Daily Devotional – 4/13/16 “Adjusting to the wrong thing!”

I saw a post that showed a frog inside a pot. The post said that the frog will adjust its body to the temperature of the water. So, I had to google this. In fact, Wikipedia says this … If you put a frog in hot water, it’ll jump out but if you put a frog in cold water and gradually increase the heat; the frog may be killed. Why? Well because although the frog’s body did adjust, it didn’t recognize the impending danger of the water getting hot so it stayed there and could eventually die. I know you’re wondering why I’m sharing this but look; many of us, Saints of God, have gotten into situations that had it been hot (not worth it in the beginning) we would have jumped out of it but because we started in it when it was cold, we’ve allowed ourselves to adjust to the mess we’re in. Yea, we’ve tied ourselves to folk we are spiritually unyoked with and we’ve adjusted to it. We get up on Sundays and go to church but leave them at home saying, “You going to that church again”. We hang out with folks who mean us no good because in the beginning they acted as if they’d change but in actuality all they were doing was warming us up to their ways. And now we’ve adjusted. Don’t believe me?

You used to go to bible study and at the start of the relationship; he/she was cool with it. Oh but now, since you’ve been there a while, they start making plans on the night they know you have bible study. You miss the first one and say you won’t miss the next one until you look and realize you’ve stopped going all together. You said you were going to abstain from sex until God sends your husband. You meet Ray and he’s acceptable to it, at first. Then he starts making comments, “Other women do it for their man,” and before long you’ve adjusted your body to the temperature of his water and stayed. You’re a member of said church and you know good and well you aren’t being spiritually fed but you’re comfortable there and now you’ve adjusted your spirituality to accept what’s been offered even though it’s not helping you. My question to you is, when will you stop adjusting to the wrong thing? Don’t you feel the water on your skin? Isn’t it hot? When will you get out? Oh, you’re waiting. Then you get out and realize the water was hotter than you thought and now you have second degree burns that have tainted your skin and your spirit. Yea, you’ve adjusted to the mess you’re in and still trying to figure out where God is. Chile, He’s where you left Him before you went in the pot. Get out and get Him!

“So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.” – 1 Peter 1:14

Daily Devotional – 4/12/16 “Praise nevertheless!”

Waiting until Sunday to praise the Lord is like waiting for someone to tell you to breathe; you won’t survive. Baby, we’ve got to praise the Lord at all times. Why, because praise is what God is due. Let’s be transparent for a moment … We owe the Lord and we owe Him too much and because we owe Him and know that we can’t pay Him, the least we should do is offer Him His due praise. We can’t repay the Lord but we can serve Him with our entire heart. We can’t repay the Lord but we can show Him our thanks through our service. We can’t repay you Lord but can I work off my debt? See, we’ve got to start saying like Psalm 119:108, “LORD, accept my offering of praise, and teach me your regulations.” Beloved, don’t you know that when we praise the Lord, thangs start happening? When we praise the Lord, it makes the enemy tremble and withdraws from your presence because praise confuses Him. When we call on the name of the Lord debts will be demolished, sickness will be healed, finances will be fruitful and our spirit will be sanctified. When we praise the Lord while in the wilderness, He’ll allow us to come out whole. When we praise the Lord while in the pit, He’ll allow us to come out prospering. When we praise the Lord when we have nothing, He’ll restore to us everything we lost. Chile, when we make praise our testimony, the Lord will prepare a bridge over our troubled water.

This is why praise shall continually be in our mouth, spilling over on our lips. This is why it’s crucial that praise is always in our hands and feet. This is why it’s important to have a heart full of praise and worship. We don’t have to wait until Sunday morning, we can praise wherever we are. We don’t have to wait until the choir sings our song, we can praise right now in the midst of the hell staring us in the face. You don’t have to wait; praise the Lord while the chemo or dialysis is running through your body. You don’t have to wait; praise the Lord in the midst of the circumstances that don’t make any sense. Why, because I’ve found that when you praise, God will show up. When Solomon finished his prayer and worship in the temple’s dedication, the bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:1, “When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple.” What do you think will happen when you’re done? I’m just faith crazy enough to believe that God will send down the fire of the Holy Spirit to fill our temple! What do you believe when you praise?

Daily Devotional – 4/11/16 “Lord, have your way!”

I’m sitting here waiting on God to give me a word for His people. As I wait with my Word open and my fingers on the keyboard, I’m simply repeating; Lord have mercy. Have mercy Lord in the lives of those who need you on today. Lord, have mercy on those who don’t know you in the midst of their sins. Lord, have mercy on the father sitting in jail after he was caught stealing trying to feed his family. Have mercy Jesus, in the life of the pastor who is dealing with more problems than his/her praise can cover. Lord have mercy! Not only have mercy but Lord have your way for the single mother who’s looking at her checking account with $8 and pay day isn’t until Friday. Have your way Lord for that family trying to figure out the rent that was due last Tuesday. Have your way Jesus for the person dealing with sickness and disease. Have your way Lord for the sister who has claimed today as being her last day to live due to suicidal thoughts. Have your way in the brother who is being bullied. Have your way in the daughter diagnosed with cancer. Have your way with the son who is battling an addiction. Have your way in the man or woman of God who is still fighting worldly demons. Have your way Father!

