Category: Devotions

Having Faith in the Name

“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.” Acts 3:16

Growing up, among many things I did not like about myself, I could not stand my names. I looked up my first name often to find no meaning; it was not a typical name. As I got older, I realized that my name instantly cast me into a box—definitely African American. For the life of me I did not understand where they came from or who thought of them. My momma was always the one to correct people when they mispronounced it. I had this one teacher…all my EC alumni know how…who absolutely annihilated my name every single time she called on me. From Maqwista Piester to her having to think of a monkey—picture that right—to pronounce it right, I am certain she hasn’t forgotten it. Despite that, I excelled in her class and even had to teach my classmates when she could not effectively explain a topic. It was not until I went on this journey of embracing me and everything about me, including my name, that I learned to accept it for what it is, and that I, not anyone else defined it. Even better, I really embraced it just this Saturday, as Miss Black SC USA 2009 told me and my fellow queens how she came upon the name for her company. I’m sure everyone has heard or read the story of the Queen of Sheba and Solomon, how she sought wisdom from a place that took 9 months for her to travel to.

What I learned that nearly brought tears to my eyes was that her name was Makeda, or Maqueda and a host of others in different interpretations. It took me learning that to learn so much more about God. We are supposed to have faith when we call on that glorious name of Jesus that we can expect to receive whatever we ask for. We can expect that we will bless us, deliver us, heal us, save us, carry our burdens, and that oh so difficult thing change us. Nothing is too hard for God. Nothing is outside of the realms of His power. So embrace who God made you to be, and define your name, because in His name, all things are possible!

“I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.” John 5:43

Kill the Victim

“But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
“The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties.” Romans 8:37

I was having a conversation with one of my friends last night and was told that I can play the victim role very well. I was like no I don’t—naturally! But that got me to thinking, I remember my ex-boyfriend saying on a regular basis that I played on his sympathy. And that is not what I want to do! I realized that I must immediately stop this. I don’t want pity, I want compassion. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me, I want encouragement to keep striving and occasionally someone to vent to and share my burdens with. We must stop allowing ourselves to be victims—whether subliminally or explicitly. Bad things happen to everyone—good and bad although as good people we like to believe that we are uniquely plagued by ill-intended events. The difference should be in how we react.

As I look for the definition of victory, several things popped up first: there are many churches that have victory in their name. Most associate victory with our war-centered world; in fact, war is the perfect thing to associate victory with. We have a war over our emotions, thoughts, and carnal desires. We go to war against the battle of the bulge, sickness and diseases, and ignorance every day. The hard part is that in more difficult situations, we do not always remember the promises and affirmations that are given to us. Romans 8:37 says that we are MORE than conquerors. Not less, not equal to, but more than. That means we cannot keep making every situation about us. We cannot continue to act as if every wrong in our lives are personal attacks. We cannot continue to be the victim! As in Colossians 2:8, “Be careful not to let anyone rob you [of this faith] through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ.” Don’t be so vain and wrapped up in your own problems that you allow yourselves to be victimized. Don’t let the devil mislead you to think that you should not be suffering because as in one of my favorite verses, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”

Suffering brings refinement, but if you keep victimizing yourself—because that’s what you do when you continue to feel sorry for yourself, you put yourself in a continual loop. Kill the victim and like Job, come out as gold! “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

“The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again.” 1 Peter 1:7