When God said we should be still and know that he is God, most of us still like to scurry around our situation hoping it'll make a difference or try to prove that God only helps those who help themselves. Then we hear of other people's amazing testimony and wonder how did that happen? It happened under God's watch as they were obedient, didn't try to help God and were still. Have you ever tried helping God in a situation and messed up the thing so badly that you think that's it, he'll leave you in the hole or you tell God not to bother as you know you've messed up big time and are then surprised by his awesomeness when he turns your crap for the better and you can see your handiwork when the situation is rectified, Isaiah 46:10. Well that's to tell you God is still in the business of working miracles, so stop trying to frustrate your own breakthrough and blessings and know that no matter what is working against you can never prevent God’s purpose in your life, you just have to believe it for it to come true.
Prayer
Father help me to be still so I can stop trying to frustrate your good will for my life, thank you for the journey you've brought me through and being with me through it all. Fill me with your spirit today and enable me have the faith that will honour you all the days of my life in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I66SDeRQSJ4

Sometimes we observe other people and think their lives are drama or trauma free, as everything looks perfect from the other side and we think they will never understand what we are going through or they haven't gone through that so they have no clue as to how to advise on it when we bring our issues to them, but who is to say what we see on the outside should be used to define them? Just because they don't sing it from the rooftop and seem to retain the relaxed baby face look doesn't mean they are not going through hell. They probably rely on God more or you are not in their circle of friends to be privy to their conversation. When a couple who used to look so in love and besotted with each other started splitting hairs on insignificant issues, to the point were one party had to ask family members to move in for fear of violence, yet still tries to keep it together externally for the sake of the children, we assume life is good, but do we know what they may be going through? 1 Peter 3:15 Other people's testimony will always be beneficial regardless of your situation, you just have to focus on the positive and draw strength knowing that God is never late.
Prayer
Father sometimes I get so wrapped up in my issues that I fail to see the opportunities presented, or messages to be derived from conversations or testimonies. Holy Spirit help me to tune into the messages or opportunities you present in any shape of form, so I don’t miss out in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_LB1Qk4k8M

Some of us tend to keep our issues to ourselves for fear of being mocked, while others will tell trusted friends with the hope of finding a solution or inspiration as a burden shared is less the original weight. An acquaintance who tells a selection of trusted friends always gets a solution or way of solving the problem very quickly before they even get to the fourth trusted friend on their call list, either through discussion or by coming into agreement with the trusted friend in prayer. While others hold on to their issues due to lack of trust, between their friends and God. So if we can't and don't trust the friends we have, why call them friends as even in a war zone, we have to entrust our lives with fellow soldiers who we have only known for a short period of time to have our backs. So are we hanging out with the right group of friends or do we have to put them through credibility tests to ensure we have the right kind of friends in our lives and where we don't, find new trusting friends as the fear of betrayal can sometimes hamper our relationship with God in term of trusting him.
Prayer
Holy Spirit as my helper and counsellor, teach me how to open up more so I can learn how to be more trusting. Give me the ability to screen people better as I have been disappointed and betrayed more times than I can count, but it wasn’t under your guidance. Psalm 37:4-6; So I now give you full control to change my perception of the outside world, so my inside can be more enriching in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlNORknr2SI

There are people who don't have friends, some don't want friends as they are happy with the ones they already have; be it a few. While some don't have any friends not from not wanting any, but by being unable to maintain a relationship with anyone other than those obliged to interact with them. An acquaintance I know has this tendency to irritate and annoy everyone on first impression, regardless of how well they have been groomed to be on their best behaviour beforehand. While another believes everybody else is always wrong while they are in the right, but yet people don't want to get close, thus shutting themselves from the rest of the world and emotionally detaching themselves. How do you help such people realise they can be wrong sometimes, how do you get them to start loving themselves enough to bring the shutters up just a little bit so they can let others in and not be afraid to trust? John 9:6-7; When Jesus put mud on the eyes of the blind man, the man could have refused to go wash it off as instructed, but he trusted even when he could not see the person giving him the instructions.
Prayer
Father, trust is something I don't know how to do as I come with the baggage of betrayal, disappointment and all sorts, but I want to trust you. So help me lower the invincible barrier I have built around me, teach me how to love myself so I can see what you see in me enabling me to grow in Christ, in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGtlrg63q6M

Trust is how the enemy holds us back from trying to get to our destined goals as they put doubt in our minds and that affects our trust in God. Where we don't trust God, there is no faith and where there is no faith in God, we don't believe that he is capable and where we don't believe he is not capable, God cannot work with us as what is the point when we don't think it'll work anyway. So we are back to square one chasing our tail like a dog, visiting churches, doing deliverance, night vigil and all sort of efforts to get God to move in our favour. We fail to realise that he has already moved in our favour because we already have the key, but we refuse or don't know how to turn-on the lights to see the correct keyhole to insert the key that unlocks our treasures. I found that it's a process and you have to be submissive to God wholeheartedly for him to put you through the switching of the lights and putting the key in the right keyhole, otherwise we'll struggle with faith for as long as we are unwilling to change our mentality. John 8:12; We cannot continue to dwell in darkness when we are in Christ Jesus, so know that God is great at doing baby steps, but he can also speed up when he knows you are ready.
Prayer
Lord I know there are issues I have to confront, I know trust and fear plays a big role in my walk with you and hard as I have tried, I now realise I cannot do it by myself. So Father I thank you for bringing me to that point of realisation as I bring everything to your feet, thank you God for getting me to this point in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHf6b8LUYCw

Some of us are still scratching our heads trying to figure out if the Bible says God is a God of love, but also a consuming fire, how can he use both on us within a short space of time? Surely he must remember that he used to love us, just before he allows the enemy to come after us, shouldn’t that love count for anything? If he was favouring you before, why has he turned from you now and you are facing adversity, where even your faith and confidence can no longer hold? Then you begin to slowly crumbling piece by piece, until you no longer believe. There are a few things that can be at play here, as mentioned above your faith and confidence is key, but they may be shaky, or there may be unforgiviness against someone, maybe there are transgressions anew, or some sins have not been dealt with properly. Sometimes we have sin that opens the door for attack and although we may have asked for forgiveness of those sins, we probably did not disassociate ourselves from it, the demons representing the sin or other associated demons, or better still did not shut the door after cleansing ourselves from the sin, so we are now left open like a revolving door, swinging round and letting all sorts back into our lives unknowingly.
Prayer
Psalm 92:10; Father hear my cries as I come to you asking for forgiveness of all my transgressions, Holy Spirit tell me, show me where I have gone astray so I can come back to you as I am bereft without your presence in my life. Father because of what your only begotten son Jesus Christ has done for me, touch my life anew in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWRJTqIFlWw

An acquaintance told me the other day how they'll think trice before going into business with anyone as they have previously been taken to the cleaners and left to hang. What they learnt from the ordeal was that they'll now have to take everything to God for validation and approval, even their very own self as they won't do anything without God's seal of approval, especially when the person who played them also got played by their very own common-law partner. So who do you trust? When we start to live a carefree and boundless life, we start to ignore or forget the fundamental principles that governs how God said we should live our lives. These principles get watered down, leaving nothing out of bounds even the fear of God. Deuteronomy 6:2; God said fear him as the fear of God is what keeps us grounded, without the fear of God humans tend to operate a boundless, out of control life. To fear God is a command a lot of us have missed in the midst of trying to live our lives.
Prayer
Father thank you for enabling me to get this message as you intended, I cannot function in chaos, so I thank you for laying out the boundaries of life through your word, giving me the foundation that enables me to come to you in a pleasing and righteous manner through the grace and mercy of your son Jesus Christ, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQNp4n_5VFE

Sometimes when we come to God with our issues and nothing changes we wonder why it's taking so long since he is more than able especially where things are getting desperate and our faith is been attacked, we start to entertain that third voice regularly and he'll remind us of the last time God promised and did not deliver. We then start to weaver in our faith, but yet we seem sure he can do it because he said he would. Then you get to the point where you are not sure anymore as you haven't heard any reassurance from God lately, how is he going to turn your situation around, it looks impossible, maybe he has forgotten his promise to you, maybe you didn't hear correctly, maybe, maybe, maybe. Then you hear a testimony that sounds worse than yours, but he came through for that person, although it took a while, but he did it. Then they go on to say how God got them through it, what they had to do, how they had to change their character, their thought process, their life and you think, hold on, I haven't had any change management program implemented by the Holy Spirit on me yet, am still the same, why hasn't that happened? Then the penny drops and you start to think I have been coming to God in the wrong way, Psalm 88:2; how do I approach God for him to notice me, turn his face to me and then begin to hear me and work on my case - let us start by asking for forgiveness.
Prayer
Father I am a sinner, but I thank you for sending your son, my saviour Jesus Christ to die for me and it is on that premise I am able to come to your presence to ask for forgiveness of my sins and to ask you to turn your ears to my pleas and supplications and move in my favour in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRbv1I8SQ6w

