Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 12/29/16 “God has need of you!”

Her clothes were skimpy, body covered with tattoos and hair the color of the rainbow. She walked the streets selling herself to every person she thought could fill the emptiness on the inside of her. See, her son passed away at the age of two; heart disease, and no matter how she tried, she couldn’t bring herself out of the depression that called her name day after day. Her family loved her but they couldn’t help her. She tried drugs/alcohol but even they didn’t help. One day she got into the car of a man she’d serviced before. He had a smile that made you trust him and she did. But this day the smile faded and the monster appeared. He raped and beat her, leaving her at the edge of the city for dead. She was in a coma for seven days. On the eighth day, she opened her eyes and saw a man walking around her bed. She couldn’t make out what he was saying but he kept touching her. She tried to speak, she tried to move but couldn’t. So she closed her eyes and whispered within her spirit, “Lord, I surrender,” before drifting off to sleep. The next day she is awaken by the sounds of her mom calling her name. She opens her eyes and after the tubes are removed, she asks about the man. No one knew who she was talking about but she kept whispering, where’s the man?

After a few days, the hospital chaplain comes in and she recognizes him. She ask him about that night and he explains that God allowed her to sleep until the 8th day because 8 represents her being resurrected from a past of guilt, shame and depression. He explains his reasoning for coming between the hours of 6pm-9pm because this was the ‘watch’ of healing. He further explained that God has a purpose for her life. She had trouble believing him because of the life she lived and she asked, “Why would God want somebody like me?” He replied, “God doesn’t want you, He needs you.” And for somebody reading this who thinks God won’t use you because of your past mistakes and present sin; you’re wrong. Beloved, God has need of you and your story. And it’s time you tell it. Somebody’s deliverance is dependent on your testimony. Somebody’s release is pending waiting on your story. In fact, your restoration/regeneration will only happen when you tell your story. Then you can say like Psalm 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.” In other words, my suffering saved me! God doesn’t want you, He said He can make rocks cry out but He has need of you to help somebody else.

Daily Devotional – 12/28/16 “The cost of bragging!”

He had the big expensive house, drove the finest cars and his clothes were custom-made. He’d made a name for himself, being from a small town in MS and he made sure everybody knew it. He was raised in the church but became too busy for God. He rarely made it home but he made it a point to send the biggest box of expensive gifts, making sure the children knew, uncle did it. He was quick to offer his help but it came with conditions and he never kept it quiet. Everybody knew he was the reason momma and daddy didn’t lose their house and his brother’s business didn’t close. He was proud and stood tall, even in pictures because he was ‘thee’ man and his joy came from everybody knowing it. Then cancer showed up, claiming his once tall stature. It took the hair he glorified, the body he worshipped and put the job, he idolized, on hold. He found himself being alone at the chemo treatments and doctor appointments because nobody would answer his calls anymore.

Yet when the family he labeled a disgrace heard he was sick, they showed up. The sisters he’d wounded now wiped his mouth when the medicine made him sick. The brothers he made feel worthless made sure his home didn’t suffer. The parents he pushed away, put their life on hold for him. The God he’d forsaken, he now prayed to. The bible that was packed in the back of his closet, now lay on his chest night after night. Yea, he knew what he was doing was wrong but his weak mind and even heightened ego had him bound. He didn’t understand the cost of bragging and his fleshly arrogance. But he found out, the hard way. And for somebody reading this, don’t allow bragging to write a check your butt can’t afford to cash. Don’t let your ego be the reason you won’t evolve. Yes, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor but be mindful of being a show off. Because although our outsides are different, we all bleed red blood. And please don’t forget that our grave will be the same size and buried the same depth no matter how much the funeral/casket cost.

Daily Devotional – 12/23/16 “Still!”

As I reflect back on the movie Hidden Figures, it reminded me that no matter your circumstances you can still …What do I mean? Well, these 3 ladies were working for NASA during the time there was still colored bathrooms, sitting on the back of the bus, some universities that didn’t allow blacks to take classes needed to be promoted and the black women who had the knowledge were known as “computers.”

Yet these women still …

They still showed up everyday. They still worked. They still gained the knowledge. They still persevered. And they still trusted God. They didn’t allow their circumstances to hold them back. They didn’t allow their situation to keep them from getting their names etched in history. It didn’t matter that they were Hidden Heroes, they still!

On today, a few days before 2016 ends, will you still allow your circumstance to hold you hostage or are you going to get up and do something. Are you still going to blame your past on why you can’t or will you push through? Will you still forfeit your destiny or are you tired of being hidden? Will you walk into your rightful place or are you still scared?

You have the chance to be and do whatever you set your mind too, you simply have to still stand even in the face of the enemy. Push through!

Daily Devotional – 12/20/16 – It’s my story to tell!

Chile, it’s time you get to a place in your life where you tell folk, “If you’re going talk about me, tell my story right.” Look, at some point in your natural life, you’ve got to accept your flaws. You’ve got to own the mistakes you made. Stop hiding behind what you used to do. Stop using your past as an excuse as to why you can’t step into the shadow of the God who gives us an infinite amounts of do overs. Baby, we ALL have a past. We’ve all sinned and fallen short. We’ve all been one sin away from damnation. Oh but we serve a God who can settle our case with charges dismissed while wiping our slate clean. God can use us even with the major imperfections in our clay pot. God will use us even with our present being a little tainted. God will use us despite us because He specializes in remodeling and restoration. That ought to be great news for somebody today!

Because somebody is looking at their credit report and already counting out the blessing. Somebody is looking at their arrest record and counting out the job. Somebody is looking at the many baby daddies/mommas and already counting out your wife/husband. Somebody is looking at the scars and dismissing the healing. You’re, right now, looking in the mirror and counting yourself out. You’re looking at the screen, reading the words and still shaking your head. Well beloved, I’m simply being obedient to the God I serve and He told me to tell you, try again! I don’t know who this is for but God said, try again. He didn’t tell me how many tries it’ll take, He simply said to tell you TRY AGAIN! I don’t know who this is for but tell your story. Ma’am, tell your story. Sir, tell your story. Don’t allow it to die without being told. You are the living testimony someone needs to hear in order to push through.

“But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” Mark 5:19

Daily Devotional – 12/19/16 “Pre-term labor!”

It is six days before Christmas and as I sat here, I wondered how Mary was feeling as she prepared to give birth. So I Googled symptoms and signs that labor is near because a lot of us are in labor, spiritually and we’ve yet to recognize the signs. You know something is happening but you don’t understand it. Well, here’s Lakisha’s thoughts on signs that you’re headed for labor.

1. Your baby “drops” – By baby, I mean blessing and this is why you can’t explain the heaviness you feel. Things don’t make sense and you’re even wobbling and swaying but that’s because the pressure of your blessing is preparing to be pushed out.

2. You start to dilate – This means things are being made wider or larger to make room for the receiving of your impending birth. And this is why…

3. You feel more pain – This is because your muscles and joints are stretching and shifting in preparation for delivery.

4. You get clumsy – You start bumping into things and tripping over stuff even though you looked and didn’t see anything. This is because God is surrounding you with supernatural beings that’s covering you on every side.

5. You lose weight – That’s the dead stuff you shed that no longer fits your birthing plan. Like folk who used you, folk who said they’d be there but lied and folk who only show up to be nosey.

6. You may get a burst of energy – This is because God is doing a work in you and sometimes that happens at night. So while you sleep, God is working and although you only got 4 hours of sleep, you to wake up feeling refreshed and it’s hard to explain.

7. You may feel contractions – this is pain that takes your breath away, stops you in your tracks, cuts off your words and pain you can’t do anything about but breathe knowing it’s only momentary.

So, whomever you are that’s experiencing these signs, it’s just pre-term labor and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. There’s ways you can deal with it but you can’t stop it so prepare yourself to push. For the bible says in Isaiah 66:9, “Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it?” asks the LORD. “No! I would never keep this nation from being born,” says your God.”