Reaching your full potential

When I first saw this flower I marveled at how it found a way to grow through the crack.  I thought to myself this flower will last a couple of days and it will wither and die. To my surprise it has thrived for over two weeks of direct heat of the sun in the western skies. There has been little to know rain and it continues to display its beauty. A friend reminded me of the scripture of seeds that are sown on stony ground. “A person who hears the message and right away he is glad to hear it. But it does not go down deep in his heart. He believes it for a short time.” (Matt. 13:20-22). Though this flower radiates beauty it can never reach its full potential because it is not deeply rooted. So many of us are like this flower we look good. We have great potential in the Lord. However we stunted our growth simply because we choose not to root ourselves in God’s word. 

You are forgiven

God does not treat us based on our sins. He has not given us the punishment deserved for our sins. Once we acknowledge and repent to God of a sin he has forgiven. Once confessed, he is gracious and forgiving. It’s our guilt that bounds us to the belief that we are not forgiven. Today, let go of all guilt and be reminded, YOU ARE FORGIVEN.

The subconscious mind hears every word

Your subconscious mind hears every word. You have a choice of listening to the positive or negative, yet most of us focus more on our mistakes over complements. Criticisms tend to impact us more than good news. I’m guilty. Despite all of God’s goodness and miraculous things he has done in my life, I’ve focused on the negative, making me no different than many prophets in the Bible. Negative events have a greater impact on our brains than positive ones. After all of Moses’s great feats, it was easy for him to focus on his burdens over how far God brought him and the children of Israel. Moses asked God to kill him (Num. 11:11-15). Jonah was no different, he ran from God because he felt inept. “It is better for me to die than to live.” As humans, we tend to Remember traumatic experiences over positive ones. Recall insults better than praises. For me, I had to find a way to combat the negative thoughts over positive. God created me and you in his likeness. We are conquers. Giants! Warriors! Yet we discredit our greatness. Through prayer and being cognizant of how I talked to myself was the first steps to more positive thoughts over negative ones. I reframed the situation in a more positive light. When new negatives try to resurface, I look for an uplifting activity to pull myself out of the negative mindset. I try to redirect thoughts to things that bring joy, a peaceful spirit. Is it easy?  No. Some days are harder than others. Here are a few things I do get my mind off negative thoughts: 

• Pray & give thanks for all my blessings
• Go for a walk
• Listen to uplifting music 
• Read a good book 

Know that you don’t suffer alone. The subconscious mind can be your friend or enemy. Guard your mind. There is power in the tongue. Speak positive into your life. 

Don’t listen to Satan even if it’s true

Satan reminded me of all my failures and imperfections. Once I allowed the thought, it festered in my mind and it became my stumbling block to greatness. I focused on failures and lost opportunities opposed to God’s Power. Negative thoughts and self condemnation caused spiritual blindness. Depression and doubtfulness set in. I exiled God and took matters into my hands. 

This is the point where the strongest of people fail. They hear or experience negative and they take it as the gospel despite the greatness that’s within! Elijah ran because of Jezebel’s decree ( 1Kings 19:2), the children of Israel would rather stay in eternal slavery and die opposed to being in the wilderness (Num. 20:4-5), Abraham failed in his faith (Gen. 12:10-20,) and Job lost patience (Job 4:7-10), yet he never lost faith in God. The devil prowls like a lion seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8-9). Don’t listen to Satan’s reminder of your past!  Put on the full armor of God. Cover your mind and heart so you can stand against the schemes of the devil (Eph. 6:11-17). God hears your cry. Find the inner strength and call upon the name of Jesus. Your life is worth living and God is there waiting to help. Keep moving keep praying and continue to destroy the obstacles in your life! Be encouraged!

Praise for the Lord’s mercies

If there was someone who could pull you from your pit of misery without condemning you, satisfy your desires with good things, compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger, abounding in love. Would you want to meet them? What would you do or say when you did meet them? God is that someone. We often forget God’s mercies. More often than not, we forget to give God praise. We tend to complain and ask for our desires rather than praise Him. Psalms 103 is probably the most perfect and purest Psalms in the Bible.  2020 has been an unprecedented year, and it’s not over yet. From COVID, fires, hurricanes, riots, police brutality, and Hatred we have seen or have experienced the fury one way or another. Take time to praise God through life’s storms. Use Psalms 103 as your praise guide. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 

Speak positive words

Anxiety is capable of finding its way into the best of people. Uneasiness and worry blankets the mind like a pending storm. Believe it or not negative (positive) words manifest life – As a man thinks so is he. Think before you speak. What you say can be damaging words in your life. It’s unintentional but we unconsciously speak failure to ourselves and others through conversation with friends. The continuous unleashing of burdens, and unfairness of life, increase the dismal outlook currently faced. A defeated spirit destroys people. Learn to speak positive even in a negative situation. We can proclaim victory by the words we speak. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he… Proverbs 23:7.  

Be willing to spread joy

In all situations we have to be willing to spread joy. I recall a time prior to COVID I witnessed a couple of young men on the train.  As a lady entered the train,  joking, one young man says to lady, “Can you give my friend a hug he just got fired  today."  The young lady stopped and smiled and said "I got fired today too.” What transpired next was the most spontaneous and heart warming. What was meant as a joke turned into a genuine act act of kindness. Both young men got up and said “you need a hug.”  Many of us are dealing with overwhelming thoughts. We need a hug but COVID has altered our life’s normalcies. Whatever you are facing right now here is a virtual hug 🤗. No matter how severe the pain, find a little joy from a smile and a hug, even if you have to hug yourself. 

The worst part of being strong

Society recognizes strong people. Leaders  who possess great character, Resilient, with sound judgment. Some are noted people like Dr. Martin Luther King, others are regular people in our community; pastors, friends and family. They too are strong. They are always giving, advising and helping others. We tend to pull and tug more those who advise us, never giving into account they are human. Because of their tireless efforts we assume everything is all right, we never ask if they are ok. Jesus knew weariness: “Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well” (John 4:6). Jesus knew loneliness: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Yet not one time does the Bible reflect that the disciples or people ever checked on Jesus well being. For those in your life who continuously give without complaint, take time to check on them. “The worst part of being strong is that no one ever ask if you are okay.” 

What are your dreams and visions?

Humans are the only creatures to have the capacity to exercise their creative imagination.  

Dreams of what you want to be, where to go, goals you want to accomplish. Dreams Can be divine. They are Planted Visions from God in your mind. You are made in the image of God the creator. So What are your dreams and visions? What’s hindering you from setting the dream into motion? Be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Eph. 4:23). Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established (Prov. 16:3). Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time (Hab. 2:2-3). You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil. 4:13). So whatever you are dreaming, now is the time to pray about it and and bring the dream to life. 

Fight like a woman

The Bible is filled with women of positive faith. Some we know by name, others, by their actions. Deborah was judge, a leader of a nation (Judges 4). She was a wife, warrior, and poet. Her faith in God lead her to victory over the Canaanites. There were other faithful 

women such as Ruth, Sarah, Rahab, Rebekah,

Leah, Mary, and Miriam. We cannot forget the  Faith of a Canaanite Woman with the possessed daughter (Mark 7:24-30). They all encountered different situations that required faith. They all believed God could fix their problems. The women of the Bible are much like the women today. They are Leaders, judges, mothers, and wives. They are strong warriors. They are relentless. Women of God who exemplify openly their love for God are capable of moving mountains. Their prayers and positive faith in God have fixed homes, communities, and have brought the hardest of men to God. Women of God know that their positive faith in God can do great things through imperfect people. 

A man carrying a pitcher

We never know when God will call us to do something uncommon. No matter how odd, strange or uncomfortable, do it. In Luke 22:10 Jesus tells the disciples to follow a man with a pitcher. Pitchers or jars of water was commonly carried by women. To see a man carry a pitcher would be very unusual. We don’t know who the man was or why he carried the pitcher but we do know God gave him a job to do and he did it! God directs us to do things but we chose not to for many reasons. I’m sure this man’s friends and family saw him, possibly talked about him and called him names yet he continued. By faithfully following God’s call, this man served God and Jesus in a unique way. He led the disciples to the last supper. When God calls us to do uncommon or unusual tasks do it. God takes the ordinary out of life and can make it extraordinary!  

Listening & learning

Listening and following directions is a challenge for many. Add God to the situation it becomes more daunting. Christians profess to follow God's word and trust in Him. We recite verses, pray to order my steps, yet we still doubt or question God. 1 King 17:7-15, the prophet Elijah, and the widow listened. Just what if neither didn’t. God told Elijah to go into enemy territory. Likewise, the widow was cooking her last meal and a stranger comes wanting water and bread to eat. How many of us would have listened to God and done either task without questioning?  When things don’t look favorable learn to listen to God's guidance. Trust God's word, even when it don't make sense. What appeared to be dismal situations for Elijah and the widow turned out to be a blessing. We're in challenging times right now. Listen to the voice of God. He may be leading you to do something that is unconventional and don’t make sense. Whatever God tells you to do, or take away he always makes provisions. Listen and trust God. 

 

Unused gifts and talents

 

 God has given everyone a talent. Yes, even you! The question is are you using them or are they dormant? The "Parable of the Talents", in Matthew 25:14–30, which servant represents you? God talents need to be used. Not buried.  Don't let your talents be wasted. There was a man who wasted his life instead of doing great things with the gifts and talents God had planted in him, he spent his life sleeping and complaining, doubting himself. Mahatma Gandhi stated, “Man often becomes what he believes himself to be.” So, what do you believe? Use what God gave to you. Edify him and be a blessing to others. 

Don’t forget God is still in control

In the face of the world spiraling out of control, let’s not forget God is still in control! Psalms 12, David prays for the people who had lost faith. The world’s unstableness is causing mental turmoil. Our nation has no compassion for the people plundered while the needy go unnoticed. God’s word is flawless. He arise and protect us from the maleficent (Ps. 12:5). 

By our tongues we can fix the conundrum we currently live in. Who is lord over you? Man or God? Christians it’s time to unite! Close the chasm that separates us from God. What we see and read daily may appear one way but it does not have to stay that way. Invoke God in your conversation not doubt, doom, and your shallow theories. Use your tongue to speak God’s word. Pray that God will keep us safe and protect us forever from the wicked, who freely strut about when what is vile is honored is by the human race. There is power in prayer. Don’t lose your faith the end is not here yet. We are still in this race call life. 

Do you know how to pray?

Prayer is essential. Prayer is transformational. Prayer is our way of communicating with God, yet many don’t know what to pray. When loss for words or prayers become monotonous, pray using scripture. Allow God’s words to be your prayer. Don’t know where to go, start with the prayers in Psalms. Praising God, (Psalms 105), prayers for the afflicted who is now weak (Psalms 102), prayers for grateful praise, (Psalms 100). By reading/praying God’s word you are aligning yourself with him! Prayer takes on a new meaning. They are not self-gratifying, or egotistical prayers for desires. 

Prayer is your intimate time with God. If you are desiring to Draw closer to God the Father, affirming His words in prayer is one way of doing so.  Remember, Prayer is: 

• Action – pray without ceasing Thes. 5:17
• It’s supplication – Phil. 4:6
• It is NOT vain repetition Mat 6:7

Father God, your eyes are on the righteous and your ears are attentive to their prayer. For everyone who reads this devotion, I ask for  you to keep them covered in your grace. May they become more connected through prayer and supplication with you. This is my prayer in Jesus name - Amen. 

 

You deserve punishment

When forgiveness is not enough what do you do? Demand harsh punishment? God’s love and forgiveness can wipe away the heinous act, but you want retribution. God asked Jonah to deliver a message to the people of Nineveh, repent from their cruel and savage ways or be destroyed. Jonah flees from God, he didn’t want to deliver the message (Jon 1:1-16). He felt they were not deserving of forgiveness, they should be destroyed. After much running and being swallowed by a whale Jonah conceded. God forgave the people but Jonah was angry at God’s compassion (Jon.4:1-2). Our God is compassionate and slow to anger. Many people feel that some leaders, organizations, and nations need to be punished for their cruel and hateful behavior. Yes they do. But who are we to judge unless we want to be judged? Stop talking, running, and thinking like Jonah. As hard as it is for us to ask God to forgive we have to. Pray to God ask to make himself known unto all the people of the land. May they turn from their evil ways, humble themselves and seek God! Despite what we think God still has concern and love  for this great nation of America. 

Sharing your gifts through the pain

Chadwick Boseman’s death affected the world! Was it his humble demeanor, gentle spirit, or his ability to command attention before opening his mouth? I continue to ponder that during his darkest hours of life, he never complained. He pressed on. I also reflect on what if Chadwick had the attitude many of us have about life’s conflicts? What if he quit making movies because he had cancer? We would have missed his gift. The genius of bringing characters to life on the big screen. Never experiencing Marshall, the Avengers, the end game, Black Panther, 21 bridges, the 5 Bloods and even his forthcoming movie Ma Rainy Black Bottom. All which were made between 2016-2019, at the pinnacle of his battle with colon cancer. Chadwick didn’t extinguish his light. His selflessness to continue using his talent through pain, allowed us to witness his great acting prowesses.  

2020 has been a year of unpredictability. We faced pandemics, epidemics, riots, senseless killings and deaths of iconic people. In some way they all have impacted us. Don’t let life’s circumstances keep you from using your God given purpose or talents. Like Chadwick let us keep pressing forward. For each time we don’t allow our light to shine just think of how many people missed God’s blessing through us!  Chadwick Boseman sacrificed himself despite affliction. He used his gift to bless us all. So what is your excuse? 

 

I will not complain any more

As the nation mourns the loss of actor, Chadwick Boseman, we were surprised to learn Boseman endured colon cancer for four years. The takeaway is, He never complained. He continued to worked through the pain and performing at the Highest level of excellence! So many of us lament over little things like finding reasons why not to go to work. But this young man completed seven movies during the darkest part of his life. Several movies as the leading actor which took a lot of time and endurance all while going through chemotherapy and surgery. There's a lesson in  Chadwick Boseman’s death. Before a seed can produce fruit it has to die. I believe his death, becomes a symbolic message for us to view life. Stop complaining. Stop sweating the little things. Don’t give up. Be Resilient and have a willingness to persevere through the pain. Learn to be more grateful. God’s grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in our weakness (pain). May Chadwick’s life be a living example for us all.

Are you leaking?

Leaks are gradual. One does not know a roof leaks until it rains. The leak go unnoticed until it’s too late. In life, we disregard the warning signs of our leaking souls when we stray from God. Our prayers are shorten, we put off studying the Bible for another day, and we skip church a Sunday or two. It’s when the storms of life affect us do we realize that something is missing. It’s not that God has left us, we have put less emphasis on God. This is the time we seek him - Save me God for the waters come unto my soul (Ps. 69:1). We cannot be foolish in our daily living. At all times we should strive to keep ourselves filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:19-21.) yield completely  to God so that you can be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Do a new thing in God

You find yourself in a rut. Stuck unable to move forward. The children of Israel were no different. They hated their conditions in Egypt and they were ready to try something new with God. They followed Moses out of Egypt,yet when they faced their first Chasm - the Red Sea, they were ready to go back to deplorable conditions. We make life harder when we take matters into our hands. Life can be easier when you let go and let God be in control. God’s yoke is easy and His burden is light. Decide today to look forward, don’t look back and most importantly let go and let God order your steps.