Isn't it a wonder how God handles us and our different characters, attitudes and special gift? I guess some of us can easily say he created us so he should know how to handle us, which is true, but some of us can be classified as special projects, while others can be looked on as special projects with variations depending on how the tide comes in. So when an acquaintances told me they were trying to sell an item and had to meet potential buyers; being overtly forward, no-nonsense, aggressive and a confident person is an understatement I'll use to describe them, but on meeting a particular potential buyer out of the bunch that came to view the item, they got scared when the buyer told them if the item doesn't give me any issues, then I won't create any issues for you. 1 King 19:1-4; Ok so who comes up with such negotiating tactics during a transaction, the good thing was the seller had the choice to sell to someone else, which was a relief, but that made them take the decision making process back to God to choose the correct buyer as we always have to involve God in everything especially our daily lives. Unlike Elijah who seemed to have momentarily forgotten where his strength came from, who his backer was and who the King of all kings was.
Prayer
Father give me the wisdom and strength to involve you in every decision I make, help me to hear you and understand your response and feedback as I can sometimes get wrapped up in my issues, that I might miss it. Thank you Lord for being my God in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YciWtd7Kpb8

Quite a lot of us are destined for greatness and success in every area of our lives, but when we go about trying to build something without faith it can take a different dimension. We sometimes get crazy ideas, but because we lack the finance, resource or wherewithal to make it happen we immediately loose hope and shelve it, despite the fact that a lot of us have fantastic ideas that would not only get us out of whatever situation we are in, but our families, friend and community as a whole, yet we let fear take prominence and everything goes down the pit. An acquaintance with a crazy idea told two friends, the first one told them it was crazy alright, but was doable as they had to be ready to go through the rough times to achieve it, while the other friend highlighted the impossibilities of the project, but the final decision was for my acquaintance to make. Nervously they took it to God, with God's clearance they embarked on setting up the project without a cent to their name, yet knowing they'll make it. Are we involving God in all our affairs? Proverbs 16:3; The grave is full of great innovators and brilliant people that never implemented or showcased their talent or ideas and to think more of us will end up not showcasing our talents and ideas is a big shame just because we let fear take over.
Prayer
Father I thank you for the opportunities you created for me, Lord reveal your ways for me to access and redeem the things you have set aside personally for me so my skills and opportunities will not be wasted and will add value to me and mankind in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_i6Qwh3bY

When God said I'll give you beauty for your ashes, Isaiah 61:3; some of us still don't get it. We say we hear, but don't comprehend and we serve the most high God, yet are still struggling with our health and other areas of our lives. So what do we expect to get from a King who will do anything from fight, rescue, deliver, including send his own beloved son to die for his subjects so they can get it all. If we are realistic the King is actually serving his people here on earth, so they can get a chance to come spend eternity with him in heaven, giving them everlasting life. How many earthly kings, presidents or prime ministers will do that? When he says do not worship any other gods but me, we tell him to hold on while we spend quality time with our new best thing. He says love your neighbours, we say, I can never forgive what they did to me, like you are the first person ever being wronged, he says study my word as it will give you peace, we go off looking for other things that'll give us self-gratification. So when things get out of hand and we cry to God, we want God to drop everything he's doing, ok I know he speaks and it happens - so we want him to pause mid-sentence to come rescue us right? What have you done for him lately? As this relationship thing is meant to be two-way, after all he gave up his son for us.
Prayer
Lord forgive me for not focusing on you and appreciating the things you have provided for me, in my selfish ways, I have veered away from your laws and commands, Father have mercy and forgive me as I come back to your word, understanding and appreciating the life your son made possible through his death in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv68ruS6DVE

How can you come to God when you cannot come near him? How can you bring yourself into his presence when your baggage of sins block your entrance into his holy sanctuary as we are the only ones that can put a wedge between ourselves and God, hence preventing ourselves from getting close to God. An acquaintance got betrayed by a family member which hurt so much that they promised themselves not to get into that type of situation ever again and have repackaged the betrayal from hurt to anger and from anger into unforgiviness. It’s funny how we focus on how we feel and remain in that how we feel position refusing to move, while it grows branches and roots. 2 Corinthians 12:7; Where Apostle Paul said we should enjoy our season of trials, this is where we need to reevaluate where we are coming from and realise that where a close family member is being used to polish us like rough diamond, this means the thorn is one that cannot be avoided or dismissed, indicating our growth path and assignments to be impactful, but we have to go through the process willing to learn and gaining wisdom and knowledge from it all. While we try to come to God for a relationship, we need to make sure we tackle all sins especially unforgiviness, as he cannot forgive us, when we have not forgiven others that hurt us.
Prayer
Father where my sins have created a barrier preventing me from getting close to you, forgive me and have mercy. Where I have to be transformed into who you want me to be, Lord give me the strength, wisdom and knowledge to accept, bear and come out triumphant in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce7LQfY0d30

An acquaintance was going through a situation where their faith was truly tested and because of their persistence they got through to the other side, but yet they hadn't seen their physical blessings come through to the point where other people started asking if they believed so much in Christ, why were they still struggling in everything, but yet they held on. In the process of holding on, they made a covenant with God saying they were prepared to wait and to go through any transformation that will make them see what God wants them to see, so they are not clouded by the things in the physical and through revising their relationship with God, they started to see things differently in the physical. Reading the word of God and meditating on it enables us build a relationship with Christ, which allows us to see beyond what we are currently seeing and facing as this helps us to return back to Christ without pride or arrogance, changing our attitude and the way we see ourselves, surrounding and relationship with others. Ephesians 2:6; Enabling us build our hopes and trust in God more paving a way for us to come to him uninhibited and to sit with him in the heavenly places as promised.
Prayer
Father help me to respond with strength and dignity when things don’t go my way and trust that you are always in control. Lord as I focus my mind on you, I thank you that you are faithful and it’s your power that is taking me through all this in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnHDDgdJ7Y8

We humans like to play games and the games we all play here on earth boils down to power, power, power, power. Who has more power than the next person or where the next person has power, how can they use it to affect other people's lives, theirs or their environment in a positive or negative way, hence the word 'power corrupts absolutely'. This happens everywhere from white collar executive, high powered jobs to blue collar manual jobs, where the long standing maid or gardener believes they have more authority to boss around the new maid or gardener just because they have been there longest and know more about the employer, but not necessarily been competent at the job. This is the same thing in the heavens, there is always a power struggle between God's people and the enemy. Matthew 11:12; Other than wanting to frustrate God's people, the enemy do need our power to rule and dictate over us, using our power to achieve that and many other atrocities, if we don't fight to get and hold on to it, they'll take it off us by force and control us like most people are already experiencing.
Prayer
Father I know you know and want what’s best for me, change my heart to desire the things you desire so I can follow your will and plans for my life. Give me your divine power so I can participate and contribute in advancing your kingdom be it forcefully in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y-HW8l_6ik

We have to come to the realisation that we humans hand over our power and authority freely to the enemy and when we want to use it or want it back, it turns out to be an issue where battle ensues and we have to scurry around like headless chickens to get it back. Quite a few people will be asking how, as I never gave my power to the enemy, when did I sign that contract? When we chose not to accept Christ or decided we liked living in the world more than we like ourselves or children. Genesis 3:6; When Adam and Eve took a knife to a gun fight, they thought the enemy had to be within reach to make an impact, not realising the bullets could come from anywhere so long as there was precession when aiming at the target. So they detachment of having power and not knowing how to use or retain it continued with Cain, until Jesus came and got it back for us, but with a condition -we have to be born again. Meaning we have to physically accept Christ, we have to trust God and tell the enemy I belong to Jesus and that power you thought was yours belongs to me and I want it now. Obviously it's not going to be easy as the battle of power struggle begins, but if we keep our eyes and trust on Jesus the enemy will relent be it grudgingly.
Prayer
Holy Spirit open my eyes so I can be discerning in every situation I encounter, help me know and retain my authority so I would not be deceived in anyway by the enemy or those pretending to be my friend. Father help me use the divine power given to me wisely and purposefully to serve you and others in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNghv01-l38

We all have flaws, some of us more prominent than others, but we all do and anyone thinking that they don't are in denial. So where our flaws make us carry out certain decisions or do things that we shouldn't be doing and this then turns out to be detrimental to us or people we love, means it's time to take action for change. There are people who despite the clear voice in their head telling them not to carry out certain actions, they ignore the voice and do it anyway. We can all be found guilty of this at one time or the other. An acquaintance once said during a fit of anger that they'd only stop their revenge action plan if Jesus came down and asked them to stop and I remember telling them, if you know what you are about to do is wrong and you are waiting for Jesus to come tell you to stop, you wouldn't recognise him if he showed up as you don't really know him, to recognise Christ we have to know him, to know him we have to hear and know his voice, to hear his voice we have to be in Christ. John 10:27; What are we prepared to do to be in Christ?
Prayer
Lord Jesus your sacrifice is what has given me the opportunity to be counted as your own, enabling me to be called your own and to recognise your voice when you call me. So Father I thank you and ask that you imprint in my heart a committed love and thirst for you so I will always surrender to you in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4TYiRvgIDA

