Daily Devotional – 7/15/15 “Stop thinking it!”

Bishop Woodson of Mt. Gilead Ministries said in the closing on class last night, “change doesn’t come when you stop doing it but change comes when you stop thinking it!” Now, this marinated with me all night because many times we think we can change simply by letting go but if we don’t change our thoughts we are simply fooling ourselves. We’ve been held down far too long with generational curses, it’s time to change our thought processes. Our churches are suffering because we have yet to change the thinking of those who are in charge. Yea, what may have worked for grandma then needs to be revised now. Look, we say we are changing our lives by getting out of dead-end relationships but if our mind is still attached to the dead-end him or her, we will wind up back in the same situation. We say we have changed from indulging in childish behavior of arguing with folk on social media yet if all we do is sit up and think about what we want to say to them, we haven’t changed. I’ve told you before; we have to change our thought process. We have to get away from thinking we can’t to now knowing that we can. We have to stop thinking that we won’t make it, to believing that with God, all things are possible. We’ve got to stop thinking that just because momma or daddy didn’t that we can’t when baby we aren’t her or him.

When we change our thinking; we open up the door to possibilities, opportunities, prospects, places and people we couldn’t have even thought of before. How do you change your thinking? Well, Ephesians 4:21-24 says this, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy.” If that isn’t enough, Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” When we change the way we think; we’ll be able to go through the test, handle the times we fall, the sickness, the death in our family, being talked about, being overlooked for that promotion, being denied at the bank and being around hellish folk because then we’ll know it’s just God working on our behalf. When we change our thoughts, things change in our lives for the greater! Change doesn’t come when you stop doing it but change comes when you stop thinking it! Change your thinking to … #IknowIcan #Iwill #Godwilldoit #Itaintmybattle #Mygreateriscoming

Daily Devotional – 7/14/15 “Where are you planted?”

In teaching VBS on last night, we are in the book of Matthew, chapter 13 talking about the parable of the sower and there are four types of soil we can be planted in. See, a lot of times we get caught up in thinking this parable is about the seed but the seed is the word of God and it doesn’t change yet the area in which we are planted does. Yea, the seed should be watered and nourished but the Word of God does not change. So, where are you planted?

  • Are you by the pathway Christian – as soon as you hear the word of God, the enemy comes and snatches it from you? You leave church and folk don’t even recognize who you are in the car? The same mouth that just song in the choir is now cussing folk out on the street, the same person whose feet shouted up and down the aisles are now walking over folk and the same person who was laid out across the altar is now talking about who he or she was laid up with last night – Is this you?
  • Or are you a stony Christian – you hear the word and it simmers in your spirit for a little while but as soon as trouble comes, you forget all about the word and start focusing on the worry. You get sickness in your body and you no longer study and understand that God can heal you because all you’re focusing on now is the hurt. You see a little rain and you forget all about the God who is your shelter because all you see is the storm. – Is this you?
  • Or are you a thorny Christian – you got the word in you; you even let it show a few times. You post a few Christian statuses and may even go to two services the same Sunday but all it’ll take is for the enemy to send somebody in your vicinity for all of your religion to disappear. You get caught up with Sis. Loud Mouth and she’s choking out the religion in you because you can’t even hear the message for the mess. You’re running to church not for God’s word but for the word on everybody’s business. – Is this you?
  • Or are you a rooted in good ground Christian – you have the word in you and you don’t mind sharing, showing and shouting it. Yea, you may go through some things but you realize they are only momentary so you don’t linger there. You face the enemy because you know God is your strength. You face being talked about because you know God is your joy. You even don’t worry about being lied on because you know that God can change your name. You read and study the word because you want your light to shine and you want to be known by the fruit you bear – Is this you?

I asked these questions on last night to the class; if God were to inspect your harvest, would it be acceptable and is the fruit you’re bearing edible to the unsaved? Where are you planted? Each one of us are planted in one of these grounds, where are you?

Daily Devotional – 7/13/15 “Use your gift!”

You know; I am always in awe of the move of God that happens in my life when I speak, write, teach, encourage or even pray in God’s name. I know it’s not me and I wouldn’t dare take all the credit and even more, I wouldn’t dare sit on this that God has given me. Baby, had you told me years ago that I’d be in this place, I would have smile and shook my head, not believing but this place I’m currently residing in; God had already ordained and He’s maintaining me quite well! It’s not because I’ve been so good and faithful all the time but it’s because I’ve been faithful in what He’s called me to do. I’m using what He gave me, I’m going where He’s sending me and I’m saying what He’ll have me to say. I’m utilizing my gifts. Today, I’m wondering why you aren’t. Why are you sitting on the gift that God has entrusted you with? Why are you hiding in the shadows because you are afraid of overstepping someone else? Why are you fearful of stepping out? Why won’t you at least try? Do you know that each time I get up to speak or teach I am nervous? (I mean shaky type nervous) Or that even when I write devotionals or books, I second guess myself ALL THE TIME? But if I allow the nervousness or the second guessing to win, I wouldn’t be half the person I am today. There’s a purpose to the position we’ve been given to play and we have to play it in order for God’s divine order to come out right. In sports, if all of the positions aren’t filled, the game can’t be played correctly. In a choir, if all of the sections aren’t singing correctly, the song doesn’t sound right. In a dance group, if each person isn’t on the same 8 count, it shows. All I’m saying is; you have a purpose for the play you’ve been given; now you need to play it. Stop wasting that gift you have.

Yea, I know the deacons of the church are set in their ways but haven’t you noticed the church isn’t growing; you’re the shepherd – use your gifts. Yes, I know you aren’t officially the manager but that doesn’t mean you can’t utilize your gift from where you are – you never know whose watching. Yea, I know that folk said it might not work but who are they against the God you serve – He has never failed. Yea, I know there are a lot of folk doing the same thing as you but can’t anybody do it like you! Stop waiting for the right time, there’s never one. Stop waiting to get yourself together, you can’t do it alone. For 1 Peter 4:10-11 says this, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” Don’t wait until it’s too late. The grave can’t use your gift!

Daily Devotional – 7/10/15 “Matthew 5:38-42!”

I touched on this scripture on yesterday and I posted a little on my blog but somebody today needs to hear it again; stop resisting those evil folk who are in your vicinity; they have no power! And an evil person will only keep picking at you as long as you keep resisting (fighting) them? Please understand, I am not saying give in to evil but this in only in regards to those who keep trying to speak evil over your life; stop fighting those folk with words. Listen, Matthew 5:38-42 says this, “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.”

  • God, you’re telling me to let this angry coworker stand and lie on me when all I do is help her day after day? – God says yes.
  • God, you want me to continue to help folk when they ask and then get up and act like I haven’t done anything for them. – God says yes.
  • God, you want me to go the extra mile for folk when they aren’t even appreciative of where I’ve already taken them? – God says yes.
  • God, you want me to continually smile when these folk are trying to scandalize my name? – God says yes.
  • God, you’re saying I’m supposed to love them even though they treat me bad. – God says yes.
  • God, I’m supposed to pray for them today even though they posted something negative about me yesterday. – God says yes.
  • God, I’m supposed to give them the only cheek I got left when I know they are only going to hurt it too? – God says yes.

Yea, I know … I had a hard time grasping this on yesterday too but then I had to step back and look at it from my spiritual eyes because then the Holy Spirit took over. See, God says do not fight an evil person because it’s not my fight to win or lose. He says, all I have to do is stand there and He’ll intercede. It doesn’t matter what they say, I’ve already been sanctified in my spirit. It doesn’t matter what they post, my purpose was already planned. It doesn’t matter what they take from me because my title can’t be touched. Yea, they can whisper about me if they want too but it won’t weaken my witness. God says, don’t resist them; don’t fight them, don’t try to avenge the attack because my child, I got this! Isaiah 61:7-8 says, “Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. “For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them.” Oh my God … When you allow God to fight on your behalf, not only do you get back what you lose in the process of your battle but you get back a double portion. You don’t have to fight folk, God got this! Let them have their moment, God has mercy. Let them have their Facebook spotlight, God has favor! Let them have their twitter post when God has the power! It isn’t our battle to fight but it is ours to win!

Daily Devotional 7/9/15 “Do not resist it!”

Good morning all! I’m not at my computer today but it doesn’t mean I can’t share a quick word.

I’m sitting here waiting on my sister (who’s having gallbladder surgery today) and in my waiting I’m reading. On next week I’ll be teaching VBS at my cousin’s church so I’m sitting here studying up. I’m teaching on Matthew 13 but I like to dig deep in this thang and in my reading I stopped at this particular passage and baby it went all over me! Matthew 5:38-42 says this, “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.”

Say what now? Ok God, I’m standing face to face with evil, hateful, angry folk; folk who constantly pick at me and I ain’t done nothing, folk who lie on me and I ain’t said nothing, folk who scandalize my name and I ain’t did nothing but helped them and you want me to just stand here and deal with, be okay and take it? God says YES! See, God says bear that which is given to you because I’ll fight your battle. God says let them take what is yours, I’ll give you back double for your trouble. God says if they ask you to go one mile, go an extra one out of love because you are supposed to love your enemies! My Lord! God says take what they say, take what they post, take what they whisper and even let them take what they want because I’ll handle it! God says let them put it on Facebook while I favor you! God says let them tell folk while I take you places. God says I got this while you continually walk in my grace! It ain’t your battle so stop trying to fight it!

Be blessed y’all!

-Lakisha