Author: marquitabp

I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us–yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. Isaiah 63:7

Since the beginning of this month, I have sharing via my Facebook page things for which I am grateful. And today, only 12 days into it, I am so full. Having a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness for each day truly does change you. As I read the comments from my posts, I have been encouraged to continue to see where God leads me from there.

As I was thinking of this, God reminded me of a step of faith I started at the beginning of the year. In addition to my first 40 day fast, I also began to confess the Prayer of Jabez daily. For your reference: Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NASB) I read this book my mom had, and I have not stopped saying it since. I know it is a combination of fasting, praying, being obedient, and exercising my faith that has allowed me to see God’s movement in my life.

I love this song: Awesome. It is a wonderful praise and worship song about God and His awesomeness! From this journey and throughout my life I have truly seen God’s hands moving and working things out for me, and I cannot deny His greatness!

We need all need to acknowledge God’s goodness. It is when we do so, we knock the enemy out of commission. Pressing to have an attitude of gratitude in spite of whatever things may come keeps us focused on God and allows God to focus on our problems. When we move out of His way and choose to be grateful regardless of what we see, we win the faith fight and God sends those final blows to the enemy to demolish his attempts and attacks. I challenge you to recognize God’s goodness in your own life, and as you begin to be grateful and thankful for what He has done in your life, you will experience a transformation of your own!

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

“Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 GWT

Towards the end of last year and at the beginning of this year, a major aspect of all my dreams has been me changing clothes. I have spoken to a few people to interpret those dreams and God has also revealed to me the meaning. When we change clothes, usually after work or going to the gym, that process involves us cleaning ourselves up by showering and literally putting on new clothes. At the end of that process we feel refreshed and renewed. I don’t have to tell you, but I will tell you anyway, I have changed a lot in the last 6 months. Truthfully those changes began before then but they have been on a fast track lately.

I do not think I really got the meaning of those changes until just now. I will be moving to New Orleans (yes now I can share it with the world) on July 28, leaving behind the past and fully heading into my destiny. I do not know everything that awaits me there in New Orleans, but I know a huge aspect of that will be in pursuing my dreams and fulfilling God’s will for my life. That in itself requires a ‘change of clothes’–I cannot do the same things I used to do. I cannot party like I used to (although I do not really party like that). I have to let go of some old habits and behaviors, and I have to leave some people in the past. It hurts a lot, to leave people and things behind. But I’m much more blessed at the fact that I will be closer to the place that God is calling me to, closer to doing everything He put in my heart.

Change is difficult. And the most important part of this process is in the shedding of old ‘clothes.’ I have had a lot of things that were rooted in my mind and heart that God has delivered me from. He has stripped all of it off me, and is cleansing me. Next year this time I will have moved miles away from here in every realm–physically, spiritually and mentally. I pray that you do the same. Changing clothes is fun especially when the end result is much more than you have ever imagined. I never imagined when I started writing devotions 3 years ago at the end of the Essence Festival that I would be here and that I’ll be moving there, that I would have gone through so much and survived. As the tears fall now, I thank God for my changes. I thank Him for everything! I thank for my failed health so that He could restore it. I thank Him for Timeka and my daddy, because I started to live when they died. I thank Him for lost love because I found Him when I was broken…I found LOVE. I thank Him for deferred dreams because now I have more of the picture to paint. I thank Him for it all, and when you read my post next year this time, I’ll be right where He wants me, this time, in new clothes.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV