Daily Devotional – 11/14/11 “Where is your battle gear?”

When a man or woman prepares for war they have to be just that, prepared.  They have to have on the appropriate clothes, the right body gear and have usable weapons.  They know, or they should know, that it would be crazy, irresponsible, and a death sentence to walk into a fight unprepared.  What good would it do for them to have a gun with no bullets, a shield that is cracked or not strong enough to withstand or a bulletproof vest that won’t stop bullets?  What sense would it make to jump into battle without being strong enough to endure it?

Well this is what happens every day when we, Christians, go out into battle without our gear and being unprepared.  Yea, I know you got a bible in your car, but if you never blow the dust off of it and open it, it’s ultimately worthless.  Luke 12:35 says “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.”  God has equipped us with all that we need to handle the battles of this world, but we choose not to prepare ourselves for when the battle is at hand.  It is like you getting up in the morning and looking out the window to see the clouds forming.  You then turn on the news which states there is a 90% chance of rain but you still leave the house without a raincoat, rain boots, umbrella or jacket because you are looking at the 10% chance that it won’t.  But then the rain starts and you have nothing to shield you from the drops that are soaking your hair, clothes and shoes and now your jeans are so heavy from the rain that you can barely move your legs.  But had you prepared yourself before leaving home, you would have been covered and no matter how much rain falls, it’ll roll off of you like water does oil.

Ephesians 6:11 says “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”  This says the full armor of God, not partial or some but the full.  But we’ve become so fast paced that we don’t have time to properly prepare ourselves.  But let me give you the necessary pieces to make sure you are prepared for war, the war of this world, the devil and his imps and the attacks that he sends.  For the bible tells us that our fight will not be against man itself because in Ephesians 6:12 it says “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Here are the 5 things I’ve found that will help you defeat the enemy.

  1. A belt of truth around your waist (Ephesians 6:14).  What good is it to lie when the truth shall set you free?  I’ve found that it’s easier to remember the truth because it never changes rather than a lie that you’ll soon forget.  Grandma always says that the little lies will send you hell quick.  I don’t know about you but I refuse to live in Hell to die and then be sentenced to eternity there. Proverbs 11:3 says “Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.”
  2. A breastplate of righteousness.   A breastplate is usually made of metal that is place to protect the chest area of your body and righteousness is defined as acting in accord with divine or moral law being free from guilt or sin.  This breastplate protects your heart and other vital organs from things that are thrown at you that are meant to kill or do bodily harm.  You know how folk lie on you, walk away or all over you, or wish bad things on your life.  But you have to first remove that badge of guilt and that patch of sin that is keeping you exposed to the evil darts that are being thrown your way.   Then you’ll be able to cover your chest with God’s word that tells us to love our brothers, to pray for our enemies and to forgive those who have hurt us in the past.  Whatever guilt you have over whatever situation, turn it over to God and let him work it out.
  3. A helmet of salvation.  Salvation is being delivered from sin and the power and effects it has.  1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  Isn’t that all you need to know? That you can wear a helmet of salvation if you ask for it because God says, yes you’ve sinned but I’ll forgive you of those sins if you just ask me.  Yes, you’ve fallen a few times but I’ll raise you back up if you ask.  Yes, you’ve back slid into the world, but I’ll pull you back out if you reach out your hand.  Yes, you’ve ask for it many times before but I’ll keep forgiving you if you keep asking.  (enough said)             
  4. A sword of the spirit.  Now, this isn’t your normal sword but this is God’s word.  You know that book that is usually in the back window of your car that has been there so long the sun has changed the color of the pages or the one that is in your trunk that you keep throwing stuff on top of or the one that is home on your bookshelf that you walk past every day.  Yea, that one.  A sword is a weapon that is used for cutting and inflicting pain, when used in a fighting manner.  Well, if this is the case, why don’t we use God’s sword more rather than our mouth?  I’ve come to realize that God can hurt folk worse than I can.  It is written in Romans 12:19 “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” Still don’t believe me, read Deuteronomy 32:35 which God says “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” So why are you still trying to fight a losing battle?  I know that they’ve hurt you and you want to get them back and folk have walked away and now you’re bitter and wishing bad on their life; but it’s only hurting you.  Take God at his word when he says that he’ll handle this fight that you’re in.  Didn’t he give David strength to defeat Goliath and Samson strength to destroy those that held him captive? Why, because they asked.  Then why are you constantly standing on the front line of a fight that keeps knocking you down?  Eventually, if you keep trying to fight by yourself, you will get worn out and then your enemy will knock you out.   
  5.  Prayer.  Ephesians 6:18 says “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Prayer works every time. When you tired of being lied on, when you can’t see your way, when you are hurt, sick and even when you are weak, pray!   Romans 8:26 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 with groans that words cannot express.”  Haven’t you heard the expression, if I couldn’t say a word I’ll just wave my hand? If we are sincere in our asking and in our prayers, God hears even when we can’t say a word.  Because he is there, seeing the trouble that we are facing and he’ll be there to help us through it if we let him in.

