Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. Psalm 30:12

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

Most goals require a planning phase, the development of strategies and implementation if one desires positive outcomes; not so with developing the habit to live with a spirit of thankfulness, all that is required is to express these three life-changing words, “Thank you, God.”

Each of us is blessed and highly favored by a loving and faithful God who deserves our praise and gratitude. Thank him every day for your life whether the storms are raging or the sea is calm. Remember, He is worthy to be praised!

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for my life, your love, grace, and mercy. Please forgive us of our sins and shortcomings. Our lives are in your hands, and we thank you for being our Heavenly Father. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

“I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So do not be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

Is it well with your soul?

As the holidays approach there is an emphasis on buying; in fact, there is a highly celebrated day set aside known as Black Friday to promote the unrestrained spending of money on the greatest deals of the year. The anticipation of the day after the Thanksgiving holiday creates a joyful frenzy among most consumers who have prepared dutifully to purchase gifts by any means necessary. Even credit card companies increase credit lines in the fourth quarter of the year to assist with the accumulation of massive debt. We willingly give our monies away as we sacrifice the fruit of our labor in order to experience a period of short-lived happiness.

I do not begrudge the Christmas season; in fact, I have always enjoyed the lights, the decorations, the aromatic pine trees, and the beautiful music that carries me away into a child-like fantasy for a moment in time. It is a wonderful time of the year when most of the country is covered with a beautiful blanket of snow and the warmth of fireplaces, and soft wintry blankets provide comforts like an affectionate, loving mother or grandmother. The overall mood is light-hearted and only the hardest of hearts bear the Scrooge and Grinch dispositions. I have prayed for God to help me to view life through spiritual eyes, and I use my talents to lovingly create handcrafted gifts. I honor God by thanking him for my creativity and also by being a steward of the blessings that I have received.

And as wonderful as this season is, it is also a time of reflection on the hardships that many have endured throughout the year; loss of loved ones, financial crisis, unfulfilled goals, health issues, hunger, homelessness, divorces, severed family ties, and brokenness from the vicissitudes of life. It is a time when emotional depression escalates from the tribulations that have occurred in the preceding months. It is a time when a season based on lavish spending and colorful decorations or gifts will not provide solace to hurting hearts.

When Jesus was on this earth, He was fully aware of the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of others. His disciples formed a strong bond and a child-like dependency on the Savior and became discouraged when He spoke of leaving. In John 14, Jesus prepares the disciples for His ascension and return to His Father in heaven: “No, I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you, verse 18. The promises that Jesus gave to his disciples that He would not leave them as orphans and that His Father would send the Holy Spirit applies to All Believers in Christ, we have 24/7 access to the third person of the Godhead-the Holy Spirit if we only ask in prayer.

It is a normal part of life for a child to believe and rely on what he or she is told by their parents. It is that faith which is simply believing in God, which connects us to our spiritual team; it takes a child-like faith to grasp onto the promises of God without question. You may ask yourself or others, “Who is the Holy Spirit that Jesus referred to in John 14?” Although your question can be answered by others, you must ask for the revelation of the Holy Spirit through prayer. Present your most difficult situation to God in prayer and ask for the comfort of the Holy Spirit; believe and receive the promise of God to never leave you or to forsake you.

Relationships are personal! My relationship with God will differ from your relationship with God; the strength or weakness of your connection with God is based on your level of commitment through faith, trust, and obedience. When we completely put all of our doubts aside and accept God’s Word as the binding truth, then we can obtain complete peace. The peace that Jesus referred to was not based on a life free from trials and tribulations or seasonal holidays that bring short-lived happiness. If you choose to accept God’s plan to have an up-close and personal relationship with your Spiritual team, then the Holy Spirit will fill your mind and your heart, and enjoying God’s peace will become a natural occurrence in your life.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7

Bible Readings: John chapters 14-15

Prayer for today: Dear God, We thank you for our Spiritual team and most of all we thank you for your love, your grace, and your mercies which allow us to be redeemed from our sins. We ask forgiveness of our sins and shortcomings and to be cleansed from all unrighteousness. We ask you to send your Holy Spirit to teach us, to guide us, and to comfort us. Our finite minds are unable to grasp your power that is able to keep us in perfect peace, but in our weakness, we come to you in faith asking for you to reveal to us who you really are. We pray for those who are filled with dismay as we approach this holiday season and we ask you to comfort them. We look forward to Eternal life, a life that will give us perfection that you intended for us to have when you created humanity. We love you, we praise you, and we worship your Holy name. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

 

But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26 NLT

Memories can be good, bad, or ugly; they can produce regret, guilt, grief, and happiness, there is nothing wrong with the remembrance; but often our mindset gives us the overwhelming desire to return to former things, people, or situations. Looking back as a reference point for not repeating the same mistakes enables us to learn new and viable methods that will produce positive outcomes. However, even if our past provides comfort or prevents us from error, we must establish boundaries and not dwell on the former things of life. Viewing life in retrospect prevents us from placing our focus on making accomplishments in the present and for the future.

The harsh reality of life is that we must move forward in spite of the circumstances that we have endured. When Adam and Eve sinned they were certainly filled with remorse over the consequences of their disobedience; even so, God in his infinite mercy did not cast them aside. And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife, Eve. Genesis 3:21 NLT. God ensured that the first couple would be equipped to have a happy and productive life: to build a new home, to grow crops, to reproduce, to offer sacrifice for their sins, and to have the opportunity to always depend on God. The earth did not become a place of doom and gloom due to the fall of humanity. Yes, God in His role as a Heavenly Father still extended love, grace, and mercy to the first family.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

Whatever has occurred in your life, reflect on the first family: when SIN brought enmity against God, the aroma of God’s grace pointed Adam and Eve toward a new life and they were able to make accomplishments as long as they obeyed God. As long as we keep our eyes fixed on our Savior, Jesus Christ; God will forgive and exterminate the godlessness of our former days.

God is ready and able to fulfill all of His promises, just do your part by praying, studying the Bible, committing to obedience, living a faith-based life, and completely trusting in our Creator.

And whatever you do in your life, “Don’t look back!”

Bible Reading: Genesis chapters 2-3

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for promising us a future filled with hope. We ask forgiveness for looking back and not grasping on to your promises, that you will take care of us by extending grace and mercy. We are unworthy because of disobedience, and the attempt to fulfill our own plans and desires; yet, you still love us. We thank you for not looking back on our sins. Please help us to see life through spiritual eyes and to live a purpose-driven life based on your plans for us. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Stonepath, Newcastle, Northern Ireland

 

 

God asks that we give all of our burdens to him; will you allow Him to grant you complete peace in your life?

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

I have always been glad that the psalmist said to God that certain times of life are desperate or difficult. Make no mistake about it, there are difficult things in life.

This summer someone gave me some beautiful pink flowers, and as I took them, I asked, “What kind are they?” My friend answered, “They are rock flowers. They grow and bloom only under rocks.

The trials of life are sent to make us, not break us. Financial troubles may destroy a person’s business but build up his character. And a direct blow to the outer person may be the greatest blessing possible to the inner person. So if God places or allows anything difficult in our lives, we can be sure that the real danger or trouble will be what we will lose if we run or rebel against it. Maltbie Babcock

Believe and Receive Repost

“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you have received it, it will be yours.” Mark 11:24 NLT

When J. Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary first went to China in a sailing vessel, the ship was in calm waters near some cannibal islands. Slowly it drifted toward the shore, where savages eagerly anticipated a feast. The Captain approached Mr. Taylor and begged him to pray to God for help. Mr. Taylor replied, “I will pray, provided, you set the sail to catch the breeze.” But the Captain did not want to become a laughingstock in front of his crew by unfurling his sail in calm waters. However, Mr. Taylor refused to pray until the sails were up. As they drifted nearer to the shore, the Captain became desperate and gave the command to raise the sails.

While Mr. Taylor was engaged in prayer, the Captain knocked on his stateroom door; he asked Mr. Taylor to stop praying. The Captain explained that when the vessel was within one hundred yards of the shore a strong gust of wind caused the ship’s sails to expand and the vessel was guided toward safety. However, the wind continued and the Captain feared that he would lose control of the ship.

The same God that delivered J. Hudson Taylor and every person aboard that vessel is the same God who delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace and the same God who will deliver us today if we only ask in faith. It is fear due to wavering faith and self-reliance that prevents God from unleashing His mighty power to resolve every problem that we face in our lives.

Ask, believe, and receive! God has not changed; He is the same God today, yesterday, and forever. When challenges arise, Faith is required if we are to see our Heavenly Helpers; if not, our doubt will blind us and we will see nothing but defeat from the enemy.

This Sabbath, as we turn our focus on the power of the Almighty God, release all limitations and believe that our God is still performing miracles in 2019. We can always call on the name of Jesus, that name, that wonderful name; Jesus, the one who suffered, bled and died for you and me has promised to lead us safely through every trial and tribulation.

Bible Reading: Matthew 21:1-22

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus that we may ask in HIs name for everything that we need in our lives. We admit that our faith is weak and because we do not fully trust in you that we limit your power upon our lives. God, we ask you to forgive us for our unbelief. We ask you to erase all of our fears and the doubt that we possess because we are trusting in ourselves. We need you, God. Please have mercy on us and grant us peace. Thank you for hearing and answering this prayer that we ask in the Worthy name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 ESV

God hears every prayer and sees each of your tears. He even knows the number of the hairs on your head.

You were created in His image and you are His Masterpiece.

Believe that God is bigger than all of your problems.

Hold on! Help is on the way!

Bible Reading: Philippians 4

Prayer for today: Dear God, As we enter the 24 hours of the Sabbath that you made for us, we thank you for your love, your grace, and your mercy. We give you every problem, every situation, and every issue that is impacting our lives and we ask you for the ability to faithfully wait as you answer according to your will. Please forgive us of our sins and shortcomings and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with your Holy Spirit. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

©Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 1 Timothy 4:1 ESV

During the summer, I had the wonderful joy of visiting with my grandchildren and I learned about some of the current trends of thought among the subsequent generations: Reincarnation, Rebirth, Polytheism, Lucifer is a god, Greek Mythology as a religion, Miniature idols made of crystal, stones, and wood, the Benefits of Suicide, and the Power to return to the earth following death and the ability to transform oneself into a new and improved human being while retaining the memories of your prior life.

In case you are unaware of the populations that are being targeted, it is your children, your grandchildren, young adults, those who need tangible idols that they can see and touch, the lonely, the destitute, and the list could go on and on; but a common trait of those who are in complete acceptance of all false doctrines is an impressionable mind that consistently seeks knowledge outside of the belief of the Trinity Godhead–God the Father, Jesus his Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Today I read an excerpt on the belief that Burdens are Beautiful; the premise behind the “Burdens are Beautiful” concept is if your problems are so severe that they promote waking up into the darkness–which means you are unable to sleep throughout the night–then you are really experiencing the true joy of being alive.

The zeal to gain knowledge, in order to make life bearable, from the vicissitudes of life will be satisfied in one of two ways: accepting godly instruction from the Bible or embracing false concepts presented in cunning methods: books, games, tv programs, movies, magical illusions, the occult, spiritualism, seances, etc. We were blessed with the innate ability to seek knowledge and to learn as we mature through the lifespan. Satan is fully aware of the strengths and weaknesses of humanity, it is when we are overwhelmed with the hardships of life or when we are lonely or bored that we are the most vulnerable.

If we fail to obtain truthful knowledge, then we are easily drawn to the gift-wrapped presentation of these concepts as a mesmerizing experience that will catapult the seeker into the abyss of the mystical imaginations of those who are in opposition to the Word of God. We can recall the manipulation of Eve’s mind by the Serpent when she was told in the Garden of Eden that if she ate from the Forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that she would be as a god. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5 NIV

God is fully aware of the many temptations that we will face on a day-to-day basis; therefore, He tells us to Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Timothy 4: 7-8 ESV

In case you are involved in a battle of the mind and not certain of whether or not God promotes the “Burdens are Beautiful” concept, our Heavenly Father admonishes us to: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT. Our journey is not easy; yet, we have a loving God who is waiting for us to give all of our burdens of brokenness over to him. Don’t delay; pray, believe, and receive His promises. We have a loving God who promises to receive all of our burdens and to give us complete healing for our broken hearts! There is not one trendy false concept that can fulfill the promises of God who reiterates to us, throughout His Holy Word, that “Burdens are not Beautiful!

