Faith Love Trust Obedience – Page 71 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

For the Love of Money

Strong, self-reliant, in-control, achiever, talented, and powerhouse are just a few adjectives we use to describe the people we respect. Striving to achieve wealth is a core value among most individuals who live in Capitalistic nations.

Capitalism is often thought of as an economic system in which private actors own and control property in accord with their interests, and demand and supply freely set prices in markets in a way that can serve the best interests of society. … It is this rational self-interest that can lead to economic prosperity. https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2015/06/basics.htm

The issue with Capitalism lies within the goal, “chasing economic prosperity”. Money produces divisions in social classes. But the love of money is more addicting than every illicit drug. The emotional roller-coaster that most ride on is caused by the love of or the lack of money. It is nearly impossible not to fall in love with the prosperity that money brings to our lives.

Most are powerless to their desire for wealth. Money embraces us with her comforting arms while blinding our spiritual eyes. We easily become the victim to its demand for servitude–“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24

Our assets promote confidence and place us in a cozy comfort zone. We have no worries when our liabilities are under control. Living with plenty makes us kick our shoes off and throw our clothes on the floor, as we relax listening to some great music. Yes, we congratulate ourselves on our achievements. Life is good! Isn’t it?

Before we become annoyed by asking, “What’s wrong with enjoying the fruits of my labor and possessing savvy financial management?” That is a separate issue from, “It is this rational self-interest that can lead to economic prosperity.” Because I am a believer in the Most-High God, my life is patterned after Jesus Christ. So my blogs are from a believer’s perspective based on the Word of God–the Bible.

By no means do I consider myself a Bible scholar. But throughout my years of studying, I cannot find any scriptures that support Capitalism. In fact, the Four Gospels [written by four different men with varied personalities] vividly relays Jesus’ perspective on accumulating wealth. throughout their writings, King Solomon and the Apostle Paul addressed the complicated consequences that loving money brings. Read Ecclesiastes 5:10, Hebrews 13:5, and 1 Timothy 6:10.

Why was Jesus adamant about the destructive consequences of “riches?”

And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 BSB. The Pharisees were hypocrites who lived by double standards. Their responsibility was to teach others about God’s laws, but they thought too highly of themselves to obey said rules for the ordinary people.

Luke 8:4-15, The Parable of the Sower, is a powerful revelation of the different types of people who hear the gospel of truth and how they react. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life and bring no fruit to maturity. Luke 8:14. When serving God, we must produce fruit while living a faithful, obedient life. We die daily to our sinful nature by striving for righteousness.

The pursuit of wealth chips away at your inner resolve–chasing wealth and comforting yourself with a “no worries ever” mindset weakens your God-given mental, emotional, and spiritual strength. Your perspective is fixated on your accomplishments and the good life. Where does dependency on God fit in?

I recall Joyce Meyer sharing a story of a red dress she purchased. One day while cleaning out her closet [to give to a woman in need], she saw the red dress, and pushed it to the keeper’s side of the closet. “I heard the voice, ‘Take out the red dress and lay it on the bed.” As she bypassed the dress and pulled out more clothing, the command repeated itself only louder. “God, is that you? I know that you are not telling me to give away my favorite red dress that I have never worn.” The shortened version of her testimony is that she took the dress out of the closet and gave it away. From her encounter with God, Joyce Meyer was taught humility and the purpose of her ministry, to provide for those in need, spiritually and physically.

Every day we see the earth’s rich covering of beautiful and colorful plant life, the varied species of animals, and the diversity of humanity, which reflect God. The Master Artist loves “Perfect Beauty.” It was never God’s purpose for us to live in poverty or be plagued with social issues and rampant diseases. Sinful desires have escalated beyond our control. The love of money has prevented our nations from eradicating the misery of poverty and the rapid growth of diseases. Yes, we have gone too far. What human being is worth $208 million for a few games?

For the love of money, many believers have traded in their desire to live in the New Heaven and New Earth. We have thrown in the towel on preparing ourselves for Jesus’ Second Coming. Grasping the here and now has empowered us to create a “heaven on earth,” as reflected in the Lifestyles of the Rich Believer.

