Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

But Moses replied, “Please Lord, send someone else.” Exodus 4:13 BSB

Promises of Deliverance

When God approached Moses and commanded him to go to Pharoah for the deliverance of the enslaved Israelites. Moses made several excuses to which God responded by giving His exact instructions that required obedience and action on the part of Moses. (Read Exodus 3:9-4:16)

When the man at the Pool of Bethesda was asked by Jesus if he wanted to be healed. He did not say yes, the man complained about not being able to get into the pool. (Read John 5:1-7)

Have you promised to serve God by actively visiting the sick, feeding the homeless, attending weekly church services, including prayer or bible studies or keeping the seventh-day Sabbath? What about giving up worldly habits and keeping company with individuals who are not striving for eternal life?

Have you identified your talents and spiritual gifts to witness and spread the great news of God’s love and the plan of Salvation?

The life of a believer involves action; our lives are not our own, we must:

Stop making excuses!

Jesus is telling us to: “Rise, pick up your bed and walk!”

It is by faith and true obedience to God that we accept and put into action, God’s perfect plan for our lives.

Challenge for today: Make a plan to incorporate service to God in your daily life. You are the someone that others need to show them that God is love, and that He has promised Eternal life to all who are faithful and obedient to His commandments.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please send me. I am ready to live by faith and obey your will for my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Jesus asked them, Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? But they remain silent. Mark 3:4

The 7th Day Sabbath is a 24-hour period from Friday Sunset to Saturday Sunset in which the focus is exclusively on our Spiritual Relationship with God.

All of our activities honor God who is our Creator: Attending Church, Praying, Studying the Bible and reading inspirational books, Nature Outings, Visiting the Sick in their homes, hospitals and Long Term Care facilities, and yes, there is still plenty of time to enjoy extra physical rest.

We utilize Thursdays and Fridays to prepare for Saturday-Sabbath. For 24 hours, we abstain from all secular activities such as watching regular television programs, cooking, shopping, financial matters, going out to restaurants, and all other activities that we have six days of the week to take care of.

The Sabbath is a time that I eagerly look forward to. I am refreshed by the closer connection to God since the distractions of daily life are not present. It’s not that my problems magically disappear or that I pretend that they are non-existent; it’s that I make a conscious effort to obey God by keeping His command: “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”

The Sabbath eases the burdens of everyday life. Our mind and body respond well to Sabbath rest; decreased level of stress and an increased level of peace and contentment from a mental and emotional perspective. Our physical body strengthens because we do not have to expend energy for the daily rigors of working on a job.

Personally, I am reminded that I was created in the image of God and through my obedience to keeping the fourth commandment, I enjoy the benefit of honoring God and knowing that my life is in His hands.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV

There are many challenges that we suffer in our lives; even so, God has promised to see us through. It is up to us to seek God in prayer, and believe that He will bring victory.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8 NLT

We must trust in God to resolve our struggles in His perfect way. Warning! Do not attempt to help God! Remain faithful, prayerful and always trust in Him.

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your Heart take courage; wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14 ESV

As we prepare for the oncoming Sabbath, leave your burdens in God’s hands. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Challenge for today: Pray, believe, trust, and wait.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I admit that I am feeling overwhelmed by my current problems. I release all of my anxieties and worries; and I will trust in you to give me victory, in your way and in your time. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

(7) Dear children, do not let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.

(8) But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.

(10) So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. first part

(10) Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. last part 1 John 3: 7-8, 10 NLT

I love watching Sherlock Holmes and any shows that fall into that category because the twists and turns challenge the attention span, concentration, logical deduction and improve the memory; even so, it is exciting when I am able to identify the culprit.

Have you ever read or heard some information that was vague, or confusing, or it appeared to only be part of the story? It happens quite frequently in real life situations where the story is manipulated based on the perception of the individual.

There is only one book that contains 100% truth and that is the Holy Bible which was written under the inspiration of God. From Genesis to Revelation, we are able to read the events from Creation to the Fall of Man; a beautiful description of the New Heaven and New Earth; the history of God’s miraculous deliverance for His people from the enemy; the compassionate life of Christ and His disciples; the defeats and victories of those who struggled with temptations; and instructions for the manner in which we are to live; however, the theme of the Bible is about God’s love, grace, and mercy for all mankind even in our rebellion against Him.

Yes, it was human beings who wrote exactly what God instructed them to write. Have you ever attempted to write, and your thoughts lacked structure or continuity, or you do not even know where to start? If you answer in the affirmative, then it helps you to realize the Bible had to be written under Divine Inspiration.

Considering all that we see, hear, and are exposed to in life, reading the Word of God is like sitting back in a comfortable chair in a beautiful, serene environment and taking in a breath of fresh air.

God is awesome in the fact that He did not leave us alone in our spiritual journey to guess our way through life. We have written instructions (and the guidance of the Holy Spirit) that defines truth and error to lead us and guide us, in our travels down the Path of Righteousness.

As believers, it is imperative that we make a vow to live by “Nothing but the Truth.” We may have to make serious changes in our lives by changing who is in our social circle, by eliminating what we watch or the type books we read. We cannot allow people, places, or things to interfere with our relationship with God who requires a life of holiness.

The People

1 John 3 tells us how to recognize fellow believers.

The Places and The Things

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT

Challenge for today: Make the commitment to give up all things and people that prevent you from living by nothing but the truth.

Verse for today: All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. Revelation 21:7 BSB

Prayer for today: Dear God, I am ready to live by a standard of nothing but the truth. Please help me to recognize all that I must give up in order to live righteously. I love you, I worship you, and I praise your Holy name. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart. Psalm 40:8 NLT

When I was in nursing school, the theoretical part of the program had a grading system with parameters from 80-100: 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 79 or below=Failure. The Clinical aspect which equates to the student nurse performing basic hands-on nursing procedures was based on a Pass or Fail grading standard.

Throughout the program, the pressure was intense, and as a result our class dwindled from 27 enrollees to 7 graduates. On the day of final exams, we anxiously waited for our grades to be posted on the student bulletin board. Each of us were given a numerical identifier to ensure confidentiality. As the Instructor posted the final grades of the program, we were surprised to see that only 4 of the 7 students had passed.

It was the next event that had us in disbelief. We were told that the test contained experimental questions that were included to evaluate our nursing judgment and critical thinking skills based on unfamiliar theory that we had not learned during the program. The disallowed questions had been included in the grading of the exam, and we were instructed to take a 60 minute break while the final exams were regraded. When the grades were reposted, all seven of us had successfully passed.

However, there is a crucial aspect to graduating from nursing school and that is the successful passing of the State Licensure exam–NCLEX that determines if you possess the knowledge to legally practice nursing. Although the second grading of the final exams indicated that 7 student nurses had successfully passed the RN program; it was only the original 4 students who passed the school’s Final Exam that passed the NCLEX exam and we were granted licenses to practice nursing.

In the believers pursuit of righteousness, there are no grading curves, either we possess genuine faith and obedience to the Word of God or we fail. Righteousness is doing what is right. Our characters are revealed by how we live, what we think and speak, and the deeds that we perform on a daily basis.

It is not enough to believe in the theory of truth.

“Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.” 1 John 3:7

It is the secrets and the cherished sins in our hearts that God is aware of. We only have this life to put on the robe of Christ’s righteouness. This is our opportunity to form the characters that are necessary for us to reside in the heavenly home that Christ is preparing for us.

By letting go of our selfish desires, and by possessing the willingness to obediently submit to God, we are preparing for our final destination-Eternal life.

Thought for today: It is God’s standards for our characters that determine whether we are passing or failing.

Verse for today: Galatians 5: 22,23

Prayer for today: Dear God, I realize that I must let go of many selfish desires in order for my character to be pleasing to you. I ask you to give me the strength to call on your name to make the significant changes that are required to live righteously. I desire eternal life and I thank you for your grace and mercy upon my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Then Peter begins to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism.” Acts 10:34 BSB

I can recall a movie entitled, “The Scarlet Letter” which was adapted from the 1850 novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne which explored the guilt, ostracism, and sin from a married woman conceiving a child from an extramarital affair. Although she repented and attempted to move forward, the Puritanical Mindset that certain sins carried a “forever punishment” prevailed in her community.

The puritanical mindset has had a stronghold on many Believers in God throughout the history of Christianity, and it still exists. Often we are unable to forgive and forget the sins of others, and we carry the “forever guilt” of our own sins, especially the sins that have ongoing reminders of the consequences.

However, Christianity is built upon the principles of forgiveness, and repentance, not punishment, and the shaming of the guilty. The Bible emphasizes that God is just in all of His ways. We can be reassured of God’s acceptance of our repentance by His complete forgiveness of our sins.

He will again have compassion on us; he will vanquish our iniquity. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 CSB

God accepts a humble, contrite, and repentant heart. He sacrificed His only Son–Jesus that we may have an opportunity for Eternal life.

There is therefore now, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Romans 8:1

Regardless of the sin, it is an injustice to give ourselves or others a “Scarlet Letter”. We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus which abolishes all the guilt and remembrance of our sins.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Challenge for today: Forgive yourself and forgive others.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please help me to stop punishing myself and others for past sins. I ask you to forgive me of my sins, past and present, and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness and fill me with your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Sabbath Devotional

1. Cleanliness is Next to Godliness.

2. God helps those who helps themselves.

3. God moves in mysterious ways.

4. Three wise men visited Baby Jesus.

5. Easter is when Jesus was resurrected.

6. Christmas is the day of Jesus’ birth.

7. The 40 day period in which Jesus fasted is known as Lent.

8. The Old Testament was done away with when Jesus died on the cross.

9. The Seventh day Sabbath was only for persons of Jewish descent.

10. The Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday once the Old Testament laws were abolished by God.

11. When a person dies they become immortal and immediately go to heaven.

If you are questioning the validity of this post, then you probably believe that one or more of the above statements are found in and substantiated by the Bible.

The truth is: Not one of these statements are true and none of these statements are found in the Bible.

The time of deception is upon us and those who fail to prayerfully study the Bible will believe many false doctrines.

Satan is cunning; he intertwines a little truth with false doctrines and presents custom made falsehoods, that appear to be biblically-based, to those who possess limited knowledge of the Word of God.

Do not become an easy target! Satan is unable to discern our thoughts; however, our behaviors and lifestyles are easily observed, and he is aware of who does not study God’s Word.

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Challenge for today: If one or more of the statements appeared to be truthful, then begin to diligently study the Bible on a daily basis.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please help us to study your Word so that we have a solid foundation of your truth. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 NIV

How many individuals have you helped this week? As we prepare for the incoming Sabbath, we should take the time to reflect on who we have served this week. It is our purpose to bring the sunshine of love and hope to those who are hungry, sick, lonely, and without the resources to take care of themselves and their families.

We are servants of the Most High God, our lives are not our own; our purpose has been pre-determined and it is to serve, serve, serve.

Challenge for today: Visit someone who is homebound, hospitalized or in a nursing home this weekend.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please forgive me for not fulfulling my purpose by serving others. It is my desire to seek out those who need to know you. Thank you for your love, your grace, and mercy. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Holy Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:4-5 NIV

What has God created you to do?

Identifying your Spiritual Gifts

God has given to each of us gifts that are to be used to reflect His love. Your gift is unique and custom made just for you.

Although I was very shy and intoverted as a child, God allowed me to enter the nursing profession where I would interact with countless individuals from diverse backgrounds. I assessed patients based on subjective and objective data which required me to learn and practice the skills of therapeutic communication. Even so, my spiritual gift was to minister to patients by giving comforting emotional support through my smile, my gentle tone of voice, and words of encouragement.

God has allowed me to fully understand what He expects me to do with my spiritual gifts. I am given the opportunity to provide a kind word of encouragement on a daily basis. I always breathe a prayer thanking God for allowing me to let others know that He is love.

The Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, Psalm 139:14. It is our responsibility to ask God to reveal our spiritual gifts and the manner in which He desires for us to use them.

We have a purpose in life: Our duty to God is to show others that He is full of love, grace, and mercy.

Challenge for today: Pray for the desire to use your spiritual gifts on a daily basis.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please reveal my spiritual gifts and the purpose you have for me in life. It is my desire to serve you through obedience. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Tuscany, Italy

Why Do You Doubt? Do you know Who He is?

Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:25-26

I love the fact that although the time that we live in is full of complexities–many hypotheses and theories–the plan of Salvation remains simplistic in that a child is able to comprehend its complete meaning based on faith.

“It is by faith that God’s mighty power is released into the life of a Christian (Heb. 11:13-16). The fact that you have doubts indicates that you do not know God as you should.” Excerpt from Day to Day Devotional

Lack of a personal relationship with God (which is my responsibility) is the reason for all of my doubts (my fears, anxieties, worries, sleepless nights, mistrust, depression, dark times)?

Have you ever been accused of doing something that you were innocent of? Most of us can answer yes to that question; however, if you doubt God, then you are the guilty person.

It is only by possessing faith which is totally believing, trusting and obeying God that He is able to unleash His mighty power in your life.

Reflect on God’s amazing faithfulness by thinking about the countless times He has brought victory to your life.

If this is true, then why do you still doubt Him? This is an open-ended question that only you can answer; even so, the obstacle is faithlessness and only you have control over that aspect of your life.

Challenge for today: O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusts in him. Psalm 34:8

Prayer for today: Dear God, I am responsible for my lack of faith. You have proven over and over again that you love me and I ask you to forgive me for doubting your great faithfulness. It is my desire to have a strong and personal relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

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Tamul Waterfall, Mexico