Daily Devotional – 10/12/18 “Obedience and Sacrifice”

I was looking over Facebook memories and the devotional, from last year, reminded me of obedience. Not that I needed reminding because I often reflect on where I used to be, when I was out of God’s will and it’s hard not to remember when all I had was struggle. Reality is, it didn’t just start in 2013 because I was out of God’s will long before that. Yes, I was raised in church with memories dating back to childhood but church wasn’t in me. I had the religion down but no relationship with God. (I’ve shared this before.) I was good at dressing, talking and acting the part but I wasn’t living the part. If there was something needed to be done, in the church, I was there. Something going on, I was there. Prayer breakfast, I cooked and served. Yet, I was leaving there bound, confused and struggling. Why am I sharing this again? For somebody who read it last year and still stuck. For somebody who, on this day, is struggling and suicidal. For somebody who is, like I was … using your lunch break, on paydays to renew check advances and still struggling. Paying on title loans and still struggling. Barely eating because you’re still struggling. In over your head and can’t figure a way out. I am talking to you today. Yes, you know you need to be in God’s will but here is what I need to share with you. Getting in God’s will won’t make your struggles disappear overnight because obedience comes with sacrifice. Bible says in Isaiah 1:19-20, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Y’all know my story. My husband and I packed up a 3 bedroom apartment in 2 days and moved without having a new address because God said so. Because we did, our lives changed. However, with obedience came sacrifice. See, before I gave God my yes and got serious about His will, we’d filed bankruptcy (a 2nd time). Yet, here is the blessing. After I gave God my yes and willingly obeyed Him; we converted from Wage Earner to full Bankruptcy. While a tow truck driver waited to pick up our old car, we were getting approved for a new car with the same finance company. While we didn’t have our own address, we weren’t homeless. We trusted God! We obeyed God. We moved by God. We didn’t get six figure jobs, we’re still with the same companies. We didn’t hit the lottery or win big gambling; we obeyed God. Yes, on the surface it looked like we were in God’s will but we were anything but. We had to take a step back before we could go forward. Will you do that? Will you willingly get for real about God and obey Him? Will you give God a yes then take a step back and for real reexamine your life; naturally and spiritually? Will you obey God’s voice even if it doesn’t make sense? I know you’ve been handling it on your own but how has that worked for you, so far? Look, I’m not saying every day since, for us, have been all great, they haven’t but we’re better now. And that came with obedience and sacrifice. Put your life into perspective, stop being mad at God and start being obedient and see if your life doesn’t change. And because you do, others will be changed as a result.

Daily Devotional – 10/11/18 “What cha’ going back for?”

Yesterday, I told you to go and get your stuff but did you notice what I didn’t say? I did not tell you to go and get your stuff back. You want to know why? Because sometimes the blessing is being okay with leaving with only the broken pieces of you. The broken pieces of your heart, mind, body and soul because if you leave, you now have the chance to rebuild. Sure, I know you want the couch back you paid for but leave it and the bad memories. I know you left the dishes grandma gave you but let them keep them if it means your freedom. Revenge, you want it but at what cost? Beloved, find the healing in saying goodbye and the severing of that toxic relationship. Find the restoration, you’ve been longing for, by finally getting the strength to walk out without looking back. And quit saying, “I’m coming for everything the enemy stole.” Do you not realize, in order to get back what was stolen you have to deal with the thief who took it? That’s like going back to see the person who kidnapped you, after you’ve been freed. It doesn’t make sense. You’re free even if it’s with bruises, bad memories, tears and pain. You’re free. And what cha’ going back for when God has given you the promise of restoration, when you trust in and praise Him?

Bible shares in Joel 2:23-25, “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. I will repay you for the years that the swarming locusts have eaten—the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.” God says He will REPAY you. Repay is to do or give something as recompense for a favor or kindness received. In other words, because you trust in God, because you praise God, because you are faithful to God and because you follow God’s command; He’ll repay you for everything you’ve lost. So, to you my brother and my sister; stop trying to get back what you bought in suffering when God will repay every year you lost by your sacrifice. That child support, let it go. The time you can’t get back, let it go. That stuff in the attic, let it go. Those boxes in the garage, leave them. And this time when you leave, although it may be with some brokenness, you will survive. Not only will you survive but you’ll be repaid for EVERY year!

Daily Devotional – 10/10/18 “Go get your stuff!”

It’s Wednesday and someone is watching time get away from you because something or someone from your past is trying to delay the purpose assigned to your life. Yea, this thing or person has shown up and it’s wreaking havoc on the very thing you thought would work this time. Now, you’re crying yourself to sleep because it seems all your hard work was in vain. You cannot concentrate because you’re worried about folk finding out who you used to be and they may not understand. You’re wandering aimlessly through your day and the weight of this thang is getting heavier. Well baby, I’m stopped by to give you a quick word. It shouldn’t be a shock to you because I’ve told you before. You shouldn’t be surprised by this but I’ll share it anyway. Here it is … The only person, place or thing; alive or in the process of being created that can keep you from getting what God has for you is YOU. Take back the rights to your story, deliver your own message and let folk know; if I survived all the hell I’ve been through, I’ll be doggone if I allow you to stand up and tell my story wrong. Yep, I did that. Yep, I did him/her. Yep, I said that. Yep, I went there. Yep, I wore that. Yep, I was a member there. Yep, I was foolish then. Yep, I wrote bad checks. Yep, I’ve filed bankruptcy more than once. Yep, that was me. Oh but now!

See, when you take back your power, you take the power out of the hands of others. When you tell your story of what you used to be and look like, no one else can hold it over your head. This is why, sometimes, you have to pull rank and tell folk … Look, I don’t care what my background shows, I will not allow you to demean my present character because I am not that person anymore. I don’t care what my arrest record shows, I will not allow you to destroy my present because I am not that person anymore. And if that means you keep your job, keep it. If that means I will not receive help from you, I don’t want it. If that means you no longer want to be friends, goodbye. I am no longer in the business of trying to convince you I’m worthy. Yeah, the old me would have but this is the new me and I don’t care what you think. God made me who I am. He constructed me this way and if you have a problem with who I am, now, take it up with God because I’m done explaining. Beloved, get your power back and then go get your stuff. How? By trusting God’s love for us and His word because He says in Isaiah 55:11-13, “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the LORD’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

Daily Devotional – 10/9/18 “Getting up is the hardest part!”

I had to be at work “earlier” because I am facilitating a training class for the next two days. Sure, I get nervous every time I have to stand in front of people (even when I preach) but that’s not the issue. No, the real issue is getting up earlier. Baby, it’s a struggle because I stay up at night. However, here is what I’ve realized. The hardest part is getting up. What do I mean? Well, once my legs are over the side of the bed, my feet touch the floor and I get that one good stretch in; I am good. The hardest part is getting up. What does this mean for you, the person reading this? It’s simple really … the hardest part is getting up. Yea, you’re struggling to get out of debt, sickness, a bad relationship, a dead-end job or maybe your spiritual war but the hardest part is getting up. Why? Because it’s easy to lay back down. It’s easy to turn over and pull the cover over your head. It’s easy to close your eyes and pretend it don’t exist but it’s hard getting up because then you’ll have to face the reality of your day and/or your problem(s). Yet the blessing is, when you face what you’ve been running from, you now have a chance to be free from it.

I know you’re tired but it’s time you get up. I know it hurts but it’s time you got up. I know your surroundings look dim but it’s time you get up. I know it doesn’t look as if things will work out but it’s time you got up. Swing them legs over the side of your bed (burdens, emptiness and destruction), put your feet on the floor, stand up, get a good stretch in and go forward. The hardest part is getting up but once you’re up, move because although you fall, the failure is in not getting up. This is why the word tells me that I am, “persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:9).” The hardest part is getting up but getting up is where you blessing is. Bible says, “take up your mat and walk.” Yea, the hardest part is getting up but Bible says, “your faith has made you well, go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” The hardest part, beloved, is getting up but when you do, stretch and then go forth to conquer the world.