Tag: Obedience

The Great Deceiver

Before my employment with the New York State Division of Parole, I took many strenuous psychological tests. One of the deal-breaker tests was the Skills of Observation exam that was pass or fail. Being raised by a Christian mother who always paid attention to the activities of her eldest daughter gave me the advantage of learning her skills of observation. Even so, keen observation is a skill that demands continuous work. 

Why is it so easy for humanity to fall into sin? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor And set him over the works of Your hands. Hebrews 2:7

Do you believe that we have an enemy that seeks to attack us from within?

We must never forget that Satan was Lucifer. Although he is a fallen angel, he has the power to create chaos in every life of a believer. Many individuals blame Satan for their secret desires and believe that he can possess our minds because we are entirely helpless. Not so! No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

There is another false teaching: Satan has the power to read our minds. Only the three persons of the Trinity Godhead [God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit] are Omniscient–all-knowing. Humanity would be doomed if Satan and his evil angels could read our minds. Our Heavenly Father, who bent down, picked up dust, and created a perfect man in His image, would never give Satan the power of Omniscience to use for evil.

So, if that is truth, then how do we fall into the very temptations that we detest? We embrace the unholy and the ungodly things of this world because they are the deep, hidden desires of our hearts. Like Eve, we are deceived and fall into temptation because Satan and his angels have observed our behaviors. We read books that promote financial success, watch movies that contain profanity, justify adultery, believe in sex outside of marriage, and the people we have in our friendship circle are not praying and having Bible study with us.

There is an area where many believers fall hard and fast, being involved in unequally-yoked relationships. God created human beings from unconditional love. We have the innate ability and desire to give and receive love. But when we attempt to eliminate loneliness by any means necessary, we open ourselves to deception. 

And that great deceiver, Satan, is always ready to send the wolf in sheep’s clothing. You know, the smooth talkers who are skilled in saying the right words that are meaningless. They are the men and women whose outer appearance and spoken words reflect a good character. Still, Satan is using them to distract us, and to sin against God. Visual imagery is the most effective weapon that Satan uses to entice us intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

Eve was not afraid of a beautiful serpent, an animal that she probably saw every day in the Garden of Eden. But this one was special, the serpent could speak. Eve was mesmerized as he told her the lie of deception, “…then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5.  Satan used all three components: Visual imagery, along with intellectual and emotional stimulation. He is still using the same old methods to make humanity doubt God, and we are continuously falling for Satan’s lies. If God said it, and we believe it, then do not engage in debates or verbal sparring concerning the Word of God. 

In 2021, we are the easy marks that the con-artists boast about. Satan preys on our weaknesses. Best-selling books and blockbuster movies are created by people who have the talents of developing imagery and writing scripts that easily pull us into the storyline, mentally and emotionally. If human beings can write songs and music that penetrates our soul and produces feelings that we were not aware of, please accept that we are no match for Satan. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

If you follow my blog, you know that I am old-school, but I am also a seeker of knowledge. Yes, I am tech-savvy (not an expert, still learning). It is true, I love social media; Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are three of my favorites. I also have a couple of online games that I enjoy.

But yesterday, I had a spiritually eye-opening experience. While I was caught up in having fun, the Holy Spirit gave me a deeper insight of the content that I was watching. Was this person promoting an ad for sexy designer clothing or  perfume while speaking about Jesus Christ? Some of the individuals that I was following under the label of #christiantiktok are sending mixed messages. Do we need to see an individual dressed in tight, suggestive clothing–both men and women–to say, “Jesus died for us?” Yes, Jesus did give His life for us, but we cannot use the cover of sexy and enticing to witness and spread the plan of salvation.

Although it was easy to hit the unfollow icon, not falling into temptation is impossible without God. Our Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses. He is aware that we are gullible [easily persuaded to believe something] because of the desires of our hearts. The year 2020 left many with broken spirits and caused them to see their lives as hopeless. With the adversities that we have faced, it doesn’t take much to give in to sin. Total dependence on God is necessary to sustain our spiritual, mental, and emotional strength.

Beware of your words! We are too transparent, disclosing feelings and situations that we should only tell to God. Even so, I would like to encourage you to stay prayed up! Decide to give God your all, your everything, and you will receive power! Satan is easily defeated when we stay connected to the source. We have come too far to lose our reward of eternal life. Prayer brings power, healing, and spiritual discernment {the ability to see situations through spiritual eyes].

Let Satan know, “You, are not in control of my life!” No more deception! We are soldiers in God’s Army, marching forward to God’s voice. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27. Hallelujah! We will not be deceived! 

