The Secret Chamber: August 2023 Edition

The Secret Chamber | A Digital Devotional August 2023 Edition

The Secret Chamber, the Department of Church Growth and Development’s daily devotional guide, is herein recognized as an aid to worship; it is also made an official periodical of the Church and listed in The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the annual report of the pastor on periodicals.

Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Senior Bishop, African Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, Commission Chair

The Reverend Dr. Marcellus A. Norris, Executive Director African Methodist Episcopal Church Department of Church Growth and Development

The Reverend Dr. Susan Hillary Buckson, Copy Editor

The Reverend Jarrett Britton Washington, Graphic Editor

Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, NRSVUE

Psalm 41:11

By this I know that you are pleased with me: because my enemy has not triumphed over me.

Triumphant People Sing

Triumph means "to be jubilant/to celebrate." David, the author of Psalm 41, clearly lets the readers know that when God is pleased with us, the enemy will not have the opportunity to celebrate or rejoice. When God takes pleasure in our actions, it means that God “thinks well of, i.e., approve (an act); especially to approbate (a person or thing). (Strong’s Dictionary)

Triumphant people sing. In Exodus: 15:1b-c, Moses and the children of Israel declares, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”

Triumphant people know that God is their helper. Psalm 118:7 reminds us, "The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.”

Triumphant people march in procession. We see this in 2 Corinthians 2:14 “Christ always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.

Today, know that you can walk boldly singing praises to God, knowing God leads you in triumph.

Pray: Lord, help me to walk in triumph spreading the good news of Christ Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Monique Summers, MAT, BS, AS Historic Saint Luke A.M.E. Church

Opelika, Alabama

https://www.facebook.com/SaintLukeAMEOpelika

ministermoniquesummers@yahoo.com

Wednesday | August 2, 2023

Galatians 5:22-23

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Do You HaveAny Fruit Today?

I recently purchased a bag of apples. Before putting them in my grocery cart, I looked them over as best I could, and I thought they looked good. However, when I got home, opened the bag, and inspected them further, I found several bruised with brown areas on them. What a disappointment! I thought that I was getting good fruit!

As believers, we should be overflowing with good fruit. We do not want to be like that bag of apples and only look good from a distance. We should be the opposite; the closer people get to us, the more appealing we should appear, even upon examination. The more time they spend with us, the more they should see the wonderfully edifying fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.

In a world with so much strife, division, chaos, and evil, people desperately need someone to show love, joy, peace, patience, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Will you share your good fruit with someone today?

Pray: Lord, may my life demonstrate the fruit of holiness. Amen.

Reverend Lisa Reynolds Community AME Church

Matthew 6:11

Give us today our daily bread.

Sharing is Caring

In a country considered one of the wealthiest nations in the world, it is disheartening to know that people lack the necessities to live humanely. Even more disconcerting is witnessing hungry individuals rifling through a garbage can, searching for something to eat or drink. Imagine searching a garbage can to satisfy hunger or thirst by eating someone else’s trash or drinking from someone else’s spittle-laden bottle.

Our plea to God is not only to seek daily provisions from God but also to ask God to allow us to provide daily provisions for someone else. As we seek provision, nourishment, and all that is required to live humanely, let us also seek the same for the rest of God’s children.

Pray: Lord, give us today our daily bread and allow us to provide daily bread to someone else in need. Amen.

Pastor Velma E. Grant, M.Div., Th.M. Flipper Chapel AME Church Fayetteville, Georgia vegrant1@gmail.com

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

All Roses Have Thorns

Have you ever noticed the beauty of a rose? They come in a beautiful array of colors, shapes, and sizes. With their abundant fragrance, it's no wonder that roses are a flower that many people desire. But if you've ever grown them, you've probably noticed those prickly things running along the stem called "thorns." Thorns are unsightly to many and can become challenging to pick for display. But I discovered that thorns on a rose are intended to keep predators from eating those sweet-smelling and attractive flowers. As unsightly as thorns may be, they serve a purpose, to protect you from the enemy.

We all have thorns in our lives that we just cannot seem to get rid of. It may be a personal struggle, caregiving, family issues, or others, and we pray that they will just go away. We, like Paul, pray relentlessly that God would take them out of our lives. But also, like Paul, God didn't remove them. But God gave us the grace and peace to deal with them and to protect us from the enemy. Whatever your thorn is, trust that God has a way of giving you peace and endurance to cope. "My grace is sufficient for you."

Pray: Lord, help me to appreciate my thorns. Amen.

Rev. Stephen A. Lee Saint Philip A.M.E. Church Savannah, Georgia stephenlee@bellsouth.net

Saturday | August 5, 2023

Matthew 28:20

and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

God is With Me!

You knit me together in my mother’s womb

Connecting me with my village of Parents, Grands, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Neighbors

God Is With Me

Laughing, Playing, Making life-long Friends, Enjoying Life, New Experiences, Discovering Church, Uniting with God, Giving my life to Christ and Yes, Jesus Loves Me

Wade in the Water

God Is With Me

Praying to God to make a way for me to go away to college; He answered. Waymaker!

God Is With Me

Through heartaches, sickness, deaths, grief

God Is With Me

When I said, “NOW” - God said, “LATER”

When I said, “YES! - God said, “NO”

When I said, “WHEN” - God said, “WAIT”

Wonderful Counselor!

God Is With Me

Wifeing, Motherhood, Blessing Me with new roles

Echoing in my mind: Train up a child. Help Me, God!

God is With Me

Churching and Serving the Lord with gladness

Teaching, Singing, Traveling, Reading the Word, Seeking God

Come Holy Spirit Come!

God Is With Me

Through Working, Retiring, Enjoying the fruits of my labor, Flourishing, Praying More, Gaining More Insight!

God is with me!

Pray: Lord, thank you for being with me through every step of my journey. Amen.

Ms. Brenda W Larnell St. Luke AME Church

Insight, Rev. Dr. Roderick Belin East St. Louis, Illinois

brenda121@yahoo.com

1 Peter 5:6-8

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.

7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.

Look to God

We all are guilty of trying extremely hard to make people love us, like us, and be our friends or significant others. We see a gorgeous face and perfect smile or nice body, and immediately we run after them. We often purchase expensive gifts or give money as a gesture of love. You can do all these things, and that individual neither will care about nor love you any more than if they had never known you.

But God loves you. Despite who you are and no matter what you do, God will always love you. People will try to leverage their love for you based on what you do for them; however, God, who promises never to leave you or forsake you, always has your back. We must stop looking anxiously to others to fulfill us and look to God. It is a trick of the enemy to do so.

First Peter 5:7-8 tells us to cast our anxieties on the Lord because he cares for us. He also wants you and me to be alert always because the enemy is like a roaring lion looking for a victim. Put all your trust and faith in Jesus, and you will come to know that you do not need others to make you feel whole.

Pray: Lord, help me not to fall for the diversion of the enemy. Amen.

Reco Marcell Wright Pine Grove AME Church Greenville District/Hodges South Carolina

rmwright@laurens55.org

Mark 8:38

Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Now Is The Time To Own Jesus

When Jesus spoke these words, he knew that the time was soon to come when he would be betrayed and crucified, and he allowed the Roman government to crucify him. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” As we live in comfort and convenience in these modern times yet, very challenging and controversial times, we should stay focused on what spiritually matters–Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives.

To maintain our focus, we should keep three things in mind. First, remember your history with Jesus. You should be able to reflect on your relationship with him, see his faithfulness, and reflect on your faithfulness to him. Second, remember your healing from Jesus. Whether physical or spiritual, we should understand it was his power that healed us if we have ever been ill or appreciate that while we were sinners, he died for our spiritual healing. Third, remember to own Jesus. Own him and represent him wherever you go! Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” These times are the greatest times to own Jesus Christ.

Pray: Lord, give me the courage to shine brightly for you. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Terri Strong

Mt. Sinai AME Church

Arlington, Tennessee

terristrong3082@gmail.com

www.mountsinaiamec.com

Tuesday | August 8, 2023

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

What’s In AName?

Names have significance and can either build a person up or tear down a person. No one wants to be called a name that denotes weakness or negatively describes their features. Doing so is a sign of disrespect. No person feels safe with or runs willingly to someone who calls them out of their name.

