I just had to continue this on from yesterday because somebody is still wavering in their favor. Yea, while you’re trying to figure out why you’re being blessed; look around because it might not be you but the company you’re keeping. While you’re trying to figure out how you’re surviving, it may not be you but grandma whose favor is strong. While you’re still asking why me, you need to look around because it just may be the favor of that coworker (you keep putting your mouth on) that’s saving your job. See, when Mary was chosen she had a husband already decided which means he was also favored. Sounds crazy but go with me. Don’t you think that if God knew who He was going to choose to be the mother of His only Son, He also knew who the father would be? He did because in those times the young women were promised to young men to be married before children were even conceived. So, it was all in God’s plan because Ephesians 1:11 says, “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” I know you’re asking why Joseph was favored, well because he was in Mary’s company. This means you need to surround yourself with favored folk so that their favor overflows onto you. Yea, God knows us because He made us and because He made us, He also chooses us and in His choosing He places favor around us. God put that person right there beside you that day because He knew she would make a difference in your life and now you’ve been friends for 15 years. God knew you needed a brother so He put him at the barber shop at the exact same time you were going to be there and now you’ve been best friends ever since. Baby, you need to know that it’s not your favor that keeps you going but it’s the favor of those around us so be mindful of your surroundings. You wondering why your house is favored when Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” You’re wondering if your righteous living is worth it, when Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” You’re wondering why you keep being saved from danger when Psalm 5:12 says, “For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” You need to surround yourself with favored folks who are willing to share their favor but in doing so make sure it’s the right favor because some could be filled with worldly favor and it won’t last. Yea, God has a purpose for you which is why He chose you so stop asking why me and start accepting God’s favor. Stop asking why me and start believing God’s favor. Stop asking why me and start sharing God’s favor.
Daily Devotional – 12/18/12 “Why me?”
When God chose Mary to birth His only Son, Jesus, she asked (me paraphrasing) “Why me?” and the Angel Gabriel simply replied, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God . See, Mary had no idea she had this type of favor but God did. He has also gives us this type of favor but we spend too much time questioning it. God gives us the Holy Spirit that impregnates us with great things yet we question Him on why this happens, why didn’t this happen, why do I have to go here, why didn’t you send me there, why did you give me this, why didn’t you give me that, why did you take this person, why haven’t you taken this person, why me or why not me? But baby, sit back and let God work! Why you’re constantly asking why me, you should be saying why not me? Don’t you know when you’re chosen, you’re chosen for a purpose? Yes, you are! God doesn’t call somebody who has already qualified themselves and thinks they are all that and a bag of chips with the dip on the side but He calls those who He knows are qualifiable (I made this word up and it means that you’re capable of being qualified). Yea, you missed it but let me break this thang down. Mary was minding her own business when Gabriel appeared to her to let her know she was chosen. This means, mind your own business sometimes and allow God to choose you. Mary didn’t think she was worthy to carry a King but God did and she was humble. This means, humble yourself and get your nose out the air so that you can deliver the next President, Vice President, CEO, business, great idea or book; etc. Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled .” This means, be ready at all times to do the work of the Lord because you never know when you will be called! Why you, why me, why him or why her? Because God chose us! Let me also drop this in your spirit … The same way it takes nine months to bring a new life in the world, it takes time to deliver whatever greatness God and the Holy Spirit has impregnated you with; so stop rushing it. Those obstacles that have been placed in your way, they’ll eventually crumble but it takes time; it took the folks walking around the walls of Jericho 7 times before it fell. That sickness or disease that you’ve been toiling with; it’ll end but it takes time; the woman with the issue of blood took 12 years and the blind man had been blind since birth so don’t give up.
All I’m saying is; stop rushing God, stop running from your calling, stop being scared to deliver the greatness that God has placed on the inside of you, stop being afraid to step out the boat, stop questioning if you’re worthy and stop asking why! God has chosen YOU so all your questions should be answered by now. Allow your gift to grow within you and then deliver it! (I’m speaking to myself but if it’s meant for you then I’m speaking to you too)Believe it!
Daily Devotional – 12/17/12 “If MY People … “
While you’re so busy worrying about the souls of those unsaved, you need to be trying to get yourself together! Yea, I said it. (I’m also speaking to myself). Now, how can we possibly help others when we haven’t even helped ourselves? See, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” God said, MY PEOPLE, which means those of us who claim to be saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. You know, us “blessed and highly favored” saints. His people, those of us who are supposed to pray for our brothers and sisters instead of preying on them; those of us who are supposed to be a help mate instead of a hell mate, those of us that are supposed to be a leaning post for those who fall instead of a ditch digger when their name is called; those of us who are supposed lift folk up instead of snatching them down and those of us who are supposed to spread God’s word instead of worldly gossip. Yea, you said you were doing the right thing by your friend when you went back to tell her what Betty said but you really just wanted to start some mess because messy is your middle name. But baby, if we holy folks don’t get ourselves together, we will be busting the seams out of Hell when the time comes! If, we saints would take more time reading and studying our word more instead of the world; we might just be better. Does this mean our problems would stop, no, because trouble is what we have to go through but our living would be better! How do I know? Because God says, “You say you’re a saint which means you are called by my name, well you need to humble yourself (He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way, Psalm 25:9.), pray (Never stop praying, 1 Thessalonians 5:17), seek MY face (I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me, Proverbs 8:17) and turn from your wicked ways (Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old, Isaiah 43:18)because it is then that I will hear from Heaven (The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry, Psalm 34:15), I will forgive your sins (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9) AND I will heal your land (And the LORD will protect you from all sickness. He will not let you suffer from the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all your enemies! Deuteronomy 7:15). If My people would act right. If My people would help more! If My people would treat folk right! If My people would go where I send them. If My people would trust me! If My people would believe in Me. If My people would pray more! If My people would worship more! If My people would _____________ (you fill in the blank) If my people… we are God’s people, aren’t we? Then we need to get our stuff together because you might not have tomorrow to do it.
Daily Devotional – 12/14/12 “Try my God!”
Ever since my granddaddy died back in July, it seems like I relive his final moments every day. I close my eyes and it feels like it was last night and I don’t know why I feel like this because I know he is gone and in a much better place but it never seems to go away. Please don’t get me wrong, I am not sad or mad about his passing because at that moment I can imagine granddaddy meeting the angels that God had dispatched to get him. I can see him getting off of that bed he had laid in for 3 years and finally standing on his new legs. I can see him taking off that old hospital gown and slipping his new body into his robe that God sent, his new feet in his slippers and him rubbing his hair so that his crown could be placed perfectly. I can see him leaning over to kiss grams and whispering, “I’ll be waiting on you,” (this is why she can deal with it so much better) and then him walking into his glory. See, I am not worried about granddaddy because I believe that everything that happens is in God’s plan but I’m simply reflecting to see what God is trying to get me to see through all of this. So, I’m going to take this feeling as a way that God is using to speak through me and I shall listen because Psalm 34:17-20 says, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” And that’s enough for me!
So, I just stopped long enough to tell you that no matter what you’re facing, going through, just came out of, got away from, need to get away from, running from or whatever has you bound; God is able to fix it for you. Yea, I know that you’ve called on Him and it seems like He isn’t hearing your pleas, but He is. I know it seems like every time you get to see over the water you’re drowning in, something comes along to pull you down but just hold on. I know it seems like every time you reach for a glass for water, your tears are filling it but just don’t give up. Yea, momma may be gone; daddy may be a deadbeat; sister is doing you wrong because of jealousy; brother is hindering you instead of helping; church folks pushing you instead of praying for you; folks on the job is throwing rocks and hiding their hands but God hasn’t changed. So just wait, don’t give up or give in! Yea, Christmas is coming and you don’t see a way to get the kids what they won’t but it isn’t the end. Do what you can and allow God to do the rest. (I’ve said this before but it fits here) Baby, keep God with you like you do your cigarettes & lighter, that chap stick in your pocket, your driver’s license, your badge for work, car keys or that $1.25 for your daily Coca-Cola habit. All I am saying is keep God with you because He’s better than bread, He won’t mold; He’s better than milk, He won’t spoil; He’s better than insurance, He won’t drop your coverage or lapse: He’s better than the sun, He never goes down, He’s better than the moon because He doesn’t have to wait until nightfall to show Himself and He’s much better than so called friends because he won’t stab you in the back. Child, get some God in your life and you’ll be glad you did! I decree on today that nothing, absolutely nothing, is bigger than your destiny and your purpose! And I declare victory over the battles that you have to fight. Try my God because He never loses!
Daily Devotional – 12/13/12 “My Soul Rejoices!”
Heavenly Father, on this day, as I come petitioning your throne, I want to thank you. Thank you God for allowing me to see a new day with the activities of each of my limbs, for the warm blood that’s flowing through my veins, for my heart that’s beating, my mind that’s regulated in the right way, for my eyes that see, for my lips and tongue that allow me to speak, for my ears that hear, for all my organs that are working together today so that I might be alive, for the appetite that I have and for the means to get food and for the pain that I feel because it further lets me know that I’m yet alive. God, I’ve got to thank you because when I could have been dead, you allowed me to live. When I should have been buried in my mess, you simply brushed off the dirt and told me to stand. When I thought my knees would buckle from the burdens on my shoulders, you gave me extra strength to walk on. When I thought I wasn’t worthy of your calling, you intensified my gift. When I shouldn’t have been surviving, you provided. When all I say was a dead end on my left, you made a path that made me go right. When I wanted to give up, I realized that it wasn’t one of the options to choose. When I should have been drowning in my tears, you simply used them to wash away the dirt that had been thrown on me by folks. When I could have been strung out on drugs, you gave me grandma who drug us to church. When I could have been a hard core alcoholic drunk, you gave me momma who was hard core and didn’t mind using the rod of correction. When I could have been a street walker, you gave me a granddaddy that walked in front of me to make sure I was walking right. When I could have been a high school dropout, you gave me uncles who would show up at the school just to check on me. When I could have been a single parent raising children in this mean world, you sent me a husband who is the head of his household. When I could have been diagnosed with cancer, you gave me a clean bill of health. When I could have been at the unemployment office, you gave me a job instead. When I could be standing at the bus stop in the cold, you gave me a car instead. When I should be working on Sundays, you gave me a job that will work around my schedule.
Oh, when I think about all the things that could have happen to me, the things that should of happened to me, the things that could have taken me out, the things that should of taken me out, the sickness that could have killed me, folks that could have hurt me, burdens that could have depressed me, struggles that could have overtaken me, grief that should have consumed me and pain that could of weakened me; my soul rejoices. When I think about the places that my gift will take me, the doors that my calling will open, the territory that my God will enlarge and the increase of joy and peace that I already have; my soul rejoices. When I think about the family and friends that God has surrounded me with, my soul rejoices. Oh, my soul rejoices for the good and the bad. My soul rejoices for the happiness and the sad. My soul rejoices today, it did on yesterday and it will on tomorrow. I shall not be defeated by anything or anyone because I declare on today that my soul shall rejoice in God’s goodness and that everything that I shall want and everything that I shall be; will come to pass. I claim it in my rejoicing soul!
Lakisha, the Author 