Category: faith

Posted on

Spiritual Healing: What Does the Bible Say about Healing?

In Uncertain Times Christ's Death and Resurrection Offer Comfort and Hope

Over the last 72 hours many people have become sick, many have been asking God for healing in Jesus’ Name! I came across today’s verse that I found so powerful. Do you need healing in your body physically? spiritually? emotionally? Do you believe you can be healed? Your words can bring that healing. Hallelujah! Start speaking pleasant, powerful, potent words–words of life, encouragement and thanksgiving.

Today, guard your heart by making sure you are only listening to pleasant, life-giving and life transforming words. If there’s something on the TV or radio that isn’t bringing life to your soul, turn it off. If someone’s having a conversation that’s not uplifting or productive, don’t be a part of it, walk away.

Today, choose to meditate with God’s Word, and your words which are living and active and full of life. Speak pleasant, powerful, potent words–words of life. Let God’s strength and peace rise in your soul. Keep your heart and mind focused on Him, and always choose pleasant words so you can be healed!

“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body.” 

(Proverbs 16:24, AMP)

Pray With Me
Jehovah Rapha, thank You for Your Word which is truth that heals. Father, I repent today for any words that have brought destruction into my life, or the lives of those around me. God, I ask that You uproot every negative seed, and help me to always choose pleasant words of life, so I can be healed physically, spiritually and emotionally, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Posted on

Corona Virus — No Match For God’s Covenant Of Peace

Yesterday I was speaking to some people who was frustrated with the panic over corona virus. They were full of complaints and fear. My advice to them, as it is to you is, “no matter what you may be facing in life, God is with you. You don’t ever have to feel anxious, worried or upset, because you have a covenant of peace with the Almighty.” That means His peace is always available to you.

Remember this, God’s peace passes all understanding. That means you can have peace when it doesn’t make sense to have peace. When the rest of the world seems to be upset or fretting, you don’t have to be upset or fret. When viruses appear, When loved ones die unexpectedly, you can be at peace, knowing that God has promised to supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory. When the bills are high and the money is low, you can trust that God is your refuge, and He will cause you to live in safety. He’ll make a way where there seems to be no way. Hallelujah!

Today, despite the panic of this corona virus and the death of hundreds of people around the world, begin to trust in God’s promises. Thank Him for His peace and faithfulness in your life. Declare that God’s peace and joy dwells and rules in your heart and mind. As you dwell on God’s promises, your heart will be at rest, and you’ll experience the blessing of His peace and not panic.

“And I will make with them a covenant of peace”¦” 

(Ezekiel 34:25, KJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your covenant of peace. I receive it by faith today. Father, I choose not to worry, fret or panic over this outbreak of the corona virus. God, I will keep my heart and mind fixed on the comfort of Your promises, and I declare the gift of Your peace over my heart and mind, and rebuke that spirit of panic, satanic distrust and selfishness. I lift up those around the world affected by this virus, and ask for total healing in Jesus’ Name! Please comfort those that mourn. Amen.

Posted on

Dense Praise Brings Holy Ghost Rain

Photo by Kenzie Kraft on Unsplash

In the last few years I have travelled to several countries where there is a need for rain. Many, particularly in Africa & the Middle East, see rain as being symbolic of God’s blessing, favour and refreshing. If that was the case the UK should be the most spiritual and prosperous place. But it’s all about what the spiritual rain is, and what it does in the supernatural.

God’s Word is like rain that causes us to flourish and blossom in every area. Scripture says we should live like a well-watered garden, vibrant and growing. We should live under a cloud of God’s blessing. How do we do that? Just like in the natural, a cloud is formed when moisture vapours rise up from the earth into the atmosphere. Eventually, the moisture is so abundant that the rain begins to fall. In the same way, your praise is like the invisible vapours that rise up to heaven and form a cloud. Eventually, your praise will activate an outpouring of God’s blessing, favour and provision in your life. Hallelujah!

Today, are you feeling like you are in a dry season? Begin to praise and thank God that He is bringing you through to a place of refreshing. Magnify and bless Him for His goodness in your life. As you turn up your praise, they will form clouds of abundance over your dry barren life, and God will turn up the rain of blessings and abundance because of the density of your praise and worship in every area of your life!

