Have you ever wondered why it is said that things done in the dark will come to light or why secrets really aren’t secrets? Well, as I was sitting in church on yesterday it struck me that God exposes us, people and things so that He can edify us. Now, in order for you to finally get this, you have to first know the meaning of the word edify. Edify means to improve the morals or knowledge of somebody. Again, edify means God exposes your mess in order to improve your morals. (You knew you had no business tipping out on the one you said you were committed to anyway so God had to expose you in order for you to get back on track.) Again, edify means God exposes the messiness of somebody in order for you to see them for who they really are. (Yea, you know how you catch your “best” friend texting your boo because they’ve secretly been the one trying to ruin your relationship anyway but you couldn’t see it. However, God had to let you see the things that you would have seen had you been looking through your spiritual eyes.) Again, edify means God exposes your lowdown, mean and hurtful self so that your morals can now be in line with that spiritual shout you do on Sundays. God has to expose your rock throwing in order for your morals to match the Christianity that you display so proudly. God had to expose the way you were walking in order for you to see that you were headed straight for a dead end. God had to expose your spouse because they really weren’t the one for you yet you’ve still been holding on. God had to expose your boss because they’ve been the one hindering your elevation. God had to expose Sis. Talk A. Lot because they were keeping you from the message with their misery. God has to expose us, every time we get caught up in this worldly mess because it’s keeping us from His word. God has to expose us, every now and then, when we get so high and mighty and start acting like we can raise ourselves up. God has to expose us, sometimes, when we start holding our head up like were better than everybody after God has taken you higher instead of you reaching back to help somebody else. Yea, God has to expose us in order to edify us otherwise we’d always be out of His will. Yes, God has to expose us in order to edify us otherwise we’d always be talking instead of listening, hindering instead of helping, hell mates instead of helpmates, liars instead of laborers, burdens instead of a blessing, a problem starter instead of a peace maker, greedy instead of gifted and an adversary instead of anointed. You ought to be glad that God exposed your mess so that you can now finally be the person you are supposed to be instead of the one you are sometimes.
Daily Devotional – 8/2/13 “Show me, no wait!”
This is how must of us are when it comes to getting our prayers answered. You ask God for a sign then you ignore it when it comes. You ask God for direction then you go an entirely different way. You ask God for a way out then you close the door. You ask God for a second chance and then you have the audacity to mess it up and still act unappreciative. What do you really want? You pray every night for God to show you the man or woman that is yours yet you still don’t recognize the one that has been standing in your face every day. You ask God for healing yet you won’t go and get the prescription that has been ready for 2 weeks. You ask God to show you your true friends yet you’re still chasing the ones that keep stabbing you in the back. You ask God for the career you want then you’re too scared to fill out the application. You ask God to protect you from the hands of that abusive man or woman yet you won’t move when He tells you too. You ask God to take this addiction from you yet you won’t give it up. What are you scared of? Are you too afraid to see the world through sober eyes? Are you that afraid of commitment? Are you that terrified to change? It’s like receiving a shot at the doctor’s office and each time the nurse comes toward you, you holler wait unless she finally gets fed up and goes ahead and stick you in the butt only for you to realize that it wasn’t even that bad. Yea, if you just take that leap of faith that God keeps dropping in your spirit, you’ll see that everything you’ve wanted has always been within reach.
Stop waiting to see the things that God has been showing you, after all you asked for it, didn’t you? The bible does say in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Stop asking and then running scared from the answer. If you ask for a sign, be ready to receive it. If you ask for an answer, be ready to accept it. If you ask for a way, be ready to go. If you ask for a blessing, be ready to work. If you ask for healing, be ready to be healed. And if you ask for a burden, be ready to carry it (You’ll get that later). All I am saying is, be ready to accept and receive whatever you ask for!
Daily Devotional – 8/1/13 “Holla in the hallway!”
What do you do when one door closes and the next one hasn’t opened yet? What do you do when the job hands you a pink slip and you don’t have an interview lined up? What do you do when the car quits and you don’t have the means to get a new one? What do you do when the doctor says I’ve done all I can do and you feel like giving up? Well baby, I stopped by to tell you to holla in the hallway! Yes, I am aware of the way I spelled the word but that’s because I need you to understand that when you holler you know exactly what you’re yelling about but when you holla, you have no idea because when you really holla you give God an ugly praise for the things He is getting ready to do. Yea, you know the one that lets God know that in spite of your current circumstance, you still trust Him. A praise that lets God know regardless of the situation, you still got faith in Him. A holla praise that tells God I am ready for my next level. Ok, so the situation is looking critical and everybody around you is looking pitiful but that shouldn’t stop your praise because in John 15:7, Jesus tells me “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Then He says in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” So, what do you do when your spouse has left? Holla in the hallway for the one that God will send that will belong to only you. What do you do when the job terminates your employment? Holla in the hallway for your career that’s on the way. What do you do when you’ve done all you can and it still doesn’t seem to work out? Holla in the hallway and let God take control! What do you do when you’re stuck in between no’s and a yes hasn’t come? Holla because it’s on the way!
Daily Devotional – 7/31/13 “Thought I’d share again!”
Being a Christian doesn’t make you exempt from having problems but don’t allow those problems to overshadow your purpose. I know your problems may seem big but that’s because you’re looking through natural eyes but when you look through spiritual eyes, you’ll see that your problems are nothing compared to the purpose God has for you. Proverbs 16:4 says, “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” You’re wondering why you have to suffer so much when you work so hard (problem), because God’s wants you to be appreciative of the increase when he drops it in your lap (purpose). You’re wondering why you can’t get a job in the field you’ve been studying for no matter how many applications you fill out (problem), because God is creating it just for you and it takes time (purpose). You’re disgusted because you keep getting hurt by folks who say they love you (problem), because God is allowing you to go through the trash in order to find your treasure (purpose). You’re wondering why you always get sick with this or that (problem) because God is cleaning you up from the inside out in order for you to live a longer, fruitful life (purpose). God always has a purpose for his children; we just have to stop complaining long enough to see it. Don’t count yourself out because although it’s your problem, it’s God’s purpose and His purpose is always bigger!
“Although your problems come with pain, the pain is proving that you’re not perfect but yet a person who God has picked to be placed at this point and through prayer you’ll be prescribed a promise of praise that allows you to be purified and through this purification process you’ll prosper and through your prosperity you’ll get power and with this power you get God’s protection that allows you to prevail and once you prevail, you’ll have the patience to pursue your purpose which then allows you to prosper in your promotion and your praise!”
Daily Devotional – 7/29/13 “You should be tired!”
I know you’re probably asking why I would say this but let me explain. When I say you should be tired, I don’t mean just physically but mentally and spiritually too. See, if you’re a true Christian, a blood bought believer, righteously redeemed reaper, a shouting sower, a Heaven bound helper who doesn’t mind dipping into the valleys and shouting from the mountaintops that God is your choice; then you will get tired on this Christian journey. Yea, you’ll get tired of being picked on by the enemy but that just means he’s trying to stop the purpose that he knows God has over your life. You’ll get tired of being lied on but that just mean you’re doing something for folk to talk about which also means they are paying attention. You’ll get tired of being knocked down but that means, again, that folk are paying you some attention and they’re jealous of your blessings. You’ll get tired of being sick but that means that God is healing you from the inside out. You’ll get tired of being drug to hell and back but that means somebody is trying to stop you from doing God’s work so keep working. You’ll even get tired of being tired, tired of robbing Peter and Paul, tired of eating scraps of food, tired of not having when you know you should, tired of not being able to go when you have a little energy to, tired of window shopping, tired of asking folk to pick you up, tired of being, tired of not being, tired of this and definitely tired of that; but that means you’re working for the right Master! Yea! See, if you aren’t tired then you aren’t working. If you haven’t been talked about then no one is looking. If your Christian light hasn’t been flickering, then it isn’t on. If your spiritual journey is smooth sailing, then you’re rowing in the wrong boat. If you haven’t crossed some hurdles, then you’re walking the wrong path. If you haven’t faced some closed doors then you’re knocking at the wrong ones. If you haven’t had some mountains in your way then you’re in the wrong place. And if you haven’t been knocked down in some battles then you’re fighting in the wrong fight because if you’re in God’s presence then you’ll have some valleys to dig your way out of, you’ll have some slippery spots that may cause you to stumble, a few mistakes to make before you get it right, some bad times, some hard nights and even harder mornings but they are all part of your journey so go on. Yea, you’ll get tired but you should be because then that means you’re working for the right somebody who will make it all worthwhile after while!
“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. Jeremiah 29:11”
Lakisha, the Author 