Tag: Character Development

Love in Action

“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.…And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40

Our various backgrounds produce different views and definitions of what love is. A child raised in a hands-on affectionate home possesses an inner warmth, easily connecting with others. For the child who learned that love was associated with receiving tangible items, their defining characteristics for loving others consists of giving gifts or doing tasks for their loved ones. And then, the emotionally neglected child who received food, clothing, and shelter, the basic physiological needs, but grew up in an environment where love was [somehow] understood. A home full of provisions, but they never heard “I love you” or “you did a great job,” or received the joy of a parental hug. These are the quick handshake or “don’t touch me” individuals.” Unfortunately, they usually develop into people who do not possess the knowledge or the experience to give and receive the most powerful need, Love.

Even so, the child who has past emotional scars are the most dangerous to try to love. Abusive homes were corrosive eating away all of their intrinsic abilities to learn and embrace love. They are hurt, bitter, angry, and feeling dejected from past relationships gone wrong. Their capacity to love again is overshadowed by the darkness of unforgiveness, hatred, and revenge. Yes, they appear to be in a lose-lose predicament. But it is the battered ones to whom God reaches out and wraps them in His blanket of love that pierces the soul and erases the darkness while healing their broken, fragile hearts. It is then that they learn love does not hurt.

Love, is the emotion that caused God to create humanity despite knowing that we would mess up His perfect plans. Love was the foundation for the sacrificial gift of Jesus’ life. The covenant between the matchless Lamb of God and His Father provided redemption for the sins of the human race. Every person can receive the unmerited gifts of forgiveness, grace, and mercy from a loving God. We have the love and benefits from our Spiritual Team. Messenger and guardian angels keep us safe every day from evil and physical danger. Yet, we repay God with open defiance–disobedience by refusing to love Him with obedience, faith, and trust. Nor do we love one another unconditionally.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35, RSV)

As a child, I witnessed the National Guard and the war of humans against humans in the 1967 Riots of Newark, New Jersey. I never thought I would relive this terror again on earth, but in 2020, America established a new diabolical standard of hatred. And on January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., was violently attacked by a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump. Our disregard for established government, hatred for one another as evidenced by our prejudices, lack of compassion for those in need, the pursuit of selfish desires, and abolishing godly morals and values has a deadly proliferative root. We do not love God!

Still, God lovingly reaches out to each person giving us the opportunity to embrace salvation. God knew that we would not understand how to love, so, He gave us the Bible whose central theme is love. Like the Pharisee’s, our spiritual insight would not understand the miracles throughout the Old and New Testaments were based on agape love. But God sacrificing His only Son, Jesus Christ should have opened our eyes and hearts to recognize that agape love–an unfamiliar level of love to most was the only reason for the suffering, shame, and spilling of Jesus’ precious blood on Calvary’s cross. God and His Son created an invincible team to save us.

Jesus died and was resurrected because we were born into spiritual bankruptcy. From the depths of our soul, we should acknowledge that Redemption is for humanity [we are the only living beings created in the image of God] who required mercy. Jesus did not die for the angels. It is you and me who are the recipients of the redemptive Plan of Salvation. Thank you, Lord and Savior, for giving us the opportunity for Eternal life. 

Reflection of our lives complete with God’s grace, mercies, and miracles should prompt us to desire immediate change. God specializes in New Beginnings. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:19. We must empty ourselves of past dysfunctions and previous experiences by praying and fasting. Our thoughts are redirected toward God when we diligently study the scriptures. When we put forth human effort then Divine intervention provides completion. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Loving others is a requisite to receiving eternal life. There will be no heavenly neighborhoods based on economic or social standing. Debating, anger, holding grudges will not be part of our character [Read Galatians 5:22-23]. We will have nothing to apologize for in the New Heaven and New Earth. If you do not enjoy the spectrum of colors now, you will not have the opportunity to see Jesus. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 1 John 4:20

Learning God’s definition of love requires unlearning and acquiring new knowledge and wisdom. Loving God means putting Him first. Surrender to God equates to seeking His will in every aspect of our lives. It is then that we experience a complete spiritual, mental, and emotional transformation. Not one plan is developed or strategy executed without bringing it to God in prayer for His Divine approval. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 provides us with a complete definition of how to love others. The core emotion of unconditional love must permeate our hearts, souls, and minds. Love is not a word or a fleeting feeling. Love is an action that manifests itself in the manner in which we love others and bow in humility to serve a Most Loving, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent God.