Bible Study: Revelation chapters 21-22

God, we need you in every aspect of our lives. We are tired of being deceived because of broken spirits or the secret desires of our hearts. We pray to be filled with your Holy Spirit. Please give us discernment and the strength to walk away from all temptation. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, 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. 

Singing a New Song–The Benefit of Change

This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Relationships are hard work! Still, against all odds with the people, places, and things that distract us, we can enter into a forever relationship with God. The decision is a freewill choice. God will never coerce us to serve him. But if we choose to have a relationship, we must do our part to grow our seed of faith. Faith requires giant leaps. Letting go of worldly influences that instill doubts and fears is a godly requirement. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6.

Human Effort + Divine Intervention = Victory

To serve God requires perseverance. Human effort is continuous action on our part in the Plan of Salvation. We must possess:

    1. Conviction
    2. Courage
    3. Commitment

Have you ever tried a new recipe and didn’t have the exact ingredients? You decided to substitute with items you had, and then your completed dish did not turn out as expected. With God, there are no substitutions. He tells us, “For I am the Lord, I change not….” Malachi 3:6. 

Reflect on your lifestyle. Are you giving your all to God?

I can recall changing the ingredients in the way that I served God. My love for secular music outweighed my commitment to God. The genre did not matter. I loved everything from Jazz to Classical to Rhythm & Blues, Rock, Reggae, and Country. If the words conveyed a message and the beat was in sync with the rhythm of my heart, I embraced the music with open arms.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

But God had other plans. A close sister-friend asked me a life-changing question, “Do you listen to gospel music?” My response was weak, “Yes, sometimes I do, but mainly on the Sabbath.” We were going for a girl’s day out, and before I started driving, she handed me a cassette tape. Yes, this was many moons ago. I remember the last song caused me to pull over because I had a “Day of Pentecost” experience.

From that day forward, I prayed for God to overcome the addiction that I had to secular music. Sin always has consequences. Although, I do not listen to secular music at home, it is impossible to avoid hearing songs that bring back memories. Still, it remains a struggle to resist the urge to sway to the worldly melodic sounds that used to be a significant part of my lifestyle. Because of my desire to have a deeper spiritual relationship, I was convicted to give up all music that does not honor God.

Many of the current songs that are under the label of Gospel/Christian, I cannot embrace. No, I cannot “Stomp” my way to heaven, nor will the feeble attempt of a gospel artist changing the lyrics to Prince’s song, “Purple Rain,” make me think of serving God. Music is so powerful that it can lift us out of hopelessness, soothe our emotional hurts, and decrease physical pain. But music can also influence us to turn away from God.

We can thank God for the gift of music which enhances our praise and worship to him. Certainly, music will be a part of our heavenly existence. Serving God requires continuous conviction, courage, and commitment. When the trials and sorrows are raging, or past losses consume our thoughts, the Holy Spirit will cause us to remember a song that reflects God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice. Using our voice to sing praises and prayers is an act of worship that God will always honor.

Our desperation for a closer relationship with God and the desire to receive the gift of eternal life is worth every change we make. I invite you to change your life by getting rid of everything that does not glorify and honor God. You will be able to sing a new song that encourages you to love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind.

Holy, Holy, Holy

I Love you, Lord

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Bow Down and Worship Him

Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary

Draw Me Nearer

My Soul Says Yes

Oh, Friend, Do you, Love Jesus?

Peace Be Still

Encourage Yourself

It is Well With My Soul 

No More Night

His Eye Is On the Sparrow, and I know He watches me. 

Bible Reading: John 14

Prayer: God, we ask you to give us a new song in our hearts, so we never forget your love and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask 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.

 

Stop! Do Not Cut the Cord!

In 1999, I was a student nurse preparing for a four-week clinical rotation in Labor and Delivery. The hospital recently incorporated two birthing rooms to which I was assigned under my nurse preceptor. My first patient was a young woman who was a runner and in peak condition. Her labor was under two hours, which caused expedited action from the nursing staff.

As I witnessed the birth of a baby, I felt like falling to my knees and praising God. But reality kept me from performing an action that would have expelled me from the nursing program. The infant cried loudly without any human assistance, and the umbilical cord was tied and cut. The life-line that provided oxygen, nutrients, and the removal of waste was no longer required. The baby’s internal organs immediately kick-started as she continued to exercise her lungs by crying loudly.

The expectation from my preceptor was that I would ask many questions regarding the labor and delivery process. But I was quiet. I could not speak. Through intense study, I was fully aware of the theoretical knowledge of pregnancy, labor, and the birthing process. What I was not prepared for was the awe that I felt inside for the mighty power of God. The birth of a baby is still the most supernatural miracle that I have ever witnessed. The beginning of a new life touches humanity deep into the core of our souls. King David proclaimed, “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.” Psalm 139:14.

Human effort is required to stay connected to God.  Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. …” Genesis 1:26. “To be like us” is often misunderstood. Our Heavenly Father never intended for us to feel alone or to live with a survival instinct. We have an example. Three persons of the Godhead, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who are always unified and connected. The angels, heavenly messengers, know their purpose, and that is to serve God and humanity. It is unfortunate that humans created in the image of God readily cut the spiritual cord that connects us to our source of love, grace, mercies, and power.

How do we place ourselves in the predicament of being cut-off?

We cut off our spiritual source when we fail to pray, study the Bible, and spend time in praise and worship. We sever the cord by seeking to fulfill our selfish desires and ambitions. Without the strength and power from Jesus Christ, we easily fall into temptation. Because of sinful desires hidden deep within our hearts (the desires that we do not share with anyone) we disconnect from our Heavenly Father.

Unlike the infant, whose internal organs kick in to sustain life outside of the mother, our attempt to live outside of God brings anxiety, worry, depression, and hopelessness. Sin leads to complete separation from the Trinity Godhead. Jesus tells us the solution: Stay connected, or else we are empty and powerless!

Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me, you can do nothing.… John 15:4-5

Never forget: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

God did not speak us into existence. If God, in all of His majesty, bent down and created Adam from the dust of the ground, then we should praise, worship, and never cut our spiritual cords to God, the source of life. Only God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit can provide us with the spiritual nutrients that flow continuously to keep us connected. Claim your victorious life by never cutting the cord!

Bible Study: John 15

God, we desire to connect to You, our source who loves and cares for us. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.

 

Running in Times of Distress?

Living Victoriously!

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have. 1 Samuel 8:4-5

Samuel presented the demands of the people to God and prayed for guidance. In verses 10-18, God spoke through Samuel to tell the Nation of Israel the consequences of having a king. They still insisted on doing things their way. But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” 1 Samuel 8:19-20

We know how the story ends. Saul was a ruthless, disobedient, and jealous king. He desired to kill David even after God used him to kill Goliath, their worst enemy.

As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”…1 Samuel 18:6-8

Then David got up and ran that day from Saul. 1 Samuel 21:10. David, the young shepherd boy that God gave strength to kill lions and bears to protect his sheep and kill Goliath, forgot that God was powerful enough to save him from King Saul.

In times of distress, due to disobedience, trials, or facing our enemies, where or who do we run to? God is our only Deliverer! We easily forget when we face our worst situations that God says, “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.” Malachi 3:6. Our gratitude for God’s infinite grace and mercies is not expressed enough through our prayers, praise, and worship. Run to God!

For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and Saul. He sang: I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3

Having complete faith and trust in God enables us to run to God. Never run from the enemy! Have you been confronted by a person who is ready to argue? Are you being victimized in a seemingly hopeless situation? Begin to pray out loud and ask God to reign down His mighty power and take care of your problems. “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:14. Stop running from your enemies, and start running to God!

Bible Study: Psalm 18

God, we ask forgiveness for not running to you. We realize that you are the only ones who can fight our battles. Please rescue us from our enemies who desire to harm us. Thank you for fighting for us. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission. 

Loyalty to God

God’s law is a way of living and thinking rather than a list of do’s and don’ts.

A few years ago I had a close friend tell me that being a Christian and serving God is hard. The reality of that thought is true because our desires are always in conflict with God.

Even the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 7:15, 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.

When I made the decision to eat nutritional, healthy foods, the junk foods, which led to poor health is what I craved. But then I had a friend who shared with me that my taste buds could be retrained. Did it happen overnight? Certainly not!

Even so, I endured the struggle through giant leaps (the list of never will eat again foods) and the baby steps (still junk, but will eat controlled portions) for one year. In the second year, the transition to fully loving myself became second nature. I have eliminated all refined, processed foods that would cause damage to my body.

My body and mind responded in the most wonderful way. Retrained tastes along with walking every day resulted in increased brain power, and massive weight loss. Was it extremely hard? Yes!

If we can learn to love the fearfully and wonderfully made body that God created, and change our habits and lifestyle to achieve optimal health, then we can put aside the desires that cause conflict and disobedience to God. Never forget the greatest reward of eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth is ours if we change and remain loyal to God.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

Bible Study: Hebrews 12

God, we pray for the desire and strength to love, and serve you with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

How far would you go?