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” 

(Isaiah 55:10—11, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I choose to bless, honour and worship You. Father, I give dense praise from the depths of my soul, allow clouds of favour to form over my life today, so I can experience Your showers of blessings. God, thank You for giving me life. Thank You for making me new. Thank You for saving me and filling me with Your peace and joy. Rain on me today and always, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Posted on

Soul-Improvement or Self-Improvement

12 weeks ago did you make a new year’s resolution? What did you decided to change? Many of us made promises to ourselves to mark the beginning of a new year. We said “I will save more, exercise more, or spend less time on social media.” We begin with good intentions, but before long old habits tempt us to return to old ways. We slip up occasionally, then more frequently, and then all the time. Finally, we’re back to business as usual, as if our resolutions never existed.

Instead of choosing our own self-improvement goals, a better approach might be to ask ourselves: “what does the Lord desire of me?” In the book of Micah, God reveals that He wants us to do what is right, to be merciful, and to walk humbly with Him. All of these things relate to soul-improvement rather than self-improvement.

Today, when we choose soul-improvement instead of self-improvement, we don’t have to rely on our own strength. The Holy Spirit is standing by to help us as believers in our spiritual/soul growth. God’s Word says, He is able to “strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being” (Eph. 3:16). Let’s resolve to be more Christ-like. To livejustly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. Let’s resolve to focus more on spiritual soul-improvement. The Spirit will help us as we seek to walk with our God. 

What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

Pray with Me
Yahweh, thank You for choosing to lead me. Father, help me choose soul-improvement over self-improvement. I ask for a truthful spirit, a wise spirit, a kind spirit, so that Your life will be clearly seen in me. God, send Your Holy Spirit into my life, to show me how to do what You want me to do. Please teach me to live justly, love mercy and to walk humbly, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Posted on

Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results

Photo by Leonardo Sanches

There is an old saying – “you can’t do the same thing all the time and expect a different result.” Too often, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing, the same way, over and over every day. But if we are going to live at our absolute best, our optimum, we should constantly be growing and sharpening our skills. We should strive to learn and grow every single day, because when you stop learning, you stop growing. When you stop growing, you stop living.

Right now what are you doing to stretch yourself? What are you doing to improve your skills? Don’t get trapped into thinking that what you are doing is good enough. You were created for more than just average. Hallelujah!

Today is a new day, and there are new heights for you to climb. Pursue what you love and keep developing that area of your life. Take a class, or find a mentor that will help you live skillfully. Increase in your spiritual giftings. Be skilled at your work and stand blessed before leaders, rulers and politicians!

“Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings…” 

(Proverbs 22:29, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I choose to rise out of mediocrity. I want to live and not just survive. I want to stop doing the same thing everyday and expecting a different result. Father, I choose to give my very best to everything I do. Teach me how to grow, improve, and stretch myself, so that I can live a better life and be the best I can be. God, teach me to live skillfully, so that my life is a continual praise to You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Posted on

How Can We Declare God’s Word Over Our Lives

It amazes me that we have so many weak, powerless Christians. Did you know that when you speak the Word of God, it activates power in your life? In fact, today’s verse says to not let it depart from your mouth. In other words, keep speaking and confessing the Word of God — no matter what your circumstances seem like.

When you keep God’s Word in your mind, heart and mouth, it empowers you to obey all that the Lord commands. Do you need strength today to overcome temptation? Do you need to be empowered to walk in love? Get the Word of God in your heart and declare what the Word of God says about your situation.

Today, declare God’s word and notice what will happen: you will have the keys to prosperity and success in every area of your life. As you continue to speak the Word of God, you will be empowered in every area of your life, and you will live the life of victory the Lord has promised!

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.” 

(Joshua 1:8, AMP)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for Your Word which gives me strength and activates power and prosperity. Father, fill me with Your power so that I can obey Your commands. God, I declare success in my life today based upon Your Word. God, I bless You today and always, in Christ’ name! Amen.