We will face battles every day of our life because it has been promised but God won’t leave us to battle it alone.  He has given us a step by step guide to handle these battles but we have to be willing to open it and read it.  If you buy a piece of furniture that needs to be assembled, the only way to properly put it together right is by reading the instructions.  Living your life and winning the battles of the world are the same.  You have the instructions right in front of you, but you have to open them.  If you don’t know where to find them, go to your local Wal-Mart, Christian book store or online and ask for the Bible.  It comes in many different versions and languages to help you understand in order to properly prepare you for battle.  This war you are in may be getting the best of you now, but it isn’t over yet and you still have a chance of winning it.   Bible – Basic Instructions on Beating Life’s Enemies

Daily Devotional – 11/13/11 “We don’t get in the service like we use too!”

I’ve come to realize that we don’t get in the service like we use too. You know when someone would shout “I love the Lord he heard my cry” and the church would be on fire or when the deacons could have devotion so soul-stirring that it set the tone for the whole service. Even when the choir would sing “I want to go down to the river in the old-time way” and it would get deep down in your spirit and make you want to run when nobody is chasing you or when altar call would last 30 minutes because the holy spirit was ushered in. You know that type of service that delivered you from whatever had you burden down, when you came in sick but left well, came in with your heart heavy but left renewed, came in broken down and barely moving but left dancing and when you came in with pity and left with praise.

Where are those mothers that would sing a Dr. Watts or those deacons that didn’t mind getting on their knees, at the altar, to pray or the choir members who didn’t care who was watching them when they shouted in the choir stand? Why can’t we praise like we use too? Why can’t we pray like we use too?  Why can’t we teach like we use too?  We are so busy being focused on the number of souls coming that we are forgetting about the number of souls being saved.  Now we are wearing shoes that are too little, just because they are cute that we can no longer stand for God. We got on dresses so short that when you cross your legs, everything that shouldn’t be showing is and now we can’t shout for God. We got a little money in our pockets and act like there is no reason to lift up our arms to give God praise and since everything seems to be going right, we don’t have to lift up our voice to offer thanks! But isn’t God worthy of praise no matter what the day, time, situation or circumstance?  We call him at any time and expect him to show up but we pick and choose when it is convenient for us. 

I don’t know about you but I want to have chuch (not church) like we use to have when you left with your hair sweated out from dancing and your clothes twisted from allowing the holy ghost to have its way! You know when it didn’t matter if you broke the heel on your shoes from dancing because God has been good to you so now you want to show it. When you didn’t go to service to show off your new clothes but the grace that God keeps giving you every day or when you didn’t go to service to show off your new haircut, but to give thanks for the blessings that God has already given you.  But we don’t get in the service or the spirit like we use too. We don’t sing from our hearts anymore, we don’t pray for deliverance anymore because we just want to be heard.  We don’t teach like we use too because we are too busy worried about folk.  We don’t have the same Holy Ghost power that we use too.  It used to be,  when you saw your sister crying at the altar because she was dealing with things, you’d go to her, hug her while telling her that God can fix whatever ails her but now we stand back wondering what she is going through so that we can gossip.  It used to be, when someone was going through, sick or had a death in the family, church members would cook and clean or even stop by with some kind words but now we are too busy with our own lives to even look in on somebody else.  We don’t treat our brothers and sisters like the bible tells us too.  We are so wrapped up in what folk think or what others are saying that we don’t get in the spirit anymore.  

We’ve allowed technology to trap us into texting during worship service, spread gossip during the sermon and give us an excuse to not carry a bible. But if the bible is supposed to be our weapon against the battles that have been set by man, what good is not having it?  Yea, you may have the bible app downloaded on your phone but I guarantee you won’t throw it if someone was attacking you. Yea, you may have the bible app downloaded but how many times have you actually opened it?  We’ve got to get back to real worship and meaningful service. We’ve got to get back to serving God and the church in a way that is pleasing unto God’s sight.  We got to get back to true worship. 

When folk were having true worship experiences we didn’t have all of the trouble like we have now.  We didn’t face the sickness, the back sliding, the backbiting, and the back stabbing that we face now.  When you had true worship you could go to the church with your trouble without worrying about somebody spreading it around, you could go to the Pastor and not worry about being judged or the deacons without worrying about being turned down for the assistance that you needed.  I want that type of worship experience.  I want to be able to feel the Holy Ghost in my worship without having to be pumped and primed by the musicians or the minister.  I want to have a true, meaningful worship experience.  We don’t get in the service like we use too, but I’m praying that we start before it is too late.

Daily Devotional – 11/12/11 “A Saturday prayer”

Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed will be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.  Lord, as I petition your throne I must first thank you.  Even when I was too tired to say my prayers on last night, you covered me.  When I was too tired to give you thanks for keeping me all day, you did it anyway.  When I was too stubborn to lift up your name you still lifted me and for that I’ve got to thank you.  Even when I may forget you, you never forget me so Lord please forgive me.  Forgive me of my sins.  Forgive me for any wrong that I’ve done knowingly or unknowingly.  Lord, I’ve got to thank you because when I opened my eyes this morning I could still see.  When I lifted my arms this morning they still worked.  When I stood on my legs this morning they didn’t give away from under me.  When I used my feet this morning they moved.  Lord I’ve got to thank you.  It wasn’t because I’ve been so good, kept your commandments like I’m supposed to or even lived my life all the time the right way but because you’re a man who keeps his promises.  Lord I’ve got to thank you.  I know this isn’t Sunday morning and I’m not standing before folk praying but lord I’m thankful this morning. When I felt my husband move I’ve got a reason to be thankful.  When I heard my children voices without seeing their faces I’ve got a reason to be thankful. When I opened the refrigerator, saw food in it and then had strength to cook and an appetite to eat, I’ve got a reason to be thankful.  Lord, even when I don’t desire your mercy, you send it.  When I don’t deserve a blessing, you send it.  Thank you Father, for you are always right there.  Now, Lord I ask you to bless, cover and protect the person reading this.  Fix whatever situation they are toiling with, release the stronghold that has them bound and wipe the tears that maybe streaming down their face.  Lord, I don’t know what they need but I know that you are a supplier of whatever it is.  Lord, do it now.  Someone is tired because they didn’t sleep well, send them rest now.  Someone is up early trying to figure out how to get their head above the water that seems to be drowning them, Lord send their life jacket now.  Someone is up because a love one is gone and even though it has been months, they are still dealing with the grief, Lord send peace.  Someone is getting ready to bury a love one on today, Lord send them strength for your word says that all must die in order to live again.  Lord, go into the hospitals and prisons and touch the bodies of all those there.  Protect those that are living on the streets, fighting in war, the soldiers that have come home but still fighting a war within themselves, the children with peer pressure and bullying, the mother, the father, the sister, the brother and even those that wish harm on others.  Forgive those, father, who cast you away from their presence because they know not what they do.  Bind satan and whatever attacks he plots today.  Lord, I may not be all that I should be but I am your child and I’m ready for whatever path you have for me.  Lord, I’ll walk this path as long as you continue to light it.  Lord, bless today because I know you will and you can.  Do it in your time!  This prayer I humbly submit to you on this morning.  Amen

Daily Devotional – 11/11/11 “What are you wishing for?”

