Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 NLT

Loop-holes, plea bargains, gray areas, bending the rules, personal choice, look out for number one, listen to your heart, it’s your life, you did what you had to do, No regrets, et cetera. We are familiar with these euphemisms that attempt to distract us from wrongdoing; however, when we travel down a path of compromise, the journey always leads to negative outcomes with consequences.

Compromise in our personal life is always a lose-lose situation, if we must choose worldly standards over God’s requirements.

Compromise on a job usually equates to using dishonest tactics by bending the rules.

I have experienced a very interesting nursing career where I have witnessed many cover-ups and have been asked to compromise.

Many years ago, I was at the point in my career where I had relocated to a state that had an over-abundance of nurses. After two months of job searching, my savings were dwindling, and I began to feel desperate.

I was finally hired at a private Rehabilitation facility where I experienced my first medication administration error. Although the standard nursing protocol for medication administration is not to pre-pour medications, the facility’s policy was to prepare medications ahead of time (removing them from the prescription bottle or dose-pack which contained all identification markers: resident’s name, name/dose of the medication). The outside of the cups were labeled with a handwritten version of the resident’s first name, and the cups were placed on a tray in alphabetical order.

If you are in the health profession, then you are already thinking, “Red Flag.” A resident came to the office door and I asked, “How are you doing Josh?” His reply was that he felt good and was having fun at the dinner party. An hour later, my heart skipped several beats when the real Josh appeared for his evening medications.

At that point, I realized that I had previously administered Josh’s medications to John. As I prepared another cup of Josh’s medications, all nursing protocols for safe medication administration begin to shout loudly inside of my head: “Why didn’t I ask the resident to state his name?”

When I notified the On-call Director, I was informed that alcoholic drinks were served at the party, and the resident answered to someone else’s name, and didn’t recognize his usual medications because he was drinking. Red flag: Residents admitted to the facility have a history of substance abuse diagnoses…why are alcoholic drinks served?

I accepted full accountability for the error of not practicing one of the Rights of Medication Administration: Right Patient; Ask the patient to state his/her name. As I spoke with the Psychiatrist, he made a joke and stated the additional medication would make the resident sleep and I would have one less worry for the evening. I can recall going into the bathroom and crying because I realized that I was facing the consequences of venturing into Satan’s territory for the sin of compromise.

God made certain that I would learn a life-changing lesson. I was instructed not to document the Incident, because the Director would be responsible for the follow-up. My expectation was that I would complete an Incident report, and face a disciplinary write-up for a Medication Misadventure. When I was informed that documentation was not required because the resident did not experience side-effects, I realized that I had an immediate decision to make: (1) Keep my well-paying job and continue to sin against God, compromise nursing ethics, my nursing license, and patient safety, or (2) resign without having another job.

I was extremely disappointed with myself for going against everything that I stood for, as a Believer and as a Nurse. I prayed a Prayer of Confession and prior to my shift, I resigned from duty. In my exit interview, I was informed that the resident was doing well, and that I was overreacting by leaving.

There are times when we feel desperate and the anxieties of life cause us to make decisions based on our feelings, and our situation. Yes, I was fully aware of the facility’s protocol on pre-pouring medications during my first day of orientation. I knew that in order to keep this job that I would be forced to compromise. It was a choice based on a complete lack of faith in God.

The life of the Believer is not a life where we go with the majority, follow mainstream society, make decisions based on feelings or our situation. It is living a faith-based life where we say, “No” to compromise which leads to sin, in every situation.

In His mercy, God spared me from the consequences of breaching nursing protocols. It was a lesson well-learned. Since that incident, I have been tested many times to cover-up or look the other way in my work environments. Because I stood firm, God has always protected me from harms way, and provided for all my needs, especially when I was unemployed due to job pressures to go against His commands.

I share this real life experience because Satan will use our jobs as leverage to place doubt in God and cause us to develop over-confidence in our own abilities.

Choose God by exercising faith and trust in Him regardless of your current or pending financial status. If choosing God causes you loss of your job, have confidence that He is Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider.

Thank you God. I choose you!

Challenge for today: Choose God!

Chapter for today: Matthew 6

Prayer for today: Dear God, I empty myself of all desires that lead to the sin of compromise. I ask for your strength in the times of my weakness, and forgiveness in the times that I fail to choose you, and the times that I fail to rely on you. Thank you for being my Provider. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

I dedicate this article to my Nursing friends and colleagues: KH, LS, SB, WC, AW, & JS.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (last part) Hebrews 13:5

God is always available to hear our innermost desires, and concerns. We never have to bear our burdens or sufferings alone.

Make prayer a priority in your life and you will experience peace that will abide with you in spite of your circumstances.

God loves us! He is with us!

Challenge for today: Prepare for the Sabbath by Praying every hour today.

Verse for today: “Let not your heart be troubled you believe in the Father; Believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4 NIV

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please help me to believe in you at all times, and in every situation. As we prepare for the Sabbath, we ask for comfort and the strength to believe and hold on to your promises. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Practical messages for Impractical Times

And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18 NIV

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men. 1 Timothy 2:1

“What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and grief to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” Hymn

The importance of prayer compares to breathing in the air that God has provided. Without the perfect mixture of Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Nitrogen, the respiratory system of the body would cease to function.

Prayer is the time of reverent communication with God. We honor our heavenly Father when we are able to acknowledge and thank Him for His unfailing love extended through His grace and mercies.

Prayer is a time when we are able to talk to God about all of our concerns. God is fully aware of what is occurring in our daily lives; however, we must fully surrender by humbly approaching Him, and then completely trust Him to resolve all of the troubles we face.

Prayer is a time to express our gratefulness for all that He is doing to sustain us from day-to-day. The righteous are never forsaken: He knows, He cares, and He will supply.

Prayer is the time that we are able to present our petitions on the behalf of others. When we open our hearts to include individuals apart from ourselves, it drives away our natural tendencies of selfishness. We receive a blessing when we offer intercessory prayers; our hearts are filled with God’s love and compassion for others.

Prayer is a time when we receive strength, comfort, and answers on how God will resolve our problems. There are situations which may remain, a “thorn in the flesh”; even so, God never places more on us then we can bear. The thorn that we ask to be removed is probably the thorn that will keep us before God, and allow our faith to become strong.

Prayers keeps us dependent on God! He desires for us to have a rock solid relationship with Him. We suffer needlessly when we choose to function without His Fatherly guidance. Our victory is guaranteed when we rely on God.

There are many times when we fail to understand the manner in which God chooses to answer our prayers. We must put self aside, God does not require our assistance, we must wait for His Divine intervention.

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

There is always room for improvement in our prayer life. Take everything that grieves your heart and present it before God in prayer. The closer we become to God, the more we realize that He is our Father who will never leave us or forsake us. We will develop the deepest love relationship with our Omnipotent God, far beyond our greatest expectations.

Challenge for today: Increase your daily prayers.

Verse for today: In the same way, the SPIRIT helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for Words. Romans 8:26

Prayer for today: Dear God, I desire to have a closer relationship with you. I want you to be the air that I breathe. I completely give myself to you. I will trust you with my life, now and forever. Please help me to get rid of my independent self-will, and learn to always rely on you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Oh Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for you. Be our strength every morning and our Salvation in time of trouble. Isaiah 33:2

I have always loved the beauty of the Winter season; not only is it a time for the earth to rest, it is a time for us to relax; a time for us to slow down; it is a time to enjoy the additional nighttime hours; it is a time for the spiritual and physical renewal of our bodies.

Many individuals complain about the snow, the frigid temperatures, and the overcast of the winter sky. However, God knew that we would need a less stressful time to wind down, and along with the blessing of resting on the Sabbath, He gave us an entire season to function at a slower pace.

When we study the Word of God, and pray for the wisdom, guidance, and direction to apply the Word to our lives; we can view life from a spiritual perspective and acknowledge that: “The Earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it,” Psalm 24:1

It is lovely to be able to live with confidence! And why not? I belong to God. Through nature, I see how the earth is sleeping, the animals are hibernating, the birds have migrated, and the evergreen trees provide a colorful hue against the grayish cloudy sky.

In Matthew 6, God reminds us that He feeds the birds, they awaken with the expectation that they will eat daily. We are more valuable to God than the birds. How do we know this is true? We were created in His image; we were given new mercies to be alive today; He gave his only Son-Jesus Christ, to die for the remission of our sins, and He tells us to never worry because He will never leave us; He will supply all of our needs on day by day basis, and that He will be with us until the end of the world.

Thank you, God, for a beautiful and peaceful Winter season! Thank you for helping us to realize that we can enjoy the life you have granted to me without anxieties or worries! Thank you for helping me to believe that:

I belong to you!

Challenge for today: Proclaim that you belong to God!

Prayer: Dear God, I finally realize that I belong to you. Thank you for providing for me and for helping me to achieve total peace. I love you, and I place my life in your hands. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

 

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you would be cold or hot. Revelation 3:15 BLB

I can recall working on a job where peer reviews where conducted once a quarter. A week prior to the review, I was scheduled to meet with our Manager to discuss individual productivity and work-related concerns. As the meeting progressed, the subject changed from my satisfactory performance to clarification of information that was given to the Manager concerning another member of our team. Although office rumors spread like wildfire, I was unaware of the quality of my coworkers performance and clarified that it was hearsay, and that I would be unable to substantiate the report.

