Tag: Faith

Living a Peaceful and Contented Life

I can remember when Believers in God always displayed the inner joy that comes from serving God. There were never any negative words of defeat spoken from their mouths, and the smiles on their faces indicated their rock-solid faith in God. Even in severe trials and sorrows, the Saints of God still praised God.

The gospel singer CeCe Winans recently shared her father’s reaction when their oldest brother passed away in 2005. Pop Winans immediately lifted his hands and began praising God for the life of his son, Ronald, and thanked God for the time that He granted them to enjoy his presence.

I must admit that this is one of the most powerful testimonies that I have ever heard. After watching his son take his final breath, Pop Winans’s faith was so strong that he expressed gratitude to God. I pray every day to have this level of faith in God.

Our lives have evolved into a complicated web of misinformation, the pursuit of wealth, and overwhelming anxiety and worries. We are entangled in life’s complexities because we seek to blend in by accepting and practicing the world’s standards.

Had the coronavirus pandemic hit 20 years ago, ordering groceries and toilet paper from the comfort of your sofa wouldn’t have been nearly as easy. But in May alone, Americans spent over $77 billion through online retailers, and the industry saw sales growth typically reserved for the holiday rush. https://theeagle.com/business/investment/personal-finance/online-shopping-already-hit-holiday-level-peaks-this-year/article_d3aecca3-6a6e-5d84-b3be-8086025bb02c.html

When the Coronavirus developed into a pandemic, it was then that I started to read Matthew 6:19-34 over and over again. My mindset and my spending habits changed to reflect necessities over desires. I reviewed my tangible long-term goals and eliminated them as I begin to focus on spiritual growth. I intentionally changed the way I prayed. “God, I want to thank you for… ,” was the beginning of my morning and evening prayers.

Throughout the day, I uttered prayers and lifted up songs of praise to God. And then I begin to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was then that I begin to notice a change in my temperament. I felt an overwhelming peace that I had never experienced before. The inner joy began to display itself through laughter and smiles on my face. My conversation included gratitude for God’s love, grace, and mercy. I received the blessing of God’s peace by intentionally possessing the mindset of appreciation, accepting that I have everything that I need, and continually praising God with thanksgiving for His provisions.

King David says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

Jesus, our Wonderful Lord, and Savior reminds us: “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Finally, the Apostle Paul shares his spiritual wisdom: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12 NIV

And how is this possible? For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

God, we want to thank you for your love, grace, and mercy. Thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, that we are forgiven of our sins and have the opportunity to live with you forever in the New Heaven and New Earth. Most of all, thank you for the gifts of food, shelter, and clothing. We pray that we will never forget to keep a song in our hearts and a prayer of thanksgiving on our lips. Please give us the strength to endure and always embrace and receive your unconditional love as our Heavenly Father. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author.

 

 

Letting Go

Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourself from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 2 Corinthians 6:17

Growing up in a home with a Mother who was an Ordained Minister included strict guidelines and mandated obedience. We were not allowed to watch many television programs or cartoons, wear seductive clothing, or have friends who were unbelievers. It was not her intent for our family to blend in by adapting to the world’s ungodly standards. Although my father was not as strict as my Mother, he respected that she was a “Woman of God.”

Once I became “grown” and desired to explore the world, the first thing that I did was to pierce my ears, four piercings in each ear. In today’s standards, that wouldn’t even cause a reaction. But then the domino effect started. The love for expensive jewelry caused me to stop giving tithes and offerings. “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:8. The transition to becoming a worldling was easy because I stopped studying the Bible and no longer attended church.

I never stopped believing in God. But serving God and living righteously were not my priorities any longer. Satan allowed me to meet a good man who was faithful, did not party, drink, smoke, or use profanity. But remember that there is always a gimmick when the gift is from Satan. Yes, my “good man” did not believe in marriage and was a self-proclaimed agnostic. 

There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their character is marred, and their life made a weariness. In order to gratify ambition and worldly desires, they wound the conscience and bring upon themselves an additional burden of remorse.

The continual worry is wearing out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. . . . He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added.”-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 330.

Long ago, the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself. Jeremiah 31:3

Although I had given up on God by being enticed by the things of the world, God did not give up on me. One day, I was driving and saw a store, “One Dollar or More,” that caused me to stop. As I was browsing, an older woman approached me and started a conversation about the unique items that were in the store. Then she said, “God misses you.” I can tell you that was a “Jesus is LORD!” experience. She invited me to her church. I turned to resume shopping but then realized that I did not thank her. From where I was standing, I could easily see throughout the store. She was not in the store, so I went outside, but she was not there. Since this store was in New Jersey, the only parking available was metered parking. I do know this, that as old as the woman was, there is no way she could have disappeared in a moment.

I started attending church and was rebaptized. It was then the “Satan vs God” battle started. I ended the relationship with the good man before my rebaptism, but he wanted to remain just friends. Soon, I realized that he was a distraction. I had to make a choice, and that choice was painfully difficult. Even so, when God says that He always makes a way out from temptation and that he will never leave you or forsake you, He stands by His promises. As a newly baptized member, the church assigned a spiritual mentor who was a prayer warrior. God made sure that I did not have to fight alone.

As for the older woman, when I described her to the church members, I was told that no one fitting that description had ever attended their church. I believe that God sent one of His messenger angels to approach me as a kind, and soft-spoken godly woman to let me know that He still loved me, and He wanted me to return to Him.

For most of my life, I have traveled on a path of suffering. Nevertheless, God has always placed His loving arms around me. I encourage each of you to give up all worldly desires by following the will of God which places us in harmony with God. Yes, we will continue to struggle in our walk with God. Even so, when we live by faith and obedience, we will reap the benefits of having complete peace in our stormy trials and sorrows. And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28. Amen!

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5 ESV 

God, we thank you for never giving up on us. We ask for forgiveness of our sins. We need your strength to overcome all worldly temptations. Thank you for being our Heavenly Father and loving us unconditionally. We pray this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen. 

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.