Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

There was also a prophetess, Anna…She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Luke 2:36-37

If you were asked to give a total recall of every action and spoken word for yesterday, what percentage based on a scale of 0-100% would you be able to provide for how you lived the previous day? Based on what you can remember, would you repeat the same behaviors or actions or spoken words today?

There are some of us who are feeling great about yesterday and could build off of those accomplishments from the previous day, using them to move forward and carry over that productivity through today. If a well-organized lifestyle is one that you possess on a day-to-day basis then you certainly deserve kudos for your strengths in prioritizing, time management, and organizational skills.

For others, they are still striving to have a well-balanced and organized lifestyle; however, their lives reflect disorganization, making decisions on a whim, and not having enough hours in a day to accomplish the important tasks. It is unlikely that they are able to recall their actions from the previous day which creates additional stressors in their daily lives and prevents a smooth transition from yesterday to today.

When we acknowledge and recognize our shortcomings due to knowledge deficit or because we lack the skills necessary to have a productive lifestyle, then we have taken the first step to relearn and remodel our lives. We are blessed with many resources in the 21st century that enable us to change our situation; there are still individuals who love to help others, educational programs can be found in libraries, community colleges, and churches; self-help literature; on the job training; state unemployment training; and the list is endless.

In Luke chapter 2, verses 36-38, we are given a short but concise story of a prophetess by the name of Anna who was married for seven years and widowed for 84 years. She spent her time–day and night in the temple fasting, praying, and worshipping God; in fact, biblical depiction tells us that Anna never left the temple.

It may be difficult to imagine her choice to live in the temple, spending day after day inside, not having a home to take care of, failure to socialize with family and friends or to search for a way to make money. Even so, if we reflect on the era in which Anna lived, there were very few women who are mentioned in the Bible that could survive without a husband or support from their family.

In spite of how we view her circumstances, Anna the prophetess was filled with love for God and possessed great wisdom, what better place could she have chosen than the temple? The temple provided shelter, companionship from the daily worshippers who certainly assisted in providing for her needs as a poor widow, but most importantly she was in the presence of God. Because of her love for God, Anna knew how to prioritize her life and God honored her commitment by giving her longevity, provision of her physical necessities and fulfilling her emotional and social needs. The days of her life were abundantly enriched in all aspects, and this is evident by her desire to consistently put God first: Anna made the choice to remain in the presence of God, she possessed an ever-present spirit of gratitude as she prayed, fasted, and worshipped God day and night, always acknowledging His love, grace, and mercies.

Even though we may not recall all of our actions from the previous day, we should have total recall of our daily worship practices to God. We must possess a “God-first” mindset; our dedication to God must supersede every secular activity that is on our agenda. When our lives are filled with prayer, fasting, and gratitude through worship, God will rearrange the days of our lives for His honor and glory, and we will always have total recall of our worship to the Creator day after day, month after month, and year after year.

Stay in His presence!

Bible Reading: Luke 2: 36-39

Prayer for today: Dear God, We come to you presenting our spiritual deficiencies and we ask you to forgive us for our sins and shortcomings. We ask you to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to fill us with your Holy Spirit. It is our desire to always be in your presence by worshipping you with a grateful heart. You have done so much for us and we give you the days of our lives that we may honor you and give you the glory forever and ever. We thank you for your love, grace, and mercies, and we ask this prayer for change in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy…Exodus 20:8

Stop before you speak it or do it and ask yourself; Is this holy?

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1: 19-20 NIV

Many years ago I worked with a nurse who possessed the skill of listening with silence. We worked with a very challenging population of individuals who attempted to use daily “Sick Call” as an opportunity to leave the facility prior to completing the first 30 days of the program; the fabricated stories that we heard indicated that the person should not be alive and speaking to us if the symptoms described were actually true. I must admit that I had very little tolerance for those who were attempting to use the medical staff to bypass the Phase 1 restriction of the program, no community visits for 30 days. By the end of the day, I was at the point of exhaustion, not from the physical workload, but from my level of annoyance which I expressed verbally throughout the workday.

On this particular day, the medical clinic remained empty because most of the residents were on a community outing; with our backlog of paperwork completed, we enjoyed the opportunity to relax and chat about life. As we were speaking about the frustrations of the job, we spoke of the high-stress level of our positions; however, my colleague began to share his methods for remaining calm under all circumstances. He began to focus on the topic of effective listening as a learned behavior, a skill that he learned from his grandfather who taught him that it is always to the advantage of the recipient to listen with silence and to formulate a logical response based on the information from the speaker, especially in situations that could lead to confrontation. I laughed and expressed that it was easy for him to accomplish this feat because he learned the skill as a child to which he replied, “I will teach you how to listen with silence.”

It has taken two decades-20 years to effectively practice the skill of listening without an emotional response; although I know the concepts and benefits of effective communication, I confess that I still require additional improvement.

When we confess our faults to God, it is then that He is able to unleash the power of the Holy Spirit to help us in changing our wayward behaviors. This morning as I read a Daily Devotional on controlling your emotional responses in spite of the circumstances, I thanked God for answering my prayer to reveal the changes that I need to make in my life; at that point, I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking directly to me. It is not enough for me to study and pray, from a spiritual perspective, I must be an active and willing participant in the Plan of Salvation; my character defects must cease, my character must align with Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:32, James 1:19-20, and Mark 12:30-31.

Repentance is the godly sorrow that I must possess as well as remaining steadfast when I am tempted to act outside of the will of God. Yes, it will take dutiful prayer for the strength to be an overcomer; even so, “I can (and will) do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13.

It is when I listen with silence, that I am able to hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit admonishing me to walk on the straight and narrow path.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Bible Readings: Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:32, James 1:19-20, and Mark 12:30-31.

Prayer for today: Dear God, We confess and repent of our sins, our characters do not reflect that we love and serve you. We continue to hold onto and manifest defects in our character that are displeasing and for this, we ask forgiveness. It is our desire to become more like you and we pray for your Divine Intervention and the strength to change, to obey your commands and your plans for our lives. We thank you for hearing and answering our prayer which we ask in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

 

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:8 NIV

Performance evaluations are utilized as a tool to measure an employee’s strengths and weaknesses along with their measurable abilities and contributions to the company; productivity, attitude, interpersonal skills, motivation, and innovative ideas are just some of the core requirements that receive a rating based on the company’s goals. A favorable evaluation that demonstrates professional growth is almost certain to result in a merit-based increase in salary compensation and ongoing job security.

However, there is another major factor that determines whether or not a hard-working employee’s position is stable and that is the bottom line, a thriving profit margin with considerable financial growth; many individuals with excellent evaluations have experienced job loss due to unforeseen cutbacks. It is a gut-wrenching decision to be faced with the one and only choice and that is to downsize the number of employees due to a profit loss.

I can recall employment with a home health agency where the physician who provided us with the most patient referrals decided to open his own agency. The agency experienced a 70% loss of revenue which created a domino effect–the loss of referrals resulted in a great financial loss and the collapse of the operating budget. Immediately an action plan was developed for the nursing staff to approach physicians that they had a rapport with and market for patient referrals. Our sales marketer worked 10-12 hours per day to attempt to make up for the devastating loss. Even with the hard work and determination, within two weeks the Regional Director arrived with corporate directives to downsize three employees. Although there were many factors in determining who was laid off, the only logical decision was employee cutbacks or closure of the agency.

When we think about the Plan of Salvation, we are grateful that salvation extends from God’s grace and mercy. Thankfully, we do not have work to earn Eternal life; in fact, all we are required to do is accept the Lord Jesus Christ and freely receive Righteousness by Faith. Yes, God does expect us to possess love, faith, trust, obedience, to study his Word and pray without ceasing; even so, when we fail to abide by His Word, God never utilizes performance evaluations to measure our spiritual performance.

God had given us His Holy Word: when we study the Bible, we become fully aware of whether or not we are obediently following God’s commands or doing as we please. No, we do not have to earn God’s favor, we do not have to perform rituals, or adhere to a performance improvement plan if we fall short, disobey and commit sin; All God asks of us is to confess, repent of our sins, to live by faith and completely trust in His plan for our lives. Serving God is an all or nothing commitment and if we are faithful then He is just and will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There are no lay-offs, terminations, or spiritual closures with God.

Bible Verse: You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:13

Prayer for today: Dear God, We thank you for the gift of salvation that is freely available through your grace and mercy. We ask you to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We come to you asking for the strength to do your will by letting all of our doubts go and to completely rely on you. Thank you for not measuring our performance whether we live righteously or whether we fail to obey you. Help us to never take your grace and mercy for granted. We pray for change in our relationship with you that we will have the determination to follow you wherever you lead us. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

 

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