Hey Readers!!! I know it’s been a while and I promise you all have been on my mind, but life… I am sure you all can understand how life’s ups and downs can get you so off-tracked and discouraged that you start to place energy away from your assignment onto the things you should surrender to GOD. As I prepare to celebrate another year around the sun and a new year. I find myself worrying about things I haven’t worried about in the past. I am worried about being a great daughter to an elderly parent as an only child. I am worried if I am prepared to deal with the single life for another year with no children. I am worried if I can deal with the ups and downs of life healthy. These worries have had me up since 4:34 am this morning asking Daddy to come to the table with Jesus for a “Come to Jesus” meeting. I asked Daddy how did I get here. What did I do or go wrong when it comes to how I have been living life for Him and with Him? I was so frustrated to point that I stop speaking and surrendering, that I start asking for a word. You know what Daddy did?!? He gave me a word not once but twice. The first word he gave me is found in Proverbs 12:25 NLT ” Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up”. The TPT version says “Anxious fear brings depression, but a life-giving word of encouragement can do wonders to restore joy to the heart”.
Both versions address what I have been feeling, worry and anxiety, which leads to a place of depression and lack of joy. But what really got me was part B of the scripture “an encouraging word restores joy to the heart.” Listen!!! I almost lost it because I realize I was so busy dwelling in the cave of worry and anxiety that I was not making way for the encouraging word. The word that could restore me… The word that would cheer me up. David said it best in 1 Samuel 30:6 “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”
There are times in our worry and anxious moments when we must encourage ourselves in GOD. This means we must surrender. Let’s focus on part B of that scripture using the word surrender. “David surrendered himself to the LORD his GOD.” That scripture and the action of David take on a whole other meaning of what we should do when it’s time for us to encourage ourselves. It reminds us that to truly be in a position of encouragement we must surrender… not just the things we don’t have handled, but the things we have a handle on.
The second word came from an ex that is a friend. He struggles with his GOD relationship and from day one of us meeting I have prayed that he would have an encounter with GOD that would change his life and push him into his GOD destiny and healing. This morning he says to me:
“Hey, something told me to call you to give you this scripture Phillipians 4:13, I am sure you are familiar with what it says, but I am going to remind you what it says…You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you. This doesn’t include failure. So, no matter what you go going on, you are promised success”. Now I am on the phone with tears coming out of my eyes saying, ok Daddy you really do love me. Because he got out of his comfort zone just to be obedient to give me that word. I want to encourage someone you may feel like your ability to encourage others may be in vain or you may be sowing seeds on bad ground, but let me tell you the process, the seeds, the wait, and obedience are so worth it. Mind-blowing blessings are on the way keep up the work and stay in the posture of surrendering.
Today I challenge us to do three things 1) surrender EVERYTHING to GOD; 2) give an encouraging word to someone so you can have room to be encouraged; 3) trust the timing and promises of GOD. The wait may seem heavy; however, the fruit is great and worth the process (preaching to myself)
Prayer: Daddy we surrender all!!! All to you and the things you have in store for us. We surrender the things we think we have control of, and we make room for you. We expect you to handle everything that concerns us because you are not a man that you would lie to, and your words say we can trust you. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN!
Great Day Readers! I hope that your Holy Week truly started the way for you to grow in your relationship with Daddy, be aware of the revelation of the cross, and create moments of closeness and manifestation of the presence of the Trinity.
This morning doing my quiet time I came across this scripture. “Before you do anything, put your trust totally in God and not in yourself. Then every plan you make will succeed”. Proverbs 16:3 TPT That scripture hit me like a ton of bricks. Because it tells me the step I need to overcome the fear of failure, grow my faith, create guaranteed success, and how to continue to grow. The step is so simple it’s scary. The step is to TRUST TOTALLY IN GOD! I know what you are saying… Shawndrika dull! However, that one step is hard because it comes with three uncomfortable actions we must take: 1) surrender 2) lose control 3) obedience to the unknown (faith). I don’t know about you, but, I struggle in all three, especially when I need results like yesterday. Not only do I struggle with these three, but these things, are also inconsistent. When storms come, when issues arise, when things seem not to be working in your favor we must go back to the actions we must take which are the three steps listed above. My prayer for us today is to trust Daddy at a level that those three things become easy in all areas of our life and not just the areas we are comfortable with doing them in.
Prayer: Daddy, thank you for giving us the step to guaranteed success. Help us to be able to do our part when it comes to trusting You. Let us be able to do these actions no matter if we are comfortable or uncomfortable in the situation, issue, or circumstance that we are trusting You in. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN!
Great Day DDC Readers! It’s the last day of Black History Month and I want to go out with a bang. As you know I am working on being more consistent with blogging, by at least writing a blog once a month. I thought today would be a perfect day to address something as we deal with what’s going on in the world. But, before we dive in I have a question for you. Have you checked out Jesus+Therapy, Sis on your favorite podcast platform? No, what are you waiting for? Just Click Jesus+Therapy, Sis, and join the conversation. Now, that the announcements are out the way. Let’s dive into the word and message.
So, currently, as I write this Urkinane and Russia are at a place of war. The news is reporting everything that is going on, and we see that there are some racial remarks being made. We also see that the African citizens of Urkinane are being denied the ability to get on trains or subways in order to get to a place of safety in Poland. I have a sister who is Jamaican and she reported that there are Jamaican students who are walking 14 hours with the HOPES to get to a safe place. Yes, the HOPE to get to a safe place! This breaks my heart that in 2022 racism continues to have a global reach in the midst of a major war. WOW! During my prayer and meditation time, I was reading my Bible plan, and this scripture
1 Peter1:6-7 (TPT) came up and read me.
“6May the thought of this cause you to jump for joy, even though lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of many trials. 7But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed”.
I know you are wondering what about this scripture read me. I am glad you ask. Let me break this down for you in verse 6 it says “even though lately you’ve had to put with the grief of many trials”. With everything that is going on in the world, the grief is thick and the trials of life seem to feel unbearable to me. It feels like GOD has forgotten about His word. That Daddy is not listening to His Daughter. It has really caused me to think… Am I valuable to Him, like He says I am, or am I making this up? However, verse 7 is the read “But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed”. Did you see what I highlighted? The true read of this verse is the theme found in these two highlighted sessions. YOUR FAITH! These moments of grief and trials are to produce the purity of your faith in its most authentic form. This is not about the situation. This is not about the circumstances, people, or even the emotions and feelings you are feeling about it all. It’s about, you having the FAITH to trust Daddy. Do you have the FAITH that no matter what trials, tribulations, or grief moments you endure that it will result in praise, glory, and honor to the Father!?! Receiving this revelation made my life change! It reminded me that what seems like a dark night is really a fire that creates another level of next level and FAITH in me! It makes the scripture Proverbs 30:5b more clear “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning”. Listen the joy is found in the strengthening of our FAITH.
So, don’t allow the grief and trial to derail you from the process of the fire. The fire’s job is to take your faith to the next level that you can experience the unmeasurable joy of the LORD.
Prayer: Daddy we thank you for the fire that we call trials and grief. We realize that these moments give way for the manifestation of next-level Faith that will produce praise, glory, and honor unto you. You are might Daddy and though we may not see the trial and grief as a moment of Faith, we ask that you change our view and vision to see it that way. Let us respond to these moments knowing that you are about to take our Faith to the next level. Let us responds with joy and gladness in our hearts, trusting you in the process. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN!
Can you believe that January has almost ended and we are about to be in February and that I have done two entries this month?!? Let’s pray I keep it up! I am going to truly try as my life continues to create opportunities of demands and advancements. My declaration this year is to be consistent in all the assignments GOD has called me to.
This morning I sent out a text to the people that are in my inner circle about something so personal and vulnerable to me. It came after me preaching a message and honestly me realizing I had never said some things out loud about parts of my life as a wife. I had never openly and out loud admit that my bleeding was caused by a miscarriage because by the time we got to the doctor to see what was going on I was no longer pregnant. After taking pregnant tests prior. What do you do when you know something; however, your denial and others’ influence will tell you that you are lying to yourself? (That’s another topic for another day) Below is the message that I sent to my circle that I feel that you could benefit from. I hope that it blesses and frees you as it did me.
Good morning! Listen on yesterday I got to preach on the story of the woman with the issue of blood, it’s one of my favorite stories due to the fact I used to be her. No, I didn’t bleed for 12 years; however, the almost year of bleeding felt like forever. It created so many emotional trauma moments and increased my areas of fear. It causes me to question my existence and my womanhood. I was married at the time to an insensitive husband, who didn’t understand the fears that haunt me in my sleep. Not meeting his needs, realizing I had a miscarriage, and not knowing if or could I get pregnant again. I felt alone and isolated, ashamed, embarrassed, and scared. However, during my morning meditation, these scriptures spoke to me.
God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way— the path that brings me back to you. Psalms 139:23-24 TPT
He heals the wounds of every shattered heart. Psalms 147:3 TPT
I know you are wondering how did those two scriptures speak to you. When I reflect back on that moment I remember the anxiety and depression I felt, “anxious thoughts and path of pain”. It wasn’t until I ask Daddy to search me that the second scripture started to manifest. I don’t know where you are in this journey called life. I don’t know if you are still in the first scripture or you experiencing the second. I just want to encourage you to stand still and allow Daddy (GOD) to heal you. Know I’m praying for you and I love you! Thank you for the honor to do both.
Even though that text was for my circle, that text was meant for you as well. You may not be in either place. You may be in a place where life is all good and you are progressing along in this journey; however, use this as a reminder when times get hard.
Prayer: Daddy thank you that even in the midst of adversity, disappointment, frustration, and confusion, you are there to search us, guide us, and heal us. You are there to remind us that you heal, you create wholeness, and you are at peace we just have to stand still long enough for you to search us. We love you and honor you. Thank you for being the one that creates ways out of no way. In Jesus Name! Amen
I am sure you are seeing the title of this blog and are truly puzzled since the blog is based on conversations with GOD and prayer is conversations with GOD. So, I want to explain myself and get to the thoughts behind the title. On yesterday before we started the recording of our podcast Jesus+Therapy, Sis (check us out on Spotify and Youtube, make sure to like, share, follow, subscribe, hit the bell, and leave a comment) I told my sister I had got a text from one of our friends about an event called “The Gathering.” I looked at the website for the event saw several pastors and ministry leaders that I knew and I was like ok interesting. The friend was like you should be here sis. I told the friend that I did not see anything pulling me to come to the event. She was like you don’t know who these people are, I was like yes. She went on to state how some of the speakers were Generals in prayer and how they influenced her life. I was ok. She was like you don’t feel pulled sis 😲😲😲. I didn’t respond. Because to be honest no I didn’t feel pulled. I then made a statement to my sister before the recording ” I don’t want to pray”!
I know what you are thinking and we did a whole podcast on my statement. Let me explain what I mean. There are people that are called to the place of intercession. They are passionate about interceding for others, praying, and going before the thorn to get all the heavens and experience GOD on so many levels. Ya’ll that ain’t me. If I could be honest with you, my readers, I struggle to pray and this particular friend is a general in prayer. I mean she shifts atmospheres with her prayers, and she is passionate about that area. She even wrote a book about it and it is great. When I said, ” I don’t want to pray”, I simply mean that I don’t want to be so caught up in the experience of someone’s ability to pray a certain way that I don’t find my own way to talk to Daddy. I stated in the podcast that people pray from their prayer experience. Don’t believe me, let’s check the bible. Jesus prayed from the position of the savior, he was able to have an open and honest dialogue with Daddy about how he felt and what he was thinking. David prayed from a place of pay and wanting relief, which is why we see him being angry and then reminding himself that he has to focus on Daddy. The disciples prayed from a place of hope and intimacy because they had tangible encounters with GOD. The Children of Israel prayed from a place of promise and hope because they saw what GOD could do when they were obedient and sometimes even when they weren’t. So many times when we pray, we become so intimidated by the experience of others that the spirit of comparison takes over we find ourselves not wanting to pray.
It’s not that I don’t love to pray, I do, however, there are times were my prayers, because of my experiences and my desires to go to another level where I find myself in a place of intercession. However, my passion and positions in that prayer time are to really just have a little talk with Jesus. I don’t want to find myself in a place of comparison with those that may have a deeper level of prayer, and feel the need to force myself to be there. To be that deep, to go through some experience that is really not mine to be able to be on their level. If I have to do what they do in order to GOD’s attention I am like this, I don’t want to pray.
There are times in our lives as believers that we find ourselves in a position where we want GOD on another level, however, we want Him through our authentic experience. We don’t want to feel like we have to work to talk to GOD or that we have to do what everyone else is doing. We want to work our part in the body of Christ and not be judged or ridiculed that we don’t look like everyone else. I think this is why have people who were once saved saying they don’t want to do this anymore and why we have a generation that is not desiring GOD like past generations.
Can I be honest? We make everything about GOD in religion impossible. That’s why I feel that body of Christ, Christians are always being judged and talked about. Between the rules of the various denominations and the attributes of what holiness looks like, it becomes overwhelming to want to connect with an untouchable GOD. It makes prayer a chore and not a conversation of intimacy and with the expectation of response.
My prayer is that as you read this you realize that your prayer life is based on your personal experience with Christ and your relationship with Daddy. That you do not fall into the trap of comparison that it causes you to not want to pray or even respond in prayer when life creates situations beyond your understanding.
Prayer: Daddy, help us to remember the principles of prayer and the goal to connect and communion with you. Helps us not to get caught up in another person’s experience that we must our own personal experience with you. Helps to see prayer as an exciting time to communicate with you and not a chore because it’s the job of what a believer is suppose to do. Help us not become intimidated by other’s experience or feel judged by their prayer growth. Let become motivation for us to want to communion with you more. In Jesus Name! AMEN
Listen I don’t know about you, but the weight of waiting has been heavy on me lately. The wait of waiting on the unanswered prayers and deepest cries of my heart desires. I was talking to my mentor about how I was feeling and how the weight of waiting was turning into depression. I found myself paralyzed and lame in the thoughts of my wait. After telling me the feelings I felt were ok, my mentor hit me with a question that hurt me and arrested me at the same time. She said “Shawndrika, what if what you have been waiting on never manifest in the earth? Will you respond with the faith of the 3 Hebrew boys…Even if He doesn’t do it we still know He can?” (Daniel 3:17-18) I looked at her crazy as tears fell from my eyes to know this statement of faith could be my reality. Though I felt broken at the thought of this reality, the Holy Spirit arrested me at the same time. He reminded me that when the 3 Hebrew boys made that statement it wasn’t from a place of doubt or hopelessness but, from a place of true surrendering. They were saying to Daddy even if we don’t see you manifest the situation in our favor like we want you to, you will still come through and get the glory out of our lives. That’s the key…Daddy getting the glory!! What you are praying and waiting for may not manifest or come in the package you want, however, if you surrender it to Daddy…it will manifest His glory in your life and draw you closer to Him. I hope this word and revelation reminds you that the wait is worth it! Remember the weight is there for you to surrender not to hold. Prayer: Daddy we thank you that even in our heaviest moments you wait for us to surrender that you may get the glory out of our lives. We yield to your will today as we wait for you to manifest your glory. We take heart that what we are waiting on may not come in the package we want or the time we think we want it, however, it will come on time and work in our favor. In Jesus Name. AMEN!
Hey Readers!! I know… I know… It’s been a minute! I know I promised to do better, but life!!! I know.. No excuses and honestly there aren’t any. But, guess what?!? 2020 will soon be here and I will try this again. However, I am not waiting until 2020 to get here to start my new start. My new starts here today!!! Yes, today! Let me catch you all up on the great things that I have already started that will be incorporated into my 2020. I have started #squadgoals which is a group of women that I not only send encouraging messages to but also keep me accountable and consistent. Then, there is #dearfuturehusband365 with a brand new look and content. Last but not least DDC (Daddy Daughter Conversations). I figured out a way to share new content and be consistent. I am excited and it starts tomorrow. So get ready for great messages and an awesome year!
Prayer: Daddy, as we continue to finish the things of this year, help us prepare for our next. Let us not get content in waiting on a new year to arrive before we put new year things into action. Let us put into action our new year things now. Remind us that our new starts here. Herewith, an open mind, heart, and faith to trust you more by losing control more often. In Jesus Name. Amen!
Hey Readers!!! I know I know !!! It’s been a while I realize doing it once a month is going to be realistic for me. But I promise you that you will hear from me more often. So, let’s get down to business!!
This morning before getting dressed for work, I read a new devotional “30 Names in 30 Days”. (you can find it on the Bible app) I really didn’t know what to think about the devotional, but I knew it was one that I needed to read. I really wanted to read it because I figured calling GOD Daddy was not working for me. I felt I needed to learn some new names and characteristics of him. (LOL) Today, was the confirmation that I needed because I learned a new name for Daddy…Jehovah El Emeth which means Lord GOD of Truth… After learning this new name, I start to say it and pray to Daddy by calling him Jehovah El Emeth. Before I could even start praying, He started speaking and what He spoke hurt.
Now, this hurt was a hurt I had never experienced before. This hurt was the reality of truth. See, I didn’t know that I was setting myself up by continuing to learning this new name and character of Daddy. As I said it over and over again. He began to tell me that His truth is not one that is comfortable, it is not the healing oil of gladness. It’s not one that creates joy all the time. His truth is one that creates freedom. But even in the midst of being freed there is pain. I know you are wondering… How can freedom create pain? Simple, when you have to say good-bye to the things you invested half your life in, in order to get freed to move into your next, that can be painful. When you realize that the thing you were really working hard to fix is no longer fixable…and for you to fully be freed you must let it go and be ok with it being broken… That’s painful! When you realize that the reality of what you thought was your truth was really a lie you created to make it through life, and the freedom you seek requires you to let that lie go to gain Daddy’s freedom…That’s painful!! I could go on and on about the issue with truth, but the reality is we must be able to handle and deal with the truth. We must allow Jehovah El Emeth to come in and do a work in our heart! We must allow him to reconstruct our reality that we no longer live a lie, but we live in the truth of His love, word, promise, and freedom through Jesus.
Prayer: Daddy we come asking that you be Jehovah El Emeth in our life. Allow the light of your truth to be the light we live in. Allow it to destroy every lie that we have created, believed, or fallen for. Allow your truth to be the strength of our desire to be free in you. To enjoy the peace of you and rest in all that you have called us to. In Jesus Name! AMEN!!!
P.S. Here is the link to learn the pronunciation of Jehovah El Emeth
I know it’s been a while, but I have been in an unmotivated funk. No reason on the why, but just have. But this past weekend a statement was made that blew my funk out the water. “GOD will break your heart to blow your mind.”
What do you do when Daddy breaks your heart to blow your mind? Well, with a heart of thanksgiving you tell Him thank you. I am sure that the statement alone has some of you all confused. Why would Daddy break my heart, when He told me that He would give me my heart desires? (Ps 37:4) Well, can we quickly (and I do mean quickly) examine that scripture? When Daddy talks about giving you your heart desires here, we must examine the three verses prior. It says that we must delight ourselves in Daddy. When we delight ourselves in Him then, He will give us the desires of our heart. But we get the desires of our heart because they are actually His heart desires for us. Which brings me back to the statement that I said at the beginning of the blog that shook my world. “Daddy will break your heart to blow your mind.”
I know you wondering why did this statement shake you so much? Well, it’s because a lot of times we see Daddy’s no as a punishment, as an indication that we are not doing something right or we did something wrong. But, in reality, His no, is His way of telling us what you are asking for is not big enough for me to give you. That I need to break your heart, so your mind can be blown by the thoughts I have towards you. That you need to realize that you aren’t thinking my heart desires for you. That you are not connected to me like I need you to be. This what this statement is saying. Daddy is telling us to be bold enough and have so much faith that we are willing to trust Him to break our hearts so, I can blow our minds. WHEW!!! That was a lot to tell and take in, but it was worth it.
We must shift our hearts and minds when it comes to Daddy. We can’t be content in our thinking, or even our heart desires that we miss Him. Daddy wants the best for us, and though we are thinking best, bigger, and greater for ourselves, Daddy feels as though we can go deeper and bigger. Today, do me a favor… Let Daddy break your heart so, he can blow your mind!!
Prayer: Daddy, break our hearts, that our minds can be blown by your grace, favor, love, joy, and peace. Break us so we can be in a position to desire more of you and last of us. Break us, that we may be a testimony of your love towards us. Break us that we may enjoy life more abundantly here on earth. Break us, so we can see you. In JESUS Name! AMEN!!!
We are weeks away from 2019 and I am still trying to get into 2018. I know that’s bad, but I still feel like Daddy has something that He needs to do in 2018. With everything going on in the world, I really feel like He is waiting for someone to expect something from Him without waiting for the new year to arrive. I am that someone. In a message that I ministered at my church, I told the people that we get so caught up in waiting for the words “Happy New Year”, that we missed the newness that Daddy is doing in our present. I love how he put it in Isaiah 43:18-19 (I am paraphrasing) He says. “forget all that I have done because I am doing a new thing”… Then He asked the question, “Don’t you see it”? So let me go back, to give you the background of what is going on before we get to verses 18 and 19. So, in verses, 1-17 Daddy is telling the children or Israel what He has done for them, what they have done to Him, and the consequences of their actions. In other words, He is listing the history of their relationship with each other. By verse 18, He tells them to not dwell on the past because, in verse 19, He is about to show them something new. From verse 19 until the end of the chapter He speaks of the new things that He is going to do and how they should be in a place of expecting, preparing, and experiencing the new now.
That’s where I am when I say I am trying to get into 2018. I want to leave the first part of 2018 behind and enjoy the new that Daddy is doing now. I want to be in a place where I am not stuck on what He did that I miss what He is doing. But, can I be honest that’s where a lot of us are. We love the fact that we have a track record with Daddy, but we forget that He is just like the energizer bunny… “He keeps going and going”. I know you are wondering… What’s the moral of this blog? Well, good Question… The Moral of this blog is this: Dwelling on what He did will place us in three positions: 1) The looking back position. Looking back causes paralyzation. Genesis 19:26 we see that Lot’s wife turn into a pillar of salt when she looked back. Which resulted in her being paralyzed in that position for life. 2) The Reminder position. This position tells us to remember what GOD has done but never expecting Him to do anything else. That’s why in Isiaih 43:19 He says, “Do you not see it”? which brings me to the last position 3) The blind position. There are times where we can be so blinded by the new that we can’t see the now. When it comes to this position I am reminded of Sarah and Abraham. How when Sarah got the word that they would be pregnant and it did not happen when she wanted it too, she took matters into her own hands and created something new. But, she missed the opportunity to trust Daddy and His timing. Had Sarah not been so blinded by timing then she would have enjoyed the process of the new.
Prayer: Daddy, thank you that you allow us the opportunity to enjoy the new things that you are doing in our lives. We pray that you will help us to never look back on your past track record with us that we aren’t able to move forward in what you doing through, too, and for us. We pray that you will help us to remember that you do something new daily and we can’t get stuck on yesterday’s new in our now. We pray that you will help us to wait and enjoy the process of the now, that we don’t become blinded by the new things we are expected from you later. In JESUS Name…AMEN!!
P.S. I flunked #bloglikecrazy2018. Between motivation and schedule, it was not going to work. But guess what? It taught me that I need to pass myself and maybe even start my blogs in October and have them ready in November… I don’t know but it was fun while it lasted. Maybe next year!
Daddy Daughter Conversations 
Recent Comments