Author: Pastor Ray Patrick

What’s going on?

Last night I attended a powerful men’s ministry meeting on forgiveness. Forgiveness is such a powerful gift from heaven. It’s like a door on our heart. When we choose to forgive, it opens our heart so that we can receive everything God has in store for us. But when we hold onto unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment, it closes up our heart, and keeps us from moving forward physically, but mainly spiritually.

What does God say?

“…whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47, NIV). The Scripture also tells us that, “if we don’t forgive others, God cannot forgive us” (Matthew 6:15). That’s because the door on our heart is closed. If forgiveness doesn’t go out, forgiveness can’t come in. But when we choose to forgive, we open our heart so we can receive His forgiveness, and allow His love to flow freely through us. Forgiveness increases our capacity to receive! Hallelujah!

What do I do now?

Today remember, people will let you down, they will hurt you and disappoint you. Don’t let the actions of others block your relationship with the Father by holding unforgiveness. Instead, choose to forgive, so that you can increase your capacity to receive every blessing and favour God has in store for you!

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for forgiving me and setting me free from the sins of unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment. Father, today I have decided to forgive others, which will make room in my heart to receive Your forgiveness and love. Almighty God, thank You for accepting me with my sins and setting me free, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 

Helping others was what Christ did most, suggesting that if we are Christians we must be willing to do the same. In scripture, we clearly see God’s system and principle of sowing and reaping. If you sow blessing and mercy into the lives of others, that’s what you’ll reap in your life in return. 

Today’s scripture uplifts this principle – when you pray for one another, and confess your sins, you will be healed. There’s a spiritual dynamic at play when you get your mind off yourself and onto others. You’re sowing a seed into the soil of your mind and heart, so that God will do something in your life.

Today, can you think of someone in your life you can pray for? Maybe it’s a friend or a family member in need. They don’t have to be present. You can pray for them as you go about your day, or even while driving in your car. It’s that connection of faith on behalf of others that opens the door for God to move mightily in your own life. Begin now, start praying for one another and watch what God will do in your life!

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed…” (James 5:16, NIV)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for another day that I can be used by You. Father, beginning today I will pray for the people in my life, including those who persecute me and have hurt me, as You have said in Your Word. God, direct my thoughts and prayers so that I can be a blessing to others, always honouring You and reaping abundant blessings in my life, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 

In life we suffer many disappointments and things happen that don’t make sense. People let you down, things didn’t go the way you expected. It’s easy to get discouraged and think, “Why did this happen to me?” “Why did my loved one not make it?” “Why did this person treat me wrong?” “Why did I get laid off?” Some of my collegues lost their jobs recently after many years. We didn’t understand it. They  gave the organisation their best. Always on time, very loyal. I remember thinking “It’s just not right.”

Life isn’t fair at the best of times, but understand that even though life is not always fair, God is fair. He promises that He will work all things together for our good. The key word in today’s verse is “together.” In other words, don’t just isolate one part of your life and say, “Well, this is not fair.” “It’s not good that I got laid off.” “It’s not good that my child got sick.” “It’s not good that my relationship didn’t work out.” Yes, that’s true, but that’s just one part of your life. God can see the bigger picture and He said everything will work out for your good!

Today, know that disappointment is not the end. Your life doesn’t stop because of a few setbacks. That is simply one piece of your puzzle. There is another piece coming to connect it all, because God promises to work all things together for your good, trust Him! All you have to do is love God and accept His purpose.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for working all things together for my good. I release any doubt, frustration, disappointments or confusion over my past, and I choose to trust in You. God, help me to see the bigger picture You have for my life, as I love You and embrace Your purpose, keeping my mind stayed on You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

In today’s scripture, David likened God’s power to the bursting forth of waters. In other words, he described it as a flood, like a dam that has broken. He was saying that when God’s power shows up, it will give you a powerful breakthrough in your marriage, in your finances, in your health and in opportunities. It will be like a burst of His goodness, and a flood of His favour.

When a dam breaks, the burst of water can remove houses, break down walls and rearrange landscapes. That’s how powerful the water is. Water can pick up huge objects like cars, that weigh thousands of pounds, and move them all around. The news has even shown whole houses floating down the river in big floods. Nothing can stop the force of that water! It moves anything in its way! That’s what the power of God can do in your life – reaarange the negative, upset the mundane, and break down the walls that stand between you and divine success.  

Today, you may have difficulties that look extremely large, obstacles that look impassable, dreams that look unobtainable. But know this: when the God of the breakthrough releases a burst of His power, nothing can stop it. You need to get ready not for a trickle, not for a stream, not for a river. Get ready for a burst, a flood of God’s power, a tidal wave of His goodness, a tsunami of His increase! I dare you to believe that God is going to overwhelm you with victory in every area of your life today! Hallelujah!

“So [Israel] came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote [the Philistines] there. Then David said, God has broken my enemies by my hand, like the bursting forth of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim [Lord of breaking through].”