Bible Reading 1 Corinthians 13

Prayer: God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, we just want to say thank you, and that we love you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself

The Character of Christ

The willingness to accept Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Savior is from a responsive heart, which embraces Jesus’ sacrifice to give humanity salvation. As a result, we receive a spiritual transformation with a transformed heart that leads to a life of loving and caring. And yes, Jesus gives us a life complete with joy and peace, but also one of trials and sorrows as we travel down the Path of Righteousness. 

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.” John 14:27

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

If accepting Jesus and serving God provides us with peace and joy, then why are we in the predicament that even caused David to question himself: Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Psalm 43:5

The ongoing hardships of the 21st century have produced believers plagued with discouragement, depression, and a mindset surrounded by darkness. Something isn’t right! I asked a couple of individuals to give me their opinion of why we have so little faith and trust in God. They were not sure of how or why the mental and emotional conditions have increased throughout the years. Still, I do not wish to present only my viewpoint of this terrible dilemma. 

I deferred the question to my mother, who is 88 years young. “Mom, why do you think that modern believers do not possess the faith, trust, joy, and peace that serving God offers?

Her response, “They do not know God. Prayer and Bible study are not their priorities. How can you have faith and trust in someone that you don’t know? Life is tough, but God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.” 

History reveals that most individuals decided to walk into a church to turn their lives around by accepting Jesus. They were aware that their habits and behaviors had to change. Attending church, praying, and studying the Bible were the building blocks to forming a solid relationship with Jesus Christ. New believers were told that suffering through trials was necessary to change their character and to be a disciple. They understood that hardships would show up as changes in their lives, job loss, sickness, etc. We sang songs with lyrics that told us to faithfully hold on because Jesus will work it out.

Our conversations consisted of trusting in God because faith believes that God does the impossible. We kept hope alive by telling each other to expect deliverance and never give up while waiting for God’s answer. Oh, and the songs we learned and sang, “Trouble in my way, Jesus will fix it, after awhile,” “Victory is Mine,” “We are Marching to Zion,” and “Trust and Obey,” provided the additional strength to make it through those tough times. We prayed all day and night for stronger faith and trust in God. And we demonstrated our love for each other by calling, praying with them, and home visitation, always asking, “What do you need?”

Fast forward to 2021, and we now have a body of believers who have accepted Christ and do not attend church. They may find out through social media that believers must study the Bible and pray without ceasing. The “babes in Christ” require nurturing to help them through their spiritual journey. Sadly, many fall prey to the loneliness of being a Christian and succumb to discouragement and temptation.

Then we have the seasoned Christians who are mature, but are more concerned about self. They are the believers with spiritual strength, Yet, they have no desire to help the new believers or anyone overcome by the tribulations of life. In fact, the trending behaviors of performing random acts of kindness, pass it forward, giving tax-deductible charitable donations, and paying for the person’s groceries standing behind you while filming it for TikTok, they have consoled themselves with the thought that good deeds are acceptable to God. 

Still, these actions are not the same as having the “Character of Christ” and the “Fruit of the Spirit. “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you? And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'” Matthew 25:44-45

In the Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, God has given us a record of the many events that reveal Jesus’ character. The life of Christ is given by four different men who followed Jesus. The Gospels agree that the Son of Man ministered to others without discrimination. Yes, Jesus was stern when He pointed out the pride and hypocrisy of the rulers who were teaching the law but oppressing the people with man-made rules that they did not keep. The central theme of the Bible is based on the Love of God. Jesus was loving, fair, tender, and full of compassion.

