Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 5/10/16 “If God doesn’t show up …”

After a few days of not doing a devotional, I’ve come to understand that even if God never gives me another message to minister, He’s still God and I’ll serve Him. Even if I never write another devotional to encourage somebody, you ought to know that God is available for you and you should try Him. Even if God doesn’t show up when I expect Him to, I’ll still trust in Him. Even when God allows me to go through trials, I’ll go in with praises unto Him. What am I getting at? As Saints of God, we’ve got to understand that even if God never shows up in our situation, He’s done enough already (that should be enough to pull us through). Even when we can’t understand why we are being tested, we ought to have enough faith to know that it’s not for our torment (that should be enough for us to push on). Even if God allows everything we have to be snatched away, we have to know it’s for a purpose (that should be enough for praise to still be fresh on our lips). I think about the three Hebrew boys when they were about to thrown into the fire. Nebuchadnezzar was in an uproar because they wouldn’t bow down to him. He asked these boys in Daniel 3:15, “And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” These three boys simply say in Daniel 3:16-18, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

See, they knew and recognized that the God they served was capable of saving them from the fire but they end by saying, but even if God doesn’t show up and save us; we won’t bow down to you. They understood that everything God had already done for them was more than they could afford to pay back (already indebted to Him). They knew all of the blessings God had given them were already too numerous to count. They recognized the blessings in being attached to God. So they said to the king, “Even if God doesn’t show up, we’ll still go in the fire on His behalf!” And somebody on today, whomever you are, who are complaining about the trials of life; you ought to get out of your funk and realize that going through is just a part of the process and you should be willing to go through it, just to serve your purpose! It doesn’t matter how hot or hard it seems, at the time, you ought to be willing to go simply because it’s God asking. I mean, think about this … If a cake could talk, it’d probably say, everything I have to go through; from being whipped and beaten to then withstanding the heat of the oven is all worth it, to see the end result and even if you don’t eat me, I’d still would have served my purpose. What do I mean? Jesus had to endure and even if we decide not to serve Him, He’s still served His purpose. We have to endure and if God decides not to show up, at that moment; He’s still serving His purpose. We should, then, be willing to serve ours and if that means a test, this time; we should do it!

Video Devotional – 5/6/16 “Are you willing to fight?”

You’ll never know if you’re capable of winning unless you’re willing to get in the fight!

Are you willing to fight?

Be blessed!

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Daily Devotional – 5/5/16 “I’ll just wave my hand!”

Have you ever been waiting at a restaurant for someone to come in and when they do, you stand up and wave your hand to get their attention instead of yelling? Have you ever been across a room and you see someone you know and you wave your hand to get their attention instead of calling out? Have you ever been in public and see someone familiar but instead of shouting, you wave to get their attention? Well, sometimes all you have to do to get God’s attention is simply wave your hand. Yea! He already knows your cry; He’s been listening to your tears. He already knows your prayer; He’s been listening to your heart. He already knows because He’s intercepted your groans. Sometimes, all you need to do is simply wave your hand. That’s letting God know, here I am. That’s letting God know, I need you and I need you now. Baby, God doesn’t need you to cause a scene, He isn’t waiting to see how loud you can scream; all He’s interested in is the sincere prayers of the righteous. Don’t believe me? Well, that’s alright because I have bible on my side. God says in Isaiah 65:24, “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” That’s not enough? Then read Romans 8:26-27 that says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

I don’t know what you’re in need of my brother. I don’t know what you’re seeking my sister. However, I know someone who can help you. I know someone who will meet you where you are. I know a man who will show up in the midst of your cry. I know a man who will listen even when you don’t speak. I know a man and He shows up, every time. This is why you have to do what Ephesians 6:18 says, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.” It doesn’t matter that it might not sound right, continue praying. God isn’t looking for proper grammatical conversation; He’s simply listening to see if you’ll call Him. God isn’t waiting to see if you’ll use biblical terms, He’s just waiting on you to let Him in. God isn’t counting the minutes of your prayers; He needs to see if you’ll take a minute for Him. Baby, I don’t know about you but when I’m in a spiritual fight for my life, I don’t have time for a long drawn out prayer; I simply say, “Lord, have mercy on me! Amen.” When I’m in the midst of a darken pit, I don’t have the resources to tap into a Sunday morning altar prayer, I simply say; “Lord, come and see about me. Amen.” When I’m at the edge of the cliff, there’s no time for meaningless mumbling, I simply call out, “Lord, I trust you. Amen” When my feet is in the fire, I don’t have time to think out my words, I say; “Lord, I’m willing to endure for you. Amen.” And when I come to a place I have no words, I’ll simply wave my hand and God will understand.

Daily Devotional – 5/4/16 “Ever seen a bird with a backpack?”

I received an inbox yesterday for clarification on the question, “Have you ever seen a bird with a backpack?” It says that birds consistently travel this planet constantly guided by their instinct to carry out their purpose. Isn’t that something? Although a bird travels from here to there, you’ll never see them with a backpack of their belongings neither will you see them staying in one place simply because they don’t think they’ll find what they need to fulfill their purpose. Why? Well, they trust in what was placed inside of them and that means they are trusting in who made them. It’s like the birds that fly south for the winter. If they decided to stay north because they didn’t think they’d have what they need in the south; I’d surmise they would probably starve to death (as the birds that fly south usually do so to survive). What’s the point? You’ve got to stop staying in your place of complacency simply because you are afraid. You’ve got to quit placing your purpose on hold because you’re worried you won’t have what you need. Have you ever seen a bird with a backpack of twigs to build their nest or worms to eat? No and this is because they trust in their purpose of knowing, they’ll find everything they need when they fly in their purpose.

So I ask these questions of you today? Why do you have a backpack on your back and what’s in it? Is it worry because you don’t feel good enough? Is it self-hatred because you don’t feel beautiful enough? Is it anger because someone did you wrong? Is it selfishness because you’re all about you and nobody else? Is it messiness and gossip because you’ve become good at that? What’s in your backpack and why are you carrying it around? When will you trust in what God has placed inside of you? When will let go of the backpack and soar higher? When will you let go of the negativity and worry and believe in who God has made you? A bird flies without thought of what they’ll need because they trust, through faith, in how they were created and that what they need to fulfill their purpose will be given. Why are we, as Christians, not capable of tapping into our faith and trusting in who created us knowing we have access to everything we need to fulfill our purpose? Birds were created with wisdom to build and strength to fly in order to survive and we’re created with wisdom to build and strength to survive. Why aren’t we? They trust their purpose and the purpose giver. Do we?

Daily Devotional – 5/3/16 “Be kind!”

It’s a new month and we’ve lived to see it! That’s something to be excited and grateful for. I know I am because as of today, I am 39 years +1 day young and I’ve been married 18 years + 1 day. Isn’t God amazing? I’ve been overjoyed in the loved received by all and that’s because you don’t have to be nice to me. Think about it. We live in a world, now days that we don’t even expect folk to be nice. We’re shocked when we walk into a fast food restaurant and actually get good customer service. We are surprised when someone holds the door open for us or are blown away when someone says thank you or simply apologizes. This is because we live in a world where somebody might just kill you if you reject their advances; husbands are killings wives, children are killing other children, wives are not respecting their husbands because they don’t respect themselves, people are becoming the victims of hate crimes because of the color of their skin or their sexual preference and Christians are doing everything but being Christian-like. We live in a society were woman are okay with being misused and abused as long as they have a piece of a man. We are raising children in homes where we bash the other parent in front of them. We are working in a world where folk would rather throw you under the bus than see you get promoted. And we worship in a world where Saints are more worried about their traditions than they are God’s word and don’t mind hurting your feelings over it. What in the world is going on?

Where did we lose ourselves? When did we forget what the word says in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you?” Why do we find it easy to show love to strangers and not those in our same household? Why are we so quick to demean each other instead of lifting each other? Why is it easier to spew hate rather than help? What if you don’t live to see tomorrow, would you be satisfied with how you lived today? If you were to need help tomorrow, would you have someone willing to come? Matthew 7:12 says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Treat folk how you want to be treated, at all times! Be kind and then kindness will be returned to you. Give and it shall be given back to you. Respect and respect you shall be given. Forgive because in your forgiving them, God forgives you. So, let me start by saying this… Thank you for allowing me to encourage you. Thank you for taking the time to say happy birthday/anniversary on yesterday. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for your kindness towards me. And if there’s anything that I’ve said or done that is not pleasing, please forgive me. I pray that you’ll find it in your heart to share love, kindness and laughter on today. Not just in the streets but in your home as well. Be kind because you never know when the next person needs it!