Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 2/6/17 “New territory comes change!”

We recently moved and our son has to start a new school. When I took him to register this morning, he found out some things he was used too, at his old school, are now different at his new school. Most importantly, the dress code and cell phone policy. It’s a big change from what he’s used too but it came with the new territory. And even though it doesn’t feel good to him, I’m ecstatic because it means we’ve officially moved into the newness of what God has for us. See, I look at all things from a new perspective. Changing schools for him means changing neighborhoods for us. Changing neighborhoods means God’s promise manifested. Please understand, there was nothing wrong with the old, it just didn’t belong to us. Yet with the new, it’s our name on the deed. So I am rejoicing for all that God has in store for us because I’ve found that when God changes things, it means He’s working something out on our behalf. Does it all feel good? No because you might lose some folk, some things and you may even have to part ways with some old stuff you’re comfortable with but it is part of the new territory. Is it worth it? Anything God says I’m worthy of, is always worth it.

Why am I sharing this? Because somebody’s life is changing and you can’t explain it. The dynamics of your comfortable place has shifted and it’s thrown you off. Yeah, you’re still smiling but it feels like you’re about to lose your mind. You’re still working but behind closed doors, you want to beat the walls in. You’re still showing up but inwardly, you’re dying. Change is happening and you can’t stop it. It comes with the new territory. You don’t have to believe me but think about what you have asked God for lately. If you asked Him to move you, some things have to change. If you asked Him to bless you, some things have to change. If you asked to be delivered, some things have to change. If you asked for new territory, some things have to change. You can’t move to Arizona with the same mindset you had in Miami, things have to change. You lost your house, it didn’t fit the change. Friends left, they don’t fit the change. Job laid you off? It didn’t fit the change. Church not feeling right? It may not fit the change. Beloved, change comes with new territory. Stop fighting it. New territory comes change. With change comes new mindset. With new mindset comes new blessings.

“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.” Isaiah 43:19

This week!

Hey all! I know I haven’t written a devotional this week but we are in the midst of moving and it’s hectic. However, if I get the chance, this week I will.

But, I simply stopped by to say this…

Trust God. Trust God even when it feels like you won’t make it. Trust God because you know, without a doubt that He’ll never leave you.

I listened to a sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr entitled “But if not,” and he said we have to have the type of faith thats willing to go for God even if He doesn’t show up when we think He should. We have to have faith that say, even though I’m stumbling I’ll still trust. Even though I may have to go in the fire, I’ll trust God to save me. But if not, I’ll still trust Him. But if not, I’ll still believe. But if not, God is still able!
Be blessed!

Daily Devotional – 1/27/17 “Everybody shouldn’t like you!”

I opened the bible app to look for another scripture but Luke 6:26 opened and it wouldn’t leave me alone. It says, “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.” If I break this thang down, it’s literally saying, “Miserable are you when the good and bad speaks well of you.” Why? Because somebody lying. But get this, it’s not about you personally but it’s about you spiritually. See, if you are carrying yourself right, everybody won’t like you. If you are preaching sound doctrine, everybody ain’t supposed to like you. If you are walking according to the word of God, you are expected to have folk who just don’t like you. Don’t take it personal, that’s the way the anointing does. It cuts, it stings and it makes folk feel uncomfortable around you. Leaving them saying, “It’s just something about him/her I don’t like.” So if everybody speaks well about you, there is a great possibility you aren’t doing something right. Because the word of God isn’t supposed to make you feel all warm and fuzzy, every time but it should give you a strong dose of act right.

You don’t have to believe me but read Proverbs 29:27 that says, “The righteous despise the unjust; the wicked despise the godly.” The wicked shouldn’t like Godly people. Think about it like this. When pest control shows up to spray for bugs, you don’t normally see bugs out in the open. I would think they have a keen awareness to sense danger and wouldn’t risk being sprayed by something that can potentially kill it. So, bugs don’t like them. Now take a wicked person. I would surmise, again, that the wicked has a keen awareness of being in the presence of the anointing and they know if they get close enough, there’s a possibility they may get hit by the Holy Spirit, killing the wickedness on the inside of them. This means, to me, they shouldn’t like the Godly. Oh but if every time you turn around, the wicked is standing toe to toe with you, reaching in to give you a hug, smiling and waving when they see you coming; there’s a huge chance you need to check yourself boo! Everybody shouldn’t like you. And if you seek to gain the approval of every man and woman, you’re seeking attention and reward from the wrong people.

Daily Devotional – 1/26/17 “Change some stuff!”

In order to not look like what you’ve been through, you’ve got to change some stuff about you. I know I’ve probably shared this before but beloved, you’ve got to come out of what you were once in. Stop going back to the place where you were victimized. Stop riding by the house that was foreclosed on. Stop looking at pictures of the person who dumped up. Stop showing up at parties being given by the person who hurt you. Stop looking for the same car that was repossessed. It’s time you came out of the smoke of self-doubt. It’s time for you to take off the sack cloth of separation, the stench of scorn and the garment of grief. Beloved, it’s time you came out because if you don’t, you’ll find yourself dressed up but still stanky! Yea, you’ll find yourself looking cute but uncomfortable and covered but still bleeding.

Please hear me, I am not trying to discount your struggle but how long will you still be captive in your mind although you’re physically free? I’m not taking away from what you’ve been through but how many times are you going to tell the same story without changing the ending? How many times will your testimony end without a shout of victory? At what point will your testimony be, “I was once lost but thank God I’m not found, I was blind but now I see or I was once a victim but now I’m victorious?” I’m all for your story but how can you testify to me, who’s going through the same thing, about you coming out if you still talk like you’re still in? Chile, tell me how it feels to be free so I can seek to be free too. Tell me how amazing it is to be healed instead of still talking like you’re sick. Tell me how you felt when you walked out of bondage instead of inviting me into your prison. Share with me your blessing so that I can shout for you until mine comes. Invite me to the praise party so I can rejoice for you until it’s time for me to have mine. All I’m saying is, you have to really change some stuff in order to not look like what you’ve been through!

Daily Devotional – 1/25/17 “Don’t look like what you’re going through!”

Somebody enjoys seeing you struggle. Somebody is ecstatic over the fact that you’ve lost everything. Somebody finds joy in seeing the stress on your face. Somebody is hoping that when they get up in the morning, you don’t. Sitting around scrolling through your social media accounts just to see if today will be the day you fall and won’t get up. They text with “I’ve been thinking about you,” and they have just not for the good. They show up when they hear something has happened to you simply to see if you’re really hurt, this time. Somebody, right now, is clicking like on your status when in fact, they can’t stand you and anybody connected to you. If I can be honest with you, it’s some folk who show up to your celebration just to see if they’ll catch a frown on your face. Because if they do, it’ll make them feel better by saying, “I told you they weren’t happy.” Beloved, there is folk who are waiting for you to miss a Sunday from worship so they can tell folks there’s trouble in paradise. Miss a day posting a selfie and they’ll swear you’re depressed and suicidal. Go out and have a drink with your girls and they’ll start saying your marriage is in trouble. Cry at the altar and they can’t wait to text and tell somebody.

Well chile, if you want to know how to beat them at their game, here’s the answer … Don’t look like what you’re going through! See, when you smile instead of showing signs of stress, it’ll confuse them. When you show up instead of wallowing in your pit of sorrow, they don’t know how to respond. When you hug them instead of slapping the hell out of them, it catches them off guard. When you show up to preach and you do so with power, they don’t have time to react. When you still teach bible study with 4 folk, the enemy leaves scratching his head. Baby, when you don’t look like what you’re going through, those same folk will sit somewhere trying to figure out how you’re still alive. When you don’t look like what you’re going through, those same folk won’t have any choice but to serve who you do. When you don’t look like what you’re going through, the same ones fighting you, will now fight for you. When you don’t look like what you’re going through, the same folk speaking on you, will speak up for you. You don’t have to fight them, love them instead. Instead of getting even, get elevated. For the bible says in Proverbs 16:7, “When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.”