Everyone is so excited about the date on today because it only comes once every 400 years or so but what happens on tomorrow?  Folk are so busy watching the clock to make a wish at a certain time but didn’t you have that same wish on yesterday so why is today any different?  Why are we so quick to trust in what folk say but question God’s word?  Most folk are running to the casino, buying lottery tickets, going to the dog track and making wishes for stuff all because of the date.  But don’t you think that your luck is just as good today as it is tomorrow?  Or are we honestly thinking that today will be different because that’s what all the newscasters say and they are never wrong, right?

A wish is defined as something desired or wished but I define wish as Wondering If Something Happens.  But why wish when Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  If you are wishing for a spouse, car, house, new job or better finances you are wondering if it’ll ever happen but if you pray and fast for those same things and do it in faith, then it should be considered done.  If we prayed as much as we wished on today, a lot of our situations might just change.  We woke up wishing but not thankful for rising.  When the clock showed 11:11, we were wishing but not praying.  We are so blinded by worldly stuff that we don’t take the time to read God’s message. 

Luke 11:9 says “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  So, what are you wishing for when all you have to do is open your mouth to ask?  God promised you all that you need.  Don’t believe me, read Philippians 4:19 which states “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  Still wishing? Try Psalm 23:1 which says “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  All these things were promised before you were even conceived but you still wish.  Do you not trust in God’s word and the promises that he made?  Weren’t the sacrifices Jesus made worth believing? 

Now, I know there will days when you feel like your faith is wavering and that God is not hearing you but he is.  For Psalm 145:19 says, “He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.”  So when you need, pray! When you’re stressed pray! When you’re in doubt, pray!  When you feel like wishing pray instead.  I’ve been told the prayers of the righteous are both powerful and effective.  So instead of looking up to wish upon a star, go down on your knees and look up to the one that created it instead.  Instead of wishing for folk or situations to change, pray for a change.  Instead of wishing for better health, speak it into existence because you do have the power to do it.  Instead of wishing for better days and peaceful for nights, ask God for them.  Instead of wishing for sun, enjoy the rain because the rain may be washing away the dirt being thrown on you by others who have dug a grave for you.  If you give God complete praise, he’ll show up in your situation and if it seems like prayer isn’t working, praise will get it done every time.

Daily Devotional – 11/10/11 “Do you have favor or flavor”

At revival on last night, Rev. Jamison of Greater Mt. Moriah preached on the subject of “Can I buy you a drink,” from John 4:3-11.  For some reason I could not get this text out of my head and even when I prayed this morning for a subject, still this came to mind.  So I am being obedient to my Father. 

This particular scripture of passage is talking about Jesus stopping at a well on his way through Samaria.  While passing through this town, Jesus sat down at Jacob’s well to rest.  While there a Samaritan woman comes to get water from the well and in those times Jews and Samaritans didn’t associate with one another and wouldn’t be caught talking.  But while at the well, this Samaritan woman came and Jesus asked her for a drink of water.  Now, I would assume that she was shocked because she asked in verse 9 “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” But this didn’t stop Jesus (again, assuming) because he doesn’t have a respect of person because his mission is to save.  Isn’t that great news?  But Jesus answered and said “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 

Now, the living water in which this passage speaks is the Holy Spirit.  This living water is not like regular water because as God explained in verses 13-14, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  (This verse should make you feel good even if you don’t read on.)  So she asked Jesus in verse 15 “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” So God told her to go and call her husband.  You do know this Samaritan woman had a husband at home in her bed, but it wasn’t her husband, right (John 4:17-18)?  But she was honest with Jesus and he told her so and because of this, she received his favor and her testimony brought others to him as believers. 

But, as Christians, we treat God as if he is a one night stand.  We meet him and then we use him for what we want and then we sneak out, never wanting a real relationship.  We go to his bed when we need guidance and help (church, bible study, Sunday school, and the bible), get satisfied and then we get up, get dressed, leave only to come back when our need and want needs to be satisfied again.  We don’t get satisfied to go out to be a testimony and to bring others to him but only for our own selfish needs.  Take for an example; you get your light bill in the mail that is due Monday, you don’t get paid until the following Friday and you’ve used up all the extensions they will give.  You go to church on Sunday and everybody can tell that you’re going through because you are the loudest one shouting and you’re out dancing Shouting Shirley when normally you hardly say amen.  Then Monday comes and you get a special blessing just in the nick of time to make the 3pm deadline to pay your bill.  You’re so grateful and thankful to God for seeing you through just one more time.  But oh, the next Sunday comes and because you don’t need God at the moment, since you don’t have any pressing issues that need his immediate attention, you don’t even bother to get up and go to church.  You press ignore on him just like you do your phone when it’s that one night stand calling because you’re need has been met and you’re no longer thirsty for his guidance.  But Jesus says in John 4:23 “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.”

God doesn’t need or want sometime Christians.  You know the kind that only comes to him when they need to satisfy a want, but God is looking for true worshippers. John 4:24 says “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”  See many of us have favor from God while others only have flavor.  With favor you’ll praise God in and out of your storm but with flavor you only praise him with the storm is raging.  With favor you’ll praise God when you’re sick and when you’re well but with flavor you’ll only praise him when the doctor gives you bad news.  With favor you’ll praise God with or without money but with flavor you’ll praise him until the income tax check comes. With favor your praise is the same no matter what your circumstance but when you have flavor your season is only good when your situation is hard.  It’s like cooking spaghetti; everybody knows that spaghetti’s flavor is at its best the next day after it has had time to marinate through but after 2-3 days, it’s just plain old leftovers that nobody will eat.  Well, Christians with flavor, they are the same way.  They are only good when they are going through something but after a few days, their fire dies down and they are no longer worth the shoes they walk in.  They come dragging into church, complaining about how long service is, gossiping about what folk are wearing, who is sleeping with who and usually texting throughout the entire sermon.  But oh, when the friends walk away, boyfriend/girlfriend is gone, momma/daddy sick, bills are due & money is few, kids acting crazy and the car won’t start they come to church ready to show out.  Baby, God is not falling for your mess. Proverbs 12:22 says “A good man obtains favor of the LORD: but a man of wicked intentions will he condemn.”

Aren’t your intentions wicked and evil when you use God for your own personal gain?  Evil is defined as the quality or an instance of being morally wrong; wickedness.  When you have favor you never lose the taste for God’s word, you’ll be willing to go even when you don’t feel like it, you’ll tell folk of God’s goodness no matter where you are and you’ll offer a helping hand even when you can hardly make it yourself. But when you have flavor you’ll only use God until it is no longer beneficial to you.  You know when you help because you want to get the Pastor’s attention, you sing loud so folk can hear you, you talk loud so folk notice, you show up to show off your short dress or you do so you can get the credit. 

Favor is mercy; Flavor is messy

Favor is grace; Flavor is greedy

Favor is praise; Flavor is pity

Favor is gratitude; Flavor is gossip

Favor is worthy; Flavor is worthlessness

Favor is helping; Flavor is hindering

Just know that flavor don’t last long.  If you don’t believe me try using some seasoning you’ve had in the cabinet for a while because even salt loses flavor if it is diluted in water. If you, Christian folk, are being diluted in water (filth of the world) you will also lose your favor.  We all know that is it not possible to serve God and the world because one will eventually win.  It’s like holding something in both hands.  You will soon let something go because your nose, head, arm or leg will begin to itch that you have to scratch.  If you don’t trust my thinking read Matthew 5:13 that says “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”  I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want is to be thrown from God’s presence.  So I choose to have God’s favor because it’ll last long after the flavor is gone.