But Luke 12 relays Jesus’ Parable of the Rich Fool:

Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”…Luke 12:19-21 BSB

Prayer: God, please have mercy on us. We are distracted by the pursuit of happiness. We have lost our desire for eternal life. Living in the New Heaven and New Earth is a vague memory because of our love for money and earthly possessions. Forgive us, Heavenly Father. Create a clean heart and renew a spirit of humility within us. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

God’s Divine Intervention–Hearing His Voice

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

Do you trust God with your life? I have often attempted to help God by being impatient and developing Plan B, or I did not include Him at all by failing to pray and asking for His blessings on my plans. But my self-reliance and spirit of independence began to crumble after a few failures. The biggest mistake was accepting a job with a substantial salary when God told me “No.”

How do I know God said no? God used my mother’s physician to tell me that I should not work for that company. His exact words, “As a Christian, there are covert business operations that you should not be involved in, do not accept the management position.” Did I listen? I did the exact opposite, and within six weeks I had to resign. I wish that I could tell you that I learned a valuable lesson from the disobedience of not listening to the voice of God. Sadly, it wasn’t.

Thankfully God extends his grace and mercy even when we do not deserve it. Fast forward a few years, not only do I pray, but I patiently wait for God’s answer. How do you know that it’s God talking to you? Believers have a privilege that unbelievers do not possess: But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.…John 10:26-28. The answer to recognizing when God speaks, [whether it is through the scriptures, the Holy Spirit who speaks to us in various ways–especially through our thoughts, or the person that gave us the warning of “don’t do it”] is only possible through our “Faith.”

Faith is blind belief in everything that we know of God. It is our decision to accept the holy scriptures–Sola scriptura, as the Divine authority and the Voice of God. We acquiesce to His divinity and do not probe into the mysteries that God chooses not to reveal to humanity.

In Ephesians chapter 3, the apostle Paul tells us that Jesus Christ is a mystery. According to the scriptures, there are many things that God has withheld from us. He is God and does not owe an explanation to humanity. And rightfully so, with the knowledge we have, many of us struggle with believing and accepting the truth from the scriptures in the Bible.

Pathway to God–Hearing His Voice

If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:14. When Jesus was speaking to his disciples, He made it clear that our prayers must be prayed in his name. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6. Jesus, our Intercessor is the only way to God the Father. And how is the Holy Spirit involved in the pathway of prayer? And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26

Let’s look at a practical example. You accept employment with an agreed salary paid bi-weekly. You have faith and trust in the employer that they will keep their word. Before interviewing, you did research on the company’s business culture and financial stability. Still, chances are you only met and interacted with the Human Resources Department and interviewed with and met your manager. You did not meet the CEO or the Board of Trustees, yet you accepted the position without meeting the individuals who own stock, make the decisions, and develop the policies, which may change according to the economy. Information regarding the solvency of the company stays behind closed doors on an executive level. The company could have a history of thriving profit margins, yet, within days take a nose-dive plummeting into bankruptcy with loss of your employment, benefits and pensions. Yet, we have little to no faith in our Creator. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27

I heard a very interesting sermon from a theologian. It took Noah 120 years to build the ark. The scoffers laughed as they continued to watch the aged man. Our minds are so distracted that do not receive the spiritual insight–wisdom that God desires for us to possess. I just read Genesis 7 again. We are referring to the entire earth with animals, birds, and creeping things scattered throughout the earth in various locations. This is the supernatural act that we do not think about: How did Noah get the animals, birds, and creeping things into the ark? The clean, 7 by 7 and the unclean, 2 by 2. Divine intervention caused the animals to come from every direction, march to and enter the ark. The ark did not have modern technology. Genesis 6:14-16 gives us God’s directions for building the ark: gopher wood and pitch [a resinous substance]. For forty days and nights, the water-proof ark floated on waters covering the entire earth. Inside all life was sustained by the Creator of every living thing on this earth.

Even with unwavering faith, we cannot understand the magnitude of the power of the Trinity, God the Father, Jesus Christ, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Our finite minds can never grasp the Agape love of God that provides the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs of 8 billion people. Nor do we think about the unduplicated set of fingerprints that every individual has or “Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7.

