Tag: Holy Spirit

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The World Needs Prayer

With gun and knife crime high, with kids as young as 8 carrying drugs across the country, things are out of control right now. Our country, and across the entire world, are experiencing wide-spread devastation like never before seen in history. Some places are too hot, others too cold. Floods, diseases, and brokenness seems to be affecting all. The world needs prayer at this time. 

We may not have all the answers about the world’s situation, but we can set our hearts and minds on what we do know. What we know is that God is faithful. What we know is that He is our Deliverer. What we know is that we can trust in Him. He is our hope, He is our peace, and He will carry us through. He promises that no matter what you we be facing, He will empower us to walk through it and overcome.

Today, when you don’t understand, when you don’t have answers, when you are in your darkest hour, God is your light of hope. God will bring restoration and order to your life again. Whether you’re in a storm, or experiencing another type of “trouble,” call on Him. He will deliver you, and in return, you will bring honour and praise to Him.

“…call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour Me.” (Psalm 50:15, NIV)

Let’s PrayYahweh, today I’m calling on You. Father, I trust that even in my personal darkness, and in the world’s darkest hours, You are my light of hope. God, give me Your peace that passes understanding. Bring order and restoration to my life. Heal this land of crime, abuse and natural devastation as Your people call upon You, in Christ’ Name! Amen.

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God’s Love

God Sees You

I’m always disheartened, bewildered and even confused by the way we use the word “love,” prompting the question “what is love?” We love food, movies, clothes and sports, but we also love our family or spouse.

In the Word of God, we see God’s true definition of love. First Corinthians 13 tells us that “love is patient and kind. It does not envy nor boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It does not seek its own way, is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not rejoice in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Love believes, hopes and endures. Love never fails.” This is how God responds to us, and this is how we should respond to the people in our lives with patience, kindness, hope, humility and love. Scripture tells us that God is love, and His character never changes!

Today, and every day, know that God loves you more than you love pizza, ice cream and cake. He loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is there for you and has a great plan for you. Receive His perfect, consistent and patient love, and let Him transform you from the inside out. His love is the greatest love and will last throughout all eternity! Hallelujah!

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, NKJV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for loving me and accepting me with all my fault and flaws. Father, thank You for doing a work in my life that no one else can do. God, please help me to love like You, with patience and consistency. Help me to see others the way You see them, and respond in love, because You are love. I bless You,  honour You and love You today and always, in Christ’ Name! Amen.

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I Want To Live

Today, I’ve noticed that people 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)

Let’s Pray

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 Christ’ name! Amen.

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His Timing

The most difficult thing for me in Christianity is waiting on God. I’ve had to learn that God doesn’t always work on our timetable. He rarely does. But in a single moment, God can change your life! In the Bible, we see God instantly turning things around for His people. Scripture tells us He is the same yesterday, today and forever, which means if He did it for them, He can instantly turn things around for us, too!

Right now You may be going through a difficult trial, be encouraged because your times are in God’s hands. Trust that He has your best interests at heart. He wants to pour out His favour in your life. He wants to take you further than you dreamed possible, and work in your life in ways beyond what you have ever imagined.

Today, resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing, keep hoping and keep believing, because He is working on your behalf. Have faith because your timings are in His hands, and He will lead you in the amazing life He has for you!

“My times are in Your hand…” (Psalm 31:15, NASB)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I humbly come before You giving You my all. Father, I trust that my times are in Your hands. I trust that You are working things out in my favour. God, I set my focus on You, knowing that You are working things out for my good, in Christ’ Name! Amen.

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Imagine

One of my favorite songs starts out by saying, “I can only imagine.” When was the last time you imagined God doing something supernatural in your life? Is there a relationship that needs restoration? Is there a business you’ve wanted to start, but are holding back? If there were no limitations on your life if anything were possible, what would you be willing to imagine?

Remember, the only limits on your life are the limits you have in your mind, and God wants to do exceedingly more than you can ever imagine today! He wants to overwhelm you with His goodness, and amaze you with His faithfulness. But in order for Him to exceed what you’ve imagined, you have to at least be imagining something!

