Daily Devotional – 8/22/17 “Spiritual side chick!”

I have a confession to make, I am sometimes a “spiritual side chick.” Yes, you read that right, I am a certified spiritual side chick being just like Aaron and Hur, standing on the side lines being that chick who will willing hold up the arms of the leader. This doesn’t diminish my anointing, it does not take away the purpose of my position neither does it strip me of my blessings; it simply means I am capable of being where I am needed. See, somebody is getting weary because you are trying to find your place. Somebody is about to give up because you’ve been waiting on elevation and it has yet to show up. Somebody is at their wit’s end trying to figure out why you will not be promoted or why you haven’t been invited to sit at the table. Well beloved, sometimes your place isn’t to stand on the hill, sometimes your job isn’t to lead the people and sometimes your responsibility isn’t to be the one in charge. Just maybe this is your season to be on the side of the leader. Sometimes you may have to, “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you (Isaiah 35:3-4).“

In Exodus 17, when the Israelites find themselves fighting the Amalekites who struck Israel in a blind attack, Moses says to Joshua to take some men and fight because “Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand (Exodus 17:9).” However, Moses finds that standing with his arms outstretched, for a period of time can becoming tiring. Yet Moses knew as long as his arms were lifted, Israel would prevail but if he dropped them, Israel would lose. Oh but then, something happened. The bible says in Exodus 17:12, “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other–so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” Aaron and Hur willing took their place beside Moses. They did not try to take Moses’ place, they stood beside him holding up his arms. And because they did, the bible says in Exodus 17:13, “As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.” Sometimes, my place is on the side and if that means praying for my sister as she prepares to open her school, I will do it. If that means carrying my uncle’s bible while he pastors, I will do it. If that means fasting for you, I will do it. If it means getting up early to war on your behalf, I will gladly do it. This is why I can confess that I am sometimes a spiritual side chick and proud of it.

Daily Devotional – 8/21/17 “Clean up your mess!”

Why should I have to tell your grown butt to clean up your mess? I am not just talking about throwing away the garbage from your lunch, cleaning your room, your car or etc., I am talking about everything. Baby, if you caused the mess, clean it up. It doesn’t matter if the mess is in your home and nobody sees it, clean it up. I don’t care if nobody else rides in your car, clean up the mess. If you have to make a call and apologize, clean it up. If it means confessing your part in the confusion, clean it up. If you have to delete that status and that group message you got going, clean it up. And, if you need to purchase some large garbage bags and get to work, do it. See, a lot of times, beloved, the mess is what’s keeping you from prospering. And the sad part about it is, you have been doing it so long that you no longer recognize it as mess. Oh but it is and you are just as filthy and dirty as the garbage can (physical and hypothetically). Are you not tired of being stanky, dirty and covered in mess? Are you not tired of having your hands in stuff? Are you not tired of leaving dirty footprints/fingerprints everywhere you go?

Well then, it’s time you clean it up, beloved. Why do you think no one wants to be around you? Why do you think the invitations have stopped or the calls being ignored. No one wants to sit in a room with mess. Think about it … would you want to sit next to a garbage pile that stinks while you’re enjoying your glass of wine? Would you want to eat dinner next to the garbage bag filled with remnants of last night’s dinner? Would you serve, in worship, next to a can filled with the leftovers of last week’s fellowship? Would you allow a filthy garbage can to sit next to the couch while you watch the latest TV show? I’m only asking. Please understand, I am in no way calling you garbage but when your insides are filled with mess, you start to stink like some. When your mouth is filled with jealousy, malice and hatred; your breath begins to stink like it. And it can be smelled from miles away. This is why I am telling you to clean it up. And if I am honest, I shouldn’t have to tell you because you should want to be clean. However, I am so clean it up. It says in my bible (what about yours?), in James 4:7-8, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” If that is not enough, read Psalm 24:3-4 which says, “Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”

Daily Devotional – 8/18/17 “This time!”

You are a yes away from getting the deliverance you need, don’t miss it. You are one approval away from getting out the valley, don’t give up yet. You are one harvest from blooming, don’t count yourself out. You are one interview away from what you have been praying for, don’t you give in. Yes, your answer was delayed but it will not count, this time. Yes, you were laid off but it cannot stop you, this time. Yes, you were overlooked but they have to see you, this time. Yes, you were denied but they have to approve you, this time. For God is saying this is the time you shall get a return on the tears you sowed. Those nights of pacing, they are about to pay off. Those days of toiling to make ends meet, they are about to pay off. Those midnight sessions spent crying to God, they are about to pay off. Those mornings spent in prayer, they are about to pay off. This time! This time, it will prove your service was not in vain. This time, you will understand why. This time, it will begin to make sense. This time, you will seek God and He will answer.

Yet, the only way you make it to THIS TIME, is by staying in that time. What’s that time? That time when you didn’t know how you’d make it. That time when you thought you wouldn’t survive the sickness. That time you didn’t think you’d make it out the abusive marriage. That time you couldn’t see how you’d face tomorrow. That time you lost everything. That time when you were evicted. That time disease took your sight. That time your womb was shut. That time your account was overdrawn day after day. That time you didn’t have a car, house, joy or hope. That time you were counted out. That time you were laughed at and mocked. That time when nothing made sense. Oh but because you held on that time, God is about to do it for you this time. When is this time? When you tell God like David did in Psalm 31:15, “My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!” And when you understand like Daniel in Daniel 2:20-22, “Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.” Will you believe, trust and hope in God this time? For this time is about to reap for you a harvest of overflow that is about to blow your mind.

Daily Devotional – 8/17/17 “Fear not!”

Did you know fear has the ability to paralyze us? Did you also know fear has the power to rip things right out of our grip? Funny how rip is the same as RIP, signifying the killing of our dreams because of fear. What has fear kept you away from? What has fear taken from you? Some can testify it being a job in a new state. Some can say relationships. And even more can say destinies. Oh but fret not beloved because forgiveness, faith and trust has the ability to restore what fear destroys; if you let it. See, when you forgive you are releasing yourself from the fear of being exactly what ‘they’ said you could not be. When you have faith, you can step out believing, “what God has for me, is for me,” even when you don’t see it. When you trust, you walk as if you’ve already received the yes. I know this and so do you because the bible tells us in Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

You know this right? But if I can take you back for just a minute (this ought to shout you), the bible says in Isaiah 41:9, “I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” Is that not worthy of telling God thank you? When you thought it was over, God called you out to live. When you thought it would never get better, God gave you His best. When you thought there was no way out, God open the doors. When you thought the darkness would consume you, God gave you night vision. Stop letting fear take what is yours. Or should I say, stop giving away what is rightfully yours. Your destiny is depending on you. Your worth is waiting on you. Your gifts have been granted to you. And if you are having trouble standing up to fear, here is the solution. For the bible says in Psalm 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” If that isn’t enough, Psalm 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

 

Fear not

Daily Devotional – 8/16/17 “Rethink that visit!”

I do not know who this is for but the Holy Spirit told me to tell you, you need to rethink that visit. What visit? Wherever you are planning to go that once caused you sorrow. See, the place you are about to subject yourself to AGAIN, was the very place that caused you pain, heartache and grief before. Do not go. I don’t care how sweet it seems neither the fond memories you used to have, rethink that visit. Think about it beloved. Every time you go there, you begin to relive those painful moments of your life. Every time you visit that headstone, you relive the minutes of abuse. Each time you answer the phone and hear the voice, it reminds you of the times that same voice verbally abused you. Each time those hands touch you, you cringe at the thought of the physical abuse you endured. Each time you go back to the scene of the crime, you relive the moments like it was yesterday. When you visit that place of worship, you feel the same hurt and sometimes hate. Every time!

This is why, God told me to tell you to rethink that visit. Yes, I know you need to get over it but that begins by forgiving yourself, forgiving them and letting go. You do not have to go back to the place of pain to do that. You don’t have to confront the monster who molested you, you can forgive from a distance. You don’t have to face the spouse you’re divorcing, sign the papers and move on. You don’t have to prove to folk that you survived, they know because they follow you. Baby, it is time we become like Paul who says in 2 Corinthians 2:1, “For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.” Paul had plans to revisit the Corinthian church but he said in 2 Corinthians 1:23, “I call God as my witness–and I stake my life on it–that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth,” but the people criticized him. All he was doing was sparing them yet they called him unreliable and untrustworthy. Does this sound familiar? You try to spare those folk the wrath of God yet when you go running back to somebody or something who has hurt you (revisiting) only to leave in worse shape than before by them pushing you out the door with harsher words/actions; you open them to God’s vengeance. Don’t go this time. Instead, think on Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 2:2, “For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?” Rethink that visit, it will not be good for you.