Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 NLT

I recently came across a post where a young woman lost both of her parents along with the love of her life. The husband that vowed to be with her until death, decided to walk away in the midst of her grief, leaving her to face the struggle alone.

If you had to make the choice of having a physical or emotional wound, which option would you take?

The reality of life is that we do not have the opportunity to make a choice on how we are wounded; our physical wounds are usually accidental and our emotional wounds may be a result of the careless actions of those that we love or our choice to engage in unhealthy relationship choices. [Part 2 of this post will deal with loss from death and dying]

Physically, there are various types of wounds, from superficial nicks and cuts to very deep lacerations that require different and appropriate interventions for the healing process to occur. Even so, it takes a healthy immune system, excellent nutrition, using barriers–from bandaids to bandages–and utilizing wound treatments that protect and facilitate the healing process by keeping the area clean and free from infection. When the correct treatment modalities are utilized, our physical bodies respond well, and the healing process occurs with completion, although there is a possibility of residual scarring.

It is the emotional wounds that are the deepest; the wounds that shake our very existence and that require passing through several stages of the grief process which can last from months to years. And if we fail to move forward to the acceptance stage and plan new beginnings, we will eventually transition into maladies such as inappropriate coping and grieving diagnoses.

Loss of human relationships impacts each of us in a different manner; therefore, the interventions cannot take a standardized approach to initiate and sustain the healing process.

We are a total sum of several components: Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical. In order for us to possess homeostasis–balance, we must have a sense of purpose and a deeper meaning for our lives.

The spiritual component of our humanness is first and foremost in our ability to move forward when our relationships with significant others are fractured. Searching for a deeper meaning of life without God can propel us into areas and beliefs that leave us in a state of confusion, only making matters worse.

Acknowledgment of who we are and who we belong to (God) establishes an unshakable foundation in which we can utilize to begin our emotional healing. There is no one that can compare to God; our relationship with God is guaranteed to last throughout our lifetime and eternity if we so choose. God is faithful in all of His promises to us, He can never fail.

Just remember that nothing occurs in our lives without His knowledge; God was aware that our lives would include having broken hearts, and He promised to heal us. When God bandages our wounded hearts, we become complete from the healing of his restorative power.

The healing that our loving physician provides is supernatural healing; there are no scars when Jesus provides His divine power in our lives.

And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way. Mark 10:52

If we believe and only ask for healing from our emotional pain, God is able and willing to be our Balm in Gilead.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for all you have done in our lives. We ask you to forgive us of our sins and our shortcomings, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to fill us with your Holy Spirit. We pray for those who are hurting from the loss of their marriage, from the loss of family relationships, and from the loss of their faith in you. Oh God, we need you every minute and every hour of the day. We humbly ask you to hear our prayer, O Lord and to heal and restore the brokenhearted. We ask this prayer in the worthy name of your son, Jesus. Amen. Hallelujah, hallelujah!

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

There is an ongoing battle with good and evil, right and wrong, justice and injustice that has existed since the Fall of Lucifer. The original parents of humankind–Adam and Eve–lost immortality along with face-to-face communication with God, and expulsion from their perfect home, the Garden of Eden because of the desire for the unknown and the forbidden.

Dissatisfaction leads to the desire for things that Satan presents in a sensationalized fashion to confuse us even further as he leads us down the road to disobedience. Satan has always presented God as unfair and tyrannical; a God who has established impossible to achieve standards for his created beings. However, when we study the Bible which reveals God’s character, we find that His love is consistent; He is always faithful; and His love has no boundaries; even so, we are required to do our part through obedience, prayer, and study of his Word.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

God’s promises are conditional–there is always an “if and then” which indicates active participation is required on the part of the giver and the receiver. Remember, that God is always faithful, in spite of our weaknesses. There is only one way to prevent or inhibit the seed of a discontented mindset from growing, and that is to nurture a mindset of obedience and gratitude for all that God has blessed us with.

The Apostle Paul shares his secret to spiritual contentment:

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:11-12

Once we acknowledge that our inconsistencies are great, we will come to appreciate God’s faithfulness and His mercies upon our lives. It is the unconditional love and patience of our heavenly Father that prevents us from experiencing immediate destruction for our terrible sins that we commit on a daily basis.

Be grateful in all situations! We do not have to stay in the crossfire–choose who you will serve–and you will experience all the steadfast promises of peace and contentment that only our wonderful Father can provide.

I love you, I love you, I love you Lord today, because you care for me, in such a special way.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I ask for nothing today. I am thanking you for your great love and faithfulness that will always endure. I love you Lord and from this day forward, I will nurture a spirit of contentment and gratitude. This prayer I ask in the worthy name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7 NIV

There are many people, places, and things that we will have to let go of in order to have a viable relationship with God. Our Christian experience should include daily and continual growth when we place our lives in the Master’s hands. God expects and requires total obedience through our trust and faith in him by sacrificial giving.

We read biblical accounts of Abraham, Job, the Apostle Paul, and many others who obeyed God through life-changing experiences; their faithfulness required letting go of the familiarity of the choices that brought comfort in their lives. If you as a Christian believer are happily living in your comfort zone without any trials or tribulations, then you are following self-designed plans for your life. God requires the bumps in the road, the storms, and the turmoils in life so we can fully depend on Him.

In our prayers, we must approach the Throne of Grace and ask God, “What must I do?” Yes, it takes a giant leap of faith for us to sacrifice by totally submitting to God. We must give up and let go of all that seems important.

“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

God desires that all experience the trust and faith to completely depend on him, by believing His promises and giving up the people, places, and things that have kept us from obtaining true spiritual growth. God has promised that His plans are much better than our own plans. Go with God–He is always great in His faithfulness!

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask for the strength to place our desires aside and we humbly ask for you to reveal your plans for our lives. Thank you for your love, your faithfulness, and your mercies. This prayer we ask in the worthy name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

South Knoxville, TN

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. Acts 10:34 NIV

We are at a restaurant who has an all inclusive creed: All are welcome! In fact, the Falafel specialist considers itself a safe house regardless.

As we sat and waited for our food, customers from every possible background entered and the once empty establishment begin to fill to capacity.

I thought about the New Heaven and the New Earth that will be filled with the most wonderful diversity that we have ever witnessed.

Are you preparing for the heavenly diversity? Do you possess a loving heart that excludes no one? If so, God is an intregal part of your belief system.

Love others as God loves you!

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for the wonderful diversity of creating us so uniquely that our fingerprints differ from those who have lived before us, with us, and those who will live after us. We pray that we love and respect all persons regardless. Thank you for hearing our prayer that we ask in the worthy name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Dare to be Different!
Practical Messages for Impractical Times

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

Are you thinking about the latest fashion craze or excitedly waiting for the next television episode of continuous drama? Do you play the lottery or enjoy the gambling casinos? We are admonished not to be caught up in the fleeting pleasures of life. The enticement of sinful activities will undoubtedly lead us down the path of destruction.

Our desire to serve God-who is jealous-can be circumvented by worldly idols. Do your priorities align with God’s standards? By praying for guidance, we can become aware of the things we need to give up. Daring to be different may cause us to lose friends and family; it may cause us to give up many things that make us happy; it may cause us to sacrifice everything that we have been doing which does not reflect our love for God.

Prayer for today: Dear God, I have spent too much time trying to conform to the world. Please forgive me and give me the courage to take a stand and be different. This prayer I ask in the worthy name of Jesus. Amen

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 NIV

Pride and Anger produce a lethal combination that prevent forming healthy relationships with God and others. Our ability to express anger was given to us because God knew of the injustice that would be prevalent because of sin. Even so, when we allow our emotions to overtake our rational thought processes, it is then that we seek to destroy.

The desire to convince others of the truth or to stand for what is right, by any means necessary, always results in a loss. Although we may know the situation is full of error, once we have expressed God’s truth, we must stand down and let God through his Holy Spirit take over and resolve the situation. The choice that we make is an indication of whether we are filled with humility or pride.

Pride is a consequence of sin: Pride produces chaos that injures the bearer and the recipient. Isaiah 14 describes the reason for the Fall of Lucifer; he became so impressed by his own qualities and abilities, his beauty, intelligence, status, and power, which were gifted by God, that he desired the honor and glory that only belonged to God. The angels that were impressed by Lucifer’s pride also suffered the consequences of being cast down from heaven (Revelation 12:7-9), and their fate along with Satan, the fearless leader of the sinful, is one of total destruction (Revelation 20:9-10).

There is a thought process that does not have a biblical basis, that a Believer possesses “Righteous indignation.” God admonishes us against the sins of pride, arrogance, self-seeking recognition and inappropriate anger. When we possess these sinful characteristics, they are certain to impact our lives by only producing negative consequences and an ungodly character.

In order to possess humility, we must establish a deep relationship with Christ. Our inherent sinful natures propel us toward choosing the ungodly characteristics of pride and anger. Who doesn’t love to be right?

The right choice is to heed and obey the Word of God, by seeking knowledge and praying for wisdom.

Verses for today: Proverbs 2:6; Galations 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:32

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask forgiveness for the sins of pride and anger. It is our desire to possess a character that is godly and one that reflects your character and love. Please teach us humility and give us the strength to become clean vessels, so we may be used by you. This prayer we ask in the worthy name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Have I not commanded you be strong and of good courage? Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Be Strong! Be courageous!

If we really believed in God’s power and His love for us, we would have unwavering faith. God commands us to stop being afraid of our struggles, of our tests, and our tribulations. He has all the answers, if we only believe.

Do you need a job, money to pay overdue tuition, a new vehicle, wisdom, a deeper relationship with your spouse, or peace in your home? Step aside, our carnal minds are unable to resolve the obstacles that we face when we serve God.

God is with us! He is waiting to deliver us, like he did when Daniel was thrown into the lions den (Daniel 6). Those flesh-eating beasts purred like kittens because God sent an angel to close their mouths. Although the King was tricked into signing the decree, even he acknowledged that the Most High God who Daniel served, would save Daniel from the hungry lion’s roaring mouths.

Believe in the mighty power of God!

He is able, He is ready, and He is willing to do what He promises and that is to be with us, at all times. It is our responsibility to remain steadfast, possess courage, and proclaim, “I know the great ‘I am’ will deliver me from this situation.”

Only believe, that all things are possible with God!

Prayer for today: Dear God, It is me standing in the need of a revival in my heart. I have faltered when the storms have come into my life. I ask forgiveness for not believing that you will deliver me as you promised. I desire to serve you wholeheartedly from this day forward. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer that I ask in the worthy name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

For most of us, we make achievable and attainable goals for our lives; whether we accomplish those goals is not only dependent upon making viable plans but also dependent upon our determination, strength, and perseverance to make it through the struggle to the accomplishment phase.

Let’s look at a shared desire among many: To achieve an optimal level of wellness-health by the loss of excess body weight. Are you drinking protein shakes for days on end or purchasing fruits and vegetables to change your eating habits? The method that we choose will determine if we are looking for a quick fix or a major overhaul in our lifestyle.

If we choose a diet based on the temporary deprivation from the unhealthy foods that we continue to desire, then we may accomplish a temporary weight loss; however, we continue in the cycle of short-term victory with pending defeat just around the corner, also referred to as yo-yo dieting.

“Yo-yo dieting or the yo-yo effect, also known as weight cycling is a term coined by Kelly D. Brownell at Yale University, in reference to the cyclical loss and gain of weight, resembling the up-and-down motion of a yo-yo.”

For the many of us who are active in the struggle of achieving permanent changes in our lifestyle, we must fervently continue by always including God and also determining to make the right choice in the times of temptation.

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

When we are weak in our spiritual relationship with God, our short-term goals can never transition into long-term goals. Staying close to God through prayer and study of His Word imparts His strength to accomplish the changes needed to retrain our tastebuds, to get our bodies in motion by exercising, and to deepen our relationship with Him.

Remember we are unable to achieve a healthier lifestyle without God!

How many individuals are at an ideal weight by eating healthy and exercising; yet, are full of anxiety, depression, and other maladies? If you desire to achieve a complete optimal level of wellness, place Spiritual wellness as your first priority for long-term goals.

Pray at every moment of weakness!

The Bible tells us that God knows the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30). How much more does He want for his created beings to have the best level of Health along with a closer and deeper relationship with him?

God + you = Victory

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask you for the strength to make it through the struggle that each of us is facing in our lives. We desire to have a closer relationship with you. We admit that we have failed in accomplishing our long-term goals because our weaknesses have prevented us from making it through the struggle of change. Please help us to be overcomers in every aspect of our lives by fully depending on you. This prayer we ask in the worthy name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. Genesis 2:3 NLT

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Mark 10:17

What must I do? Have you taken the opportunity to pray and ask God what you must do in order to serve Him with your entire life?

As with any question, there are varied answers; however, the similar component of the answer to this question is that it takes a great sacrifice for every individual to serve and please God. Because we were created with different talents and capabilities, our sacrifices will differ, even so, all believers must relinquish what is most important to them.

Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. Mark 10:21

We know the sad ending to the young man’s story, he made the choice to continue to cherish worthlessness as he walked away from Jesus.

“What must I do to have eternal life?”

All who profess their love for God must ask, and then obey when they receive the answer. Will you accept what may be the most difficult decision in your life?

Prayer for today: Dear God, What is my sacrificial offering that I must give away, or start doing in order to follow and serve you with my whole heart? It is my desire to give whatever you ask of me from this day forward. Thank you for the greatest sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ and leaving us the example that you did not withhold anything, in order for us to be saved and have eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer. We ask this in the worthy name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019