devotions

“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace” Psalms 37:37

It doesn’t matter how your story began, it will not end the same way. God has promised that everything will work together for your good because you love Him and are called according to his purpose (see Romans 8:28).

Your life may have began in darkness and destruction, but it will end in light and victory. It may have began in sin and shame, but it will end in beauty and glory. God specializes in turning things around as we keep walking with Him. You may not know how He will do it, but somewhere along the way, He will go to work in your heart, and in your life, and before you know it things have changed and shifted in your favor.

No matter how your story began or where it is right now, God has promised you a peaceful end that will bring Him glory!

Say out loud from your heart: “No matter how I started, God will bless my ending. My story will end blessed. My life will end blessed and victorious. God has the final say in my life. He is sovereign. I will go about my day today trusting in God to work everything out for my good. Things are changing and shifting in my favor. In Jesus’ name!”

(Read Jeremiah 29:11)

“Moses said, “Please show me your glory” Exodus 33:18, ESV.

While in prayer one day, the Lord began to talk to me by His Spirit. He said, you know plenty about my work in your heart, but I’m going to work through you and show you My glory.”

My sister, you may know plenty about the inner work of God that takes place in the process, in the struggle, and in the valley, but I prophesy to you right now by the Spirit of God that God is about to show you something more. He is about to show you another side of His nature–His glory. God has accomplished a great work in you, and now He’s about to accomplish a great work, of the same magnitude, through you.

It’s time, my sister. God is getting ready to take you places you’ve never gone, use you to the fullest extent, and will confound the wise and mighty all around you. Nothing has hindered His work within you and nothing will hinder His work through you. Just stay yielded. He’s taking you from faith to faith and from glory to glory until you enter into eternal glory with Him.

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness” Hebrews 3:7-8, ESV.

There are rich blessings that you only get to experience when you completely surrender to God. If you are on the fence, you won’t experience the full life He has for you. It’s not until you completely surrender everything to Him that He comes and fills your life completely.

More of Him will always cost all of you.

If you’re looking around at others who are receiving from the Lord, look closer, and you will see a completely surrendered life. There’s never a reason to envy another believer because you too have the power to surrender. It comes down to a decision only you can make. You can either remain where you are or completely dive into things of God with reckless abandonment. You can either stay on the fence, or you can take the leap of faith and see how God causes you to soar.

No more games. “No more!” God says, “Now is the time of salvation. Do not harden your hearts. Now is the day to give Me all of you and receive all of Me. Now is the time when you must choose who you will serve. If I am God, serve Me.”

Prayer: Father God, I give my life to you. My past, my present and my future. My heart, my mind, and my soul. I give you everything I have, and I receive all of you. All of your love, all of your grace, and all of your Spirit in me. Completely pour yourself into me, Lord, I come to you empty, and I’m determined to leave full. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Read Matthew 16:24-25)

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

When you gave your life to the Lord, He gave you a new mind and a new heart—a heart to love Him with and a heart to serve Him and worship Him with. He gave you His Spirit, His life and completely poured His love within you. If you could imagine the impossibility of emptying the vast ocean into a small thimble-sized cup without spilling a drop, that’s what God did for you through Jesus. In and of ourselves, nothing about us is pure. Nothing about us is holy. Nothing about us is right. But our Father, through Jesus, washed away all of our sin and shame, delivered us out of the kingdom of darkness and placed us in His kingdom. We are not the same. We’ve been made new and our hearts have been changed. Glory!

I believe when God tells us in Proverbs 4:23 to guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from it, He has the above scripture in mind. If God is after our hearts, so is the enemy. The devil’s primary pursuit is to turn our hearts away from God. But those who refuse, resist and reject his advances, his devices, and his ideas are called blessed of God. It’s time you learn to guard the pure heart God has given you. No matter how you feel and no matter how things look right now, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and you have the heart of Jesus.

I’ve seen a hurt and bitter friend choose to do the right thing even though she wanted to get even. I’ve seen an angry wife choose to forgive her husband because she loved God more than her right to be angry. It’s out of our pure love for God that we see His strength manifested in our weakest moments. That’s what God means when He says the pure in heart will see God! Because of your pure love for Him, you will see God’s goodness! You will see Him be glorified in your life! You will see Him turn things around for your good! You will see Him face to face on that glorious day! You will see God!

Say out loud from your heart: Father, thank you for the heart you’ve given me. Thank you for helping me guard it. I refuse, I resist, and I reject anything the devil tries to do to get my heart to turn away from you. No matter what my feelings are saying. No matter what my circumstance is saying. I love you and I will see your glory and your goodness in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Read 2 Samuel 22:27; Psalms 51:10)

“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son” Colossians 1:13, NLT.

“Just because you’ve never done something, doesn’t mean you never will, and just because you’ve always done something, doesn’t mean you always will. That Kingdom woman you desire to be, that Kingdom level you desire to operate on, that Kingdom that you desire to help advance, I put that desire in you, and it’s waiting for your discovery. All fear, doubt, and unbelief were learned from the experiences you’ve had here in this earthly realm, but that’s not who you are. You are My daughter, and your true identity is in Me. The real you is full of compassion, full of mercy, full of wisdom and affection for Me. Call on Me My beloved and precious daughter, call on Me, and I will surely answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you do not know. I will make you rich in experiences with Me. I will help you see who you are in Me, and who I Am in you. I delivered you from the power of darkness and have placed you in the Kingdom of My dear Son. No one can snatch you from My Hand. You are Mine, and I am yours. My answer to you is Yes. Yes, you are that Kingdom woman you desire to be in Me. Yes, you will operate on that Kingdom level. Yes, you will advance My Kingdom like you never thought possible. Before you were formed in your mother’s womb, I knew you and I called you. I will help you see your greatest potential. I say, Yes.”

(Scripture References: Jeremiah 33:3; Jeremiah 1:5)

“However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” Ephesians 5:33, ESV.

I come from a long history of women that are argumentative and combative. Women who are quick to speak their mind and make you feel like it’s either their way or the highway. They are sharp-tongued, and it doesn’t take much to set them off. But a lot of the women in my family are also divorced or had long relationships that ended badly. Every now and then, in my marriage, I see that same spirit try to rise up in me with my husband. Sometimes I’ve let it get the best of me, but thankfully, God has helped me learn His wisdom and learn His ways of doing things. 

My sister, here’s some wisdom… 

If your husband ever says he felt disrespected by something you said or did, listen to him. Don’t become defensive, and don’t give any excuses for your actions or reasons why. Don’t use it as an opportunity to say, “Well, I felt disrespected too when you…” Look him in the eyes with sincerity in your voice and say, “I understand that you feel disrespected by what I said. I understand you feel disrespected by what I did, and I apologize for disrespecting you,” and leave it there. 

As a woman of God, you have a decision to make every time your husband opens his heart to you. You can choose to be combative and fight with him, or you can listen to him and be understanding. You get to decide how you will respond. 

Prayer: Father God, forgive me for every time I’ve disrespected and dishonored the man you’ve placed in my life. Help me, Lord. Teach me how to be a loving and understanding wife, not a combative wife that has to get my way. Help me learn your wisdom and your way of doing things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Read James 1:19; Proverbs 31:11; Proverbs 14:1)

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” Philippians 3:13, NLT.

If people are happier and better off without you, be happy for them and go on with your life. Treasure each moment you shared with them as you embrace the bright future God has in store for you. It is time you gave yourself permission to live, to love and to be truly happy.

The Lord is going to help you stop looking back at your past. He is going to help you fix your eyes forward. Your best days are not behind you. Your best and most glorious days are in front of you. You have a bright future awaiting you and you will experience all God has in store.

Say out loud from your heart: “I give myself permission to live, to love and to be truly happy. No more looking back. I fix my eyes forward! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalms 119:133

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalms 37:23

“My daughter, my beautiful daughter whom I so love, I have called you by My name to a great place. I have taken you by the hand and I am escorting you to the place I have destined you to reach. You are not walking alone. I am with you, helping you, and teaching you along the way. That place you see only in your dreams. That place that is too wonderful for you to speak of with anyone. That place, that calling you have longed your entire life to see and realize. I am taking you to that place and have ordered your steps. It has been step-by-step for you. I’ve allowed nothing to happen by coincidence. Everything you have experienced was necessary. I will use all of it, and will waste nothing. I will be glorified in your life, and I will be glorified in your steps. Can’t you sense My hand holding your hand? Every now and then, I allow you to see a glimpse of your future. I only allow a small glimpse so that you will not focus too much on where you are headed, that you forget to live in this moment. Allow Me to teach you moment-by-moment and step-by-step. The glimpse of your future gives you hope, but My teaching and My Word gives you day-by-day grace.”

(Scripture reference: Jeremiah 29:11-13)

“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace” Psalms 37:37

Sometimes people misjudge others and think that their financial struggles are caused by poor financial management. Yes, that may be true in some cases. However, there are people in this world who are where they are financially because they simply do not have enough money to do what they need to do to get ahead in life. If they could pay down their debts they would, but every penny is needed to keep a roof over their head and food on the table to feed their children. They’re not materially poor because they’re irresponsible, ignorant or lazy; they lack opportunity, and if given the opportunity, you will watch them rise and go far.

I compare it to someone who has never played baseball, but they’ve been practicing their swing for years. All they need is a bat in their hand and they will knock the ball completely out of the park. God is going to give you that bat in your hand and that opportunity you’ve been waiting for, my sister. He’s going to give you the open door you’ve been praying for, and when He does, seize it! Show them that you’re not lazy, you’re not ignorant and you’re not irresponsible! You are the right woman for the job and you’ve been practicing your swing! You’re going to knock the ball out of the park!

People don’t know your situation, but they are about to see great manifestation of God’s glory in your life! Keep practicing your swing!

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.” Psalms 126:3

I sat down to spend a moment with God this morning. My Bible was opened to Psalms 126. As I read, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad,” the words seemed to jump off the page. I know anytime that happens, God is wanting to get my attention. The Lord began to speak to me, “Haven’t I done great things for you? Then, be glad.”

Not mad. Not sad. But glad.

I smiled because I felt God giving me permission to be happy about all of the breakthrough, all of the favor and all of the blessings He’s been manifesting in my life. He was telling me, Kesha, it’s ok to be glad about the great things I’ve done for you. Only He knows how I sometimes pretend like it’s not a big deal and how I play it down. But God keeps nudging me and letting me know; it’s ok to be glad.

My sister, I’m going to say the same to you that the Lord spoke to me. Has He done great things for you? Then, be glad. Not mad. Not sad. But glad. Give yourself permission to be over the moon happy about everything God has done in your life and is doing. God has brought you through the fire and through the flood. He has rescued you and placed you on a firm foundation in Him. He has caused you not to be the same woman you once were. He has transformed your life and is making all things new for you! That’s plenty of reason to be glad, my sister!

Prayer: Father God, thank you for touching my heart and helping me see your truth. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I choose to be glad. To sing and be merry. You have brought me through the fire and the flood. You have set me in a great place, and I am glad. I rebuke the enemy that tries to come against my joy. What you have done for me is a big deal, and I rejoice over it without fear. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Read Psalms 126)