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

Changing the System “ 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).” Have you ever been bothered by a speck of dust in your eye or by a splinter in your finger that, relative to your body size, was as small as an ant is to a dog? If you have, then you know the paradox that what affects one affects all, regardless of the size or magnitude of the effect. Even though the splinter is only 1/16 of an inch in length, when embedded in the skin and impinging on the nerve, you can barely think of anything else except the pain that you feel. Likewise, the speck of dust that is a persistent nuisance to the eyeball commands your full attention. If one part of the body is affected by something (no matter the size) because that part is a sub-component of the system as a whole, the entire system will be adversely affected. ...

“ Father, into thy hands, I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46).” The last recorded prayer of Jesus was, “Father, into thy hands; I commit my spirit.” This statement demonstrates that Jesus, our example of what it means to fully human and fully divine, was completely turning his will and his ways over to God. Pray about it until you have peace. Once you have peace about it, allow the process to unfold, knowing the Principle of Divine Timing. Everything is happening exactly when it is supposed to happen. The scripture is true, “the door that God opens no one can shut (Revelation 3:7).” Whenever God has a blessing to give, you will receive it when you are ready for it regardless of the thoughts and opinions of others. God opens the doors of opportunity to meet your needs and to fulfill the good desires of your heart. The same verse says, “the door that God shuts, no one can open (Revelation 3:7).” Sometimes the shut door m...

It’s alright to question God! “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me (Matthew 27:46)?” One day in Sunday school class, my primary teacher told us never to question God because it was a sign of disrespect. I was confused by what she said because my mother told me that if you don’t understand something, ask questions. I could ask my mother about anything if I did it respectfully. I wondered why I could not do the same with God. As I got closer to God through meditation, letter writing, and expressing my feelings in prayer, I desired to ask God some questions. Since I was trying new things in my relationship with God, I thought, “why not try this and see what happens.” I went into prayer with a list of questions and told God that I would benefit from the answer to these questions. Some of the questions God answered on the spot. Other answers came through interactions with various people or a preached message or a lesson taught in Bible Study. Som...

When the Answer is No... “ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:8).” I heard a sermon preached about answered prayer. The minister said that God answered all prayers. However, sometimes the answer will be “yes,” other times, the answer will be “wait,” and other times, the answer will be “no.” Up until the time that I was 20 years old, God only answered me by “yes” and “wait.” His answers to most of my prayers were “yes,” and if he said, “wait,” I did not have to wait long. People were often envious of my relationship with God. One of my pastors told me, “You are just a spoiled child of God. Your mother spoils you, and God spoils you by answering every prayer and giving you the desires of your heart.” Well, one day in prayer, God emphatically told me, “no!” I was praying for my mother, who had a stroke and a major heart attack and was in the intensive care unit in the...

Prayer & Persistence “He spoke a parable to illustrate that people are to always pray and never give up (Luke 18:1).” Jesus, the Perfect Pattern, was a great teacher and often used parables to illustrate his point. Parables represent earthly stories that have heavenly meaning. The verse for today is the beginning of the Parable of the persistent widow and the Unjust Judge found in Luke 18:1-8. The image of God in the parable symbolizes the judge, and the woman represents any person who desires answered prayers. The woman was specific about her request, “avenge me of my adversary.” She was also strategic about getting results “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.” God answered her prayers in due time. The lesson from the parable is that intentional and persistent prayers get results. Prayer is more than a religious ritual. It is an authentic relationship with God that gets results. God is your Source and created many ...

  Hallelujah “ And after they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30).” Worship is only for God. Jesus emphasized two important points about worship. First, it is for God only. In the wilderness, he deflated his ego by telling himself the truth. “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve (Matthew 4:10).” Secondly, worship must be done in spirit and in truth. “God is Spirit, and they that worship God must worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).” Although worship is only for God, you can praise all the good in your life. You can praise people, places, and things. Whatever you praise grows and multiplies. Whatever you praise expands and increases. Hallelujah is a one-word prayer and is considered the highest praise. Don’t praise sickness, pain, and disease by talking about it all the time and claiming it as your own with such phrases as “my high blood pressure, my di...

Lifting the hands “ I desire people everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or doubting (I Timothy 2:8).” Lifting the hands is a sign of surrender. When an officer arrests a person, the first thing the officer says is, “Put your hands up.” Lifting the hands means that you humble yourself and surrender to the officer’s authority and comply with the legal process. Lifting the hands is a prayer posture that signifies releasing and letting go. Jesus said, “If you humble yourself that you will be exalted, and if you exalt yourself, you will be humbled (Luke 18:14).” The power of lifting the hands is making a conscious choice to humble yourself as opposed to allowing a process of humiliation to bring you to a place of humility. Prosperity is the One promise for living the one Kingdom Law of Love , following the one Kingdom principle of Divinity (applied through the 7 Kingdom Principles for Divine Living), and living the one Kingdom Pract...