Blog

How Excellent

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family:

I pray that this week’s devotional finds you in a place of peace and joy in the Lord. As the old song lyrics say, “This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away!” I believe Reverend Shirley Ceasar wrote that song, as I can only find her name as the author and composer.

We are right in the middle of the last quarter of the year for 2023. The world’s focus will slowly begin turning to the Christmas season. The birth of the only begotten of God is approaching. The perfect little lamb without spot, blemish, or sin has willingly taken off his godly robe to become a human being, but at the same time still continuing to be King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s.

As we approach the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, may we meditate on the never-ending love that Jesus had and still has for us. We can sing with confidence, Oh Lord, Our Lord, how EXCELLENT is your name in all the earth. Hallelujah!!!

Scriptures of Adoration

Psalm 8

New International Version

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] A psalm of David.

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
    in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?[c]

5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]
    and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their[g] feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Song of Adoration and Praise

Walt Whitman

I love you, Family, with the never-ending perfect love of our Lord and Savior Jesus. The Christ.

Your sister,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA

By Your Spirit…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To Wholeness1 Comment

Good morning, Precious Family:

I pray that this week’s devotional finds you in a place of peace in the Lord. Not peace as the world gives, but the peace that passes ALL UNDERSTANDING through the Christ Mind.

There are times in our lives when we must stop our race and become still. Even though we have the authority to speak to the mountains and they must obey, we sometimes need to stop and go back to our charging station.

Our charging station is any place that helps us reconnect with the Living God. We may arrive at the charging station with a low battery life indicated, but once we plug in and spend time worshipping and loving on God, we are renewed and ready to face anything that comes our way.

Scriptures of Refreshing

Isaiah 40:31

King James Version

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Refreshing Through Worship

Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Family, no matter what you are going through, please remember that you are never alone. There are more with you than are against. Walk knowing that you are waking with the unseen Army of the Lord.

I love you with the amazing and everlasting love of Christ Jesus, our Lord, Redeemer, and Wayshower. It is in His name that I lift this prayer to the Great, I Am.

Your sister,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, Georgia

Being Poured Out..

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Family:

I pray that this week’s devotional finds you in a place of peace through Christ Jesus. Jesus is indeed our peace. The very one who leads and guides us with His spirit is the very same one that calmed the storm with the words, “Peace, be still. (Mark 4:39).”

In the midst of some of our most toughest moments there can also reside our greatest times of worship. There is something about being pressed on every side that brings forth the most precious oil. Unfortunately, not everyone will understand the purpose or use of the oil that is being poured out.

Once the precious oil is ready to be used for its intended purpose, it is at that point that many folks want to get their hands on it. The oil from your life is set apart for a special purpose.

Just ask Mary, sister of Martha, how precious the alabaster box of oil was that she anointed our Savior’s feet with. She paid a lot of money for this very expensive fragrance. She knew that as she poured the oil in her hair and began to wipe the feet of Jesus with it that He was also set apart for a special purpose. He would soon be the anointed Fragrant sacrificial offering without spot or blemish.

Scriptures of Worship

John 12:1-8

English Standard Version

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.

3 Mary therefore took a pound[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[c] for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Songs of Worship

Family, I know there will be times when we ask God, “Why?” or “Why me, God?” Only God knows the purpose for which we were set apart. Part of the journey of following Christ is to walk by faith and not by sight. If we love our Lord, then we must follow, Amen.

I love you, All, with the amazing and everlasting love of our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer Jesus Christ. May his love surround and enfold you at every moment of every day.

Your sister,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington. GA

Come Home…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings, Precious Ones:

The song lyrics to “Softly and Tenderly” are lyrics that hold a special place in my heart. The heart of God is that no one, not one soul, would be lost.

The heart of God holds more love than many of us can really fathom or imagine. I have had the pleasure and grace to have experienced the sweet and tender love of Jesus through a personal encounter after a time of fasting and prayer several years ago.

I was in a season of seeking God because it felt like I was just “going through the motions” of church. I dont know where or at what point I began to fill distant from God. I just knew that I had to find a way back to my first love. My pastor at the time suggested that I go into a season of fasting and prayer. On the 30th and final day of my fast, something amazing happened.

Instead of reading scripture that day, I felt led to worship and sing a new song to God. While I was singing, it felt like I was going into some type of trance, but at the same time, I knew that I was at home and sitting on my bed.

The whole story would take too long to tell here, but the love that wrapped its arms around me that day was a love that I had never experienced before or since. The love that radiated through me instantly disintegrated any darkness, shortcomings, or fear. I experienced true, pure, unfiltered love. I knew in that instant what it meant to be born again.

It is my prayer that everyone would have that same encounter with God so that they would know what is waiting for them in heaven…and here on earth, as the Kingdom of God is within us.

The encounter I had birthed my desire to teach the Word of God. My worship from that day was never the same. Every song I sing to God is full of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Scriptures of Hope

1 Peter 1:3-5

English Standard Version

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Invitation to Worship

Family, I love you all with the amazing and everlasting love of our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

Your sister,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA

Wade In The Water…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Good morning, Precious Family:

As always, I pray that this week’s devotional finds you in a place of peace and stillness in the Lord. I pray that the cares of this world do not have you carrying a heavy load in your mind, body, or spirit.

This week, the song that the Holy Spirit put on my heart is the Negro spiritual Wade in the Water. I love the version and verses sung by the acapella group Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Song of Praise and Faith

Credit to Riddlefilms.com

The song encourages the listener to wade into the water because God is troubling and doing a special work in the water. The song reminds most people of the lame man waiting for someone to place him in in the pool at Bethesda, as told in John 5. The angel of the Lord was said to come and stir, or trouble, the water and the first person in would be healed. (I did a devotional on this passage a few weeks ago).

I want to propose a different passage with the song Wade In The Water. I want to offer the passage from John 4, specifically verses 10-14. This passage is of Jesus asking the Samaritan woman for something to drink from the well.

Scripture of Invitation…

John 4:10-14

New International Version

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Family, in the passage above, the Samaritan woman  notices that Jesus has nothing to draw the water. Jesus reveals himself to be the Living Water. We have to understand that when we accept the invitation of Salvation, we are accepting the Living Water.

As we make the decision to walk to God, we are, like Peter, asking Jesus to bid us to come. Please know that the invitation to come to Christ is always open. Whether you are someone new to Christianity or someone who needs to come back home, the arms of Jesus are always open, with no guilt or  shame. The Living Water is calling you to come.

The Prayer of Salvation is a simple one:

Jesus, I believe that you are the only begotten Son of God. I believe that you are the Messiah and that you willingly died, conquered death, and the grave, and after three days, you got up with all power in your hand to be the perfect sacrifice for my sins. I invite you to come into my heart and my life, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, I joyfully welcome you to the Family of Christ. If you are coming back home, I am so glad to see you, and I love you ALL with the amazing and everlasting love of our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Your sister,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA

Abba Like No Other…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Good morning, Family:

I pray that you are in a place of peace and joy in the Lord. Family, no matter what we may go through, God is always with us. May we continually place our trust and hope in the Lord.

We know that no one is perfect. Many of us may have stories to tell about what we did or didn’t have growing up. Our parents, or those assigned to be our caregivers (grandparents, aunt, uncle, foster parents, etc.) are not perfect. For the most part, they each gave according to what they had inside. We are human and we are fallible.

I can say that it has been my truth that God has been so much more than just a parent. God has been, at times, a mother, sister, brother, best friend, pastor, preacher, and friend. God is omnipotent, eternal, and all-powerful. The same God that hung the moon, sun, stars, and galaxies is the same God that created you and me.

Scriptures of Hope and Declaration

Romans 8:12-17

New King James Version

Sonship Through the Spirit

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,[a] Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Song of Worship and Adoration

#Marizu #Abba #HFPMusic

Family, may I encourage you to keep this song and scripture passage in your heart. For three days this week, the Holy Spirit woke me up with the song Abba by Marizu. The song encompasses all we need to know in terms of our priorities.

May you find peace in knowing that God already has it under control. I love you with the amazing and everlasting love of our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

Your sister and friend,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA

Nothing Else Matters…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Good morning, Precious Family:

I pray all is well and you are in a place of perfect peace in the Lord. I was grounded the last couple of weeks due to COVID hitting me and my husband hard. I am still healing and getting stronger. Thanks be to God, that my praise and worship of the Most High God did not shake or waiver.

When everything is said and done, nothing else matters except our relationship with the Triune God, consisting of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If our spiritual life is out of synch, every other area of our lives will be out of synch.

Scriptures of Decision

Joshua 24:14-15

New King James Version

14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of [a]the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of [b]the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Songs of Worship and Praise

Family, please search your heart today. If there is anything that is blocking the path to God in your life, I pray that you lay it before God and repent. Open up your heart to God and allow the amazing, pure, and holy love of God to overtake every cell, atom, and molecule of your body.

Open your mouth and communicate with God. Go back to the heart of worship and stay there. I love you all with the amazing and everlasting love of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, in whom we live, move, and have our being. Amen and Amen.

Your sister,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA

I Feel Like Going On…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To Wholeness1 Comment

Good morning, Precious Family:

I pray you are living boldly in the peace and joy of our Lord, Jesus the Christ. Life may not always be perfect, and circumstances may change from day to day, but because our strength and identity are in the Lord, we are not easily shaken.

Last week and this week, my husband and I were both so sick. We are on the mend, but everything we did felt like so much work because our immune systems, respectively, were using all our energy trying to heal us.

Sometimes, we may feel in our spirit that we have nothing left to give and it’s just not worth the energy and work it takes to go on any further. It is in those times that we must remember to call on our Help.

In our scripture passage this week, the Lord led me to the story of the prophet Elijah and the widow woman and son who were starving to death. She was ready to die, but God spoke to her. In this passage, the most important verses are 8 and 9. None of the rest of this passage would have been possible if the widow had not been obedient to the instructions given by the Lord.

God may ask us to do some of the strangest things when we are in our darkest hour. If we would only trust God and be sensitive to His voice, a day of darkness can quickly turn into our greatest testimony.

Scriptures of Hope

1 Kings 17:8-16

Living Bible

8-9 Then the Lord said to him, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. There is a widow there who will feed you. I have given her my instructions.”

10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the city he saw a widow gathering sticks; and he asked her for a cup of water.

11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread too.”

12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I haven’t a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jar. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I must die of starvation.”

13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and cook that ‘last meal,’ but bake me a little loaf of bread first; and afterwards there will still be enough food for you and your son. 14 For the Lord God of Israel says that there will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat from her supply of flour and oil as long as it was needed. 16 For no matter how much they used, there was always plenty left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah!

Song of Faith

Bishop Marvin L Winans

Family, can’t you just hear the widow singing this song as she was gathering sticks to cook what she thought was her and her son’s last meal? With tears in her eyes, she listened to the Lord, even though she didn’t know that her greatest blessing was on the other side of her obedience.

Hold fast, Family. We may not always have the full picture of what is about to happen, but we must trust God’s voice. Family, I pray your strength in the Lord. Keep pressing on…

Your sister,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA

You Aren’t Strong Enough…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Good morning, Precious Family,

I pray that you are living peaceful and full of joy in the presence of God. I love learning and growing in the Lord. There is always so much that the Holy Spirit teaches me. Do you know what’s crazy? No matter how many times I read the same passage of scripture, the Holy Spirit ALWAYS reveals something new.

Being open to instruction and guidance from the Word of God is important. We probably each know a person who thinks that they know everything about everything, especially when it comes to knowing what is best for their lives.

When we talk to people and they begin to share what is going on in their lives, our Spiderman Spiritual Senses began to go off and we offer support by sharing a certain passage from the Word. Nine times out of ten, their sesponse will be one of these:

1. I know that passage. I already read it.

2. I tried it once, and it didn’t work.

3. I gave God a chance and He let me down

What all of those responses have in common is that the person is relying on their own strength to get things done. As Christians, we must know and understand that our strength comes from the Lord. We were not created to fly solo. This life is a two person job, us and God.

There use to be a saying, “God is my copilot.” Honey, if God is your copilot, then y’all need to switch seats.

Scriptures of Instruction

Proverbs 3:1-10

New International Version

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

3 My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
    and bring you peace and prosperity.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Song of Praise and Adoration

Vanessa Bell Armstrong /Malaco Music 1984

Family, in God, we must continually be in a place of humility and have a teachable spirit. We don’t know all there is to know. We must ask God to lead us in ALL THINGS.

I love you with the amazing and everlasting love of Christ Jesus, our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and Way Shower.

Your sister,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA

Pulling Teeth…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To Wholeness1 Comment

Good morning, Family of God:

I pray all is well and you are in a mindset of peace and joy in Christ Jesus. For the last few months, God has been calling me to fast and be in prayer regarding breaking a major stronghold in my life that began in my childhood. Praise God, now that the this particular fast is over, I can give a praise report.

Sometimes, our past mistakes, hurts, wounds, and scars can haunt and even torment us. The enemy has a way of up bringing painful thoughts and memories in order to distract us from our purpose and to take our eyes off of God.

Remember, the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy by any means necessary. The enemy doesn’t have to kill you to get you off track. He just has to distract you/us from our purpose.

There comes a time when we have to take a stand and take our power back. We must fight for peace and wellness in our mind, body, and spirit. Two powerful tools that Jesus told in his Word have to be used to break strongholds. Prayer and fasting are the combination punches that we can use as our special weapons in the ring.

There will come a time when you will get tired of the enemy winning. There will come a time when you stop running and turn around to face the enemy. We don’t face the enemy in our own power. We come packing with weapons and tools that put the enemy in a headlock, and we start pulling teeth out of the enemy’s mouth, so that what is left is a toothless liar.

Fasting and prayer reminds us to refocus our attention back on God. Fasting and prayer looks past our problem and allows us to see that there is peace and strength on the other side.

Holy Scriptures

Matthew 17:14-21

Living Bible

14 When they arrived at the bottom of the hill, a huge crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15 “Sir, have mercy on my son, for he is mentally deranged and in great trouble, for he often falls into the fire or into the water; 16 so I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t cure him.”

17 Jesus replied, “Oh, you stubborn, faithless people! How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy and it left him, and from that moment the boy was well.

19 Afterwards the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast that demon out?”

20 “Because of your little faith,” Jesus told them. “For if you had faith even as small as a tiny mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would go far away. Nothing would be impossible. 21 But this kind of demon won’t leave unless you have prayed and gone without food.”

Worship and Praise

James Bignon

Family, REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!!! Take your power and authority in Christ Jesus and use them to defeat the enemy. The enemy knows what tricks to use on us because they have always worked in the past. Laugh in the face of your trials and begin using what God gave you, which is the Word of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. You ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED, NOW GET UP AND FIGHT!!!

As a result of my fasting and prayer, I offered forgiveness, grace, mercy, and all-around love and blessing to those that may have caused me harm. In the very moment that I did, I was delivered from my stronghold. In the very instant that it happened, I felt a release. Hallelujah!!

Family, I pray that you walk boldly in your birthright, as a Child of God. I love you with the amazing and everlasting love of Christ Jesus, our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer.

Your sister,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Covington, GA