Remember the woman caught in adultery? Have you ever wondered why Jesus bent down? And what was He writing on the ground? What caused the people to turn and walk away?

4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

Adultery for the woman was punishable by stoning to death. A theologian gives this answer, “Two scriptures point out that Jesus was writing on the ground. Many ask, “Why was Jesus writing on the ground?” He was writing the secret sins of her accusers. Once exposed, all they could do is turn and walk away in shame.”

One would think that Jesus’ disciples would possess His character. No, they had the same mindset that many possess right now:

That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. Matthew 14:15-17

When we accepted Jesus’ invitation, He accepted us just as we were, no questions asked. However, by studying the scriptures, we learn that our surrender to God involves a complete spiritual makeover. 1 Corinthians 13, The Love Chapter, gives us God’s definition of love, Galatians 5:22-23 tells the importance of being anointed with the Holy Spirit and the characteristics we are expected to possess. The Apostle Paul commands us, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32.

The believer’s financial responsibility: But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12. 

We have the free will of choice to serve God. Even so, with our commitment [to surrender], we agree to the transformation of our hearts and mind. Submission to the will of God is no longer an option. Giving ourselves wholeheartedly–without reservation allows us to conform obediently to our Heavenly Father.
We become transformed into the likeness of Christ. The person that we used to be, no longer exists. God uses trials to purge undesirable behaviors and negative traits from our character.

We must die daily to the fleshly desires of self [Romans 8:13]. Sanctification is a life-long journey on the Path of Righteousness. Preparation to receive the reward of eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth requires Divine intervention. We cannot save ourselves. Allowing God to do a great work within gives us the perseverance to move forward in Jesus’ name.

The struggle is real. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, suffering is part of our servitude. Still, we have a loving, compassionate, and powerful Heavenly Intercessor, Jesus Christ that promises to see us through. 

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:6

Prayer: Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Traveling in the Wilderness

Bible Reading: Exodus chapters 14-16

The Quick Transition From Faith in God to Distrust and Fear

God’s divine interventions are always supernatural and point us to recognize His omnipotence. He makes sure that the miraculous blessing we receive is beyond our ability, or we would take the credit for ourselves. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17. Although God is faithful, we fail to remember and reflect on our past victories. The next  hardship produces discouragement and defeat. We react as if we have no memory of God’s divine intervention from the previous trial that He delivered us from. “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” John 16:33.

Sadly, thousands of years later, we repeat the same behaviors of doubt and disbelief in God that caused ancient Israel to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. I love to study the biblical history of the Old Testament. Real-life experiences of disobedience, failure, and victory documented for our benefit. Recently, I listened to a sermon that spoke about the faithlessness of the freed Israelites. Did you know that the trip from Egypt to Canaan was only 11 days? 

Stand Still and See God’s Divine Intervention

    1. And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14.
    2.  Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. Exodus 14:21.
    3. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” Exodus 14:26.
    4. So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt, so the people feared the Lord and believed the Lord and His servant Moses. Exodus 14:30-31

The Song of Moses–Exodus 15, Acknowledging the Greatness of God

“Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness,

Fearful in praises, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation. Exodus 15:11-13

Exposure of Our Real Character

Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:2-3

The journey is rough. But serves its purpose by revealing our character defects. You know, the over-confidence in our voices as we proclaim, “Yes, I trust in the Lord,” or “My faith is strong.” The Apostle Paul explains:

As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. 1 Corinthians 4:3-4

Paul was a scholar, yet, he was humble, readily admitting that he could not trust his own judgment, nor rely on his conscience for true self-evaluation.

My most recent wilderness experience lasted eight months. Why? I started the journey with confidence but lost focus on God when the difficulty continued. Spiritually blinded, I could only think about my limited abilities and the desire for the trial to end. Like ancient Israel, I cried out to God for help. Even so, I love God because He always reveals the deficits we possess that are displeasing to Him. When I acknowledged and repented of my condition of little faith and distrust, God began to show me how to build my faith and trust in Him.

God is loving and patient. It is only by His grace and mercies that He tolerates our distrust. In reading Exodus 14-16, I felt fed up with ungrateful Israel for being complainers when God delivered them from enslavement. Then God reminded me of His command [in January] to move 1400 miles to the Florida coast to begin a new life in a city where I had never resided and without friends and family. Instead of a spirit of gratitude, I started focusing on loneliness, to which God reminded me that He will never leave or forsake me, and the relocation was part of His plans for my life.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

My wilderness experience will differ from your experience. Still, the end result will bring us closer to God. By the time we navigate through the dry terrain, we will reverence and honor God. And God will be pleased with our spiritual transformation. It takes the desert thirst and hunger that only God can fill to open our spiritual eyes and serve Him with humility. Remember, we are never alone! Continually acknowledge God’s presence through prayers of thanksgiving. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.… James 1:2-3

A word of caution: We must not linger in the wilderness! When God reveals our faults begin the human effort of humility and obedience. Our daily prayer should reflect David’s prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24. God will answer our prayer of repentance, readily forgiving us: Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10. 

To receive spiritual insight, we commit to following God’s plan by praying for divine intervention. Studying the Holy Scriptures, praying for wisdom, discernment, and increased faith reflects our willingness to trust, obey, and adhere to God’s perfect plan. Once you travel through the wilderness, stay out!  Do not look back by falling into previous behaviors. And do not despise your hardships! God is preparing us for the end time by strengthening our character. Without the wilderness journey, we would miss out on our reward of eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Prayer: We just want to say, Thank you, God! In Jesus’ name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:1, 17, 20.  

The Spiritual Journey–When Do the Trials End?

I can recall the introduction from the Instructor for the 5-day Auditor’s training. “This will be a brutal and relentless five days, but once you learn the guidelines and the software, the task you face for the next 22 weeks will be easy. You are nurses, and will rely on your knowledge of clinical practice to determine if the medical records meet the criteria.” The first two days were so demanding that when we received our 60-minute lunch break, the entire class of 30 escaped for precious moments of solitude. We made a mad dash to our vehicles just to be alone.

Although day one was brutal, all of us returned for day two. We were allowed a couple of extra breaks to regroup from the intensity and overload of learning the software program. But an issue arose on the second day. Many of the nurses began complaining. It was a significant distraction. Still, our Instructor continued her strategic plan without addressing the complaints. After class ended, the complainers huddled together to discuss their grievances. 

Our Instructor was energetic but patient with a laid-back personality. On day three, at 8:01 a.m., she announced that auditing is not a job that is appropriate for everyone. We were informed of a 10-minute break [in which she would return to her office] to give us time to rethink our decision to continue training as MR Auditors. If we stayed, then we would be required to comply with a zero-tolerance policy that prevented any further complaints as of that morning. With boundaries set, the negativity evaporated, and 100% of the trainees passed the course.

Most believers would agree that our spiritual journey challenges us beyond our human capabilities. God created us to love and worship Him with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. He also made us dependent on the Trinity, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit for the strength and resolution of our fiery trials. God is aware of our fragile hearts and weakened strength. Still, God has established spiritual requisites and boundaries. He is also aware of our secret desires and the unholy character traits that our trials will erase. Yes, the struggle is real, but not one of us can escape.

Jesus forewarned us about the trials, sorrows, and tribulations we would encounter from serving Him. Christian means Christ-like. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Jesus reiterates the dependency, which is required from us, “that in Me you may have peace.”