The following week during the peer review, the question was asked if we had any concerns, and imagine our surprise when the second member of our team disclosed complaints from the Client’s liaison which verified the office rumors regarding our team member’s questionable performance. To summarize, the overall problem was that our co-worker was just doing enough to get by. Many promises were made to provide the clients with the additional statistics they requested, however they never received the follow-up information.

As you can imagine, serious concerns where brought to the forefront regarding as to why the Client Liaison did not disclose the issues directly to our Manager. The resolution involved developing new policies and protocols to ensure that productivity and client satisfaction were met through weekly Manager-Client Liaison meetings.

From a spiritual perspective, how many of us are doing just enough to get by? We attend church, study our Bible, and pray; however, we are not interested in witnessing or meeting the needs of others.

The Great Commission: Therefore go and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19

Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? or thirsty and give you something to drink? or a stranger and show you hospitality?, or naked and give you clothing?, when did we ever see you sick or in prison visit you?” And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:37-40 NLT

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 and 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

God’s expectation is that we will help others!

Challenge for today: Become active in volunteering time to Church Ministries, Community programs, Homeless Shelters, Domestic Violence Safe Harbors, Donating toiletries, and clothing, Tutoring Children…

Verse for today: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 ESV

Prayer for today: Dear God, We are not following your commands to help others. We ask you to forgive us for the sins of omission, and just doing enough to get by. We are ready to make a commitment to serve you and to serve others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Practical Messages for Impractical Times

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

I can remember a visit to my bank for free financial management services in 2008. I had stable employment along with a decent savings account and had made the decision to become a homeowner. As the Agent began to outline the financial responsibilities of ownership, I felt that my dream had rapidly deflated, and my face and tone of voice reflected the defeat and disappointment. However, I did not leave feeling hopeless; I was given a financial plan with goals and strategies to work toward saving additional monies for unforeseen expenses that are tagged with owning a home. Within one year, due to another business entity purchasing the hospital, the alternative job offer that I received, caused me to terminate employment with the organization.

Fast forward to 2019, and I know that my plans for ownership were not God’s plans. Many changes have occurred since 2008: Decline of my Mother’s health which necessitated relocation to another state; change of status from single to married; and the abrupt end of my nursing career due to a physical disability. I am thankful that I did not disregard the financial advice that I received. I know from personal experience how wonderful it feels to call the landlord for the unexpected maintenance repairs that are required in the home that we are leasing.

Yes I was greatly disappointed when my nursing career ended, I had no alternate plans. But I knew there was a great God who would hear my prayer and I asked, “God, what do you want me to do with my life?” His answer was for me to write–real life experiences regarding our defeat and His deliverance. I am currently writing daily Devotionals and plan to publish a book of real life testimonials; a book that I pray will encourage women 40 plus, as we travel through the journey of our lifespan.

Experiencing defeat does not have to equate to discouragement, depression, and feeling downtrodden. It does not mean that you throw in the towel or accept that your purpose in life is limited to your current circumstances.

The answer to living a victorious life–with trials and tribulations–is to ask God: “What do you want me to do?” When you humbly relinquish your plans and invite God to make good on His promise found in Jeremiah 29:11, He becomes the Manager of your life.

The secret to your life becoming successful is to accept God’s plans, and to stay focused and obedient.

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:23 BLB

Our goal is to hear: Well done!

Challenge for today: Ask God, “What do you want me to do?”

Verse for today: Revelation 22:12-13

Prayer for today: Dear God, I give my life to you. I willingly accept your plans for my life. I ask for you to reveal my purpose and the manner in which I can lead others to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz-Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Do not withhold your tender mercies from me, Lord. Let your loving-kindness and your truth continually preserve me. Psalm 40:11 NHEB

And be sure of this: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NLT

We must always remember that in Jesus Christ, we are victorious, regardless of our immediate circumstances. It may be necessary to cry many tears, even so, God knows you by name. He is always here, throughout every disappointment, every trial, and all tribulations. God loves you!

Verse for today: Because God has said, Never will I leave You, never will I forsake you” [last part] Hebrews 13:5 NIV

Challenge for today: Call on His name for comfort and strength.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for solving the problem that I have presented to you for Divine Intervention. Thank you for knowing my name. Thank you for giving your Son to die for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz-Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Songs for Comfort and Strength: