Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Focus on Self-Improvement

We live in a society that values outward appearances, extravagant lifestyles, and independence along with a focus on pleasing self. The consequences of discarding the old, but effective and proven values have resulted in mass confusion for many individuals. We are discontented with our natural bodies; we possess the mindset of “the sky is the limit” in our desire for material possessions; in fact, our pursuit to own more and to pattern our lives after others has led to an overall state of discontent and unhappiness. Even the younger members of society, our children, are demanding pleasure seeking activites due to self-proclaimed boredom.

As a result, we have stopped loving ourselves; depression, suicide, and massive debt accumulation have escalated to epidemic proportions and lifelong therapeutic intervention combined with antianxiety and antidepressant medications are the new normal. Even Facebook posts include transparency where individuals reach out to strangers for help with their emotional distress.

Our standards must be based on spiritual values. Do you know who you are and who you belong to?

I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it oh, very well. Psalm 139:14

We were physically created in the image of God; therefore, your height, your skin tone, your body shape, your eye color, your hair texture, and your shoe size is perfect in the eyes of God.

“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV last part

Our focus should not be on following the latest trends, for what is popular today will be forgotten next week. Always seeking after popularity, or purchasing the latest designer’s fashion at any cost results in a life of instability and dissatisfaction.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. Isaiah 26:3 NLT

If God lovingly created us with a purpose then we are to seek after His will for our lives. He has given us the ability to pursue our dreams, to develop our talents, and to live peaceful and contented lives.

I am beautiful, you are beautiful!

God has determined our value; He gave his Son Jesus Christ to die in our place, and if we choose Him as our personal Savior, then we will live on a perfect earth with a Holy city that John describes in Revelation 21-22.

Live by and uphold godly values, you will possess the peace and joy that only comes from God.

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask for your peace in our lives. We have become distracted and entangled in the world’s standards for life. Please help us to focus on the blessings and desires that you have for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

The Focus on Self-Improvement

When I was initially diagnosed in 1995 with Hypertension, I took the steps to change my eating habits, incorporated daily exercise, and was rewarded by a weight loss of 50+ lbs. The prescription that I received to control my diagnosis had the side effect of fluid retention in the lower extremities. At that point, I did research which convinced me to stop taking the medication; Why not? I was eating healthy, and exercising, so why did I need to take pills which resulted in swollen ankles. I checked my blood pressure twice a week and it was within normal limits, so I was convinced that all was well.

After a couple of weeks, I began to have slight headaches which I attributed to job stress. I can recall feeling dizzy and relaying to my coworker that I felt as if I was going to faint. I was working in a medical clinic and my nursing colleague began to perform a nursing assessment: No, I was not pregnant; however, my blood pressure was 240/120. At the time, I was working in New York City, and living in New Jersey which caused me to rely on public transportation. Obviously, my judgment was impaired because I chose to travel back to New Jersey for a same day appointment with my primary physician instead of seeking medical treatment at a local hospital that was two blocks from my place of employment.

Have you convinced yourself that all is well? We have the option to build or destroy our minds and bodies by the lifestyle that we choose. Our mind-body connection is phenomenal; if we are exposed to levels of high stress, our emotional state compromises our physical health, and we may experience decreased memory, fatigue, mood changes, and elevation of normal vital signs-especially the heart rate and blood pressure. When we consume a diet of comfort foods that contain high-calorie counts, high sodium, saturated fats, syrups, and sugars, we are exhibiting impaired judgment and self-destructive behaviors which intensify to the point that we just do not care anymore; consequently, our internal organs sustain irreparable damage, and our cabinets are filled with medications that disrupt the normal and natural balance–homeostasis of our bodies that God created us with.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. I Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

We cannot look back nor be filled with regret for our past lifestyle behaviors. Today is a new day full of grace and mercy, we must utilize today to pray for the strength to change. Many say money is power, I say that knowledge is power! Begin to read the food labels– the ingredients and the percentages of sodium, sugar, and saturated fats–perceive those foods as dangerous and destructive.

The hardest test in my life is the one that I face on a daily basis, food not only provides nutrients, it also provides pleasure and satisfaction from our sense of taste. Although I have given up unhealthy foods, I am always betrayed by my senses: My eyes see the peach cobbler, my brain becomes an enemy, and causes me to reflect on the memory of eating this food, and the chain reaction occurs; I begin to weaken and feel as if my life depends on eating just one bite of that delicious cobbler.

For me, I am still in a struggle, I cannot allow myself the one bite of the cobbler; the cobbler will act as a gateway to resuming the unhealthy habits that I have walked away from. With time, our taste preferences can change, we are able to adapt to eating fresh peach slices with cinnamon and graham cracker crumbles as opposed to the adulterated peach cobbler dish.

Is it possible to change self-destructive behaviors? Psychiatrists/Psychologists differ on their professional opinions of whether a sustained change is possible. How many individuals are on short-term diets, or have sacrificed parts of their digestive system due to gastric surgery, and still end up with emotional and nutritional imbalances?

If change is to occur, we must endure the struggle! God is always with us!

The Bible contains many instructions and guidelines on what God expects from us: We must learn Self-Control which is a component of the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22, 23

Do you believe Philippians 4:13? If yes, pray for change and believe that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Today is a new day! Make a plan for change, present your weaknesses to God in prayer, exercise faith, always pray when you are tempted, and remove yourself from the situation. He never gives us more than we can bear in our lives. God is faithful!

Prayer for today: Dear God, We need you to give us the strength to change, and to sustain the change from self-destructive behaviors to a healthy lifestyle. We are suffering the consequences of disobedience and selfish desires. We desire a strong and healthy mind-body relationship in order to serve you and we strive to obediently follow your plans for us. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

https://www.health.harvard.edu/

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 NIV

Recently, I joined a Facebook group that focuses on the revival of fervent prayer for women by women. The moderator has recently published a prayer journal along with a bracelet keepsake which identifies the purpose of her ministry. The combination of reading and hearing positive feedback which addresses real-life issues has broadened my perspective on our spiritual and emotional needs as Women of God.

As godly women, we are preparing ourselves for kingdom life and witnessing to others by example; therefore, we must conduct ourselves in a manner that represents Jesus’ character and His ministry when He interacted with others. In addition to striving for our character to align with the Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22,23, it is our responsibility to seek those who are in need of love, compassion, and friendship.

We can begin by identifying who is in our closest circle; whether it is longtime friends, members of our biological and church families, or new acquaintances, reach out to your friends at least once a week.

1. Purchase or make a beautiful journal to list your circle of friends.

2. Set a schedule to communicate by text, phone call, or mail a “thinking of you” card at least once a week.

3. Most importantly, pray fervently for every woman on a daily basis.

We need to create a bond of love by praying, laughing, voicing our concerns, providing a listening ear, sharing relevant knowledge and life experiences which indicate that we care.

We can make a difference in the lives of our friends through sacrificial giving of our time. Remember quality supersedes quantity: take a moment to reach out, that moment may be more important than you could possibly imagine, go ahead, get in touch with someone today!

We can brighten the darkened path that all must travel at some point in life.

Prayer for today: Dear God, You have placed us in the position to minister to others in need. Please help us as we reach out to others to help ease their burdens of life. We thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Jasper National Park, Canada

Somewhere along the wayside where honey bees meet

Comes the special fragrance of a rose smelling so sweet

When the morning dew begins to settle

The sun shines forth so it glistens on each petal

What can you compare with the beauty of a rose

Swaying so gently as the cool wind blows

© Esther Johnson 1997

Recently on a road trip to Georgia to visit our family, my Mother received a copy of her poetry that she had written in 1997. Initially she did not remember the poems; however as she read The Beauty of a Rose, her memory sharpened and she began to elaborate on the fact that 1997 was her most productive year as a poet. Much to her surprise, there was a letter from a publishing company in Owings Mills, Maryland that not only acknowledged her poetic talent; but also informed her that one of her poems would be published in their book entitled The Best Poems of 1997.

After reading the last poem, my Mother handed me the binder of her cherished poems and instructed me to carry on her legacy as a writer. As I accepted the responsibility to fulfill her wish, I was overwhelmed with emotion; even so, I am very thankful that God has allowed me to be the recipient of the wonderful gift to convey to others the love He has for his created beings.

The world defines legacy as something tangible–an amount of money or property left to someone in a will. Nonetheless, tangible items lose their value and depreciate so quickly that the receiver loses appreciation of the gift. The intangible gift of love never loses its value; since we were created from God’s love, we have a natural inclination and are born with the ability to love others.

Yes, there is beauty in the rose, however, nothing compares to the bond of love that God intended for family. In fact, God created family for the purpose of loving, supporting, and validating one another. Familial love provides the foundation for us to initiate and sustain healthy relationships based on respect, forgiveness, self-control, structure, discipline, and boundaries.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22,23 NLT

When we are obedient to God’s original plan, we have the responsibility to nurture and pass on the legacy of love to subsequent generations.

How are you fulfilling your responsibility to pass on the legacy of love?

Prayer for today: Dear God, We have not acknowledged your great love for us; therefore we are unable to have healthy relationships with our family members or others. Please teach us how to love you, to love others, and to love ourselves. We do not possess the Fruit of the Spirit and we need a spiritual makeover of our character. We ask you to forgive us of our sins. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…Joshua 24:15 NIV

There are very few companies that are willing to hire individuals at an entry level position who possess no prior knowledge of the vacant position they are seeking to fill. The investment of time and money involved is considered to be a high risk, especially with the change in the work ethic where loyalty and longevity are dependent on monetary compensation.

The dilemma remains for individuals who are seeking gainful employment or a career change that do not [possess the skills to be considered as a desirable applicant. Even so, there are several viable options: pursuing education by taking a certificate course, matriculation into a degree program, or utilizing your state’s unemployment resources to obtain additional skills. The acquisition of continuing education demonstrates the desire for personal and professional growth which increases your chances in a very competitive and demanding arena–the job market.

It is wonderful that God’s plan for salvation is not dependent upon our skill level; we are able to make the choice to serve God and He accepts us exactly as we are and where we are in our lives. However, there are conditions for spiritual growth once we confess our sins and accept Christ as our personal Savior.

There is a misconception that attending church and hearing sermons, constitutes our part in serving God. Yes, it is important for us to be in the company of believers, but it is not enough! We are required to establish a personal relationship with God by studying the Bible, praying, living by faith and obedience, and most importantly by witnessing to others. We are unable to obtain spiritual knowledge and wisdom to resolve life’s dilemmas without studying the Word of God or praying for guidance.

When we do our part in serving God, we gain spiritual strength by growing closer to him; it is the formation of that bond that helps us to realize that He will never leave us or forsake us.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Help us to do our part in getting to know you. We realize that we are just doing enough to get by in our spiritual lives. We ask you to forgive us of our sins. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Japanese Gardens

The Earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1 NLT

Yesterday, we started a road trip with a starting point from North Texas to our destination of Georgia. As we crossed the state lines into Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, the highway divided a great forest of trees ranging from extremely tall (100 feet) with thin trunks standing like soldiers, to plump magnolia’s bursting with fragrant blossoms, and a vast array of evergreens with branches extended to create a lush, breathtaking woodland.

When God created the earth, every flower, herb, and tree had its purpose; and that is to provide all the resources that humanity required to sustain life. We were given trees, and vines bursting with a delicious variety of fruit; herbs that could be eaten for food or used for medicinal purposes; an endless bouquet of flowers; green grass to clothe the ground beneath our feet; clouds that contrasted the blue skies; and the sun, moon, and stars for light. God created a world in six days that even he was pleased with.

As I pondered on the splendor of nature, and the contrast of the hustle of city life, I realize that one of the underlying reasons for many emotional instabilities such as anxiety, depression, and restlessness is due to the stressors of an unhealthy environment.

My childhood in the Northeast came to an abrupt halt when we relocated from New Jersey to the expansive metropolitan area of Houston, Texas. Eventually, I moved to a smaller rural town with a serene atmosphere in Upstate New York. After a couple of years, I became bored and began to desire the fast life again, and in a moment of spontaneity, I moved again, returning to the rapid pace of city life. Fast paced, industrialized, and overcrowded cities bombarded with high levels of noise pollution was certainly not part of the original plan that God has for us.

Believe it or not, I learned a valuable lesson…my desire for a return to the natural way of living is firmly established…and I am in active pursuit of following God’s original plan for our lives. I am determined to rid myself of the obstacles that prevent me from moving forward to the reality of waking up to singing birds, breathing in unpolluted air, wildflowers, and looking upward to view the leafy tops of the soldiers in the woods.

Prayer for today: Dear God, As we make changes to our lifestyle, we ask for your blessing. We desire to live as you have originally planned for us. We pray for knowledge and wisdom to use the resources to live a better life. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Reach your optimal level of Mental Health by living a life of gratitude.Sonya Johnson Ruiz

And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2

When we think about having something new, it usually brings an outward smile to reflect the happiness that we feel. We instinctively share with others who will be just as happy as we are; but there is a catch to feeling enjoyment from something new, our excitement abates. In spite of the elated feelings that new and needful things provide, the passing of time causes us to lose our enthusiasm.

In Revelation 21-22, John tells us of the vision he saw of the New Heaven and the New Earth. When I read the description of the beauty along with the promise of all things being made new by God, I felt excitement as I contemplated on the joy of seeing Jesus face-to-face and the promise of living eternally on a perfect earth. Even so, am I able to maintain the zeal to continuously do my part in the plan of Salvation?

How often do we lose our excitement of living eternally when the trials of life are weighing heavily on our shoulders?

By taking the time to study the Word od God and contemplate on the New Heaven and New Earth, which we can only imagine, will help us to know that God has the most wonderful plans for our future.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
As Jeremy Taylor puts it: “Days without nights, joys without sorrows, sanctity without sin, charity without stain, possession without fear, society without envying, communion of joys without lessening; and they shall dwell in a blessed country where an enemy never entered and from whence a friend never went away.”

Hold steadfast to God’s promises of hope and a wonderful future; it is beyond anything we could ever imagine.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Many times we let the cares of life make us lose sight of your precious and wonderful promises. We ask you to give us the strength that we need to keep pressing forward and to keep our minds stayed on you. We look forward to the future that you have for us on the New Earth. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Barberry Orange Sunrise leaf