The Bishop’s Mind: Christian Wisdom, Daily Devotionals & Empowering Messages for Kingdom Living

  “ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray and the disciples rebuked them (Matthew 19:13).” Jesus, the perfect pattern, not only prayed with and for adults, but he also laid hands and prayed for the children. The disciples did not think that this was the best use of his time, so they rebuked him. Can you imagine the disciples chastising Jesus for praying with children? How often do we overlook our young people or feel that spirituality is not essential for their holistic growth and development? Just as Jesus taught his disciples to pray, I taught my children how to pray using the Prayer Tools of fasting, thanksgiving, praise, and worship. During one of the Lenten Season Consecrations, I decided it was important for us to do it as a family. I felt my children were old enough to understand the purpose of fasting. Since they were going to be impacted by the foods and beverages that were purchased and prepared in the house,...

“This kind only comes out by fasting and prayer (Matthew 17:21).” Jesus fasted and taught his disciples to fast as a life practice. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, reinforced the prayer tool of fasting in his epistles to the churches telling them to be “in fastings often (II Corinthians 11:27).” There are several different types of fasts referenced in the Bible. Some fasts are absolute where people such as Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were set apart for 40 days without food or water (Exodus 34:28-29, Deuteronomy 10:10, I Kings 19:8, Matthew 4:1- 13). Some fasts were for shorter periods, such as three days and three nights, as Esther did with her maids (Esther 4:13- 16). Other fasts called for people like Daniel and the three Hebrew boys to abstain from particular foods, drinks, or activities for an extended period (Daniel 1:8-13, 10:3). Regardless of the length or type of fast in the Bible, it was always coupled with prayer because it is a form of prayer. Fast without prayer is a phy...

“ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him, and he was a Samaritan (Luke 17:16).” “Thanks” is a complete prayer. Thanksgiving is a powerful way for you to communicate with God, yourself, and others. You can never go wrong, saying thanks. You can never be too grateful. Appreciation is always in order. Thanksgiving is preventative. Thanking your body prevents the breakdown of various systems and organs of the body. Have you ever taken your body for granted? Have you ever assumed that a part of your body would continue to function despite you neglecting it? Have you ever abused your body with drugs, alcohol, or by not giving it any thought or attention? Sickness, pain, disease, discomfort, and dysfunction is your body crying out to be acknowledged and appreciated. Thanksgiving is a part of your healing process. Saying thanks is curative. The Samaritan man in the text who said “thanks” was healed AND made whole. The other nine lepers who did not express gratitude limited thei...

  “ A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees; if you are willing, you can make me clean (Mark 1:40).” In addition to bowing your heads and closing your eyes, many people learn to “get on your knees and pray.” Often, it’s at night before going to sleep. Parents instruct their children to kneel on the side of the bed and say their prayers. Perhaps you have fond memories of kneeling and reciting the Lord’s Prayer or the 23rd Psalm. Or maybe you were taught, like me, “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake. I pray the Lord, my soul, to take. God bless mommy, daddy…” Kneeling is a physical way to revere God as your Creator and remember that God is your Source. “Know that it is the Lord, who is God. It is he that has made us and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3).” Without reverencing and remembering, kneeling is a powerless religious ritual. Kneeling is not just a phy...

Louise Hay is the author of the world-famous book, You Can Heal Your Life, and the founder of Hay House Publishing Company. This book is like a second Bible to me. My mantra is, “I AM a metaphysician, and I heal myself (Luke 4:23).” When faced with a health challenge, I refer to this book to see what my body is telling me and what I need to do to heal myself. I used to have chronic back pain and I learned that back pain has to do with not feeling loved and support. I was able to heal myself by affirming, “I AM loved and I AM supported. I AM not alone.” I also ensured that I had a partner or an assistant before I started a new career project or ministry venture. I secured my support system up front so that my back did not have to hurt and remind me of the importance of mutual support. I frequently recommend this book to family, friends, and clients. They always manifest astounding healings through the utilization of this resource. Pray several times a day and throughout the week. Yo...

  “ Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).” How often have you prayed for things to change while you remain the same? In her book, Lessons in Truth , H. Emile Cady said that one of the major causes of suffering is “the stubborn refusal to change.” Once transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you are empowered to change the things in your life (Romans 12:1-2). Prayer changes people and changed people have the power to change things. God has given humanity the authority to change the planet for the greater good of all (Genesis 1:26-28). When you connect with your divinity through prayer, you feel motivated to make a difference and use that energy to answer questions, solve seeming problems, and bring resolution to issues. Prayer does not change things. Prayer changes people, and people change things because people are a part of systems. You...

  “ Jesus answered and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them unto babes (Matthew 11:25).”  Jesus, our Wayshower, began his prayer with thanksgiving, and then he acknowledged the Lord of heaven and earth as his Father. With God as his Father, Jesus knew that he was one with the Omniscience, the all-knowing Source of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. When you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, God as your Father, you open the door to receive insight beyond your human limitations.  In this prayer, Jesus was not comparing himself to others. He was coming into the realization that when he operated in his ego by being wise in his own eyes and prudent according to the world’s standards, that he was blind to God’s revelation for him. Jesus understood that when he humbled himself as a babe, he was able to operate in the mind of Christ and see with his spiritual eyes, hear...

  “ Have faith in God, Jesus answered (Mark 11:22).”  Faith is the movement of ideas from one realm to another realm. The spiritual has already answered your prayer and is waiting for you to manifest the answers in the natural, physical realm (Daniel 10:12-13). Therefore, faith is bringing your good from the spiritual realm into the natural realm where you can see it with your natural eyes and hear it with your natural ears. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, but it is revealed to us by God’s Spirit (I Corinthians 2:9-10).”  Faith is moving what you desire from the heavenly realm to the earthly realm, where you can taste it with your earthly lips and feel it with your earthly hands. “Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).” Faith is your ability to bring positive things from the invisible to the visible so that you can smell it w...

  “ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God ? (John 11:40)”  Glory is a One Word Prayer. Glory is the verbal response to seeing the manifestation of the One Power and the One Presence in your life. Glory is the feedback that you give when you tangibly experience the fruit of your labor. Glory is the word that you say when you see results actualized through your health, relationships, and wealth because of living by Kingdom principles. Glory is how you express yourself when your good comes into expression on this physical realm. In the spiritual realm, you know that everything is complete; therefore, when you meet Spirit through your natural senses, you feel glory.  Jesus, the Perfect Pattern, loved the sibling trio of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Their home in Bethany was a refuge for him from the demands of ministry. His friendship with them gave him the balance that he needed in his life. Due to other responsibilities, Jesus...

  “ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, who touched my clothes (Mark 5:30)?”  Without you telling them, people can tell when you are a person who prays consciously and consistently. There is a positive energy that people feel exuding from you. They intuitively know that there is something special about you. Some people may describe it as a light in your eyes, a shine on your face, or a halo above your head.  That is how people felt about Jesus, our Perfect Pattern. The woman who had an issue of blood realized that making a connection with Jesus would make a difference in her life (Mark 5:25-34). Although she exhausted her financial resources in seeking medical attention, hearing about Jesus gave her hope for healing. She did not feel that prayer from Jesus or conversation with him was necessary for her to be whole. She was clear that all she needed to do was be in his presence close enough to...

  “ He asked this only to try him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do (John 6:6).”  Many people see prayers from the imagery of two roles: Santa Claus or a short-order cook. Some see a Santa Claus who gives out toys and gifts based on their naughty or nice behavior. The thought is that if you do all the right things, then God hears and answers your prayers. However, if you think, say. or do something that is not right or perfect, then God will not give you what you desire.  Others see God as a short-order cook. A waitress takes your order then calls it out to the cook who makes it in the kitchen. When your order is ready, the cook rings the bell signaling the waitress to pick it up and bring it to your table so that you can eat it and pay the bill. Some people believe that through prayer, God takes your requests, cooks them up, and delivers them to you.  When you pray in the already, you realize that God is neither Santa Claus nor a short-order cook....