"My Prayer For You"

Scripture: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,”- Philippians 1:9-10, NIV

God has blessed us to be a good age, whether you are in your 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and beyond. Throughout your living of life, you had (and still have today) many people that pray for you. Those people that/currently pray for you would tell you "my prayer for you is ____________". If truth were told, when we are encouraging our brothers and sisters, we are quick to say that my prayer for you is ______________________. Well, today, someone wants to share their prayer for you. This someone is the Almighty God through His manservant, the Apostle Paul. Within today's text, you will get an understanding for what Paul's prayer was for the church and for us today.

Today's devotional takes us to the book of Philippians. As stated in the introduction, Paul was the writer of this letter/book to the church at Philippi. Within this chapter, he delivers his opening salutations, discusses thanksgiving and prayer, and how Paul being in chains (or prison) has advanced the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today's main scripture is found in the section talking about thanksgiving and prayer.

God through Paul lets you know that there's a prayer specifically for you and in this case, the Philippian church. We know this because the text starts out by saying, "and this is my prayer". Now, the prayer begins. The first part of the prayer states "that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight". In other words, he is praying that the Philippians' love for one another would grow more, their knowledge would be greater, and that their depth of insight would be greater. God's prayer for you is that you would want to love your brothers/sisters more and more each day. His prayer is that your knowledge would increase. His prayer is that your depth of insight would be greater. Why would God through Paul want these things for you and I?

The second part of the text provides us the answers. He wants these things for us "so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ". Simply put, God wants you and I to possess a knowledge base and insight so rich that when the enemy tries something, we'll be able to determine what's right and what's wrong. All of us makes these decisions on an everyday basis on what's right and what's wrong, what should I be doing, how should I say this to my brother, how should I say this to my sister, and other things. Many of us say that we do not have the answer to this question or that question. If you sup with God long enough and understand His prayer for you, then in due time, He will provide the answer. Just know that God's prayer for you is that you are to figure out what's best and pure, blameless, and right before the return of Jesus Christ. He wants us this way so we can make it into the Heaven and worship and glorify Him all the day! Isn't it a blessing to know that God loves you? Isn't it a blessing to know that God wants the absolute best for you? Isn't it a blessing to know that God wants you to make the right decisions and not be hung up here or there? He cares! He wants us all to prosper that are His children and in turn, we make the decisions pleasing and acceptable in His sight!

In closing, we always tell our brothers and sisters that my prayer for you is _______________. On today, my prayer for you is the prayer the Apostle Paul laid out to the church at Philippi. Not only is this my prayer for you, but it's God's prayer for you! Because it's God's prayer for you, always remember that you are His best and He wants the best for His best! He also wants His best to exhibit their best! Let's strive to continually give God our best and show Him love and admiration for the prayer He has for you!

"Getting You Ready For Your Fight With Life"

Scripture: "Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle." -Psalms 144:1, NIV

On this past Saturday night, the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title was on the line at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It pitted the Ring Magazine's #1 contender and two-time WBC champion, Vitali Klitschko, against the WBC's #1 heavyweight contender, Cristobal Arreola. The pre-fight hype was built on Arreola's weight and conditioning. Within his last three fights, Arreola has been weighing in the high 250's and had to shed a lot of weight because he received this title shot sooner rather than later. With this in mind, Arreola changed up his meal plan, training regimen and everything else. When the weigh-in took place, the scales said Arreola weighed 277 lbs.; however, that was because he had on a twenty-something pound vest. Once the vest came off of him, he weighed in at 251 lbs. According to reports, Arreola really worked hard in training and hired a new conditioning coach specifically for this fight. As the story goes, though his people trained him for this title fight, Arreola could not deliver the goods as he was punished, hit at will, and eventually stopped by the advice of his corner in the 10th round. If truth be told, we, as believers, must train for this fight with life. This fight is not just a one-day affair, it is an everyday affair. If you handle your business well with life, it can be the best thing ever. On the other hand, if you let life deal its blows to you, then you are in it for a rough time. I'm blessed to know that someone is there to get us ready for this fight with life. The someone is the Almighty God! Today's text explains how God trains you and I for our fight with life.

Today, our journey has landed us in the book of Psalms. This particular psalm was written by David. Scholars state that when David was composing this song, he was acknowledging the greatness of God and praying for help (verses 1 - 8). Also, we find out that David prayed for the prosperity of his kingdom (verses 9 - 15). One thing we must do and always remember is before we ask God for anything, praise Him for the things He has done in your life. Praise Him for just being God and being God all by Himself! Praise Him for waking you up in the morning, closed in your right mind, and giving you the ability to move your limbs. Once we praise Him and thank Him, then approach Him with the desires of your heart.

David illustrates the last point that was just made by starting the text with "Praise be to the LORD my Rock". If truth were told, many of us need to lean on the rock known as the Father! Many of us get burned out with life and we are looking for help from our brothers and sisters. God will use them to help you, but you must lean on Him and depend on Him to give you direction and help! You must stand on the Rock when money is funny and change is strange! You must stand on the Rock when the world has hurt your feelings and no one cares! You must stand on the Rock when the enemy tries to rush you like a flood! Just stand on the Rock! Just lean on the Rock! Just depend on the Rock! Just trust God!

In the midst of David praising God in today's main scripture, he reveals to us how God trains us for our fight with life. David said that God trained "my hands for war, my fingers for battle". In the days of David, the way he won battles and defeated his foes was with his hands and fingers. If truth were told on today, we still defeat the foes of life with those same body parts! Think about it, when you lock hands and fingers with another brother/sister, you establish agreement and if their faith connects with your faith, your battles are won! God loves agreement! He tells us in His Word that out of the two or three, everything is established! Not some things! Not half of the things! Not three quarters of the things, but EVERYTHING is established! When you lock your hands and fingers together to pray to God by yourself with faith knowing He will do what you need, your battles are won! Yes, He trained your hands and your fingers not only for prayer, but also to work and make a living, to write your brothers and sisters and tell about the goodness of Jesus, call your brothers and sisters to minister to them in their time of need, to anoint your hands with oil and pray for circumstances and situations to dissolve, and other things.

In closing, do not take your hands or fingers for granted. They serve a tremendous purpose in your life! You are meant to win life's battles with them. Just in case you haven't learned how to use them, there's a God ready and capable to train you in the art of using them properly. Don't you want to win your fight with life?

"How To Praise God In Another Way"

Scripture: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." -Romans 15:7, NIV

Yesterday morning, at the 10 AM service at the Sanctuary at Kingdom Square, the Holy Spirit had His way! After listening to the anointed singing of our Colston Memorial Voices, the Spirit came in and it hit the congregation any way it could! Throughout this service of praise, I saw people praising God by clapping, praising Him by shouting, praising Him by dancing, praising Him by stomping, and other ways. At the end of the day, God accepts true praise from you and me. Once we leave the church house, are we able to carry the spirit of praise on the Metro or your respective mode of transportation? Do we carry the same spirit of praise at the workplace? Do we carry the same spirit of praise at home? These are questions only you and the Father can answer. However, He provides us today, within our main scripture, another way to praise Him.

This week, the Lord has started our journey in the book of Romans. Outside of Romans being the sixth book in the New Testament, it was the first of Paul's thirteen books or letters he wrote throughout the New Testament. Within this book, it was Paul's intent to explain that salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Within this particular chapter, we find that Paul blesses the people with some opening remarks, then discusses himself as a minister to the Gentiles, and discusses his plans to visit Rome. Our main scripture is found in Paul's opening remarks within this chapter.

Paul provides us with another way to praise God at the beginning of this text. He told them then and us now to "accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you". That ought to make us do self - inventory really quick! When I think of the term accept, it eludes to one being understanding of another person's needs, wants, disabilities, abilities, and other things. With this being said, do we accept our brother and sister though they may wear the skimpiest clothing to church and abroad? Do we accept our sisters when they get pregnant out of wedlock and not provide the nurture they need to make it? Do we accept our brothers who do not have a role model in their lives and cast them out as outcasts? Do we accept our elderly citizens though they are up in age and at times, hard to understand? Let's take inventory and realize that by accepting people, despite their level, age, gender, race, etc., is critical because it brings praise to God! You know why else we should accept one another? Because Jesus accepted you! If we keep it real with ourselves, we know that we did not come to Jesus with everything honky dory and all of our problems situated. We came to Jesus "a hot mess" and still come to Him as "a hot mess" from time to time. Nevertheless, despite our diseases, lack of praising and worshipping Him, lack of giving Him what's due to Him, lack of loving our neighbors as ourselves, and other things, He accepted us! He took us by the hand and has now brought us into His Kingdom! Aren't you glad that Jesus accepted you?

As stated in the title, once we accept one another as Christ accepted us, this will set things up "to bring praise to God". If you want to praise God on an everyday basis, accept one another! If you want to let Him know that your praise and worship is for real, accept one another!

In closing, we love to shout, dance, clap, and other things to give God praise. Are we open and real enough with Him to give Him praise by accepting your respective brother and sister? If the answer to this question is no, then I implore you to accept one another and watch God receive praise from you!

"How Do You Know When You've Grown?"

Scripture: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." -Luke 2:52

Many of us have migrated from our respective hometowns to a different place that we call home. This migration occurred because of a job, your mate/spouse, a "fresh start", and other things. Before the migration, you grew up in your hometown, hung around certain people, and always had some elder members of your family around to see how you are doing. Now that God has provided you a little age, you get the opportunity to go back home and visit your family and friends. When you are visiting your family and friends, you notice how they have told you how much you have grown. In the case of guys, you hear people say, "You've grown up to be a handsome man". In the case of the ladies, you heard them say, "You've grown up to become a beautiful woman". It blesses you to hear that, but how do we really know we have grown? Many of us would say that we have grown because we do not do the same stuff anymore we did while you were younger. Some would say because I have kicked my bad habits like smoking or drinking. If we switch this thing spiritually, how do you know when you've grown? Again, you could say the things previously mentioned as far as kicking bad habits and "putting away childish things" as Paul stated. Today's text provides further meat on how you know you have grown.

Our devotional journey today takes us to the Gospel according to Luke. Within this second chapter, we read about the birth of Jesus, the visitation of the angels to the shepherds, Christ being presented in the Temple, and the pre - teen Jesus in the Temple. Today's main scripture is found in the theme dealing with the pre - teen Jesus in the Temple.

This particular episode with Jesus as a pre - teen in the Temple can be found in verses 41 - 52. The story begins where Jesus and His parents came up to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover as it was the custom of the day. Once the Feast ended, Joseph and Mary went back home, while Jesus stayed back in Jerusalem. After a day and realizing that Jesus did not travel back with them, His parents called their respective relatives in search of Jesus. As the story goes, they made it back to Jerusalem three days later, only to see Jesus in the Temple, asking questions and listening to the teachers. Then, after they were amazed at what was going down, Mary and Joseph, as typical parents, asked the question in so many words: "Why did you do us like that?", "We've been looking for you". Jesus answers His parents by saying, "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?" The text tells us that they did not get what He meant. Sometimes, as parents or concerned brothers and sisters in Christ, we will not always get what others say. When this occurs, you just pray and know that God will provide clarity and understanding in due time! After this episode, as a wise pre - teen, Jesus went back home with His parents and was obedient to them. Do you know that God will bless you for your true obedience to Him? He does not want half obedience, three-quarters obedience, nine-tenths obedience, He needs full and true obedience!

The end of the chapter, our main scripture, tells us how we would know when we have grown. It tells us that Jesus "increased in wisdom and stature". God has allowed so many things to go down in our lives because He wants us to learn from those experiences. He wanted us to obtain wisdom and knowledge in order to do better in the future. If truth were told, we all have some friends that marvel at us and they marvel at us because of our wisdom and we bless God that as we grow older and stronger in Him, He allows us to become more wiser! Then, it says that Jesus grew in stature. Ladies and gentlemen, if you are still living in the same house you lived in as a child, your stature has not grown. If you are still on the same level in God you were twenty years ago, then your stature has not grown. Your stature has grown when people respect and revere the God in you! Your stature has grown when you exercise your faith in a dead situation! Your stature has grown when you can lay your problems down and pick up the problems of your brother/sister in Christ!

Lastly, the text closes by saying that Jesus also increased "in favour with God and man". My brothers and sisters, when God has His hands on you and you have walked upright, He will allow some things to happen just for you! Many of us have received jobs that we were not worthy of and did not qualify for in man's eyes, but you have grown in God enough to receive favor with Him and man to receive that job. Many of us have houses we live in and though our credit was jacked up and things did not quite line up originally, God worked it where you obtained favor in His eyes and then, man's eyes, to obtain that home! Many of us have went on lots and been able to get the car of our dreams and it was because God had favored you and then, man favored you!

In closing, it's good to hear people say how you have grown up to be this and that. It's even a bigger blessing when you know you have grown up in God! You know that you have grown because you have increased wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man. Just in case you have not reached this level of maturity, keep living life and serving God and these things will come to pass!

"God's Workout Regimen for You"

Scripture: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
-Galatians 5:16

One of the biggest problems we have in the United States today is obesity or being overweight. There was a time and a season where being healthy was the way of life. It was not taboo for your meal to include a meat, two vegetables, and a bread to fulfill the food groups. Within this time and juncture of our lives, we have seen the "Fast Food Boom" takeover. Because of this "Fast Food Boom", many of us have went up the scale in weight and up in clothes sizes. In order to combat the extra weight, we now want to incorporate into our lives exercise and a workout regimen. Some of us like to lift weights, run/jog/walk on the treadmill, do the elliptical trainer, aerobics, run/walk/jog around the track, and other things. However, some of us lack the consistency of working out regularly, thus lowering the weight that's on us. If truth were told, we can lose a lot of spiritual weight if we had a steady diet of God's Word. We could lose weight with a steady diet of doing what's right in the eyesight of God. Today's text gives us the perfect workout regimen to help us lose weight spiritually as well as physically.

Today, our Father has shifted today's devotional thoughts to the book of Galatians. Almost half of the books in the New Testament were written by the Apostle Paul and Galatians was one of them. This book was written to the church at Galatia. Scholars state that this letter dealt with the controversy surrounding Gentile Christians and the Mosaic Law within Early Christianity. Within this particular chapter of Galatians, we find Paul discussing the fruit of the Spirit and works of the flesh. Also, he provided today's main scripture to further obtain clarity on God's workout regimen for you and me.

Paul begins the text with the answer by saying, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit". Wow! What a short and yet profound statement! In order for us to lose the spiritual, mental, emotional, and any other kind of weight, you must walk in the Spirit. Does it mean physically walk in the Spirit? No, it means live your life where your directives and orders are Spirit-driven. In other words, if you have this weight of low self esteem, begin to walk boldly in the Spirit and say, "I am who God says I am and I am more than a conqueror" and watch you begin to shed that weight. If you have this weight of depression, begin to walk boldly in the Spirit and say, "Thank God for another day, every day is a day of thanksgiving, and I will magnify the Lord today for He is good" and watch you begin to shed that weight. If you have this weight of loneliness, walk in the Spirit and say, "God, You told me that You would never leave me nor forsake me and I'm going to take You at Your Word" and watch you begin to shed that weight. If you have a weight of being a shopaholic, begin to walk in the Spirit and say, "Do I really need X today or do I want it?" If the answer is you want it and you do not buy it, then, you are shedding that weight. God wants you to lose weight and it's simple but not simple: Just walk in the Spirit!

When we walk in the Spirit, then we will be able to do like the final portion of the text says, "and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." If truth were told, our flesh has brought us SO much trouble within our lifetime. Our flesh has allowed us to hurt so many people's feelings. Our flesh has allowed us to destroy the healthiest of friendships. Our flesh has allowed us to lose the best of jobs. When you are walking in the Spirit, you are giving utterance to the Spirit and telling the flesh to bow down and sit down! If truth were told, we all have our issues we need to say bow down because we're walking in the Spirit. What things need to bow down? Backbiting, tattling, lying, killing one another, gluttony, jealousy, and a list of other things. I am encouraged to know that we can do anything we choose to if we set our minds to it. That's why Paul told the Romans "but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind". It's critical because TV will have you believing one thing, but God wants you to know the truth! The truth is the flesh is NO good to you, but it's your Spirit man that needs to be fed and needs to lead you!

In closing, many of us are emotionally obese and physically obese. We can easily shed this weight if we allow the Spirit of God to be our guide and we walk in His Spirit and put down the desires of your flesh. I encourage you to get on this workout regimen and when you begin to shed weight, I would love to hear about it!

"Keep It Real With Yourself"

Scripture: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." -James 3:16

Over the past twenty plus years, there's a phrase that's a part of our everyday vernacular. This phrase has an individual telling another individual not to be phony or to let out what's really on their mind. This phrase is "keep it real". There are so many people that say "Man, I'm going to keep it real with you" or "Girl, I'm going to keep it real because that's all I can do". On the flip side of that, some of us use the phrase "keep it real", but do not know how to be real with one another or most importantly, ourselves. There are times where a friend may say, "Man, you are busting out of your pants" and you would say "Naw, it's just that happy fat". The devil is a lie! You're getting fat! Just keep it real! In the case of a sister, you may hear this conversation, "Girl, I am feeling that dress" when in hind sight, you are not because you are saying that to make the individual feel good. If we look at this thing spiritually, are we really keeping it real with ourselves? I can be blatantly honest for all of us: NO! The reason I say this is because we all have the ability to see what we want to see and hear what we want to hear and do what we want to do. On today, I come to encourage you, my brother, and my sister, to keep it real with yourself! Today's text provides us insight why it is important to keep it real with yourself.

Today's Word is found in the book of James. Within this third chapter, we find James dealing with two critical subjects: the taming of the tongue and the two types of wisdom. Today's main scripture is found under the subject area dealing with the two types of wisdom. For a good read on keeping it real when it comes to your mouth and being God's man/woman, then James would be a great book.

James begins the text by saying, "For where envying and strife is". In keeping it real with yourself, you must be able to identify what your heart is feeling. Many of us put on the façade of everything being honky dory and when in all actuality, we are tore up from the floor up. There are times we have entered the work place or the house of God with this big grin on our face towards our brothers and sisters, and yet and still there's an underline hate for them. Keep it real with yourself! James mentions "envying and strife". Envying is simply being jealous of someone for something he/she has and you want it. Strife being that you are in pure unadulterated hate mode for no apparent reason. These two things are not good for you or on you. The closing of this text will depict to you why if you possess these things on you why you need to keep it real with yourself.

James closes this text by showing us the byproduct of when we do not keep it real with ourselves. He goes on to say, "there is confusion and every evil work". Ladies and gentlemen, if you were to keep it real with yourself and short circuit the "inner envy and strife" you may have, then you would kill the confusion and your work would not be evil. God loves you and I so much that He built us in His likeness and in His own image! When He built that image, He built it in mind that we would be honest with ourselves and not point the finger at our brother and sister! Many of our marriages end because of envy and strife! Many of our friendships end because of envy and strife! Many of our relationships end because of envy and strife! We cannot enter the throne of grace boldly because of envy and strife! But, I come to serve notice on the enemy today, that he is a liar! The truth is not in him! The people of God will walk in the fullness of being real! They will examine themselves even the more on a daily basis to make sure that evil and envy are not a part of their vocabulary! They are going to keep it real with themselves!

In closing, we use the phrase "keep it real" like it's going out of style. When you are a child of God, it's imperative to keep it real with yourself and make sure that envy nor strife is on you or a part of you. When you do that, then there is no confusion and the enemy cannot do you any harm! My prayer is that you not only keep it real with your family and friends, but keep it real with yourself!

"The Way You Should Love"

Scripture: "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deuteronomy 6:5

About a couple of weekends ago, two sisters from our church had a conversation. Throughout this conversation, the older sister was sharing her story with the younger sister about how God allowed her to make it through hard trials and tribulations and eventually, how God brought her husband into her life, and how they share a passionate love between one another. The younger sister pointed out to the elder sister how beautiful it is to see a couple love one another like the elder sister and her husband does. She goes on to say, "Now this is the example of love I wanted to see between two powerful people of God". One thing the elder sister told the younger sister is that God is in the forefront of the decisions made and because each of them reverences God, it makes the marriage and loving one another worthwhile and easy. Through the example of this couple, you recognize that this is the way you should love if you are married. If we think about this thing spiritually, how are we to love our Heavenly Father? How are we to reverence Him? Today's text provides insight on the way you should love your Father.

Our devotional journey today shifts us to the book of Deuteronomy. This book is the final book of the Law Books of the Old Testament. These books have been attributed to Moses as their author. Within this book, we find God re - iterating His laws to the Israelites once again. If you were to look up the definition of Deuteronomy, you would find out that it means "second law". Sometimes, God has to repeat things to you and I in order for that thing to seep down into our spirits. Sometimes, God has to send two people to make the same point in order for you to receive what He is saying. In any case, today's main scripture comes at a time where Moses is showing the Israelites and us the way we should love.

This point of the way we should love our God is emphasized when Moses said, "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God". Then, Moses gives specifics. First, Moses stated that we should love our Lord thy God with "all thine heart". Many of us have placed our hearts into many a person and because they are human and flesh, they have broken them. When you love God, He does not want you to love with 20% of your heart, not 50% of your heart, but with ALL of your heart.

Secondly, Moses told the people and us to love God with "all thy soul". In those days and even today, we find ourselves loving with all of our souls things that will soon fade away. We love with all our souls our homes, our children, our cars, our church buildings, our rings, our watches, our suits, our shoes, and the list goes on and on. However, loving those things with your soul is NOT the way you should love God. He wants you to love Him with all of your soul! If we think about it for one second, don't we own Him that kind of love?

Lastly, Moses told the Israelites and us that we ought to love God with "all thy might". Again, we have exerted so much energy into loving things like the things mentioned in the last paragraph. Heck, some of us put so much energy into everything else but God! However, God is calling you and I to love Him with all of our might! The way we love our spouses, we ought to love God 100 times harder! The way we love our children, we ought to love God that much more harder! The way we love our bank accounts, we ought to love God 200 times harder! The way we any person, place, or thing, we ought to love God HARDER and STRONGER than any of those things!

In closing, it's a beautiful thing to love and be loved. It's a beautiful thing to see great examples of love within your family, friends, and church. Ultimately, God wants to be loved much, much, much more than the love you share with family, friends, and things. I find instruction in the way we should love God from Moses. Let's continue to strive to give God the kind of love He deserves!

"I Can Depend on God"

Scripture: "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us ..." -1 John 4:16, NIV

As I have mentioned to the Devotional family in the past, I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and spent my pre-teen years, teenage years and most of my twenties as a member of the New Calvary Baptist Church. During the time of my pre-teen years, we had our Spiritual Choir that would sing on first Sundays. In conjunction with today's message, the Lord reminded me of a song the choir use to sing entitled "I Can Depend on God". The song had lyrics like this:

I can depend on God,
I can depend on God,
I can depend on God,
I can depend on God,

Through the storm,
Through the rain,
Through the sickness,
and the pain!

I can depend,
I can depend,
I can depend,
I can depend on God!

If truth were told, this song can serve as everyone's testimony. Truly, there was a circumstance or instance where man has failed you, but because you depended on God, He left you the umbrella to endure the rain. He provided you shelter during the storm! He provided you healing through the sickness! He provided you comfort for your pain! Within today's text, we find out another aspect of God we can depend on.

Today's focal book is 1 John. This was the first of three books written by John the Revelator, who also wrote the book of Revelation. Within this chapter, John focused on two central themes: the testing of spirits and God's love and ours. Within today's main scripture, it falls into the second theme dealing with God's love and ours.

Within the (a) clause of today's scripture, we find another aspect on how we can depend on God. The author writes "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us". This lets me know that not only do we depend on this love, we have an assurance of this love. It reminds me of the old hymn "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine, Oh what a foretaste of Glory Divine" and you know the rest. Ladies and gentlemen, though your mate/spouse may not love you the way you desire, you can depend and be assured about God's love! When your family members do not get your uniqueness, that's okay because you just depend and rest in the assurance of God's love! When your co-workers quite do not get you and what you are about, that's okay as well because there's a God who loves you and one He wants you to lean on and depend on. We love that this love from God is real because long before you and I were born, He sent His Son Jesus from Heaven to live amongst us in this terrible world, to take on sin, live thirty-three years, die on Calvary's cross, and rose again to give us victory over the enemy. I don't know about you, but because of a love like that, why not depend on God! Why not be assured knowing that He loves you and He cares? Why not rock in His arms when you feel alone? Why not lean on Him on an everyday basis? His love is real!

In closing, I am happy to know that there's a God I can depend on, not for getting me through sickness, pain, rain, and the storms, but I can depend on His love and know that His love for me is real and genuine! When you have a God like that, wouldn't that make you want to serve Him a little harder? Wouldn't that make you want to love your fellow man a little bit harder? Wouldn't bring about a change in your walk or talk?

"How Did You Make It?"

Scripture: "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." -Lamentations 3:22 & 23

As we look at our lives today, many of us know that if man had their way, we would not have many of the things we possess. We would not have the job making good money and being able to feed our families. We would not have the nice home where we can dwell in and have family and friends over. We would not have the vehicles we currently drive that gets us from Point A to Point B. We would not even possess the degrees that hang on our walls, thus creating opportunities and displaying our knowledge in a given field. On this Thursday morning, I am blessed to know that man does not have the final say! I am blessed to know that it's because of God that allowed us to live, breathe, and have our being. I am blessed to know that I have made it because of God and I know you're blessed because you know that you made it because of God! Today's text provides further fuel to this fire of understanding of how did you make it.

As I was riding on the Metro on today, the Lord directed my path to today's focus book. This book being the book of Lamentations. Lamentations literally means "funeral songs" and this book was written by the weeping prophet himself, Jeremiah. He was lamenting over how things went down in Judah because God's people were disobedient. If truth were told, we have all lamented about something we have done wrong within our lives, but I thank God that He is still good to us! Even within these "funeral songs", God has provided us some encouragement and some light on how we made it.

The text begins by saying, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not". Lord, have mercy! That should make you give Him praise! As I am writing, I can recall the mercy of God covering me while I was in school and I was messing up. I can recall the mercy of God when I made some blunders within my marriage. I can recall the mercy of God when I was struggling to pay bills. When I think about the mercy of God, it covered me and I did not go down in my mess! If each and every one of you could think about one thing you dealt with, you can have my testimony and say that God's mercy covered you! The thing that comes along with His mercy is His compassion. Because of His compassion, we were not consumed. Because of His compassion, that failed marriage/relationship did not consume you. Because of His compassion, that failed marketing plan for your business did not consume you. Because of His compassion, that failure in school did not consume you. It's His compassion and His mercy that allowed you to make it!

Lastly, Jeremiah allows us to understand something else about why you can make it. He says that "They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness". What's new every morning? God's mercy! Whatever sins you done on yesterday, His mercy has wiped your slate clean! Whatever sins you will have on today, His mercy will wipe your slate clean! Whatever sins you will have on tomorrow, His mercy will wipe your slate clean! In other words, as the song says, "If you first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again!" God is giving us a chance to try again everyday! The last portion of this verse is remarkable in its own right. It says, "Great is thy faithfulness". Where would be without a faithful God? Where would we be if God was not faithful to us? Where would be if God didn't show up in our situations? Where would we be if God didn't help us? I tell you where: on a road straight to Hell!

In closing, I am thankful today to know that it's because of God, His mercy, His compassion, and His faithfulness, that I have made it this far in life. I know each of you have the same testimony. When things start getting rough, remember that you have a compassionate, faithful, and merciful God who wants you all to Himself! He wants to continue to help you make it! God is not like man, though you mess up today, He wipes your slate clean and you can move on! How can you not praise a God like that?

"I Want to Be Taught"

Scripture: "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." -Psalms 143:10, NIV

As a little child from the ages of three to five, I learned how to ride different types of bikes. At three, I was rolling around my apartment in my red tricycle. Then, at age four, I was rolling outside on my Big Wheel (anyone my age remembers the Big Wheel … smile). At age five, I had a bigger journey and that's learning how to ride a real bike with two wheels. During this process, I obtained advice from my cousin Terry and when I would fall, he would dust me off and tell me what I should do the next time. After a good period of time has passed, I grasped the concepts that my cousin Terry gave me and I became a natural at riding my bike. If truth were told, we had to be taught some things in order to become good at it. Those things include cooking, driving, ironing, cleaning, and school courses. In the spiritual, we ought to have the same desire to be taught. We ought to have the desire to be taught by our Heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We ought to have the desire to be taught by those who have been there and done that and can give us the best of advice and not sugar coat anything to us. Today's text provides us with a great reason to be taught by our Heavenly Father.

Today's focal book is the book of Psalms. This particular psalm, Psalms 143, was written by David. Scholars conclude that this is a prayer given by David to God while David was being persecuted by King Saul. One thing that my research pointed out that we can learn from David is that though David prayed while he was in affliction, he did not pray the same repetitious prayer. He came to God with different and heartfelt prayers. This ought to encourage us, as men and women of God, to find ways to love on God differently while we pray. Do not just come to Him and ask Him for what you desire, but love on Him! Let Him know how much He means to you! Let Him know how awesome you think He is! Let Him know that there are none greater than Him! Then, get into the meat and potatoes of your prayer and the desires of your heart. Within this psalm, David wants to be taught by the Father, thus leading us into our main scripture.

David opens up today's text with what he wants to be taught. He says, "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God". Ladies and gentlemen, if we would ask God to teach us on how to do His will, we would avoid so many of the pitfalls one could encounter/have encountered in our lives. I could recall in my teenage years how many people asked me if I was a preacher and I would say no. I would hang around preachers and they would be like "You're next". After while, all of them were right. In May of 2005, I began to operate in my calling into the ministry and preached my initial sermon in March of 2006. Had I listened to God through His people sooner rather than later, who knows where I may be. It is important to get in tune with the Father so you can avoid the error I made. Though I'm walking in His will now, greater blessings could have came if I did it earlier. When you understand your call and will for your life from God, listen to Him, and see what moves need to be made. David wanted to be taught to do God's will because God was his God. If we think about it, remember when you were a child and your parents told you what they wanted you to do and when you did it, you made them proud. That's how God would be of you now. If you respect Him enough to be your God, your Father, and you would do what He asks you to do, then He would be pleased and blessings would come your way.

Lastly, David concludes the text by saying, "may your good Spirit lead me on level ground". Here, David is exhibiting his trust in God when he makes this statement. Then again, God never failed David throughout his life. God was there with David, all the time, despite the things David had done. In the same light, God has been with us throughout our lives, despite the things we have done right or wrong. When you asked God to teach you to do His will, you ought to want His Spirit to lead you on level ground. When you are led by the Spirit of God, He's going to keep you level and also, help you to make the wise decisions.

In closing, we have been taught so much throughout our lives. However, have you allowed God an opportunity to teach you? Have you allowed Him an opportunity to teach you about His will for your life? If not, I encourage you to tap into God, commune with Him, pray to Him, and seek what it is He wants you to do. When you do that, His Good Spirit will lead you and keep you on level ground.

"One Is Better Than the Other"

Scripture: "… To obey is better than sacrifice, …" -1 Samuel 15:22, NIV

Our everyday lives are filled with decisions and comparisons. What do I want to eat for breakfast? McDonald's or a local restaurant? Once I get to the restaurant or McDonald's, what do I want to eat? A sausage biscuit or hotcakes with sausage? When you are at home, you deal with the decision, What am I wearing for work on today? Polo with slacks or a suit? At the end of the day, we make these decisions because in our mind, one is better than the other. Today, for example, since I knew the high temperature would be in the 80's and sunny, I decided to wear a polo with slacks versus a full blown suit. Many of you make decisions on the basis of how you are feeling, what people would say, what you feel like eating, and other parameters. On the spiritual level, we too, must focus on the decisions we make. We must realize that some decisions are much better than other decisions. It's better for you to pray for an enemy versus cuss an enemy out. It's better to give God His 10% in tithes than spend it on a new suit or dress. It's better to bless the man of God than to curse him and say bad things about him. Within today's text, we will find another critical example of one thing being better than the other.

Our devotional journey today takes us to one of the books of History within the Old Testament, 1 Samuel. In this particular book, we learn about God allowing Israel to have a king like everyone else and yet letting them know that He will choose the king. We also learn about the development and growth of the prophet known as Samuel, the manchild birthed out of tears and prayers by Hannah. In today's text, we find Samuel in a rough spot. We find that the Lord has removed His hand off of the first king of Israel, Saul. Saul, within this chapter, was found to be disobedient to God and His will, thus bringing about this rejection from the Father. In this chapter, we find that Saul and Samuel are having dialogue and today's main text reveals to us the thoughts that were on Samuel's mind.

The thought that was ultimately on Samuel's mind that was conveyed to Saul was simply, "To obey is better than sacrifice". Brothers and sisters, when it comes down to your walk with God, God is more concerned about your obedience to Him than your sacrifice to Him. There have been many examples within the Bible that shows us obedience is the way to go! Look at Abraham, he left his native land to follow God and to become the father of many nations. Look at Joshua, he continued to follow the laws God gave Moses and now him and he led the Israelites into Canaan, the land that flows with milk and honey. Look at Jesus Christ Himself, He was the ultimate example of obedience and sacrifice, but He had to be obedient for His sacrifice to be appreciated and received. He left His lofty position in Heaven, on His "Heavenly Recliner", came through the Virgin Mary, to be the obedient one for 33 years and yet, provide us the example of living life and following the statutes of God. If you could for one split second, look back over your life and the things you have done in obeying God and in sacrificing to God. Which mechanism granted you the greater gain? I know that within my lifetime, truly my obedience to God has given me more than anything! If you answer this same question, you would say that your obedience has netted you more as well!

In closing, just as our everyday lives have decisions where one thing is better than another, God wants you and I to know that obedience is better than sacrifice. Don't get it twisted, the Father accepts sacrifices as well. He just do not accept any kind of sacrifice! My encouragement to you, my brother, and my sister is to focus on being more obedient to God than sacrificing! He'll greatly appreciate it and make it worth your while!

"You Just Can't Stop"

Scripture: "Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually." -1 Chronicles 16:11

On this past Friday in Springfield, Massachusetts, the man known as probably the greatest player to ever the sport of basketball, was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. This man, of course, was Michael Jordan. Throughout his seventeen year NBA career, Jordan amassed over 32,000 points, won six NBA Championships and was named Finals MVP six times. However, when Jordan won one championship, he did not sit on his butt and say I'll be alright until next season. During the summer, he worked out harder than he did the previous year, worked on his jump shot, worked on his free throws, worked on his overall game and other games. Ultimately, Jordan had a mentality that would not allow him to stop until he was recognized as a great player. Within the kingdom of God, we must have that same mentality. Just because God blessed you to preach an awesome sermon, you must continue to work harder and preach harder. Just because God blessed you to teach an awesome lesson, you must continue to work harder and teach harder. Just because you did an awesome job singing on the choir, you must continue to practice and sing. In other words, you just cannot stop and rest on your laurels! Today's text provides us another way in where we cannot stop.

Today's text is found in the book of 1 Chronicles. This book, along with 2 Chronicles, gives more details about the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah. Within this particular chapter, we find David has instructed the Levites or the ministers to place the Ark of the Covenant in a tent that he created for it. In those days, the Ark of the Covenant was symbolic of the presence of God. One thing that we know today is that we want to be where the presence of God is. Once the ark was placed in the tent, David and the ministers there "had church". They worshipped God, they prayed to Him, and they sang songs to Him as well. After the ministers praised, worshipped, and prayed to God, we find that David sung/wrote a psalm of thanks. Within this psalm, we find today's main scripture.

David begins today's main scripture with some worthwhile advice. He says, "Seek the Lord and His strength". As we continue along this journey of life, in order to make it and be successful, you must seek the Lord. You must take time to find out what exactly God has in mind for you and your life. You have to find out what things you must do in order to take care of yourself, your family, and your walk with God. You cannot do that unless you seek the Lord! Then, he said not only to seek God, but also seek His strength. I know that I have always been in the awe of the power of individuals who can bench press a lot of weight or sling boulders or pull diesel trucks, but that strength BAILS in comparison to the strength of God. There are times where you are weak and when you are weak, that's when He is strong. When He is strong, He can pick you up, dust you off, turn you around, and make things happen for you! When you are exhausted spiritually, seek His strength! When you are exhausted financially, seek His strength! When you are exhausted emotionally, seek His strength! When you are tired period, seek His strength!

The last piece of advice gave us was "seek His face continually". What a powerful thought! Ladies and gentlemen, the God we serve is not a I need you today, I holler at you next week kind of God. Our God is a God who loves you, gives you life, health, and strength. He loves you to the point where He allows you to be awoke every morning, closed in your right mind, gave you the ability of your limbs, allow you to drive to work and/or church, and do what you need to do! Many of us are guilty of getting what we want from God and then, just leaving Him alone! In order to stay on top and never have to worry about anything or anyone, you have to seek Him continually! In other words, seek Him every day, every hour, every week, and any other time! He's worthy of your time, He's worthy of your prayers, He's worthy of your love, He's worthy of your admiration, He's just worthy! When He's worthy, that means you cannot stop!!!! You cannot stop praising Him! You cannot stop worshipping Him! You cannot stop giving Him His tithes and offering! You cannot stop loving His people! You cannot stop praying to Him! You cannot stop seeking His face!

In closing, Jordan became a Hall of Famer because he did not quit after winning a championship. He worked harder and harder and harder that he would cement his legacy as a great player. As men and women of God, in order to cement your legacy in the eyes of God, you cannot stop seeking His face! I challenge you to allow this Word to sink into your heart on today that you can encourage yourself and others that YOU JUST CAN'T STOP!

"When God Breaks You"

Scripture: "I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark." -Job 16:12

There's a classic nursery rhyme we have all read or heard during this lifetime that is very appropriate for today's topic. The title of the nursery rhyme is Humpy Dumpy. The rhyme goes a little something like this:

Humpy Dumpy sat on a wall,
Humpy Dumpy had a great fall,
All the King's horses and all the King's men,
Could not put Humpy back together again.

As we see, Humpy Dumpy went through it. I have seen illustrations that showed Humpy Dumpy shaped like an egg. We all know once you break an egg, there's no putting the egg back together. On today, though Humpy could not be put back together again, we, as men and women of God, can! If we cut the grass down short enough, we all have been broken at one point or another. We all have suffered the hard trials and tribulations. The great thing is this: God still was with you and He was still with me! Because of that, we can give Him a praise for the things He has done! On the other hand, God loves us so much that there are times we need to be broken by Him! Today's text illustrates what happens when God breaks you.

Today, our focus has been shifted to the book of Job. This book is the first book of the Poetry books within the Old Testament. According to research, Job was written in prose. Nevertheless, this book gives us the account of the life of a man who was perfect, upright, blameless, and one who hated evil, Job. Job was a rich man in the land of Uz, had everything any man/woman could want. He had an awesome wife and beautiful children and because of his love for God, he sacrificed and prayed on behalf of his family. Men and women of God, we can take a lesson from Job, and continuously pray for our families and place them before the throne of grace. Because Job was so good at what he was doing in serving God, Satan wanted to see what Job was really about, thus asking God permission to tamper with him. Do you realize that the enemy had to obtain permission to mess with you? Do you realize that Satan is looking for anyone of us to play with and tinker with? In any case, God told him that he can mess with Job all he wants, but do not touch his soul! The enemy wants to do anything he can to get to your soul, but don't you know that God has your soul guarded on today? As the story goes, Job went from having it all to losing it all. Children died, storm took away his belongings, gruesome sores grew on his face, his wife told him to curse God and die, and his friends were blaming Job for his heartaches and blues. Because of these episodes, it provides a segue into our text on today.

At the beginning of the text, we find where Job was before God broke him. The text says that "I was at ease". There was a time and a season where I loved my hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina and there, I was at ease. Just because you are at ease does not mean you are supposed to be where God wants you! Just because you are at ease does not mean you are operating in the place God wants you to operate! One thing I realize about God is He does His best work outside of your comfort zone! You ought to take a good look at yourself and ask yourself, "Am I at ease?"

If the answer is yes, then the remainder of the text must occur within your life. Then, Job continues and says, "but He hath broken me asunder", i.e., He has broken me down! Ladies and gentlemen, when you are sitting high on your perch of life, God has to break you down and bring you down so He can get the best out of you! Let's be real here for a moment: If we had all the money in the world, would we ever call on God? If we had the perfect marriage and perfect spouse, would we ever call on God? If we had everything our heart desired, would we ever call on God? I have a real answer for that: NO! When you are too comfortable, God has to break you down!

We also find out that Job continues to discuss his breakdown from God. He tells us that "He hath also taken me by my neck and shaken me to pieces". Sometimes, when God breaks us down, we do not necessarily react the way He desires, so because of that, He takes us by the neck and shakes us to pieces. He wants to know from us, what's wrong with you? Do you feel what I am saying here? Do you understand what I am trying to do for you? God breaks you down so He can get your attention!

Lastly, when God is breaking you, Job lets us know that he had "set me up for His mark". When God is finished breaking you down, He wants to leave a mark! The mark might be leave those women alone! The mark might be leave those married men alone! The mark might be leave that alcohol alone! The mark might be shut up lying about people! The mark might be stop gossiping about people! The mark might be to pray a little harder! The mark might be to focus your attention on Jesus! At the end of the day, when you have been broken by God, there will be a mark. The bigger question is will this mark affect you and your walk with Him?
In closing, Humpy was broke but could never be placed back together again, but you, my brother, and my sister, can! Job was broken down! He was taken from his place of ease, but at the end of the day, God left His mark on Job. As we know, at the end of Job, Job did not curse God and die, and thus prayed for his friends, and God gave Job double for his trouble! Will you allow God to break you in order for you to receive double for your trouble?

"The Wrong That Made Us Right"

Scripture: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." -2 Corinithians 5:21

If you have a Big Mama or a Papa or a Nana or Pop within your family, you often hear them say things that make you scratch your head. These things tend to be phrases or cliches they received from their parents and grandparents. Today, the cliche of focus deals with the cliche "Two wrongs do not make a right". Many of us have found ourselves ready to get even at someone because of something they said or something they done to us or our family/friends. Within the Kingdom of God, God teaches us not to be vengeful for He said in Romans that "Vengenance is His". However, in today's text, we're presented with an instance where a wrong made us right.

Our devotional journeey today shifts us to the book of 2 Corinthians. This book was written by the awesome man of God, known as the Apostle Paul. This book was the second letter written to the church at Corinth with the intent of reassuring them that he loves them and would not do anything to hurt him. Within this particular chapter, the themes dealt with include our heavenly dwelling and the ministry of reconciliation. Today's main scripture falls into the theme of the ministry of reconciliation. God loved you and I so much that He reconciled us to Himself, but the big question is how? Let's examine how.

The beginning of the text says, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us". Isn't that a profound statement? Doesn't that statement make you want to shout right there? The first part of the text is what I would consider the "wrong". However, God, like us, have the mentality of what needs to be done needs to be done! Given how much sin that was in the world, God had to find a representative to take on our sin. He tried Abraham, but he didn't work! He tried Moses, but he didn't work! He tried David, but he didn't work! He tried Solomon, but he didn't work! He tried others, but none of them could work! Being the kind of God who loves us endlessly, He sacrificed the only thing He knew that was perfect and blameless - His Son, Jesus! Straight from Heaven came our Savior, flawless and all, lived life for 33 years, and died on Calvary's cross for your sin and my sin. Call me crazy, but how many of us would sacrifice our children or ourselves for others? I am thankful today that Jesus did it!

Given what I stated earlier that the sacrifice of Jesus was the "wrong", the wrong did something special for us. The text closes by saying, "so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God". Thanks to our Savior and His sacrifice of life, Him taking on our wrong made us right! It made us so right that we are now the righteousness of God! When you receive the bonus on your job, it's because you are the righteousness of God! When you are able to pay your bills and your money is tight, it's because you are the righteousness of God! When you are able to see your children blessed from your constant prayers and example, it's because you are the righteousness of God! When you were sick and He made you well, it's because you are the righteousness of God! When you received the house you had no business receiving, it's because you are the righteousness of God! Aren't you glad that you are right because Jesus took on your wrong! If so, you ought to praise Him where you are and tell Him Thank You!

In closing, though two wrongs do not make a right, Jesus was the "wrong" that made us right. He took on sin from all of us. He took it and went to Calvary's cross and died for us. Because of that, we are the righteousness of God! I encourage you, despite what it look like, remember that you are the righteousness of God and you ought to walk in it boldly!

"Please Be Careful"

Scripture: " ... Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." -Psalms 105:15

As children growing up, we often heard our parents tell us whenever we went on a field trip, riding our bike, playing on the swings, and other things one important phrase. That phrase was simply "Please be careful". They told us this because they did not want us to get hurt and therefore, have to get bandaged up or go to the hospital. If truth were told, many of us took heed and many of us did not take heed. I bet many of you have scars from an incident where you were not careful. In the Kingdom of God, this principle is just as valuable as well. We have to be careful when dealing with people because we may be entertaining angels unaware. We have to be careful dealing with people because they may carrying spirits that you do not need or desire. Today's text provides us yet another thing we must be careful about as followers of Jesus Christ.

Our focal book today is the longest book in the Bible, Psalms. Within this particular chapter, we find the writer praising the Lord for the things He has done and just encouraging the people to praise Him. Within this encouragement, we find some instruction as well. This instruction is what has led us to today's text.

The writer begins today's text by saying, "Touch not mine anointed". What God is telling you and me on today is to please be careful when it comes down to His anointed! In other words, when people want to talk about you, that comes with a price! Sometimes, the price is deadly and otherwise, the price often leaves one out in the cold. As men and women of God, we must have enough love one for the other that we are careful of the things we say and do. If truth were told, each and every one of you, are anointed by God, if you are washed in the blood of the Lamb. Because of this, people must revere that and in turn, we must respect that as well.

The writer gives us further instruction. The text is finalized when the writer says, "and do my prophets no harm". In other words, be careful about the things you say about God's prophets. Who are God's prophets? Those who have the gift of prophecy, your respective pastors, and others God have used to confirm things within your life. With this being said, God is telling you and I to do them no harm. You have to be VERY careful when you are talking about your man of God because He's God's man and your prophet. If you are saying disparaging things about him, God will hold you accountable. When we talk about someone who walks in the gift of prophecy and we say negative things about them, there's a price to pay and the price is whatever God deems necessary! I know for a fact that there have been friends of mine who have said wrong and disparaging things about God's prophets and God did some crucial things to them. Ladies and gentlemen, it's key to watch what you say when it comes to your fellow brother and sister and God's prophets!

In closing, our parents told us to be careful so that we would not get hurt. In the same light, the psalmist gave us the same advice so we would not get hurt when it comes to dealing with God's people. I encourage you to continuously love one another as Christ has loved you and to be careful and leery of the things you say about His people, because, just like you, they are anointed and some of them may even be God's prophets!

"You Better Come Correct"

Scripture: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." -Hebrews 4:16, NIV

Ladies, and even some of the gentlemen, have you ever known someone who wanted to date you and they came at you wrong? They may have came with bad breath, a bad hair day, scuffed up shoes, no job, more money in his teeth than his clothes, and other things. At the end of the day, you have been like if he/she would have done X, Y, and Z, then I may have made it work with him/her. Unfortunately, they did not and truly, it was their loss. Then again, ladies, you had a brother who was a smooth operator, knew how to hit the buttons you desire, make you feel good on the inside, and had you smiling from ear-to-ear. When the brother did that to you, then you said to yourself that "he came correct". In other words, he stepped to me like a real man supposed to. If truth were told, this same principle should be utilized in the Kingdom of God. Many of us have at one time or another, "got it twisted" thinking that God owes us something, when in all actuality, He owes us NOTHING! If we "check" ourselves and know who God is in our lives, then we will know to come correct with Him. He wants us to come correct in our giving, in our living, in our walk, and most definitely, in our talk! Today's text provides us another way that God wants you and I to come correct.

Today, our devotional journey has brought us back to the book of Hebrews. As we mentioned on last week, it is unknown who is the author of this book. We also find out that the writer dealt with faith, how one defines faith, those who exhibited faith, the greatness of Jesus Christ as our High Priest, and exhorted us and the Hebrews then to keep on moving and do bigger and better things for the Kingdom. Within this particular chapter, the writer deals with two major themes: a Sabbath rest for the people of God and Jesus being the great High Priest. Today's main scripture is found within the latter mentioned theme.

The beginning of this text gives us clarity on the way we should come correct. The text says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence". In other words, approaching the throne of grace is praying to the Almighty God. Ladies and gentlemen, when it comes to praying, I was told two things: If you are going to worry, do not pray and if you do pray, do not worry. In other words, you have to come correct with "confidence". You have to come correct with faith believing God will answer your prayer! You have to come correct knowing God will answer your prayer! You have to come correct recognizing that God is Lord over everything and anything in your life! You have to come correct knowing He is God and God all by Himself! When you pray, pray with confidence! Why it is important to come correct to God in prayer?

As I use to hear my pastor in Greensboro say, I am glad you asked. The writer gave us two reasons why we should come correct in prayer. He says "so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need". God is a God of mercy and when you come correct, He is ready to bless you with that! When you come correct, He has a way of making that bill be due later when the money is available. When you come correct, He has a way of granting you mercy when you know you have done wrong. When you come correct, He has a way of allowing people to bless you in your time of need. Not only does He give you mercy, He gives you mercy's tag team partner, grace. If you look up the definition of grace, it means "unmerited favor". Ladies and gentlemen, when God gives you grace, it's something you did not earn, but it was something He wanted you and I to have! Grace will soften your supervisor's heart when you have gone wrong. Grace will have your enemy eating out of your hand. Grace will allow you to step up and execute Kingdom business in a timely and efficient manner. Grace will teach you to be kind and merciful to others. Grace is love and love is God! Thank God for His grace!!! If you live this life long enough, you will stand in the need of help and if you come correct, God will give you the help you need!

In closing, most brothers can appreciate the way they "captured" their women because they came correct. In this same light, God desires us to come correct in prayer to Him. He does not want your sloppy seconds! He wants to hear you, feel you, and believe you have confidence in Him when you pray. If you exhibit that, He will give you grace and mercy in your time of need and even in your time of wanting for someone else! I pray that if you do not "come correct" in any aspect of your life, come correct in your prayers and your walk/talk with God!