Stop Holding Back!!!!

Mediocre ain't cutting it anymore. Last night, I took some time away from my studies and the issues that I'm facing to hear a real-time Rapzilla interview featuring Lecrae. For all of those who don't know this guy, go to Amazon, go to ITunes, go to Google Play, and get it "Gravity." Right now, he's on the ride of controversy from those who are religious to the top guys in the rap game. He's learned to be comfortable in the God who has brought him to this point. He doesn't care what man says, only what God says, and stays in the kitchen (prayer, fellowship, the Word) to be productive in God's kingdom. As I was listening, I was convicted not because of his accolades but from what God has called me to do. Around late 2006, I made a promise to God that I would feed His lambs and feed His sheep. Now, I'm not saying I'm seeking to be somebody's pastor, heaven's no!!!!! (I'm praying for all you pastors out there). What I am saying is that God has placed in me a lot that I need to do. My dad even reminded me a couple of months ago, to whom much is given much is required. Straight from the mind of Jesus. What have I done since then? Excuses, distractions, pettiness from immature people around me, blockages in my faith in God to do the impossible in my life, selfishness, and regret. These and much more I've allowed to hold me back; as some scholars would say, dead weight. Every year, we see inspiration movies that show people getting knocked but then making a decision to stop holding back to become they best they can be. I truly believe this is the time we need to stop holding back and do what God has put in our hearts to do. Over the weekend, my mom told me that God is like a counselor. He won't say much, just let us wine, cry, and complain about our situation. During the counseling session, we begin to do some introspection of ourselves and begin to pull out the answers from within ourselves. You see, God's word ain't far, it's right here in us, if we would just take heed (Deuteronomy 30:11-16). The word is so powerful that once we begin to apply it, every chain, every yoke, every bad habit, and every bad association is getting taken from us. Within these past 3 days, I have experienced much conviction from the word I haven't felt in a long time. I hear Him saying to me, stop holding back. If people misunderstand you, know they always misunderstand me. I and probably all of you reading this need to wake up and smell the coffee. Jesus is coming back soon and we can't have our works undone. We can't be like that one guy who hid his talent because he was afraid. God hasn't given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind (2nd Timothy 1:6-7). It's time for us stir up the gift(s) of God in us and stop holding back. As rapper Mark J would say, the purpose of going to church is for a re-up and to stay accountable (so we don't get above ourselves). I'm not just talking to one group of people, I'm talking to all groups of people because God made all people. Stop holding back. Seek God for your purpose, get strong counselors in your life to instruct as well as correct you. Most importantly, don't let nothing or nobody hold you back. Jesus Christ went all the way from the cross to the throne. Keep that in mind (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Til Next Time, dgwo.