Daily Devotional – 4/5/18 “Another day is another chance!”

You cannot give up! I don’t care what it looks like, what it seems, what your natural eyes and mind is trying to get you to believe; you cannot give up. Sometimes, you have to get out and try even when you don’t know what the conditions are outside of your comfortable place. What do I mean? The other day, there was a tornado warning for our area. The temperature was warm and the sky was gray. The weather forecast was predicting all this tornadic and storm activity so my husband and I decided to stay in. Although I needed to go to the gym, we decided against it because we didn’t want to get stuck in the storm. We didn’t take the chance. But guess what happened? The storm blew through, leaving only a few droplets of rain. I should have taken the chance. Sure, there was a possibility I’d get caught in the storm but how would I know unless I got out. I didn’t take the chance.

How many of you are missing out on stuff because you are afraid to get out even though you don’t know what the conditions are? How many of you are contemplating giving up, at this very moment, simply because you are thinking about the potential of what could happen? How many times have you changed your plans based on the weather report and what they said would happen, didn’t? I’m only asking because a lot of us are stuck in comfortability because of the possibility of something happening. You’re afraid to give another relationship a chance because it has the potential to end badly. You will not apply for the job because it’s possible, they’ll deny you. You will not go to the doctor because there is a prospect of it being bad news. How will you know what the conditions are if you never take a chance? Please understand, every situation has the probability of suffering but you will never know how strong you are until your strength is tested. But as for now, you have another day, another chance. Will you take it?

Daily Devotional – 4/3/18 “Are we still rejoicing?”

Are you still celebrating the resurrection of our Savior or are you back in your sunken place because your account is overdrawn from all the stuff you purchased for Easter? Are we still in a place of being grateful for Jesus’ sacrifice or did it end after church on Sunday? I’m only asking because we should be thankful every day, not just on the day set aside to commemorate it. Look, the resurrection of Jesus is great, amazing and deserves to be celebrated but so does the suffering. We rush to get to the resurrection, to get Jesus out of the tomb but what about the suffering that happened between Thursday evening and Sunday? Because if I can be honest with you, the resurrection is great to shout folk but the Garden of Gethsemane is even greater to save folk. Sure, it’s all well and good that you know Jesus got up but do you know why He died? Yea, it’s great you preach the last 7 things Jesus said but what about why He had to suffer in the first place? I’m simply thinking that if we start from the beginning and study the true suffering of our Jesus, then we may serve Him better.

Just maybe, if we get the details, our devotion will change and maybe, if we know what He had to go through, we wouldn’t be quick to give up when we have to go through. For here in Matthew 26:38, Jesus tells the three disciples, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” The bible says He went on a little farther. Far enough for Him to feel alone but close enough for the disciples to hear and see Him. For He needed them to watch with Him. He didn’t say watch out for me but He says watch with me. With, a function word meaning to participate in. He says this to the 3; Peter, James and John. The same 3 who were there during the transfiguration. A time they saw Jesus transform from being Mary’s baby, to the fullness of God. So, wouldn’t it be only right that they now be in attendance to watch WITH Him as He transforms yet again? This time from messenger to cup-bearer and sin carrier. This is what we celebrate, every day and not just on an assigned holiday. Are you still rejoicing or is it over now that the candy and eggs are gone?

Daily Devotional – 4/2/18 “Help or hush!”

The thoughts of domestic violence sufferers has been so heavy on me lately. I’ve never been the victim of domestic violence so I don’t know what it feels like. I’ve never had to be afraid to speak my mind to my spouse or been made to feel scared in my own home. I’ve never had to hide scars and bruises, been fearful of my spouse acting out in public places or in front of family and friends. I’ve never been in the shoes of a victim. But this isn’t what has been heavy. What I’ve been toiling with is those, who like me, have never been a victim yet they speak so freely on those who have. “She’s stupid for staying.” “Why don’t they just leave?” “It couldn’t be me.” SHUT UP! If it were easy to leave, do you not think they would? Have you ever stopped to think that maybe they don’t need your opinions but they desire your prayers? Have you stopped, even for a second, to think just maybe they are victims of abuse because they witnessed it in their home? In other words, they are repeating the vicious cycle because it is all they’ve ever known. And when people say, “Hurt people, hurt people;” it’s true. Joe Jr. is only mimicking what he saw Joe Sr. do to his mom. Sue thought the hits she received was love because it’s what she saw daddy do to momma.

This is why, when a victim of abuse comes to you, they don’t need you rubbing in the fact they’ve gone back time and time again; they simply need to know you’ll be there until they finally leave for good. Pray for them, cover them and intercede for their strength. You don’t have to join in the physical fight but are you willing to join in the spiritual war? Bible says in Proverbs 22:10, “Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.” And Psalm 11:5, “The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.” You may not have noticed but domestic violence starts long before adult years. There are young ladies, in high school, being abused right now yet all the guidance counselor and principal see is her acting out. Yes, every fight is blown out of proportion because those are the ones she can handle but she can’t win against the star of the basketball team. According to loveisrespect.org, nearly 1.5 million high school students experience abuse in a single year while one in ten have been purposely been hit by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Are you praying or are you opinionated? Are you interceding or instigating?

Dear God, I pray today for every victim of abuse. I ask God for you to surround them with some spiritual warriors who are willing to pray until a shift happens in their life. Send someone who may not even know their name but can sense their pain. Give a voice to somebody who is willing to intercede on their behalf, praying until the one who so easily gives abuse can be run out of their dwelling. And God, shut up the naysayers and the judgmental for we need those who can and will help, not hinder. In your name, amen.