I understand the purpose of suffering, for the Glory of God, to produce faith, trust, and obedience, and to get rid of my character defects. Truthfully, I desire that my trials would not last as long as they do and the hardships would come around less often. But the life of a disciple is not one of multiple choice. It is a faithful life of humility and obedience. God decides because He is God. I can recall hearing a sermon based on the steadfastness of God, “When we are in our stormy trials, we can cry, have a sad countenance, and pray to be delivered, but God will not change His plans. He knows the end from the beginning, and God desires that none of us perish.”

Here’s the reality check, when I read Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. My character is definitely missing some of the “Fruit of the Spirit.”

Sadly, some of us assume that because Jesus accepted us, “Just As I Am,” that we have the option to keep our unholy character traits. In Revelation chapter 3, verses 14-21, God speaks to the Laodicean Church–the Lukewarm Church. They are the ones who place their priorities over God. But they are also the believers who have the most challenging struggles. Not because their trials and hardships are more severe. They have faith in themselves and their ability to resolve life’s challenges. These are the believers who only include God in their lives by word of mouth. Their time spent in prayer is limited. Bible studies are not a priority because they are content with making plans for a comfortable life. Determined to maintain complete control over their lives, they appear strong, yet, they easily become discouraged when facing hardships and quickly ask, “Where is God?”

God has no filter with His correction of wrongdoing. Even Peter, the stubborn, impulsive disciple who lacked self-control, was reprimanded by Jesus, “But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23. Even so, in Luke 22:32, Jesus showed compassion and concern for His wayward disciple: “But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

The books of 1st and 2nd Peter demonstrate Peter’s surrender and complete spiritual transformation. 1st Peter, chapter 4, reminds us that God has chosen us to be His disciples. So we must suffer because Christ suffered. He was perfect and without sin. Yet, Jesus suffered for our redemption and to glorify God, His Father.

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:12-14

God does not continually rain on us. In fact, our Heavenly Father makes sure that we know He loves us and will never leave us alone:

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you, says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3

It is because of God’s grace and mercies that we are not consumed. There is always an end to the suffering of each trial that we face.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

God puts us through the fiery trials to strengthen us, remove the impurities of sin, and increase our faith and trust in Him. Revelation chapters 21, and 22 remind us that we are preparing to live in a sinless and perfect New Heaven and New Earth. We must strive daily to run the race. We choose to live a faith-based life. God is Holy!

The Human effort of faith, trust, obedience, and perseverance, along with God’s Divine intervention, result in a life of Righteousness by Faith, which is pleasing to God. Jesus Christ is coming soon to give the faithful their reward of eternal life. So with a renewed commitment, let our prayer reflect King David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-24.

Prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life [Psalm 139:23-24]. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry 

Beware of the Fine Print

Two weeks ago, my laptop started running slow with delayed startup and freezing. After running daily scans, I realized that malware was not the problem. So, I did the Internet search chose a couple of tech Einstein’s who detailed the top three reasons for computer slowdown. I took care of a couple of the possible issues, but it did not help. After several freezes, I decided enough was enough. It was time to purchase a new laptop. 

This morning, I said a prayer to be anointed with the Holy Spirit before writing the devotional. Included in my prayer, “God, please fix my laptop.” The answer was, “Go to your settings.” What I saw came as a shock. There were 19 programs installed that I knew nothing about. Yes, I receive notifications for the updates that need to be installed for my Epson All-in-One printer. But there were 15 apps, including one that automatically gathered data from my activity. The other culprit was Microsoft who installed four apps for X-box. After deleting 19 apps, my almost trashed laptop has regained vigor and is dancing to the beat.

Do I feel as if I was taken advantage of? Yes! It is the consumer’s lack of knowledge that many companies count on to increase their profit margins. Knowing that I wasn’t the only person who does not pay attention to the “What” in automatic updates, I decided to do some research.

