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Go To God: First and Most | Let’s Talk About It (Part 4)

keeshonpatrick

Dear God, thank You for giving me another opportunity to create for the Kingdom. God I ask that You allow this to minister to people. Allow this to meet them, wherever they are. God let them know that they are here on purpose. God, You are never not enough. In every moment, for every situation all we need is You and that is all we will ever need. God help me as I continue to work hard to do the things that, I am writing about today. First and Most. May this be used for Your glory, to show to the world how much we need You. Forgive us for our sins, in mightiest name I know, Amen.

I just got into an argument with my significant other. I pick up my phone and pull up Facebook, because I love that they do not have a character limit. (I can say exactly how I feel and it can be as long as I want it to be.) All these thoughts in my head, I MUST GET THEM OUT. That will help me, right? Anyways, I start typing everything that we have been arguing about for the last hour. People will understand that from my side, right? Anyways, I add a little bit of how I feel to the post, even though I did not say it in the actual conversation. I needed to get it out though, that is all that matters right now. Even if it does not really help anything… at least I got it out, right? Oh well it is, what it is… I just posted it now let me screenshot it, so I can put it on my other socials. Wait… why do I not feel any better? Where are the likes, the comments? Why are people not sharing my thoughts? This was supposed to fix it, why did this not work? You know what, maybe I just need to pray about it.

Insufficient Sources

To be insufficient means to be not enough; inadequate. I am not saying that you are insufficient, but what may be insufficient is the source that you take your problems to. Depending on your social status, you may post things on social media and be met with people who agree with your side of the story. Yet, somehow though you were “right” you still felt the same. You may share your problem with your friend that agrees with you, but even when they agreed; you still felt the same. Your source did not offer peace, it only offered support. It gave you the support to feel “right”, but then you realized how unimportant being “right” is. You realized that the source you have been using is insufficient, so what do you do now?

The most important relationship that you can cultivate is one with God. The reason is that only God can be everything that you have been trying so hard to get people, social media, and other vices to be. Your partner may never be enough, but it is not because he or she does not want to be. It is because they cannot and are not supposed to be. Stop trying to place people, in the void that only God can fill. If you don’t do it now… that is okay, because you’ll soon realize that your source is insufficient. Some sources make you feel better, but it’s temporary until they let you down. Now you’re stuck needing a new source. Let’s do things differently. Gone are the days that we depend on others to fill us up, because we have realized that we come back the same or even more empty. Try Jesus. Not out of obligation, but because you have came to the end of yourself. You have been doing it your way and you know it is time to try something new.

Go To God: First and Most

Let me go to my pops favorite scripture, Matthew 6:33 (ESV) reads, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In this Chapter from verse 25-33, Jesus is teaching that there is no need to be anxious about anything, when you seek God first. You do not have to be anxious about your next meal, about how you will get clothed, because God will take care of it all. Not only will God support, but He will also replenish. He will refill you and the things that you are needing. In fact, Jesus is curious how His disciples can see what God does for the birds and the land, and still not understand how much He will do for them. We serve a God that wants to do for us, what we cannot do for ourselves. That’s what His love looks like. He gives even though He knows that we will NEVER be able to fully return the favor.

Many time we do not realize how important the way that we initially handle our problems is. The truth is we will not realize this until we notice just how much we need God. Then we will understand that we do not only need to go to Him first, but we need to go to Him the most. Life is tough and we constantly face situations that will bring us back to God, but the question is will we go to Him first or will we try to handle things our way? He is there and He is waiting to fulfill all of the things that we need.

This week let us try to go to God in prayer, the moment that we feel anything; good or bad. As we learn to go to Him first, we will eventually start going to Him the most. Then we will feel the switch of reliance on ourselves, to full reliance on God. I’m not sure about you, but things in my life seem to work a little more efficiently when God has His righteous hand on it. My life seems to feel a little more stable, when I take my mess to God and not social media. Trust me it is doable, but it will take commitment. If you are like me then, you may have to break the cycle of running to social media or people in an attempt to be refilled. You may fall a couple times, but you can still do it! Do not give up on God and do not give up on yourself.

Can I pray for you?

Dear God, thank you for your guidance through this blog. Today through you, I have challenged my readers to try to put you First and Most. God, I know that they will need you to provide them strength and courage. Help them fight the temptations of doing things their way. God step in and allow them to feel Your presence over each of their lives. You have never failed and You will not start with them. God for the person that is battling depression, help them know that things will be okay. Help them understand that they are enough. God I ask that You place people in their lives that are their just to remind them of their worth. God there is someone who is struggling with abuse, both physical and mental. Give them the courage to leave that situation, be their peace. Allow them to feel Your love and warmth. God for those who are dealing with anything under the sun, remind them like you did in Matthew 6, that You got them. Lastly, Lord, I just ask that You help them put You first. If nothing else gets received in this post, please help them come to You first. Help them realize that only You can fill that void that they feel. You are the only sufficient source that exist. Thank You God for simply being God. Forgive us all for our sins, in Your might name I do pray, Amen.

I love you and want to see each of you succeed with God. I think one of the fundamental ways to do so, is to learn to put Him first. Until next time remember, Go To God: First and Most.

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The Dot Connector

keeshonpatrick

Dear God, first I just want to say thank You. I want to thank You not for what You do, but for Who You are. God, You have been better to me than I deserve and the beauty is that You will never change. You will keep on loving me and that alone will always be enough. God as I journey through life, I ask that You direct my steps into Your will. One day I will meet You face-to-face and it will be such a joyous day. Until then Lord, cover my life. God I pray for those who will read this today and find a word that resonates in their heart. God step in and do what You do. God thank you. God today I pray that you guide us. God I pray that you help us find community. THIS FEELS SO GOOD… THANK YOU! Forgive us for our sins. For Your glory, amen.

Community according to my search engine of choice Google, is defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

Yet in a day that is filled with social distancing restriction, loneliness, and mask. It has become harder to not only find community, but simply be together. The beautiful thing about this is that we serve a God that specializes in connecting the dots. To be a Dot Connector, in today’s society is to be a person that is well connected. A person that is so connected that people trust their references, when looking for new networking opportunities. Again I want to emphasize that if you are Christian, you know and have the connection with the best Dot Connector ever. The G.O.A.T. of all Dot Connectors, Jesus Christ.

Collected Then Connected

To be completely, honest we are all just dots, though unique and purpose filled. We are floating, waiting to be collected then connected like one of my favorite arcade games, Pac-Man. What does it mean to be collected then connected? As you play Pac-Man, you notice that once Pac-Man collects the dots, you do not see them again. Once those dots are collected, they are all connected just from being collected by Pac-Man.

Let’s put it in terms of Christ. As a dot, we may serve a different purpose, but it is not until we are collected that we can understand the power of being connected. It is when we believe in Christ, that we become collected by the connector. In Romans 12, verses 4 and 5, you will see that we become one body in Christ, when we become Christians. “4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Regardless of race, sex or class as Christians under God, we become one. (That will be a tough pill for some to swallow.) We are collected through God’s grace, then connected by our faith. We are not collected to be separate. We are collected to be connected. You have to understand the importance of this concept to fully grasp why it is so important to be connected and have community. Jesus, God the Son connects us to God, the Father. Then through God, the Holy Spirit, you feel the presence of God. (Remember the Holy Trinity is the beginning of all things John 1:1. God sent His Son for us, that when we believe we will be filled with the Holy Spirt. Romans 8:9, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13.)

So Are You Gathering In His Name?

God promises to be in the midst of those that are gathered in His name. You want change, you want to be more like him, you want to feel more connected… then you may need to check who and why you are doing the things that you are doing. Community is one of the most important things that God gives us. My community helps me stay connected through sermons, songs, and Biblical truths from the Word of God. I trust that when we are together, God is in the midst, because I know that we come together in His name. We are not in competition for who is the better Christian, we just want to be better in general.

If I can be honest though, all of my relationships have not always been like that. I have had relationships that did not involve God. (The beautiful thing was that He was still very close.) This verse is about the intentionality of inviting Christ into every situation. God can be in the midst of your car ride with your friends. God can be in the midst of relationships. God can be in the midst of your talk with a stranger on the street or the bus. God cannot be in the midst of somewhere that you do not invite Him into. He knows, but God gives us free will.

HE IS THERE.

What Would You Do? One of my favorite songs of 2020 from Elevation Worship, Graves Into Garden project, focused on the emotion that we would have if God walked in to a room that we were in. At the end of the song, Zeek (Isaiah Templeton), sings, “He’s here right now.” As we gather in His name, let this verse remind us that He is here. God will always do His part. God will be there. He will not let us down.

2020 helped me realize that this verse goes further than the four walls of the church. In fact, it reminded me of something that Mrs. Margaret Hickman, used to remind us often in Bible Study and Sunday School: You are the church. After I heard and believed that thought, these lyrics gave me chills, “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true.” These lyrics ring out in my mind, reminding me of how important it is to be connected to Christ.

Remember, we are collected then connected, by the greatest Dot Connector of all time, Jesus Christ.

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Preparing For Greatness (Joshua 1:9) | Devotion

keeshonpatrick
Providing those who may not have the time to read an alternative way to be a part of the blog. Hit play and I pray that you enjoy!

Dear God, I am entering a new season in my life. I feel it coming and I know that I am going to need You, more and more. Allow this post to bless others, as much as I know that it will bless me. Guide my fingers to type a message that could only be from You. God this is the beginning of something amazing. Through You, I can do all things. For your glory, Amen.

Greatness is coming. Will you be ready for it or will you have to watch it pass you by?

You are my strength, strength like no other and it reaches to me.

Have you ever felt as if you were waiting on God to come through and push you towards your “big break”? You feel prepared, you have met the requirements, and you are even above the expected standard. You have come to the belief that the only reason that you have not “made it” is, because God has put your life on hold. You have not taken it far enough to think that He is punishing you, but you are starting to wonder, “God, what exactly are You preparing me for?” He whispers, “Greatness,” but you cannot hear Him over your internal questioning.

God does not want us to live in confusion, yet He may not tell us everything that we need to know. He believes in us to have faith, just like we believe in Him to make a way. The most beautiful part about God, is that even when we have doubt in him coming through, He is still with us. God is the cheat code. God is the answer key.

Strength + Courage = The First Steps of Preparation

Strength is not always seen as an outward appearance. Most of the time strength is this internal urge, to do or be more. The type of strength that I want to focus on today, is the strength that gives you, the courage to take the first step. The one thing that is more important than having that strength and courage is: knowing where it comes from, which means knowing who it comes from. Psalms 28:7-8 says, “7 The Lord is my strength and my shield: my heart trust in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. 8 The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.”

So, if God is our strength and having strength takes courage, then guess what? The first steps of preparation is actually believing that God, provides the things that you need to get started. The first steps of preparation is knowing that God is with us.

It is when we do not believe that God is with us, that we start to fall victim to our fears. I am not going to lie to you, when you are truly doing things without God… it is scary. You are constantly on edge, because of the void that His covering gives. His covering allows you the opportunities to start, to mess up, to keep going, to take a break and to do it all while being confident that He will match the vision with provisions.

In this moment, I feel that it is important to provide those who may need it an opportunity to get started on the right foot. Your greatness is coming, and I do not want you to miss out!

If you do not yet have a relationship with God, but you are feeling led to start, say this aloud:

“Dear Father,

I now believe that Jesus Christ is Your only begotten Son, that He came down to our earth in the flesh and died on the cross to take away all of my sins and the sins of this world. I believe that Jesus Christ then rose from the dead on the third day to give all of us eternal life.

Lord Jesus,

I now confess to You all of the wrong and sinful things that I have ever done in my life. I ask that You please forgive me and wash away all of my sins by the blood that You have personally shed for me on the cross. I am now ready to accept You as my personal Lord and Savior. I now ask that You come into my life and live with me for all of eternity.

Father, Jesus – I now believe that I am truly saved and born again.

Thank You Father.
Thank You Jesus.”

If you said either of these aloud and you believed it in your heart. I would love to personally congratulate you and welcome you to the family. He led you to this post for a reason. He used it to open your heart and ease your burden. Never forget that He loves you and has plans for you, that you have not even planned for yourself. Let Him use you. Yield yourself, so that He can show you the plans He has for you. All it takes it just a little trust, in Matthew 17:20 the Bible says, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Preparing For Greatness, is simply the process of understanding Who makes you great.

Let's Talk About It

My Superpower (What’s Yours?) | Let’s Talk About It (Part 3)

keeshonpatrick
Wanted to provide those who may not have the time to read with an alternative way to be a part of the blog. Click play above, then follow along or just listen. Remember, God is so God!

Dear God, I am thankful to be used again. I ask that You guide my hands and collide my heart and mind to give people a message. You made me specifically to fulfill my purpose. I do not take it for granted. Lord, allow this little light to shine, letter by letter, word by word. For anything that may be unclear, I ask that You give clarification in the right time. For your glory, Amen.

From a young age, I can remember my mother telling me, “Be a leader, not a follower.” Little did she know that she was cultivating an important principle in me. A principle that I think to be my Superpower. Each time that she told me to be a leader, I knew that it was important to her for me to be myself. There is nothing like making your parents proud and I feel the same way about making God proud. I knew that leadership was a fundamental quality to becoming my own person. More importantly, I learned that not following the crowd could be the difference between life and death. At a young age, I learned the significance of a decision. “Do you jump off the bridge, because your friends do it? Do you smoke weed, because your friends do it? Do you have sex, because your friends do it? Do you buy things, because other people like it?”

Getting caught up in following others, can eventually make you think … what about me?

So, let’s see what the Bible says about you:

Hey Siri, what does the Bible say about people pleasers? “10Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10 makes it very plain. Within following others, you eventually lose yourself. Yet, that is not the way of Christ, Jesus was not in the business of pleasing people. He moved with one purpose in mind; He wanted people to believe in His Father. He just wanted to make His Father proud. He wanted to fulfill the purpose that He was born with. Jesus understood that He was the bridge that people would take, to be connected to His Father. This is why pleasing people and serving Christ does not mix. You cannot serve the purpose that people have for you and serve the purpose that Christ has for you too! Pick one and make sure you choose wisely.

See once you have a relationship with Christ you cannot do what everyone else does. You cannot think like everyone else thinks. You actually learn many things about who you truly are, once Christ comes into your life. You learn about your discipline, because those temptations do not go away, but the way that you handle them changes. The problems that you face do not fade, but you depend on a different source to fight them. Your old habits may still come across your mind, but you know that you have made too much progress to go back now.

Many times, this is where we get stuck and go back to being like the crowd. We accept Christ, we listen to every sermon on YouTube, we follow all the pastors on social media, and we even play worship music all day. Yet, when we go through a test of our faith; we still feel like God left us high and dry. Can I let you in on a secret? God sent the storm! He thought that we knew where our Superpowers came from.

The reason why I can enjoy being myself is, because I know whose I am. My superpower comes from supreme faith, that God will use things that are both good and bad to build me. Don’t get me wrong, I still see things and compare and maybe even wish my situation could be different. Sure, I wish I could be ripped up like some Amiri jeans, I wish I could have a perfect smile and I wish for many other things. But the one thing that I promise is, I’ll never let the things I want; discourage me from being thankful for the things that I have.

Remember what David thanked God for in Psalms 139:13-14:

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

There is not another, you, on this Earth to fulfill your purpose. So even if we do things similar, it is essential that you understand the uniqueness that you bring to the table. Your superpower is YOUR SUPERPOWER. It may be kindness, respect, nurturing, calmness, or maybe even confrontation. Serious question: How many people know that behind every nice person, is a person that will tell the waitress that their loved one food is not right in a respectful manner? Hopefully. Everything you are can be used! Just know that whatever your Superpower is, it is not meant to be compared, because then you will waste too much time comparing it and not enough time using it.

God has given me too much, to focus on the things that he has not given me, yet.

So now that you know my Superpower, what’s yours?