What does this mean? Well reap means to obtain something, especially as a consequence of previous effort or action. Now consequence means something that follows as a result. So in Lakisha’s breaking down of this thang, reap simply means to obtain something for a previous thing you did or for a previous thing you went through. Yea, see you thought all that hell you’ve been through was for nothing but now it’s reaping time. Yea, you thought all that sickness that attacked your body was for nothing but now it’s reaping time. You thought all those dark nights when you were shooting drugs in your veins was for nothing but now it’s reaping time. When you were drowning your sorrows with the alcohol, you thought it for nothing but now it’s reaping time. When you thought that heartache was too much to bear, when you thought the crying would never end and the debt would never decrease; well I’m here to tell you that it’s reaping time. Yea, cancer took your hair but now you’re getting ready to reap some new hair. Yea, that man or that woman walked off with your smile but now you’re getting ready to reap God’s joy. Yea, the repo man may have taken your car but now you’re getting ready to reap a car that will be paid for. Yea, the bank may have foreclosed on your house but you’re getting ready to reap a home that you can now afford without struggling. Yea, the drug man or the liquor store may have taken all of your money and even your family but now you’re getting ready to reap deliverance. Yea, your old church may have broken your spirit but you’re getting ready to fellowship in a place where you’re going to reap the Holy Ghost. Oh, it’s reaping time saints. You need to stop wallowing in your situation and shout it’s over! See, when you shout it’s over and you believe it; then the enemy has to flee. When you stop holding on to the stuff that’s weighing you down, you start rising. When you release the stuff that has you weighted down, you stop drowning. When you start believing that all things are possible with God and you believe it, things starts to happen. When you empty out of all the bad stuff you then have room for some new stuff. When you remove the things that are blocking your blessings, you start to receive! Oh, I wish you’d stop being afraid to shout it’s over! The trials, the pain and heartache, the dark nights, the crying days, the depression, the suicidal thoughts, the unworthiness you feel, the hate and anger you have, the unemployment, the loneliness, the abuse, the pacing and whatever else you’re going through; I declare and decree that it’s over! It’s reaping time for God’s deliverance and salvation, for shouting and not sins, for dancing not doubting, for winning not losing, for being first not last, for being the lender not the borrower, for being healed not sick, for living not dying and for your purpose not your problems! Reap it but don’t keep it because the more you give the more God gives to you so when you are blessed be a blessing to others because God rewards those efforts!
Daily Devotional – 12/4/12 “Who are you sleeping with?”
I’m feeling some kind of way this morning but I know it’s just the enemy trying to push me back so I’m pushing forward. See, the devil doesn’t like to see things going right so he’ll through some mess into your plans to make left look better. He doesn’t like it when you’re not stressing, so he sends an unexpected bill your way. He doesn’t even like to see your family happy, so he’ll ride in on the back of somebody to try and release hell in the midst of your home. But when I got up this morning and God allowed me to be in my right mind, He allowed me to have everything back that I had on yesterday, He even gave me back my appetite, the activity of my limbs, I had warm water to bathe in, a few morsels of food in the refrigerator, a few dollars in my bank account, the same bills from yesterday (no new ones were added and that’s enough to make me happy), a job to go too, a car to drive even when one goes down, a few friends I can depend on, family that loves me and a gift that I know will make room for me; I had to tell the devil to not unpack his bags and get the hell out my house! See, I couldn’t allow him to get comfortable in my house because God resides there and in order for God to remain, the devil has to go. Nawl, see, the devil can’t remain if God does and God won’t remain if the devil does, so YOU have to decide who you want to sleep with because there can’t be any threesomes going on. Yea, I know you thought you had the room for both of them to share but you don’t. So who’s it going to be? Who are you sleeping with? Yea, I know the devil can make you feel good but it’s only a momentary thing yet God’s happy feeling never goes away. Yea, I know the devil has some smooth moves but they’ll have you sore in the morning yet God can give you the best sleep of your life that’ll have you refreshed at day break. Yea, I know the devil can make it all seem worthwhile in the moment but it won’t be worth nothing in a little while yet God never changes. So again I ask; who are you sleeping with?
As for me, my choice is simple and this morning (and everyday) I’m saying nan nanna nan na devil .. You won’t win this one! I am declaring victory over everything you’re trying to do. I am claiming victory over my children who will be greater than any obstacle placed in their way. I am claiming victory over my husband and for any sickness and burdens you try to through his way. I am claiming victory that we shall be debt free (and I am claiming to be debt free by 12/16/12 because I have faith! You know that faith that the bible talks about that says Now faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). Yea, I am claiming victory over my gift of ministry that it shall reach the multitudes and that my name will be on the lips of many for the right things that God is doing. I am claiming victory that my gift will make room for me and that I am the encourager, the motivator and the inspiration that God has destined me to be. I’m claiming victory over my family and friends that their problems won’t stand in the way of their purpose! I’m declaring that burdens will be lifted, chains of drug addiction and alcoholism will be broken, stress and heartache will be lifted, sickness will be healed, debt will be erased, love and happiness will be increased, joy will be multiplied and every prayer that is whispered in God’s name is heard. Oh, I am claiming that all shall be well not only in my house but also in your house! Why am I claiming it because God told me to speak those things as though they are so I am speaking life where man says there should have been death … Oh, thank you God! And just like that the feeling I started with is gone! Happiness and peace now resides… AMEN!
Daily Devotional – 12/3/12 “You want God’s service yet you won’t serve!”
Isn’t that something? You are all the time requesting, no telling God what services you need from Him yet all He ask you to do is serve Him but you don’t. Yea, God says keep my commandments and worship with me (church) yet you say, “God knows my heart.” God says, love your brothers and sisters and help others; yet you say, “God ain’t told me to be no fool!” God says read and study my word for yourself; yet you say, “God knows I don’t like to read.” Child please! 1 Samuel 12:24 says, “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.” I mean, how can you honestly beg God to answer your prayers when you only pray for your benefit (when you find the time) or when all hell is breaking loose around you? I mean, you don’t pray for others but you want them to pray for you (oh, stop using the excuse that you don’t know how to pray because prayer is simply a conversation with God. Pick up the phone and talk to God like you do when you’re gossiping with your friends). You got the nerve to ask God to bless you with a car when you’ve already told Him that you wouldn’t help anybody. You know when you say, “I swear when I get my car I ain’t taking nobody nowhere so they bet not ask!” That’s asking for God’s service but not being willing to serve. Well, that’s telling God you have no intentions to help folk when Hebrews 13:16 says, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” You do know that you need to be a servant in order to benefit from God’s service right? Exodus 19:5 says, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.” All I’m saying is you can’t keep requesting service from God if you are not willing to be a servant. It’s like constantly trying to withdraw money from the bank when you know you’ve put nothing in. Eventually you’ll be overdrawn with no means to get more of what you need because all you’ll be getting is fees, something you neither need nor want. So choose to serve God and He’ll serve you because in order to get serviced you have to first show that you are worthy of being served!
“Praise the Lord! How happy is the man who honors the Lord with fear and finds joy in His Law! His children will be powerful in the land. Each family who is right will be happy. Riches and well-being are in his house. And his right-standing with God will last forever. Light rises even in darkness for the one who is right. He is kind and has loving-pity and does what is right. Good will come to the man who is ready to give much, and fair in what he does. He will never be shaken. The man who is right and good will be remembered forever. He will not be afraid of bad news. His heart is strong because he trusts in the Lord. His heart will not be shaken. He will not be afraid and will watch those lose who fight against him. He has given much to the poor. His right-standing with God lasts forever. His horn will be lifted high in honor. Psalm 112:1-9”
Daily Devotional – 11/30/12 “I’m forever thankful!”
Now, you would have thought that I’d be out of reasons to be thankful but nope, not in this lifetime! Yea, you’re questioning what else I could possibly have to be thankful for? Well, glad you asked so let me tell you. I’m thankful because I could be in a relationship with a man who finds joy in beating me but I’m not. I could be on a job that finds pleasure in belittling me but I’m not. I could be in a church that tries to hinder my praise but I’m not. I could be surrounded by friends who mean me no good but I’m not. I could find the solution to my problems at the bottom of a bottle but I don’t. I could find peace in my storm by shooting dope in my veins, up my nose or popping pills but I don’t. I could find a way to increase my finances by getting a few dollars from walking the streets at night but I don’t. I could lose sleep at night from having nightmares of being molested as a child but I don’t. I could pace the floor because my child is lost in the world but I don’t because my children are home. I could be contemplating suicide because of being depressed but I’m not. I could be drowning in credit card debt but I’m not. I could be gambling my check away but I’m not. I could be in worse shape than I am but I’m not so yes, I’m thankful. See, my pain could be worse, my heartache could be heavier, my hope could be low and my joy could be gone but it’s not. I could look like my bad situation but I don’t. You could see the tear stains on my face from crying all night long but you don’t. You could see the scars on my knees from praying all day long but you don’t. You could see the wounds on my back from being stepped on by folk but you don’t. You could see the marks on my body from being dragged through hell and back from folk who say they love me but you don’t. You could see all the burdens on my shoulders but you don’t. You could see the lines on my face from the stress that I face but you don’t. My smile could be gone but it isn’t. My heart could stop loving but it hasn’t. My hands could stop helping but they haven’t. My feet could stop moving but they haven’t. My legs and arms shouldn’t have any more strength but they do. My mind, ears and tongue could stop working but they haven’t. Oh, I’m thankful because my gift could stop working in my favor but it hasn’t. My devotionals don’t have to minister to folk but they do. My book doesn’t have to reach folk but it does. My words don’t have to comfort folk but they do. My prayers don’t have to be answered for you but they are. And just when I think I’ve reached the bottom of my barrel to find all my hope gone, God refills it with more hope than I can ever use. When I think I’ve fallen to the lowest point on the scale for me to even see a way out, God reaches down and pulls me up so that I can see the light He’s left for me. When I think I’ve backed myself up against a wall with no way out or come to a door that won’t open, God opens up a window big enough for me to climb out of. And just when I think I’ve gone the wrong way and I’m lost without directions, God sends me His GPS coordinates that navigates me right back to Him. So you see, I have a reason to be forever thankful!
Daily Devotional – 11/29/12 “Yep, still thankful!”
I know you’re asking, “What could she possibly still have to be thankful for?” Well, I’ll tell you. I’m still thankful because my husband could have found my body cold, the blood not running through my veins and my eyes closed to open no more; when he woke up this morning but he didn’t. I could be laying in ICU with a tube down my throat but I’m not. I could be headed to get a chemo or dialysis treatment but I’m not. I could be on the list waiting for a transplant but I’m not. I could be driving to the funeral home to make the final arrangements for a loved one but I’m not. I could have received a call to come and identify the body of my son or daughter but I haven’t. I could have a sick child at St. Jude but I don’t. I could be visiting my husband behind the confines of a prison wall but I’m not. I could be holding the hands of one of my sisters battling breast cancer but I’m not. I could even be standing at the graveside of one of my brothers killed by gang violence but I’m not. I could be standing in the unemployment line but I’m not. I could even be living outside and searching the dumpsters for food but I’m not. I could have been one of the ones driving home last night from work and killed by a drunk driver but I’m not. Why am I still thankful? Oh, because when I could have been dead, God allowed me to live. When I should have been hungry, God made a way for me to eat. When I should have been broke, tore up from the floor up, raggedy and without hope; God provided. When I should have been sick, God healed me. When I should have thrown in the towel, God allowed me to use it to wipe the sweat from my head. When I should have fallen over that cliff of burdens, God gave me a rope of hope to hold on too. When I should have been buried in that ditch that so-called friends dug for me, God allowed me to pack the dirt under my feet and rise. When I should have been nothing, God made me into something. When I should have been a dirty, filthy rag; God cleaned me up and made me look brand new. When I should have been drowning in my tears, God made it into a stream of His salvation for me to swim in. When I should have been filled with anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt; God saw fit to fill me with His love. And just when I thought I was knocked out in the first round of my trials by enemies, jealous friends and hurtful family members; God tagged himself in and took over where I feel short and WE came out victorious which is why, yep I’m still thankful!
Lakisha, the Author 