Meet me on Damascus Road...

This morning when I sat down to write, I heard nothing, saw nothing…had NOTHING! I sat waiting and prayed again. Shortly, after that I started singing “Speak oh Speak” by the Brockmans. The lyrics simply say “Speak oh speak, Holy Spirit. Come and have your way. Speak oh Speak Holy Spirit. Here I am, I’m open.” Sometimes, we get so caught up in how we think God is going to move in our lives that we miss what He’s doing. God doesn’t need our permission or our plans on how to move in our lives, He just does what He does. We’ve been raised in a society that teaches us to speak our minds and take control of our own destiny. Some of us have our lives planned out through retirement and beyond. We’re comfortable with our ideas and have figured out our purpose and we’re running along with that.  But what happens when God throws a turnaround moment in there?

Do you remember the Damascus Road? Saul was comfortable in his role as persecutor. He thought his main purpose in life was to stop the spread of Christ’s message and he did all he could to fulfill that purpose. When we meet up with him in Acts 9, Saul is headed to Damascus to arrest any believers that he finds there and bring them to Jerusalem in chains. “As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (vs 3 – 6 NLT) Have you ever been moving along at your own pace and doing your own thing, when God stopped you in your tracks? It didn’t necessarily mean that you were a terrible person, but God had something else in mind for you. Are you ready for a turnaround?

“Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.  He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.” (vs. 8 & 9 NLT) Some of us have been walking in darkness for so long that our eyes have become accustomed to it. Jesus had to literally lay Saul out so that all he could focus on was Him. During those 3 days, Jesus was doing a restorative work on Saul. He was preparing Saul for his resurrection as a new creature. In the midst of this, Jesus sends Ananias to lay hands on him. I love this part of the story because it shows that no matter at what state you find yourself, Jesus loves you enough to send someone to see about you. Notice what Jesus says in verses 11 & 12. “The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”  Ananias did not want to go help Saul because he knew of the awful things that he had done but Jesus said “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.”  (v 15) Are you ready for a turnaround?

You see, even in your mess or circumstance, God has a plan for your life. You may not be able to understand why you’re stuck in a dead end job or why your children are not living out their lives the way you expected or even why your husband is out of order. Please know that God is not taken unawares.  He sees the greatness that you can’t recognize. Saul was converted from a murderer to immediately preaching the Gospel.  How much more do you think God can change you from lost to found, from sad to joyous, from burdened down to free? It’s time to let God do what He does. You don’t have to figure it out; you just have to let Him do it. Damascus Road is not just for sinners, it’s for anyone searching for that new start.  If you’re struggling to find your way, take a stroll down Damascus Road, Jesus Christ will meet you there and He’ll come with light that beats back your darkness.

Today, I speak light and life to your spirit! I encourage you to allow God to shift things in His time and lead you where He would have you to go! The final chorus of the Brockman’s song says “We say Yes, Holy Spirit! Come and have your way! We say Yes, Holy Spirit. Here I am…I’m open!” It may cost you something comfortable but it will change your life! Are you ready for your turnaround?

God bless…AMEN

Livin' on a Prayer

My husband was an MTV sponge growing up. Strangely enough, he probably knows every 80s rock song every released or parts of it. That was not quite my flow so imagine my surprise when I woke up to the chorus of Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer playing over and over in my head. I tried to get away from it for over an hour and even told a friend. Finally, I said 'maybe this is my Rhema.' So I looked up the lyrics and I said "Okay! I get it" The end of the song says "We've got to hold on ready or not. You live for the fight when it's all you've got. We're halfway there - livin' on a prayer"

The last few weeks, God has had me focusing on trusting Him at His Word even in the face of adversity and opposition. Sometimes it's all we can do to keep going when life keeps throwing us curve balls. But the key is to not give up. Some of you are  waiting on God to do something, anything in your life.  You've prayed, fasted,  gone to church regularly but seemingly the situations and circumstances in your life aren't changing. I believe God used the lyrics to this classic rock song to remind you that you're farther along than you think! Keep fighting and trusting that your prayers have been heard.  

Remember Hannah? If anyone had to stand on prayer and keep fighting through attacks, it was her.  "But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite." (1 Sam. 1:7 MSG) I read this verse over and over again in different translations and the thing that kept standing out to me was the phrase "every time". Even though Peninnah tortured her year after year, she kept going. She stayed in God's face regardless of what the enemy did to try and stop her. It doesn't say that it was easy on her.  She had no appetite, she cried bitterly but she kept on going. You see, even if you get some battle wounds or have some setbacks, when the bell rings get back in there. The devil is crafty and he looks for weaknesses and plays on them BUT God has the victory all wrapped up. 

 "As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”  “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” (1 Sam 1: 13-17 NLT)  Imagine if Hannah had  given up. Imagine that she decided the fight was too hard and walked away from her desire to have a son. Think about this! Hannah was right at the edge of her breakthrough when that priest confronted her. She was almost there and didn't know it but she fought back and walked out with a blessing! 

So...the question is this. Are you prepared to fight for what God has promised you? Is that healed relationship, new husband, permanent peace of mind important enough to hold on to? It is! I don't care what the enemy has told you and you shouldn't either. He'll keep coming but he will not win. I encourage you to live on that prayer that you have been standing on. You're almost there! Waiting on a phone call...almost here! Knock on the door...almost here! Promotion...almost here! You are right at the edge of breakthrough...don't give up prematurely.

So, I'm calling on my inner rock star to encourage you and sing loudly : "Whooooah, We're halfway there...Livin' on a prayer! Take my hand and we'll make it I swear...Livin' on a prayer!"

God bless and AMEN!

Bye Bye, devil...

“I just don’t understand why this is happening to me. I’m a good person!” Have you ever found yourself saying that to yourself or someone else? Most of us have. It’s hard to see those that are doing whatever they want prosper while you are fasting and praying and struggling. Or even worse, you are really chasing after God and giving Him your best, and the enemy goes for the jugular with his attacks.  How do you maintain yourself? Well, God has really been dealing with me lately about recognizing the attack for what it is so that I know how to react. You see, the devil loves a mind game! If he can get you to respond to one of his tricks, that’s a feather in his cap. Today, I want to remind you that there is a battle plan for your attack and victory in your praise!

In Psalm 18, we find our old friend David praising God after He delivered him from Saul. The whole psalm is a testimony to what the Lord can do when you’re in the midst of an attack. “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.  He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.  They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.  He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”(Psa. 18:16-19 NIV) You don’t have to fight these attacks on your own.  Earlier in the chapter in verse 6, David says, “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, in His ears.”  So there’s our first step! Call on God! Don’t let the enemy keep you silent and suffering. That’s what he wants. But oh no, devil! You cry out to God and He will answer.  There is no attack or enemy that is too strong for God to handle.  Don’t make the attack out to be bigger than God. Trust Him enough to ask for His help.

When I came out of prayer this morning, the chorus of Hallelujah was playing in my mind. I sang it a few times through but it kept playing. I was kind of ready to move on when it hit me. Step two - Praise!!  It’s the response to the attack!  When the enemy attacks, he expects you, and truth be told, WANTS you to give in to your flesh. He wants you to get mad, get bitter, and get even. Isn’t that the world’s way? Isn’t that what some of your friends will tell you to do? But will their solution give you victory over the hurt or peace in your emotions?  No, it’s a temporary high but we’re seeking the permanent healing that only God can give. Praise can get you there! When you praise God in the midst of your trial or attack, you send shockwaves through hell because that’s not the response they are looking for. I know what you’re saying…I really don’t feel like praising, Ebony. I just want to sleep until it goes away or I’ll give God what I’m comfortable with – a clap here, a tear there. But there is power in your praise! There is victory in your shout! There is joy in your dance! Do not let the devil keep you bound up in silence. How do you know your praise won’t break something in someone else? Try it! When you feel that praise bubbling up inside, let it loose!

Let me tell you something, the devil is already defeated! He has an expected end and it’s in a pit in hell. He can’t win unless you let him. God is not going to leave you to fight alone! Get up! It’s time for the next step - fight! “To the faithful You show Yourself faithful; to those with integrity You show integrity.  To the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the wicked You show Yourself hostile.  You rescue the humble, but You humiliate the proud.  You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.  In Your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.” (Ps 18: 25-29 NLT) You have the power of the most High God behind you! Remember that “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6: 12 NLT) You can’t fight spiritual attacks with worldly weapons!

 Fight with your prayers! Fight with your praise! Fight with your power and authority! It’s not really even a step. It’s your way of survival. When you let the devil take you under and give up, he wins. Don’t lay down your weapons. You know what I mean? Don’t stop reading your Word. Don’t stop giving God praise for the victory. Don’t stop seeking His face. Sometimes it’s really hard. I freely admit that. When the attacks won’t stop coming and you get tired, keep praising! Hebrews 13:15 says “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (NKJV) Why is that scripture relevant?  A sacrifice is a loss or something you give up, usually for the sake of a better cause. (www.vocabulary.com) What better cause is there than overcoming an attack of the enemy!  Give God the praise even when you don’t feel like it. I guarantee you will feel a shift!


I declare now in the atmosphere that you will win! Come on! Join me in giving God the highest praise for the victory in your life! Even if you can't see it yet - expect it, wait for it, celebrate it! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! "Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered! Let those also who hate Him flee before Him!" (Psalm 68:1)

Bye bye, devil! AMEN

 

 

The Perfect Love...

I used to read and collect romance novels. I loved them and the conflict of love and drama that they had. The best part would be that argument or event that caused the couple to break up towards the end and what would lead them back to each other.  I couldn’t stand the books where the reconciliation  was too easy or unrealistic. What does this have to do anything, right? It’s really pretty simple, actually. People in those books were always looking for a perfect love that withstood every trial or problem they faced but one or the other of the characters always ended up compromising something to be what the other wanted. Aren’t you glad that God isn’t like that? He is the perfect love and nothing can separate us from Him.

I’ve shared before how much I love Romans 8. It has one of my most called upon scriptures in Romans 8:28 that has gotten me through so much. But today God sent me further down in the chapter. Just like the characters of romance novels, many of us are looking for perfection in life and love. We want everything to go according to plan and we don’t like it when things go off course. Sometimes, it’s hard to admit that we are the ones that usually cause our own problems. But regardless, God never promised us an easy way. As a matter of fact, look at what Jesus had to endure for our victory. Jesus said himself, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) Unfortunately you don’t get a pass on the hard things of life. But no matter what you do or have done to you, Paul tells us that there is one thing you can be sure of.  “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 38-39 NKJV)

I have heard that scripture all of my life but the older I get and the more I experience the more it means to me. No matter what the enemy puts in my way. No matter what I put in my own way, God will still love me. I want you to really put that in your spirit. Okay, so that man cheated on you, that supervisor treats you unfairly, that doctor put a time limit on your life. If God be for you, who can be against you?! Sometimes we make the pain and hurt so much our friend that we get lost in it. The enemy wants you to believe that you are unlovable and that your past sins are enough to keep you from getting the things you want or need. But the word of God says “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” (Rom. 8: 35-37 NLT)

So, maybe you are in the fight scene of this particular chapter of your life. Let the fact that God is a perfect lover comfort you and take you onto the next chapter. He won’t play games with your mind nor will he leave you to pick up the pieces alone. He is a faithful and ever present God. The problem is we usually leave Him before the part where He puts you back together again. We go looking for our own solutions and often times go backwards and end up repeating  parts of our story that we should have left in chapter 1.

The New King James Version of Romans 8:37 says “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” That means that no matter what you are facing or have faced, you have the victory because He loves you! I will take that statement over a whole book of what the world has to offer. You have the victory over that cancer! You have the victory over that struggling marriage! You have the victory over that mounting debt! You’ll be hard pressed to find where God says He deals with some of your issues. The Bible says ,”Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them  ALL! (Psalm 34:19 NASB) That’s love, y’all!  So if you are looking for a perfect love that will never fail, try my God! He can do anything BUT fail!

Peace and blessings…AMEN