What is man that You are mindful of him?…Psalm 8:4

Through God’s Divine and Fatherly love, He promises to never leave humanity alone. If an infant can recognize their parent’s voice, certainly the Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent God can speak to His faithful children in the manner He deems necessary. God knelt down, picked up dirt from the ground and made [fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalm 139:14] living and breathing human beings in His image with a soul that longs to keep in touch with the Creator.

Pursuing Excellence?

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8:1

It is in humility that we serve an Excellent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent God. Still, God is not haughty. He lovingly extends unmerited grace and mercy to ungrateful humanity every day. After pre-planning the sacrifice of Jesus, His only Son, one would think that believers would reverence God in awe. Because Jesus serves as our Heavenly Intercessor–yes, our prayers are sent to Jesus by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27), we should possess a humble and contrite spirit striving for a deeper relationship with our Father-God Creator. Sadly, we are glorifying our sinful selves.

We have become over-confident in our spiritual growth. Many believers have elevated their status [a by-product of pride] and have changed their names to include titles such as “prophets, apostles, intercessors, healers,” etc. In fact, false teachers are twisting the scriptures and spreading false teachings that humans can “manifest” and “prophesy” the future [prosperity, childless couples having children, physical healing, you will have a husband or wife] of other believers. Do you know why we are readily accepting lies? Just like Eve, we desire what God has not given to us.

Right now, some believers are upset with the content you are reading. Either you believe that humanity can achieve spiritual excellence, or we were given the “Omni’s” that only God possesses. What is causing the breakdown? In studying the scriptures, we fail to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth and give knowledge, and wisdom. Without guidance, we interpret God’s Word according to our limited insight. Yet, there is another category of believers who worship their Pastors and believe what is being preached from the pulpit, even if it is not biblical. We are unaware that it is not Sola scriptura because we lack the desire to be students–diligently studying the Bible under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Our desire is to be the teacher.

Hierarchy of Created Beings

You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:5

God Appointed our Dominion:

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26.

God has given us dominion over animals. We do not have the power to manifest blessings or prophesy future events over other individuals.

Spiritual Gifts

In 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, we learn of the diversity of spiritual gifts given through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3. Before we make the determination that the presenting person is of God, the Apostle Paul also warns us:

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.…2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Yes, many false teachers are collecting large sums of money to cast out demons or break the spells of witchcraft. It is hard to believe that believers are being deceived to the point that they are paying for “miracles.”

“One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.” Acts 16:16.

How do we know who is anointed by God or who is a false prophet? Tune your ears to the words they are speaking. If you hear the word “I” too many times then they are projecting their own abilities. Have you heard only their opinions? If they are truly anointed by the Holy Spirit then every word from their mouth will glorify God. Scriptures will be utilized and the location of said scriptures from the Bible will readily be given to the congregation.

What is the root of the problem? Why are saints of the Most-High God so easily deceived by Satan? Why are so many being lured into the webs of deception? Self-reliance!

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

Satan knows that his time is limited. Self-elevation, greed, the love of money, and the desire to possess material things that we can show off to others have us slipping further away from God and at risk of losing our reward of eternal life.

Rely on the power of God!

Daily surrender of our hearts, praying to be anointed with the Holy Spirit, and diligent study of the Bible gives us the ability to put on the whole armor, Ephesians 6:10-20. We need spiritual reinforcement in our walk with God. Many do not enjoy praying, studying, and worship God. But we must acknowledge and accept our human limitations. “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

Humanity Cannot Achieve Excellence

For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a leper], And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags; We all wither and decay like a leaf, And our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing], like the wind, takes us away [carrying us far from God’s favor, toward destruction]. Isaiah 64:6 Amplified Bible

The Apostle Paul said, “I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31. Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Romans 6:2. Sanctification–growing spiritually is a life-long journey. Surrender to God requires daily commitment.

Human Effort: Yes, we lament over our sinful natures. It is so easy to sin. Humbly acknowledging our sinful nature drives us to confess and repent of our sins. Our daily pursuit is to live righteously by placing our faith and trust in God. Salvation is 1:1 with Jesus Christ. We have help from our Teacher 24/7. Pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit before studying the scriptures. God always reveals the truth, then it is up to us to accept it. We will not be able to blame anyone else for our loss of eternal life.