Fine print advertising. Those tiny words and sentences at the bottom of advertisements containing the details of an offer. The kind that requires a magnifying glass or extreme prescription glasses to actually see what is in an offer. Consumers have gotten so used to the fine print many do not even read further into the details. However, more people should pay attention to those tiny words because the devil is always in those details. https://www.smartstartmoney.com/fine-print-advertising-is-it-deceptive-and-misleading/

“The devil is always in those details.” The analogy of the devil’s deceptiveness in the things we ignore piqued my interest. We are impatient from the overwhelming busyness of life. And Satan, our greatest enemy, relies on our weariness to create skillful and diabolical schemes to blindside us every day. 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Satan develops personalized schemes to bring us down. Like the beautiful talking serpent, he mesmerizes us by using subtle and familiar strategies to  present the temptations to make us fall. It is his daily plan to bring chaos into the life of those who serve the Most-High God. Many New-Age Christians feel as if they have the power to fight evil alone. We are not comic-book heroes. The power of evil is greater than our abilities. In fact, without God, we are facing a lose-lose situation. 

What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4-5

Before we become prideful about our crowns, the prophet Isaiah tells us:

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain. And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22

God is fully aware of the weaknesses of humanity. Our power lies in the ability to make choices. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. … Joshua 24:15. Alone we are no match for the deceptive plans of Satan, a fallen angel. Pray for help!  It is through prayer, the Holy Spirit teaches, guides, and gives us discernment to recognize schemes. When we serve God, Jesus intervenes and says, “Get behind me, Satan.” We are under Divine protection. For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11. Because of God’s love, grace, and mercies we are covered 24/7. 

The Good-Great News is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loves and died for humanity. His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection gave us redemption and the opportunity to have eternal life. Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor, is victorious and holds the keys to hell and death. If Satan had his way, He would wipe out every believer. Refer to the story of Job, chapter 1, in which we read that Satan cannot do what he wants.

What happens when we fall into temptation? We did not take the time to use our eyes to look at the fine print and our ears to listen to the sugar-coated words. Nor did we step back and say, “You know what, I am going to pray about this, and I will get back to you.” When we include God in every decision that we make, the devil knows that he is defeated. 

We may think that it is of no consequence to having unwanted programs downloaded on our devices. But Satan, who cannot read our minds, has the astute skills of observing our behaviors. People who do not pay attention frequently suffer from unexpected consequences. Most of us have one friend or family member that is always involved in mishaps, bad deals, or some type of trouble. And most of us have gotten ourselves into a predicament once or twice.

For a 30 day free trial period at the gym, I ended up on a one-year contract because I didn’t read the fine print. My mind focused on the entrapment of the salesperson’s words, 30 free days, and great perks. I was told to let them know if I wanted to continue the membership, but the fine print stated that the cancellation had to be within the trial period. They didn’t have my credit card information, but I signed the temporary membership contract with the fine print that contained the contractual obligations. Gotcha!

We live, and we learn. As stated in the article, people do not take the time to read the fine print. Yes, we make mistakes when God is not included in every aspect of our lives. The Omniscient God already knows every deceitful plan and temptation we will face from birth until death. It takes the human effort of humility, prayer, and patience to ask and allow God’s divine intervention to protect us from harm’s way. There is confidence and peace from the safety of abiding in the presence of God.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 

Prayer: God, we thank you for the protection of your spiritual team. We pray for discernment and the guidance of the Holy Spirit when faced with temptation. We commit our lives to you and will fully trust in your plan. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Blinded By the God of This Age

Today’s Devotional–Experiencing GOD Day-by-Day–by Henry T. and Richard Blackaby

Blinded by the God of This Age

Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:4

When you are blinded, you cannot see things as they really are, even though others around you see them clearly.  You cannot experience the full reality of all that is around you. You may feel you are experiencing all that there is to life, yet you may be unaware that you are missing what God desires for you.  You may even be in danger because of your blindness and not know it.

