When I walk pass you and smile, is it too much to ask for a simple smile back or even an acknowledgement? Just because you have an attitude, you don’t have to take it out on everyone around you. Your day goes bad because you allow it. People make you mad because you allow it. Your bills are past due because you allow it. It is not because God hasn’t given you the necessary requirements to make your life better. He woke you up, that’s a blessing! He allowed your mind to be right, that’s a blessing. He gave you the ability to have a talent to get the job you got, that’s a blessing! But instead of thanking God for these things, we complain. Please know, what you complain about someone else is praying about. While you are taking your husband, who is doing all he can to provide, for granted, someone is weeping over the casket of their husband. While you constantly take momma and daddy for granted, someone is at the hospital saying goodbye to theirs. While you are constantly complaining about your son or daughter who is doing all they can, someone is looking for theirs in the dark alleys because they are strung out on drugs. While you’re complaining about the job that’s funding your lifestyle, someone has been in line at the unemployment office since 5:30AM. I won’t tell you that all things will be ok but the bible states in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” According to God’s purpose! Not yours, not mine and not your family so be careful of the purpose you’re following because it might just be leading you to Hell!
I know it may seem like even though you study your bible, it seems like you can’t hear God’s voice. You go to church every Sunday but it seems like the more right you do the more wrong shows up. You go to bible study & prayer meeting, but it seems like your prayers are not being heard. You’re doing the best you can but every time you turn your crying is outweighing your laughter, heartache is overshadowing your happiness, pity is replacing your praising & strife is taking over where shouting once reigned. It seems like every time you reach for Heaven Hell is on your back pulling you back! So what do you? Do you leave God’s word because the world seems better? Do you backslide because the temptations you’re facing are too hard to ignore? I’m here to tell you to hold on! 1 Peter 5:7 says “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Even though your rope may be breaking, find strength to reach beyond that break! Put your feet on the side of the cliff that you’re hanging over and push yourself up. Even though you may be tired and sweat is dripping from your brow, hold on! God says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” So, if you’re at a point where you can’t hold on, let go with the faith that you’ll land safely where God has prepared for you. As I stated above, God doesn’t have plans to harm you because he needs you to do his will but you have to have faith big enough to realize this. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Just because you can’t see and touch God, it doesn’t mean he’s not there because faith will show you.
God needs you wholeheartedly to do his will. Matthew 7:21 says “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” If you’re at a point where you can’t do God’s will because of worldly things, then you need to make some changes. If your job is stressing you out, move! If your bills outweigh your money, downsize! If your kids aren’t acting right, parent them! If folk are talking about you, so what! They talked about Jesus but he still endured & died in order for us to be free. If there’s anything that holds you down, release it! If you’re in an abusive relationship, get out! Don’t think that God will maintain the mess you’re in. It’s time now for you to get YOU right. There isn’t anybody that can do you like Jesus and can’t anyone answer to Jesus for you but you. God does hear and answer prayers but he has to also know your voice. Talk to him consistently! Believe in what you’re asking for and know that it’s already done. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people who are called by MY name should humble themselves, pray & seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sins and heal their land.” But you have to talk to him. You don’t have to be down on your knees, in a secret closet or even in church to pray. God wants you to pray to him however and wherever you are. He said in Luke 9:26, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Don’t be scared to praise God when you want because John 15:7 says, “But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!” Isn’t that worth a prayer every once in a while? I’ve found that praying at all times will cover you during the times that you can’t. Pray about it!
Lakisha, the Author 