Divine Intervention: God has not left us to fend for ourselves. It is Jesus’ blood shed on Calvary that provides the redemption [forgiveness] of our sins. The Holy Spirit empowers us to discern and stand firm against evil. “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. Yes, it is the power of the Trinity that will give us the strength to be faithful until the day Jesus comes again. He which testifies these things say, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20. Hallelujah!

Prayer: God, we thank you for the ability to gain wisdom, knowledge, and revelation of Your truth. We ask You to guard us against the deceptions of spiritual wickedness. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

The Consideration of Others

And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Romans 15:4‭-‬5 NLT

In reading the Apostle Paul’s writings, He always stresses our responsibility to look out for others first. Why the importance of placing the needs of someone else over ourselves? Because we are the selfless servants [disciples] of Jesus Christ. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 28:20. Jesus is our role model. Yet, many Christians–Christ-like fail to obey Jesus’ command to put others first.

“What about me?” is usually the question that overpowers our thoughts. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33. When serving God, we have everything we need to live contented, unselfish, and purpose-driven lives. Read Matthew 6:25-34 for reassurance.

Helping others allows our hearts to have an overflow of love and demonstrates our willingness to trust and obey God. From that love, God can mold our characters. We focus on the apparent sins in our lives but rarely reflect on our misaligned character traits. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

It is our characters that present the most significant challenge. We cannot self-evaluate our own faults. From our perspective, we always look good. The Holy Spirit enables us to achieve the requirements of daily spiritual growth–Sanctification is an ongoing and life-long journey. We do not have to understand how the Holy Spirit works. Our responsibility is to pray daily to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Without the help of the third person of the Trinity, change is impossible. We were born with the sinful mindset of “always looking out for number one.”

The scriptures reveal that Jesus’ disciples were people just like you and I, they possessed intrinsic selfishness. And they fed their selfish spirit by always striving to be greater than each other. Sadly, there was so much internal conflict that it impacted their faith and the ability to perform miracles. Although Jesus usually pointed out their sinful traits through parables, we find scriptures that indicate Jesus’ open rebuke and correction of their behaviors. Even Jesus had to set the boundaries of “enough is enough.”

The battle with self is one that never ends. Feeding the five thousand would never have happened if it were up to His disciples. As evening approached, 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 themselves some food.” Matthew 14:15

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:16. Their response of “And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” Matthew 14:17 indicates the spiritual deficit of no faith. Twelve men could perform the same miracle as Jesus, yet, they could do nothing because of their desire to be the greatest among them.

We do not have to repeat the mistakes of Jesus’ twelve. Praying daily and submitting our will to God allows us to live righteously through faith, trust, and obedience.

What does God require of us? He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Helping others [not limited to financial assistance] require the love of God along with humility and total obedience. Believers who have compassion and the desire to encourage others are at the lowest level when discouragement and depression are at their highest levels among our brothers and sisters.

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.’…Matthew 22:37-39

Putting the needs of others first, we reap abundant rewards. Our stony heart is chipped away, revealing tenderness and compassion. Our relationship with Jesus Christ reaches a higher level of growth as the roots of discipleship reach deeper into the soil of righteousness by faith.

We will receive immortality when Jesus comes again. Even so, throughout the Bible, love prevails. It is our character that must be changed before Jesus coming again. Many do not believe in this concept that we have to put forth the human effort to get rid of sinful traits. Revelation 22:11 confirms that when Jesus comes again, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” The day that Jesus appears is the day no further change will occur in our characters.

No worries. God is aware that we need His help to change. Divine Intervention: “…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

Obedience to God is a fruit that grows from a heart filled with love and dedication to please God. Our reward is eternal life in a perfect world. Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself.

Prayer: God, we ask you create in us a clean heart and give us the desire to fulfill our role as disciples. Please remove the selfishness from our hearts that we may live a purpose-driven life. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. Revelation 21:7

The Reverence of Holiness

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23

In a time that no longer exists, respect, self-control, and obedience were core character traits of most children who matured into adults with admirable qualities. And yes, we were God-fearing, which regulated our behaviors, habits, and decisions. As we move toward societal collapse, the Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy summarizes the present condition of our world:

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 1-5 NKJV.

