Daily Devotional – 4/19/16 “Don’t rush the process!”

Don’t spend your time rushing to accomplish everything, now, that you don’t leave yourself anything else to strive for. What do I mean? Well, if you rush to be CEO by 25, what else will you have to work towards? If you rush to be a bishop at 19, what else is there left to be? If your fifth marriage, by the time you’re 30, is ending when will you have time to really get the one God has for you? What I am asking is, why are you rushing the process of what God has ordained for your life? Yes, God has given some of us, in the ministry, the anointing of being a pastor but you’ve got to first get the part of associate minister, down. Yes, God has given some of us leadership ability but you can’t lead if you’ve yet to follow. Yes, God has given some of us the victory but it was only after running the race. Yea, some of us have received a breakthrough but it was only after the suffering. Yea, some of us have been restored but it was only after being broken. What’s my point? You can’t rush the process of what God is doing. Haven’t you realized by now that when you rush you mess up? When you’re rushing to leave the house, you forget something. When you rush to get something done, you don’t notice the mistakes until it’s too late. When you rush into a relationship, you realize when you’re too far in, this isn’t what I needed. When you rush worship, you miss the fire of the Holy Spirit. When you rush to grow up, you regret it once you’re actually grown. When you rush to get to the future, you miss the present. Slow down!

It’s like this … For me, being in ministry is what I was called to do but it’s a process. Yes, I know God has something more for me but I can’t rush the process of what He’s doing, not only in my life but in the life of my husband and my children because it affects them too. This is why God won’t allow me to move until He’s processed each of us for where WE are headed. It isn’t just about me because with ministry comes work for not only me but for them as well. And we all have to be ready. This is why you need to slow down and allow God to do the work. If what you’re asking for hasn’t happened yet, your process isn’t done. I know you’re ready to get married but are your children ready? I know you’re ready to move out-of-town but is your spouse? I know you’re ready for God to enlarge your territory but can your family handle it? When God moves in your life, those attached to you are also affected. This is why you have to be mindful of what you’re asking for. Being in the ministry, my family has to expect there may be more than one church service, there may be late night phone calls, early morning prayer requests or there may even be times I can’t go out-of-town that weekend. It’s part of the process. But don’t rush it! Allow God to process you along with everything and everybody around you. This ensures that when it seems as if the fire is getting too hot, they won’t run because they’ve already been prepared to withstand. Don’t rush the process.

“But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.” Romans 8:25

Daily Devotional – 4/18/16 “Why are you mad?”

It’s Monday and someone has the blues! Yea, you’re mopping around because some mess has been started and your name is in it. You’re mad because you don’t have the money you really need. Someone is simply mad because it’s Monday. But get this, in a few more days, it’ll be Monday again. So, get out of the mood you’re in. What you ought to be happy about is the fact that you lived to see it. Chile, don’t you understand that someone laid down healthy last night and didn’t get up today? Haven’t you seen the news and heard about the hell that’s happening in the world? Didn’t you notice the death angel visited quite a few people’s home, just on last night, yet you were spared again? Don’t you get it? Your family and friends could be writing RIP in front of your name, they could be waiting on visiting hours in the ICU just to see you again or they could be trying to figure out how to pay a lawyer for the mess that got you caught up. Yet, here you are, once again, alive which means God has use of you. You got up this morning which means God has a purpose for your life. And you have the opportunity to partake in a day you weren’t promised to see, that means your destiny is still waiting. So what are you mad about?

Yea, I know that you may be going through some things, you may be depressed, angry for no reason, mad at the world just because, wanting more than what you have, wishing for things to be better, planning for tomorrow with no regards for today, looking for more but not really searching and praying for answers but asking the wrong questions. Beloved, you want the victory but not the valley experience. You want the blessing but don’t want to participate in the battle. You want to hear God’s call but not follow His commandments. You want to be delivered but you don’t want the pain of the process. You want to be elevated yet you’re afraid of heights. You want the anointing yet you won’t accept the afflictions attached. You want favor but you fold at the first fight. You want the Holy Ghost but you’re filled with more hell and hostility. You ask for God’s instruction and then ignore His intentions. You ask for joy but get tired on the journey. You want love but won’t labor. You want mercy but won’t minister. You want to be renewed but won’t repent. You say you’re saved yet you won’t sacrifice and serve. You want the testimony but not the trials and test. Chile! You’ve got to do your part. What you’re going through, it’s called life and either you live it on your terms or God’s but you can’t do both. Either way, being mad won’t help.

God says, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” This is why I’ll be, “glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:-9-10

Daily Devotional – 4/15/16 “Preparation for the storm!”

Somebody is about to go through something and it’s going to shake you to your core. Yea, the enemy has already set up camp outside your house, he’s already called in his bet against you and he’s already checked the win in his column but he’s a bold face lie! Baby, I come today declaring and decreeing that whoever you are, you shall not die! I don’t care what the enemy says, you shall win! I don’t care that it looks like the odds are against you, you will be victorious! Maybe I’m talking to myself but whoever you are, prepare yourself now. When a town is preparing for a hurricane, they take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety until the storm passes; now is the time for you to do the same. Here’s what I need you to do. I need you to board the windows (your eyes) from the stuff that’s about to start coming your way. You know how the enemy works; he’ll start sending stuff he knows you like to get you off course. He’ll send that man or woman when you start having problems at home. You’ll start getting advertisements in the mail from the check cashing places when your finances are funny. You’ll start seeing stuff on social media that wouldn’t usually bother you but this time it will. Board the windows. Next, I need to you to guard the door, the door to your heart. Don’t let just anybody in because you’ll be emotional and going off your feelings and not your faith. Then I need you to seek cover, spiritual covering. For the word says in Psalm 91:1, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Yes, it’s about to get crazy but it won’t last. The sound in your ears are about to be loud but prayer even louder. The shaking in your spirit is about to be something you’ve never experienced, brace for the impact! For the bible tells me in Revelation 2:10, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” See, somebody is about to be placed into a spiritual jail and you’ve committed no crime. Somebody is about to be pushed so far in the pit, it’ll feel as if you’re close to death; you’ll live. Somebody is about to face hell in your home after everything has been going so good; it’ll pass. Somebody is about to experience a wilderness walk through and it seems as if you just came out of one; don’t unpack your bag. Somebody is about to lose everything over something or someone you thought was everything, they/it wasn’t. Somebody is about to be persecuted because we love the Lord, rejoice because He loves us too. So, stay the course because after the storm, the SON will shine again. Then we’ll be able to step out and realize the only thing you lost was the stuff that didn’t mean you any good anyway!

What is your story? – This is mine!

I shared this on my devotional site this morning (Kisha’s Daily Devotional) and I thought it was worth sharing here.

I asked the question, “What’s your story?”

For me, I am a preacher of God’s word who writes about sex and I love God with every fiber of my being. I’m from a single parent home although my dad lives in the same city. 12188522_10208202549200191_1645198264_nI am a product of a huge family, raised in the heart of North Memphis and I’m a twin.I’m saved by the blood of the lamb but I still cuss, sometimes, (especially when I’m upset). I have tattoos and would probably get a few more if my father-in-love hadn’t threatened me. I stay up late, I like to read and if you don’t know, I absolutely love shoes! I have a passion for God and the church yet I don’t know what His purpose for me is yet. (That’s my struggle). I also struggle at home to raise two teenagers who think they have the world figured out yet they can’t survive on their own. This year my husband and I will celebrate 18 years of marriage and we’ve yet to have a proper honeymoon. I love my family but just like you, we have our issues but I’ll love and pray the hell out of them. I write devotionals and I use Facebook for my Godly purpose and for selling my books. I am a published author who is working to get my name out to the masses. Oh, I love God! I’ll pray for you and sell you a book, afterwards. I’ll love you but it doesn’t necessarily mean I have to like you. But this is my story!

What’s yours?

To find out a little more about me, find me on social media

Facebook – Personal page or my Author Page

Instagram – KishaJohnson

Twitter – _kishajohnson

Visit my Amazon’s Author Page

Or you can email me at authorlakisha@gmail.com

As always,
–Happy Reading!
Lakisha

Daily Devotional – 4/14/16 “What’s your story?”

What story is God using you to tell? What story is written by your life? What is your story? For me, I am a preacher of God’s word who writes about sex and I love God with every fiber of my being. I’m from a single parent home although my dad lives in the same city. I am a product of a huge family, raised in the heart of North Memphis and I’m a twin. I’m saved by the blood of the lamb but I still cuss, sometimes, (especially when I’m upset). I have tattoos and would probably get a few more if my father-in-love hadn’t threatened me. I stay up late, I like to read and if you don’t know, I absolutely love shoes! I have a passion for God and the church yet I don’t know what His purpose for me is yet. (That’s my struggle). I also struggle at home to raise two teenagers who think they have the world figured out yet they can’t survive on their own. This year my husband and I will celebrate 18 years of marriage and we’ve yet to have a proper honeymoon. I love my family but just like you, we have our issues but I’ll love and pray the hell out of them. I write devotionals and I use Facebook for my Godly purpose and for selling my books. I am a published author who is working to get my name out to the masses. Oh, I love God! I’ll pray for you and sell you a book, afterwards. I’ll love you but it doesn’t necessarily mean I have to like you. But this is my story!

Now, what’s yours? What is your life portraying to those watching? What are you getting out of the purpose God has set for your life? In order to find out, in order to be able to live your story; you have to go through the things God allows to show up in your life. This is why you have to take the test you sometimes find at your door. This is why you have to push through the storms that sometime show up out of nowhere. This is why we have to be bold soldiers for God and trust His plan. This is why we have to allow God to process our lives, daily, to kill our flesh and strengthen our spirit. When we do this, we are essentially allowing our natural lives to be in sync with our spiritual life. The last thing we should want is to pray for things in the spirit that we aren’t ready for in our natural. It’s like asking God for a church to pastor when your personal life is in chaos – it won’t work. It’s like asking God to give you a job in accounting when you can’t manage your own money. It’s like asking God for a million dollar house when you can’t even pay rent on time. It won’t work. We have to know our story otherwise it’ll be like being in a play you haven’t studied for. You may just flop on opening night. What is your story?

What is your story