Daily Devotional – 1/30/13 “The last shall be first!”

On last night we watched this movie called Courageous and there was a man named Javier who, throughout the movie, had his faith in God tested yet he never wavered. Now, one part of the movie he had finally gotten a decent job to support his family and after being there a month, his boss called him into the office to offer him a manager position with more duties but better pay. However, there was a catch. He wanted Javier to receive a shipment of 17 crates but wanted him to say that only 16 came in. Well, he went home and talked to his wife who he told he just couldn’t do it because his faith wouldn’t allow him too. She cried at the thought of him losing his job and them being hungry again but then she said God will take care of us. The next morning he went into his boss’ office and when he asked what his decision was Javier told him that he just couldn’t do it. When he asked why, he simply replied because it is wrong and will dishonor my God and my family. Afterwards he bowed his head because he knew he would lose his job but his boss stood up and held out his hands and said, “Javier, you have given me the right answer because this was a test and you passed. See, I’ve been looking for someone to manage this area and truthfully you were the last one on my list but I need someone I can trust and I now know that it’s you. Would you accept this offer?”


Isn’t that amazing? See, it made me think about God’s promise in Mark 10:31 which reads, “But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” See, in Mark 10:28, Peter said to Jesus that they had given up everything to follow Him. And Jesus simply replied in Mark 10:29-30, “Yes, and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property–along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.”


Now, get this … in choosing God, you lose so-called friends, some family and even some material things but if you hold on; you get it all back greater than it was before but in your getting, you also get a little hell on your back but hold on. You may get pushed to the back of the line but that’s alright because the last shall be first. You may be the last one on the list but that’s ok because the last shall be first. You may get knocked down and be the last one to get up but baby that’s alright too because the last shall be first. You may even get tested with some things that make you want to throw in the towel but hold on because the last shall be first. So, don’t worry about always being the first to get this, the first to try that, the first to go there and the first to finish because God isn’t really concerned about the starters because most of them drop out anyway but He rewards those who endure until the end. Don’t believe me, then read His word for yourself because it’s in there.

Daily Devotional – 1/29/13 “Father, please forgive me!”

Father, please forgive me, I didn’t mean to question your will because I know that you’d take care of me if I would just keep still. Father, please forgive me for even doubting your love for me when you didn’t have to let me open my eyes this morning to even see. Father, please forgive me for the times I don’t thank you for the things you’ve already done when you sacrificed your all by sending your only Son. Father, please forgive me for the momentary moments when I don’t offer you my praise, when you’ve removed my filthy rags, cleaned my dirty body and my bowed down head you raised. Father, please forgive me for thinking I could do this thang alone, when you’ve said that I could come to you and lay my burdens at your throne. Father, please forgive me for not trusting you when you blessed me with my gift, when you said that you would catch me if I fall over man made cliffs. Father, please forgive me for being afraid to step out on my faith when you’ve always had me covered by your Mercy and your Grace. Father, please forgive me for running from you and for turning to so called friends when you are the only one who keeps forgiving me when I continue to sin. Father, please forgive me for being ungrateful on this journey you’ve paved and please forgive me for taking advantage of the blessings you’ve gave. Father, please forgive me for not accepting my purpose and for ignoring your call and please forgive me for not accepting your hand after the times that I fall. Father please forgive me, I didn’t mean to act this way, it’s just that times sometimes get too hard for me to hear what you have to say. Father, please forgive me in advance for the moments that I may doubt and please forgive me for the times I may need to cry, scream or shout. Father, please forgive me; please forgive your child; I’m learning, I’ll do better, I can’t lose your love; I just want to be the person that you’ll be proud of.

Daily Devotional – 1/28/13 “God’s response!”

On Friday, I asked the question; “Father, can you hear me?” And God simply answered:

Yes, my child I’ve heard you but have you been listening to me? You say you’re at your witts end yet you won’t let things be! You bring your problems to the altar and then take them right back with you, when I’ve asked you to stop worrying and let Me help you through. I tell you to rest and let Me work it out but you still pace the floor at night with your mind full of doubt. I tell you to stop crying tears of pity when I should be your joy every day, yet you don’t stop long enough to hear what I even have to say. You keep your life so occupied with mess and gossip, that you miss my message and you don’t take time to study My word so you’re also failing my lesson! You cry out “Where am I?” when I’m standing outside your door, you’d notice if you stop looking at your past or raise your eyes from the floor. Yes, I hear you calling and I’m trying to get in but your life is too busy because you’re trying to keep up with your friends.

You say you’re tired of having hell on your back or looking the devil in his face, when you wouldn’t have to if you’d stay under my grace. You say you’re tired of turning the others cheek when folks do you wrong but aren’t you the one that wouldn’t listen when you said you were too grown? You say you’re tired of struggling, tired of trying to make ends meet; when baby, I’ve given you all you need to stand up on your feet. No, life isn’t easy; I didn’t tell you it would be but your tests make you stronger, just read James 1:3. For it says, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow,” And you also know that in this life you’ll reap what you sow. Which means if you hold out through your test you’ll be rewarded with a greater something because James 1:4 says, “So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” So, yes my child I hear you, I hear you loud and clear; please know that I’m holding you close but I simply need you to hear. Listen when I talk to you because I won’t steer you wrong and just hold on through your storm even though it seems long. You have to know that I haven’t left you and I’m only a prayer away and please know that I’m listening to everything you have to say. Yea, you’ll have some more bad days they won’t just automatically stop because you’ve got to hit a few snags on your way up to the top. But that’ll make you appreciate it more when you finally make it; when your breakthrough is granted; so, hold on my child; I’m listening so keep your feet in my word firmly planted.

Daily Devotional – 1/25/13 “Father, can you hear me?”

Sometimes in this life, your journey gets to be too hard to bear. You keep a smile on your face because if you don’t you may just burst into tears. You rather text than call somebody because they may hear the pain in your voice. You keep skipping church because you don’t want anyone to see the hurt in your eyes. You don’t even hang out with your family and friends because you’re trying to hide the fact that you need a few more drinks or a few pills at night to put you to sleep. Yea, I know this thing called life is getting hard and you are tired of hearing, “God will take care of you,” “Hold on until your change come,” “God hasn’t given up on you,” “It’ll be ok in the morning,” “Your storm won’t last always,” because you’re standing in the need of a blessing right now. Sickness is attacking more young folk, cancer is everywhere you turn, death has quit knocking on the door and has started letting himself in, hurt comes from folks you know more than folks you don’t know, hours on the job is going up and pay is going down, violence can be found in the hands of babies, bullying at the hands of so-called friends and even your own family hating. And you’re asking, God, are you listening? See, times have become now that the devil doesn’t even have to work as hard to get Christians on his side because they are becoming devils themselves. They lie when the truth will do, use and hurt folk because they think they can, kill folk because they feel powerful and even steal from folks because it’s easier than working for it. What in the hell is going on? Father, can you hear me? Is this the type of trouble that you promised us, is it supposed to be this hard? Yea, I know you made me in your image but sometimes it feels like I’m made of jelly instead of steel. Yea, I know I am supposed to turn the other cheek but what happens when I’m tired of them both being hit? I know that I shouldn’t seek revenge when folks talk about me but how much more can I take? I don’t know how much longer I can stand with my back up against this wall before I fall. I don’t know how much longer I can stand in this rain without drowning in the water. I don’t know how much longer I can take the sleepless and pacing nights because my body is tired. Father, can you hear me? I’m calling out to you! I need you to come and see about me. I’m trying to be strong, I’m trying to hold on, I’m doing the very best I can but I need to know if you’re listening. Yea, I read my bible and I even memorize a few scriptures but they don’t help pay the light bill. Yea, I go to bible study sometimes but it’s not helping with this broken heart. Yea, I even get into the worship service but it hasn’t stopped my tears from flowing. What am I to doo, now? Father, I’m not giving up but I’m simply giving in to you. I’m not throwing in the towel but I’m waving my white flag. I’m not quitting the race but I’m giving you the baton. I refused to be knocked out in this round so I’m tagging you in. I’m not jumping over this cliff, I’m simply letting go by your command. I’m not going right because you told me to go left. I’m not losing my faith in you because that’s what is getting me through. God, I just needed you to know that I need you and your presence and I need it right now!

Daily Devotional – 1/24/13 “Thanking You in advance!”

So many times we wait for good things to happen to us before we take the opportunity to thank God but on today, I am stopping long enough to thank God, right now, for the things He’s yet to do for me. Yea, I’m choosing this very moment to praise Him in advance for the things I’ve yet to see and receive. Why would I do this? Well, firstly because Ephesians 5:20 says, “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” then 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus,” and then Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Secondly, because even when I was a mess, God favored me; when I thought I was nothing, God made me into somebody; when I was in the midst of my sins, God saved me; when I thought I couldn’t go on; God pushed me harder; when I thought my storm would claim my life, God covered me; when I thought I drown in my sorrows, God pulled me out and cleaned me up; when I thought my grief would consume me; God comforted me and when I thought my nights of pacing would tear me down; God stepped in and gave me rest. Even when I am at my lowest point, God blesses me! When I can’t see my way, God blesses me! When the darkness seems to be getting darker, God blesses me! When it seems like friends are becoming enemies and family is turning into haters, God blesses me! So, you see; if God could bless me through all of this, I can only imagine the greater things He has in store for me in the future, if I just hold on; so I rejoice for them now. If God can take me when I was tore up from the floor up, raggedy, not fitting to live yet not ready to die, snatch me from the pits of hell to clean me up, give me a new heart and spirit, make my hands and feet look new, a new set of eyes and ears, a new mouth, a brand new body that doesn’t show the scars on my legs from being dragged to hell and back, scars on my back from being used by folks who said they would love me, stepped on by folks who said they’d help me and abused by folk who said they had my best interest at heart; surely He has something greater for me. After all, He did choose me for a purpose! Now, if this isn’t for you, then move out my way while I thank Him now for the promotion I’ve yet to receive, the healing that’s on the way, the deliverance that’s right around the corner, the light at the end of my tunnel, the silver lining in my dark clouds, the debt free status I’ll soon claim, for making my enemies my foot stool, for my books to be in bookstores and churches across many states (I’m claiming this thang!), for the increasing of my gifts that will enlarge my territory, for the healing of my family and friends, for the doors that He is about to open in their lives and for the things I’ve yet to even think of! Yea, I’m even thanking God in advance for the things He has yet to do for you. For the healing of your sickness or disease, your new career, your new home, your new car, your spouse, your deliverance, your debt free status, your new heart, your joy that’s on the way back, for your hope bucket that’s about to be filled, for your tears that’s about to stop, for your spirit that’s about to be renewed, for your regulated mind and for your peace. I’m thanking him for making your business successful, for enlarging your territory, for increasing your gift and for the anointing He is about to place over your life! Oh, I’d better leave this thang alone! Yet, I thank you God right now! I praise you God right now because you are worthy!