Daily Devotional – 3/10/20 “We don’t have time!”

Child, I was talking some good three years ago. Thank you, Facebook, memories because I’m reposting a devotional that blessed me; this morning. I’m sharing again, with revisions, only because somebody needs to be reminded of this … STOP PUTTING ENERGY INTO NEGATIVITY!

You read that right. Look, you’d be shocked, if you really knew the many times your name is mentioned in group texts or your pictures screenshot and passed around. It would blow your mind if you found out the real number of people who don’t like you or the true intentions of some you’ve allowed to eat from table. But that’s not your fight. See, we live in a society where folk can bully you on social media but can’t face you in real life. We share the same air with folk who will speak ill of you and then turn around and hug you. Baby, people will pay money to come to your event just to see if you’ll fail, liked they’d hope. We share space with folk who can’t stand you, but they’ll copy what you say, how you dress and where you live. Folk, who can’t stand the pastor but will stay at the church, just to cause hell. Here’s what I’ve come to understand; people will discredit, speak & pray against and even try to sabotage what they can’t understand. That’s not your fight.

Beloved, we don’t have the time nor energy to fight meaningless mess when there are souls that need saving. Yea, I could sit and argue with you on Facebook because you disagree with what I post, but I won’t, not when there’re people in bondage who need to be set free. Yes, I can go back and forth with you over text message, but I won’t because I need my hands for those who need to be healed. I need my voice for those who need to be talked down off the ledge, some addictions that must be destroyed and some hope restored. I’m not about to defend who I am, simply because you don’t understand. I AIN’T GOT TIME!

Neither do you. We don’t have time to fight folk over who don’t like who or who is talking about you. We don’t have time to make folk believe in who we are. We have work to do. As for those who seek to harm you, God got it and I believe Him. In Jeremiah 15:10, Jeremiah cried out, “What sorrow is mine, my mother. Oh, that I had died at birth! I am hated everywhere I go. I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose nor a borrower who refuses to pay— yet they all curse me.” Oh, but verse 11, “The LORD replied, “I will take care of you, Jeremiah. Your enemies will ask you to plead on their behalf in times of trouble and distress.”

It’s not your fight. Trust that God knows what He’s doing concerning you and He will take care of you. Those enemies, they’ll need you but until then, stop. Know when to bow out gracefully from a fight that wasn’t yours to begin with. In other words, hush and allow God to do it.

Daily Devotional – 3/9/20 “God’s test”

Some of this devotional was shared three years ago, and yet I feel the need to remind you that God is going to intentionally place some folk, who don’t like you, in your way. He’s going to set you up to be in places, surrounded by folk who don’t think you belong. He’s going to strategically place you at tables with folk who question why you’re there. People, you’re connected too are thinking, in their mind, “who does he/she think they are.” Yeah, God is going to methodically place you on jobs where you’ll fight more than work. He’s going to put you in covenant with some folk who’ll cause your hair to go gray. God will set your feet within a ministry that’ll make you second and third guess your calling. This is not so you have to prove who you are, but God is deliberately testing you, even though He already knows what He’s going to do, pertaining you. (Jeremiah 29:11).

In John 6:5, when the 5000 men (not including women and children) needed to be fed, Jesus asked Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” But then in verse 6 it states, “But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.” Understand, Jesus didn’t question Philip so that He could embarrass him, He did so to see if Philip believed in the power, he’d witness in Jesus numerous times before. In the natural, Philip knew there was no market place available that could give them enough to feed this multitude. However, spiritually, Jesus is the marketplace.

For us, sometimes, we’ll be tested just to see how we’ll respond. Yes, God knows that place of worship is questioning everything, from the color of your hair to your anointing; but will you trust God. Yes, your sermons can be preached to 500 but God is testing to see if you trust Him enough to preach to the 30. Yes, your business model is global but right now, God is testing to see if you’ll trust Him why it’s only local. Yes, your books should be in the hands of the masses but maybe He’s testing to see how you’ll handle being minor.

You must know your test because not every test is of the enemy. Sometimes, the test is God. Second Corinthians 13:5, says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you– unless indeed you fail the test?” Please understand, failing the test doesn’t mean you fail the course, it simply means you have some work to do. In other words, do you trust God as much as you say? Imagine being Philip and you’re looking at a ‘thing’ that seems like it’s too hard to accomplish. Do you give up or will you pray, “Father, naturally, I don’t have the solution, but I’ve seen the miraculous works you’ve performed, and I trust you to guide me?”

