there is no middle of the road compromise, no multiple-choice options, and no opportunity to give our interpretation based on presenting dilemmas. When we ignore God’s commands and make decisions based on our feelings or the actions of others, we are living on the premise of “the Bible according to me.”

Following God faithfully, and obediently living according to His truth provides us with unlimited opportunities to witness. The crochet group that I blogged on has thousands of members if we do our part then God has promised to do His part. We must be a beacon of light in a world filled with darkness. Do whatever is necessary to live according to God’s Word!

Stay in His presence!

Bible Reading: Hebrews 2

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask forgiveness of our sins and shortcomings. We pray to be cleansed from all unrighteousness and to be filled with your Holy Spirit. It is our desire to live obediently and faithfully to your commands. We pray for the strength to stay in your presence, and to always do what is right in your sight, according to your Holy Word. May our lives represent our relationship with you as we continue to use every opportunity to witness to others. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019