Beloved, it is reassuring to know that we serve a God who knows us by name and whose name indicates safety and security. What’s in a name? The name “Emanuel” means “God is with us,” the name “Adonai” means “Lord,” and the name “Jehovah-Rapha” means “the Lord who heals.” Isn’t it wonderful to know that our God is a God who wants to build us up and not tear us down? Beloved, run to the God who sees you and whose name is a strong fortress. Our God yet awaits to protect those who live in righteousness and truth.

Pray: Lord, give me the strength to call your name every day because your name offers life abundantly. Amen.

Pastor Velma E. Grant, M.Div., Th.M. Flipper Chapel AME Church Fayetteville, Georgia

vegrant1@gmail.com

Wednesday | August 9, 2023

Proverbs 18:16

A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great.

Our Gifts Will Make Room For Us

Ephesians 4:11 tells us that Christ gave gifts to each of us, and God promises us that our gift will make room for us and place us before great men and women. However, we confess, Father, and ask you to forgive us for not appreciating our gift. We often see what others have and measure our capabilities and lack of accomplishment by what others have and what we do not have. We are sorry, God, for the times we told ourselves that if we just had someone else’s helpmate, or parents, or health, or education, or gifts, or money, or opportunities, then we could do much more with our lives. God, please forgive us for the times we have blamed you for our low-achieving and no-achieving mediocre lives.

We tell ourselves that if God had not dealt us such a bad or disadvantaged hand, we could have done so much more with our lives. So, we bury, hide, and squat on rather than build upon what we have been given. God’s word reminds us today that our gift - not somebody else’s gift - our gift, not our excuses; our gift–not our anger about who took what from us or who took advantage of us or betrayed us but our gift open doors for us and gave us access to greatness.

God, as we come out of this pandemic, provide us with opportunities to grow, expand, and discover new possibilities for our gift, and teach us this day how to use our gift to your honor and your glory until Jesus comes back again.

Pray: Lord, give me the wisdom to understand that problems, setbacks, and challenges should never prevent me from utilizing my gift. Amen.

ramseyetta1@gmail.com

Thursday | August 10, 2023

Romans 8:31

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

You Win!

All power, not some power, ALL power, belongs to our God. There is none greater, none wiser, none stronger. And guess what? God is on your side.

God is for you. Stop and let that really sink in. God is for you. God desires good things for you. God will never leave you. God will never turn away from you.

Maybe the enemy has you against the ropes today, maybe you have retreated to your corner, or maybe you have even been knocked down. But it's not over; get up and get back in the fight! God has never lost a battle and is for you, so no matter who or what is against you - You Win!

Pray: God, thank you for being my advocate and my strength. Amen.

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

It’s In The Name

You should be an Uncle Tom! Josiah Henson, aka Uncle Tom, was separated from his parents when he was a child after his father was mutilated for standing up to an enslaver. His father received 100 lashes and had his ear cut off because he was not afraid to stand up. Josiah was caught reading a book one day and beaten until unconscious. Still, Josiah was eventually made overseer of the plantation. He worked so hard that he saved enough money to purchase his freedom. The original cost was $100.00. However, the enslaver added an extra zero to make it $1,000.00. Because Josiah had only saved $350.00, he escaped from slavery and helped to free over 100 enslaved people.

In 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe released a fictional book called Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Although this book was fictional, it was based on Josiah’s life. This book had so much influence that if you were caught reading, selling, or buying it, you could be arrested and sentenced to death. Uncle Tom and Sambo were the central characters of this book. In this book, Uncle Tom is a phenomenal human being. If your cotton sack were low, he would take some cotton out of his sack to make sure you were not punished. Given Uncle Tom’s track record of helping others, the slave owner puts Sambo in charge of Uncle Tom with orders to beat Uncle Tom every night. Uncle Tom was beaten to death after refusing to tell the location of two slave women who escaped.

History has misrepresented Uncle Tom as someone who turns on their people. When we misappropriate Uncle Tom’s name, we erase his legacy of helping people. We need more people in our community to be like Josiah Henson. We need more Uncle Toms. Likewise, we must never bring dishonor to the name of Christ by misrepresenting him through our actions. Let each of us choose to reclaim the true meaning, legacy, and heritage of Josiah “Uncle Tom” Henson. By doing so, we will be reclaiming our heritage in the process. Remember, a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.

Pray: God help me to see the power in the truth of our legacy. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Moore St. Paul AME Church Macon, Georgia

Saturday | August 12, 2023

Luke 6:35

Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Do GoodAnyway

It is so easy sometimes to think about retaliating against those who have caused harm because the thought of retaliation might bring relief or justification. If someone hurts us, it makes much sense to dole out what was received; if they dish it out, they should be able to receive the same hurt. As Christians, God calls us to do the exact opposite because we are not to dole out what we receive. If God were to dole out to us the type of hurt we have inflicted on others, there would be no room for grace and mercy.

God calls us to love those who hurt us (even if from a distance), to feed those who might not be grateful, and to give even if no one ever returns anything. As divine children, God tasks us to do good despite the unkindness and evil of this world.

Prat: Lord, teach us how to love and be good to those who have caused us harm. Amen.

Pastor Velma E. Grant, M.Div., Th.M. Flipper Chapel AME Church Fayetteville, Georgia

Philippians 2:9

Therefore, God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name.

Your Legacy Is In Your Name!

When most people think of the spark that ignited the Civil Rights Movement, we think of a woman who refused to sit in the back of the bus. One day after a long day, she was tired from working. She sat in the front of the bus when negroes were relegated to sit in the back. When a white passenger got on the bus, and the bus driver told her to move to the back of the bus, she refused. This act motivated the Montgomery Bus Boycott and started the Civil Rights Movement.

As you read, did you mention her name? In none of the aforementioned sentences was her name mentioned because she made a name for herself. And so, Rosa Parks is the mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Like Rosa Pars, your name is connected to your legacy and the deeds you have done. Your name has the potential to be so powerful that some things cannot be mentioned without people hearing your name.

God has highly exalted the name of Jesus because you cannot have salvation without that name. You cannot have creation without that name. You cannot have motivation without that name. You cannot live without that name. In the name of Jesus, we have the victory. Just like Rosa Parks, “the mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” is connected to the Montgomery Bus Boycott; Jesus the Christ is connected to your healing, he’s connected to your vindication, he’s connected to your peace and your eternal life. There is a legacy in that name.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Moore St. Paul AME Church Macon, Georgia

ktmoore404@gmail.com

2 Corinthians 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments

Armed For Battle

Ephesians 6:12 lets us know that "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Since we are not fighting a flesh and blood enemy, we cannot use worldly weapons. As God's people, we have powerful spiritual weapons.

Our weapons are not made in a factory; they are divine. They are from God, and the fact that they are God-given means that they are effective and unfailing. Our weapons include prayer, fasting, worship, praise, and the Word of God. Our weapons can penetrate the darkest situation and destroy every ungodly stronghold.

No matter how it may seem, you are not fighting a losing battle. It is just the opposite; your victory is already assured through Jesus Christ! But like a good soldier, check your weaponry. Make sure you are not trying to fight spiritual battles with worldly weapons.

Pray: Lord, thank you for shielding me from the weapons that my enemy forms. Amen.

Tuesday | August 15, 2023

Isaiah 26:4

Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.

Trust That Never Wanes

To demonstrate the level of trust that a person might have in someone else, one may say, “I trust her (him) as far as I can throw her (him),” indicating that there is not much trust in the relationship, or the trust factor is minimal. Usually, when there is a breakdown in a relationship, it means that one party has demonstrated that they are not trustworthy and has breached the level of perceived trust.

Despite our failings, God has proven to be a trustworthy source in our lives who gives us more than we deserve. We derive strength in the knowledge that God’s strength does not waver or wane based on our level of trust. Unlike some whose trust factor wanes depending on the day of the week or the season, trusting God is a lifetime source of strength that never falters. In fact, the more we learn to trust God, the stronger our relationship becomes with God, so it is wonderful that we do not have the ability or strength to throw God anywhere.

Pray: Lord, teach me how to trust You more and not rely on my own inclinations that sap my strength. Amen.

Pastor Velma E. Grant, M.Div., Th.M. Flipper Chapel AME Church Fayetteville, Georgia vegrant1@gmail.com

Wednesday | August 16, 2023

John 14:13

I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Ask In My Name

Prayer is powerful. Prayer reaps results. However, when you pray, it is not your credentials or your name that gets your prayer through. You can only get the desired results by praying in Jesus’ name. When you pray in Jesus’ name, you are praying with Jesus’ validation, you are praying with Jesus’ access, and you are praying according to God’s will. Jesus has given you permission to use his name.

During the 2016 General Conference, I worked on Bishop Wicker’s Campaign. After he was elected and consecrated Bishop, he told me to ask his campaign manager to give me a stipend. He told me, “Tell him I said to give you a stipend.” I walked over to his campaign manager and relayed what Bishop Wicker said. He responded, “If you’re coming in his name, then I have to give you one.”

While Bishop Wicker’s name carried weight at that moment, in our daily living, it is the name of Jesus that is all-powerful. For we know that “at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

When we use the name of Jesus, we are telling God what God has already said. We are praying God’s will and praying in God’s name. Whatever you ask in Jesus’ name, God will give it to you, but God will get the glory.

Pray: Lord, help me to bring honor and glory to your name today. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Moore St. Paul AME Church

Thursday | August 17, 2023

Isaiah 26:3

Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace, in peace because they trust in you.

Mind Games

In 2000, hip-hop recording artist DMX released "Party Up." The lyrics of the chorus speak to the conflict within! It speaks to the “battle of the mind.”

Y'all gon' make me lose my mind up in here, up in here!

Y'all gon' make me go all out up in here, up in here!

Y'all gon' make me act a fool up in here, up in here!

Y'all gon' make me lose my cool up in here, up in here!

While in our naturalness, we tend to lose our minds and our cool and act a fool, we have a model in Christ Jesus that reminds us that we have victory over the enemy's mind games. Paul writes in Philippians 2:5, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” When the ballots were cast and the votes tallied to crucify Christ, he never lost his mind or his cool; neither did Jesus go all out or act a fool. He stood before Pilate in silence, hung before the crowd with humility, died a sinner’s death in agony, and rose with all power for eternity.

It is time to choose: party politics or power?

Pray: Lord, help me keep my cool today. Amen.

Reverend Dr. Pamela R. Rivera Presiding Elder-Austin Capital District Tenth Episcopal District

2 Corinthians 6:16

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said, “I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

AHealthy Church

Is your church healthy? Is it steeped in the word of God? Is it making an impact in its community? Is it living out God’s command to love? Does its leader have your full support? Does it fulfill the Great Commission?

I hope you were not thinking about the four walls of your Any Name AME Church but rather about you. You are the church. You “are the temple of the living God.” It is you who must be steeped in God’s word. Your mind and hands are what make an impact in the community. Your giving of your time, talent, and tithe demonstrates that God lives in you. God, who is the head of the church, expects your full support in making “disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded the church (that’s you!).

The world’s view has conditioned us to think that the church is a place with a steeple and a pulpit, and a preacher, but we are the church.

I am the church! You are the church!

We are the church together!

All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we're the church together!

(Richard K. Avery and Donald S. Marsh, 1972)

Pray: Lord, help me to remember that I am your church. Amen.

Saturday | August 19, 2023

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Consistency Matters

In today’s text, the writer is reminding readers and listeners to remember those who were consistent in speaking and living God’s truth. This reminder was important because others were spreading false teachings inconsistent with what the writer and other leaders had shared. An inconsistent person will tend to be unreliable and not committed to anyone or thing. Our greatest model of consistency is Jesus Christ, who was unwavering in his love for others. His teachings did not change based on the socioeconomic status of his audience or the religious affiliation of the first-century church leaders.

As Christians, we have the mandate to be consistent in our speech, our lifestyle, and especially in how we treat the children of God. A consistent lifestyle matters because it reveals a person’s character and whether the person really believes what she or he espouses. Let us love, show compassion and be kind on a regular basis because consistency matters.

Pray: Lord, help me choose a lifestyle consistent with the life and teachings of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen!

Pastor Velma E. Grant, M.Div., Th.M. Flipper Chapel AME Church Fayetteville, Georgia

vegrant1@gmail.com

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

We should always praise God for God’s unique power to save humanity from sin. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross changed our relationship with sin and defeated the devil. We no longer have to live under the power of sin and weakness. We do not have to live under the power of the devil anymore. We do not have to live with guilt and shame anymore. Christ dying for us means we are free forever. It is because of Christ’s death and resurrection that we are cleansed and forgiven now, henceforth, and forevermore.

Moses, with his law, couldn’t do it. Muhammad couldn’t do it. Hare Krishna couldn’t do it. Taoism couldn’t do it. Confucianism couldn’t do it. Scientology couldn’t do it. Zen couldn’t do it. Rastafarianism could not do it.

Only one name is given under heaven whereby we are delivered–the precious name of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one who can defeat every demon, forgive every transgression, right every iniquity, defeat every stronghold, destroy every yoke, heal every disease, and eliminate every curse.

Pray: Lord, thank you for being my Lord, my Savior, and my Redeemer. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Marietta Ramsey

Bethlehem AME Church

Baltimore, Maryland

ramseyetta1@gmail.com

Monday | August 21, 2023

Psalm 23:2a

He makes me lie down in green pastures

Get Some Rest!

The most popular scripture in the world is Psalms 23. It has been taken on battlefields and into lonely places. This Psalm has more than likely been preached and taught around the world more than any other scripture in the Bible. Even more than John 3:16 because Psalm 23 is in the Torah. The Torah is the religious book of the Jewish faith and the foundation for Christianity and those who are Muslim.

One of the most overlooked phrases within this psalm is, “he makes me lie down in green pastures.” A real-life shepherd will tell you that sheep will not lie down if they feel sick and will not lie down if they do not feel safe. So, the shepherd has to make them lie down. When we talk about our health, we need to consider our sleep. We must rest to feel better. If you are not resting well, perhaps, you are not feeling well. This feeling may not be a physical illness, but it might be something going on in your mind. It might be stress, worry, or depression. Whatever it is keeping you from resting, be assured when you refuse to get the mental rest you need, God will make you lie down.

The good news is in “where” God makes you lie down. It is where you will find healing and safety a green pasture. Just as a shepherd will tell you that a green pasture provides all that sheep need, safety, and nourishment, the green pasture is a place that God has prepared for your respite and rejuvenation. Be intentional today, to rest.

Pray: Lord, lead me to a green pasture so that I may rest. Amen.

ktmoore404@gmail.com

Rev. Dr. Kevin Moore St. Paul AME Church Macon, Georgia

Tuesday | August 22, 2023

Psalm 23:2a

He makes me lie down in green pastures

Rest Is Necessary

Without understanding the need for rest, you can run your body down. Let me say it this way: between work, family, and dealing with personal stuff, it is hard finding time to rest. However, if you do not slow down and chill, you will find yourself heading to burnout. I want you to get this in your spirit: it is okay to make time for yourself. That's right; it is okay to rest - the world will continue to go on. The question is, “How much do you value yourself to get the proper rest you need to go on with it.”

One of the Ten Commandments tells us to 8 “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it." Please don't miss this. If God rested on the 7th day, why can't you?

Do not present any more excuses for why you cannot rest; just do it. I promise you this, if you learn to get your rest on once a week, your outlook on life will be a lot better. Your mind, body, and spirit will greatly appreciate it.

Pray: Lord, help me to eliminate excuses that keep me from resting. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Sinclair N. Grey III Fidelity AME Church Atlanta, Georgia

sinclair@sinclairgrey.org

Wednesday | August 23, 2023

1 Chronicles 16:34

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Looking For Love

We all believe we know what love is. Paul writes in First Corinthians 13:4-6, ”4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth.” After reading what the Bible says about love, you would think we would approach our love relationships differently.

We are still quick to tell people we love them. Romantic relationships come and go; we are in love today and out of love tomorrow. One minute we are in love, and we produce life from that love, but as soon as the child is born, we are no longer in love. This vacillation even happens in our friendships. A person is our friend today, and we love them to death. A year later, they are no longer our friends because of something they said or did to us.

We know from the Bible that Jesus’ selflessness was the ultimate example of love. Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross because of his great love for us. We are always looking for love in the wrong people, places, and things. Yet, we overlook the unconditional love of the cross. We call ourselves children of God, and God always reminds us that God’s love for us endures forever. Why is God’s love for us never enough? More importantly, why do we not reciprocate to God the kind of love God offers us? Our world and lives would be much better if we epitomized the Lord’s love. As we grow, may we recognize always and “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Pray: Lord, lead me to see and share the same love you share with me with all humanity. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Marietta Ramsey

Bethlehem AME Church Baltimore, Maryland

ramseyetta1@gmail.com

Thursday | August 24, 2023

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him, life, and the life was the, light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

The World Needs To Know Him

It is unsettling to hear people say, “If He is God, why does He allow suffering and violence and death.” When I hear it, it fills me with the desire to scream aloud, “You do not know who God is!” The kind of people who ask these types of questions are usually the ones who have never taken the time to get to know God! They have an idea of who they think God should be, and they critique God's sovereignty.

However, our responsibility is not to critique God but to get to know God’s heart toward us. The more we know God’s mind toward us, the more we begin to notice that God, the sustainer of life, remains merciful in all situations. We recognize that the same God who can rain down all-consuming fire is the same God who allowed us today so that we might serve as ambassadors to a world that needs to know him.

Pray: Lord, give me the courage to stand boldly through adversity, knowing that you have everything under control. Amen.

James 2:1-7

1 My brothers and sisters, do not claim the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory while showing partiality. 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here in a good place, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor person. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into the courts? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

God’s Favor

Each of us has favorites. Our favorites are our preferences. We have favorite designers, vacation spots, TV shows, artists, shoes and T-shirts, and that favorite (get this, ladies…) head scarf that lays it all down just right. Yet our favorites, particularly when focused on earthly constructs of class, gender, sexual orientation, intellectual acumen, and financial wealth, can become prejudicial fronts for marginalizing others. James gives us a warning about favoring people as such “distinctions become judges with evil thoughts.” When confronting those who dismiss us because of their preferences, be reminded that God’s favor is much more valuable.

The favor of God is nothing that we can ever earn, and it has nothing to do with who we are or what we have. God’s favor–inclination or predisposition toward us gives us the ability to do what we could not humanly do for ourselves. By ourselves, we do not have the capacity to forgive, love, overcome, save ourselves, or even do the right thing. But it is God’s favor–grace and mercy–covers us with strength and the courage to do so.

Pray: God, thank you for favoring me. Amen.

Saturday | August 26, 2023

Mark 10: 46-52

46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

It Matters How You Call Him

As a child, one of the things I dreaded the most was going shopping with my mom. My mom would spend hours shopping in a store, and I would have to endure those torturous moments. I had absolutely nothing to do but follow her around the store, watch her look at prices three or four times, and move to the next rack of clothes. I got so bored, in one instance, that I wandered off. After realizing my mom was nowhere to be found, I panicked.

There were other children my age in the store with their moms. I called my mom not by name but by her title. I yelled, “Mom!” Not too long after that scream, she was behind me. Moments after she scolded me for wandering off, I began to ponder. With all these other children in the store who have moms and call them not by name but by title, how did she know it was me? I asked her, and she replied, “Because I know your voice, and it was the way you called me.”

Blind Bartimaeus was on the roadside begging, and he heard that Jesus was passing by with a large crowd. No doubt others were calling Jesus in that crowd. However, Bartimaeus sat in one place, unable to even see where Jesus was in proximity, and Bartimaeus got Jesus' attention because of the way he called Jesus.

The way you call Jesus matters! God knows your voice, and I am sure God hears you, but are you calling God in a way that reflects your need? Are you calling God in a way that prompts him to stop and ask, 'What will you have for me to do?” What will your answer be today?

Pray: Lord, thank you for hearing me when I call and answering my prayer. Amen.

John 20:27

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”

Scars

When Jesus rose from the dead, the scars from Calvary remained in his hands and on his body. Thomas refused to believe in Christ’s resurrection unless he saw the nail prints on Jesus’ hands and thrust his hand into Jesus’ side. When Jesus rises from the dead and appears to the disciples, they can see the physical scars on his body. However, as children of the Most High King, we sometimes receive scars from our earthly trauma. They may not be physical scars per se, but as Christians, we will get scarred because no one goes through this life unscarred.

Some of us are like Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan whose nurse accidentally dropped him at birth, have scars through no fault or sin of our own. Sometimes others scarred us accidentally as we worked with them in the church. Some of us come from scarred families. Remember Tamar, Absalom’s sister, who was raped by Amnon, her half-brother. Some of us have been scarred by rape, incest, and family violence. Financial issues have scarred some of us. Some of us are like the Prodigal Son who misspent his inheritance and spent time in the hog pen. Likewise, some of us are scarred by our mistakes, shortsightedness, and foolishness. Some of us, like the Samaritan woman, have been scarred by failed marriages and romantic relationships. Some of us have been scarred by a host of negative experiences and people. Some of us are scarred and believe that we are unforgivable. While we all do not carry the same scars, everyone has some scars.

However, I want you to understand that your scars do not have the last word over your life. You are still a child of God, even with your scars. Just like Jesus was triumphant with his scars, you, too, can rise and be triumphant over anything and everything you do.

Pray: Lord, help me see beyond my scars. Amen.

Mark 14:3-9

3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon, the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

Do What You Can With What You Have

You may not own much, but do what you can with what you have. You may not know much, but speak on what you know. You may not have a big bank account but use that $5 to do what you can.

In our efforts to keep up with Jones, we forget that God has blessed us to have something. Too often, we fall to the lie that we do not have enough to be a blessing or, even worse, that what we have is too good to waste on others. But these are tricks of the enemy.

In today’s scripture, we find Jesus dining at the home of Simon the Leper in fellowship with followers AND haters–and Mary who took what she had, “an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.” While some thought she was wasteful, Jesus understood that Mary was grateful. While that ointment could have been used for economic gain, Mary understood that what you use to honor God becomes far more valuable.

Pray: God, use all of me and all of what I have to honor you. Amen.

Tuesday | August 29, 2023

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Change Them

Take a deep breath. Think about one person in your life that you wish God would just change. You got it. What do you want God to change about that person? Now let’s lift a prayer for the person:

God, do a new thing in this person’s life. Lift their burden. Remove their affliction. Remove the taste of gossip and lying from their mouths. Shift their perspective, God. Let them see it from your perspective and not their own. Oh God, help them to let go of their ego and their “it’s about me, myself, and I.” Lord, please let them see their value and walk boldly in their giftedness! Father, take control and deliver them from addiction. Remove the taste of that which defiles their mind and body. Oh God, reposition them into a place of surrender so their life may glorify you.

I cannot be sure who you had on your mind, but I am pretty sure most reading this did not choose themselves my Lord.

We often pray for a change to occur in others and for others to be moved, delivered, revived, renewed, and redirected, but how often is our first thought about changing ourselves?

Pray: Lord, change my focus from the ways of others to how my ways might glorify you. Amen.

Wednesday

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

What Is On Your Mind?

So much is wrong with the world, yet so much is right. How we choose to see our circumstance makes all the difference in how we can process the experience and prepare for whatever consequences result.

Our social media apps use an algorithm that funnels our content to prioritize what we see on our feeds. Likewise, our thoughts act as an algorithm that influences our actions. When we think on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, and excellent, we reinforce God’s chosen thoughts toward us to be holy and blameless according to the good pleasure of God’s will.

Pray: Lord, keep my mind on that which glorifies you. Amen.

Thursday | August 31, 2023

Jeremiah 30:17

For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: “It is Zion; no one cares for her!”

AChange Is Going To Come

Sam Cooke wrote “A Change is Gonna Come,” a hallmark of the Civil Rights Movement, after being refused admittance to a white-only motel in Louisiana. The climate of that time was one of severe oppression for African Americans. America was replete with the ill effects of racism and hatred shown through violence, murder, theft, and isolation that caused African Americans to be held captive by society. The song was a cry for healing.

The Israelites were also held captive by their oppressors. They looked to outside forces to help in their distress instead of looking to God. They worshiped idols and sought deliverance from those gods and humans. They were living in hard times, just as we are today. The onslaught of stress and tension brought about by COVID-19, death, illness, the reversal of Civil Rights provisions, negative news, systemic racism, and financial insufficiency have ravaged us. These ills serve to distract us from trusting God and believing in God’s desire and power to save us. We, too, need healing.

God always sends a promise of deliverance, recompense, and healing. God told them that he would devour all who devoured them and send their adversaries into captivity, plunder those who plundered them, and make prey of all who preyed upon them. God's promise is the same for us.

God sent Jesus, the ultimate deliverer, to reverse all the negativity we suffer. We trust Jesus and stand on his promise to bring us shalom and total wholeness. We look to Jesus, who has set us free from every enemy of our bodies, souls, minds, and spirits. God, through Jesus, has sent us to restore health and heal our wounds. God is on our side, and Jesus has won the victory on our behalf!

Pray: Lord, help me to wait with anticipation for my change which will surely come! Amen.