Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away. But I am trusting You, O Lord, saying, “You are my God! My future is in your hands. Psalm 31:9,14-15 NLT

At some point, we reach a crossroads in our lives where we are faced with a life-changing event. Whatever the challenge, we have the same opportunity as King David had; we are able to connect with God through our tears and heartfelt prayers.

At any point, we can begin to build a trusting relationship with our loving God. It is usually at the time of struggle that we finally realize that we are unable to solve our challenges without God. Even so, God patiently and lovingly waits for us to come to him.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord I am coming.” Psalm 27:7-8 NLT

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

Challenge for today: Take a moment to reflect on the victories in your life. Acknowledge God’s favor on your life even though you may have failed to thank him for his grace and mercy.

Prayer for today: Dear God, we have reached the crossroads and must make the decision to trust in you or to continue to trust in our efforts. It is our desire to begin a steadfast and trusting relationship with you. We need you in the good times as well as the challenging times. Please hear our prayers and extend your mercies. We will obediently wait for your divine intervention. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:6-7 NIV

The price of cocoa in making products has rapidly increased in the past few years. Candy makers were forced to make a decision in order to maintain their profit margin. The dilemma remained: What could they do to prevent the many consumer complaints that candy bars were getting smaller?

1. They could charge more for the same size candy bar.

2. They could reduce the size of the present candy bar and increase the price.

But wait, there are third and fourth options that have increased the profits of the candy makers:

3. Use less product and add air as a filler under the guise of “less calories,” which translates into a smaller candy bar; previous size: 2.07 oz; current size: 1.65 oz that represents a 26% price increase. Also utilize the marketing tactic to promote a healthier bar that only contains “250 calories and 11 grams of saturated fat.”

4. Produce “fun size or snack size” candy sold in bags which are usually 5 times the price of the original size bar.

The third and fourth options which involve the art of deception appear to benefit the consumer; however, we are paying the highest prices in the history of the candy bar which have less product and we are content to do so for the enjoyment of empty calories.

For most individuals, our daily lives involve a rapid and stressful pace. We crave the convenience of someone else already figuring out the problem so we can just move on to the next issue, and we are willing to pay for that convenience.

Last week, I used two store coupons, 40% and 50% off for two separate products. Because I was in a hurry, at checkout, I used the option to email the receipt. When I started my car, I had the nagging feeling to check the receipt. When I reviewed the receipt via my cellphone, I realized the 40% coupon was not applied to my purchase. As I sat in my car, I had a decision to make: either turn the car off, re-enter the store, question the transaction, and obtain my refund or forget about it and leave to perform my next errand.

I am still unable to comprehend why I had an internal conflict over a situation which involved seeking a refund for overpayment because the register failed to apply the discount that I was entitled to. I have come to realize that I am unable to pursue a life of convenience where the expectation is that someone else has already resolved the problem, or I simply choose to ignore my responsibilities.

God instructs us to seek wisdom and understanding as we face our daily challenges. When we ask for wisdom and to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the feeling that things are not what they appear to be, is actually the leading and guidance from God.

Our relationship with God is strengthened when we apply His instructions to every aspect of our daily lives.

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of Truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NLT

Challenge for today: Study the Word of God; Pray for wisdom; and change your mindset and behaviors to reflect alignment with truth.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please grant us wisdom and understanding as we approach the challenges of our daily lives. Help us to always be motivated to choose and do what is right, even if it means taking additional steps to achieve resolution. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Natural occurrence of a rock sculpted by nature…Camel Rock…in the desert of New Mexico.

“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only one who is good. But to answer your question– if you want to receive eternal life, keep the Commandments.” Matthew 19:17 NLT

The true test of our faith and trust in God is not when we have obstacles to face; the challenge is when our storehouse is full–when our monies extend beyond our necessities–and our bank accounts are overflowing.

Money is not evil in itself; however, it brings a level of comfort that opens the door to separate us from God. Matthew 19:17-22 tells us of the rich young man who was interested in eternal life, if he could keep his tangible goods. In fact, when Jesus told him to sell his possessions, and give to the poor, he walked away sad.

How many of us give our tithes and offerings, but never think about helping others? It is not a natural thought process to sit down, designate monies to give away, and contemplate on “who can I help today?”

I was in the store last week and overheard a young woman telling her co-worker that she and three of her friends were in a restaurant and the waitstaff informed them that their bill was paid in full by an anonymous benefactor. She relayed that she had read stories of people who gave to others, but she never really believed that it would happen in her life. As I continued to listen, she expressed that she now has the desire to help others.

We must constantly remind ourselves that it is God who provides. Are we able to sell all that we have and give it away to the poor? If not, then your faith and trust is in yourself. Do not let the abundance of money separate you from God. We are instructed to help those in need on a continuous basis.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17 ESV

God instructs us to give beyond our charitable contributions. Our time is also a valuable and precious commodity. If we are truly trusting in God then we will give, give, give of ourselves and from our storehouse.

Verses for today: 1 Kings 17:7-24 Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for the many blessings that you have bestowed upon us. Please help us to have the desire to go beyond our charitable contributions, and seek out those who are poor and in need. It is only by your grace and mercy that we are in the position to help others. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Be free from the Love of Money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 WEB

As Believers, we are content with the fact that we adhere to biblical instructions on refraining from worldly vices: alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, nightclubs, profanity, gambling, fornication, hatred, and prejudice, etc.

Even so, we are not in agreement on the subject of money. We have closets bursting with clothing, shoes, and accessories. Our homes are decorated with collections that would equal that of a national museum. We decorate our bodies with extravagant jewels, high maintenance hairstyles, cosmetic makeovers, and we still remain dissatisfied.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT

God promises that He will take care of us by providing all of our needs. Have we determined the standard for our needs?

Do not store up treasures here on this earth…Matthew 6:19 NLT

…You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matthew 6:24 NLT

We have two main purposes in our lives: 1. To accept the free gift of Salvation and live accordingly. 2. To witness and spread the gospel to all people–which requires financial support.

…You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. Malachi 3:8 ESV last part

Do your spending habits exceed the amount of money that you are contributing to support the worldwide spread of the gospel?

Financial Fasting is a means to control our wayward tendencies with eliminating non-essential purchases: Fasting is a reminder that we should always place the duty of financially supporting the gospel above our personal desires.

It is time for us to prepare for Eternal life by being obedient and allowing God to supply our needs. Revelation, Chapters 21 and 22 provide us with a description of the precious gems, the crystal clear river with the water of life, the tree of life, no more night, and living in the presence of God, and our Saviour–Jesus Christ.

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands; Revelation 7:9

Whatever it takes for us to be one of the great multitudes that John describes in Revelation, we must be willing to do.

As we prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, let God determine what your needs are by letting go of all tangible desires.

I look forward to the greatest event of life: Seeing Jesus face-to-face and living forever and ever. Amen!

Prayer for today: Dear God, I desperately want to live with you forever. Please give me the desire to serve you with all my heart. As I embark on a financial fast, I pray that my life will be one of sacrifice that I can do my part to hasten your Second Coming. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Is anything worth more than your soul? Mark 8:37 NLT

Our walk with God is up-close and personal. It is an individual journey based on our decision to love God with all of our heart. Not making the sacrifice to give up what pleases our desires–our will and our way–always results in conflict with the perfect plan of salvation.

Have you asked yourself, “What must I give up to be saved?”

Is it selfishness, pride, stubbornness, a bad temper, unproductive habits, dislike of people, the pursuit of success, the love of money, or an unequally yoked relationship?

Yes it will be difficult to evaluate your way of thinking and how you live in comparison to God’s standards. When you are able to identify and acknowledge through confession, the self-gratifying sins that you love, it is then that you have opened the door of your heart for Christ to change your life.

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

Eternal life means living forever and ever, in God’s presence, and in a perfect and beautiful world. Do not convince yourself that the limited pleasures of this life compare to a glorious and wonderful life with God.

Challenge for life: Submit and align your will with God’s will!

Prayer for today: Dear God, I am ready to give up everything that prevents obedience to your will and your way for my life. I ask you to give me the strength to make the changes that are required to do your will. Thank you for the gift of your precious son that I even have the opportunity for redemption. I love you God because you first loved me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:21 NLT

Mismanagement of Financial Resources has escalated to phenomenal proportions: The average American household has debt exceeding $132,000.

