The Secret Chamber | A Digital Devotional July 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
Saturday | July 1, 2023
Ephesians 2:10
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them.
Use Your Gifts
I am amazed at how God gives a person so many gifts. What is in one’s creation that one is a multitalented, brilliant, creative leader using the gifts to change the world? Placed in us before we are born, we are all gifted people because we are created in the image of God. Yet, we must live our best lives, utilizing our gifts and trusting God to accomplish what is in us to accomplish.
Today, it is my hope that you recognize your gifts and use them to glorify God and God’s people. Through prayer and thanksgiving, know you are the essence of God’s artistry.
O God, open my eyes to the gifts you placed in me so others will see and follow you.
Pray: God, strengthen me to use my gifts to be a world changer.
Bishop Anne Henning ByfieldPresiding Prelate, 13th Episcopal
District Nashville,Tennessee
https://www.13thdistrictame.org
ahenningbyfield.com
ahenningbyfield@gmail.com
Galatians 3:26-29
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.
Do You Know Who YouAre?
You should know who you are beyond a shadow of a doubt. And you should know whether you are in Christ or not. This is a decision you must intentionally make for yourself. Since you know a decision must be made; you should be sure you know who you spiritually are. You should not just be a weed that grows and is cut down and cast into an oven, but you should be a Psalm 1 believer, that is, a tree planted by the rivers of waters bringing forth fruit. It would be best if you were sure you are on the right side of the spiritual fence. This means, not just being a church worker but being committed to Jesus Christ beyond a Sunday morning experience.
Natural work is necessary; however, you cannot look to your natural, professional, or social self to define who you are. You must define yourself according to God’s Word. Therefore, stop looking to your name, work position, and social status to define who you are. You must make sure you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life. Then with confidence start defining yourself as the scripture tells us; that we are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Define yourself as a born-again, bloodwashed believer in Jesus Christ and heir to the promises of God because you are Abraham’s seed.
Pray: God, help me to see myself in you.
Rev.
Dr. Terri Strong Mt. Sinai AME Church
Arlington, Tennessee
www.mountsinaiamec.com
terristrong3082@gmail.com
Monday | July 3, 2023
Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever
AnAttitude of Gratitude
"Today is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." I don't know about you but there's something about that statement that says everyday should be a day of gratitude. No matter what the weather is on the outside, you should enjoy each and every moment. Let me say it this way: Whatever 'hell' you're dealing with in your life, I urge you to focus on how God has made ways for you, how God has opened doors for you to walk through, and how He's saved you and delivered you from trials and tribulations.
The Psalmist declared, "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." Please don't miss this. Gratitude keeps you focused on the goodness of the LORD. Here's the Sinclair remix. The more you lift your voice in gratitude, the less you worry about stuff happening around you. As I close this message, I urge you to have a faith flashback to everything the LORD has done for you. Once you have your flashback to back then, now think about your right now. With that said, you'll have an attitude of gratitude.
Pray: God, help me celebrate how you have kept me with a heart of gratitude.
Rev. Dr. Sinclair N. Grey, III Fidelity AME Church Atlanta, Georgia
Tuesday | July 4, 2023
Romans 8:1-4
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Freedom
While we might be resting, grilling, or hanging out with family and friends on this Independence Day, let us not forget that true freedom comes from a consistently deepening relationship with God. For as we seek to grow closer to God through our devotion with God, we find strength in knowing that though our flesh may be weak, our relationship with Christ Jesus empowers us to walk not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” Gandhi reminds us that our mind allows us to tap into a higher connection that extends beyond the physical world. We share this connection to God through the Holy Spirit. Through it we have the ability to tap into the provision and peace of God that helps us to transcend earthly cares. This is where we find the greatest sense of freedom.
Pray: God, help me find freedom in you.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Stay Focused
Matthew 6:33 is extracted from the teachings of Jesus to his disciples and the multitudes who followed him. Therefore, we are not to be so concerned about “worldly” possessions we do not have. Instead, we should remain focused on having a “relationship” with God, who will supply our daily needs according to the riches of God.
When we seek the Kingdom of God first, we move towards a deeper relationship with God. Seeking the Kingdom of God first enhances our faith and allows us to stay focused on God. We learn how to trust God, our provider. The more we learn to depend upon God’s Word, the more we can stay focused on who God is and who we are- the children of God.
As we daily “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” we begin to realize that all things are in God’s hands. We begin to set standards and priorities in our lives. Our prayers, praise, and worship will deepen, and when we encounter challenges, (fear, doubts, isolation, illness, economic inequity, social and cultural disparity) instead of questioning God, we will begin to stay focused on declaring God’s wisdom, love, mercy, and grace.
Pray: God, help me to remain focused on who you are in my life.
Anita Hanna Matthews Monumental AME Church Lay Organization Steelton, Pennsylvania anitamatt@verizon.net
Thursday | July 6, 2023
Romans 14:16
So do not let your good be slandered.
Don’t Let Your Good Be Evil Spoken Of
Have you ever known people who always want credit for the work they do?
When it comes to doing church work, work in the church, and God's work, it should be from the heart and not for show. The work we do and the life we live speaks for itself but the way we carry ourselves and the love we show for others should reflect our heart. Kingdom work is not about what's happening on the outside but the work of the Holy Spirit on the inside.
Pray: God, may the work I have done speak for me.
Rev. Christopher Sean Edwards
2 Samuel 12:7
Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul
The Man in the Mirror
We live in an era of deception, unauthenticity, and hypocrisy a time of double standards. One set of laws governs one set of people but not the other. We should be very troubled by the former president of the USA and the cronies who consistently fuel the double standards throughout America. Their goal is to maintain political power at all costs.
The story is told about King David and Prophet Nathan regarding the lawlessness of a citizen. The Prophet Nathan told King David about a rich man who has many sheep and lambs but who takes the only lamb of a poor man. David was justifiably angry at the injustice. King David was so fierce and angry that he inquired about the whereabouts of this lawless individual. Prophet Nathan replied after David’s persistence, “Thou art the man” (The Man in the Mirror). We know by the story’s facts that David had broken about six of the decalogues in his engagement with Uriah and Bathsheba. David walks away with a penitent heart and contrite spirit as recorded in Psalms 51.
May we all be reminded that God has no respect of person. (Romans 2:11) No one is above the Law. God expects us to be lawful and prudent in all that we do. However, when we fall and come short, we must own up to our shortcomings and faults. Don’t allow yourself to measure your wrong by somebody else’s wrong. Wrong is Wrong. Right is Right.
Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin; Each victory will help you some other to win; Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue; Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.
Pray: God, help me to keep your commandments.
Rev. Dr. Spencer Lamar Booker, D. Min. The Cathedral @ St. Paul AME Church St. Louis, Missouri www.PastorBooker.net pastorbooker7@aol.com
Saturday | July 8, 2023
James 4:14-17
14 Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it commits sin.
Facing Your Future With Confidence
James 4:13-17 is an invitation to us to plan our lives in the will of God. It is also a reminder that efficient, effective, and confident planning begins with God.
James is not condemning planning. In Luke Chapter 14, there is a warning about a man who builds a tower but then does not consider how much it costs to build the tower. So, he launches out and starts the tower, and he does not have enough money to finish the tower.
Consequently, people laugh at him because this man started a project and did not complete it. Jesus and James know that we must plan. However, to plan without God is like going through a jungle without a compass. You cannot confidently plan your life without including God because we are dependent beings.
God’s will is perfect. Let God prove it to you. Be encouraged!
Pray: God, help me to subject myself to your plans for me life today and always.
Rev. Chestine Sims, Jr. St. John AME Church Pine Bluff, Arkansas chestinesims@gmail.com
I Thessalonians 5:18
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Cultivating Gratitude
Just take a deep breath and exhale. Go on. Do it again take a deep breath and exhale. That breath, that you were able to take is a blessing. Blessings like this are all around you miraculous ones and routine ones they are all around you. Take a moment each day to pause and think about the blessings that surround you. That moment is called gratitude.
Being grateful is a way of living that will truly transform the trajectory of your life. When we take time to appreciate even what we might consider the most minute routine aspect of life, we find that we are cultivating sowing seeds of gratitude. Sure, this can be a challenge when you find yourself consumed by chaos, but do not forget that from chaos, God creates.
Be grateful for everyday blessings. Learn to find the beauty in every circumstance and to trust that God work all things together for your good.
Pray: God, help me cultivate a heart of gratitude that appreciates both the joys and the hardships. Amen.
Monday
I John 5:14-15
14 And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.
Hear Our Prayer O Lord
Have you ever given any thought to the many scriptures in the Bible that remind us that God hears us?
So, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
“So, I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” Luke 11:9
But truly God has listened; he has heard the words of my prayer. Psalm 66:19
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine Ephesians 3:20
I could go on and on listing scriptures that remind us that God is always listening, and that God hears our every prayer. With that understanding, I wonder why so many Christians never participate in a prayer line. Prayer lines allow us to articulate our concern for ourselves, and to gather with others, and to pray for others. God loves us and wants us to be happy. When we approach God with our wants and needs, God promises to hear us and not only hear but deliver.
May we strengthen our prayer life, so that we might experience the fullness of God.
Pray: God, help me to remember that I can always talk with you, and you hear me.
Rev. Dr. Marietta Ramsey
Bethlehem AME Church
Baltimore, Maryland
ramseyetta1@gmail.com
Tuesday | July 11, 2023
Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
ASacred Invitation
Every day, we face the challenge of what burdens us. Each of us does. We are not alone in this experience. Each day, we have to handle our lives using the emotional, physical, intellectual, socio-economic tools we have acquired. Not one of us escapes this reality; however, each of us receives the same sacred invitation to hear and receive God’s urging of our soul to find rest in God presence. Release your burdens and surrender them to God who offers you an invitation to rest and renewal. Humbly allow God to bring peace to your weary soul.
Pray: God, help me to find comfort and rest in your presence. Amen.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Divine Guidance
When you reflect upon moments in your life, paths you have taken, decisions you have made, and times when you have lost your way, did you surrender those moments to God? Did you surrender your choices and your will to God who is sovereign? Tell the truth. Sometimes? All of the time?
If we have ever found ourselves going against that still small voice in our spirit guiding us in our moments of decision, then like most, we can look back and see moments when we just simply did not follow divine guidance. We were too busy trying to act like we had all the answers, and not focused on surrendering our way and will to God. It is our natural inclination to be in control.
Today, surrender your need for control and allow the God to guide your steps. Trust that the wisdom of God, who is omniscient and omnipotent, will always guide you along the straight path with clarity, direction, and purpose if we trust God’s leading.
Pray: God, help me release my need for control and trust in your guidance. Amen.
Thursday | July 13, 2023
Psalm 23:2-3
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul."
AJourney of Divine Rest
Rest has to be divinely received. Think about it, when is the last time that your earthly circumstances let you rest. Does that happen? We are constantly filling our days with the demands of the world our family, our church, our jobs, our community…you name it, we are involved. That is why the text says that the shepherd “makes” us lie down.
For some of us, we would never stop, we would never have stopped without God’s divine intervention. Remember that health issue, the breakdown, the folks who left, the transfer, the proverbial brick wall that you hit?
In a world filled with constant demands, rest has to be divinely received. It is our calling to lie down and to be still and to be refreshed so that we might be prepared for the work that God has before us. When we rest, we discover how it impacts our spiritual well-being.
Pray: God, help me to receive your divine rest so that I might be refreshed.
Friday | July 14, 2023
Exodus 33:14
"And he said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'"
Sacred Stillness
In God’s presence there is fullness of joy. In that fullness, we find sacred stillness. We do not often embrace stillness because we equate it to idleness. We equate idleness to laziness. But stillness before God does not equate to laziness. It is a habit of trust.
When we develop the habit of stillness, we find that it is not at all about laziness, but it is about detaching from distractions (social media, toxic friends and family, overworking our mind, body and spirit) and connecting to the presence of God.
In the stillness of this devotional moment, seek God’s presence. Quiet the clamor of your mind. Take a deep breath and reflect on the moment, not on what you are choosing to do next, but on who God is now in this moment.
Pray: God, help me to find and embrace sacred stillness. Amen.
Saturday | July 15, 2023
Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God."
Surrendering Control
Rest eludes us because we struggle to relinquish control. In our desire to manage every aspect of life, we inadvertently carry burdens that weigh us down. However, when we surrender our need for control and trust in the sovereignty of God, we find true rest. We lay down our worries and anxieties and leave the outcomes in the capable hands and perfect will of God.
When we release our grip on control and surrender our burdens to God, we find divine order for our living. We find boundaries that in the flesh we are unwilling or too afraid to set. We find priority. We learn to let go of the worries that prevent us from experiencing true rest. We find ourselves. (And we hear our elders saying, “Go sat-down and be still!”)
Whatever you are trying to force into your timing, let it all go. Be still. Let God manifest God’s glory before you.
Pray, God, help me to trust in Your divine plan and timing. Amen.
2 Chronicles 7:14
...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Draw Near
God’s word is clear: humble [yourself], pray, seek [God’s face] and turn from [your] wicked ways. Our gaining access to God gives us the resources we need to strengthen our resolve to improve our world, transform our society, and make society more just and equitable for all.
God challenges us to turn from their wicked ways and turn back to God turn away from false gods, faulty thinking, and evil ways and turn to the true and living God. In doing so, we gain God’s forgiveness and healing.
The people of God need to address the crises of our time, not only crime and violence; but also, unjust policies and systemic inequities that spawn such problems. Today, God is challenging us to rise to the occasion, humble ourselves, pray and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways; so that God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land. Be encouraged!
Pray: God, encourage my heart to repent and seek your face.
Rev. Chestine Sims, Jr. St. John AME Church Pine Bluff, Arkansas chestinesims@gmail.com
Monday | July 17, 2023
Psalm 16:11
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
AFruit of the Spirit
Joy is an all-consuming emotion that fills your heart with an intimate connection with God. While many feel that joy is connected to happiness and that it is only present when our lives are going well, joy itself is most profoundly found when we see God’s grace and mercy in the midst of life’s most challenging circumstances. It is found when we receive the assurance that no matter our circumstance God is with us.
Joy is not contingent upon external factors, but rather in our intrinsic, intimate relationship with God. That relationship is built when we spend time in God’s presence. In God’s presence is where we find fullness of joy. It is where we come to understand that the fruit of living in God’s presence is joy.
In choosing joy in all circumstance, we find God’s strength and peace and patience and hope. In choosing joy, we redirect our focus from our circumstance to how God is using the circumstance to deepen our understanding of God’s presence in our lives.
Pray: God, help me to connect to your presence when I face difficulties.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
No FearAllowed
Many people have some kind of fear. People with fear have allowed something or someone to control them in one way, shape, or form. It's not that they are weak; it's simply a matter of not breaking free of fear and redirecting their energy. Let me say it this way. If you want to break free of fear, don't give it any energy and more importantly, tell yourself you have nothing to fear.
The Bible says, "For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” That's your shout! I want you to get into your spirit that you're called to do great things. Don't settle for average. Don't ever mention it or entertain it. Encourage yourself. Motivate yourself. Through your faith and trust in God, all things are possible. Fear will never prevail.
Pray: God, increase my faith over my fears.
Rev. Dr. Sinclair N. Grey, III Fidelity AME Church Atlanta, Georgia Sinclair@sinclairgrey.org
Wednesday | July 19, 2023
John 9:4
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
AMind to Work
It is so sad for many churches today because the people of God are refusing to return to in-house worship. Pastors are asking themselves how the church can do the work of Jesus without living, breathing bodies. Many who are attending worship in the church only want to come on Sunday for worship. They do not want to do any ministry like feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. However, we must never forget that as followers of Jesus, we must have a mind to work. When Jesus was a youth, he worked as a carpenter and repaired broken things. Then Jesus became a preacher and repaired broken lives. All of Jesus’ life he worked with those considered broken and written off as useless.
Jesus gave living water to a Samaritan woman with a history of failed relationships. Jesus gave a future to a demoniac with a legion of issues. Jesus gave a new purpose to a tax-collecting cheat named Zacchaeus. Jesus gave paradise to a dying thief on the cross. Jesus is working even now to prepare us a home in glory and when it is finished Jesus has promised to come back for us.
Pray: God, help me to always having a mind to work.
Rev. Dr. Marietta Ramsey Bethlehem AME Church Baltimore, Maryland
Thursday | July 20, 2023
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
AHeart-Centered Perspective
Money is necessary entity that holds the potential to bless and to tempt. Our relationship with money informs our priorities and influences our decisions. Truthfully, how we engage money illustrates the desires of our heart, for where our money goes there also goes our heart.
When we have a spiritually enriched relationship with money, we find that our attitude and actions are more purposed. To have a greater sense of peace about our own finance, we must seek God’s guidance in aligning our attitude and actions with God’s wisdom and purpose. In doing so, we learn to focus our relationship with money as one that requires spiritual maturity. When we devote ourselves to our spiritual growth and development in all areas of our lives, we find that earthly matrix associated with money become less impactful in our lives.
We fool ourselves if we believe that we can function without money or some type of currency. We do need money; however, we need even more to understand that money is a tool of commerce and not a measure of our value.
Pray: God help me to shape a sound relationship with money.
1 Timothy 6:10
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Surrendering MaterialAttachments
Money is temporary. Think about the ebbs and flows of your bank account throughout a typical month. Money comes and money goes; however, it does have a way of capturing our focus in unhealthy ways when we do not examine our attitudes and intentions as we seek to obtain money.
Are we eager to pursue wealth and material possessions at the expense of our faith and spiritual wellbeing? Are we pursuing money for money’s sake or are we using it as a tool to build God’s kingdom here on earth?
Living life full of worldly riches does not equate to sinfulness, just as living a life of poverty does not equate to righteousness, but there is a balance found in how we govern our lives in either state. We find that balance when we surrender our attachment to worldly riches and align our attitude and intentions with God's priorities for our lives.
Pray: God, help me to align my priorities so that my heart is free from ill-intentions with money. Amen.
Saturday | July 22, 2023
Luke 16:10
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."
Practicing Stewardship
Say this with me: “Money is not evil.”
How we handle money; however, does reflect our character and our values.
Each of us is called to be faithful stewards of the resources that God has allowed in our lives. Some of us have been entrusted with much, some with little, but God requires that we engage it with integrity. How we handle money reflects how we view its purpose both reflect our spiritual condition.
Our priority must be to seek God’s wisdom in helping us to manage our finances as a means of blessing others and providing for myself and my family.
Pray: God, help me to be a good steward of the resources you have entrusted to me. Amen.
Sunday | July 23, 2023
Matthew 6:19-21"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Seeking Eternal Treasures
I once heard someone say, “those who talk about storing up heavenly treasure only say that because they do not have earthly treasure to store.” It was a sad comment, because there are many who have coffers full who also understand that earthly wealth and possessions are vulnerable to loss and decay. Though money is a significant aspect of our lives, they understand that it is not the controlling factor.
Do you remember the Great Depression? What about the many other global economic crises that we have faced in our very lifetime? There were men and women who counted on their financial gain as their lifeline; however, they were unable to rebound from the devastation of loss because they prioritized the treasure above heavenly values love, compassion, generosity, and service. These treasures never pass away.
Pray: God, grant me the wisdom to determine the distinction between the temporary and the eternal. Amen.
Monday | July 24, 2023
Mark 12:28-31
28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
What Do You Think of Yourself?
It's so easy to get caught up with what other people say about you. Let me say it this way: whether you receive a compliment or a criticism, it's more important how you feel about yourself. When you do not like yourself or love yourself, you will find yourself on a roller coaster ride believing untruths about you. There are times when compliments are good and criticism is needed, but in the end, the determining factor is what do you think of yourself inwardly.
While Jesus was having a teachable moment with His disciples, He told them, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself." Please don't miss the words, “love yourself.” Those two words can bring about renewal, revival, and restoration. That's right; those two words “love yourself” can undo depression, oppression, and low self-esteem.
So, what do you think of yourself? I challenge you to look deep into that question today.
Pray: God, help me to see myself through your eyes. Rev. Dr. Sinclair N. Grey, III Fidelity AME Church Atlanta, Georgia
Tuesday | July 25, 2023
John 2:1-4
2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come.”
Not Yet
It is easy to get caught in doing what others expect of you, especially when others celebrate your work. But what if it is not your time. What if God has more for you in your current position or season? Even if it appears to be a perfect time to shine, what if this is not the appointed time.
Illustrating Jesus’ first recorded miracle, John 2:1-4 reveals Jesus’ compassion for others, as well as his miracle working power. Yet, it reveals something more important, Jesus’ understanding of timing. The timing of anything is such a huge part of its success. Ask a comic about the importance of timing or ask a baker if it ok to take the souffle out of the oven early.
Like Jesus, we must be in tune to timing.
Pray: God, help me to trust your timing in all things.
Wednesday | July 26, 2023
I Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
God’s Love
The Bible says,” Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.” After reading what the Bible says about love you would think that we would approach our love relationships differently. While we know what the Bible says about love, we are still quick to tell people we love them.
We are in love one day and out of love a month or year later. One minute we are in love, and we produce a life from that love but as soon as the child is born, we are no longer in love. Such romantic relationships come and go. This vacillation in love even happens in our friendships. The 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. The more love relationships we get into whether romantic or platonic that end badly, the more cynical we become about love.
If selfish love easily ends, then it must be unselfish love that endures. We know from the Bible that Jesus was the ultimate example of selflessness. Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross because of his great love for us. We are always looking for love in the wrong places. 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? Why do we not reciprocate to God the kind of love God offers us? Our world and our lives would be so much better if we epitomized the Lord’s love. As we grow may we recognize always and give thanks to the Lord because God’s love endures forever.
Pray: God, help me to share the same selfless love with others that you have shared with me.
Rev. Dr. Marietta Ramsey Bethlehem AME Church Baltimore, Maryland ramseyetta1@gmail.com
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Worrying Isn’t Welcomed
Worrying will wear you out. Let me say it this way: The more you worry, the more you drain yourself of energy. Whenever you spend time worrying about this and worrying about that, you'll drive yourself crazy. That's right; worry can't add any years to your life, but it can sure take some years off your life. Think about it for a moment. What has worry even done for you? It can't bless you. It can't do anything for you but cause you to lose faith in the One who can make all things possible.
In writing to the people of Philippi, the apostle Paul declared, " 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Please don't miss this. Worrying wants you to do things your way and not allow God to show up and show out in your life. Here's the Sinclair remix. Worry is not welcomed in your life. As a matter of fact, evict worry and welcome faith. Do this every day and see your life transformed.
Pray: God, help me to release worry and trust your will and your way.
Rev. Dr. Sinclair N. Grey, III Fidelity AME Church Atlanta, Georgia
Sinclair@sinclairgrey.org
Ecclesiastes 3:1
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:
Waiting Season
Is anyone waiting on promises from God?
Why is waiting hard to navigate for believers?
As, a believer I have been waiting for promises to come to pass, for quite some time! In my transparency, it has been difficult, discouraging, a little weary, frustrating, and yet wondering when will my time come?
While in my waiting seasons, I have learned much to help me to hold on until the promises come to pass. I learned to trust God far greater than I ever have before! I learned that while waiting, God is preparing me for the promises. God is working on me so that I may be prepared for those blessings in which God has stored up for me! I learned to increase my prayer life, while truly walking by faith and not sight. I learned to offer more praise and thanksgiving for that which I do have, verses focusing on what I am waiting for. I’ve especially learned that I do not want to get ahead of God’s will so that I do not settle for want something or someone that God has not ordained for my life.
While you are in your waiting season trust and lean deeper on God.
Pray: God, help me to be patient in my waiting.
Ms. Aquilla Marie Bell Saunders Memorial AME Church Detroit, Michigan
Saturday | July 29, 2023
Ecclesiastes 11:7-8
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all, yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
Celebrating the Gift of Life
Life, a precious and wondrous gift bestowed upon us by our Creator. Each breath we take, each beat of our hearts, is a reminder of God's immense love and purpose for our existence. In every moment, whether filled with triumph or challenge, we can celebrate the beauty and miracle of life. Let us cherish the relationships we cultivate, the experiences we encounter, and the lessons we learn. May our hearts overflow with gratitude, embracing the fullness of life's tapestry. Today, let us pause and rejoice, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and our lives are meant to be a testimony of God's grace and unfailing love.
Pray: God, thank you for life and the opportunity to life it today.
Sunday | July 30, 2023
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect.
ARenewed Mind
Never allow yourself to stay in something that's hindering your purpose. Let me say it this way: Whoever or whatever is a distraction needs to be eliminated. Why continue to go through hell when God wants you to experience paradise? All too often, we are our own worst enemy when it comes to deliverance. That's why deliverance and freedom begin in the mind. Unless a person decides in their mind, they want to be free, they will continue to be a slave to that which is hindering them.
The Bible says, "Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect." Please don't miss this. If your mind is right, your actions will follow. Here's the Sinclair remix. It's your mentality that will help shape your reality. I don't care what anyone tells you, you have the power to blow up from the floor up.
Rev. Dr. Sinclair N. Grey, III Fidelity AME Church Atlanta, Georgia Sinclair@sinclairgrey.org
Monday | July 31, 2023
Genesis 8:22
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease.
Embracing the Radiance of Summer
Summer, a season of vibrant warmth and abundant blessings. As the sun graces the sky, it reminds us of God's faithfulness and provision. The beauty of blooming flowers, the gentle caress of a warm breeze, and the joy of laughter-filled gatherings fill our hearts with gratitude. In this season of growth and abundance, may we embrace the invitation to rest, recharge, and connect with God's creation. Let us soak in the sunshine, bask in the beauty around us, and be refreshed by the simple pleasures of life. Summer reminds us to appreciate the present moment and embrace the radiance that God lavishes upon us.
Pray: God, thank you for the joy of each season.