Daily Devotional – 1/26/12 “Thirsty Thursday!”

In the bible, Matthew 5:6, it says “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Now, I’m sure, if you’ve been reading the devotionals, you know the meaning of righteousness but let me share it again just so you can get the full understanding of this scripture and devotional for today. Righteousness is defined as always behaving according to a religious or moral code. You know, obeying God’s commandments, following your mom or dad’s rules or doing what you know is right on your job; that’s being righteous and it’s not always biblical speaking because your parents instill morals in you too. If your parents have taught you how to be respectful to adults and you are, then you’re following a moral code and in following this code, you are thirsting for righteousness and in thirsting you are being blessed. Now being thirsty is having a desire to drink or a strong desire for something. If you thirst for God’s word, then you have a strong desire for it the same way you should desire to follow the moral code (commandments) that have been left for you. It’s almost like kids who are searching for the hidden Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. They have a strong desire to find them because some are filled with candy, some may have a special gift or some may just want the egg so they thirst for them. Well, if you are searching for God’s meaning for your life, then you should be thirsting after his word and his righteousness in order to see the reward you’ll reap once it’s been found. Proverbs 21:21 says “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.”

See, when you thirst for righteousness and you pursue it, you’ll follow the word of God which leads you to living instead of dying, wealth instead of debt and honor instead of dishonor. When you seek to have righteousness in your life, you seek the blessings that God has waiting for you. When your body is hungry and thirsty, don’t you feed it or quench it with water or soda? Well, your soul has to also be fed when it’s hungry and thirsty but not with earthly things. You have to feed the soul with the living water, God’s word. John 6:27 says “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” No, this doesn’t mean that you stop working but it means don’t stress yourself out trying to work 16 hour days for things of this world that won’t last and those things that you can’t take with you when you die. Yea, I know you have to work on Sunday’s but try to make it to some worship service, even if it’s only for an hour. If you spend all your days working and none giving God the credit that he’s due, what will be your excuse on judgment day?

The bible says in John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” This scripture is not talking about earthly hunger or thirst but spiritual hunger/thirst. See, if you eat and drink God’s word, then you won’t thirst after earthly temptations. If you eat the word, Matthew 26:41 that says, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak,” you’ll be prepared to say no when you face that brother/sister in the blue suit that seems to know all that you need and go home to your spouse. If you eat the word, Psalm 120:2 that says “Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues,” then you’ll think before you start being dishonest with your brothers or sisters. If you eat the word, Ephesians 4:32 that says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you,” then you’ll won’t hold grudges when folk do you wrong. If you eat the word, James 1:19, that says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” then you won’t be quick to “go off” when someone says something you don’t like.

We, as Christians, have a duty to do right by God. We chose to let God into our lives, so why act like he’s not there just because you’re having a bad day? You get up with an attitude and now you got road rage so bad, that you really should go to jail before you hurt somebody. You get a little bit of money and now your ego is bigger than your house and you wonder why no one wants to be around you. You go to school and get a degree and now everybody that has an opinion is wrong about any subject that is bought up. Child, God isn’t pleased with your mess and you can’t put him on and take him off, like a coat, when you feel like. You’ve got to study God’s word for yourself in order to get a full understanding and know when your actions are wrong. Thirst after God’s word in order to get the plan that he has for your life and hunger for his word in order to fill your spirit with righteousness so that you can be blessed. John 6:47-51 says “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” Eat the word so that you may live, not here on Earth but in Heaven with God because in order to get to Heaven you have to be able to pass through the gates and how will you get through the gates without knowing Jesus and his Father? You can’t ride along with someone else because this is the only ticket you have to purchase for yourself. Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” So, you have to know Jesus and in getting to know Jesus, you get to know his Father, God and with knowing God, doing his will and keeping his commandments, you get a stamp of approval on your ticket home, when it’s your time.

Daily Devotional – 1/25/12 “Stop being used!”

It’s simple, stop being used. You have a man at home who finds pleasure in using you as a punching bag and you allow it because he apologizes or buys you a gift. You have a girl at home who only enjoys your company when you’re spending money and not quality time. You have a job that finds pleasure in dumping all of the work on you while they enjoy their nights and weekends at home. You have friends who only come around when they need something from you or church members who call you only when they need you to do something. STOP BEING USED! Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Now, this doesn’t mean give until you’re in the poor house, but it says give so that the way you give it’ll be given back to you. But there is a difference in giving and being used. If you come to me and you need $20 for gas until your payday, that’s me being a blessing unto you and that blessing will be given back to me but if you come to me every Friday because you know it’s my payday with no intention of every paying it back because you don’t work, then you’re using me and at some point I’ve got to stop it or it’ll only continue. It’s just like a parent and their child, if you continue to baby a grown man he’ll never be a man because he always has his mother to fall back on and then you wonder why he or she keeps making mistakes but never learn from them. At some point, you’ve got to stop being used. If your son or daughter, husband or wife, sister or brother is a drug addict, will you buy them the drugs that are killing them? I would think no, but if you are being an enabler to them because you keep allowing them to use you for extra cash every week, then you are.

You have to make up in your mind that you will no longer be the doormat for folks to walk all over. You have a teenager in your home that makes more rules than you do and you’re paying the bills. I had a conversation with my niece on last night and she said to me that most days she wakes up with an attitude and I had to stop and ask her, what reason did she have to have an attitude when everything she has is not been bought by her. I told her when she starts paying bills, cooking dinner, sacrificing sleep for working and then dealing with co-workers, friends and family members all while trying to maintain a household, then she is entitled to an attitude but until then she can zip her lips. See, we’ve allowed children to parent us when we should be parenting them. We buy them all the expensive electronics, shoes, clothes and jewelry and then act shocked when they stand in our face talking smart. We’ve allowed them to exploit themselves all over Facebook and then wonder why no one will respect them or hire them for a job. We allow them to slam doors in our house when we say things they don’t like and even allow them to bring home bad grades when all they have to do is go to school. Baby, we’ve got to stop being used. Yea, you missed out on a lot during your childhood so you want to make sure they have everything. You and your spouse divorced so now the kids used that as an excuse to act a fool and you fall right into the trap. STOP IT! Stop apologizing because you have to work long hours. Stop feeling bad because you won’t allow them to spend the night over everybody’s house or run the streets like their friends do. Your only job is to love your children and you do that by taking care of them and providing the basic necessities of life. Now, don’t get me wrong there isn’t anything wrong with rewarding good behavior but why would you go out and buy your son a $60.00 Xbox game after they’ve put their teachers through hell the entire week in school? Stop being used!

The word says that people should treat you how they want to be treated. If you don’t believe me, read Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31 and James 2:8 because they all say “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” You are worthy of being more than a part time lover for someone you’ve given all your love too. You are worthy than being more than a motel room chick for someone who you pay hotel prices for. Stop settling for a few hours per week when you’re giving them full time attention. Stop settling for minimum wage when your resume shows your net worth to be 6 figures. The simplest way to tell someone’s true feelings, go through something. Get sick and see how many volunteer to take you to the doctor. Have a death in your family and see who’ll be there to comfort you when you’re looking for peace and understanding. Lose your job and see who’ll invite you out for dinner, on them. Need a shoulder to cry on and see who will offer theirs. Ask for a few bucks to hold you over and see who will be quick to give them to you. Tell somebody a secret and see if it gets out. Everyone that is in your life is not meant to be forever because most of them have their seasons, just like flowers that only bloom during a certain time of the year so stop trying to keep them around when their season is up. If they’ve left you, let them go. Don’t keep chasing them because if they wanted to be caught, they’ll stop running.

Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, I thank you today for all that you’ve done. I know that you have made me in your image, so I am asking you now to forgive me for not valuing my self-worth. God I know that you’ve equipped me with the things that I need to endure the hardships of this world and today I choose ME! God bless my home, keep my mind, & search my heart & if there is anything there that should not be please take it away. I am worthy God because you made me. I am worthy God because I am yours and today I make a vow to stop being used or a user if that’s what I am. I will put my trust in you. God, guide my footsteps so that I may walk in your way. Guide my tongue so that I may talk like you. Guide my heart so that I may love like you. Open my eyes so that I may see you in me. God continue to be my provider and continue to keep lighting my path. Don’t take your hand off of me even though I may stumble because I need you. I love you God and I humbly submit this prayer to you. Amen

Daily Devotional – 1/24/12 “His hands are bigger!”

During worship service on Sunday, Uncle Larry told this story. He said, 3 little boys had earned $.05 for chores and they all went running to the store to get jelly beans. The first boy went in, paid and stuck his hand in the jar and came out excited about the number of jellybeans he was able to hold in his hand. The second boy went in, paid and stuck his hand in the jar and came out excited about the number of jellybeans he was able to hold in his hand. Then the last boy went in and he paid his money but wouldn’t put his hand in the jar. The owner asked if anything was wrong and the boy said no but he asked the man if he could put his hand in the jar and get the jellybeans for him. The man did and handed the little boy his jellybeans. When he got outside, the other 2 boys wanted to know how he was able to have 2 handfuls of jellybeans, when their hands would only grab enough for one and he answered, the man got mine because his hands were bigger!

See, when you are going through things, in the world, you put your problems in the hands of folk who aren’t capable of holding them instead of putting them in God’s hands. You’re nervously waiting to hear back about a job, put it in God’s hands. You’re going to court and the decision is in the hands of the judge or the jury but put it in God’s hands. Psalm 55:22 says, “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” You’re worried because you don’t have a job, but God said put it in my hands and let me handle it. You’re stressing because you’re working and it still seems like you don’t have enough money to provide but God is saying put it in my hands and let me fix it. You’re grieving over family members who have died, but God says hold my hand and I’ll give you comfort. Why are you crying when God’s hands can wipe your tears? Why are you worried because folks have pushed you down when God’s hands can reach way down and pick you up? Why are you pacing the floor stressing, when God’s hands can rock you to sleep? Why are you still trying to fix a problem that you seem to be making worse, put it in God’s hands. I know you’ve done some wrong, but God says put your troubles in my hands and I’ll cast them into the sea of forgetfulness and they will never be brought up again. Psalm 37:24 says “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”

When you’re in the world, folks tend to hang your past of mistakes over your head but with God, the past doesn’t matter. When you open the door and accept God in, you’re covered by the hands of the almighty and he won’t let anything take you out. In the world you had to fight but with God his word says in Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord.” In the world, folk made you angry enough to cry but with God all you have to do is remember that Psalm 30:5 says “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” In the world you wish for this and that but with God he says have faith because Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” In the world you have to sometime stumble in the darkness, but with God you’ll say, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105).” In the world you say I am blinded by the attacks of my enemies but with God, you’ll gladly proclaim, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see (John 9:25)!” In the world, your enemies dig pits to push you in but with God he says in Psalm 7:15 “He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made.” With God, his protection is everlasting and it’s all you need. God’s hands are bigger than mine so I’ll let him carry my burdens. God’s hands are bigger than mine so I’ll let him handle my enemies. God’s hands are bigger than mine so I’ll let him protect me during my storm. When all else fails, God never does! Trust in God’s hands because he’ll cover and protect you better than Allstate!

Psalm 91: 1-16 sums it all up for me!

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

Daily Devotional – 1/23/12 “Are you spiritual?”

What if God decided to only give us, today, the things we thanked him for on yesterday, what would you receive? I would imagine that a lot of us wouldn’t have breath in our bodies, eye sight, hearing, and feeling. Some of us wake up in a rush and we forget to thank God for his continual blessings. Some of us wake up with an attitude and too mean to tell God thank you for keeping you all night long. Some of us wake up with the mentality that it wasn’t God that keeps bringing you through, but it’s of your own doing. Well, I stopped this morning to tell you that if it isn’t God’s doing then it’s the devils, so you either thank God for it now or you’ll pay the devil for it later. Yea, I know you feel like because you work 12 hours per day, that it’s all you but who gave you the job? You know you weren’t qualified and really didn’t expect a call back from the interview but God knew you were worthy. You didn’t think you’d pass the drug test but, oh, didn’t God work it out for you? While you trying to cover your tracks with fresh dirt from all the things you’ve done in the past, God said I’ve already covered them with concrete so that no one can see them again. See, when you choose God, you choose life and he promised in his word 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” God doesn’t have to pull your credit report because he’s already stamped your application approved. He doesn’t have to pull your background record because he’s already stamped your application hired! He doesn’t need to call references to check your character because he knows you won’t let him down. Ezekiel 36:26 says “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

See, when you choose God, he promises you a new spirit, which makes you spiritual. Now spiritual is defined as relating to religious or sacred things rather than worldly things and natural is relating to the physical rather than the spiritual world. When you’re a natural being, men of this world could hurt you with the words of their mouth but when you’re a spiritual being, the joy that you have the world didn’t give it nor can the world take it away. If you’re a natural being, when man speaks harsh words in your life, tears fall but when you’re a spiritual being, the words roll off like water does on oil. If you’re a natural being, man can cause you heartache but when you’re a spiritual being, God has your heart and the only way to it is through him, so there is no hurt! If you’re a natural being, when folk walk off you feel like you don’t have anyone but when you’re a spiritual being, when folk walk off it’s just God’s way of removing your enemies. If you’re a natural being when man says sickness you feel like you have no hope but when you’re a spiritual being, when sickness comes, you claim healing before the treatment begins! When you get tired of trying the world and it keeps letting you down, try God because his promises never fail! When you get tired of picking that man or woman who keeps hurting you, pick God and let him do the rest! When you are tired of running and hiding from folks of this world, run to God and he’ll protect you. When you are tired of trying to act like you got it all together when your eyes are all cried out, cry to God and he’ll give you joy!

Romans 8:26 says “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” With God, you’re covered by the Holy Spirit and with the Holy Spirit; you don’t have to say a word because it’ll intercede on your behalf. You know when you keep getting phone calls from the school about your child who just won’t act right and when you hang up the phone all you know to do is put your head in your hand? Well, your prayer has already reached God’s ears because the Holy Spirit has interceded on your behalf. See, it doesn’t matter what your words are as long as they match your heart. For the bible says in Psalm 66:18, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” If you are standing at altar prayer, praying for the deliverance of your sister but in your heart you are praying for their downfall, God isn’t listening to your words because it’s what’s in your heart that matters and it’s the same way with the Holy Spirit. If your heart is humble and meek, then what you want to say reaches God’s ears even without you mumbling a word. Psalm 24:4-5 says “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” I know you’ve had a moment when the tears are streaming down your face and you just don’t know how to explain what it is, God knows. I can remember grandma saying “Child, when you moan the devil don’t know what you’re talking about!” I didn’t know what this truly meant until I had to go through my own storms. See, when you talk to God, the devil is listening trying to block you from getting your blessings, but when you moan and you tag the Holy Spirit in on your behalf, God knows exactly what you’re asking him for. When you’re in pain and you’re moaning to God for mercy, he hears you. When you’re battling your enemies and all you can do is moan in agony for God’s grace, he hears you. Think of the world as being a boxing ring, your opponent is worldly things (temptations, enemies, haters, sickness, grief, no money, more bills, etc.,) and the Holy Spirit as being your partner. When the worldly things start attacking and you feel like you’re about to be knocked down for the 10-count, tag in your partner, the Holy Spirit and let him work on your behalf because when it’s all over and done with down here, you’ll still get the victory in God’s book.

Daily Devotional – 1/20/12 “Let the Word do the Work!”

We walk around like we are owed something not knowing if this day will be our last. We walk past folk & won’t speak because we are having a bad day, but have you watched the news lately, your day could be worse? We see somebody in trouble & won’t stop because we are too busy but while you are rushing you might be missing your blessing. We have this but won’t share that because we are too selfish to offer the little that God has blessed us with but have you read the paper lately, you could be one of the thousands homeless. We know it & won’t tell it because we are scared that folks will know that you love the Lord. Yet you wonder your territory is still the same size! Haven’t you heard that God inhabits the praise of his people (Psalm 22:3)? Now inhabits means to live or to be found in something or a particular place. Simply saying, if you praise God then he’ll be in you. Now, I know that God is everywhere, but if you praise him he’ll be IN YOU! Don’t you realize or do you even care that we are here today and gone today? Yet you continue being hateful, stepping on folk trying to get to the top and then when you get there, it’s nothing like you thought it would be and now you’re reaching for somebody’s hand to help you down. Have you not heard about Jesus, the man who struggled to bear a cross even though he never sinned, a man drug from judgment hall to judgment hall, even though he’d done no wrong? A man made to wear a crown of thorns even though he was the Son of a King. A man who was beaten all night long even after he saved folks, healed illnesses and rebuked enemies. A man, who went to Calvary, was hung, pierced in his side, hands and feet but still managed to ask for the forgiveness of those who hung with him. A man who saved a simple little wretch like you and me even when we don’t deserve it and a man, who still comes when we call his name no matter how long it’s been. If you don’t know the man you should get 2 know him before your time draws near. There’s no sense living in Hell only to die and go to Hell!

It’s time out for foolishness and now time to say goodbye to all the things that keeps us bound in sin. I am reposting a devotion I shared a few months back entitled Dear John Letter. See, I think it’s fitting for today because with the way the world is now, as Christians, we’ve got to get it together. I heard on last night that the number eleven (11), in the bible, means chaos and the number twelve (12) means divine authority or appointment. So, if your 2011 was chaotic, then in 2012 it’s time to receive your divine authority. You have to say goodbye to all those things than contributed to the chaos in 2011. Say goodbye to all the people and things that held in you chaos in 2011 and receive the divine authority and appointment that God has for you. Leave this letter for all the things you want to leave in the past and move!

Dear John, (Jealousy. Obstacles. Hurt. Negativity)

If you’re reading this letter it’s because I’ve had enough and this is goodbye. To you our time together has been great but to me, not so much. You only come around to destroy and make me unhappy and I can no longer take it. See, I’ve found this Man who has promised me Joy if I trust him. He said he would be my umbrella when you show up with your rain, thunder and lightning. He said he would give me strength on the days you’re in my way. Those days when you folk mean things for my bad. This Man has always been there for me to find but I couldn’t see his grace because I was worried about you and your jealousy. I couldn’t see his mercy because of what folk were saying and I was so busy worried about you & folks of this world that I almost missed out on the praise that was hidden in my heart. I was so used to your negativity that I haven’t even used the gifts that I he gave me.

But, I must thank you. I thank you for the times you have showed up because you’ve made me strong enough to handle you. When folk talk about me, this Man gives me prayer to handle it. When your storm starts he has given me faith to praise my way through it. When you place obstacles he has given me strength to climb them. When you speak negativity he has given me a spirit of discernment to know the difference. So, I can’t say I’ve enjoyed the time together but I appreciate what you’ve taken me through because I’m stronger now. I know now that I’m worthy of being blessed, I know now that trouble doesn’t last always and I know now that I can do all things through Christ because he strengthens me.

Who is this Man of whom I speak? Who is this Man who gives me joy the world can’t take? Who is this Man that blesses me even when I don’t deserve? Who is this Man who has taken your place? His name is Jesus and it’s the sweetest name I know. He gives me this feeling deep down in my soul that makes me want to run when no one is chasing me. He makes me want to dance when there is no music. He makes me want to shout in the midst of a crowd. This Man has a hold on me that I don’t want to let go of. He told me to pack your bags. I’ve placed them on the curb by the street. Don’t worry about the keys because the locks have been changed and you’re no longer welcome. You don’t have to go home but you have to get Hell out of here because there’s no room for you here! If you happen to stop by and see the house rocking, it’s a praise party that you’re cordially invited too. I’m not worried about you causing a scene because he’ll be there to cut you off. So come on by, because when you knock he’ll answer!
Sincerely,
God’s Child

See, it’s time that we allow the word to work for us. Isaiah 40:8 says “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” When you have God, you’re built upon a firm foundation that cannot be moved. Yea, the enemy will attack but it won’t matter because God’s word is handling it all. Matthew 7:25 says “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Donald Lawrence says in his song, “Let the Word do the Work,” One word away! One word away! The power of life and death is in what you say. One word away! One word away! If you start confessing, you will start possessing the key to your success is a word away! Read the word for yourself and if you don’t understand it, ask somebody. We are our brother’s and our sister’s keepers. Let the word handle the folks on your job, in your house and your enemies. God’s is much more powerful than we could ever be!