Daily Devotional – 10/26/17 “Your key, my key!”

I was looking at the keys I have attached to my badge lanyard. There is one for my overhead and desk that holds my computer and such and there is one for a cabinet that holds other stuff. Anyway, while looking at these keys, I compared them. I pressed them together and looking from one side, they look exactly alike but when I turned them over, I noticed how differently their grooves where. Which meant, the key that works for one, will not work for the other. Yes, the one for the cabinet can fit into the desk but it will not turn. You know this already, right? But have you ever stopped to realize, we each hold a key and no matter how alike they look when compared, yours will not open what I’m meant too? I don’t care how well you think you can walk in my shoes, your key will not open the door to my destiny. Yes, you can talk about me but your key still cannot unlock the elevator to my elevation. You can even try to sabotage my promotion but you still cannot open what is rightfully mine.

When Cinderella’s evil stepmother tried to block her access to the prince, she couldn’t no matter what she tried. You know the story but I’ll tell it. Her evil stepmother could not block Cinderella because the shoe would only fit Cinderella’s foot. So tell me again why you’re arguing with folk over your stuff? Explain to me again why you’re trying to prove to folk your place. Beloved, sometimes you just need to hush and realize, even though their key may slide into your lock, it still will not open it. Yes, our keys may look the same when compared but baby, my key is for me and yours is for you. How do I know? Well the bible tells me so. For it was God who knitted the intricate part of us before momma and daddy hooked up. Before we started to grow, He’d already written the plans for our life. Before our tongue was formed, He’d already placed words for us to speak. Before our heartbeat could be heard, God had already woven the scars He knew would form. For the bible says in Psalm 139:16, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Your key, my key!

Daily Devotional – 10/25/17 “The enemy owes me!”

Hypothetical scenario … Someone breaks into your car and steals your cell phone and wallet or someone breaks into your home and steals all your TVs, computer and tablet. Do you go searching for the thief or do you file a police report and make a claim with the insurance company? I would think the latter because you may not be able to recover what was stolen but you sure can cash the claim check, right? What’s my point? God says the only reason we’ve yet to recoup, from our loss, is because we’ve been too busy looking for the enemy who stole it instead of filing a claim. Who am I talking too? Because I am still feeling like Isaiah, proclaiming this is the year you shall see God’s favor. Who am I speaking too? Because I am declaring God’s anger against your enemy. So you can stop looking for the thief who stole the beats from your heart, file a claim with God who can replace it. Stop looking for the one who stole your joy, file a claim with God who can restore it. Stop looking for the one who stole your peace, file a claim with God who can refill it.

Yes, I know we are so used to saying, “I’m coming for everything the enemy stole,” or “I’m taking back everything the devil stole from me,” but today my war cry is different. Today, my prayer has changed. Today, my declaration becomes specific. For today, I am no longer looking for what the enemy stole but I am waiting for God to make him repay me seven times more than it is worth. Because my bible tells me in Proverbs 6:30-31, “People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.” Yea, he may have gotten in and stolen my stuff but he’ll have to come back and repay me for it. What’s my affirmation now? It’s simple, “I shall get everything the enemy owes me!” But this is only after God gives me permission to go get it. “Then David asked the LORD, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the LORD told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!” – 1 Samuel 30:8

Daily Devotional – 10/24/17 “A Thank You Lord praise”

Sometimes you just have to throw your head back and tell the Lord, thank you! Every chance you get, you ought to have yourself a thank you God praise party. Even if it happens to be while you are having a moment of misery, a twinkling of turmoil, a situation of sickness, the groaning of grief, the taste of tears, another futile fight, one more declared denial and more headaches of hurt; tell God thank you. Even when they have walked out again, the walls of woe are closing in, the blinders of bitterness are beginning to cover your eyes, the darkness of depression is setting in and the prongs of pain press in; tell God thank you. When the money has run out, landlord knocking, electric company is threatening, water a second from being turned off and gas company is driving slow by the house; tell God thank you. When the children aren’t acting right, having more downs than up with the spouse, family keeps calling with mess and even coworkers acting suspect; tell God thank you. When you find yourself having a hard time in worship, tell God thank you.

No, I am not about to say it could be worse because let’s face it, we cannot take any worse. But how can I tell God thank you when it seems like I’m about to lose my mind? How can I declare a thank you God praise when it feels like I’m about to fall into another valley? How can I recite a thank you God praise when it looks like my enemies are camped all around? Easily. Open your mouth and recite these words, THANK YOU GOD! See, when you appreciate God for the good and bad, your value increase. Instead of depreciation, your appreciation initiates an inundation. In other words, a massive influx of blessings. This is why I feel like the prophet Isaiah, declaring like Isaiah 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.” God is about to turn it around but will you tell Him thank you while He works?

Daily Devotional – 10/23/17 “What are you fighting for?”

Today would have been Granddaddy and Gram’s 72nd wedding anniversary but then death intervened 5 years ago. For 35 years (for as early as I can remember), I watched their relationship. There was good and bad yet they stuck and stayed. Even during the hard times of the early years, starting with the 1930’s and raising ten children they overcame. Please understand, it wasn’t without situations but they overcame them. Then I watched grandma take care of granddad for three years while he laid afflicted by sickness. I am sharing this because it is rare, now days, to find marriages that last. If I can be honest, it is rare to see people fighting for anything worthy. I’ve seen where people spend thousands on the wedding but will not invest one dollar into the marriage. But it is not just marriages, it’s everything. This is why I have to ask this question … What are you fighting for? Or should I ask, what are you fighting for that matters? We fight on social media but will not fight for social justice. We fight for folk who will not commit but not for our personal relationship with Christ. We fight for positions in the workplace but we will not fight for the upkeep of the church. We fight baby momma/daddy but we will not fight for educational options for the baby. We fight to make it to $1 margaritas but we will not fight for the PTA at the school. We fight harder in relationships, with other folk spouses, yet we will not fight in preparation to be a Godly husband or wife.

What are you fighting for beloved? Are you fighting to be healthy, happy and whole? Are you fighting to be one with God? Are you fighting for your worth? Are you fighting for everything man said you could not have? Are you fighting to get everything “they” said you will never attain? What are you fighting for? Yes, I know this world is not our home but while we are fighting to hear God say “Well done thy good and faithful servant,” what are you fighting for that will allow Him to say, “Well done,” now? You do know that God can be pleased with us now, right? But that’s only when we are fighting for the right thing at the right time. This is why I had to ask, what are you fighting for? Stop giving up so easily and fight. Stop giving in so quickly, fight. I don’t know about you but I’m fighting for mine. This means my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my pastor, my church family, my sanity, my sanctity, my blessings and even you. And I’m fighting to love the hell out of this world. What about you?

“You keep getting in the ring as a lamb and keep losing! Show up as a lion and fight until you win! Get your MORE!” – Pastor Robert S. Harvey

Daily Devotional – 10/20/17 “Pressure!”

Somebody woke up on this Friday morning still feeling the pressure of yesterday, last week, last month and last year. The pressure feels like it’s about to overtake your life and at any moment, you’ll blow. But can I tell you something? Pressure means you’re still in the game. Pressure means you’re still living and able. Pressure means you’re still in position. See, when a player feels pressure that means someone is counting on her/him to do his/her part. When you are feeling pressured by the demands of life, it means somebody is still depending on you to do your part. Does it feel good? Heck no but it should give you the passion to push on. Look, if you didn’t feel pressured (even from yourself) would you have the ambition to do better? If you didn’t feel pressured to provide for your family, would you? Understand, you will not feel pressure everyday but those days you do and they seem to come more often than you like, remind yourself … Pressure means I’m still in the game and it means someone is still counting on me to make it.

Pressure isn’t to take you out but it’s to get out of you that which is on the inside. This is why you, your parents, mentors, family, friends and etc. pressure you to do better because they (and you) know the potential greatness that’s inside of you. I am not talking about peer pressure to go against what you believe in or to change the right for the bad but I’m speaking of the pressure that should push you to destiny. The pressure to not conform. The pressure to help those who talk about you. The pressure to willingly suffer for Christ’s sake. The pressure to be the best you, even in the worse of circumstances. This is why the bible says in Proverbs 24:10, “If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.” And there is no way, as Christians, our strength should be fragile, small or made to feel inferior because the bible says in Exodus 15:2, “The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” The pressure … it means you are still in it to win it! Don’t lose hope even when it feels like more than you can bear.