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5 NLT

Bible Verse: Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. Psalm 55:2 NLT

Prayer for today: Dear God, We come to you overwhelmed by the burdens and troubles in our lives. We ask forgiveness for getting caught up in the mysticisms of this world and forsaking you by not studying your Holy Word. We are unable to live without your help. Please take our burdens and give us peace; the peace that comes from faithfully trusting in you. We thank you for loving us, for caring for us, and for giving your Son, Jesus Christ for us. We commit our lives to you and we receive your promises. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

©Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Most importantly, I want to remind you than in the last day’s scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. they will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” 2 Peter 3:3-4 NLT

From 2007-2008, I worked in a locked hospital inpatient psychiatric unit on the night shift; it was a tough job staying awake on a busy unit rendering care to patients who were mentally ill and addicted to illicit substances. In addition, we had a 6’6′ supervisor with a bad attitude who detested the arrival of cultural diversity in the unit and was always intent on finding an infraction among the staff so that he could administer disciplinary action. In spite of our challenges, there were two reasons why “Big Tee” never did get the opportunity to fulfill his desire to write up or terminate the night shift staff: We were a dedicated and skilled team who believed that we could make a difference in the lives of a difficult population and secondly, there was a secret among the nursing staff; we had the administrative backing of the Chief Psychiatrist who applauded the 11-7 shift for our compassionate care and maintaining an incident-free record on the unit.

Needless to say that I was not accustomed to this type of undercover harassment from a supervisor and I begin to express to a couple of my nurses–we had become close friends– that I was going to transfer to another department. Instead of agreeing with my decision, they provided strong emotional support and shared some very humorous solutions to effectively dealing with “Big Tee.” I readily accepted their advice and as my perspective changed, I no longer dreaded the individual who disliked us for personal reasons. We developed a plan to greet our supervisor with a smile and conduct positive conversations in spite of the feeling that we were under surveillance. After a week of smiles and happy interactions, Big Tee still maintained a grouchy disposition, but he stopped making hourly rounds on the unit and began to make the standard twice a shift supervisory rounds. We were pleasantly surprised when we invited our supervisor to join us for our monthly night shift potluck dinner and he accepted; during the meal, he shared his background as a Chef in an exclusive restaurant prior to changing careers and becoming a nurse. The ice was broken; Big Tee complimented us for preparing delicious food and also thanked us for our hard work. Following the meal and the laughter that we shared, our supervisor’s attitude changed toward the staff, and after a couple of weeks, we gave him the benefit of the doubt and stopped asking each other, “Can you believe it?”

It was one of those rare nights when all the patients were sleeping soundly; as we begin to chat, one of the nurses who helped to change my perspective of dealing with a difficult supervisor began to share the events of her life; she was raised in a religious-based orphanage where she was physically and emotionally abused by the caregivers. As I listened to the mixed emotions of anger and hurt toward God for letting her childhood be filled with turmoil and abuse, I began to pray silently and ask the Holy Spirit to give me words of encouragement and for God to heal her pain. As I shared God’s perfect plan for humanity and the basis for all of the suffering that we endure, she stopped talking about her traumatic childhood and asked me to explain the future that God has for us if He really loves us the way that you believe. I can remember praying another silent prayer, “Holy Spirit, please help me.”

As I shared the scriptures with her–yes, I always took my Bible to work and read it during our downtime–I began to tell her about the Creation of humanity, the Fall of humanity, God’s plan of Redemption, Love, Faith, Trust, Obedience, the Second Coming of Christ, and the promise of immortality for those who accept Righteousness by Faith to live in a New Heaven and New Earth. It may appear as if I bombarded her with a lot of information; however, I followed her lead by providing answers to question after question regarding who God really was. After three hours of witnessing, I asked if she had any additional questions and I can recall her response as if I just heard it today: “I believe and will accept everything that you have shared with me with one exception, even though I just read it in the Bible, I do not believe that the Second Coming of Jesus is possible.”