Paul warned that the “god of this age” can blind you to the reality of Jesus Christ.  Christ’s presence can make a significant difference in your life.  However, if Satan convinces you to doubt that Christ can do what He promised, he will have blinded you to the reality of what your life is really like and to what it could become.  Others may see what your unbelief causes you to miss, but you will be unaware of it.  Your life may be steadily moving toward disaster, but you will be oblivious to it.

Christ comes to you as light (John 1:4, 5, 9).  He illuminates your sin so that you see its ugliness and destructiveness.  He reveals Himself so that you can appreciate the glory of His person and the marvelous riches He brings.  His presence lights your path so that you can see impending danger. Don’t let the god of this age distort your spiritual vision.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that everything is as it should be when, in fact, you are missing out on so much that God wants to do in your life.  Ask Christ to illuminate your life and let you clearly see your spiritual condition.

Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for thinking, acting, and living as if you are not the Creator of all humanity. We have put many things above you. Thank you for the gifts of grace and mercy. Give us the strength we need to always praise you and have a spirit of gratitude. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen. 2021 Copyright Sonya Johnson

My Heart Belongs to You

We often think of the invisible God as being very distant from humanity. But is that accurate? Isn’t it in our hardships and sorrows that we feel abandoned? In Psalm 27, King David expresses that he was surrounded by enemies–men who were his closest advisors but wished his death. Was David aware that God knew his circumstances? Yes, but he honestly expressed his innermost feelings of being afraid. And rightfully so, we cannot imagine living every day with people in our homes plotting our demise.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident. Psalm 27:1-3

Our Heavenly Father sees and knows that the human heart is fragile. God is also aware that our hardships usually result in disconnecting ourselves from Him when we feel threatened and powerless. We are weakened by the unexpected; spiritual warfare, financial difficulties, family issues, loneliness, material loss, illnesses, broken relationships, the death of a loved one. First, we must acknowledge that the trials and sorrows in our lives cause pain and suffering, mentally, emotionally, and physically in illnesses. But have confidence, knowing that it is not God’s purpose to break or crush us. God’s purpose for our trials: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 

During our challenges, human effort is required. God is waiting for us to seek His help and strength through prayer. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Within each of us is the buried response of “where is God? During our trials, we quickly forget God, our Deliverer when faced with overwhelming circumstances. Fear instead of faith comes easily when we perceive that our hardships are bigger than God. Identifying our perception of God involves an honest and in-depth self-evaluation. “How do I see God?”

Without believing, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27, we will continue to doubt the Omnipotence–supernatural power of God, our Creator, Provider, and Sustainer.

Still, in His loving-kindness and mercy, God reaches out to His beloved.

    1. Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
    2. My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8

We may acknowledge the power of God, but do we belong to him? Have we given God our hearts? Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” John 10:14. Our commitment to God is reliant on surrender, commitment, total faith and trust. Doing our part means having a dependent relationship with God, our Father. Yes, we are to become as little children, totally dependent on the love and power of our Heavenly Father. Human Effort + Divine Intervention = Victory!

To experience daily spiritual growth, our hearts must stay connected to Jesus Christ, who is the only way to God. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

There are many benefits to giving our hearts to God. First, we gain total peace, resulting in spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical strength. Faith and trust in God, even during stormy trials, give us courage, contentment, and confidence. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7

We can achieve peace during the harshest trials and sorrows. Knowing that we will feel the pain that accompanies spiritual growth; yet, trusting in God gives us the strength to press on, in Jesus’ name. God is preparing us for eternal life. Jesus gave His life that we may receive immortality and live in the New Heaven and New Earth when He comes again. Giving our heart [total commitment] to our Savior will produce the character traits of love, faith, trust, patience, obedience, courage, and confidence. Yes, it is time for us to have a heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus Christ.

Prayer: God, we are going through some hard times and we need your love, comfort, and divine intervention. Please give us the strength to endure our trials. We are confident that you will bring victory. We ask this prayer in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson