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!

 

Daily Devotional – 1/19/12 “Hell on Earth but Heaven’s reward!”

Have you ever wondered why your Christian walk is so much harder than the road you walked in the world? When in the world you never had hurdles to jump or obstacles in your way because everything seemed easier, right? Are you wondering if things would be better if you just went back to your old ways? Well, I am here to tell you no. Why? Because even though things seem easy, in the world, you were paying a cost for them. The devil doesn’t give you anything he doesn’t plan on making you pay for. Yea, you were sleeping with someone else’s husband who was paying your bills and such and then you went to the doctor to find out you have a STD you can’t get rid of and now you’ll have to tell every guy you’re with from now on – you paid the cost. Yea, you were a big drug dealer with money in your pocket, cars in the driveway, expensive clothes, shoes and the expensive lawyer that could get you out of trouble but then you get caught by the police and now you’re in the hottest water you’ve ever been in and the judge sentences you to 20 years in prison – you paid the cost. See, nothing is free and if it seems too good to be true, it may just be. When you decide to let God into your life and you read the bible, he shows you that this walk won’t be easy but God says in Isaiah 45:2, “I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” With God in front of you, your obstacles won’t seem as bad. Yea, you may stumble over some rocks from the leveling of the mountains, but your wounds, they’ll heal. You may encounter scrap metal in your skin from the breaking down of the gates, but they’ll heal.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing that you go through that is meant to take you out, if you got God walking in front of you. You never see the President first because you always see his Secret Service Men who are trained and hired to protect him. Well, it’s the same with God. When you accepted God’s calling on your life, he was hired and trained to protect you so you are supposed to live a life that allows him to be seen first in all you do. But, if every time I pass you and you are complaining, God is not the lead. If every time I ask you for something and you tell me no out of spite, God is not the lead. If I call you for guidance and prayer and all you got to offer is gossip, God is not the lead. If every time there is work to be done at church and you’re a hindrance, God is not the lead. If God is not the lead then you’re walking this path by yourself which is the reason you stumble so easily. But if you took the time to pray for folks as much as you gossip, love more than you hate, speak the truth more than lies and help folk because it’s the right thing to do, then your walk wouldn’t be so hard and even when you fall you can get back up. I know that when you do right, the enemy is busier but it doesn’t mean that God is not there. Psalm 138:7 says “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.” See, with God as your protector, danger may come but it won’t take you out. Who do you think kept you all those nights when you went home with men you barely knew? Who do you think covered you when you were too drunk to drive but you made it home? Who do you think protected you from the car crash that was supposed to claim your life? Who do you think gave you strength when momma, daddy, husband or wife died and you didn’t think you could go on? Who do you think made that position for you even though you didn’t qualify on paper? Who do you think maintains your lifestyle even though you don’t make enough for a too touch b? The bible says in Psalm 20:6 “Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.” Anoint means to dedicate to the service of God and if you’re dedicated to him and his service, then he is speaking about you. When God said in 1st Chronicles 16:22 “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm,” he wasn’t just speaking about Pastors, Bishops and Elders, but he was speaking about you too, if you have decided your life to him. So when danger comes, God is there protecting you because that’s what you’ve hired him to do.

So when folk put their mouth on you let them talk because God got it covered. When you say I’m acting Holier than thou just because I put up “Godly” statuses, speak a few scriptures here and there or sometimes pray for you, you’re putting your mouth on me. When you defame my name by spreading lies and gossip, you’re putting your mouth on me. When you talk about Pastor So & So, you’re putting your mouth on God’s anointed. When you talk about Deacon Do Right, 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. But who are you anyway? Psalm 28:8 says “The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.” Now, a fortress is something that is impenetrable or acts as protection which means that even though your enemies may shoot arrows meant for your suffering, God won’t allow then to get through. Even though folks throw rocks your way trying to knock you off the pedestal that God has placed you on, he won’t allow them to make it through and he’ll continue to strengthen you to stand. See, God is your protector and Psalm 29:11 says “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” I don’t know about you but there’s something about the peace of God that won’t allow you to shed a tear even when you’re hurting. The peace of God will allow you to remain calm in a situation that used to make you act a fool. The peace of God will give you understanding at a time you thought you couldn’t do it. The peace of God will allow you to sleep when all hell is breaking loose around you. The peace of God will allow you to smile when you should be crying and living when you should be dying. The peace of God will have you looking healthy even when you battling cancer. This same peace will allow you to rock a bald head when the chemo has taken your hair. God just works that way!

Romans 8:18 says “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” So even when it seems like the world is closing in on you, hold on! You may be going through hell now but heaven is worth it. You may be suffering now, but heaven is worth it. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”

Daily Devotional – 1/18/12 “Who’s praying for you?”

Why do I wait for you to pray for me when I can pray for myself? Why do I wait for you to encourage me when I can encourage myself? Why do I have to feel guilty over my blessings when God has found enough favor in me to give them to me? Chile favor isn’t fair but it’s surely right! I may not be where I should be in this Christian walk but I not where I used to be. See, when I ask you to pray for me, you may just be praying for my downfall. When I ask you to pray for my healing, you may just be praying for me to get sicker. When I ask you to pray with me, you may just be praying against me, so I think I’d better be careful about whom I ask to pray for me. Just because you go to church every Sunday doesn’t mean your prayers are getting through especially when you’re standing at the altar with hate in your heart for folk, when the bible says in 1 John 3:15 “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” So, how can you pray for me when you really should be praying for yourself?

Praying is communicating with God and if you never pray then how can he know your voice? The bible says in John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” See, when you have God in your heart, whatever you ask in prayer will be given, but you have to pray and seek God’s face and turn from your wicked ways, then God will hear from heaven (2 Chronicles 7:14). It doesn’t matter when you pray or even where you are but pray. How do you pray? It’s simple. Romans 8:26-27 says “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” See, when you’re in the spirit, the right spirit, the Spirit will step in on your behalf. Have you ever been talking to the Lord and you seem to get caught up in it, the tears start rolling down your face and now your prayer has made you happy? This is the spirit interceding on your behalf. When you pray for the right reasons and with the right heart, all you have to do is open your mouth and let the spirit do the work. Now, Matthew 6:7 says “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.” Which means, you don’t have to keep asking God for the car you want, he heard you the first time, now give him time to answer. You don’t have to keep praying for your husband or wife to come, God got it, now wait for him to send them. You don’t have to keep bothering him with the same prayer because if you ask in faith, then you should speak as if it’s already done. Next, you have to pray humbly, from the heart and with your own words. Don’t try to pray like Deacon Surely or Sister Purely because then your prayer is not sincere. When you pray from you and for you, God hears. Psalm 34:17 says “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”

You have to pray for yourself sometime. Don’t get me wrong because there is nothing wrong with praying with others or even in a group because the word says in Matthew 18:19, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” But God also wants us to sometimes pray by ourselves. Why? Because we can sometimes get caught up in other folks prayers that we forget about our own and because, again, not everyone is praying on your behalf for good and also because God may just want you to keep your business to yourself. Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” It’s not always about praying in church on Sunday morning that allows God to hear you because he can hear you, better, when you’re alone. God said if you pray in front of folks because you want to be seen then you’ve already received your reward (from folk here) but if you pray righteously, humbly and with a clean heart, then your rewards are waiting on you in heaven. See, God really doesn’t need your prayers in order to know what you want, because he knows what you need before you even open your mouth but he still says you have to pray right. Stop waiting around for the Pastor to visit you in the hospital to pray for healing, when God says ask and it shall be given. Stop waiting for your momma or daddy to pray for your breakthrough from drugs, when you have to be the one to turn it loose. Stop praying for God to remove your abusive husband/wife, when all you have to do is move and when you move, God’s protection surrounds you! Stop asking God for a better job, house or car when you never apply for one. You keep asking God to let you win the lottery but you never buy a ticket. Philippians 4:6 says “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:9-15