Daily Devotional – 3/5/20 “Relationship physical”

Did you know it’s recommended you get a physical every year? This is an examination by a primary care professional who will check your overall health. This exam checks for possible diseases, abnormal blood work, to make sure you’re up to date on immunizations etc. Regular physicals are used to allow your doctor to treat anything they may be concerned with before it becomes severe. Why am I talking about physicals in a devotional? Well, because the same way a physical is recommended for your health, it’s also recommended for your relationships.

See, every now and then you’ve got to reevaluate your circle. Mane look, some of you are in a fight, every day, because you’re calling your enemy ‘bro’ and ‘sis’ while allowing them access to your people, plans and places. Some of you are in relationship with folk who pray, daily, for your demise but they’re the first one loving your posts. You’re sharing your visions and business plans with folk who don’t want to see you succeed but they’re showing up. You can’t see it because you’ve stopped checking them for abnormalities.

Sure, they’ve always been there for you. You’ve grown up together and you trust them. They were there when your third marriage failed, the job laid you off, you got bad news from the doctor etc. They were there when you first started your business, when you were thinking of quitting, but didn’t, or when God called you into the ministry. I get it but every now and then, you’ve got to perform a relationship physical to check the overall health of the relationship.

Because here’s the thing, you can grow, and they don’t. You can change, they don’t. Or, you can simply outgrow each other. I know this is tough, but you can be in covenant relationships with people that are causing you harm. What if that relationship is the one bringing in the ungodly spirits because you discern everybody else but them? Or is it, you know they’re wrong for you, but you don’t want to hurt their feelings, so you ignore the warnings? What if that relationship is the one keeping your from reaching your full potential because you trust their advice? Understand, I’m not saying every person is out to get you but every now and then, you need to ensure you and the person you’re in relationship with can still meet each other needs.

Relationships as in personal, business and spiritually. Yeah, you need to do a check up on your place of worship too, to make sure it can still meet your needs. All I’m saying is, perform a relationship physical, every now and then, to ensure the overall health is still good. If it’s not, this is when you determine the areas that need further elevation and a plan to either heal it or remove it.

Jesus’ Love Letter for me

Father,

I know she’s done some things you aren’t proud of. She’s lied, cheated, stole, misused, abused, gone where she shouldn’t have, talked about folk, laid in places she had no business, walked in shoes that didn’t fit her feet, agreed to terms of relationships beneath her, accepted less than her value, abandoned her purpose and disposed of her destiny … but I love her.

I love her enough that I’ll carry the weight of the cross. I love her enough to take the torture. I love her enough to take the nails. I love her enough to lay my life down. Father, I love her so let the blood I shed cover her.

She’ll do right this time but even if she falls again, I’ll pick her up. She’ll do right this time but even if she makes another mistake, your grace can forgive her. Father, she isn’t perfect, but I love her. That’s the kind of love you’ve instilled in me, so let it be enough to save her.

Your son,
Jesus

#hisloveletterforme #hisloveletterforyoutoo
#hisbloodpaidforme #hisbloodpaidforus

Daily Devotional – 3/2/20 “Use God’s word”

Don’t fast, abstain from something or jump into a corporate fast because somebody else is doing it. Fast, give up something for Lent or however you choose to do it because you’re seeking a closer relationship with God or a clearer understanding of your purpose in Him. Look, fasting isn’t for play. When you fast, your prayers have to become stronger, increased, more reflective and thoughtful. This isn’t a time for quick, soft, begging prayers because when you fast, you’re removing from flesh something the enemy will try to use against you.

Matthew 4:1-4 says, “When Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

The enemy tried to use Jesus’ humanity of hunger against Him. It’s the same for you. The enemy will seek to play with your mind by using what your flesh is abstaining from. How do you survive it? With God’s word. This mean study more, worship more, pray more, journal, ask questions, go to bible study and Sunday school and read. This means, spending more time with God and resisting the enemy. You don’t have to believe me but every time the enemy tried Jesus, He used God’s word.

Verse 5 – Satan takes Jesus to Jerusalem, the highest peak of the Temple and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands, so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus’ reply, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Verse 8 – Satan takes Jesus to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He says in verse 9, “I will give it all to you, if you will kneel down and worship me.” Jesus’ reply, “Get out of here, Satan, for the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.’” You know what happened … Bible says, “Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.”

Fast or give up something for Lent, if you choose but you must be strapped up and ready for the enemy’s attacks. They are coming but you CAN survive, if you know AND use God’s word to do it.