Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Monday 02/22/10)

Today’s Devotional Written By A Young Woman God Is Growing Up By His Grace:
Tracy Koweh

Blood is Thicker than Water
I'm a Big Kid, Look What I Can Do

2 Corinthians 4:16 (Amplified Bible)
16Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

Today's message in the music comes from Brandy's song "You Don't Know Me." The chorus of the song says: “You, don't know me. You don't know me like you used to know baby.” This past weekend I was in South Carolina for my dad’s retirement ceremony and he was surrounded by family and friends. I was amazed at how different he carried himself, based on the people around him. When we would have one on one chit chat, I got to see the "softer side of sears" in him come out because he was in the presence of someone who didn't judge him or have an expectation of his past to live up to.. When he was around his sisters, he was more playful and youthful. His children brought out the protective side of him, and his "ride or die" bad boys club, brought out the cool boy wanting to fit in side.

I watched this dynamic unfold right before my eyes and my heart hurt. I recognized that inner battle of trying to be the person God called you to be, when everyone else is seeing you where you use to be. Family can be the greatest support system but they can also be the hardest to except what God is doing in your life. Some family members will try to lock you into your past from fear of you becoming great in the kingdom. Others will hold you back out of jealousy and lack of understanding the true power of God. Some will not want to see you delivered and set free because they will be left to deal with their own issues and insecurities. The statement that misery loves company is sadly so often found right at home in the family tree.

The thing I love about my God though, is that He will give you the strength to maintain your composure, the grace to keep your sanity, and the peace to have freedom in your deliverance. He will give you new eyes to see situations and people for who they are and their true intentions in your life. And for those individuals who have strongholds and yokes on you, He put you in a place to face them head on when you get spiritually ready. The preparation or encounter won't be easy, in fact it will be quite painful, but it will allow God to get the glory and it will give you the freedom in the spirit that you need to push forward. Sunday at church my bishop spoke from the topic, "No cross, No crown". The message helped me to understand that although this series of blogs have loosed and bound some things in the spirit, that right now this was my personal cross to bear. It has in no way been easy, but so worth it. The thing that has been the most painful is the exposure, and in the public eye, but Jesus was crucified right in front of those He would one day forgive, heal and set free.

Today don't allow the ignorance or blindness of your family, to hold you back. Don't allow fear or intimidation to stifle you. Trust in the God in you, and hold on to your victory. As we begin another work week, let our light so shine that ALL can see the change in us. Let us not be ashamed of the transformation God's grace has allowed us to go through. Mama may have, Papa may have, but God bless the child that’s got his own. Hold on to His growth, His gain, and His glory in Jesus name.