Daily Devotional – 2/11/20 “Keep the same energy, playa!”

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas are imprisoned after casting out a demon from a young girl, people were using to make money. Bible shares she was filled with a spirit of divination (the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means). Afterwards, Paul and Silas dragged before the authorities who ordered that Paul and Silas be stripped, beaten and thrown into prison. You may know the end of the story but while Paul and Silas were in prison, they prayed and sung songs to God. It didn’t matter their current location, their heart and sound still belonged to God.

Some of y’all are in a place you don’t deserve to be in and neither have you done wrong. Maybe you’re in a dark place because of you; either way, stop being angry at God. Instead, ask Him for forgiveness and change your sound. Instead of pity, pray. Instead of focusing on your suffering, sing. Your heart and sound should still belong to God, no matter your location or situation.

Anyway, while they sung and prayed, God sent an earthquake that shook the foundation of the prison, opened the doors and the chains. Paul then converts the jailer, goes home with him and his entire household. The next morning, the magistrates sends an order to “release those men.” The jailer tells Paul and Silas, but Paul tells them, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out (Acts 16:37)!”

In other words, keep the same energy playa. These men, in authority, had no right to strip, beat or imprison Paul and Silas; but they did. In front of a crowd yet they want to release them silently. Nawl baby. You restrained me publicly, keep the same energy and release me, publicly. Look, I know vengeance belongs to God, He’ll fight for us and He’ll handle our enemies; I’m not taking away from God’s power. Neither am I telling you not to forgive, love your enemies and pray for those who spitefully misuse you.

However, there are some folk, in your life, who keeps apologizing privately but will blatantly antagonize you publicly. Tell them, keep the same energy. Those who only show up when there’s a benefit for them and not to authentically support you; tell them, keep the same energy. Aw, you had the audacity to tag me in a post when you’re in your feelings but now that you’ve found out your folk lied, you want to apologize in messenger. No boo, keep the same energy, playa and tag me in the apology too. Stop giving passes to folk because they’re familiar, y’all grew up together, you respect them, they’re in authority and you don’t want to hurt their feelings. You don’t have to be mean about it, but you need to mean it.

This year we’re getting out of our own way, we’re stepping into all God has for us and we’re letting go of those who mean us no good. That begins by reevaluating our circle of relationships. Stop putting your good energy into folk and situations who got good energy but won’t give it to you. Depleting your energy dims your light.