Establishing boundaries is necessary to guard against mistreatment and prevent the seduction of disregarding our morals, values, and ethics. Still, most importantly, we strive to live within the boundaries of righteousness because of our love and commitment to God. We may associate seduction to only things that represent a sexual meaning. But the definition of seduction, to be lured by tempting or attractive things, applies to all desires that cause us to sin against God. We live in a time where going after the people, places, and things that please our desires defines success. Unfortunately, self-gratification causes us to forget our covenant vow and sin against God in many areas of life.

God has given us the free will of choice along with the five senses of vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. And it is our desires, fueled by our senses, that make us yearn for the ungodly and unholy things. Yes, those secret things that we hold inside our hearts, you know the things that only you (and God) are fully aware of. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9.

There is something that believers have in common. We have an arch-enemy, you know, the fallen one, Satan. His desires are for us to commit one or more sins at some level every day. Are you aware that God limits Satan’s power? No? One major limitation is that Satan cannot read our minds, because Omniscience is an attribute of God. But Satan quickly observes our behaviors without difficulty because he does have power!  Are you patient, loving, kind, and generous all of the time? Do we wear the mask of being a wonderful person but hold onto grudges and unforgiveness? How much time do we set aside in the 24 hours every day to honor and worship God? We give Satan the upper hand by failing to be steadfast and committed to serving God, our Heavenly Father.

Thankfully, God was fully aware that humanity would continuously fall and transgress His law. Redemption for the human race was set into place before the fall of Adam and Eve. God placed the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because He did not create robots. God created us in His image out of love. He did not speak us into existence. He knelt down and took dust and carefully formed us with the most complex minds and bodies that no human will ever fully understand. If we thought about the anatomy and physiology of our bodies, like David, we would proclaim, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14 ESV

It is our choice to serve and worship God or make ourselves an idol by giving in to our carnal desires and living without boundaries.

Yes, these are strong words, but we are living in the last days. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy:

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Identifying the character traits and desires that are not in sync with holy and righteous perfection makes us fully aware of how Satan will tempt us. If I choose to live a life of celibacy but watch shows and movies with sexual content, I am setting myself up to fall. Regardless of the trend to be bold, transparent, and seek prosperity, being independent, strong-willed and disobedient are character traits that lead us to sin against God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that. 2 Timothy 3:5

The question is: How do I stay away from myself?

Bible Study: 2 Timothy 3

God, we acknowledge that our desires for worldliness, whether it is striving for financial gain or living according to how we feel, is enmity against you, and for our sins, we ask forgiveness. Please teach us how to walk humbly with you as we await the soon coming of your Son, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 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.

Did you know?

Where are the following scriptures found?

  1. “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?”
  2. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”
  3. “Indeed, God helps those who help themselves.”
  4. “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.”
  5. “And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

I had a nursing professor who told us, “When you know something you are able to recall those facts every time they are needed. Because that is the ability of the brain’s short-term and long-term memory.” How well do you know the scriptures? You are not alone. Many choose not to study the Bible. Of course, we attempt to justify why we fail to study. Even so, the main reason is that God is not the #1 priority in our lives. We simply do not love and serve God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. But the truth of the matter is that the knowledge we require to have a deep understanding of who God is, His character and love for humanity, to possess peace, inner joy, and to live righteously is found in the Bible.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he says, “But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

We do not require a pastor or minister to study the Bible. God has given us the Holy Spirit to provide us with a complete understanding of the scriptures and the ability to live holy. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:27

How important is studying the Bible?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16,17

It is impossible to obtain spiritual growth without studying the Word of God, nor is it possible to know who God truly is. Only diligent seekers can live a faith-based life because they have a deep relationship with the “Almighty God.”

Without a biblical foundation and the Holy Spirit, we cannot determine truth from error. Did you know #3 of the above list of scriptures is not found in the Bible? The phrase “God helps those who help themselves” is a motto that emphasizes the importance of self-initiative and agency (taking action to produce a desired effect).

We are living in the last days. Diligent study along with continuous prayer is essential for us to stand firm in Jesus Christ. Make a total commitment to God by serving Him with love, faith, trust, and obedience. 

Bible Study: 2 Timothy 3:16

God, thank you for the Sabbath. We confess that we not study the Bible as we should, nor do we have a close relationship with you. Please forgive us for not placing you as the #1 priority in our lives. We ask you to fill us with your Holy Spirit as we study, and may we always recognize that you are the Almighty. 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.

The Safest Place

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11

Anxious, depressed, or worried? Align yourself with the will of God by changing your desires and prayers. The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10. Being in the perfect will of God always ends in victory!

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.