Posted on

Love From The Red Sea

This morning I was reminiscing about when Jen and I were sitting on a yacht on the Red Sea, overlooking Egypt on one side and Israel on the other. It was amazing, the lights, the stars and the bright half moon all seemed so surreal. But what was clear was God’s love. All through this region, throughout its history, we see God’s love for His people. There is tremendous power in love! In the same way that a tree will grow taller and stronger when its roots grow deep, you will be stronger and rise higher when you are rooted and established in God’s love.

You may ask the all important question, how do you establish yourself in love? It starts with a choice. When you say “yes” to love, you are saying “yes” to God, because God is love! Then, you choose love again, according to 1 Corinthians 13. Love means being patient and kind. It means not seeking your own way, not being jealous or boastful. 

Today, When you choose love instead of choosing your own way, you are showing the world that God is first place in your life. The more you choose to walk in love, the deeper and stronger your roots will grow. Let me remind you, love is the greatest thing, and it is all that will last in eternity. Choose to establish yourself in love, and let it be firm within you. Let His love build security in you, and empower you to live the life of blessing He has in store for you.

“”¦May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.” 

(Ephesians 3:17, AMP)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today and everyday, I choose love. Father, show me how to love You and others the way You love me. Give me patience and kindness. Take away selfishness, jealousy and pride. God, thank You for setting me free and empowering me to live the good life You have prepared for me, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Posted on

I Have The King’s Power And Authority

Did you know that you were created with power and authority. Today’s scripture tells us that we have the mark of authority of the Almighty. We don’t often hear about signet rings anymore; but in Bible times, they were very significant. The signet ring was used to identify the message or messenger, and the authority they had. In other words, you knew something was from the king because it was marked by his signet ring. It was representative of power and authority. God has chosen and set you apart to be identified with Him. Hallelujah!

When you have someone’s power and authority, it’s like having power of attorney; you have the authority to act on behalf of that individual. As a believer in Jesus, you are marked with His seal. Think of all you have access to today!

Today, think about the authority you have. Everything God has is available to you healing, provision, strength, peace and joy. You have been given authority to unlock His abundant blessings and power over all the forces of evil in Jesus’ Name. Accept His seal, and you will be marked to live the abundant life He has in store for you!

“‘”¦I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” 

(Haggai 2:23, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for choosing me and calling me Your own. Father, help me to fully understand the authority and power You’ve placed in me, through Your Son and Holy Spirit. God, I receive all the supernatural blessings You have for me today, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Posted on

Success: What is it? What is God’s Idea of Success?

Have you heard the saying “what goes around comes around?” God has a system in place in order to bless you, and it works on the principle of sowing and reaping. What you pour out to others, it will come back to you in increased measure. When you give generously, a generous harvest will return to you. When you help others succeed, you will find abundant success on your own path too.

Remember there are people in your life who will help you reach your full potential. These are people that God has placed in your life for you to help along, for you to sow into. The higher they rise up, the higher you will rise up too. When you give generously of your time, talent and resources, you are setting yourself up for greater success.

Today, what are you doing to invest in the lives of the people around you? Are you helping others get ahead? Step out and sow a seed, not necessarily of money. Look for ways to help others. As you sow success, you’ll reap success, and move forward and upward into the life God has in store for you!

“Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.”

 (Ecclesiastes 11:1 NLT)

Pray With Me
Jehovah, I open my heart to You and the success You have in store for me. Father, use me to be a blessing in the lives of others, helping them become successful in You. God, I believe in Your principle whatsoever we sow we will reap. Help me to sow positively, show me where to invest my time, talent and resources, to help others succeed for Your glory, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

Posted on

What did Jesus mean when He said, “Ask and you shall receive”?

Yesterday I was thinking about one of my needs that’s not happening for me. I felt disappointed. I wonder today how many people have been disappointed simply because they didn’t pray and ask God for the big things in their hearts. You might say, “well, Ray, God is God. If He wants to bless me, He will bless me.” But no, it says in James 4:2, “you have not because you ask not.” If you’re not asking big, you are shortchanging yourself.

You will never reach the fullness of your potential if you only pray small prayers. I’m not talking about just making a wish list and praying every whim. I’m talking about asking God for what He has already promised you. The scripture says, “when you walk in God’s ways, you will lend and not borrow. With long life God will satisfy you. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Today, there are hundreds of promises that you have every right to pray and ask God to bring to pass; not only that, there are specific dreams and desires that God has placed in your heart. They didn’t just randomly show up. The Creator of the universe put them in you. I dare you to ask, and ask big, and watch what God will do in your life!

“”¦you do not have because you do not ask.”

(James 4:2, NKJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I ask You to fulfil the promises and dreams You have placed in my heart. Father, I will be detailed and not limited in my asking of You for blessings. God, I believe that You are waiting and willing for me to ask big. God, I believe that You are able, and I believe that You are working things together for my good, as I put my hope, trust and belief in You, as I change my thinking from small to spiritually massive, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 

Posted on

Do You Need Hope or Faith for Something Today?

Since being back in the UK, I’ve noticed that folk look sad and down. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to give us abundant life. Not only did He come to give you life in eternity, but He desires that you experience abundant life here on earth. He wants your relationships to be vibrant and alive. He wants your dreams to be alive. He wants your body, heart and mind to be alive and full of vitality. God is the source of all life, and when you seek Him, you will find Him, and the result will be everlasting life.

Are there areas in your life that need to be resurrected? Are there things that you’ve put on the back burner that you need to revive again? Do you need hope or faith for something today?

Today, seek God and allow Him to breathe His life into you. Seek Him with your dreams; seek Him with your plans. Seek Him in all things, and you will find His abundant life, and everything you set your hand to will prosper in Jesus’ name.

“”¦Seek me and live.” 

(Amos 5:4, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for giving me abundant life, both now and in eternity. God, I don’t want to just survive, I want to live a powerful, happy and excited life. So God, I give You my dreams and my plans, resurrect them and make them live. I humbly seek You today, giving You all that I am. I ask for Your hand of blessing and guidance in everything I do. In Jesus’ name! Amen.

Posted on

A NEW YOU: God can change impossible situations

Does your situation look impossible? It’s time to believe God for something that seems impossible? We serve a great and mighty God, and He can create something out of nothing! He can make a way when there seems to be no way. Before God spoke the world into existence, it was formless and void. If God can make the world out of nothing, He can take the empty places in your life and create something beautiful, too.

Today, God can speak light into your darkest hour. He can take your formless dreams and give them shape. He can resurrect your dormant gifts and talents! He can make your crooked places straight! Trust Him in all things, because He can make something out of nothing, there is nothing too hard for Him!

“The earth was formless and void”¦and God said, let there be light.” (Genesis 1:2—3, NASB)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for making a way where there seems to be no way. Father, thank You for forming my shapeless life. Now God, fill the void that is in my life today. Please, I beg You, turn on the light in my darkness today. Give me Your peace and faith, and give me a vision for all You have for me. In Christ’s Name! Amen.

Posted on

I Wish I Hadn’t Said That

Yesterday I said something I wish I could have taken back, but I couldn’t. Have you said something recently that you wish you hadn’t? The Bible says that your words reveal what’s going on inside of you. If you go around speaking negative words of defeat, putting others down and complaining all the time, it’s a sign that you need to re-focus your heart and mind. It’s a sign that your “hard drive” is polluted.

It is said that our bodies work a lot like a computer. What you put on the hard drive of your heart, will show up on the monitor of your mouth. The good news is that you can reprogram your mind the same way you can reprogram a computer. The Bible says that your mind can be renewed–or reprogrammed. The more you read and study His Word, the more it will transform you from the inside out.

Today, ask the Lord to reveal anything in your heart that needs changing. Make Him first place in your life. Fill your heart with the good treasure of God’s Word, so that blessings come out of your mouth. Let the hard drive of your heart be filled with faith, expectancy and hope, and you’ll see God’s hand of blessing in every area of your life.

“”¦For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” 

(Matthew 12:34, NKJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I humbly come before You, and ask that You cleanse the hard drive of my heart and mind of anything that isn’t pleasing to You. Father, reprogram me and renew me. Fill me with Your faith, peace, joy and love, so that I can overflow with Your goodness and positivity today and always, in Christ’ Name! Amen.

