Daily Devotional – 1/5/15 “How do you know?”

It’s the first Monday of the New Year, have you kept any of the resolutions you made or have they passed in the night like the rain? Oh, you thought this was your year too, huh? Well, I got some news for you and I need you to read the next line very carefully, it is but you’ve got to get up! It’s like this … You can’t keep working on the plan because now it’s time for you to put the plan into action. You can’t keep working on your marriage, now it’s time to stop working and start doing something to keep it working. It’s time for you stop working on the building and open it up for business. Aren’t you done writing the vision yet? When will the vision gain some merit? I mean, when are you going to stop working on the car and actually put some wheels on it to drive? How will a mechanic know if the works he’s done is complete if he doesn’t test drive the car? How can the air condition man know if the air conditioner works, if he doesn’t turn it on? How can the plumber know if the toilet works if he doesn’t flush?

Oh Saint of God, how do you know if your faith in God works if you never put it into action? How do you know if prayer works if you never use it? How do you know that God can heal, if you’ve never asked Him to heal you? Yea, I know you heard me say He healed me but don’t you want to try Him? How do you know what’s on the other side of the door if you won’t knock to open it? How do you know what will be on the other side of your storm if you won’t go through? How do you know what you can handle if you won’t handle anything? How do you know what you can stand if you keep sitting down? Don’t you want to know what victory feels like? Somebody is on the edge of giving up but baby, it ain’t your time yet. Step back! It isn’t time for you to give up. I’m praying for you. I don’t have to call your name, know your situation, be in the same room or even in the same state yet I’m praying for you; it ain’t time for you to give up! You’re fighting against God because your house isn’t together and you think it is but it isn’t. And all He’s doing is waiting for you to give it to Him but it has to be done at His house! It’s not your time to give up or give in. How do you know what you’re capable of, if you never tried it?

Daily Devotional – 1/2/15 “It’s a New Year!”

We made it! Yes, we as in you and me! We made it to 2015! Oh, I know you made it because you’re reading this. Are you happy? Is your New Year happy or did you wake up on 1/1/15 the same way you laid down on 12/31/14? Did you bring into the New Year the same mess, the same old jacked up attitude, the same anger, the same unforgiving spirit, the same lying tongue, the same hurting hands, the same stealing mentality, the same this is my church spirituality; in other words the same you? Or have you changed yet? Did you make the resolutions and start them or did you do that because that’s what everybody else is doing? Are you still crying over the things that you’ve lost or are you ready to allow God to give you something new? Are you ready to move now or are you ok with wandering in the wilderness alone? Yes, I understand that you’re in a storm now, that you’re going through something but baby it’s not to punish you; God doesn’t work like that. However you do need to understand this … In order for us to reap the benefits of God’s blessings, we also have to reap the benefits of His suffering. Romans 8:17 says this, “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”

Beloved, I know that you want the storm to end but don’t rush it because then you won’t be prepared. Have you ever rushed through studying only to find that you weren’t prepared for the final test and then you failed? This is the same way. God doesn’t allow us to go through anything that will intentionally hurt us yet He allows us to go through everything to strengthen us but we have to go through it. How can you tell me your testimony if it’s unfinished? How can you tell me how to get over, if you didn’t make it? How can you tell me how to shout my way through when your voice can’t go above a whisper? How can you tell me how to dance my way out when I’ve seen your shoes and they don’t have any scuff marks? How can you tell me the wounds of being stabbed in the back heal, when I’ve checked your back and I don’t see any? How can you tell me prayer works when I’ve never heard you pray? You got to go through, even if it means starting the New Year in your storm yet I decree that your year won’t end in one but that can only be determined by your faith. You have 363 more days to change the outcome. What will it be?

Happy New Year!

Daily Devotional – 12/31/14 “It’s almost that time!”

It’s almost that time! Yep, it’s almost that time for you to turn up, for you to bring in the New Year but while you are turning up, don’t turn out to be the next statistic. While you are turning up, don’t turn down the wrong street heading to hell. While you are turning up, don’t turn into somebody you aren’t and end up being lost in your sin. While you are turning up, don’t turn your back on God. While you are turning up tonight, don’t forget about tomorrow. While you are turning up, don’t forget about the resolutions, you know the things you said you were going to work on. Please understand what I am saying, there isn’t anything wrong with having a good time but have a good time that you can remember tomorrow. I am not saying you have to be in the church but wherever you decide to be, just be safe! That’s my only prayer.

If God sees fit, in a few hours we will see the start of a New Year. He will have given us another chance to try it again, another opportunity to meet our goals and more time to get it right; will we take it? Yea, sure; we may not have accomplished everything we set out for in 2014 but get this, you aren’t dead yet so you have another chance to get it done. Ok, you’ve dealt with more than your fair share of stuff in 2014, get this… you may have to deal with a little more in 2015 but you’ll be stronger and ready for it because of what you’ve gone through in this year. Get ready for it. Oh, the death angel showed up in your family and took a few links in your chain? Don’t worry, I know a Man who is able to bend metal. It won’t stop the ache you feel but it’ll give you something to hold on too. His name is Jesus. Baby, if this year was great for you or even if it wasn’t; 2015 can be even greater but it’s dependent on your attitude, your service and your faith! Why don’t you turn those up? Turn up your attitude towards acknowledging God, your service towards serving and your faith towards being faithful and see the change in 2015 in your life? It’s almost that time, don’t be late!

Daily Devotional – 12/30/14 “Don’t make a resolution, make a change! “

I got an email on yesterday from a young lady who encourages me and she was looking for the devotional that I did on this specific topic a few years ago only for me to discover, I didn’t do the actual devotional on this topic but it was mentioned it in. But on this day, it just happen this topic fits perfectly. See, as this old year closes and a new year approaches we often find ourselves making resolutions to lose weight, save money, stop drinking, stop cursing (cussing), stop smoking, start going to church more, settle down, blah, blah, etc., yet we rarely keep them passed the second of January. So on this 30th of December, I charge each of you to instead of making a resolution, make a change. Yea, make a change in your life to do better. If you know you need to stop smoking for the sake of your lungs and those around you, do it. If you know you need to stop drinking for the sake of your liver, do it. If you know you need the Lord for the sake of your soul, seek Him while He can be found. But baby don’t join the gym because it’s what everybody is doing this time of the year, you’re wasting your money. Join the gym because you want to change your life and be healthy. Don’t go to church because it’s the first Sunday of the New Year but go to church because you are changing your life for the better. Don’t make a resolution, make a change. A resolution is temporary, a change should be permanent. A resolution is momentary, a change should be long-lasting. A resolution is passing; a change should be a lifetime.

Daily Devotional – 12/29/14 “Stop being a hoarder!”

I hope and pray that everyone’s holiday season is blessed and not stressed. I hope that as you prepare to go into a New Year that you do so leaving the old things in the past where they belong. Yes, see; you have to get rid of clutter in your spiritual life the same way you have to rid the clutter in your natural life. Stop being a hoarder. Stop dumping junk where joy should reside. Stop mixing mess in where God has placed mercy. Stop shining scrap metal, it ain’t silver. Stop trying to fix him up, he ain’t your husband. Stop trying to turn her into something, she ain’t your wife. Stop trying to stay there, you don’t belong. Stop trying to fit in, you weren’t made for that. Some of us Christians are sinking because we got too much baggage attached to our spirit. We got generational curses tied to us from grandmama nem, we got stereotypical curses tied to us because of what folk said we would be and we got peer pressure tied to us because of what folk say we should be. We even got Old Testament logic of thinking tied around our waist and it’s dragging us down when we still have men that won’t let a woman in the pulpit but you’ll let her stand down on the floor in front of it and read the announcements or stand and teach. Oh but if you are going to go with women shouldn’t be in the pulpit then shouldn’t you also go with women shouldn’t teach? For isn’t this what the bible says or do Christians pick and choose the scriptures that suffice for them in the moment?

I’m just thinking out loud. It’s time out for us, as Saints of God, to stop playing with this spiritual thing. We are in a spiritual war constantly and if we are off of our guard even in the slightest, the enemy has an opportunity to get in and once he’s in, you have a hell of a time getting him out. This is why we have to stay prayed up. This is why you have to let stuff go. This is why you have to stop hoarding! Unpack that stuff that is weighing you down spiritually and naturally. Don’t go into the New Year with mess. While you are cleaning your house, clean your mind and spirit. Clean out your phone and your Facebook friend list. Stop allowing folk to walk in and out your life when it’s convenient for them even if it means you have to be single. Be single, saved and satisfied spiritually. For you married folk who are dealing with some things, sit down with your spouse and get your life together. If your marriage is worth salving, save it because there isn’t anything in these streets but you’ve got to put God first. Stop nagging and start praying. Wives pray for your husbands and husbands pray for your wives; God will do the rest. Get in a church home and stay there. Stop church hopping and stop being a fair weather Christian. Be as committed to God as He is to you and see the difference in your life. Stop being a hoarder! You can’t be elevated with all that extra weight!