DistinctlyBlessed

Inheritance

1/3/2021

As I sat in my room intentionally seeking a word from God to share with my listeners for 2021, I came across a scripture in Lamentations 3:24 NLT that said “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’” When I read the scripture, the word inheritance immediately resonated with my spirit. I reached out to ask a few people what came to mind when they heard the word inheritance, and they responded; “money, a financial blessing, traits from a family member passed down, property, legacy, trusts, etc”.

Inheritance as many of us may know it across the world is material possessions that are passed down to someone else that an individual leaves once they die. According to CNN Money, the New York Times, and so many other resources, there are billions of dollars in unclaimed assets across the world. Federal agencies have reported up to 58 billion dollars worth of bank accounts, insurance policies, pension benefits, and other abandoned holdings that have simply been forgotten.

The more I reflected on the word inheritance, the more it made sense to me. This month, I believe that God wants to remind every listener that you have an inheritance and in 2021 you need to claim it and walk in it. To those of you who may be wondering, Delana, what inheritance are you referring to and how do I proceed to claim it immediately? I want to set the record straight, there’s a scripture in the bible that says “Life is not about having a lot of material possessions” (Luke 12:15 GW). You see, the type of inheritance that I’m referring to is not about land, money, and material possessions.

I am referring to your spiritual inheritance. Ephesians 1:3 ESV says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” So because we are in Christ, the bible tells us that we’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:11 NLT goes on to say “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to His plan.” This means that as believers in Jesus Christ, we are privileged to receive a spiritual inheritance from God that is greater than any sort of material inheritance we could ever receive. Our spiritual inheritance can never perish, spoil or fade because this inheritance is kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4 NIV). Not recognizing or claiming our spiritual inheritance is like a person living paycheck-to-paycheck struggling who has already inherited trillions of dollars that their father left them. They never have to financially struggle again in life if they simply step up to claim their inheritance.

This month I want to reveal to you and remind you of a few of the things that are in our inheritance. In our inheritance lies the everlasting love of Christ. In our inheritance lies salvation and freedom through God’s one and only son Jesus. In our inheritance lies God’s wisdom (Proverbs 2:6 NIV). In our inheritance lies direction (Psalm 32:8 GW). In our inheritance lies protection (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV). In our inheritance lies promises rooted in the word. In our inheritance lies access to power that enables us to slay giants and crush fierce lions and serpents under our feet (Psalms 91:13 NLT). In our inheritance lies unmerited favor (Ephesians 2:8 NIV). In our inheritance lies dominion and authority. In our inheritance lies our salt and light for the world (Matthew 5:13-14 NIV).

We have been lavished with the richness of a divine inheritance that our Father has left us. A promise sealed for the life of His believers, and all we have to do is claim it. Our eternal prosperity, advantage, and benefits are connected to our inheritance. If you desire to have life more abundantly this year, in 2021 walk in your Godly inheritance.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the grace you’ve given us to see a new year. Thank you for the opportunity to be in your presence today Lord. Thank you for your endless love. Thank you for being the author and the finisher. Thank you for predestining us with access to a spiritual inheritance that will endure through time. God I pray that as we walk in our spiritual inheritance that we leave spiritual legacies behind that will take root in the hearts, and minds of our families, friends, loved ones, and those you have assigned us to encounter throughout our lives. Lord, you alone are our inheritance, our cup of blessing. You guard all that is ours (Psalm 16:5 NLT), and you supply all our needs according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). Thank you for being our rich inheritance Father. Search the depths of our minds and begin to refine every area that you desire to be divinely aligned with you so that we may always be able to recognize and comprehend the benefits of our spiritual inheritance. Let this be the day that you strip away our scarce living habits of our past so that we claim our spiritual inheritance and may boldly walk in it throughout 2021. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

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Tests

12/6/2020

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A while ago I had a dream that I accidentally let my baby niece’s head slip out of my hands while I was bathing her in the tub. I thought I drowned her because she would not open her eyes as I tried to resuscitate her. In a panic, I remember waking up from the dream before knowing what happened, and needless to say I walked around horrified at the thought of giving my baby niece a bath for the next few weeks. After speaking with a friend about the dream while we were studying the word together, I came to the realization that the dream had so much more meaning to it. It wasn’t meant to make me fearful about actually drowning my niece in the tub, but it was a prophecy.

I believe that this month God wanted me to let every reader know that your birthing season is on the horizon. What you are about to birth is going to be so big and elaborate that people who you’d least expect will begin to take notice of you and what you have birthed. Due to the massive size of what God is about to birth through you, you have to be careful to not allow your baby to slip or fall out of your hands. This season, I believe God wants you to be wise in understanding how to operate once He allows you to give birth so you may continuously be blessed and not have to worry about trying to revive your baby later.

In a sermon I once heard a pastor preach, he explained tests thoroughly: “A test is designed to prove the retention of information and a test often comes at the conclusion of a body of information that’s necessary for you to graduate to another level. For those who are being tested, we are being tested because we are being dressed for a level that we cannot see yet.” While many of you have thought that this pandemic has simply been an unexpected difficult season that we’ve all had to endure, there’s been a plethora of information and revelation that God has provided each one of us with during this season that we are meant to retain.

There are going to be 3 areas that you will be tested in after you give birth:

Your speech - You will have a responsibility to monitor what you say and how you say it.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6 NIV).

Your conduct - You will have to have refined behavior that reflects God’s grace.

“...Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires” (Ephesians 4:22 ESV).

Your relationship with God - You must never forget that your power and strength lies within God, therefore; prayer and the word of God is essential.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV).