“Common: of a quality or of level to be generally expected.”

The most compelling issue is that we have taken the Bible [God’s voice] and interpreted the scriptures according to our sinful minds. We speak God’s name so loosely that we fail to perceive Him as the Holy “El Shaddai.” We no longer give God [I AM that I AM, Exodus 3:14] the honor, respect, or obedience that He rightfully deserves. Humanity who He created in His image, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:13-14 gives our Creator the slightest reverence of all creatures.

Our faith is tested daily. Because we rely on our five senses, it is difficult for many to revere an invisible God. The book of Revelation provides us with a vivid description of reverence and worship, which allows us to form a mental image. Although God has not opened our eyes to view angels in their original form, many artists have painted their rendition of the angelic host worshiping around the throne from reading the biblical description. The angels love God with such adoration that the Apostle John was allowed to see them in heavenly visions.

And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”…Revelation 22: 10-12. The obedient messenger angels provide us with an example of the level of reverence and obedience that our Holy of Holy God deserves.

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

Sadly, we fail to embrace that God us crowned with glory and honor nor do we keep foremost in our thoughts that Jesus suffered, bled, and died for humanity.

The permission granted by God the Father to give His only precious Son, Jesus Christ, was to pay our debt of sin. What can I do with the little I have to offer? The least I can do is to worship God with reverence. Faith, trust, and obedience are fruits that flourish from the heart filled with love and adoration for the Most-High God! We are promised immortality and a forever home in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Reverence of God’s Holiness is embraced and cultivated in our present lives in preparation for eternal life. Where do you stand? Do your behaviors and lifestyles reveal that God is Holy or common? Only you and God can provide the answer.

Bible Readings: Psalm 91 and Revelation chapters 21 and 22

Prayer: God, we pray for our minds to receive the wisdom to understand that you are Holy. May we receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit on our lives as we prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

The Human Hierarchy

There are situations in life that are all or nothing: pregnancy, being in love, like or dislike, and our commitment to Christ are just a few areas where neutrality does not exist. When we think of the different parts of the human body, the “spiritual” component is often placed last on the list of importance. Created in the image of God gives humanity an intrinsic spiritual part, which is first on God’s Hierarchy for Human Beings.

Yes, we have the freedom of choice not to surrender to Christ. But consider the unfortunate consequences of not having a spiritual connection with God. Insomnia, anxiety, worry, loneliness [not living alone], hopelessness, discouragement, lack of motivation, the drive to pursue monetary wealth, and tangible things replace the desire to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives. Despite our pursuit for happiness, the emptiness grow deeper. In our humanness, we develop innovative ideas to fill the dark void in our souls [spiritual component].

How many “anti” medications will Big Pharma develop in our lifetime? Yes, the medicinal Marijuana lessens the physical pain, but from a spiritual and emotional perspective, its smoke can only fill the space in our lungs. Alcoholics almost outnumber the nondrinkers. And the alcohol tolerance level is quickly reached as the one after-work drink escalates into bottle-a-day consumption. The love of Money demands its own allegiance as it grabs the one heartstring that leads to a takeover of the entire heart. Without God, we have a mundane existence leading to nowhere. We are simply going through the robotic motions to maintain sanity.

You may think “Well that’s one writer’s opinion.”

Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears [produces] much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. John 15:5.

God reaches out to save our souls. It isn’t necessary to wait until our spiritual emptiness propels us into the mental and emotional existence of nothingness. Fact: Choices made outside of God will reach a plateau. We cannot escape the inevitable consequences of serving self. Created by God according to His hierarchy gives us a void that only God can fill. The spiritual connection was intentional. We were created to stay connected to God. Still, it is from God’s loving-kindness that He does not treat us as we deserve. Every day we receive the unmerited gifts of His love, grace, and mercies. Thank you, God!

