Daily Devotional – 3/18/14 “Fasting and Praying!”

I know this is Lent Season and I’ve yet to touch on the subject of fasting and praying but that’s because fasting and praying is something I consider to be personal between you and God. See, I’ve always said, if you don’t broadcast what you’re doing then you minimize your chances of being talked about when you don’t do it right. Yea, I know it’s no one else’s business but if I put on Facebook every day for 30 days that I plan on getting back into my skinny jeans yet after the 30 days are up and I can’t fit in the skinny jeans nor any other pair then I can’t be mad when someone talks about my business because after all I am the one that put them in it, right? The bible says in Matthew 6:16-18, “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Yea, as it was stated by Pastor last night in Bible Study, it’s alright to dialogue about your fasting when you’re asked but don’t boast about it so that people can notice you because it is then that you’ve received your reward for Matthew 6:1 says, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

When Jesus fasted He did so in the wilderness by himself as He prepared to begin His ministry because He wanted to have His mind free and clear in order to hear what His Father would have Him to hear. And it’s the same with us. No, we don’t have to go into the wilderness but before we make decisions that ultimately affects our entire life, we should consult with the Father and this should be done by fasting. And for the record, fasting isn’t only with food but it’s denying yourself anything that you love and when you want that particular thing you pray to God to sustain you, such fasting AND praying. No, you don’t have to wait until Lent to fast and pray because it can be done at any time however Lent is set aside to reflect on Jesus’ life, His sacrifice, His death, burial and resurrection until Easter Sunday. Fasting should give you time to repent for whatever you done that has taken you out of God’s way and it should give you time to meditate on God’s goodness. Fasting should also give you clarity in your mind to be able to hear from God without the clutter and messiness of day to day living. You don’t have to fast for 40 days and 40 nights, fast for 40 minutes and the next time increase your time just as long as you fast. Try it and you may just get the understanding you’ve been looking for. Try it and you may get that answer you’re seeking.

Daily Devotional – 3/17/14 “God’s plan always work!”

Over the weekend, I was a part of a book festival in Miami with a few of the authors under the publishing company I am a part of. Now, I had everything planned out and was ready to go and enjoy FL and the time with my sister but let me tell you the difference in my plan and God’s plan. My plan: Catch the Megabus 11:30pm Thursday night, make it to Atlanta at 8:30am to catch our flight to Fort Lauderdale at 10:15am to relax and enjoy FL until the Jazz Festival on Saturday where I would be working our vendor booth. Then catch a flight out of Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night at 9:30pm, make it to Atlanta at 11:30pm, check into our hotel room, eat and chill. The next morning, eat breakfast and whatever else until our bus ride back home at 1:30pm which gets us back home at 8:30pm on Sunday night. (I had it all worked out.)

Oh but here’s God’s plan: We made it to the bus station at 10:30pm only to leave at 1:45am because the bus never came. Our husbands decided to drive us the 5 ½ hours to Atlanta to make our flight. On the road making good time until we forgot about Atlanta being on Eastern Time which meant we were an hour behind. We make it to the airport where I had to check a box of books at the last minute (which wouldn’t get to FL until Saturday morning) only to find out we had 15 minutes to get to the gate. Well, we didn’t make it. The young lady said, I can put you all on standby for the next flight at 6:59pm but it’s already full which means you probably won’t make it so you will be pushed to the next one on Saturday morning at 6:15am. (Oh but catch this) I wrote a status on Facebook at 10:39am that said there’s a teaching moment in everything God puts us through and I just hope we learn whatever it is He would have us to get out of all this. Well, at about 3pm we went to get coffee. We make it back to the gate area when this older Indian lady maybe in her 60s or 70s walks up and she keeps watching us. Even with the area being mostly empty she sat down next to us. Then she begins to talk. She was from India (her husband had died a few months ago) and was in Atlanta visiting her son to stay a week. Well, the night before her son gets angry because the house he stays in is in both their names and he wants her to sign everything she has in her name to his (even her business and home in India) and when she wouldn’t, he became angry and broke her phone and even put a hole in the wall of the house. To make a long story short, she changed her flight to leave which cost her $300. She also had 2 big bags that cost her $70 to check and they were so heavy, they cut her hand. Oh, he wouldn’t give her the money nor drive her to the airport but she had some old friends who took care of it. (She had been in the airport since 11 and her flight didn’t leave until 5:30). She wanted some tea but didn’t want to bother us but of course we didn’t listen because we got her tea and snacks because she was a diabetic. She was headed to spend some time with her brother in TX until her flight back to India. She hugged my sister and I for the longest time before boarding her plane and my heart was breaking for her to have to endure this. After she left we sat there wanting to cry and at that moment it didn’t matter if we made the flight because this was what we had to go through. We had already cancelled our hotel and rental car in FL and were planning to spend the night in ATL yet after the plane to FL started boarding, the attendant called our name and handed us our boarding passes as if we had already been confirmed on the flight. Baby, if we didn’t almost shout in that place! See, God had a purpose for us to be in that spot at that time and had we not trusted in Him, we would have missed it! God plans ALWAYS work and it was His plan for us to be there at that exact moment because although we didn’t know this lady needed us, God did!

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13”

Daily Devotional – 3/13/14 “This journey!”

I know this is a common scripture that some of us could probably recite, Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Now, I shared that to say this, if God has already made plans for your future to be prosperous why would you risk losing it on the way to it? I mean, you’re in such a hurry that you’ve yet to help those you pass on the way who may need to be ministered too. When was the last time you actually prayed for the person you said you would pray for? You are the one that commented on their status, “I’m praying for you,” right? Well did you? When was the last time you were actually there for the person you told, “If you need anything, just call me?” Well did you answer? You were the one that said, “I got your back, whatever you need”, right? Well, where were you when they needed you? Yes, I am aware of how hard this journey is, trust me, I know but does that mean you stop doing what you know you’re supposed to be doing? Luke 6:38 does say, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” But hold up, this isn’t just monetary because whatever good you give whether it be time, money or materialistic things; you get all those back with the same measure you give out.

All I’m saying is; don’t get so caught up in getting to your destination that you don’t bother to minister to someone who just may need it on your journey because your destination was designed just for you so it isn’t going anywhere. If you’re capable of praying (we all are) pray for someone else. If you’re capable of helping (we all are) then help. If you capable of doing (we all are) do. Don’t be in such a rush to get to your destination that you dismiss the despair in your brother or sister simply because you don’t have time. Find the time on your journey to help those because someone’s deliverance may just be in the words you speak.

Daily Devotional – 3/12/14 “God has your back!”

You’re wondering why you keep getting stabbed in the back, well that’s because you keep turning your back on the enemy. Yea, you’re giving them every opportunity to find a place to stab you when you ought to be facing your enemy, standing with your feet firmly planted and your head raised looking the enemy in the face because you’ve been given everything you need to win. See, the bible tells us in Ephesians 6:13-18, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” Now, if you noticed, you’ve been given a belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit however nothing was given to protect your back. Why? Well, that’s because God already has your back covered; He is the ultimate protector but you have to have Him in order for Him to protect you.

On last night at revival, the message was taking the limits off of God. See, we’ve got to stop choosing where God can go with us and if I shall tell the truth, if you’re going anywhere you don’t want God to go, you shouldn’t be there anyway. Plus, God already knows every intention you have anyhow so you’re not hiding anything from Him. But how can God have your back if you won’t allow Him too? You do know that He won’t allow any harm to come upon you that He hasn’t already predestined, right? Then why not trust Him? I mean you trust the doctors and nurses without researching their work yet God has proven Himself time and time again. You trust the path you take in your house at night in the dark without looking yet you won’t trust God and He is the light. You trust the chair you’re sitting in each time you sit down yet God says rest in me and you question Him. You trust that man or woman to protect you even though man can fail yet God says I’m your protector and you’re running scared when trouble comes. You trust in the restaurant food yet you have trouble feasting on God’s word. Trust God because He has your back. Baby, God is worthy so may I suggest you put your faith in Him because when everything else fails; God is better than sliced bread because He never molds, He’s better than milk because He won’t spoil, better than insurance because His coverage doesn’t lapse and far better than batteries because His power doesn’t die! God has your back!

Daily Devotional – 3/11/14 “Voluntary living yet required death!”

Death is a solemn reminder that we all have to die from this life in order to live again with God and although we don’t know when death will show up, some of us live like it’s standing at the door. I mean, you walk around with so much hate in your heart that you won’t let anyone love you. You’re always depressed even though most of the situations you find yourself in, you caused. You’re mad at the world because you’ve become what you said you wouldn’t become but it was your choice. God has given you the fresh anointing of a new day yet you wake up worse than you was when you laid down on last night. God gave you the healing your body needed yet you still walk around like you’re sick. God continually provides for you yet you act like He hasn’t done enough. When will you voluntarily live before the required death? When will you get out of that pity you’ve jumped in? When will you untie that bad luck from around your neck? When will you choose to be happy? Yea, folks have let you down but get this, they will again. Yea, you’ve lost some people and some things, get over it. Yea, you may be addicted to alcohol, drugs, other people’s spouses or materialistic things; destroy it. You have the option to be happy or sad and whether to live or die. Don’t keep being tied down in unhappy places and stop being pushed into tight spaces because they drain the life out of you.

Yes, in your living you get heartache but in dying you gain a never ending heartbeat. In living you get mess but dying you get the Messiah. In living you get pain but dying gives you never ending praise. In living you get sleepless nights but dying you gain restful rejoicing. In living you get strife but dying gives you shouting and singing in the Heavenly Choir. In living you get worldly stuff that can be taken but dying gives you a home that man’s hands didn’t touch. In living you go through hell but dying gives you Heaven. So, don’t be afraid to live for Romans 14:8 says, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord,” and then be afraid to die for Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Choose this day to voluntarily live before the required death comes!