Tony Gaskins, Jr.: Author and Motivational Speaker

I was the son of a Pastor. It was almost like I was birthed into the church. Since I was a young boy I knew Christ. By the age of 10, I was crying out to the Lord and filled with his spirit. I saw visions of a platform and myself reaching millions for the glory of God. I didn’t know exactly how it would happen, but I knew it would happen. All I wanted in this life was to fulfill that which God had placed in my heart, but low and behold the devil had other plans.

Over time, I became consumed with women; everything about a woman pleased me. The danger of indulging in a woman comes when you haven’t discovered who you are as a man. It’s dangerous when you indulge before you’ve become a complete individual- secure, confident, passionate, loving, caring, and genuinely. I found myself lost in this woman around the age of 20, and sure enough she was lost too. You see, we  are often drawn to a reflection of ourselves even though we may not know it. Here we were two lost individuals looking for love in all the wrong places and all the wrong faces. Hoping and believing that we could be completed by being needed by someone else.

 It’s at that time that I began to want to be that woman’s all, and when I realized I wasn’t, it pushed me to the edge. Forgetting what I was taught in Christ, forsaking my upbringing, I was like the prodigal son. When that woman didn’t please me, I took out my self-hatred on her. Any and every time she stepped out of “my line,” I beat her. When I say beat, I mean beat! Not just pushing, but punching, slapping, pulling and slinging by her hair, and kicking. It was for real. The sad part of it was that neither of us knew this demons origin. Neither of us knew that this battle was not one of flesh and blood, but of spirits and principalities. Neither of us knew that this was the devil trying to mussel the mouth of our gifts. The devil used one demon in me to beat the spirit in her, and gave her a spirit that craved the spirit in me. This was spiritual warfare, but neither of us waged war with the sword of the Holy Spirit. Instead we fought in the flesh. So we labored in vain- hating, and provoking one another, not realizing that we were only killing one another spiritually and physically.

 The devil almost had me take my life, trying to gain control over a human being that I hadn’t paid a price for, and neither had he. You see, we were both bought with a price, but neither of us knew it. But there came a day where the Lord began to tug on my heart. He began to pull on my spirit and spoke softly into my being; He breathed life in me like brand new. He put disgust in my heart for domestic violence, physical, and verbal abuse. He arranged it to where every time I wanted to act out in rage, it would wear me out so that I was physically and emotionally drained. It would bring me to my knees. There came a day, after going through a series of events that God allowed the devil to knock me flat on my back. But God spoke into my spirit and said “My son, if you can look up, then you can get up”. Then with the strength of God, I rose to my feet and I vowed that the devil would not defeat me. No more would he beat me and bruise me mentally, emotionally or physically. I declared independence over my life and I took the reign back!

Tony Gaskins, Jr.: Author and Motivational Speaker

 God birthed in me a fire and a desire to go back through the Earth and reclaim lives. It was a desire to restore self-worth, self-respect, and dignity. He charged me with a duty that I must carry out, and that is to reach and teach every soul I can in the time I have left. Lord, I asked “how will it all start out?” He said “fist you must be sacrificed, and then I’ll give you life”. My God, sent me as a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show to do what many men wouldn’t dare do, and that is tell my story of abuse. I confessed to people that had never heard that story before, including my mother and father, friends, family, teachers, and co-workers. I sacrificed it all for the CALL. God told me that in order to be a servant, you must first be willing to sacrifice it all, be brought all the way down, and then, only then will I build you back up!

I visited Oprah’s live set was March 19^th, 2009 and directly after He sent me on the Tyra Banks show as a Guest Expert speaking into the lives of millions once again. And I know this is only the beginning, he is still opening doors.

 You see, when you give God the reign over your life and you embrace your past and are willing to sacrifice your story for his Glory, amazing things happen. God doesn’t want a closet Christian; He doesn’t want a “perfect” soul. He isn’t waiting for you to get it all together, because if we could get it all together on our own, then there wouldn’t be a place for Him. God says bring Me your burden, cast your cares on Me and I’ll give you rest. That rest doesn’t mean you’ll be lying still, but that rest means that you’ll have the strength you need to run this race. Walk by faith! Stand the trials! Be tested and do not waiver. Walk and not faint. Go forth my brother and sister for God is with you!

 He is waiting on you! “Let your story, bring him Glory!”

Tony Gaskins, Jr.

About the Author: Tony A. Gaskins, Jr. is an Author/Motivational Speaker/Consultant/Screenwriter/Ghostwriter/Producer and Founder of Soul Writers, LLC. He is filling a void and speaking on issues not only young men his age, but men in general are afraid to speak on. Tony travels to speak at schools of all levels, churches, battered women shelters, rehab centers and the list goes on. There aren’t 4 walls that this young man won’t enter to share his story and inspire others to do the same. You can learn more about Mr. Gaskins by visiting  his webpage and/or purchasing his books, What Daddy Should Have Told His Little Girl  and Reclaiming Our Youth One Day At A Time at http://whatdaddynevertold.com or http://reclaimtheyouth.com.

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