Like everyone else, since the Michael Brown incident occurred, I have been praying and thinking about what is happening.
I am praying for his family, friends…
I am praying for all of other young Black men and their families, girlfriends, classmates, and other associates.
I am praying for other black men who feel ‘that kind of way’ as they conduct their daily activities.
I remember that Black men were lynched many years during slavery and also throughout the early stages of life just after the emancipation.
I remember stories about Black men being injected with Syphilis years ago.
I remember other scenarios that ‘pick’ out Black men for various types of abuses.
Last year, I learned that boys/men of color are kidnapped for sexual trafficking more than any other race-gender subgroup.
Smh… I don’t understand why they get picked on so much.
Well, in light of recent news I have heard lots of comments amongst the people I interact with on a continual basis …
– The Dean of Academic Affairs at a local institution, a Black male, described his teenage son and friends as ”so disrespectful” … asking, ”What do they expect??”
– Another Black man noted that black men and boys today, ”ain’t paying no ‘tention to God”
– Last Sunday, a Black male pastor described what is going on as simply ridiculous. He said that we need to remember the incident when Jesus casted the demons out of the men .. the demons then went into the swine… He described that satan and his emps drive us to “kill ourselves” …
In my opinion, the men I am mentioning above were a little annoyed and I could tell that there was a little bit of an air of ‘they are getting what they deserve’ when it comes to this violence.
Of course, I don’t think that it’s right to murder.
I don’t think it’s right to discriminate or profile based upon race or ethnicity.
I don’t think that it’s wrong to have peaceful protests or to stand up for your personal rights, but I wish that we would dedicate more time to prayer and educating ourselves (each other) about the Lord.
As I remember comments that have been made, I sat my desk at work and cried out to the Lord. Then, I said, There is nothing too hard for God!
What if our generation asked our Lord for permission to conduct our daily activities?
I think about how much trouble I’ve gotten myself into because I did not ask The ‘Lord of my Life’ if I should do this or that. Smh!!
I believe that we would be safe guarded against many of the things that we experience …
He fulfills so many roles, God wants us to recognize Him as our Deliverer.
We can’t fight these battles alone.
We need God to do this for us.
When we have continual, honest conversation with the Lord, there is a comfort level when we need Him to protect us from danger, violence, etc.
I imagine asking my mom to do me a favor verses asking one of my college professors who I haven’t talked about since 2008 to do something for me. Ha!
For instance, If I wanted help starting a business, my mom vs my professor, both may be financially able to help me, but my mom, because I am in constant communication with her is more likely to help.
Admit it, if a stranger walked up to you and asked to borrow $200 you’d be like, I don’t even know you!!!
Let us seek Him early that He may be found. Isaiah 55:6
Let us draw nigh unto Him. James 4:8
Let us know Him in the power of His ressurection. Philipians 3:10
O Lord please don’t say,
… depart from me I know you not.
Matthew 7:21-23
… or in some manner has He already said it? Forbid!
We need to be in continual conversation with The Lord. Not for this reason only, but we will feel comfortable speaking with Him when we need Him.
Moreover, I think that then, and only then will we quickly run to Jesus and allow Him to operate as our Lord, Savior, and Deliverer.
When we run to Jesus, it will be apparent that the battle is not between races or between this person and another, but between angry people with weapons and the Lord.
… I wondered… if we were able to spy out the news of these events last year would we have reported report back that this was ‘too much’ for us?
Yeah, prolly.
So, I say:
It’s time for us to ‘TURN UP’ our belief in Jesus Christ=> Who would dare defy the armies of the living God?
We need to proactively allow Jesus to be Lord over our lives.
Belief that Jesus Christ is our Lord is manifested in our daily lives.
Not just a simple confession on Sunday or one Thursday night during a revival.
When He is Lord over our lives,
We ask Him for permission to do things.
We ask Him what we need to do differently or better.
We ask Him what we need to avoid doing.
We find ourselves:
Asking Him what He would have us to do
verses
Asking Him if we can do this or that.
If He is Lord of our lives, young people, we need to act like it!
When we play our role, I believe that He will fight for us! I remember when I worked in Teen Court, before we approached the judge, we had to say, ‘If it will please the court’ (judge). (Ouch!!!)
Over and over again, as I think about what’s in the news, different scriptures keep surfacing in my mind.
If my people, who are called by my name would humble themselves and pray. (II Chronicles 7:14)
Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord (Psalm 20:4)
Honor your parents, so that your days may be lengthened (Exodus 12:20, Ephesians 6:2, and Matt 15:4-6)
Pay your tithes and offerings, and He will rebuke the devourer for us! (Malachi 3:11)
I will be your God, and I will be your people (Jeremiah 32:38 and 37:27)
He wants to fight for us (Exodus 14:14)
Keep praying, so will I.
Please comment!
Closer 