Many years ago, prior to the Debit Card era, we used cash, checks, or money orders to pay for our expenses. We lived and spent money according to our simple budgets, and we stayed within the boundaries of our take-home paychecks. Then the era of Credit and Debit cards with Overdraft protection surfaced and our monthly budgets faded away. We became excited with our first extension of credit and the convenience of using Debit cards.

From the moment, I received my Debit card, I felt relieved that I only had to pay my monthly rent with a check. For years, I lived with an empty wallet; after all, who needs paper money when you have the card. I was convinced that my spending habits were good and the bank statements provided tracking, so there was no need for a separate monthly budget. As long as my bank balance remained on the positive side, I was satisfied with my financial status.

Last year, I was looking at the cable guide (basic cable only) and happened to see the title of a financial management program by Suze Orman. When I heard the real-life testimonials and her responses to “Can I afford this” and “How to get out of Debt” questions, I was surprised that she supported developing monthly budgets, tracking all expenses, and restricting use of Credit/Debit cards.

I went a step further and enrolled in an online Financial Management course and discovered that I had the wrong mindset and had been grossly mismanaging my financial resources.

Strike 1: First and foremost, as a Believer the monies that I possess are gifted by God, and I conveniently pushed those thoughts away.

Strike 2: As long as I had money left over, I patted myself on the back for doing the job of budgeting quite well.

Strike 3: I never reviewed the bank statement for tracking purposes because I justified all of my expenditures.

My life has changed drastically since I learned to manage my finances. Believe me, it took much prayer to break the chains of unnecessarily spending money. My wallet still contains a Debit card; however, it also contains a budgeted amount of cash money that reinforces stringent boundaries.

It feels great to finally have peace concerning my financial status. Now I can focus on stengthening my relationship with God, by studying the Bible, praying, and using the extra resources to help those who are in need.

Challenge for today: Invest $25 and take an online Financial Management course.

Prayer for today: Dear God, It is you who are the only giver of good gifts. I ask forgiveness for mismanaging the resources that you have blessed me with. I ask you to give me the strength to change the bad habits of wasting money, and time spent on meaningless activities. Thank you for hearing and answering this prayer. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

There are many changes that have occurred in the six decades that I have been alive, some good and many not so good; however, one thing that has virtually disappeared is the giving and exchange of compliments among adults, especially women. In fact, the typical reaction of most recipients of a compliment is silence. Is the giving and cordial receiving of compliments part of a lost era or rules of etiquette that were never learned? Have we forgotten how to extend ourselves to make others feel good?

There are various possibilities as to why we have ceased to give positive and thoughtful praise to others; even so, the most logical explanation is that we possess a negative outlook.

Have you thought about the type of thoughts that dominate your mind and how those thoughts impact your way of life? Our thoughts dictate our behaviors and actions. If negative thoughts permeate your mind, then it is not possible to feel good about yourself or others.

How does negativity impact your relationship with God? It is not possible to really trust in God or to be thankful and possess joy when our thoughts and moods fluctuate according to our circumstances.

We are reminded to think on and possess thoughts which are excellent and praiseworthy. So, if the circumstances of life have shaped your character and you are a negative person then God has provided the answer for change. The transition of thinking altogether-lovely thoughts has many positive benefits with the most important is that your character is molded to prepare you for Eternal life.

God is in the business of changing our characters!

Start your journey by giving God positive complements everyday: Prayers of Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship with Songs and Uplifting Music and studying His Word to find out who He really is.

Identify your qualities and embrace positive thoughts about yourself. Begin to give yourself compliments on the small accomplishments that you make on a daily basis. This is a process that builds a positive self-image and self-esteem. God desires that we embrace the fact that He created us in his image, and we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

It is wonderful to live with a spirit of thanksgiving–a positive way of life emerges–your connection with God remains consistent, you begin to love yourself as God loves you, and you are able to readily extend gracious compliments to others.

It is a beautiful life and it wouldn’t be complete without you in it.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for all of the wonderful blessings in my life. Help me to appreciate your love, your grace, and your mercy. I ask for your guidance as I make the transition from negativity to a positive and thankful outlook on life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz