Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 7/12/16 “Are you a worthy example?”

If you don’t have anything appropriate to say, please hush and have a seat. We are living in a time where we need real, righteous, recognized examples of leadership and if this is not you, exit stage left. I am tired of seeing children without someone to look up to except the rappers and the singers who are putting on a show to get your hard-earned dollars. I am sick of seeing folk camped out around a building for a pair of shoes that cost more than most of their rent only to teach their children this is what their priority should be. I am fed up with seeing our children being failed at home, in school and in the church and then we wonder why they turn to the streets. Where are the examples they can look up too? Where are the men who are willing to teach the young boys what it means to really sag their pants and what it’ll mean if they pull them up? Where are the women who are willing to take a moment and teach the young girls what they look like with their skirts sky-high and what it’ll look like if they pull them down? Where are the pastors that are willing to really teach the word of God instead of sugar-coating things? Where are the first ladies who don’t mind stepping in to teach an etiquette class? Where are the real ushers who didn’t mind looking at you sideways, challenging you to get wrong? Where are the deacons who could pray you out the pit of hell? Where are the Saints of God who took an oath to save their lost brothers/sisters?

The bible says this in Titus 2:1-8, “You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” In other words, be an example that’s pleasing. Be a role model that’s worthy of being modeled after. Be a mentor who’s willing to mentor without charging folk for every bit of advice you give. Be worthy of who God has made you. Is that you? If God were to clone you, would it be good? Are you a great example? If so, congratulations; share what you know. If it’s not, find someone to look up too so that you can change your way of thinking and acting in other to encourage others to change theirs. Get to a place in your life where you can explain who and whose you are without stuttering!

Daily Devotional – 7/11/16 “Move in silence!”

Sometimes you need to shut up and move in silence! This is for a number of reasons.

1. When you don’t broadcast ALL your business, no one has any to broadcast.
2. When you move, silently, you have the element of surprise on your side.
3. You’ll shock the hell out of your enemies.

Do you think SWAT announces their plans to the folk they’re looking for? Do you think the military tells their plans to the enemies? No, because then they wouldn’t be able to capture those they are seeking. Even a smart robber knows it’s the element of surprise that allows them to get away. When a process-server or a sheriff’s deputy walks up to you with paperwork from the court, isn’t it a surprise? Sure it is because if they tell you, you’d probably dodge them. And do you honestly think the plans God has for your life is made known to the enemy ahead of time? Nawl! Because if He did, the enemy would then have an opportunity to set his defense of knocking yours down. This is why you need to shut up and move. It’s like this … when you move in silence, those you are up against don’t have time to think of a plan to combat your mission. Think about it. Every Saturday night you say, I’m going to church in the morning because I need it. Then on Sunday morning, any and everything prevents you from going. From waking up late, to not feeling well and even not being able to find something to wear (even though you have plenty of clothes). Oh but if you just get up Sunday morning, get dressed and move; the enemy doesn’t have time to throw you off course because you would have surprised him with your move. Chile, just shut up and move.

And if you didn’t know this, some of the people you are telling your vision/plans too are secretly plotting against you to fail before it even begins. These folk are call moles or inside spies and you have to be mindful of them because they are the ones reporting your plans to the enemy. Guess what, they are dressed up like supporters and friends so you won’t be able to tell the difference between them. This is why you need to put your top lip together with your bottom lip and be quiet. When you start saying stuff like, “devil I’m going to defeat you today,” he’s laughing because he knows all he has to do is amp up his game to ensure you don’t. But when you move, silently, he doesn’t know what, when, where or how. Even the bible says in Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” So, if you get nothing else out of this devotional, take this nugget … Don’t broadcast your plans in the beginning but baby feel free to shout it out, to the world, when it’s complete! This way; no one will be able to take credit, give inside secrets to others nor will the enemy have time to stop it!

Daily Devotional – 7/8/16 “We have the power!”

If you don’t think it’s time to pray, fast, lie on our face in submission to God, cast out demons and cover our families with the blood of Jesus; keep watching! I don’t even know what to write about today because my soul, my spirit and my heart is heavy. Heavy from the lives that are being lost senselessly. Heavy from the thought of folk who have to bury their loved ones too soon. Heavy over not knowing what to do. Just plain heavy. We are living in a time where evil is more widespread and it’s even more bold. Evil is now staring Saints in the face and we’re the ones running. Evil is showing up on our jobs and we won’t say anything out of fear of who might hear us. Evil is showing up at our schools and we’re scared of calling the name of Jesus because it goes against the rules. Evil is showing up at our places of worship and we’ve become comfortable enough to fellowship with it. Evil is bold enough to sit at the dinner table with us and take over the conversation. We no longer allow evil to ride because we’ve allowed it to drive. We’ve gotten complacent and it’s showing in our worship. We’ve gotten comfortable, let our guard down and now we no longer have the power to cast out the things that don’t belong. Where is God in your life?

Y’all, I’ve told you this before but it’s time out for the patty cake prayer, this feel good preaching, this soft worship and limited fasting. It’s time out for playing with the enemy thinking you won’t get hurt. It’s time out for inviting the enemy over and thinking he won’t stay long. It’s time out for getting the enemy’s benefits thinking he won’t come back to collect what’s due. Chile, before I even begin speaking about the enemy; I let it be known he has no power over me. Before I even begin typing about him, I declare God’s protection over me. Before I tell you about him, I let it be known; it’s not to glorify him but it’s to denounce him. See, you have to do these things because usually when you call someone’s name or talk about them, they show up. Nawl chile, I don’t need him showing up in my life; I’m covered by the Lord! This is why we have to cover ourselves in the blood of Jesus. We are children of God and He has given us dominion and power. You don’t have to believe me but take God at His word. For it says in Luke 10:19, “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” And it goes on to say in Luke 10:20, “But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” This means, don’t boast when the enemy flees by your command but rejoice for the fact that God is pleased with your fight!

–We have the power!

Daily Devotional – 7/7/16 “Prostrate Prayer!”

You know, it’s good to just take some time and rest; every now and then. I took a few days of vacation from work and although they were much needed, I still didn’t rest completely. However, a friend told me that sometimes God needs us to rest in Him. Yea, sometimes we need to take some time and lay prostrate (flat out on our face) in prayer and worship with God. Not at church on Sunday morning, not at bible study or prayer meeting and not even at revival but in a quiet place where you can hear from Him and He can hear from you. Every now and again, we have to do this. You may not see it but the enemy is getting more aggressive in his tactics. He’s pitting children against parents, spouses against one another, members against pastor and friends against friends. It’s not that he has changed his game but we’re still falling for the same plays. So now, in order to defeat him at his game, God has to call out new plays for us to carry. And in order to hear the play, we’ve got to be quiet long enough. This is why we have to lay out, prostrate, in submission and total surrender to God. Why do you think God speaks to us in our dreams? It’s because it’s then we aren’t talking, worrying nor busy.

I don’t know about you but with everything going on in the world, we need; no we have to take time in worship with God. This way you’ll be able to handle what you’re up against, you’ll be capable of seeing things clearer and stronger to withstand. See, when you go before God, prostrate in prayer, you’re releasing everything to Him. This is why you have to go in with a clear mind and open ears in order to be able to hear and with the sole purpose of worshiping, praying and letting go. Then when you get up, you’ll do so with the faith that what you’ve released will be handled. In the bible, Numbers 20:6 says, “Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.” It says in Genesis 17:3, “Abram fell facedown, and God said to him…” What I need you to see is, God shows up when you lie down and God will show up in your surrendering. Beloved, it’s not because you are in a place of giving up but it’s because you’re in a place of worship to give it over. So, take your struggles, desires; your all to God and trust Him to do what you need. And please note, do it when you have the time to actually devote yourself to Him because I’ve found that a few minutes with God can turn into an hour. Trust God enough to lay prostrate before Him in prayer and worship.

Daily Devotional – 7/1/16 “Finish the assignment”

In this life we live, we are all on assignment; some call them seasons. Whatever you call them, we have them. Some of us have more than others but it doesn’t negate the fact that we have assignments. It’s like completing a grade in school. Once you’ve met all the requirements, you pass. If you happen to be the type that slacked off a little, you’ll need a little more so you go to summer school. For those who slacked off a lot, you’ll have to repeat the grade. It’s the same concept spiritually. When God has placed us on assignment, it is our duty to finish it. Yes, it may be hard and we go through moments of not understanding but we have to finish because it’s the only way we’ll get promoted. See, you have to understand this; God will never place us in an assignment He didn’t write the coursework for nor one He didn’t fully test. Neither will God ever place us in an assignment He hasn’t mapped out the action plan for leaving. This is why you have to trust Him going into the assignment, in the assignment and coming out of the assignment. And regardless of how we feel about it, it is not up for discussion because we can’t barter with God. We either go now or we go later. But understand, going later comes with a whole lot of stuff you might not necessarily like.

What do I mean? Well, when I was running from God’s call; I went through years of struggling. Yea, I struggled spiritually, mentally and financially. Never to the point of being homeless, depressed or suicidal but it was a struggle nonetheless. Yet, when I eventually accepted my assignment, I saw an immediate change. You may not believe this but God began to work in my life the very next day. This is why I said if you choose to go later, you might not like the stuff that comes along with putting off your assignment. Chile, you can run but you cannot hide. And please, don’t forfeit your assignment too early. Giving up in an assignment is like dropping out of school. You’ll still have to do the work whenever you come back. It’s like picking a peach before it’s ripe; you’ll still have to wait. So, don’t make it harder than it has to be. It’ll already be hard enough just with the things God requires of us so why add do it by leaving before it’s time? This is why you can’t just up and change worship places (it’s for jobs too) without consulting God. This is for leadership and members. Being a part of the fellowship of God is an assignment and you have to be released to leave. Don’t believe me? Why do you think you keep going back to the same thing/place you left? Or why do you think it feels like you’re starting over? It wasn’t your time to leave. Stay and finish your assignment and when it’s time, God will release you with directions to the new one.