Who is this Omnipotent God? I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters making a dry path through the sea. I called forth the mighty Army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candle wick. Isaiah 43:15-17

Even so, our Creator tells us to “Redirect your focus to my present miracles.” But forget all that it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See oh, 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 43:18 -19

It is a free will choice to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. From our love and commitment to Christ, we receive new hearts. Our desires change. For the completion of our transformation of mind, body, and soul, we are to put on the new character of Christ [“…for I am meek and lowly in heart…]. Our spiritual component is no longer empty. We are filled with the Holy Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23], who teaches, gives understanding, wisdom, and discernment. The human effort: If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

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Bible reading: Colossians 3

Prayer: God, we come to you asking for forgiveness of our sins. The emptiness that we have is overwhelming and has left us mentally and emotionally destitute. We commit ourselves to you by surrendering our hearts, bodies, and souls. Please fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may be made complete through You. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Our Heavenly Father

The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. 1 John 3:1

We demonstrate our perception of God by the way we think, act, and live. Most of us express our gratitude for the mercies of a new day through prayer. But did we ask for God’s approval of our pending plans for today or the near future? We believe in God’s omnipotence, yet we exclude His divine Fatherly intervention by not praying for His will to be done in our lives. The exclusion may or may not be an oversight. When we fear that our desires will not receive His blessing then the exclusion is intentional.

Because of the desire for independence, our relationship with God becomes stagnant and unhealthy. Obedience is a requirement when serving God. Our status in the Father-child relationship with God was predetermined by God when He created humanity. We are not God’s equal. Just as children obey their earthly fathers, God also has the expectation that we honor and reverence Him through faith, trust, and obedience.

We know God is loving and desires the best for us. What is the underlying factor that prevents us from bonding with our Father-God? The Father-child relationship is weakened by our lack of knowledge. Who are you, God? Moses tells us, “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” Deuteronomy 32:4 NLT. This one verse gives a complete description of God’s character. Have you ever wondered why many believers can smile and praise God, although their lives are turned upside down? They have a strong bond with God based on love, faith, trust, and obedience. Truly, He is their Father-God.

God speaks for himself by the many promises to His children, which are unequaled. Who else can promise never-failing comfort and protection?

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.
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. For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3

Despite our disobedience, God continually reaches out to us, always reassuring His wayward children. “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10. Our mindset changes from having worries and burdens to one of inner joy and peace when we give up our independence. Let the storms of hardship and the seasons of darkness come. Dependency on God provides us with His guidance and strength through adversity. Yes, Peace is knowing that God has you in His righteous right hand.

Bible reading: Psalm 91

Prayer: God, we confess our disobedience of possessing an independent mindset and excluding you from our spiritual journey. We acknowledge our sin and ask for forgiveness. We ask you to direct our steps on the path of righteousness that we may be prepared for the soon coming of your Son, Jesus. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Exiting Egypt-the Chains of Bondage

The story of the Israelites is one of God’s love and mercy for humanity. Many of us struggle with mental, emotional, and spiritual bondage. Enslavement wears a mask and is not easily recognized. It could be the job that steals our time, leaving us physically exhausted and too tired to worship God. The thought of a lifetime of loneliness causes us to embrace the unequally yoked relationships with unbelievers. Still, the strongest chains are found in loyalty to cultural traditions or pursuing worldly desires.

Please know that Satan uses the people, the places that produce excitement, and the secret things we desire to enslave us. And why not? He knows his fate, so he works harder on the believer who has behaviors comparable to his followers–all unbelievers. But God is aware of our fragile hearts and our tendency toward disobedience. And His power prevents Satan from breaking us to the point of despair and hopelessness.

Before we complain that our chains are not easily broken and it is too much for us to bear, the Apostle Paul tells us, “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

And who should know better than Saul converted to Paul? Saul had a thirst for the bloodshed of Christian believers–yes, premeditated murder. His mindset was so heinous that Jesus spoke to him personally on the road to Damascus. Saul was stricken with blindness to complete his spiritual transformation, and for three days and nights, he fasted without food or water. Our Omnipotent God transformed Saul into an Apostle who wrote books of the Bible and sent many letters to the churches while in prison. History tells us that prisoners were shackled with heavy chains, severely limiting their physical movement. Yet, he never lost his faith in God.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24

Receiving deliverance from our shackles is a choice based on the willingness to faithfully obey God. Imagine receiving a shortened prison sentence for a crime you committed and when you receive the news that you will be released within 48 hours, you say, “No, I want to serve the remainder of my time.” It sounds foolish. But that is exactly what the community of Israel did. They were willing to be shackled with the chains of slavery in exchange for food.