Was speaking to a friend the other day and we started talking about living right and I happened to mention that we need to live right as it is the gateway to out breakthrough or demise. They turned round and said it's too hard to live right in this day and age here in the UK, let alone in Africa, as there is constant temptation, poverty, lack and the rest that goes with it. Most people barely get by on their wages, so the fact that you can make an extra buck somewhere, even when you think it isn't hurting anybody is one big lie we like to tell ourselves, as it does. The person oppressed, who gives in to bribery; the economy, as tax returns are fiddled or evaded; other levies we know we should pay for as we use the services, but refuse to pay as we console ourselves by saying if the other person is not paying, why should I. After all we are not the only ones enjoying it, yet we forget that change begins with us as when God told Prophet Samuel to reject Saul as king, it was Saul the judgement was given to at that time and not the kings’ men or citizens who encouraged Saul to keep some of the plunder. Samuel 15:10-11. So why let temptation open the doorway to sin in our lives?
Prayer
Father anything that will make me disobey you, please open my eyes so I can realise what it is quickly and turn away from it. If it is a situation that you will not let me encounter, Father remove it from my path and if I have to go through it, Lord help me to learn and gain wisdom from it in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4nkKmILp9U

When are we going to stop focusing on our past and channel our spiritual energy towards our future so it can be fruitful? Quite a few of us come with jacked up childhood, experiences and family. As a matter of fact some of us build a wall around our past and try to forget about it as we don't want to deal with it, that's understandable so long as we know when to resolve issues that arise based on our past, but most times we need to stop focusing on the past as it limits our ability to succeed in the future. A friend blames their inability to hold a meaningful relationship and get married because they had issues with their father. So every relationship they get into, dad issues comes along as the third person with a prominent force. How long are we going to allow such happen, especially when the person is dead? 1 Peter 1:3-6; That means when Christ promoted us to brothers and sisters status, we still did not accept his Father as our own or move all our affairs to the kingdom of God as expected. So who is to blame here? As we are responsible for our actions including spiritual growth, let us aim to be Victors and not victims.
Prayer
Lord Jesus I have been focusing on the wrong things and not seeing myself how you see me, Father help me change my mindset and thinking so I can place myself where you intend for me to be so I will claim my inheritance in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW-12AkEAyg

It is amazing how of all the things God asked Adam and Eve to do, they had to pick the one thing God asked them not to do and did it. I remember going somewhere and they decided to lay down the dos and don'ts, am sure there are a lot of people out there like me who by default revert to non-compliance, so I didn't, because I thought the don'ts were ridiculous. Can you imagine if I was in Adam's shoes that day, what I'll have missed out on? Genesis 3: 2-3; As am sure Adam still regrets his decision to disobey God wherever he is as that has affected humanity profoundly. For some of us the act of disobedience comes naturally, but one of the keys to having a relationship with God is obedience, it doesn't matter what he has asked us to do, it's the fact that we do it that’s important. We cannot be in Christ if we cannot come under Christ as he is the head of the church and we, regardless of our roles or status are part of the body of Christ and not the only part that makes the body. So if we are not prepared to comply or conform, there are so many people willing to, but since he picked us, we should feel privileged as there are quite a lot of people in the graveyards who missed out on the opportunity to be in Christ.
Prayer
Father I know I have missed out on quite a few blessings due to my disobedience and knowing what I know now, I come asking for forgiveness and with a ready and willing attitude to do you will in my life, so Father let your will be done in my life in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsEpn5x7_9E

Have we been in situations where we believe when we do something for people we have to get payback somehow, somewhere either from the person or from someone else? A friend is quite good at remembering other people's issues or needs and tends to connect people together to meet their needs. They told me just because they connect these people, people always feel they have to do something back in return and most times, they never need anything from the people they help and gets put in a difficult position. Having found Christ, they now know that God sometimes works through people to achieve his purpose and they thought good; that’s that box ticked then. During a conversation, they talked about something they’d been silently struggling with to someone they offered help to and was shocked when the person immediately offered help back, but as usual because they are not used to getting help they refused the offer, not because they felt too proud, but felt they person feels obligated and did not want to put the other person in that position, well it was a good thing that person insisted, as they finally gave it. Genesis 12:3; Where we like to solve other people’s issues, but are not trusting enough to open up to receive from others limits God’s blessings on the other person. So being considerate in giving, we also have to be considerate in receiving so we can keep all doors open for God’s blessings.
Prayer
Father I do things without realising I am limiting myself or others in getting your blessings, help me with the knowledge to be more considerate in giving and helping others and give me wisdom on when to accept help from helpers you have placed in my life to help me get to where you want me to get to in Jesus name, amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtMRuX5FaCk