(1 Chronicles 14:11, AMP)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I invite You to overwhelm me with Your power today. Father, take over every area of my life; my thoughts, my attitude, my body. Flood me with Your healing, favour and strength, as I surrender my entire being to You. God, I give You permission to burst through and change my life, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

We all want to live in victory, and we want the same for our family and friends. According to Scripture, Christ went before us and paved the way for victory. Because He lives, we can live in victory in this life and in eternity. Not only can we live in victory, we can help others live in victory, too. We can help the people around us, and we can help the people who are coming after us. We can store up and pass on mercy, peace and blessings for future generations.

Today, the life we live should make it easier for the people who come after us. By living a life of excellence, we are leaving a mark for future generations, that’s what matters most in eternity. It’s good to leave an inheritance, but the most valuable thing you can leave on this earth is a legacy of faith and spiritual victory!

“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9, NKJV)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for the gift of eternity, Father, today I will focus on the hope of eternal things. I am determined to store up and pass on a legacy of faith, mercy, excellence, hope and victory for future generations. God, help me, by Your Spirit, to live a life that honours You and blesses others, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Covid-19 and lockdown have interrupted many of our plans and way of life. There are times in life when our plans don’t work out. We get delayed, interrupted and inconvenienced. It’s easy to get frustrated and fight against everything that doesn’t go our way. But, not every interruption is bad. Every closed door doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Every delay doesn’t mean you’re not where you’re supposed to be.

There are some things that are divine interruption, where God, on purpose, will delay us, to protect us from an accident or a bad situation. On purpose, He will close a door because it’s not His best. Sometimes, God will allow us to be inconvenienced so we can help someone else in need. We have to be willing to press through those hard interruptions, so we can be in the right place at the right time for our blessing, or to be a blessing.

Today, as we grapple with life’s uncertainties consider this, the next time you’re interrupted, delayed or inconvenienced, don’t start thinking, “this is a pain. This is depressing. This is getting me off schedule.” No, get a new perspective. Look for what God is doing, because it could be a divine interruption or divine protection. Trust Him because He is directing your steps.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5—6, NIV)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for interrupting me and protecting me. Father, I surrender every area of my mind, will and emotions to You, please take control. God, use me for Your glory today, and teach me to discern Your ways and Your timing, and always to look for positives in life’s inconveniences, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

In these times of pandemic, lockdown and racial tension, many people today are living in “survival mode.” If they can just make it through the day, without stress and anxiety, they’ve accomplished their goal. Life can seem overwhelming and challenging. There are seasons that are more difficult than others. But God doesn’t want us to just survive, He wants us to thrive.

God, wants us to prosper (thrive) in all things. One definition of the word “thrive” means “to realise, reach and accomplish a goal, despite circumstances.” That means you can prosper in all things no matter what is going on around you. You don’t have to settle for a below average year; you can have an extraordinary year despite these unprecedent times.

Today, you may be planning on just surviving, but God is planning on you thriving. He’s planning on overflow and abundance. It’s time to get in agreement with Him. It’s time to walk in His ways. It’s time see your dreams come to pass. It’s time to thrive, because God has a plan for you to prosper and not just survive!

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2, NKJV)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for the gift of life. Thank You for Your protection during these unprecedented times. Father, I cast my cares on You, knowing that You care about me. God, please remove anxiety, stress and negativity. Help me to see the good plan You have for me, so that I can thrive the way You intended, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Today you may be waiting for God to do something specific in your life. Be encouraged because God is already working on your behalf. Just because you don’t see anything happening, doesn’t mean that God isn’t working. The moment we pray, God sets the miracle into motion. 

Remember, God doesn’t say, “I’ll deliver you in one hour, or next week, or on Sunday at 6pm.” No, He doesn’t put a time frame on it. That’s where trust comes in. It’s all about God’s timing because He knows best. We have to know that our enemies retreat as soon as we call on Him for help. We have to choose the place of peace and not worry, knowing that He is working things out.

Today, shake off the temptation to get discouraged, worried and stressed during the waiting process. Shake off offense, shake off discouragement. Remember, all it takes is one touch of God’s favour to fix your problem and move you ahead. Keep standing, keep believing, keep hoping, because your answer is on its way the moment you pray! Hallelujah!

“My enemies will retreat when I call to You for help…”

(Psalm 56:9, NLT)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for listening to me when I pray. Father, I trust that You are working on my needs behind the scenes, no matter what I see in the natural. God, I will praise You always because You are faithful to me. I love You and bless You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Each day when you wake up, do you expect the goodness of God in your life? Do you spend time setting the tone for a day of success, favour and blessings?

Don’t spend time worrying about what happened yesterday, last week, last month or last year; today is a new blessed day. Right now, you have the power to make change in your life. Things may be bad all around you. People may be negative, complaining and discouraged, but don’t let that spirit rub off on you. Instead, choose to bless the Lord at all times. Let His praise continually be in your mouth. Hallelujah!

Today, be determined to set the tone for this new day, by speaking words of faith, success, favour and blessings over your future. Have high expectations that your path will shine brighter and brighter each day. Enlarge your vision and make room for God to do amazing, abundant things in every area of your life!

“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.” (Psalm 34:1, NLT)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I will bless You at all times. Father, I have decided to set the tone for my day so I can receive Your favour, grace, mercy and success. God, thank You for Your faithfulness to me at all times. I will constantly speak Your praises, in Christ’s Name! Amen!