In Jeremiah 32:27, God reminds us that He is the Creator of humanity, and His power supersedes every hardship or challenge that we face. It is up to us to demonstrate faith by connecting to God through prayer. So, go ahead, pray, believe, and wait. Victory is guaranteed.
Prayer: God, we ask you for restoration. Our fear is great and our faith is small. We renew our commitment to love and trust you with all of our heart, soul, and mind. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
© 2021 Sonya Johnson Ruiz
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the LORD, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
When we commit to serve God, He allows us time to get rid of the things that interfere with serving Him. God says that His name is “Jealous.” He requires loving Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind. If we fail to remove the obstacles, He intervenes to remove the people, places, and things that prevent us from putting Him first. God removes the toxic relationships, the job that consumes our thoughts and time, and the worldly friends or habits that bring temptation into our life. Everything we love or give our time and attention to will either honor God or conflict with His plans for us.
“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. 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 43:18-19
God’s ultimate plan is to reward us with eternal life. We can accept or reject His plans, but we cannot waver between our desires and His plans. Serving God requires total surrender, humility, obedience, and above all, faith.
Our daily prayer of “Not my will, but your will be done” keeps us in sync with God. Do not be surprised. The outcome of this prayer is the removal of people, places, and things from our lives. Remember to thank Him, and don’t look back.
Bible study: Isaiah 43
God, we thank you for removing the obstacles that interfere with having a relationship with you. Please give us the strength to move forward. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.
God, thank you for today. Please forgive me of my sins. I ask you to lead and guide me according to your will. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Are you familiar with the cliche, “Looking for love in all the wrong places?” Many of us are looking for love in all the wrong people. We have different definitions of love based on our total life experience from childhood to the present. Because of sin, we willingly compromise by placing ourselves in the lives of those who do not love God wholeheartedly.
We were created from love and redeemed from sin by unconditional love. Yet, we fail to commit our love and life to the very One who suffered, bled, and died for us, Jesus Christ. Have you discarded your prior beliefs or knowledge of love to embrace God’s, unconditional love?
God definition of love: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
But then God says, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Jeremiah 17:9
Sounds like a dilemma? Not for God. We do not understand that it takes God’s supernatural power to give us the wisdom to understand unconditional love.
God’s concept of love: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
God’s expectation for all believers: “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.… Matthew 22:37-38
Jesus gave us the foundation to resolving all of our challenges of feeling lonely, empty, and broken. We must love God with our “all.” Are we doing our part in the love relationship with God?
After the creation of Adam, God was aware of the misery that being alone would cause: Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Genesis 2:18. Marriage is a holy institution ordained by God. Adam and Eve were the first married couple. God designed the family: And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28.
Sin entered and messed up God’s perfect plan. But the plan of salvation and redemption was already in place before the creation of the human race. Our Omnipotent God was fully aware that Adam, Eve, and the entire human race were lost without His perfect, divine Son dying for us.
We should never doubt God and Jesus Christ’s love for humanity. It is only human beings who are created in His image. We have the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components of our Heavenly Father. Still, we do not comprehend God’s love.
The breakdown: We fail to do our part in the love relationship with God. The daily prayer, “Let your will be done,” demonstrates the level of commitment that we have to God.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.… Psalm 37:3-5
God is always aware of our mental, emotional, physical, and most importantly, spiritual needs. Why would He withhold the blessing of us being loved by another individual? If we cannot love, obey, have faith, and trust in God, then we are not ready to enter the life-long (until death do us part) holy union of marriage.
We will always remain in the struggle between good and evil. Without divine intervention, our human effort would be meaningless. The decision to follow Jesus involves a challenging journey. “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.
Trust God’s plan by praying daily, “God, let your will be done in my life. Please show me the way to love and serve you with all of my heart, soul, and mind. Amen.”
God is the giver of gifts! We receive His love, grace, and mercies every day. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows,” 1 Chronicles 16:11-12.
God does not promise us that He will give us a husband or wife. But we are guaranteed eternal life if we: Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart. And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways, know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. Proverbs 3:5-6, Amplified Version
Are you looking for love? Allow God to show you the joy of being in a love relationship with Him, and He will bless you beyond your expectations.
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13
God, we confess that we have not loved you with all of our heart, soul, and mind. And for this, we pray for forgiveness. Please show us how to love you by teaching us how to love you through faith, trust, and obedience. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.
Have you tried hard to get the victory over your past or a present habit that you know is wrong? Do you believe that God heals the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3) or that He cast our sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19)?
Satan desires that we think and live as victims who are enslaved to brokenness and addictions. But God promises us Deliverance from our past traumas and present sins.
Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever because you delight in showing unfailing love Micah 7:18
For our core beliefs [and thoughts] to align and be in sync with the Word of God, we must study the Bible. The Holy Spirit cannot bring God’s promises to our memory if we lack the knowledge.
Pray for help with time management. But also pray for spiritual discernment. Pay close attention to the people and things that distract you when spending time with God through Bible study.
God created us to have an up-close, personal relationship with him. When we take the time to study the Bible, our thoughts of doubt and disbelief change. We begin to think on a spiritual level. The Holy Spirit empowers us by opening our spiritual eyes, and we receive godly wisdom to recognize the foolishness of this world.
Be aware! Now we will face tremendous opposition! Satan will use family, friends, and strangers to question our commitment to God. Even so, with holy boldness (Acts 4:31), we will be able to speak the words of Jesus: Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan you are stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16:23. Satan may be prepared to debate or argue, but he has to retreat when we pray and call on the name of Jesus.
Knowing the Word of God prevents us from thinking and living as one who is defeated and hopeless. Praise God! We know how the story ends: Jesus, our loving Savior, is coming again in all of His glory as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. Revelation 22:20-21
Bible Study: Micah 7
God, we admit that we don’t know you as we should. We desire to grow closer to you, and ask forgiveness of our sins. We need to be filled with your Holy Spirit. Please give us understanding and wisdom as we study the Bible. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.
God, I need your help to change the way I think, speak and act. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Bible Study: James 1
The Lord is my Shepherd. I have all that I need. Psalm 23:1
Two lifestyles are trending now: Having excessive things [Materialism] and only basic needs [Simplistic or Minimalist].
Some people have cluttered homes. And others have well-organized museums that display their well-chosen things. As I prepared to relocate, it wasn’t difficult to figure out that I had too much stuff (craft supplies, clothing, home decorations, and furniture). The truth was that I spent a lot of money in the previous six years on things that I would never use again. It took five weeks to choose and pack the necessities and donate the many items.
The decision to relocate to Florida was the opportunity for new beginnings. I decided to rid myself of the nonproductive life-long behavior of seeing, wanting, and buying. First, I had to acknowledge and pray for forgiveness for wasting the financial resources that God had blessed me with. Still, there was a more significant concern, “What was the reason that I kept buying material things?” I prayed for change, but also asked God to reveal His answer. It was not going to be easy. I needed divine intervention for this journey.
For some individuals, the question remains, “What is wrong with buying the things that you want if you work hard?” Psychologists have their theories, but we will approach this from a spiritual perspective. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19.
Two reasons come to mind, focusing on material things causes a distraction from what is essential in life, especially your relationship with God. Secondly, out-of-control “wants” produce an ungodly trait of selfishness that is always hungry and requires constant feeding. “Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.” Deuteronomy 15:10-11.
Because of our sinful desires, the Apostle Paul tells us, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” Romans 7:15. Eliminating character traits that do not align with God’s requirements will always cause an intense struggle. Especially habits of excess, whether it is tangible items, food, etc. We cannot overcome without God’s help. To produce a change in our character requires “Human effort plus divine intervention.”
The struggle to break the habit of materialism is real. Victory is only possible when we put God first. Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Matthew 22:37. Loving God produces the desire to obey all of His commands. Put God first.
Bible Study: Matthew 6
God, we ask you for the strength to get rid of the stuff that clutters our minds, homes and distracts us from putting you first. We desire to have a closer relationship with you and to help those in need. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.
© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.
Many in our day seem to believe that all humans are automatically children of God–that God is the Father of all people. Not so. He may be their Creator, but that does not mean that He is their Father. The Bible is clear on this point. It is only those born of the Spirit and who have responded in faith who belong to the family of God. Turn your Eyes Upon Jesus, George R. Knight
Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. John 3:6
Our careers and jobs rank highly in the scheme of our lives. But financial gain, the acquisition of wealth provides only the tangible–those things that we can see, feel, and touch. The desire for financial stability has paved the way for a disconnect from God, our Provider. God has to be first! If money has such a high level of importance, then we would not have the mental health issues or suicide rate that reached pandemic levels before our worst health problem, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Globally, we are overwhelmed by the emotionally challenging diseases of anxiety, depression, and worries. Frustration and lack of perseverance have infiltrated many individuals, including those who say, “God is first in my life.” Even believers are using mind-altering substances to ease their turmoil, a glass of wine every night to provide peace to a stressful day. Alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, and prescription medications are readily accepted to ease the pain of life and have led to addictions that are destroying many individuals along with their families.
I’ve told you these things so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world. [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] John 16:33
Jesus warned us of the environment we would live in, full of heartaches. Even so, He says that we can have peace, which is only available through Him. Our relationship with Jesus, our Lord and Savior, requires total commitment every day. It takes faith, trust, much prayer, fasting, and diligent studying of the Bible, the Word of God for spiritual growth. Without God, we cannot have peace or inner joy. Substances do not provide mental, and emotional stability. Just ask those who are in recovery.
And I will pray to the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. John 14:16
Jesus is aware of the fragile hearts and wavering mindsets that plague humanity. He knew that we would react to our tests and trials with an emotional response that would separate us from God. So, He sent us the third person of the Trinity Godhead, the Holy Spirit who fulfills the roles of Comforter, Guide, Teacher, and Revelator–One who reveals the will of God. We do not have to understand, all we need to do is to believe. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14
God created us with finite minds, with limited understanding, so we would depend on Him.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts then your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9
God is not asking us to try to figure out the challenges of life. All He desires is that we give “our all” by exercising faith, completely trusting in Him, praying, and being still [having peace and patience] while we wait for His solution, which always leads to a victorious outcome.
Jesus is coming soon! Time is against us. We must live with the determination and persevere in loving God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. God only accepts “our all,” which is giving our best in serving Him. God has to be number one; He will accept nothing less.
Bible Study: John 3
Prayer: God, we confess that we are not giving you our best, and for that sin against you, we humbly ask for forgiveness. Please fill us with your Holy Spirit. We pray for spiritual wisdom to eliminate the distractions that prevent us from loving you and faithfully obeying your will. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.
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