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.

Thursday’s Dose of Devotion

While you’re going through, the enemy will try to make you feel like you won’t make it. See, the enemy will have you forgetting all the other times God made a way and you MADE IT. The enemy will have you focusing on the storm and not the fact, you’ve SURVIVED worst.

Baby, God did it then AND He’ll do it NOW!

Daily Devotional – 2/13/20 “How are you loving you?”

Here it is, Valentine’s Eve. The stores are filled with teddy bears, candy shaped hearts, chocolates and cards of love. Flower shops and jewelry stores are overflowing. Restaurants have double stocked for the crowds. Yet, the sad reality is, some of you haven’t felt loved in a long time. It’s not that you haven’t tried, but you find yourself on the receiving end of hurt. You’ve fasted and prayed but still feeling fatigued and passed over. You’ve tried the relationship thing, sometimes giving the same person chance after chance and in return, nothing.

Right now, you’re probably looking at a text or inbox from somebody of your past and you’re contemplating answering because you’re longing for love. Well beloved, before you make a rash decision to accept the chocolate, respond to the “Happy Valentine’s Day. You know I’ve never stopped loving you” text, take them up on their offer of dinner or open the door to your past; stop and think. Before you get under the influence of drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, lust and/or plain stupidity and do something you might regret; stop and think. How did the handle you, the last time? If it left you with unhappy tears, weight and the thought of acting out; STOP! You don’t need a warm body, a shabby promise or a generic gift to make you feel loved; love your doggone self.

Sure, it’s easy for me to say when I have a whole husband at home who loves me but baby, I love me too. I didn’t always, though. Y’all know my story. I went through a period of messing up because of me. I didn’t feel worthy of anything because I didn’t love the face I’d see. Child, I had to survive me. Now, baby, you can’t tell me nothing about me. I love me! Every pound, scar, flaw and everything else. I had to love me otherwise I’d keep accepting anything, dishing out anything, falling for the lust disguised as love and I’d never know what true love is; even from God.

Look, I’m not trying to be in your business, I only want you healed. See, truth is, some of you have spouses or in a relationship yet you don’t feel loved. It has nothing to do with said spouse, it’s due to the inward battle with self. Maybe it’s because of past abuse, loss and mistakes. Maybe it’s family issues and you never felt love by your parents. Maybe you don’t feel worthy because of how you used to treat people. Beloved, forgive self and LOVE YOU!

This Valentine’s Day, if you’re not in a relationship; buy your own flowers and chocolates and get dressed and take yourself out on a date. Don’t rush into something because you’re ready for someone to occupy the other side of the bed. Don’t rush because you’re ready for your last name to be changed. And don’t hate love.

Bible shares in Matthew 22, verses 36-39, when the Pharisees asked Jesus; “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’

The love you have for self, is the love you’ll give. How are you loving you?