The Good Work of Faith

 Great Day Reader! 

Today, while reading my Bible plan in the Bible app, a scripture that I have heard several times in multiple translations stuck out to me.  

"Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works". James 2:26 NLT 

The part that stuck out the most was, "faith is dead without good works." So, many people think the work of faith is an action of productivity, and this may be due to the word work. As humans, we see work as a productivity,  measurable action that is calculated by time,  talent,  and in this case, obedience. Yet, the revelation I got this more is not the work Daddy is talking about.  The word work (Holy Spirit insight) means to pause and make capacity for interruptions.  In other words, Daddy is calling us to do something that's outside our routine, checklist, or even scope of practice.  He is calling us to do the most uncomfortable thing so the prayers of others may be answered. 

When was the last time you heard someone you love call you in the middle of your busyness, and you took the time not only to listen, but provide the solution without them asking? This is your faith at work. It's being ok the inconvenience interruption from the Father to restore or establish someone else's faith. 

Prayer: Daddy, help us make room for faith work during our busyness. May we not see the moment of a pause and interruption as an inconvenience, but as a moment for your light to shine through us.  May we never forget that the true work of faith is found in your interruptions and our obedience. 

In Jesus' Name. AMEN 

2025 is Among Us!!!

 Dear Readers,

You hear me say it every year... "I am going to do better". Well, I have too many accountability partners to fail this year!

If you are new to this blog, welcome! If you are a faithful reader, thank you for being with me through the journey. Disclaimer, this is an imperfect blog. Yep, I have grammatical errors, properly misspelled words, and some thoughts that may seem unGODly. But what's the trend..."WE Listen (read) and DON'T Judge"! (LOL)

Ok, now that the preliminaries are out way let's talk about this year of 2025. So, I want to first say that this is going to be a year of "mind your business and drink your water". If you didn't know, now you do. This is a year of true focus not from a selfish standpoint, but one from where is GOD calling you. I think a lot of times we are minding our business, without action, without purpose, and without listening. We find ourselves so caught up in what we should be doing based on our own will that we forget about the will of GOD. Been there and done that so many times, I should be tired, but unfortunately, I find myself going back into the cycle.

 This year we will learn. We will take from the years past and apply the lessons, not the responses. We will do the uncomfortable things, with boldness, with grace, with joy, sometimes with tears in our eyes, and hesitation in our hearts. We will do the obedient things, trusting the plan and process of GOD. I am calling this year, the year of #outthebox. We will not do what we feel like we should be doing, or what fits the agenda of who we see ourselves to be. We will do things that make us grow with frustration, yet it births patience and peace. We will sow seeds of faith in the midst of doubt. We will meditate on joy in the midst of grief. I know these all sound like contradictions, but they aren't. They are moments of training and reality. The reality is you will have doubt when you don't know the outcome of the situation. You will grieve the feeling of no and rejection while finding joy in getting a bigger blessing. I mean who wants to let go of something that makes them feel good, to gain access to something they barely know if it will work. 2025 is about to be the year of "GOD you said you would, so I will too." Listen, and read this out loud, IT WILL WORK if I COMPLETE MY PART. 

You praying to GOD to do something when maybe GOD is waiting on you to move something, do something, sit somewhere, and be still. "Faith without works", is not about the action of faith, it's about the obedience of your stillness sometimes. You think the work is action when the work could be surrender. As a matter of fact, the work is ALWAYS the action of surrender. GOD can't get you what you need and ask for if you are filled and full of what you want, and won't let go of it. You asking for healing when GOD needs your action of forgiveness. You can't ask for wealth when you not sowing something... Maybe you are not at the place where your faith will allow you to sow 10%, but sowing something is better than sowing nothing. Let's move beyond that maybe you struggle to say no, so GOD can trust you with his yes. The list can go on and on, but the point is you have to let GO of something to gain access to what you want to possess. 

In 2025 do me and yourself a favor, make room, let go, trust GOD, build community, sit still, become uncomfortable, surrender even if you go it handled, and tell your truth to DADDY before you do man. 

Prayer: Daddy this year is about to be different, not only because we speak and believe it, but because we understand that we must be different to get to the next level you have in store for us. We realize that surrendering is uncomfortable and out of our control. We realize that we are control freaks, and it hinders You from taking control of our lives and the situations we are praying about. Help us! Help us be still, help us be obedient not by force, but by choice, and help us see your will, purpose, and plan working for our good in the tough moments.  

In Jesus Name!

AMEN

Welcome to 2025 

Day 13 of This Is Personal (TIP) 21 Day Fast: Faith Formula

I don't know about you, but this fast has been examining many areas in my life as I seek GOD at this moment. I mean we started talking about Love, then yesterday I was able to share the testimony of obedience, but today.... Today is about the formula I struggle with the most.... FAITH. Where is your faith? This is a question that Jesus asked several times to his disciples as they walked with him and saw him perform so many miracles. I wonder how many times GOD has asked you...Where is your faith?

This Is Personal (TIP)  is a 21-day fast and journey. During this journey, we will move from seeing the Word of GOD as a guidebook to seeing it as a space for personal encounters with GOD! We will explore three focus scriptures and create space for us to reflect and journal about: How to create our own record book with GOD,  How to move from who we are to who GOD has called us to be, and How to stand firm in the process during the difficult times.  Though the journey is individualized and personal, it allows for collective accountability and discussion. 

You can send your prayer request and answers to the homework assignments to: thisispersonaldevotional@gmail.com

Also, join us for prayer on Mondays and Thursdays during the fast:

Mondays at 6 am cst (starting January 29, 2024)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86178915186?pwd=Q1JKMFlpMENaeFZNaHZXLzB4QUROdz09

Meeting ID: 861 7891 5186

Passcode: TIP2124

Thursdays at 7 pm cst (starting February 1, 2024)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84134169890?pwd=Z2xQallweWQ4NTBnSTlZeWpXN3cydz09

Meeting ID: 841 3416 9890

Passcode: TIP2124!

Hebrew Boys Faith

Listen I don't know about you, but the weight of waiting has been heavy on me lately. The wait of waiting on the unanswered prayers and deepest cries of my heart desires. I was talking to my mentor about how I was feeling and how the weight of waiting was turning into depression. I found myself paralyzed and lame in the thoughts of my wait. After telling me the feelings I felt were ok my mentor hit me with a question that hurt me and arrested me at the same time. She said "Shawndrika,  what if what you have been waiting on never manifest in the earth? Will you respond with the faith of the 3 Hebrew boys...Even if He doesn't do it we still know He can?" (Daniel 3:17-18) I looked at her crazy as tears fell from my eyes to know this statement of faith could be my reality. Though I felt broken at the thought of this reality, the Holy Spirit arrested me at the same time. He reminded me that when the 3 Hebrew boys made that statement it wasn't  from a place of doubt or hopelessness but, from a place of true surrendering. They were saying to Daddy even if we don't see you manifest the situation in our favor like we want you to, you will still come through and get the glory out of  our lives. That's the key...Daddy getting the glory!! What you are praying and waiting for may not manifest or come in the package you want, however, if you surrender it to Daddy...it will manifest His glory in your life and draw you closer to Him. I hope this word and revelation reminds you that the wait is worth it! Remember the weight is there for you to surrender not to hold.

Prayer: Daddy we thank you that even in our heaviest moments you wait for us to surrender that you may get the glory out of our lives. We yield to your will today as we wait for you to manifest your glory. We take heart that what we are waiting on may not come in the package we want or the time we think we want it, however, it will come on time and work in our favor. In Jesus Name. AMEN!

I Expect The New Now

DDC Readers,

We are weeks away from 2019 and I am still trying to get into 2018. I know that's bad, but I still feel like Daddy has something that He needs to do in 2018. With everything going on in the world, I really feel like He is waiting for someone to expect something from Him without waiting for the new year to arrive. I am that someone. In a message that I ministered at my church, I told the people that we get so caught up in waiting for the words "Happy New Year", that we missed the newness that Daddy is doing in our present. I love how he put it in Isaiah 43:18-19 (I am paraphrasing) He says. "forget all that I have done because I am doing a new thing"... Then He asked the question, "Don't you see it"? So let me go back, to give you the background of what is going on before we get to verses 18 and 19. So, in verses, 1-17 Daddy is telling the children or Israel what He has done for them, what they have done to Him, and the consequences of their actions. In other words, He is listing the history of their relationship with each other. By verse 18, He tells them to not dwell on the past because, in verse 19,  He is about to show them something new. From verse 19 until the end of the chapter He speaks of the new things that He is going to do and how they should be in a place of expecting, preparing, and experiencing the new now.

That's where I am when I say I am trying to get into 2018. I want to leave the first part of 2018 behind and enjoy the new that Daddy is doing now. I want to be in a place where I am not stuck on what He did that I miss what He is doing. But, can I be honest that's where a lot of us are. We love the fact that we have a track record with Daddy, but we forget that He is just like the energizer bunny... "He keeps going and going".  I know you are wondering... What's the moral of this blog? Well, good Question... The Moral of this blog is this: Dwelling on what He did will place us in three positions: 1) The looking back position. Looking back causes paralyzation. Genesis 19:26 we see that Lot's wife turn into a pillar of salt when she looked back. Which resulted in her being paralyzed in that position for life. 2) The Reminder position. This position tells us to remember what GOD has done but never expecting Him to do anything else. That's why in Isiaih 43:19 He says, "Do you not see it"? which brings me to the last position 3) The blind position. There are times where we can be so blinded by the new that we can't see the now. When it comes to this position I am reminded of Sarah and Abraham.  How when Sarah got the word that they would be pregnant and it did not happen when she wanted it too, she took matters into her own hands and created something new.  But, she missed the opportunity to trust Daddy and  His timing. Had Sarah not been so blinded by timing then she would have enjoyed the process of the new.

Prayer:  Daddy, thank you that you allow us the opportunity to enjoy the new things that you are doing in our lives. We pray that you will help us to never look back on your past track record with us that we aren't able to move forward in what you doing through, too, and for us. We pray that you will help us to remember that you do something new daily and we can't get stuck on yesterday's new in our now. We pray that you will help us to wait and enjoy the process of the now, that we don't become blinded by the new things we are expected from you later. In JESUS Name...AMEN!!


P.S.  I flunked #bloglikecrazy2018. Between motivation and schedule, it was not going to work. But guess what? It taught me that I need to pass myself and maybe even start my blogs in October and have them ready in November... I don't know but it was fun while it lasted. Maybe next year!

I am Over It

Daddy, I am over it! The heartache, the frustration, the cycles, the relationships, the rollercoaster ride of emotions, the debt, the worry, the stress, the fear, the disappointment, the failures, setbacks, and setups. I AM OVER IT!!!
This is the conversation that I had a few days ago with Daddy as I sat in my living room crying and stressing over the bill collectors calling me, worrying about how I am going to pay, this and that. This is the mindset I had when I thought about the investment I poured into so many relationships and friendships. This is even the mindset I had when it came to church too. I was OVER IT!!!

Have you ever been there? To the point, you were over everything that affected your life in such a negative way? I mean to the point you even contemplated taking your life? Well, that was me. Yep, this is a transparent moment. One that I think plenty people have but are ashamed to admit. I mean who wants to be in the position of showing that they trust GOD and then turning around and saying life is not worth living anymore?

This is probably going to be a real transparent moment for me because I have not told anyone, but you, my readers this.  I have been keeping these things bottled, masked, and hidden. I mean I am a licensed therapist and minister, how does it sound and look for me to be speaking or thinking suicidal thoughts? But, there I was only a week ago in my living room trying to Netflix and chill and these were my thoughts.

But, guess what? The same things that I just told Daddy that I was over, are the same things that He was trying to use to get me to my next. UGH!! Don't you hate it when Daddy uses the things you hate to get you to your next? How He uses issues, situations, circumstances, and failure to show you how to grow. To birth out new assignments, ideas, and gifts? How He takes your constant complaining and creates a moment for you to experience His glory and presence?

I hate it, but it's in those same moments that I realize how much GOD is  I AM! I AM is over it, and I AM is in it. He takes over and uses His strength to create new beginnings for us to be in Him and over IT ... The IT is us. We are the IT!!! I mean the IT is our.....will, word, and way.  It is our ability and desires to want to operate in our strength, mindset, and emotions.

But how do we get over the IT? By allowing Daddy to be it. I was reminded of the game tag. How the object of the game when being IT, is to tag as many people as you can before they get to the base. That's what Daddy wants to do. He wants to tag as many of your problems before they get to the base of your mind and you feel defeated instead of victorious.  That's why I John 5:4 says "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith".
So today do me a favor join me in playing a game of tag. Let your problems run but allow Daddy to be IT!

Prayer: Daddy, thank you that you have already told us that you will handle all that concerns us. We thank you that even when it seems like our problems are weighing us down to the point we want to give up on life, we will tag you and allow you to be it. You are the source of our strength and everything that we need to get through every moment of our lives. We thank you for being IT. In JESUS name. Amen!

Demand In The Earth, Dangerous Prayer (Part 1)

So, last week I told you about my transition and this week can I tell you about my dangerous prayer?
Ok, I know you are like a dangerous prayer... Yep, a prayer so dangerous that you are scared to even pray it because the consequences are so great and the process may feel unbearable. A prayer that comes with life-changing results and a stretch, tug, and pulls on your purpose and next. With all that being said and explained, let me tell you my dangerous prayer...

I was with one of my favorite sisters and she was on the phone with someone talking about the service that she offered through her company that she is the founder and CEO of.  (She is an international educator. She teaches all over the world and helps parents in and outside of the US become better educators for their children) As she continued her call I realize how much a demand my sister and her services were in the earth. I told her, "Sis you are truly a demand in the earth"...That's when the dangerous prayer entered my spirit and came out my mouth... "Lord I want to be a demand in the earth". I didn't realize it was a dangerous prayer until three days later when I got an email saying... "Hey girl, I have been looking for you!" 72 hours after praying, GOD the manifestation of my words became my reality. So, I knew what I prayed had to be dangerous due to the quick turn around that took place.  A week after getting the email, I was on a call with another sister who told me, "Sis, I am glad you called me I need you to pray about your participation in a conference that I am having in October." Look, let me tell you all something when I prayed that prayer, I was not really expecting results. OOOOOOO... Pause...Stop, back that up... "I said when I prayed the prayer I was not really expecting results". How many times do we pray prayers without the expectation of seeing them manifest? I'll wait, while you think of the many times you said prayers that you thought would take forever or never to manifest.

Let's be real for a moment, we pray some prayers and expect GOD to do them right away, but there are times that we pray and before we say AMEN, we already thinking GOD ain't about to do that for real.  But, we continue to pray the dangerous prayers not realizing the setup that we are creating for ourselves.

I know you are wondering what am I trying to tell you. Am I encouraging you to pray these dangerous prayers? Am I warning you about these dangerous prayers?  What am I telling you? I'm telling you both. I want to encourage you to pray these prayers, but be aware of what comes with them. Be ready to deal with the consequences or should I say the demand that will come with them. You will be the one that people seek out. You will be the missing piece of the puzzle. You will be the one that creates a demand on someone else. Do me a favor take time right now to pray your dangerous prayer (don't read another line until you do). All it takes is one time, and that one time will cause you to pray more dangerous prayers.

Prayer: Daddy thank you for making us aware of the impact we can have on the earth if we are bold enough to pray dangerous prayers. Thank you for letting us know that we can be a demand in the earth, that you have purposed us to be a blessing to others, and create moments where you can move and breath life in situations. Thank you for allowing us to be what the earth needs for your glory. Thank that today we open our mouths with a heart of anticipation to speak the dangerous prayers that are needed for your victory to be seen. In JESUS name... AMEN!

The Stretch

I know it's been a while, but I have a good excuse... I've been stretching and the stretch has not been easy. So let me tell you what this looks like and why the stretch has been one for the record books. Last year I  talked to Daddy about my next. I had a conversation about what to do now that I was finished with school and I was in a high leadership position. For a while, I didn't hear anything. I keep praying and being silent, but nothing. One day an event at work happen and it causes me to really feel like it was time for me to go, I prayed and this time Daddy gave me an answer. He told me a date that I would need to turn in my resignation and where to go afterward. Now it was where he told me to go afterward that had me kind of shook. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. He said: "It's time for you to trust me fully, and do what I have equipped you to do. It's time that you go and do ministry at your church". After hearing this I spoke with my pastors to see what we need to do, to get me set up for the transition. They were so excited and felt like this was the best time to do so. I, on the other hand, was feeling some kind of way, but I knew what GOD said so I was in an " I trust GOD mindset".  So long story short I resigned from my job and working for my church full time as the senior pastor's assistant and mental health consultant. I have taken a $1400 pay cut, but nothing in my house has lack... NOTHING!!!

I know you are wondering what is the stretch. The stretch is letting GOD be GOD. How can we name Him provider and not give me the opportunity to actually provide? How can we call Him healer and not allow Him to heal us? How can we say we have victory in Him, but never give Him the opportunity to win the wars and battles that life throws at us? This is the stretch... Letting Daddy be all he says he can, will, and has been. Allowing Him to be everything we need when we need it as we continue to be obedient to all his instructions.

Let me say this... THIS HAS NOT BEEN EASY!!! I have tried to get another job, sought out ways to earn extra income, make my own plans, but GOD has blocked and convicted me of it all.  This stretch has really reminded me of  Jeremiah 29:11 where Daddy says: "I know the plans I have for your life, plans to prosper you, not to harm you."  In this stretch, it doesn't seem like the plan looks prosperous. It kind of feels like Daddy has brought me in the middle of the ocean and said now, swim. No direction, no guidance, only the action of doing what he said. Let me say this I thought that swimming in the ocean would be hard, but can I tell you I have been floating like a fish.

The stretch has taught 5 things... (If you don't know I love the number 5, it's the number of Grace):

1. Learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

2. The weight may seem unbearable, but the wait is worth the process.

3. Remind Daddy of his word and promises. Daddy sees your heart, but HE responses to his word. He said that his word will not return to him void, so speak what he already said and watch him work.

4. Stay focus. When you are being obedient you may feel like you need to explain yourself, but there's not needed when you trust Daddy... Which brings me to number 5.

5. TRUST DADDY!!! When I tell you that Daddy has met needs before I even ask...He has. It can be as simple as lunch to money. I have never been a place where I've never seen His word manifest so quickly. But because I was obedient and I speak His word even in the midst of distractions, I have seen Him come through for me like never before.

Prayer: Father right now we thank you that you have already given us an example of the effects of what relentless faith looks like. We thank you that greatness is in us and though we may never see the whole promise we are grateful for the position to see pieces of the promise. We will pursue you like it is our last time, and seek your face over your hand. In the Name of JESUS... AMEN

The Examination of Faith

Hello Readers!

I know.. I know it's been a while but after constant conversations with Daddy I am in a place where I have to make this a priority again. So today I want to talk about the process of faith. On the way to work and just in the last couple of months (9 months to be exact) GOD has really been challenging me in the area of faith. Yep FAITH. So I was in the car today and I ask Daddy why do I continue to get the prophetic word that says I need to trust you? That you are isolating me? That I have to deal with the pruning and and make scarifies?  And he told me Daughter look at your actions. I will tell you to do the simple things and you are asking questions like Daddy is that you?!? I know I am not by myself and if I am then .... That's fine, because today I want to share the start of this process of examination of my faith. As Daddy continue to show me, my faith issues and areas I continue to waiver in when trusting him; of course the spirit of conviction came over me, and this scripture hit my soul:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)  

Do you know how many time I've asked Daddy to guide and give me the wisdom to move forward in the things that he has called me to.. I mean this blog for example is one that can truly be a faith move of wisdom in action. But it's verse 6 that cut me ..... " you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." I am in tears just meditating and speaking on the verse. I got the revelation that the life changes that I have and am experiencing are not just due to season changes alone, but to the fact that I have cast myself to the winds.... EEW!!! Please forgive my overwhelm conviction right now. I am in a place where I am trying to learn Daddy as "I AM," and that takes a lot. Because to know him as " I AM" you are going to have to examine your faith. You are going to have to get out the currents of the winds and get on the boat and ride it out. Oh I am preach to myself and probably some of you. But I had to ask Daddy when and how did I get here.. His response, "You tell me." I was like I don't know.. Was it before the marriage or after? Was it before all the life changing events... divorce...death..moving...being a daughter....embracing me again...?!?! I don't know.. Then Daddy was like you do but maybe you don't want to admit it. Actually I do remember.... It was the divorce. It was when I thought I had totally blew it and I have never bounced back from it. Ever since my divorce I have been caught in the currents of the waves and winds. I have created gods that were higher than Daddy unintentionally and I have allowed those to be my hiding places. One being my sorority... Yep I am sorority girl... I love my sorority and all my sorority sisters. They have been a blessing to me in every life changing event. They have supported, held me up, and prayed with me. Even this past week when I thought I was having a stroke and had to go the ER (by the way I am ok it was not a stroke, just a wake up call to take care of me more better.) they were praying and keeping me calm. They were willing to drive to my aid. But in my conversation with Daddy, he told me it's time that I let them go... Not the relationship but the duty of god that I have made them. Again without the intention to do so. This goes also with certain friends and even relationships I have. I have cause them to be a priority over GOD... Over DADDY! So that is the reason for my prophetic word of isolation and pruning, Learning to let go of  your security is a hard and heart thing to do. But it must be done, and done not in your strength, but that of THE FATHER. So as I continue to examine my faith I have made up in my mind that this is a process. It's not going to happen overnight but it is something that I must endure. I must  realize that the process will truly yield great fruit. 

So today as I take this journey of examining my faith I will share with you... my readers the process and downloads that Daddy shares with me. Today we take a journey to make Daddy not only a priority again, but to also make his trust our truth. I don't know about you but I am tired of getting toss to and fro by the winds and waves of my own doubt, created  by my emotions, fueled by my insecurities, and covered by my words. TODAY is a new day and will continue to be the process of  GREATNESS.

Prayer: Daddy today as we examine our faith in you, help us realize what we contribute to the doubt of trusting you. Help us realize the brokenness that we have carried and tried to fix is not for us to hold on to or even deal with; but the perfect opportunity for us to surrender to you. Daddy help us to trust you again in all things, and not the things we do not have plans of actions for. Help us be in a position were we are not delayed in our obedience or questioning the motives of your instructions. Helps us always say "YES DADDY." Help and remind us that surrendering all is an everyday process, because the all we surrendered yesterday, comes with today's surrendering. Daddy help us live life in the words of mandated trust and not that of  "I might trust". Daddy gives us a heart to realize though your timing is not what we want it to be, it is still perfect, and that you only want the best for us. Help us let go of gods that we have created in our lives intentionally or unintentionally, that we can only see you. Bring us back to the place were your presence was all that we needed. That your yes was all we had.
In Jesus Name,  Amen!