Daily Devotional – 8/4/17 “New eyes!”

Last night in class, Redemptive Cinema, we watched the movie The Matrix. I had seen the movie before, a long time ago, yet this time it was different. This time when I watched it, I did so through spiritual eyes and everything I missed before was clear now. I did not realize how spiritually relatable this movie actually was. From the name of the ship (Nebuchadnezzar) to the correlations of the overall theme (prophecy, hope, etc.); it was all spiritual but I missed it the first time. Why? Because my eyes were only registering the natural. Oh but when I begin to look through the spiritual, a lot of things I thought were one way, were actually different. I no longer saw things the same because I was able to now see people for who they truly are and stuff for what it was. And it’s the same for you. See, when you look through natural eyes you see lust masquerading as love but spiritual eyes will show you true love. With natural eyes you see green grass but in your spiritual eyes you’ll see it’s just a patch of dirt painted green. In your natural eyes you’ll see trust but in your spiritual eyes you’ll see it is a temptation. In your natural eyes you’ll see marriage material but in your spiritual eyes you will see it is just misery looking for company. In the natural, you will see a contract but in the spiritual, you will see it is just a con.

The bible says in Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” How is your vision beloved? Are you seeing things/people clearly or is your focus off? What are you seeing? You may want to check your eyes because they may be the reason everything around you looks dark. Yea, it might just be your eyes deceiving you that has you thinking nobody can be trusted. It may just be your eyes sending you in the wrong direction. How’s your vision? Do you find yourself bumping into stuff? You might need new eyes. Do you occasionally have a hard time reading things/people? You might need new eyes. Having trouble figuring out stuff? You might need new eyes. If you do, don’t feel bad because we all need to have our eyes check, every now and then. This is why my prayer is like Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” And there is nothing wrong with admitting you need new eyes but there is definitely something wrong with acting like the old ones still work.

Daily Devotional – 8/3/17 “You’re happy but is it right!”

Beloved, just do what makes you happy. LIES! Do what you know is right. Look, what would make me happy right now is a double cheeseburger with everything (extra onions), some fries and a coke. However, this extra, unhealthy weight knows what’s right for me is a turkey sandwich and apple slices. Driving off the lot with a 2017 mustang with all the bells and whistles and 20 miles, would make me happy but I know that a 2015 with the bells no whistles and 20K miles fits within my budget and is right. I know cussing you who always got something to say about everything that is no business of yours would make me happy but smiling while inwardly praying for you is what is right. Yea, I could do what makes me happy but it will be no benefit to me. People of God, I can no longer just tell you to do what makes you happy when I know it’s not right. I mean, quitting your job might make you happy but staying to receive that direct deposit is what’s right. Sleeping with that sexy guy or girl, who knows all the right things to say, may temporarily make you happy but making up with your spouse is what you know is right. Staying in that place of worship where everybody knows your name and appeases your faults, makes you happy but being somewhere that can push you to your destiny is what’s right.

And you know it but it is easier to hold on to the happy and harder to grasp what is right. Even the bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”–but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”–but not everything is beneficial.” So, I have to ask … what are you holding on too that makes you happy but it also makes you hurt. What are you making excuses for that makes you happy but is also hindering your progress? What/who are you cuddling with that makes you happy yet it’s harming your spirit? You don’t have to answer at this moment, take the time to think about it. And please understand, there are some things that are right AND will make you happy but you will never know this unless you first let go of what has made you comfortable. Find your right and your happiness but don’t sacrifice one for the other. If you do, you may find yourself, years from now, regretting the time that you’ve wasted and can no longer get back. Do what makes you happy but only if it’s right. I wrote this in my paper for class but it fits here too. “Go with your heart but only if it is in God. Trust what you believe but only if your belief is grounded in God. View things through the spirituality of your eyes and not the natural and guard your thoughts so they do not wander.” Do what makes you happy, not that which makes you a hypocrite.

Daily Devotional – 8/2/17 “He must increase”

A follower of my blog asked if I have ever done a devotional on John 3:30 that says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” I knew right off that I had not so I began to read. I had no plans to write it as the devotional today but God did. Is God not amazing? See, in John 3, John the Baptist has been baptizing in one area while Jesus was baptizing in another. A few of John’s disciples and an unnamed Jew began arguing over the issue of baptizing. The bible doesn’t say what the argument was about but we can surmise it was over the number of people because John 3:26 says, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, whom you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.” Yet John wasn’t moved because he responds by testifying about Jesus. He lets the disciples know that all he has done has been by the grace extended to him from heaven. He so powerfully says in John 3:29-30, “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John says, in other words, I was simply the best man/maid of honor whose responsibility was to handle the details of the wedding and deliver the bride to the groom. Now that the bride has shown up, my place is at their side. And this is how we are supposed to be as men and women of God. The presence of God in our lives ought to overshadow everything else. See, John the Baptist had the responsibility of the congregants of the ‘wedding’ until the bride showed up, he did that, so he had no reason to be upset when they took their eyes off him and placed them on Jesus. This is why John says “my joy has been fulfilled.” He’d done his part so he couldn’t be mad when it was time to turn over the reins. People of God, we have to understand what part we are to handle on this journey. We cannot afford for the lines to be blurred by tasks and titles. We don’t have time for our desires to outshine that of God. We must decrease as He increase. If we don’t it becomes about us and not God. We have to decrease in order for God to increase, there is no other way. Do your part, handle your responsibilities but know where your place is because if I shall be honest, you cannot do anything worthy of God without God. You can try but I can guarantee it will not be the same.

Daily Devotional – 8/1/17 “Try again!”

Here we are, seeing August 1, 2017 for the first time; what are you going to do with it? This is the eighth month of the year 2017, what’s your plan? Yes, we know that eight biblical means resurrection and regeneration or new beginning but what are your ideas? What will you do today that you did not do yesterday? What will your new beginning look and/or feel like? I’m only asking because, in actuality, you have a new beginning every day not just in the month of August. What are you doing? Think about it. If 8 is symbolic of new beginning then you have this opportunity on the 8th day of every month, the 8th hour of every day, the 8th step you take, the 8th breath you breathe, the 8th beat of your heart, the 8th blink of an eye and the 8th tremble of your vein. In other words, you didn’t have to wait until August for the new beginning. So, when will you get your life back? When will you get up and start new? When will you let the past go? When will you reignite the fire that is about to go out in your belly? When will you take advantage of your new beginning?

Beloved, nobody (that matters) is keeping count on the number of times you’ve fallen. Nobody (that matters) is looking at the many times you said one thing and did another. Nobody (that matters) is judging you. Nobody (that matters) is keeping up with your faults. We are simply waiting on you to stop. Stop judging yourself, stop beating yourself up, stop settling, stop opening up closed doors, stop reviving dead relationships, stop making excuses, stop looking back and stop being afraid to start over. Today beloved, today it is your time for a new beginning. No, I do not know what you’re dealing with neither am I walking in your shoes but I am praying for you my brother and my sister that your thought process changes for the better, today. Today, I am praying that this month begins the best time of your life. Today, I pray that you feel the supernatural power of God in your life. Today, I pray for things to begin to make sense and that you begin to make peace, you forgive, you begin to heal, you begin to laugh again, you begin to love again and you begin to see YOU again. The bible says in Isaiah 43:18-19, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Right now is your chance but it is up to you to decide to take it because it is another new beginning.

Daily Devotional – 7/31/17 “What are you doing with the oil?”

Yesterday I preached, like I’ve done many times before but it was different. My subject was “the cost of the oil,” and it was heavy but healing, emotional but enlightening and it was rough but renewing. It was one of those sermons that God didn’t give me until Saturday night and although I was still uneasy about it Sunday morning; the oil of God was set ablaze. And guess what, no one recorded it because I believe it was simply for those in attendance. I cannot explain it but somebody else besides me needed to understand that carrying the oil of God’s anointing can get heavy, it can cause you some pain and it can cost you a lot yet, there is still reward. I don’t know what God has in store for me neither do I know what He has for all of you (those) connected to me but God simply told me to tell you the oil comes at a cost. What do I mean? It will cost you some friendships, some relationships, some toiling, some nights of lying on your face, some days of crying instead of smiling, some extra attacks by the enemy and some times of wanting to give it all up. There is a cost. Oh but with the cost also come rewards because Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

This is why you have to be willing to pay the cost. Please understand, this isn’t just for those of us who have been called as messengers of God but it is for all of God’s children. We all have the oil, the only difference is that some of us who have been charged with pouring the oil (Samuel anoints Saul), some have been charged with wiping the oil (Mary wiped the feet of Jesus), some have been charged with the laying of the oil (James 5:14, “any among you sick…”) and some have to carry the oil (Exodus 27:20). What are you doing with the oil? I don’t know about you but daily, I feel like Isaiah and I say like Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.” What are you doing with the oil? Are you doing your part or is your cup empty? Is your light shining or is your oil depleted? Are your hands working or is your oil dry? What, ma’am; sir, are you doing with the oil?