It is going to be important for you to remember that every test you will face is meant to help you protect what God is about to allow you to birth and to “dress you for another level that you cannot see yet”. Consider this blog a reminder of the “retention of information” that God expects you to collect during this season and know in order to pass your tests.

When I turned to my bible to find a way to connect this message from God to His word, I was directed to 1 Kings 10:1-10 NIV. A story about the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon after hearing about his fame.
1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. 6 She said to the king, ‘The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.’ 10 And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

Just as the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon and test him (see 1 Kings 10:1 NIV) after God allowed him to give birth to something massive (see 1 Kings 10:4-5 NIV), during your birthing season there will be people and things of this world who come to test you. Like Solomon, you must know how to properly respond and conduct yourself when you are tested (1 Kings 10:3 NIV). Remember that your tests are designed to protect what you have birthed and to keep elevating you to higher levels that you cannot foresee yet. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12 ESV). When you pass your tests, it will be the very things and people who tested you, that will bless and expose you to new dimensions of favor that go beyond your imagination (see 1 Kings 10:9-10 NIV). This month, get ready for your tests because you cannot afford to let what God allows you to birth, slip from your hands.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You are incredible. You are matchless. You are merciful. You are faithful. You are wonderful. We glorify and honor your Holy name today because you are worthy to be praised. It is an honor to be blessed with standing in another December and we are thankful. Thank you for providing for us. Thank you for covering and protecting us. Thank you for keeping us. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for never deserting us. Thank you for our trials which have helped build character and strengthen us. Thank you for the things you do that we never see. We love you. We adore you. We reverence you. We honor you. We place no one and nothing above you. We worship you. We trust you. We depend on you. We have faith in you. You are our Jehovah Jireh (provider). You are our father. You are the one who always makes a way. You are our savior. You are our healer. You are our miracle worker. You are our King. You are ruler over everything. We give you praise God! Hallelujah! We exalt your mighty name God! Hallelujah! We shout glory God! Hallelujah!

We humbly bow before you asking that you purify us from the inside out Lord. Forgive us for our past sins and bless us with a renewed mind, heart and spirit. Provide us with an abundance of wisdom, grace and direction. Take control of what we say Lord and keep guard over our lips (Psalm 141:3 NLT). Filter out any derogatory speech or conduct that does not align with who you have called us to be. As we are tested throughout this year, ensure that our thoughts, behaviors and hearts have been thoroughly examined so that we may reflect you (Psalm 26:2 NIV). Provide us with strength to withstand the battles that we will encounter throughout the year and ignite an everlasting fire within us to always seek a genuine relationship with you.

We thank you in advance for the opportunity to birth our hearts desires, visions, and dreams this year and pray that you wrap your full armor of protection around us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Scriptures to Feed Yourself & Reflect On:
Colossians 4:6 NIV
Ephesians 4:22 ESV
John 15:5 NIV
1 Kings 10:1-10 NIV
James 1:12 ESV
Psalm 141:3 NLT
Psalm 26:2 NIV

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Freedom

11/1/2020

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This month, I had every intention of recording an older blog that I had written and posted a while ago, but when I woke up this morning, God instructed me to speak about freedom. As I slightly panicked because I did not have anything prepared or prerecorded to speak on freedom about, God reassured me that He would lead and guide me so that the message He wanted today’s listeners to hear would be delivered clearly. You are so special to God that this month, He simply wanted to take the time to remind you of the gift of freedom that He has already given you. In the bible, there’s a story in Acts chapter 16 verses 16-28 NIV about Paul and Silas being in prison:

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

Paul had the freedom of choice, and after being followed around for days by the woman who predicted the future and becoming annoyed, he chose to command the spirit out of her by delivering her from fortune telling. That choice resulted in Paul and Silas both being beaten and thrown into prison. It was hard for Paul to walk around and hear the voice of the woman who could predict futures shouting daily with what Paul knew was an evil spirit but I bet it was hard for Paul and Silas to both be severely beaten with rods and thrown into prison with their feet bound too. Paul and Silas had the freedom to choose their response to being thrown into prison. They could have chosen to complain, yet with their feet bound, when midnight struck, they chose to pray and sing hymns to God. Paul and Silas had the freedom to choose their influence over the other prisoner’s when the prison doors flew open, and every prisoner's chains came loose. They could have chosen to encourage rebellion amongst the prisoners by killing the jailer or escaping but when the jailer woke up, they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the other prisoners in his house saving the jailer’s life (Acts 16:32 NIV).

I once heard a bishop preaching say, “I know life is hard, but here is the wonderful privilege that we all have, the freedom to choose our hard. Marriage is hard, but divorce is hard too. Getting up early every day to go to work and tend to your own business is hard, but being broke is hard too. Staying healthy and taking care of our bodies is hard, but being sick is hard too. Being studious is hard, but being dumb is hard too. Being good looking is hard but being ugly is hard too. Living for Jesus is hard, but the consequences of not living for Jesus is hard too.” God blessed you with freedom, so you have the power to choose your hard.

God sent me here today to remind you that you have been blessed with the gift of freedom. The freedom to choose your hard, the freedom to choose how you use your voice, the freedom to choose your thoughts, the freedom to choose your response, the freedom to choose your influence, the freedom to choose surrendering to God over the world. I believe that God wants you to know that there’s opportunity in freedom, there’s power in freedom, there’s growth in freedom, and there’s transformation in freedom. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. This month, stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1 NIV). You have freedom, so carefully decide on how you choose to use it throughout the month of November.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We honor you for being our King. Thank you for blessing us with your word which provides an overflow of wisdom, instruction, foresight, and understanding. Thank you for freedom God. Freedom through your one and only son Jesus Christ. This month we pray that you continue to give us strength to be able to recognize our freedom no matter where we are or what we may face. You have blessed us with the freedom of choice. You have blessed us with the freedom to pray for ourselves and others. You have blessed us with the freedom to be light in the midst of darkness. You have blessed us with the freedom to choose our hard. You have blessed us with the freedom to use our voices. You have blessed us with the freedom to learn. You have blessed us with the freedom to love. You have blessed us with the freedom to serve. You have blessed us with the freedom to totally surrender to you. You have blessed us with the freedom to have a relationship with you. Let us walk through the month of November always knowing that we have freedom. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Scriptures to Feed Yourself & Reflect On:
Acts 16:16-40 NIV (the story of Paul and Silas in prison)
Galatians 5:1 NIV

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Autumn Rain

10/4/2020

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As I sat in my room asking God what message He wanted me to deliver this month, He led me to go through my notes on my phone. Somehow I came across this note I created back in November 2019 and it had 2 numerical bullet points. Under the first bullet point was a scripture from Joel that I immediately felt led to go find in the bible and read. When I opened my bible to the scripture it read:

23 Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. 24 The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil. 25 The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. 26 Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced (Joel 2:23-26 NLT).

As soon as I read this passage I knew that this was connected to the message that God wanted me to share with you this month because in early September, God had just brought before me Joel 2:24 NLT to remind me that it was a promise he gave me to stand on for the rest of the year. I turned to God and asked him, what is the message from the scriptures that you just shared with me and the words Autumn rain came to my mind.

This season I believe that God is going to open the floodgates of heaven and let Autumn rain flood your life. This means that He is about to make all things new for you and that the old will have to be washed away to receive the restoration and revival that is on the horizon. The Autumn rain throughout this season is going to be an undeniable demonstration of God’s love and unwavering faithfulness to you. To anyone who has fallen into exhaustion this year as you watched everything you worked for or thought you knew begin to shrivel away due to this pandemic, to anyone who has faced ravaged days caused by the economic downturn which resulted in loss of homes, lives, jobs, mental health, etc. God sent me to let you know that the Autumn rain is coming and when it arrives, blessings will overflow and He will give you back everything you thought you lost, and some. Not only will your needs be met but Ephesians 3:20 blessings will fall because He is going to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that you ask or think according to His power at work in you (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).

The Autumn rain is coming this season, and there is no time for foolery if you desire to drink waters from the rain of heaven (Deuteronomy 11:11 NKJV). Here are a few things that you need to be doing throughout this season of your life:

Seek & Remain Desperate For JESUS
This looks different for everyone but you know the nature of your relationship with God. Challenge yourself to take your relationship to the next level. That may mean spending more time in your word and reflecting on what you read. It may mean praying more about your situations and actually releasing them into the hands of God rather than trying to take matters into your own hands. It could also mean standing on the word of God as your anchor. One of the ways that I personally stand on the word of God is by constantly speaking it back over my life. When I read the word and there is a scripture that I come across that resonates with my spirit, I write it down on a post-it note and tape it to my bedroom wall or to my bathroom mirror and when I walk by those areas in my house I speak the promises that God made to me back over my life. Whatever taking your relationship to the next level may look like for you, be intentional about remaining desperate for Jesus, and always seeking first His kingdom throughout your life in all that you do. In Isaiah chapter 44 verse 3, the New King James Version of the bible tells us that God will pour water on those who are thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; He will pour His Spirit on their descendants, and His blessing on their offspring.

Love & Serve GOD Wholeheartedly
Love is not just this intense feeling of deep affection for someone but love is also an action, which is why God sent His one and only son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us. Loving God should not be solely tied to you saying you believe in God or you love God, but it should be connected to your daily decisions and choices to actually live for God out of the love that you have for Him. This season, don’t just say you love God in word but show your love for Him through your actions. In first John chapter 3 verse 18, the bible tells us to not merely just say we love, but show our love in truth by our actions (1 John 3:18 NLT).

Lastly, serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord, not people (Ephesians 6:7 NIV). I know that many individuals are in a place where things look completely different right now due to the unprecedented times that we are all facing. I need you to also recognize the opportunity that lies in unprecedented times for you to get up, get out, and serve wholeheartedly. Deuteronomy chapter 11 verses 13-15 in the New International Version bible says, “13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We come before you in the name of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. With gratitude, we acknowledge you for your goodness and lift up your holy name. Thank you for blessing us with a new season. We repent, coming before you to ask that you forgive us for our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. LORD your word tells us to ask and it will be given to us; seek and we shall find; knock and the door will be opened to us (Matthew 7:7 NIV) so in the last quarter of this year we earnestly come before you declaring supernatural Autumn rains to fall. With the same power that Elijah had when he prayed for rain, we ask that you shower us with your unconditional love, gently touching the depths of our souls. We are thirsty for your living waters and desire to see a fresh downpour of restoration throughout this season. Rain on us Lord, rain around us LORD, open up the floodgates of heaven sending down your Holy presence. Let your rain awaken truth, prosperity, power, love, joy, hope, anointing, divine order, indescribable peace, miraculous favor and blessings that exceed our expectations, and more. We ask that you release abundant showers oh God and refresh your weary inheritance (Psalm 68:9 NIV). Let everything that shriveled away during parched days be reestablished even greater. We give you praise Lord, total praise in advance, for what shall and is to come. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.

Scriptures to Feed Yourself & Reflect On:
Joel 2:23-26 NLT
Ephesians 3:20 NKJV
Deuteronomy 11:11 NKJV (the term “drink waters from the rain of heaven”)
Isaiah 44:3 NKJV
1 John 3:18 NLT
Ephesians 6:7 NIV
Deuteronomy 11:13-15 NIV
Matthew 7:7 NIV
Psalm 68:9 NIV

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Threshing Wheat In Our Winepress

9/6/2020

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About a week ago, people from around the world grappled with the loss of a phenomenal American actor by the name of Chadwick Boseman. Over the years, Boseman played leading roles in popular films like: Black Panther, Marshall, 21 Bridges, Get On Up, 42, etc. Boseman was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016 and battled with it over the years as it progressed to stage 4. While Boseman went through countless surgeries and chemotherapy treatments behind closed doors, he produced some of his most remarkable work for the world to see through film. One of the things that I admired about Boseman was that he did not publicize or complain about his illness, he kept it known only amongst a few close people and private from the rest of the world as he kept moving in purpose and creating a legacy.

There is something about the way that Boseman navigated throughout the world that reminded me of divinity but I couldn’t quite put my finger on why or how until last Sunday when I read my bible. I came across the story of Gideon in Judges and although I had read about Gideon before, there was something that stuck out to me and resonated with my spirit like never before, Judges 6:11-12 NIV. It reads, “11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

To those of you who may be unfamiliar with what threshing wheat is, it’s the removal or separating of the good parts of the wheat from the outer shell known as the chaff. The process of threshing wheat can be done in multiple ways but one of the more difficult ways to thresh wheat is by a person taking a stalk of wheat in their hands and beating it on the floor. Threshing wheat is typically done in a large area on what is called a threshing floor which provides an open concrete or hard surface to be able to beat the wheat on. Once the wheat is successfully removed from the chaff the person would toss the beaten wheat into the air so that the wind could blow away the lighter chaff. If Gideon would have threshed his wheat on a threshing floor which would have been a more ideal situation, he would have been an easy target for the Midanites to come and ruin his crops since they were invading his land at the time.

Although Gideon was unable to thresh wheat on a threshing floor, similar to Boseman, he made an executive decision to thresh wheat in a winepress. A winepress was a small pit hidden from the view of others that would not be suspected as a place to find someone’s crops, it represents an unfavorable condition that makes it more difficult for a person to produce. As we have now entered into the month of September and we’re coming up on the Labor Day Holiday tomorrow, I believe that God wants you to thresh wheat in your winepress this month. That means that this month you have to stop publicizing everything and keep certain things private while you build, create, or prepare to give birth to something new. It means that you have to figure out how to keep propelling through unideal circumstances to produce and walk in purpose. Threshing wheat in your winepress means that you have to overcome the limitations of what your situation may present before you. Ecclesiastes 11:4 AMP reads, “He who watches the wind [waiting for all conditions to be perfect] will not sow [seed], and he who looks at the clouds will not reap [a harvest]”. God wants you to reap for the rest of this year but you cannot reap what you do not sow so you have to put, in, work.

Gideon and Chadwick Boseman didn’t wait for the perfect conditions to put in work and sow, they subdued their situations by taking action during a time that others would have deemed as an undesirable moment to move. Gideon didn’t have the opportunity to thresh wheat in the right place at the right time, but he refused to let his circumstances hold him back from producing. Instead, he privately threshed wheat in a winepress, a small pit that made it that much more difficult to thresh wheat yet it provided the seclusion he needed to secure protection and generate goods. From 2016 up until his death in 2020, Boseman didn’t act in films with perfect health, but instead with colon cancer, he persevered and acted in some of the most well known films. When God calls us to do something, He does not wait for our worldly standards to align with His will. Instead, He shows up on his time, choosing who many people in the world would deem as an unlikely person to be chosen, wanting us to navigate on His terms so that He may perform a great work. This month more than ever, we have got to thresh wheat in our winepress.

We've got to thresh wheat in our winepress because like Chadwick Boseman we have to refuse to let our circumstances or the circumstances of this world define us. We've got to thresh wheat in our winepress because certain things are meant to be kept private while we’re creating for protection purposes. We've got to thresh wheat in our winepress because God has blessed us with unmerited favor in order to be able to thresh just so we can pour for others. In case you didn’t listen to the message that GOD gave at the beginning of this year, HE told us that we are the blueprint and that is a reminder that we've got to thresh wheat in our winepress because we’re the chosen ones that have been charged with the responsibility to keep threshing when no one else can or will. We've got to thresh wheat in our winepress because deep down within, we know that GOD will always win

We've got to thresh wheat in our winepress. That means we've got to choose to keep honoring God. We've got to choose to let go and keep it moving. We've got to choose to always trust God’s promises. We've got to choose to hold our tongues when we want to complain. We've got to choose to put in the work. We've got to choose to go the extra mile. We've got to choose to not just talk about it but be about it. We've got to choose to be in this world but not of this world. We've got to choose to make the right decision when the wrong one feels so enticing. We've got to choose when to properly filter out the noises in this world that could be detrimental to our purpose. We've got to choose to look past our worldly view in order to adopt a heavenly mindset. We've got to choose to keep chasing after JESUS when there are some days we may not feel like even getting up out of the bed. We’ve got to choose to keep producing content to encourage and inspire individuals when it feels like things are stagnant or there is a lack of reach. We've got to thresh wheat in our winepress because we recognize that in the threshing GOD is with us and as long as we keep threshing, the harvest is plentiful.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We magnify your glorious name today. Hallelujah to our King, who has blessed us with another month and covered us all throughout the year thus far. Thank you for being a mighty shield of protection, a provider, a keeper, a way maker, and a great steward over our lives. This month we come before you praying for the power to thresh wheat in our winepress throughout the month of September. Help us to stay focused and put in work this month while blessing us with the discernment to know what unfavorable circumstances need to be kept private during this season so that we may build, create, and give birth to the things you have designed us to produce successfully. Bless us with the wisdom that Elizabeth had in Luke 1:24 NIV when she became pregnant with John the Baptist and for five months remained in seclusion. Bless us with the wisdom to know when to ask for more wisdom like Solomon in 1 Kings 3:7 NIV. Continue to guide us throughout this month LORD so that we may excel and overcome the limitations of our situations. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Scriptures to Feed Yourself & Reflect On:
Judges 6:1-12 NIV
Ecclesiastes 11:4 AMP
Luke 1:24 NIV
1 Kings 3:7 NIV

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The Plight Reveals HIS Light

8/2/2020

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In 1 Kings 17:1-7 the Lord instructs Elijah to go east, drink from a brook, and eat what the ravens bring because He has instructed them to bring Elijah food. Elijah obeys the Lord by doing what the Lord had instructed him to do, but after a while, the brook dried up and there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. How many of you have experienced your brook running dry? A place in your life where you felt like you have hit rock-bottom.

I want every listener who is currently in that place, to know that I too, have been there. After walking away from a job that God revealed would not be a good fit for me, months went by without me having a job. One day, I remember casually standing up from the couch with one of my family members, walking to the bathroom and closing the door. The bathroom was the only place where I had complete privacy. I sat down on the floor to finish reading the email about another job rejection and I couldn't help but begin to weep. After being rejected from over 100 jobs, this particular rejection hit home hard. It made me feel as though I was so parched that exhaustion began to latch on to me like a leech depleting me of my faith and energy at the same time. My savings had been depleted, I knew that the money from my link card wouldn’t last always and that it would soon come to a swift end, my uncomfortable living situation made my plight of life feel so top-heavy that for the first time in my life, I was literally stuck to the floor. I tried to get up, brushing this rejection off but I couldn’t move. It was as if my body had reached this state of complete paralyzation.

As the tears profusely rushed down my cheeks, I remember asking God why something like this would be happening to me so unexpectedly. I felt like I had done my best to follow God’s instructions but I couldn’t wrap my mind around why he would leave me feeling so deserted in the middle of a battle. I was momentarily convinced that God had completely forgotten about me and that the weight of life had finally caught up to me just to reveal it.

This month, I believe that God wants everyone reading this blog to know that even when the brook runs dry, He has a plan that has already been set in motion for you. Whether you have lost a loved one, lost a job, lost your home, experienced turmoil in your relationships, experienced financial hardships, or just straight up been having a hard-knock-life, know that the plight reveals God’s light.

As the story of Elijah continues to unfold, the bible tells us that the word of the Lord came to Ellijah saying, 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

There was something about Elijah’s ability to endure and push past his dry brook that revealed God’s light and showed him a new way. In the same way, there was something down on the inside of me that had to push past my feelings in that moment as I sat on the floor that revealed God’s light. The day I got up from that bathroom floor was the day that I decided to change my response to my situation. It’s the day that I surrendered everything over to God. My pain, my worry, my plans, my finances, my heart, my mind, etc. This month, be intentional about the way in which you respond to your dry brook. Allow God to constantly transform and renew you by changing the way you think so that you will learn to know His will for you which is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2 NLT).

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We want to take a moment to say thank you in the middle of this pandemic. Thank you for making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, thank you for always having a divine plan set in motion for us, even when we cannot see it. This month, instead of getting stuck in what things may look like, we pray that you help us to filter our eye gates so that we may walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV). We pray for your gentle encouragement, abundant provision, and your apprehensible words of confirmation. Help us to release our situations into your hands so that we may dream big, think big, pray big, expect big, and believe big no matter what our reality may be. May we navigate through this month understanding that the plight reveals your light which means that there is always fresh fruit, clear direction and indomitable protection, even in my dry brook. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Scriptures to Feed Yourself & Reflect On:
1 Kings 17:1-16 NIV
Romans 12:2 NLT
2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

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Invaluable

7/5/2020

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This past week I was blessed with the opportunity to speak with one of my mentors. As they poured into me sharing wisdom about navigating in Corporate America, they shared a story that deeply resonated with me. The story was about a man and a watch.

One day, a man on a beach found this unique old watch buried in the sand and he had never seen anything like it before. He knew, simply by looking at the watch, that it was priceless. The man immediately took the watch to a jeweler to have it appraised. After the jeweler looked at the watch he told the man “you know, you got sand in the watch, and the watch is not working anymore. I took a look at the watch and I don’t think I can fix the watch either so the watch really isn’t worth anything”. The man took the same watch over to a pawn shop and the pawn shop told him “I can’t give you anything for this watch, it’s completely worthless and it seems like what that person told you over at the jewelry shop was right”. The man took the same watch over to a museum and the museum gave the man a half a million dollars for the watch.

After sharing this story, my mentor explained to me, “you have to find the place that sees your value. The jeweler may not see your value, the person at the pawn shop may not see your value, but the person at the museum will realize how much of a classic watch you are and the tremendous value that you represent even without you working or functioning at your full potential. There is a place for you that represents and will respect your value. Don’t forget that.”

This month, I believe that God wants everyone reading this blog to know that you are invaluable. Being invaluable means that you’re far beyond an appraised value defined by man because your worth to God is inestimable. Your performance, position, status, class, popularity, influence, accomplishments, gains, losses, failures, or mistakes have no power to change your self worth. Your self worth and value stems from God and God alone.

You are God’s prized possession (James 1:18 NLT), the apple of his eye (Zechariah 2:8 NIV). The Lord has declared that you are his own special treasure” (Deuteronomy 26:18 NLT). In the bible there’s a parable that Jesus tells about the hidden treasure and the pearl in Matthew 13:44-46 NLT: “44 The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. 45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

You are the classic watch, the treasure and the choice pearls. God, like the museum, like the man who discovered the hidden treasure in the field and like the man who discovered choice pearls knows your worth. That’s why Jesus paid the ultimate price for you and I by laying down his life for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8 NIV, Titus 3:4-5 NIV). You are so valuable to God, that you’re beyond calculable for the bible itself to have an exact number to define your worth but instead it tells us that we were bought with a high price (1 Corinthians 6:20 NLT). There is even a part of the bible that talks about five sparrows being sold for two pennies and how not one of them is forgotten before God. The bible goes on and tells us that even the hairs of our head are all numbered and we are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:6-7 ESV).

This month, it is important that you never underestimate your value because even when you’re at the bottom of the barrel, at the back of the line, unsought by others, hidden in the field, buried in the sand, underperforming, not functioning at your greatest potential, or go unnoticed and overlooked, your value still remains. God paid a high price for you because you are of great value, so do not be enslaved by the world and how it tries to define worth by placing emphasis on things that are worthless (1 Corinthians 7:23 NLT).

As we have officially entered into the second half of 2020, navigate throughout the last semester of this year knowing that you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). You are a citizen of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives (Philippians 3:20 NLT), which means that everywhere you go, the kingdom of heaven will always be connected to you. You are the prize, you are the favor, you are the increase, you are the upgrade, you are the enhancer, you’re priceless. You are invaluable.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your everlasting love, mercy, kindness and grace. The depths of your unconditional love bring us joy, gratitude, and honor. We give honor to a Father who loves us so much that He would send His one and only son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. You loved us in our own pollution, and you still love us today in our mess. You fight for us, you provide for us, you make ways for us, you save us creating rescue right in the nick of time. It is you who constantly blesses us with chance, after chance, after chance, after chance. You are exceptional, in every way that our minds can fathom. Glory to your matchless name God! We lift you up and magnify you for being blemish free, royal and supreme yet still finding a way to deem us as invaluable. Us, your clay, that you constantly have to mold with your hands (Isaiah 64:8 NIV), us, your treasure and prized possession that you constantly have to refine in the fire extracting impurities. Lord we thank you for blessing us with so much self worth and value though we are so undeserving. As we navigate throughout the second half of this year, never allow anything of this world or of a demonic nature to swindle us into thinking that our value can depreciate. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Scriptures to Feed Yourself & Reflect On:
James 1:18 NLT
Zechariah 2:8 NIV
Deuteronomy 26:18 NLT
Matthew 13:44-46 NLT
Romans 5:8 NIV
Titus 3:4-5 NIV
1 Corinthians 6:20 NLT
Luke 12:6-7 ESV
1 Corinthians 7:23 NLT
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Philippians 3:20 NLT
Isaiah 64:8 NIV

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When Alarmed

6/7/2020

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As I spoke to a good friend of mine yesterday on the phone, she asked me what my plans were for the weekend. I let her know that I had intentions on writing the DistinctlyBlessed blog and recording the podcast. I confessed that for the first time since I’ve been writing the DistinctlyBlessed blogs from back in 2014, I did not know what to say to encourage readers and listeners for the month due to everything going on in the world. I was concerned about saying the wrong things out of my flesh that God may not want me to say, and finding a way to truly encourage a group of individuals during a time where my personal feelings and emotions have constantly fluctuated. After opening up and sharing this with my friend, she shared some encouraging words with me and sent me the link to a song by Will Regan and United Pursuit called “Not in a Hurry”.

As I began listening to the song and resting in the nearness of God I prayed. I asked God to open my ears so I could hear Him speak more clearly and open my eyes so that I could see from His perspective. I told God that I could not deliver a message this month without Him literally telling me what to say. When I picked up my bible and began reading, God led me to a story in the bible in 2 Chronicles chapter 20 NIV about a king by the name of Jehoshaphat.

In this particular story in the bible, the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites come together and decide to wage war on king Jehoshaphat. A few men go to Jehoshaphat to let him know that a vast army is coming against him and is already on the way. “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3 NIV). The people from every town in Judah all came together to seek help from the Lord.

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ 10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.

Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he stood up in the assembly.

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” 18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

Early the next morning, they left and as they set out on their journey, Jehoshaphat stood and said,

20 “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” 22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with praise. 29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

This month, I believe that God wants to remind everyone who reads this message that when alarmed, like king Jehoshaphat, it is always God who you should seek for guidance and instruction before making a decision to act. By calling together an entire community to fast, pray, and seek the Lord for help, Jehoshaphat received a word of instruction directly from God through Jehaziel to know how to take action moving forward. Once instruction was received and Jehoshaphat decided to follow the directions of God, Judah and the people of Jerusalem never have to actually face the vast army because the Lord sets out ambushes on their behalf to defeat their enemies. Their only assignment was to show up, take their positions, stand firm through singing and praising the Lord, and watch the Lord conquer their enemies for them. As an added bonus to their no-sweat victory, Jehoshaphat and all the men of Judah and Jerusalem were able to take an abundance of valuable loot that they found amongst all of their dead enemies without having to steal, kill or do anything illegal. To every reader, as you set off into the month of June, when alarmed by the veil that has been pulled back to expose masqueraded ugly truths throughout this world, God wants you to remember that the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord's (2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV). Standing on that word, seek God for guidance, specific instruction, and help this month so that there is clarity in how to take your position and stand firm in all that you do.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You are a God of wonders. You’re a miracle worker. You’re a God who has the power to go before us and level mountains while breaking down gates and shattering doors in the face of our enemies (Isaiah 45:2 NIV). Thank you for your almighty power. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your everlasting love that can never be replaced. You are good, you are kind, you are holy, you are supreme, you are faithful to perform, you are ruler and King. We give your glory, we give you honor, and we give you praise today Lord. You’re our hero, you’re our champion, you’re our great defender, you’re our protector, you’re our safe haven, you’re our provider, you’re our friend. You are loyal and true. Thank you for being God. Thank you for being a part of our lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you God! We come before you surrendering our flesh, surrendering our way, and surrendering our will. With fluctuating emotions and feelings at an all time high, we release them into your hands God and we ask for peace and rest on every side (2 Chronicles 20:30 NIV). Peace and rest in our hearts. Peace and rest in our spirits. Peace and rest in our minds. Peace and rest in our bodies. May peace and rest fall sending a fresh wind God. As we set out into the month of June we seek your wisdom, we seek your guidance, we seek your direction, we seek help, we seek your protection, we seek your strength where we are weak, we seek prosperity, we seek undefeat, we seek feasts to be prepared in the face of our enemies (Psalm 23:5 NLT), we seek you Lord, in all that we do, in all that we speak, in all that we see, in all that we hear. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Scriptures to Feed Yourself & Reflect On:
2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NIV (Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon)
Isaiah 45:2 NIV
Psalm 23:5 NLT

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A Puzzled Thought

5/3/2020

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I thought I would be walking across the stage this month receiving my degree after tirelessly putting in years of hard work but instead, we have a virtual graduation. I thought we were finally going to be tying the knot and getting married this summer but now, we have to push back our wedding date. I thought this quarantine would be over by now so I could reunite with my community but now, I have to wait another month. I thought my job was secure but my company just furloughed and released employees. I thought I would be exploring a new part of the world this year but I had to cancel my trip and reschedule everything. I thought that certain people in my life would check in on me more during a time like this but instead, I have not heard from them. These are all puzzling thoughts that have crossed thousands of people’s minds across the world over the last few months as we’ve faced what many are calling, a global pandemic.

This month, I believe that God wanted me to share with every reader, the importance in letting go of our puzzled thoughts. Puzzled thoughts are these ideas or perceptions in our mind of the way we desire for things to go in our life. When things don’t go the way we desire, we begin to feel a sense of frustration and confusion because we can’t understand or make sense out of why something did not work out the way we thought it would. In the bible, there is a man by the name of Naaman who was the commander of an army that belonged to the king of Aram. 2 Kings 5:1 NIV describes Naaman as “a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

A young girl from Israel served Naaman’s wife and after witnessing Naaman’s disease, one day she said to her “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:2-3 NIV).” After hearing the young girl’s words, Naaman immediately went to the king of Aram and told him what the young girl said. The king encouraged Naaman to go and even wrote a letter to the king of Israel for Naaman to take with him. As Naaman left, he took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing (2 Kings 5:4-5 NIV). The letter that Naaman took to the king of Israel read:

6 “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!” 8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage. 13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel (2 Kings 5:6-15 NIV).

Naaman’s puzzled thought almost kept him from being healed. After Elisha’s messenger told Naaman to go wash himself seven times in the Jordan, Naaman got angry because he thought that Elisha would come out to him and call on the name of the Lord his God, waving his hand over the spot and cure him of his leprosy. When things did not go the way that Naaman thought they would, he began to feel a sense of anger and confusion because he couldn’t understand or make sense out of why Elisha didn’t cure him the way he thought he should. It wasn't until Naaman’s servants came to him and spoke encouraging words of wisdom that he let go of his puzzled thought and obeyed the instructions that the man of God gave him.

This month, God wants you to release every puzzled thought. Not because puzzled thoughts are a sin but because puzzled thoughts often arise when we try to make practical sense out of something supernatural that God is trying to do in our lives. I need you to trust in God with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5 NIV) because what God has in store for you will not make common sense. When it comes down to it, those puzzled thoughts are nothing more than misunderstandings on what God is truly trying to do for you in the moment. Trust in God at all times (Psalm 62:8 NIV) throughout the month of May because he knows the plans that he has for you in store (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). That means it’s okay to not always understand or be able to make perfect sense out of why something in your life did not happen the way you thought it should happen. It’s not okay, to allow your puzzled thought to deter you from God’s instruction or keep you bound in a fixed frame of mind that limits God from blessing you. The Lord knows the thoughts of man and that they are futile (Psalm 94:11 NKJV) because his thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways his ways (Isaiah 55:8 NIV).

To every individual that thought they would be walking across a stage this month to receive their degree, to the couples that thought they would finally be tying the knot and getting married this summer, to those of you who thought quarantine would be over by now, to the people who thought their jobs were secure, to those who thought they would be traveling exploring a new part of the world this year, to those of you who thought that certain people in your life would be checking in on you during this time, I want to let each one of you know that God has you exactly where he wants you to be in your life. Don’t stay stuck in a puzzled thought trying to wrap your mind around why something didn’t happen the way you thought it should, or become discouraged over your current circumstances. Instead, shift your mind to a new perspective that enables you to know that even when you don’t understand, because God rerouted your plan, there’s a miraculous breakthrough ahead.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We love you and we honor you for blessing us with another month. As we begin to navigate throughout this new season, we ask that you cleanse and purify us from the inside out. We know that it is your glorious power that makes us strong, and because of your kindness, our strength increases daily (Psalm 89:17 CEV). Thank you for strength Lord, thank you that you’re in control and that your plans for us are always good. This month, we surrender our limited way of thinking into your hands and submit to your will. Help us to remember that even when something doesn’t make sense, your rerouted plan in our life is always better. Moving forward, let every puzzled thought be released in our lives as an indicator of your greater blessing and opportunity that lies ahead for us. Lord we trust in you forever knowing that you are an everlasting rock (Isaiah 26:4 NIV). In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Scriptures to Feed Yourself & Reflect On:
2 Kings 5:1-19 NIV
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Psalm 62:8 NIV
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Psalm 94:11 NKJV
Isaiah 55:8 NIV

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Shake The Devil Off

4/5/2020

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As I was washing my dishes one night after dinner, this song that I used to sing in church when I was younger suddenly came rushing to my mind. It was called Shake The Devil Off. It went like this, “Shake shake shake, shake the devil off….shake shake shake, shake the devil off….shake shake shake, shake the devil off….in the name of Jesus shake the devil off.” As I stood at my kitchen sink I found myself continuously singing this song. It was as though the Holy Spirit dwelling within me dug this song up out of my childhood and was encouraging me. When I realized that there was no way I could have remembered this song on my own, I sat down on my couch and began contemplating on what “shake the devil off” meant. Honestly speaking, I never truly understood the song when I sang it as a child. The more I began thinking about the phrase “shake the devil off”, the more I began to clearly hear God’s voice.

This month, God placed it on my heart to let every reader and listener know that He has already given you the power you need to shake the devil off. To those of you who may still be wondering like I was on my couch the night that this song came rushing to my mind, God wanted me to let you know that “shake the devil off” is His reminder to you of your ability to always walk in authority. It is God’s way of letting you know that you have already been fully equipped with exactly what you need to overcome anything you may face.

In the bible, there is a story in Matthew 4:1-11 NIV that talks about how Jesus is tested by satan in the wilderness:

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

So how did Jesus “shake the devil off” or walk in authority when He was tested? By speaking the word of God in the face of the enemy. The bible tells us that the word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword, and has the power to pierce through everything (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). This means that God’s word that He has blessed us with through the bible, gives us complete power and control over any situation that we are faced with. Isaiah 55:11 NKJV says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” In other words, when God’s word is released, it will always produce fruit and accomplish exactly what God said it would do. When we begin to speak God’s word over our situation His angels begin to go to work on our behalf performing His word in our life and obeying it (Psalms 103:20 NASB). What I love about God is that God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. He has never spoken and failed to act and He has never made a promise and not carried it through (Numbers 23:19 NLT) so when we speak His word it has to come to pass.

In the same way that Jesus shook the devil off and walked in authority, God is calling you to tap into the power that He has already given you and shake the devil off through every trial and tribulation that you may come up against. God did not create you to walk in fear, God did not create you to mope around in pity, God did not create you to complain about what you can’t do or what you’re going through, God did not create you to possess a spirit of depression or uncertainty. No! The bible tells us to submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7 NIV). This means that the devil should be running from you in terror, not the other way around. You are more than a conqueror and God created you to be victorious in overcoming any and every situation you may come across. So in the name of Jesus, shake the devil off this month by walking in authority through prayer and with the word of God.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your powerful, unfailing, and fruitful word. You never cease to amaze us with the depths of your unconditional love for us. Your goodness overflows daily pouring out patience, kindness, faithfulness and so much more. We give you glory for being all that you are. We give you glory for introducing us to your eternal love. We give you glory for the fact that our life is in your hands. We give you glory for creating us to be all that you’ve called us to be. We love you, we honor you, and we adore you. This month, we desire to know you on a more intimate and deeper level than we’ve ever known you before GOD, so begin to break down any walls or barriers that we’ve built. Eradicate anything in our lives that would hinder us from being connected to you. Father we pray that this message transforms our thought process to reignite the power that you have placed within us. Give us a hunger and thirst for your word like never before stirring up our authority to stand on your word in complete confidence and walk in victory in every area of our lives. For we are confident that you hear us whenever we ask for anything that pleases you, and since we know you hear us when we make our requests, we also know that you will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15 NLT). So Father, we rebuke passivity, timidness, fear, self-pity, hopelessness, depression and uncertainty in the mighty name of Jesus. We decree and declare that moving forward we will not give the devil a foothold in our lives (Ephesians 4:27 NIV). We speak life, we speak health, we speak wealth, we speak love, we speak joy, we speak focus, we speak peace, we speak new opportunities into existence right now God. Where one door is shut we declare that plenty of more will be open. We veto every plot of the enemy across the land during this season and we declare rapid healing, we declare greater unity, we declare a spirit of giving, we declare divine opportunities to expose others to you, we declare light in darkness, we declare that we will maximize our time, potential and ability to create. We declare that in this season, we will shake the devil off by boldly walking in the authority that you have blessed us with God. We will operate in dominion over every situation we may encounter. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Scriptures to Feed Yourself & Reflect On:
Matthew 4:1-11 NIV
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Isaiah 55:11 NKJV
Numbers 23:19 NLT
Psalms 103:20 NASB
James 4:7 NIV
1 John 5:14-15 NLT
Ephesians 4:27 NIV

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