Daily Devotional – 3/12/12 “Get in God’s way!”

I know that you’ve been praying for your deliverance from drugs, alcohol, depression or suicidal thoughts and it seems like it just won’t come. You’ve been praying for healing from your sickness or disease and it seems like it just won’t come. You’ve been praying for confirmation and it seems like it just won’t come but baby, I’m here to tell you that sometimes you’ve to get in God’s way. Yea, I know that you’re waiting for God to send you a word that confirms the answer to your question but God has already sent you the confirmation; he’s just waiting for you to move. You’re waiting for a sign that the person you’re with is your soul mate but he’s showed you the signs that man isn’t husband or that girl isn’t wife material, but you keep holding on to them. You may even be waiting for God to change you before you go back to church but have you stopped to think that God might just be waiting on you to go to church before he sends a change? The man with the infirmity in his hand (Luke 6:6-10) and the woman who was bent over for 18 years (Luke 13:11), didn’t wait for God to heal them but they were in the church on Sunday when they received their healing, so why are you waiting? Stop waiting for God to come to you but get in his way, sometimes, which lets him know that your faith is strong and you’re ready to receive that which you ask for. When Jesus healed folk in the bible days some were in his way. The woman with an issue of blood who toiled for 12 long years (Mark 5:25-34), the man at the pool of Bethesda who was laid on his bed of affliction for 38 years (John 5:1-8), Blind Bartimaeus had no sight but he heard Jesus coming through Jericho (Mark 10:46-52) and he asked for healing and it was received – they were in God’s way and they received what they asked for. They didn’t wait for God to come to them because they knew what they needed, which was healing. So many times we wait for stuff to be dropped into our laps, that we miss out on our blessings. It’s like needing to ask momma or daddy for gas money but you keep saying they are busy and now each time they come in, you’re too scared to get in their way to ask, so now you’re stuck in the house with no gas and nothing to do when you should have stopped them to ask.

On yesterday my uncle preached on when “Sunday Comes” and he made some interesting points. Did you know that although God said to remember his Sabbath, keep it Holy and that it should be a day of rest, Jesus did most of his work on a Sunday? Interesting, huh? Then it made me understand that if you go to church for the right reason even when you’re not feeling your best, you can leave feeling renewed. Yea, you can shout away sickness, dance away drama and depression, sing away situations, pray away pain and the word can wipe out worldly mess. See, on Sunday morning you can be refreshed when you worship in Spirit and in Truth because when you worship with your whole heart the Holy Spirit abides in you and all of the Hell you’ve been through during the week doesn’t matter anymore and now you’re stronger to face the turmoil of the coming week. Don’t you know that God is a spirit and he is seeking all true worshippers? John 4:23 says “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” Isn’t God worth a few hours of your time on a Sunday Morning? I don’t know about you but after worship service on Sunday, I’m ready to face whatever the week holds for me because I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I’ve learned that you get out of worship what you put into worship. If you come in already defeated, then you lose. If you come in with your head hanging low, then how can you look up to the Heavens from which your help comes? If you come in with your feet already hurting then how can you stand on God’s word? If you come in with your eyes swollen from crying all night then how can you see the goodness of God? If you come in with your hands tired from rubbing them all night trying to figure out this and that then how can you raise them to offer up praise? If your voice is gone from hollering and cursing all night how can you offer up praise with your mouth? For Exodus 15:2 says “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him–my father’s God, and I will exalt him!”

When you praise you are putting yourself in God’s way. When you give thanks you are putting yourself in God’s way. When you have faith, unwavering faith, you are putting yourself in God’s way. When you stand even though folks are trying to push you down, you are putting yourself in God’s way. When you get up after being knocked down, you’re putting yourself in God’s way. When you clean the wounds from being stabbed in the front and back from so called friends and you keep going, you are putting yourself in God’s way. And when you’re in God’s way you receive healing even after the doctor has said there’s no help left to give. When you’re in God’s way you receive grace and mercy when folk said you won’t amount to nothing. When you’re in God’s way you receive love when all others gave hate. When you’re in God’s way you receive strength when folks counted you out. When you’re in God’s way you receive joy when the world said you should be crying. When you’re in God’s way he sees your willpower that leads to your willingness to work and when you work you receive workman’s wages that allows you to walk worthily in wealth while withstanding wickedness. Oh, when you’re in God’s way your favor never weakens and your blessings never waver. When you’re in God’s way the devil in hell can’t stop what God has for you. When you’re in God’s way the world can’t pull you down from your elevated platform. When you’re in God’s way! Don’t be afraid to get in God’s way because I’d rather be in God’s way than in the way of a speeding car.

Today, somebody reading this has been afraid, for a long time, to step out on faith but God is saying “Oh yea of little faith, why are you afraid?” Get in God’s way and allow him direct you into the direction you should be going because I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that he’ll never steer you wrong. Believe in your heart for that which you ask for and speak as if it is already done. In Matthew 9, it speaks about some of the works and healing that Jesus did because of the faith that those receiving this healing had. Verses 28-29 say “And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”” By your faith!

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Daily Devotional – 3/10/12 “Saturday Encouragement”

I usually only write a short devotional on Facebook on the weekend, but somebody needs a little encouragement on today. I don’t know, maybe it’s me because sometimes even the encourager needs to be encouraged and even if it’s the words I’m writing, they are from God so that’s good enough for me. So I encourage you to hold on! Don’t give up just get because God still has some work for you here. Hold on because although the death train is about to leave the station, somewhere, your ticket hasn’t been stamped! Yea, I know that it’s Saturday Morning but somebody, maybe you, is in need of prayer right now. I don’t know your name or what has your head down, tears flowing and you crying out for help but God does. So I stand in the gap for you this morning my sister and my brother. I stand flat footed with my arms outstretched and my head turned up towards heaven speaking life over your circumstance right now. All those areas of creativity that you think have dried up I’m blowing life to them now because God has given me that authority. For the sickness in your body, I’m sending healing. For that relationship that doesn’t seem to be going right I’m asking God to send his guidance. For the person without a job or one whose been trying to get into their field of work but can’t get a foot in, I’m speaking that for you this morning. For the doubters of God, just keep looking at me and although I may not be perfect you’ll still be able to see him in my walk, my talk, my living and my giving. For the back sliders, come on home, God is waiting with open arms and for those who haven’t accepted him yet, all you have to do is open the door, he’s there.

God doesn’t care that your hair and nails aren’t done. He doesn’t care that your clothes aren’t brand new or that you paid $20 for your shoes, all he cares about is what’s on the inside of you! Trust God for what you need on today and then ask as if he’s already given it to you. If you believe that healing is yours, it is. If you believe that house is yours, it is. If you believe that car is yours, it is. If you believe that job or that raise is yours, it is. Have faith that God is who he say he is and that he will do what he say he will because after you’ve tried everything else, God will still be waiting. After you’ve cried out, God is still waiting. After you paced the floor for long enough, God is still waiting. After you’ve had the suicidal thoughts, God is still waiting. After you given up on yourself, God is still waiting. See, God knew you would go through all these things because he promised trouble, on this side and because he knew you before you were formed in your mom’s belly so he’s just waiting for you to let him handle it. God knew that you’d be at the end of your rope at this appointed time because he ordained it to happen but you’ve got to believe that he won’t leave you now. God has the power to be where you are at all times, just call out for him and if you can’t say a word, just raise your hands because the Holy Spirit abides in you and if you let the Holy Spirit have its way, it’ll intercede on your behalf. Stop trying to fight this battle because it isn’t yours to win. Let God do it. Be encouraged on this morning. God hasn’t left you, you just need to go back and get him from where you left him when you figured you could do things on your own.

Daily Devotional – 3/9/12 “Why argue if you’re right?”

Have you heard the expression that says don’t argue with a foolish person because someone looking might not be able to tell the difference? Well, my question would be, why argue if you know you’re right? It makes no sense to go back and forth with a person who is accusing you of something you didn’t do because the truth will speak for itself. If it didn’t then how can you explain the apology you usually received after it is over? You know how your older sister accused you of taking her stuff and after you’ve told her 50 times you don’t have it, she finds it in her room and then has to apologize. This is my point, why argue? Take as an example; on last night after my husband and I got home he was looking for the remote to the TV in the living room. Of course neither one of the kids knew where it was even though Gabby was the last one to have it. Now this makes her dad upset and they, of course go back and forth but me I keep it pushing. Why, because I knew where the remote would be, in her room. Well after looking everywhere and her “looking in her room”, my sister tells her again to go look in her room because she was the last one with it in her hands and can you guess where the remote was, in her room on her bed under mounds of clothes. Now do you see why it doesn’t do you any good to argue when you know you’re right? Really, it doesn’t do you any good to argue if you are wrong or right because what good does arguing do anyway but I’ll deal with the wrong part later. The bible says in 2 Timothy 2:23 “Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.” Now, you know that a person who thinks you’re wrong will argue to the finish as will a person who knows they’re right, so it’s never-ending. Yea, I know that you have to try and defend yourself and your character but if you do all things in truth then it’ll show in your talk because the bible says in Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Now the salt is in comparison to you seasoning food because if you add the right flavor to the meal you’re serving then it goes well for all those who eat it and if you add the right amount of flavor to your talk, it’ll go down just as smooth.

Don’t you know that arguing can be the death of you? If not, try arguing with a teenage girl about wearing jeans that are too tight or filled with holes. Your blood pressure is steady rising while you are screaming go change and she is sitting there looking at her phone because she knows eventually you’ll give it up and walk off. I’ve learned, from experience, that some battles are not worth arguing over. While you are still upset about an argument from yesterday, the other person has moved on and forgot about it so why are you still mad? Usually when you argue with a person who thinks you’re wrong, have lied or been unfaithful, they’ve already made their mind up and it doesn’t matter that you keep trying to tell them you haven’t done anything because through their angry eyes they can’t hear what you’re saying anyway. This is the time you allow the truth to speak for you because the bible says in John 8:32, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” When a person is angry there is no reasoning with them, at that point. Tell them when they’ve allowed them and the situation to cool down to come and speak with you but until then there is no argument. There is no good that will come out of 2 folks standing face to face arguing and screaming because in the end you’re left with 2 angry folks with a headache and an unresolved issue.

Psalm 37:8 says, “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” And you know this to be true because when you’re angry to tend to make all the wrong choices because you’ve allowed the anger and the argument from the anger to take over. Now you’re calling that co-worker who comes to your desk every day when you should have your tail at home, you’re at the bar getting drunk and then getting behind the wheel to potentially kill yourself or somebody else, when you should have been praying for guidance or you’re sending a hateful text or email with those strong emotions when you should have just waited a few days. See, arguing with a person, when you know you’re right, stirs all types of emotions within you and now you’re making all kinds of bad choices when you should have just walked away and allowed, once again, the truth to speak for you. When you’ve allowed that person who calls you a liar to take you there, they have you bound so they may as well tie your hands and feet. Galatians 5:1 says “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” When you’ve allowed anger to consume you, it has won. So, they called you a liar, are you? So what, they said you cheated, did you? Who cares they don’t believe you, do you believe? If you continue to allow angry folks to stand over you calling you a liar when you know you’re not, you’ll soon start to believe it and now they have you second guessing yourself and feeling guilty when you have done nothing. Break those chains and stand firm on your word because your word, your honest word, is all you have. Stop allowing folks to take that because they don’t believe you. Don’t argue when you know you’re right because the truth always prevails and whether it takes a few minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or years, it will prevail.

Matthew 12:35 says, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” So stop letting angry folks ruin your day as you know they will because there is always someone who is naturally mean for no reason, always someone who wants to argue or someone who is always ready to fight, those folks make you unbalanced. When you are unbalanced, you’re off your game and when you’re off your game you get caught slipping and when you’re slipping you’re bound to make a mistake. Keep a level head, walk away and don’t argue! Let them do them because folks who have God are supposed to have the power to handle their tongue because Proverbs 14:29 says “People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness” or John 1:19 which says, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” . Don’t argue, calm down and then talk about it for Ephesians 4:26-27 says “And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” See, a foothold is defined as a secure starting position in order to advance. It’s like a person who climbs rocky mountains, in order for them to continue to move up, they have to place their foot into a foothold that boost them up higher and the only way for them to make it to the top, they have to keep putting their feet into footholds. Well, when we get angry with each other, the devil is grabbing our feet and the madder we get, the higher he rises until he is running things in YOUR house because you’ve given him the means to rise to the top and now you’re no longer in control and you’re so angry that your home is no longer happy and he has completed what he sat out to do. But if you, “Submit yourselves, then, to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).” Arguing leads you to be angry and being angry turns you bitter and bitterness leads to resentment and resentment turns to hatred and hatred pushes you farther from the reach of God. Trust God and do what you know is best. Don’t argue whether you’re right or wrong because arguing never, NEVER, solves anything.

Daily Devotional – 3/8/12 “Why you hating?”

You know it’s funny how folks come out, against you, when God is elevating you to a new level. It’s common with politicians when all of the “women” they’ve been seeing behind closed doors just happen to get an interview on the nightly news when they are running for some type of election. It’s also common in the church, because the church is too busy trying to conform to the world instead of allowing the world to conform to them. You have women and men who only go after folk for their convenience and once they are no longer getting what they want, they start telling everybody but why not tell it during the sin? Please don’t get me wrong, if a person (man or woman) is doing wrong when they know they shouldn’t be, then they should be punished because all actions have consequences but what I’m saying is there is a big difference about shedding light on a bad situation and hating on the person. Now, the “hate” I am referring to in this devotional is basically the same as jealousy but with a new age twist. See, it used to be if folks hated on you for what you had or what you knew they would probably stop coming around but now when folks hate on you they make it known to the world. With Facebook, Twitter, text messages and email folks have become bolder in their attacks. I don’t have an issue with social networking because it isn’t the problem but it’s the folks who use it in the wrong way. When they don’t have to stand face to face with you they tend to gain power in the words they used.

If I get a promotion on my job and you stand behind me throwing rocks and then hiding your hands, by trying to get me fired or talking negatively then you are a hater! If the Pastor ask Sis Shoutly to be over Women’s Day this year and now you’re trying to convince everybody to not work with her then you are a hater! If every time your brother pulls up in the car that he’s had for over a year and you get mad and say he thinks he’s something when he ain’t nothing, you’re a hater! If you continue to bring up all the bad things I did in my past each time you see me working for the Lord, you’re a hater! If you’re still caught up on your ex who has moved on and remarried and you still post negative comments with his name tagged in it on Facebook, you’re a hater! If you follow your baby daddy on twitter and then re-tweet when he talks about his new girlfriend, you’re a hater! If you constantly wish bad over my life because I’m doing better now that you’re gone, yes, you are a hater! The bible says in 1 John 3:15, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” See, you can’t expect God to stand for you when you are busy trying to bring down your brother and sister all because you choose to hate! Baby, God won’t be in the midst of this. You have to realize that favor isn’t fair but it sure is fabulous and if you want it, get it for yourself. If I’ve worked hard to get where I am, you hating won’t stop it because I’ve come to realize that if you don’t have haters, it means you’re not doing something right. See, I choose to make all those who hate on me my motivators. Yea, I thank God for them daily because they keep me striving to be better in my Christian walk because if my Christian walk is better then everything I touch will be anointed by God and when my touch is anointed I won’t be disappointed. When my touch is anointed, everything I put my hands on is blessed which means I can’t be stressed. When my touch is anointed everywhere I place my feet is filled with grace so it just quickens my pace. When MY touch is anointed I’m bound to have haters so I welcome you!

James 4:2 says, “You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” There isn’t a reason for you to hate when all you have to do is ask God for it. I know you expect him to be as quick as a microwave dinner but God doesn’t work that way. He said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7) but he didn’t say it’ll be on your terms because most times we ask for the things we want and not the things we need so he determines when you’re ready. Yes, you may think you’re ready for a new car note but God knows that sickness is getting ready to attack your body and your finances will be off for a while, so he makes you wait. Yes, you may think you’re ready for that brand new expensive house but God knows the man/woman you’re with won’t stick & stay, so he’s saying not yet. Yes, you may be ready to find a new job and move out of town but God knows your mom is going to need you so he is saying just wait a little while. When God doesn’t give you what you think you need or he removes something from your grasp it only because it’s for your best. Don’t you know that God has already predestined your life so the things you go through and will go through are already planned? Child, God has already told you “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. (Jeremiah 1:5).” God didn’t allow his only Son to die so that you could live everyday hating on folks. God doesn’t put breath in your body everyday so you can make a point to speak negative about folks all day long. God doesn’t give you strength and a right mind every day for you to tear folks down. The bible says in Psalm 97:10 “Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” It is your God given duty to love me. I didn’t say you couldn’t get mad but don’t stay mad and stop hating because hating doesn’t look good on you and it blocks your blessing. Psalm 145:20 says, “The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.” Don’t let your mouth destroy all that God has for you here on Earth and all that he has prepared for you in your new home. When you hate, you hinder healing and without healing you don’t have hope and without hope you have no faith and without faithfulness you have no favor without favor you have no flavor and without flavor you fail!

Daily Devotional – 3/7/12 “It’s not the world!”

Haven’t you realized yet that life is what you make it? When it seems like everything is going wrong around you, everywhere you turn there is conflict and you always seem to run into a situation and nothing can go right; well, it might not be the world or the folks around you causing the issue, it might just be you. If everything was going good until you got there and now all hell is breaking loose, you may be the one bringing the hell. See, the devil is a spirit which means he doesn’t have legs to walk so the only way he gets into your home or your situation is if you or someone around you brings him in and if you bring the devil then you get evil because after all it’s in his name. Now, maybe you aren’t the one to bring the evil into the room but you may know who is and you’re too afraid to say it because you don’t want to risk losing a friend but the bible says in Colossians 3:9-10, “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

You have to know by now, by reading these devotionals or studying for yourself, that trouble is promised to you so why add any more? You are always trying to tell other folks how to live, how to raise their children and how they need to change this or that when you can’t even handle your own mess. Haven’t you read Matthew 7:3 which says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” You volunteer for more than you can handle and then complain and take it out on others when you knew you didn’t have the extra time to give in the first place. You wonder why folk suddenly leave the room when you come around; it’s not them because the bible says in Proverbs 22:10 “Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.” If every time you go to a family function and there is strife, it may be you. You come in with an attitude and go off because you didn’t get any of the spaghetti when you knew dinner started at 6PM and you come in at 9PM, you can’t expect any to be left but you still act like everybody owe you. The world isn’t the one with the problem, baby it’s you. You always want to blame other folks when you can’t get a job when the truth of the matter is, you barely fill the application out right and then when you get the interview, you show up late and you wonder why no one will hire you. No, it’s not the world with the issue. You get upset at simple stuff that folk say or do and now you got an attitude but instead of taking responsibility, you’d rather blame the folks around you when you know it’s not them. Maybe you need to take off the hell that’s tied to your back and look at yourself. Humph! Don’t you know that mouth of yours can write a check your butt can’t cash? Let me show you. You come to work pissed off because you and your spouse had an argument on last night. Your boss sends a email to the entire group, not just you, about some things that need to be addressed, as a whole, and before you know it you go into his/her office ranting & raving about how tired you are of this and how you are always being picked on. You’re talking so fast that you’ve yet to realize you’re talking yourself out of your job and by the time you see the mess you’ve stepped in, it’s too late. You’ve just fell into quick sand and no one is around to pull you out. Now, you’re packing up the few things you got at your desk to go home and explain to your husband/wife how you actually lost your job. You need to realize it isn’t the world with the problem! Don’t you know when you eat hot potato chips, cheese puffs or buttery popcorn they leave your hands dirty and greasy which then you get on your clothes, well when you dabble around in hellish things you tend to get some on you which means you rub it on others when you touch them. You need to be careful where you spend time and the things that influence you because Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

And please stop putting your mouth on folk just because you’re mad, stressed and/or jealous because Proverbs 21:23 says, “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” When God said in 1 Chronicles 16:22 “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm,” he wasn’t only speaking about Pastors, Bishops and Elders, because anoint means to dedicate to the service of God and if you’re dedicated to him, then he is speaking about you. So when you talk about me because of the gift that I have, you’re talking about God’s anointed. When you defame folk’s name by spreading lies and gossip, you’re putting your mouth on God’s anointed. When you talk about Pastor Soul, you’re putting your mouth on God’s anointed. When you talk about Deacon Dudley, you’re putting your mouth on God’s anointed. When you talk about Sis Shirley’s clothes and hair, you are putting your mouth on God’s anointed. No matter how a person lives outside of worship service, it isn’t for you to judge them because Matthew 7:1 says “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” But who are you anyway? Who are you to judge how my life or folk’s lives are lived? Just because we won’t wallow in your pit of pity, it doesn’t make us more than you, it just means we’ve accepted this thing called life and choose to make the best of it. Just because we won’t be mad at Momma for the stuff she used to do, it doesn’t make us less than you, it just means we’ve let go of the past and forgave. Just because I don’t look like I’m struggling, it doesn’t mean I have more than you, it just means I’m making the best of my blessings. Just because our paths were separated and I went one way and you went another, it doesn’t mean I don’t know where I came from, it just means I’m looking forward and not back. What it means is I’m not letting my past define me. Baby these scars that I have, whether they are visible or not, on my skin made me who I am. The scars on my knees shows that my pray life is busy. The scars on my hands are from me climbing up the rough side of the mountain. The scars on my back are from the folks who said they were for me but stabbed me when I turned around. The stains on my face are from the many nights I had to cry myself to sleep when the world was being extra cruel. The scars under the bottom of my feet are from the many roads I’ve had to travel on my Christian walk. So, whatever you’ve been through, going through or about to go through, don’t let it take you out. You’ve got to stop blocking your own blessings by running your mouth or keeping that chip on your shoulder. When you are mad at someone, pray and let the situation cool down before you react because the words that come out your mouth can’t be taken back and words can cut deeper than any knife. When someone has let you down, pray and move on because the actions you do, while hurt cannot be taken back. Be careful what you say and who you say it too. That person you’re talking about today could be the one saving your life tomorrow. The person you are crossing out because you’re mad, may be the one helping you up when you fall. The person you constantly step on may be the one helping you through your sickness. This is your life and it is what you make it so make the best of it every day. Don’t let your bad attitude affect your relationships. Don’t let your mouth get you into things that your hands can’t get you out of. So even if you have hell on your back now, the only way it stays, you have to keep holding it or you’ve strapped it on! Unbuckle it, let it go, stand up straight and press on. God got a blessing with your name on it but you’ve got to be willing to accept it and you can’t with that frown on your face!