God, our maker, has placed something on the inside of us that allows us to overcome any obstacle that’s thrown by simply rearing back and then getting back up. Yea, see rearing back means you get knocked over yet you don’t get knocked out, you might wobble but you won’t waiver in your trust, you may get the wind knocked out of you but you’re still winning or you might fall but you won’t fail! It’s like when the enemy came in and attacked your body with sickness but now it’s been 5 years and you’re still cancer, high blood pressure or dialysis free. It’s like when man handed you that pink slip 6 months ago yet you haven’t missed a meal or a bill. It’s like when that man or woman who was supposed to love you until death did you part left when times got hard, yet your heart didn’t turn to stone. It’s like when your so-called friend was the one who stabbed you in the back even after the numerous times you bailed them out yet you still trust folks. It’s like when family talked about you because they thought your blessings should be theirs and yet you’re still being favored by God. Humph! Don’t you know that God won’t allow you to be hurt at the hands of your enemy? I know it seems like they’re winning the battle but baby that’s just one round; you got plenty more to go so just hold on. Who cares because they got you breathing hard or your legs shaking, you’re ready for this if you’ve been paying attention to your trainer because Psalm 144:1-2 says, “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” Psalm 18:2 says, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” So why are you worried when your team mate is waiting to be tagged and He’s never lost a match? Yea, they may be laughing at you from the sideline, that’s ok, because you got somebody on your side that doesn’t worry about the naysayers because He can’t be counted out only counted on and He can’t be defeated yet He doesn’t have to boast of his winnings. Stop being concerned about the lengths folks will go through to hurt you because although it’ll sting your flesh, it’ll only last as long as you allow it too. You are destined for trouble because you’re living but don’t allow the trouble to turn you into somebody you’re not. You don’t have to be mean because folk are mean to you, smile in spite of the way your heart is feeling. You don’t have to do folk wrong because they do you wrong, laugh in spite of the tears that are filling your eyes. You don’t have to push folk down because they pushed you when all you have to do is pray while you’re down and then dust yourself off when you get up and keep on moving! When the world seems to be throwing stuff at you to knock you down, simply rear back but then get right back up! Being down doesn’t mean you’re out; it’s just a momentary time out to catch your breath. Being talked about doesn’t mean a thing; it simply letting you know that you’re on the mind of those talking. Now, get up and get back out there because there is work to be done. Yea; things will be thrown, tribulations will come, tears will be shed, lies will be told, secrets revealed, battles will look as if they’re worth fighting, folk will talk and call you names, sickness will come and look like it’s winning, death will show up and your storm will blow but when it’s all done and it’s over (because it shall end); get back up!
Daily Devotional – 7/19/13 “I’ll just pray for us!”
Our Father whose in Heaven, hallowed will be your name and may your kingdom come and your will be done. Lord, I come before your throne this morning to first thank you. I must thank you for sight, hearing, feeling, touching and tasting. Lord, I thank you for blessing my hands so that I can work, for blessing my feet so that I can walk the right path, for blessing my mind to know the difference between right and wrong, for blessing my heart so that I can love, my tongue so that I may speak life and my ears so that I can hear when you’re speaking. Lord, I must thank you for giving me skin that heals when folk stab me in the back and when I have to spend more times on my knees praying. I thank you for the tears on days when folk do me wrong, I thank you for the comfort you give when I feel so all alone, for the help when I feel helpless and for hope when I feel hopeless. I thank you for strong shoulders to endure life’s troubles and hardships. Lord, I thank you for using me to be a vessel of your word and even when I’m not perfect you still use me for your good because you know my worthiness. I’m grateful for the path you’ve placed me on and I’m even more grateful for the forgiveness you give me when I sometimes stumble. Thank you for being a light in my dark places and my gps when I’m lost. I thank you for my family, friends and for my enemies who you use as my footstool to elevate me higher.
Now, Lord I ask that you bless the person reading this. Let them know that you’re comfort when they’re grieving, a tear wiper when they’re crying, a deliverer through trials, a company keeper in their lonely hour, a sleeping pill when they’re tossing and turning, a healer when they’re sick, hope when doors are being closed, a guide when they can’t see their way, help when their back is against the wall, a bill extender when money is low, medicine when they can’t afford it and joy when the world has taken all they have. Lord, I don’t know the needs of all those reading this but you do so I ask, if it’s in your will, to stop by and grant the needs that are being whispered this morning. Enlarge territories, break down walls and remove the stumbling blocks that have been placed in their path. Lord, I know that you’re able and I believe that you will. Bless and continue to watch over the children that are growing up in this mean world. Bind peer pressure, bullying, sex, teenage pregnancy and thoughts of suicide. Whisper to them now, oh Lord and let them know that you’re a prayer away. Remove the anger from hearts and tongues and renew in your children the right spirit. Do these things for your child now as I humbly submit this prayer to you because its in your name I pray. Amen
Daily Devotional – 7/18/13 “You can’t get over until you get over it!”
Let me type this again for the person who missed it… You can’t get over until you get over it! What do I mean? Well, I’m glad you asked. How do you think you can get to over to the other side (Heaven) if you can’t get over the mess you’ve been in down here? How do you think you can get over to the place that has nothing but joy if you haven’t gotten over the anger down here? How can you get over to that place where every day is like Sunday when you can’t even get over partying to respect Sunday down here? How do you expect to get over to the place that has no suffering when you can’t even get over the addiction that has consumed your life down here? I’m asking, truly asking how you can expect to get over if you haven’t gotten over it. Yea, you’ve been hurt before; many have, get over it and stop allowing the same person to do it over and over. If he or she was using you before, chances are they are coming back to do the same thing again. Trust their actions and not their words because you can’t be used unless you give them the chance too. Get over that and allow God to send you the person that will only use their hands to wipe your tears, their arms to hold you, their legs to stand beside you, their mouth to build you up, their heart to love you and their mind to stimulate yours. This is why God said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Did you catch that? He said a helper, not a user!) Yea, ok, you’re angry; who hasn’t been but when will YOU get over it? Daddy left, momma didn’t treat you right, husband walked off and then came back, wife won’t stop nagging, friends acting like enemies, folks on the job acting crazy, church folk acting more like the world, people still talking about you and then to top it off you may be sick but why are you still angry? Don’t you know the bible says in James 1:20, “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God?” Ecclesiastes 7:9 says, “Don’t be quick to get angry, because anger is typical of fools.” And you do know that Proverbs 18:7 says “A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul,” right? Simply stating, your mouth can ruin your life and your lips can trap your soul. And if your soul is trapped with worldly mess then how can it belong to God?
All I want for you to get out of this today is; you can’t get over until you get over it! Deal with the sickness, the depression, the storm, the situation, the mess, the heartache, the anger, the loneliness, the crying, the layoff, the addiction, the gossiping, the lying, the backbiting … Deal with it and then let it go. Stop allowing it to deal with you! You’re better than what you’ve been bound too. God has already broken the locks, He’s waiting for you to let go of the chains. He’s already knocked down the strongholds; He’s just waiting for you to move. God has already lightened your path; He’s just waiting on you to walk it. He has given you all the signs you’ve asked for, why are you not moving?
Daily Devotional – 7/17/13 “Prayer, just simple prayer!”
If you’re like me you can’t join every prayer line, you can’t run to a church every time you need prayer and sometimes you can’t even pray for yourself because the words just aren’t there; so in the midst of my tossing and turning on last night, God simply whispered for me to pray for you and for me this morning.
Our Father in Heaven, Holy is your name and may your will be done here on this Earth as you will have it done in Heaven. Father, as I petition your throne this morning, I come with my mouth and heart filled with thanksgiving for all the things you’ve already done and even for those things you’ve yet to do. God, I thank you for the healing of the sickness that hasn’t even happened yet. God, I thank you for bringing me out of that situation that hasn’t even occurred yet and God, I thank you for that blessing that’s on the way. Oh, God, I thank you on behalf of those who are too selfish to say it themselves and even for those who can’t say it. For that person in the hospital and the doctors are saying no, I know that you, God, are the healer that can say yes. For that person who is addicted to drugs and they keep saying they can’t live without them, I know you, God, are the rehab that can snatch the taste from their tongue. For that person who is without a job and has filled out applications, I know you, God, will be the interviewer that can say yes without even looking at the resume. For that person who is on a job and still looking, I know that you, God, can promote them without them even applying for one. For that person who is grieving now, I know you, God, can give comfort like none other. For that person suffering with pain, diseases, broken bones, weight struggles, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, lupus, MS, sickle cell, low blood, heartbreak, anger, depression, abuse or suicidal thoughts; I know that you, God, are able to see about your children. God, I ask that you send a breakthrough into the lives of those who need it, don’t let them spend another day in bondage. God send deliverance into the lives of those who wants it so bad; don’t let them spend another minute addicted. God, send healing to those who are calling on your name. God, dry the tears of those who are praying for your mercy. God someone needs you to show up in their lives but they’ve been too scared to ask because they haven’t lived the right way but I know that you’ve not forgotten about them; show up and show out in their life today. God, someone is too afraid to give you the things that are holding them back but I ask you today, to go into their lives and shake those things loose. God, someone is dealing with an abusive spouse and too afraid to leave but God I need you to send strength, protection and a way out. God, I need you to break the generational curses that are hindering your people. God, protect all those who are called to do your will and preach your word, from the enemy’s hands, words and pitfalls they try to set. God, I need you to break down barriers of racism that is still prevalent today. God, I need you; we need you down here before it’s too late. I stand in the gap on today calling on your name God to come and see about your people. God, I’m praying that you continue to use me in your way to deliver your word to your people, how you want it done. Search my heart, mind and life and remove anything that hinders me from being a workman for you. God, do it now! And if there’s anything that I’ve not ask that needs to be done or spoken, I ask that you do it now. Thank you Father for giving me an obedient spirit as I humbly submit this prayer in your name. Amen
Daily Devotional – 7/16/13 “If my salvation depended on man’s belief!”
I’d be a tore up from the floor up, good for nothing sinner. If my salvation depended on man’s belief, I would be all that the enemy says I am and all the names they call me. If my salvation depended on man’s belief, I would never see the sun because they’d probably believe I should have more stormy weather. Yea, if my salvation depended on man’s belief, he’d already have my ticket stamped to hell. See, man will see a picture with my arm around a woman and believe I am a lesbian but a Christian will see me as showing myself friendly. Man will see me whispering and believe me to be a gossip but a Christian will see me praying for my brother. Oh, if my salvation depended on man’s belief I wouldn’t ever be good enough to serve God because they’d always find fault in my work. If my salvation depended on man’s belief, I’d never be blessed because they’d rather see me begging. If my salvation depended on man’s belief, I’d never prosper because they’d rather see my pity. If my salvation depended on man’s belief, I’d always be nobody because they’d rather see me down than up. If my salvation depended on man’s belief, my face would always show signs of crying because they’d find pleasure in my tears. Yet, however, but … I am so glad I don’t have to go online to order my ticket to Heaven because John 3:16 tells me, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” I am so glad that I don’t have to fill out an application to be saved because Acts 16:31 tells me, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” I am glad that I don’t have to stand before man and interview for my salvation because Jesus tells me in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Oh, I am so glad that my salvation isn’t based on my word because my bible tells me in Titus 3:5, “he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
So, when you see me rejoicing in the rain, when you see me dancing through my doubts, when you see me praising through my pain, when you hear me shout through my situation, when you see my arms waving through my woes, when you see the tears flowing through my faults; it’s all because my bible tells me “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).” Thank you God for saving a wretch like me!