Posted on

You Need to Get Rid of All Your Negative Friends

All kinds of Wonderful

This is a new season, and in order for you to rise higher, you have to break away from relationships that are limiting you. Sometimes in order to embrace the destiny God has in store, you have to be willing to make some difficult changes in your life. You have to be willing to examine where you are, and what you need to do in order to move forward. This may mean that you need to change some friends you’re spending time with. Maybe they were fine for a season in your life, but you’ve outgrown them. You have to develop some new friendships with people who are going to pull you up and inspire you to rise higher.

I’ve said this many times and still maintain it today, that if you’re the smartest one in your group, your group is too small. Find people who are smarter than you, people who will challenge you to stretch to the next level. If you are not stretched, life will become boring, mundane and static.

Today, I remind you, he who walks with the wise becomes wise. Choose your friends wisely, don’t allow them to hold you back, or hold you down, or even talk you out of your dreams, so you can rise higher and walk in the dignity and in the destiny God has for you. 

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your grace and mercy, Father, I ask You for the power to walk away from evil, small-minded, uninspiring relationships. Thank You for the plan You have for my life. God, help me choose my friends and companions wisely, so that I can continue to move forward and not backwards or sideways, so I can arrive at the destiny You have for me. In Christ’s Name! Amen.

Posted on

You Belong To The Family Of God

We all go through times when we feel lonely, or wonder where we belong. God designed family to always be a place of love and acceptance. Maybe you didn’t come from an environment like that, or maybe you’ve been away from your family. Maybe they are no longer around. God still desires to meet that need for family. He says, “He is the Father to the fatherless, and He places the solitary in families.” God wants to give you a circle of people you can trust, who will embrace and accept you.

If you are lonely or in need of a family today, ask God to meet that need and show you where you belong. Or, maybe you are the one who can open your home and heart to someone who is alone. The point is that God loves family. He designed family for a purpose. Jesus said in Matthew 12 that those who do God’s will are His family.

Today, if you are part of the family of God, you are never alone! He promises to never leave you nor forsake you. He promises to fill you with His peace and joy, so that you can live as an overcomer all the days of your life!

“God places the solitary in families”¦” (Psalm 68:6, NKJV)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for making me a part of Your family. Father, thank You for diminishing my loneliness and being my Father. Thank You for accepting and embracing me always, even when I embarrass You with my sinful behaviour. God, show me how I can reach out and be an example of family in someone else’s life, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Posted on

Don’t Judge Me!

If you know me I can be very critical at times. Just recently I had to learn this valuable lesson, criticism given in the wrong way can make us feel anxious and in some cases, worthless. But when it’s given fairly and constructively, with real care and encouragement, not only does it show us where we’re going wrong, it fires us up to want to improve. So when we’re trying to help someone improve, let’s do it with kindness, understanding and empathy.

If it’s constructive, criticism can be a good thing. If we point out mistakes from a position of love and of wanting the other person to be the best they can be, it’s a useful tool that we can use to help others improve. Otherwise, it can easily turn into a destructive force that discourages and breaks people apart. We tend to find it easy to point out failings and weaknesses in others, while overlooking or excusing our own faults.

Jesus says: ‘How can you say to your friend, “Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye”? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You hypocrite!’ (Matthew 7:4-5 NCV). Strong words, so we definitely need to take notice and avoid being unfair and judging others more harshly than we judge ourselves. Sometimes we might be overly critical to try and make ourselves look or feel better. Or we might be trying to hide the wounds of past experiences by using anger and criticism as a form of defence. 

Today, whatever the reason, Jesus gives us clear instructions, ‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged.’ When God looks at us and sees our faults and all the mistakes we make, He treats us with grace and gently corrects us. But what if God criticised us as harshly and as often as we criticise others? We’d soon feel completely depressed and wounded. The truth is, God, who has the highest standards of all, treats us with love and care even when we fail to live up to those standards. So when we need to correct someone, let’s do the same, and aim to encourage, not discourage.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.’

Matthew 7:1 NIV

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I thank You for this timely advice not to judge others. I surrender my negative critical mind to You. Please Father, change me so I won’t be judgemental and hypocritical. God, help me to look at myself first before looking at others. Show me how to be constructive and encouraging when I have to criticise, and never to be discouraging and cause depression and discontent, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

 

As seen on