Her statement may seem astounding but the expression of true feelings is exactly what God honors–confession; it was not my job to convince her that Jesus is coming again. I was obedient to God and witnessed, sharing the Plan of Salvation and my faith in God. I asked her if she would like a Bible to continue studying, and before we prayed, I asked her to think about this question, “Are you willing to take the chance that the Second Coming of Jesus is not going to happen?” It was not a rhetorical question; however, she chose to give me this answer: “It is just to much pressure to try to maintain the responsibilities of daily life and prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus.”

Many of us who believe in God would challenge the fact that she accepted the plan of Salvation based on her statement that it was too overwhelming to serve God and to live our daily lives. But consider this, does your lifestyle reflect that God is first and foremost to you? Even though we may never verbalize that we are experiencing conflict between what we desire and what God’s will is for our lives, our lifestyle reflects the priorities that we have chosen. When we continue to pursue our goals without asking for God’s Divine Intervention; our behaviors and actions reveal that we are not preparing for Eternal life. If we are wishing for 26 hour days, then we are consumed by the struggle to maintain the daily responsibilities of life. Whether it is intentional or unintentional busyness, because we have excluded God (by praying for His will to be revealed for our lives), it is that very exclusion that prevents us from preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus.

For, as the scripture says, “Just a little while longer, and He who is coming will come; He will not delay. Hebrews 10:37 Good News Translation

Remember that God does not desire that even one of us should perish; God created us and He loves us so much that He has delayed the Second Coming of His Son, Jesus, so that we may have Eternal life. Believe it or not!

Bible Verse: 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

Prayer for today: Dear God, Our lifestyle is full of distractions and priorities that reflect that we are not placing you first in our lives and that we are not preparing for Eternal life. We ask you to forgive us for the sins of omission; we have excluded you from our lives. It is our desire to live forever in the New Heaven and New Earth. We ask you to reveal your perfect plan for our lives as we commit to fully trusting and faithfully obeying your will from this day forward. We thank you for your love, your mercy, and most of all your patience toward us. As we strive for change, we ask for your strength to face the opposition and to always put you first. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen!

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. Psalm 71:20 NIV

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 12:8-9 NIV

Have you reached the point in your spiritual life that you have complete faith and trust in God? Do you thank Him for the troubles of trials and tribulations in your life? Those are certainly thought-provoking questions that allow our blinded eyes to open and give us a reality check as to where we really are in our relationship with God.

God allows us to “see troubles.” Although we are facing some hard times that leave us feeling overwhelmed and alone; it simply is not true. Our self-reliance is enmity against God who is our Heavenly Father. Faith and trust in God cannot be strengthened by words only, it takes the trials of life that place us in a helpless situation to deepen our relationship with our Creator.

There will be many twists and turns that we will experience traveling down the Path of Salvation; even so, God will guide us through and we will have victorious outcomes, according to His will and plan for our lives. No matter how difficult our situation is, Be Steadfast, God will bring resolution; it is up to us to trust in Him in spite of the valley lows in our lives.

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 NLT

We must redirect our focus when our lives present overwhelming challenges: God’s power is only limited by our perception, we must believe that He can and will do exactly what He has promised.

Be strong and courageous;…Deuteronomy 31:6 …I will never leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Bible Reading: Psalm 27

Prayer for today: Dear God, In our humanness we consistently fail to recognize your great power that can bring resolution to every trial and tribulation that we face in our lives. We ask forgiveness for minimizing your greatness to the level of our limited understanding. We pray for spiritual growth; we pray for unwavering faith and trust in you, no matter how devastating our circumstances are. We pray for complete confidence to fully see your goodness and your mercy. We lay our burdens at your feet and we commit to patiently waiting no matter what we are experiencing in our lives. We thank you for loving us, for caring for us, for the sacrifice of your Son that we may have eternal life if we so choose. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.

©Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019