Today, why don’t you take a step of faith and let your imagination come to life? Begin to see in your mind all the possibilities for your future. Meditate on the amazing things God has done throughout history. Let that seed of faith take root in your heart. Hold on to His promises because He is faithful. He is able to exceed your expectations and go beyond what you can imagine!

“For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11, NIV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. Father, I submit my imagination to You. Help me to see what You see for my future. God, please help me to take the limits off of my thinking, so that I can receive everything You have in store for me, in Christ’s name! Amen.

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Road block

Have you ever felt like every time you try to move forward in something, you hit a roadblock, or something happens that throws you off course? Be encouraged today, because God has gone before you! You may not see it, but He is preparing a way for you. He’s making your crooked places straight. He’s making your rough places smooth. You may be going through a difficult time right now, but it’s not the end, God has a detour around the roadblock, and He has equipped you for this journey!

Remember, don’t focus on your circumstances, focus on the promises of God! Keep speaking words of faith, because God promises to anoint your head with oil. He’ll cause your cup to run over. That means when you seek Him, He will refresh and anoint you to do what He’s called you to do.

Today, keep moving forward despite the roadblock, God can make a way out of no way. Start by checking your attitude. Don’t go around complaining and focusing on the negative side of things. Instead, put on an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. Thank Him for removing that blockage and for making your crooked places straight. Keep your eyes on Him and let Him lead you into victory all the days of your life!

“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight…” (Isaiah 45:2, NKJV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your goodness in my life. Father, thank You for preparing my path and for making my crooked places straight. God, I give You total permission to remove all the blockages in my life that’s stopping me from moving forward. Restore my soul and lead me in the plan You have for me, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Trust God Not Man!

Just Like Dad

Have others ever labelled your faith as stupid or foolish because you didn’t follow the crowd, or it wasn’t a matter of life or death?  Have you ever thought about why Peter wanted to get out of the boat? Why did he all of a sudden think he could walk on water? Well, you might say, “It’s because he saw Jesus open the blind man’s eyes and cleanse the lepers.” Yes, that’s true. But, the other disciples in the boat saw the same things. Why didn’t they want to get out?

Peter trusted Jesus and believed He would keep him from sinking. He also believed that it was his time to show Jesus, and others, how he trusted Him, so he stirred up his faith. He believed at that moment that he could do what God placed in his heart. Jesus said, “Peter, do you want to get out of that boat?” He said, “Yes, I do.” Jesus replied, “Well, come on out.” Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Peter, stay in that boat, are you crazy, that’s a foolish thing to do.” No, He said, “Peter, I like your attitude of faith. I like the fact that you trust me with your life, and are willing to take me at my word and not follow the crowd, and that You believe you can do great things.”

Today, have Peter’s kind of boldness and faith! Start believing that your time is here to get out of the boat and leave the crowd, risking your life! It’s time to go against the grain and follow God’s Word, so that the dreams that you’ve buried, those desires that you thought would never work out, will come to fruition. Friend, it’s time to start believing again. It’s your time, and it’s time to step out of the boat even, if you have to go alone. Trust God not man!

“And Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ He said, ‘Come!’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus.” (Matthew 14:28–29, AMP)

Let’s PrayYahweh, today I choose to believe Your Word over human ideology. Father, I believe You are faithful to complete the good work You’ve started in my life. I choose to hear Your voice over the ridicule of the crowd, and step out of the boat at Your Word so I can receive my miracle. I thank You in advance for bringing to pass the dreams You’ve place in my heart, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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He’s Prepared Your Blessing

Scripture says, “He took Adam, whom He had just breathed life into, and put him in the garden.” Notice Adam came into a prepared blessing, something that God had already finished for him. Think about Adam and Eve in the garden. God took the first five days and created the heavens, the earth, the sky, the land and the water. He planted a garden. He put in it beautiful flowers and luscious fruit. He designed rivers to flow through it. He put precious treasures in the ground: onyx, gold and silver. Yes Adam came into a prepared blessing.