I don’t know who you are but God is about to walk around your house, He’s about to shift some things in your spirit, He’s about to disconnect some folk who’ve been sucking up your air, He’s about to dwindle your contact list down, He’s about to shut off some places you don’t need to go anymore, He’s about to rid you of every toxic relationship you’ve been in; God is about to have mercy on your life! All you have to do is receive the reconstructive surgery that’s about to happen. But this time when you wake up, groggy from the anesthesia of the Holy Spirit; don’t go back to what you used to do and who you used to be. This time, trust God! This time, believe in God! This time, allow the mercy that’s manifesting in your life to move! God is about to have mercy on your soul. God is about to have His way in your life but it’s only if you allow Him too. He won’t come in unless you let Him. You won’t find Him unless you seek Him. You won’t get near Him unless you humble yourself. And you won’t reach Him unless you pray. Then He’ll show up! Lord, have your way…

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Bookaversarie!

Yesterday, April 7, 2016 was one year that I’ve released the first book in my second series! WOW!! Yes, I’ve written a few books since then but it’s still surreal. I mean, I never thought I’d be a published author but then Delphine Publications came along and I’ll tell anybody that’ll listen how grateful I am for Tamika Newhouse. She is a chick that grinds, minute by minute and she it taking the literary industry by storm (If you don’t know her, Google her) LOL.

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But I didn’t start this post to be all sentimental but I’m writing this for somebody out there that doesn’t think they can do it. YES YOU CAN! You can do whatever you set your mind to. Please understand this, writing isn’t for wimps (I’ve said it before). There will be times you push and you still won’t get the sales you thought you should. There will be times you think you’ve written a great book and it’ll still get bad reviews. There will be times you pray for mega support and you won’t get it (even from family and friends). This is why you have to remain strong.

And STOP gauging your success off of what somebody else has. You are not them and they are not you. Don’t expect your book to be on New York Time’s best seller list the day after you publish and no one knows your name. Don’t release a book on Tuesday and expect a major publishing company to pick you up on Wednesday. It takes time in this line of business. Why? Because there are 100 other people writing about the same thing you are. But that’s ok, continue to write.

If you don’t get anything else from this post, get this … remain humble in your gift. Stay the course and it’ll eventually work out. You’ll go from getting $26 royalty checks to $2600 royalty checks … in God’s time! Let your work speak for you and it’ll happen. For the bible tells us in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

So as I celebrate another milestone, please understand; I am not there yet either but it doesn’t mean I’m getting off the ride. One of hese good ole days, I’ll be writing how I went from that $26 royalty check to $2600. Don’t believe me just watch!

God has given me an amazing gift and I know He didn’t give it to me to bury it in the ground because eventually it’ll pay off. So I’ll be patient until it does. You do the same thing. Don’t give up on what you have and what you’ve done. It will work out.

Trust in your gift!

And if you are unfamiliar with who I am, check out the About Lakisha page and visit my Author Page on Amazon or Facebook.

As always
–Happy Reading.
Lakisha

Daily Devotional – 4/8/16 “Whose arms are you in?”

You woke up this morning tired, feeling like you didn’t get any rest and you’re trying to figure out why. You’ve been to the doctor and they can’t find anything wrong. You try sleeping pills and even they won’t work. Yea, you say your prayers and yet you still can’t rest. Well, maybe it’s because of whose arms you’re in. You’re tossing and turning because you’re in the wrong arms and you know it. Oh sure, his or her arms may give you temporary relief but when will you get the real thang? Chile, I don’t know about you but I know a man who can make you feel real good. Yes honey, He’ll show up in the late night hour and rock you to sleep. He’ll show up in the midst of the day and wrap His arms around you to give you comfort in your chaos. He’ll sneak in and use His arms to catch you when it feels like you’re about to fall without a net. He’ll show up just in the nick of time to catch you in His arms when folk have done you wrong. Why? Well because we’re safe in His arms.

Sure, your spouse’s arms are good but even he/she can’t rock you like God can. Of course, your children’s arms feel good but sometimes they grow out of giving hugs. Yea, your friends say they’ll be there to catch you but even they reach you like God can. You may love me but even you can’t love me like God. Beloved, I am not saying you need to replace everybody in your life but what I am saying is, you’ve got access to some arms that never get tired of you calling, never go numb from you lying in them all day and night and will never leave you; so why not add Him to your arm wrapping list. For I’ve found that His arms pull us up when we sink to the lowest point. His arms catch us when we slip down the mountain of life. His arms protect, they heal us and they comfort us when we find ourselves in the catastrophe of the world! His arms love us when no one else does. His arms are there long after everyone else is gone. His arms are our shield when we’re in the battle of our flesh. This is why the bible says in Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!” Simply meaning, don’t wait until you’ve tried everything else that all failed, try God first for His arms are outstretched for you. Whose arms are you in?

“The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.” Psalm 121:5