Whitnee's journey with Christ

While sitting in church I received a distressed call from my father in law asking me to go to check on my mother in law. I thought it was weird he would call me of all people but verses hesitating, questioning, or ignoring his request- I left. I got to Ezelda’s house a few minutes later (thank God the church is in walking distance from their house to find her listening to her Sunday service with Diamond and Pepper standing on guard at the door.

She apologized for startling me and explained what happened that caused Rodell to go into a panic. I’m just glad she was safe and sound. Verses seeming insensitive God placed it on my heart to stay for a little while and chat- it was nice.

The conversation had come to a wrap and verses heading back to church for Sunday school, I decided to ride to clear my head. I ended up catching a piece of “Glimpse of Glory” from the Word of God Church. Bishop Eric Davis had been talking about emotional escapes. The message was so flavorful that I sat in the car once I made it to my destination and even downloaded the FM transmitter app on my phone to finish listening to the radio. It sparked something deep within my soul and really put me in the mood for silent meditation.

Over the next five or six hours I sat in a room alone and just prayed, reflected, and meditated in silence. Let’s just say after a few days of vigorous scheduling it was nice to unwind and be one with God.

After my quiet time with God I had planned to write last night but rest came upon me in the sweetest way.

I had some unsettling thoughts while I slept and it got me of schedule this morning. It threw my morning routine off and I didn’t have time to do my check ins to see how everyone was doing. I got the kids off to school and still I had this great unsettling feeling that I couldn’t shake. Not knowing what it was I decided to do what I was taught to do; stop and pray.

As I prayed and chatted with my peeps a tad and went through work emails, the word soul ties comes to mind. Not being able to find that terminology in my concordance, I went to Google.

I didn’t find what I was looking for there but I stumbled upon a passage of scripture from the book of 1 Samuel. That scripture reading had me hungry for more so before I know it I had read 1 Samuel chapters 16 through 20. It’s like my brain was so excited I couldn’t type as fast as the thoughts were going through my head.

And then it hit me! I was grief stricken. I was overcome with great sadness and pain. My soul cried for personal reasons, for our children, for those in the prison system, for those sick and shut in, those in mourning, the homeless, the broken, for the wayward folks, and so much. It’s like I had been hit with so many emotions all at one time, it was overwhelming!

In that moment and hours after I had to pray and ask God to govern my mind, my thoughts, help me to not overthink, help me to not fear, help me to trust, help me to obey, help me to listen for His voice, and strengthen my faith. You see I’ll be honest the devil can play tricks on my mind if I allow him to. I have to stay grounded in the Word and rebuke Satan with God’s Promises.

For todays message I want to focus on a particular verse that stood out to me in the midst of my morning reading that lead into my cry out for the Lord.

And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and be a man of war from his youth.” 

1 Samuel 17:33

This scripture was Saul telling David he didn’t have what it took to defeat Goliath.

BUT GOD!!!!

David wasn’t worried. David had no fear.

Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

1 Samuel 17:26

How quickly we can have fear in our hearts and doubt in our mind if we look through the eyes of flesh. As I studied and read the Word I see Saul looked the eyes of flesh aka eyes of man often. Biblical scholars would say it was because of this and his lack of faith in God that eventually led to his own demise.

Scripture goes on to say in 1 Samuel 17:37

Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

It took relying on God and His word and truly keeping the faith for David to have such peace, display such confidence, and the ability to be able to defeat Goliath. As scripture tells us in verse 51, David used Goliath’s sword to cut off Goliath’s head.

There is a gospel song that says, “what the enemy meant for evil, God will use for His good!” 1 Samuel 17:51 is an example of this.

After reading the Word this morning it gave me the relief I needed. I had to refuel on the Lord. God lead me to this Scripture to encourage me. His Word and reading the faith of David really inspired me and help me shake what had me feeling so deeply overwhelmed earlier today.

Sometimes we need to pull ourselves back from certain circumstances or situations to refuel on the Word. I had to fast, I had to pray, I had to cry out, I had to ask God for help.

How quickly we can get distracted. How quickly we get overwhelmed when we think of all the evil in this world, all the tricks and temptations of this world, looking at the news, financial issues, health problems, car trouble, whatever else may be going on. It’s easy but we have to have the faith of David and remember who is in control.

The flesh in us is going to get weak; we are human, we aren’t God. But God tells us to tap into the Holy Spirit and lean our faith.

No matter how dark the road looks, no matter how desolate and alone you may feel, no matter what social media have people thinking and doing GOD IS IN CONTROL! The same way David defeated Goliath, the same way all of the attempts Saul pinned against David failed, and the list goes on God will rescue us.

Being transparent, God had to rescue me from my mind and my overthinking. He had to pull me from the direction I was headed. I don’t want y’all thinking I’m all put together and deal with some internal things because IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE LORD ON MY SIDE- I DON’T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE!!!

And I want to clarify one thing right now: every bad thing that happens to us is not because of the devil. Sometimes God allows or even requires us to face certain challenges and tribulations. Read 1 Samuel 30:1-6.

Just because you are blessed and highly favored doesn’t mean you won’t go through some things. It doesn’t mean you are automatically exempt from hardships in this life. No the Bible never said that. But I call you what the Bible did say!

The Bible says He will never leave us nor forsake us. The Bible also says in Galatians 6:9 that we should not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not loose heart.

My sisters and brothers I want us to learn how to find courage in the midst of everything going on. Let us strive to look through the eyes of Faith verses the eyes of flesh. Let us continue to try and not loose heart through we may have moments where we grow weary. Allow adversity to help shape and mold you like God’s intent for it verses the enemies attempt to destroy us or make us feel defeated.

May God richly bless you and keep you and your family. May He give you strength where you are weak and may He continue to mend what is broken. May His love shower you with peace and His grace be sufficient. I pray we will stand confidently and boldly and profess our faith even in the midst of trials and tribulations that will come because we know our God is faithful. May we learn to support one another through our weak moments where we grow weary and impatient and help guide those struggling to God who is merciful and mighty. Help us Lord because some don’t know when we stand taller in You, the enemy throws bows left and right but we cannot ever doubt You for we know You hold all power in Your hand. And God we just thank you right now Lord for we know that you will deliver us out of our afflictions. Thank you God for courage and for favor for we pray this in the sweet name of Jesus, Amen and Amen.