When God laid out the plan for your life, He lined up the right people, the right breaks and the right opportunities. He has blessings that have your name on them. If you will stay in faith and keep honouring God, one day you will come in to what already belongs to you. It’s a prepared blessing! Hallelujah!

Today, in the same way, God has some prepared blessings in store for you. He has worked, arranging things in your favour, getting it all perfectly in place. You couldn’t make it happen on your own. It’s just the goodness of God bringing you into a prepared blessing!

“You prepare a table before me…” (Psalm 23:5, NIV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for preparing a place of blessing for me from before I was born. Father, I choose to trust You and Your timing, knowing that You are working things out on my behalf. God, I glorify You for Your awesome timing and preparation in my life, in Christ’ name! Amen.

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Perseverance

What Do you need from God today? Finances? Good health? Restoration? Deliverance? God has promised all of these things to you in His Word, because it’s His desire for you to live abundantly. If you follow the will of God by obeying His Word and precepts, it opens the door for His promises to be fulfilled in your life. You may be doing all of the right things – don’t give up! Perseverance will carry you to the promise.

When you persevere you are focused, you are believing what God says about your situation. It’s looking away from distractions and any negative, defeating thoughts. Perseverance looks away from discouragement and looks to the Word of God. The voice of perseverance will speak to you, saying things like, “no weapon formed against me shall prosper! If God is for me, who can be against me? I am more than a conqueror through Jesus!” 

Today, whatever you are believing God for, keep believing! Stand strong and fight the good fight of faith. Ask God to give you endurance, perseverance and patience, so that you can see His promises fulfilled in every area of your life!

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, NIV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your promises to me. Father, I ask that You give me a heart that is steadfast and fixed on You. Fill me with Your peace and perseverance, so I can hold on until all your promises come to pass in my life, and live in victory all the days of my life, in Christ’ name! Amen.

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By Hearing

Our Unchangeable God in an Ever-changing World

God’s truth sets us free and causes our faith to grow! Scripture tells us that every person has been given a measure of faith. Faith can grow and increase, or it can be diminished. Today’s scripture doesn’t say, “Faith comes by having heard the Word of God one time.” No, it’s by hearing—present tense. Sure, God’s Word can transform us in an instant, but most of the time, we need to hear God’s truth over and over again in order for it to become active in our lives. 

The more we hear the Word, the more His truth chisels away at the doubt and unbelief that’s been built up over the years.

Today, just as a seed needs water daily to grow, your spirit also needs the Word of God daily. Your faith needs to be watered by His Word. It can be as simple as selecting a few scriptures to meditate on daily. Write them down and carry them in your purse or wallet. Read them out loud over and over. Let His truth sink down into your heart, and move you forward into the freedom and victory God has prepared for you!

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17, NKJV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your Word that is living and active and growing in my life. Father, I submit myself to You today, and ask You to teach me Your ways. God, give me insight into Your Word so that I may know You, and my faith may grow, in Christ’ name! Amen.

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Keys

Keys represent access. They represent authority. Whether it’s a key to a building, car, or safety deposit box; if you’ve been given a key to something, it means you have a right to use it. You have access to whatever that key will open.

Friend, because of Jesus, we have the keys to the kingdom of heaven! We have access to all the heavenly blessings and promises that are in the Word of God. And, we have the authority to take hold of those promises.

Today, are you using the keys that you have been given by God? The keys of faith and the power of your words and actions? No matter what you may have need of—be it physical healing, provision, wholeness, freedom from addiction—you have been given the authority to access it in Jesus’ Name! Take hold of those promises by faith and begin to declare that every need is met according to His riches in glory. Take a step of faith and use those keys you have been given to take hold of every blessing God has in store for you!

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven” (Matthew 16:19, NIV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for giving me the keys and access to every promise and blessing in heaven. Father, by faith, right now I receive everything You have for me. God, help me stay focused on Your Word which empowers me to live in the victory You have in store for me. In Christ’ Name. Amen.