“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” Exodus 16:3

God has promised to deliver us from any situation that has enslaved us in the chains of a spiritual life or death struggle. His promises hold true: The Red Sea became a watery grave; the walls of Jericho fell with a shout; and, a young shepherd boy killed a giant with a slingshot and stone. There is no one greater than the ” I AM.”

God knows that many of us will look back and wish for former things when the journey becomes rugged. When we are suffering from mental, emotional and spiritual exhaustion that is when we are to fall on our knees and and ask for help from the “One and Only God.” El Shaddai is ready to reveal His love and power to maintain our freedom. We cannot waver! Either we accept His grace and mercy to live without our shackles or we choose to live with them. It is a walk of faith to accept our freedom and keep moving forward. Without faith it is impossible to please God…Hebrews 11:6.

Human Effort [Faith and Trust] + Divine Intervention = A Victorious Outcome!

Prayer: God, we have been enslaved by our circumstances for too long. We ask that you free us from chains of the jobs, relationships, and habits that prevent us from surrendering to You. Give us your strength as we faithfully and obediently serve you in spiritual freedom. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ

Many have surrendered their lives to Jesus. And when the relationship begins, they are excited about serving God. But there is a prevailing misunderstanding among believers–the imaginary perfect life in which all of our problems are eliminated when we serve God. Who can not relate to quickly finding out that serving God places us in a spiritual battle? Yes, we easily become discouraged by the never-ending hardships and challenges. Still, wavering faith is the precursor for doubt. We begin to question God, His love, and His promises. Isn’t our life supposed to become more manageable when we serve God? “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The requirement of living a faith-based life by trusting in God through an unknown waiting period for God to answer our prayers becomes our breaking point. We struggle with our dependency on God. The refusal produces a spiritual battle from within–obedience versus self-reliance. Impatience sets in as we begin to develop strategies to help God bring a faster solution.

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

A child has blind faith in their parents. They run to tell them [trust] the problem and possess the belief [faith] that their issue will be resolved. For those who doubt that God created us with a measure of faith, children easily disprove that concept. Confidence causes children to run to their parents [who they know and trust] every time a problem arises.

The reason that we lose hope is that we do not know who Jesus is. He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15. Realistically, who would trust a stranger? Trusting in self erases our childlike faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Faith is replaced by doubt and unbelief. How did it happen this quickly? Without diligently studying the scriptures and praying, we only know Jesus by His name, and the consequence is disbelief in the omnipotence of God, our Father.

Our relationship suffers as we become overwhelmed by our circumstances. Quickly our perception changes from believing and trusting in a caring Heavenly Father to distrust in a distant and unknown God. Like skating on thin ice, we see the warning signs of danger, but we take the risk anyway by trusting in our thoughts and abilities. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.

The relationship fractures from self-confidence. We lose our connection to the God who sees and cares. The seeds of doubt and unbelief continue to grow into a forest, blinding our eyes as we stumble over the rocky terrain of hopelessness. Our mindset continues to change as we become disgruntled, blaming God for not keeping His promises.

Even so, God clarifies in the book of Jeremiah who is not doing their part in the relationship between humanity and God.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all of your heart I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity. Jeremiah 29: 11-14. NKJV

We determine the growth and development of our relationship with Jesus based on our commitment to stay connected. Jesus will give us strength and spiritual reinforcement to overcome. Increase your knowledge of Him through the scriptures. Call out to God in prayer. And enjoy the priceless gift of having a thriving relationship with Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:5 Amplified Bible

Prayer: God, we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus. We desire to surrender our lives to you by doing our part in having an intimate relationship with you, built on faith, hope, trust, and obedience. We ask for strength. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

The Voice of a Stranger

God has given us intrinsic safeguards against strangers. It is not the learned dislike for people that we are referring to. Feeling uncomfortable or being guarded with a stranger raises our awareness and keeps us safe from harm.

A baby is a perfect example of stranger-danger. Many parents are proud to show others their new addition to the family. But the time factor is limited when a stranger [even if it is an extended family member] can interact with the infant. The onset of stranger anxiety usually happens at the age of 6-7 months. No longer will a stranger’s smile produce a smile in a baby who is unfamiliar with the person.

Because babies prefer familiar adults, they might react to strangers by crying or fussing, going very quiet, looking fearful or hiding. Fear of strangers usually becomes more intense at around 7-10 months of age. It can last a few months or continue for much longer. https://raisingchildren.net.au/

As we mature, we begin to experience a change in our acceptance of strangers. How many broken heart experiences have left individuals wounded, bitter, and in despair? What happened that we readily let our guard down and invited an unknown person into the most intimate part of our being?

We are driven by the desires of our hearts. And we are willing to take the chance because “You only have one life” or “It is better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all.” Cliché’s based on chasing the deceitfulness of the heart breed disappointment. We cannot follow our hearts!

For the believer, we face two additional hurdles, the voice of our carnal hearts [our desires] leading us to sin against God and recognizing the voice of false prophets speaking false teachings. But wait! How is this possible when Jesus said:

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. John 10:27-29
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits…” Matthew 7:15-16

The answer is quite simple: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9. Becoming entangled in the web of deceit is the result of trusting in our own ability. Eventually, we cannot hear the Voice of God. Our habits take a drastic shift to pleasing self. The Bible that we fail to study is the guiding and warning Voice of God. And the prayers for strength to overcome temptation were never prayed. Remember, the “gut feeling” to decline and walk away, now we ignore it as nonsense. That was the Holy Spirit’s warning!

The voice of our desperately wicked hearts is powerful! Listening to our heart that is fueled by our desires produces the bitter fruit of disobedience. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:17

The conflict between right and wrong demands that we make a choice. We cannot listen to the voice of our heart and also hear God’s voice. Without spiritual reinforcement, we gradually begin to accept false concepts–Did God say that? “Where is it in the Bible that we should not listen to secular music? What is wrong with tattooing and piercing my body? They really are not unbelievers, they just need time to learn how to serve God. God understands that I do not have enough money to give tithe and offerings.”

Challenging the Voice of God causes us to step onto the broad path that leads to destruction. Using vocal tones of comfort, Satan’s false prophets speak their updated versions of the scriptures to fit our needs in modern times. New Age sermons proclaim that “God understands we will sin.” Compromise is the gateway that fine-tunes our ears to only hear the voices of strangers–who we no longer fear.

Believe it or not, it doesn’t take much effort to disobey God. Without spiritual reinforcement, humanity is no match for Satan. He observes our behaviors and listens to our spoken words. Eve was mesmerized by the melodic voice of the beautiful serpent speaking words that supported her desire to disobey God.

Please know that your temptation is a strategically developed scheme that matches your sinful desires. Satan is creative. He uses a stranger’s voice in the music that soothes your loneliness, the attractive unbeliever who begins the conversation with “Hi” and a smile, or the YouTube and TikTok video of the financially successful person you perceive to offer the perfect solution to fulfill your dreams.

Believers, we must silence the voice of our heart and guard up against the satanic stranger’s deceptive voice. Do not allow your ears to be mesmerized by the diabolical words of Satan, our enemy. Include God in every aspect of your life by praying and waiting for His answer. How do we know it is the Voice of God? There is no catch or drawback in God’s plans. And Satan cannot invade our soul, when we fall down, we willingly gave ourselves to the sinful situation.

Never forget, we have the Omnipotence of the Trinity, God, the Father, Jesus, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. They provide us with the spiritual strength to fight against Satan’s spiritual wickedness. Every one of us has guardian angels that fight the evil of satanic angels. God has protection for humanity!

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
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7
Pray without ceasing–always pray. 2 Thessalonians 5:17
Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.” Matthew 4:10

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

Prayer: God, we need your help. Many have lost their way and can no longer recognize your voice. We ask you to release Satan’s stronghold on their hearts that they may seek you in repentance. God, we are praying for complete cleansing and restoration of their hearts as only You can do. We pray for Your strength to regain the desire to study your Word and talk to you every day through prayer. We ask You to create in us a clean heart and to renew a steadfast spirit within us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry