Whitnee's journey with Christ

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 

Colossians 3:16-17

Growing up I fell in love with music. I loved it so much that in elementary school I was introduced to it first hand by way of chorus and being able to sing in church and go on to play the violin. My parents always gave us what was needed even when they couldn’t afford what we wanted; looking back I can say we never went without. I remember days we might have been cold, in my youth I would have never known if the power was out due to nonpayment because my parents didn’t talk about those things but I knew daddy kept a kerosene heater that warmed the whole house. I remember times when he would cook beans on that kerosene stove and we would bundle up in the living room and would go to sleep on the cot of blankets my mom made for us.

Society would label us as the bottom feeders or poor but no matter what we were classified as, I thank God my parents taught us about God. In Christ, we were a rich family! My mother would pray until our legs would go to sleep and my daddy would preach the roof off of the church. He studied God’s word daily and my mommy worked tirelessly helping other people especially children and seniors. They were always doing something for other people. Growing up in the Davis household you knew you would get these four things if nothing else: life lessons on God and the Good News of His love, good food, good music, and laughter that was healing and brought peace even on the darkest of days.

Daddy would be playing The Spiritual QC’s, The Williams Brothers, Bob Marley, The Mighty Clouds of Joy (you could tell Daddy liked his quartets), Luther Vandross, Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Dolly Parton, The Isley Brothers, and the list goes on. He introduced us to many genres during his lifetime but one genre set the precedence in our home- and that was gospel music. It was something about gospel music that let us know better than Bob Marley, that “every little thing would be alright!”

I can’t speak for your household but I know growing up in the black community, music and food were staples. It was so important and it gave us a reason to gather and to celebrate.

Question: What genre of music hits home for you and brings back those memories of your childhood? Any song in particular? Does it still have a lasting impression on your life?

I miss that good ole fashion black gospel music that would have me on my feet jumping, clapping, crying, screaming, and now that I think about probably burning more calories after praise and worship then the calories I burn now. It brings peace to any storm I face, I makes me remember mommy and daddy, it helps release negative thoughts and bad emotions, and it restores parts of me that doubt, fear, and feel helpless at times. Thank God for YouTube and the chance to visit churches that keep those old songs alive.

Current day we have Mr. Joe who too talks about the songs he grew up with. A lot of times the songs are very similar in meaning or in word, though the melody is different. My favorite part is when Mr. Joe talks about the hymn stories. The joy on his face when he provides historical data about the songwriter brings me joy and I love learning facts about what inspired the song that became a movement for decades down the road. I was sad when Mr. Joe had surgery and was told not to sing or speak a lot in order for his healing but boy oh boy was I excited when Mr. Joe came back bigger and stronger with his hymn stories!

I wholeheartedly believe that music is a gift from God. It is vital when it comes to praise and worship and to bring about healing. Personally speaking it helps me to praise Him, it helps me to worship Him, it helps me to stay encouraged! Again I ask, what does music mean to you? Is it more than just a melody?

Though the music has changed a good bit, God’s word still remains the same and for that I am grateful!

The Bible has many places where music has been used as a teaching method or a way of encouragement. Think about all the beautiful instruments that were played in the temple of David. I’ll go a step further even when you look at some secular music, some of the lyrics hit home. It still tells a story even presented in a different way.

Now in this part of today’s devotional I have to provide a personal testimony about how God moved a mountain of fear, confusion, and sadness just yesterday. You are free to keep on reading or go straight to the bottom of today’s message where you can share your personal experience about music and how it influenced or influences you!

The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:2, set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Some of you may or may not know that my body has been going through some changes since late July, early August. Things that no matter the graphic details had me at points when I was on my knees pleading and asking God to spare my life. I’ve experienced pain that even after three pregnancies didn’t add up to what has been going on. And then out of the blue I get a call from Angela and her spiritual sister that shifted my standpoint. It was confirmation of what I had been feeling but didn’t speak aloud because I allowed what mere man said take precedence over what I knew it was. And to think I had just attended a prayer walk led by Faith on Saturday morning that spoke on it. In my weakness I still wanted to show up and support and be blessed by God’s word through her. And for any of y’all who have been under attack, you know the enemy HATES when we push forward and still give the glory to God.

After my phone call with Angela and prayer time I had a pain in my pelvic area that felt like Jax from Mortal Combat entered into my office yesterday and snuck me real quick. So I went to the bathroom and when I came out one of my coworkers looking genuinely concerned and asked me if I were okay. I replied, not really but it will be okay. I went back to my desk and closed the door and cried out to God. I asked Him for His strength and to help me not pass out in this office. I was determined not to go back to the emergency room and I was determined not to have another bill lingering over my head- so I did what i only knew how to do pray and ask God for help.

It was in that moment I felt that the enemy and the Lord were tussling in my stomach (please be mature about this and don’t focus on the gory details but wait for the blessing that God provided) and if it weren’t for my faith in God I would have thought the enemy was winning. But you and I know that God wins the Battle and that victory belongs to Him. And so with God’s strength I mustered up the strength to tag team with God and He passed the torch and it was my time to give the enemy and uppercut to the dome. IN YOUR FACE DEVIL! In the mist of my groaning, The Message was in the dream, was birthed.

Shortly after I had no choice but to take an early lunch break to rest. I was hurting so bad I couldn’t even walk to the car to take a nap so I turned my monitor off and sat at my desk and closed my eyes. I was drained and asked God to take over. I hummed Stand by Donnie McClurklin and God allowed me to rest in the shadow of His wings. 30-45 minutes had passed and I woke up with a new attitude!

I wasn’t in pain, I didn’t feel like I just jumped out the pool, I was okay! Thank God, I felt okay?!

I said I wasn’t going to end up in the ER that day but the enemy tried to be funny and I ended up there any way, but not for myself. Emmanuel and William had middle school basketball tryouts and 13 minutes into tryouts Emmanuel rolled his ankle. On my way to the school I prayed it wasn’t broken- it would be exactly 11 months ago he broke his left ankle on the same court. I thought this cannot be “karma” or a repeat of last year so I prayed all the way to MUSC, I prayed when they took him back for X-rays, I prayed as we waited in the waiting room, and I prayed and praised when the doctor announced it was just a bad sprain.

We got back home and it was time to sit down because this momma was tired. Before I got in bed I had to do my nightly routine and from the bathroom I announced a gross but positive detail- I was so happy! I texted my buddy and told her I was about to make some hot tea and lay it down.

Ya’ll won’t believe what happened next?!

I took three or four sips of my tea and handed it to Rico so I could get on the bed. Out of nowhere he spilled my tea. I couldn’t understand how it had happened but before I climbed in the bed, Jax from Mortal Combat came back with vengeance. Not to be so graphic but it’s as if my water had just broken. All I could do is cry out Lord help me please!!!

Rico came to the “murder scene” and tended to me with so much tenderness, grace, compassion, and love! Out of the 18 years we have been married, he had never done what he did last night- I thank God for this moment where it’s like the Earth stood still and the butterflies I felt for him before he broke my heart returned!

Look back at Colossians 3:2. Go on to verse 3, it reads (DON’T MISS WHAT GOD’S WORD IS SAYING HERE) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

I need us to feed on the Word of God for a moment.

Let’s continue with verse 4 and read until verse 11. Y’all with me, we are in Colossians, chapter 3 start again from verse 2. I normally provide it for you but I want you to pause and get your Bible or open your Bible app or Google if you have to Colossians 3:2-11.

Verse 2 says, set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

This scripture verse is talking about God’s transformation in us.

‼️ Warning this next sentence includes graphic detail. ‼️

As my physical body was shedding blood, God was transforming something inside of me. He was shifting my mindset and giving me peace that no matter what I was going through physically, the transformation for His glory was taking place.

In that moment it was confirmation to not focus on my current situation and how many more days of shedding I would have to deal with but yet focus on the one of true, faithful God who is the Author and Finisher of my faith and who restored my soul letting me know that it is all apart of His divine plan.

YALL I come to tell you that sometimes it’s parts of us that has to DIE in order for God to live in us. He has been working on me for a long time, and I’m not tired yet! He has put the TEST in my TESTIMONY time after time after time after gin after time! And sometime I was so ashamed of what I was going through or felt like the topic was too fragile that I kept it to myself. There were times that I felt like this is for me but God was telling me, “this battle is not yours Whitnee’ it is mine and I have instructed you to speak the Good News to my people. I’ve had to let my selfish ways die and my disobedience die in order for God’s word to reach His children.

Inspiration All Around Me was birthed at a time in my life when I could have allowed my emotions and anger and let’s be honest rage and feelings of hate to have we in jail (I was ready to cut that heifer) but God used that pain to fuel the fire and birth the start of this devotional ministry. It was the same pain that has had me down on my knees since October 5th praying and praising God. It is the same pain that I am finding strength and courage and it is healing me to be vulnerable with whomever reads these messages to encourage you.

Now let’s look at Colossians 3:16, the Scripture verse of the day. God wants us to use our story, our lives, our joys, our sorrows, our shortcomings, our mistakes, or mess, our love for Him to encourage other people. And God is so powerful and gracious that He allows the very same people that we strive to tell of His goodness, to bless us.

I think about times when I was going through hell and no one knew the anguish because I don’t talk about it (I give it to God) and I was there for them in their time of need. But how glorious our God is that in my times of weakness, pain, and devastation He would send a text, a song, a scripture, a phone call, or written prayer or spoken prayer, or a compassionate, genuine “BaBez are you okay!” to bring every thing I stood in need of.

I got lost in God’s goodness and didn’t realize how long today’s message was so I will start to bring this message to a close tying it back to music.

So after Rico helped me get cleaned up and in the bed, I googled and saw that caffeine (not realizing my tea had caffeine) in it will do the reverse effect of what I drunk it for in the first place. The Holy Spirit guided Rico to spill the hot tea, even if it was unintentional in his eyes. I got in the bed and turned on that good ole gospel music.

Rico and I sat in silence and listened to songs from my childhood that still reign in my life today. Although I heard these songs many times, it was something about the lyrics last night that were a balm to my very soul and it was personal. I listened to Rico hum and repeat some of the lyrics that were God’s sweet affirmation to me that every little thing was going to be alright.

Healing is on the way!!! I kept saying that! I cried, He cried, we shared a moment of a long, warm embrace and intimacy that surpassed any moment of passion and like that three-strand cord, God was in the middle and in the midst. Rico prophesied and prayed over my body and I believe it was what I needed, what he needed, and what our marriage desperately needed to mend things and begin to heal together in Christ.

God told me to tell you that we cannot grow without the help and love of each other.

I thank God for the genuine concern and texts of care from Kelly, Mrs. Rita, Jasmine, Angela, Terri and others. I thank God for the beautiful prayer I received this morning from Faith that brought conviction and confirmation to my soul. I thank God for God using Rico to speak to my heart and bring about a change in me that allowed things to die for me to grow in Christ. I thank God for the beautiful life of 12 year old Jailyn whose live has inspired me to stand tall and no matter what I face, to do it with love and keep going with God’s grace. I dedicate this message to Jailyn’s mom who had to bury her precious daughter a few days ago- though I don’t know her personally by looking at her story these last few months and seeing the videos of her strength and angelic smile last night in the midst of my praise and worship time- it gave me just what I stood in need of.

My brothers and sisters God wants us to remain faithful. He wants us to know that they may take away of folks EBT, WIC, Medicaid, housing and whatever government assistance that was created to help people that He is still faithful and He is our provider. In the words of Ralph Davis, “we gonna eat regardless.”

It is my prayer that the lyrics and melody of the songs of your heart will guide you and keep you in God’s perfect peace manifesting and feasting on the word of God. It is my prayer that we shine God’s light so that the unbelievers, brokenhearted, and weary souls see a glimpse of Heaven and Christ through you!

And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” Charles F. Stanley says, Each of us has some special work or ministry to which the Lord has assigned us. To what has God called you? Do you know the particular mission He has carved out for you? How are you working to fulfill it?

I’ll end today’s message with a scriptural challenge. Colossians 4:5-6 says, walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you out to answer each one.

🎶 Melodies from Heaven, rain down on me, rain down on me. 🎶