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Look Beyond The Law

Have you ever asked these questions? “I’ve been a Christian nearly my whole life, but I’m constantly disappointed in myself. Why is it that I always seem to keep doing the things I wish I didn’t do, and never seem to do the things I know I should do? Isn’t God getting tired of me?”

That’s a common struggle that even the apostle Paul experienced in Romans 7:15. I believe many who ask these questions are caught in the discouragement trap. But here’s some good news: we don’t have to stay in that trap of discouragement. To paraphrase Paul as he writes in Romans 8, the key is to stop focusing on the law and start focusing on Jesus. Hallelujah!

Today, remember, the law, or man, can’t do anything about our sinfulness. The answer is not to try harder to be good at keeping rules – that’s the beginning of the discouragement trap. Focusing on the law alone, will constantly remind us that we’ll never be good enough or deserve God’s grace. Instead, we must focus on the One who shows us mercy, and loves us regardless and cooperate with the Spirit who changes us. Then we will trade discouragement for encouragement and receive the freedom that God brings.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Romans 7:15

Let’s PrayYahweh, I sometimes get caught in the cycle of trying too hard to be good, failing, getting discouraged, and giving up. Father, help me to depend on Your grace and to draw near to You, so that You can change my heart. God, I’m so sorry for putting the law above Your love which has allowed me to live by works and not Your grace. I choose to focus on Christ, and trade my discouragement for encouragement. In His Name I pray! Amen. 

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The Dangers Of Sexual Sin

“I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.”  (Ecclesiastes 7:26 NIV) Solomon most likely wrote the above verse from Ecclesiastes in his later years. Who better to write about the enslaving nature of sexual sin than the man who had hundreds of wives and concubines? The scripture tells us that Solomon’s love for foreign women eventually led to his plunge into idolatry. Chasing sex, he allowed these women to lead his heart astray: “his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4 NIV).


In the verse above, the woman can be used metaphorically as sexual sin in general. As in the first few chapters of Proverbs, Solomon here also warns people to steer clear of sexual sin. Those who do not will be ensnared by it. Regardless of gender, sexual sin can enslave people when they give it an opportunity to do so. It is the type of slave master who does not release its victims once they are ensnared. It seeks to consume every area of the slave’s life.

Today, remember, God created us to have dominion over the earth and to subdue it. At the fall of Adam and Eve, the devil usurped man’s dominion and was given the power of death. When Jesus died and rose from the dead, he took dominion away from the devil. And now those who believe in Jesus rightfully inherit that dominion over the earth, the forces of evil and sin. Paul explained in Romans that we are not to allow sin to reign in our bodies. We have dominion over sin and have the freedom to use our bodies to please God.


…so use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” Romans 6:13-14 (NLT)

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for dying in my place on the cross and rising from the dead. Father, thank You for winning back dominion for us over evil, sin and death. God, help those of us that struggle with sexual sin, we confess all our sins to You and repent asking for Your total forgiveness, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Stay Under The Tap

Raised in a broken home; his parents split when he was aged 7; he felt abandoned by his dad. He attended one of the worst schools in London, one that was full of violence, drugs and other crimes. It was later closed down. He experimented with cigarettes, weed, alcohol and pornography; he struggled with sexual sin, leading to fornication and adultery, which led to relationship break-ups. He was arrested for embezzlement and had his first bout with jail. Misdemeanour crimes, leading to another bout with jail. He was homeless, sleeping on floors, in his car, with no money or food. 


As I look back over my life, all of the above have led to, and still lead to, difficult times of depression, loneliness, self-blame and ongoing sin, and sometimes it becomes hard to minister thinking of all the hurt I have caused myself, others and God.

Just recently, after reading the daily lesson and powerful books by Joyce Meyers and Beth Moore, I realised that all of my sins and hardships have all served as preparation for ministry and service. This could be the bio of Abraham, David, Solomon, Paul, Peter and many more. Today, I think that these shortfalls and sins, some of which still haunt me till this day, are my real CV for ministry, not my BA in Religion and my certifications in substance abuse counselling, but in my weakness God has become strong, and out of that strength God has given me a testimony that has helped thousands of people around the world. Hallelujah!!

If you are going through a storm, my word to you is to hold on, don’t give up. If God brought me through, He will bring you through. The Word of God says He will never leave you and, in your weakness, He is made strong. And even though you may have caused your own pain, Isaiah 61:4-8 says God will use it for ministry, and make your ministry achieve double.

Today, if you are feeling broken there’s only one way to be filled. Stay under the tap of the Holy Ghost! The moment you leave the tap you will not be filled with His power. God wants to fill you all day, every day. You are not bad, you are weak, and God still can, and will, use you, because it shows that He is bigger than your trial, and stronger than the devil and man. It’s time to rise above the opinions of man and turn your eyes upon Jesus.


The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion… (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I thank You for loving me, after knowing what I’ve done and what I will do, and I thank You for my friends that will receive freedom from these words. Father, I don’t want to keep on hurting and being hurt. Help me to hate my sins, and to daily wash in Your blood. God, thank You for not leaving me when everybody else thought I was too filthy. Help those who don’t understand how You can still use broken, stained, and sinful people. You are awesome. Thank You. I LOVE YOU! Amen. 

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Remove Yourself

If the pressure keeps coming and coming and you’re getting weaker and weaker—quit standing in front of the bakery window. Remove yourself. It’s as simple as that.

We sit and struggle, asking, ‘What should I do?’ Get up and walk away. Get out of the car. Go home. Don’t go out with that person anymore. If all your friends are pressuring you, get new friends. Now, of course, this involves severing relationships. But move on and let God replace what you’ve let go of.

Many people fall into a sinful relationship because they are “people pleasers.” They don’t want to cause tension or stir up a conflict in a relationship by constantly being the one who says “no.” As a result, they do something they seriously regret, harming everyone around them. Sticking to your boundaries and upholding your beliefs may cause others to look down on you, to say hurtful words, or to try to make you feel guilty or wrong. You need to get to a place inside yourself where what people say doesn’t matter.

Today, if you have been living as a slave to sin, you can throw off the chains of slavery and live in freedom to please God. This is done by reckoning yourself dead to sin and alive to God, and taking your rightful place as a co-heir to the dominion that Christ won back. Instead of practicing sin, practice being free from sin and living for God.

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, You know that I’ve prayed this prayer before. Father, give me the courage to say “no” and to flee from any situation in which I feel pressured or uncomfortable that will lead to sin. God, I accept I am free today because of Your blood. In Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Forgiveness – A Heaven or Hell Issue

heaven or hell

Bitterness is a poison that can destroy you, and it never destroys the person it’s aimed at. A way to get through bitterness is to forgive. In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.

Dr. Les Carter says, “I recall one woman who came to me ten years after her divorce. She was talking about her son’s marriage and her daughter’s graduation. Her ex was going to be at both. She had never resolved the fact that he had rejected her. She kept going over it in her mind, ‘How could he have done this to me? Can’t he see that he just ripped apart a family?’ Her children would say, ‘Mom, we know the facts. We know he did it. We can’t go back and rewrite history.’ She would always come back with those infamous words, ‘Yes, but . . .'”

That is a woman who is so stuck in the past, it’s as if she is willing to hold on to that divorce, to hold on to that anger, as being the defining element in her personality.

Today, if you do not forgive the person who has hurt you, you are making it impossible to receive God’s forgiveness for you. You do not want to cut yourself off from God’s forgiveness. You need that forgiveness for your own freedom and healing, and to release God’s power in your life.


“…If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part” (Matthew 6:14-15 Msg).

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, I do not want unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment to define my personality and to make me miss out on the kingdom. Father, with Your help, I can be free from this. God, lead me through every thought and every decision and cleanse my mind, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

 

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