₦airaland Forum

Years ago, a young man heard me preach on the importance of surrendering all to God, then came to me saying, “Daddy, I have surrendered all to God now.” I smiled and responded, “Praise God! This means that we would be able to borrow your car because we want to go somewhere tomorrow for an assignment, and we had been wondering how we would transport ourselves.” He replied, “Ha! Tomorrow is Monday and I must go to work.” I said, “I know. We just want to borrow your car for one day.” He then said, “Ha!” I smiled and said, “My son, we don’t need your car. I just wanted you to know that you have not surrendered everything to God as you claimed.”

Sometimes, what keeps people in bondage is their attachment to material things. If Jesus sets a fellow free from satan and the bondage of sin, and the fellow still clings to the things of the world, he or she will remain in bondage even though Jesus has ‘unlocked his or her cell’. Galatians 5:1 urges you to stand fast in the freedom Jesus has given you so that you will not become entangled again with the yoke of bondage. To receive freedom, all you have to do is come to Jesus, but remaining free is a huge responsibility that requires you to stand fast in your liberty.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus encouraged everyone who is experiencing bondage to bring their burdens to Him so He can give them rest. It is important to understand that God doesn’t force liberty on people. This means that you must be willing to receive His freedom and stay in it. Anyone who loves the things of this world has chosen to remain in the devil’s captivity because the love of the Father will not be in the fellow. Such a person cannot walk in liberty and cannot abide with God forever (1 John 2:15-17).

Beloved, there is no benefit at all from associating with the devil. The riches that the devil promises those who serve him keeps them in bondage and actually robs them of their soul, which is far more valuable than all the wealth in the world (Mark 8:36-37). You must be willing to let go of anything that keeps you in chains and cry out to God for deliverance. If you are currently experiencing bondage in any part of your life, pray that the Lord will deliver you by His mighty power, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In 2022, I travelled to the UK at a time when the temperature there was over 40 degrees Celsius. When I arrived there, I told my Daddy, “I have travelled to countries in winter, and you brought summer there because I asked You to. This time, it is summer, and the heat is excessive. Can you please cool the temperature down for me?” After I prayed, the temperature where I was dropped from 40 to 28 degrees before the next morning, and throughout my stay there, Daddy kept things cool. If you are experiencing unbearable heat in any area of your life, I pray that my Daddy will make things cool for you, in Jesus’ name.

In 2 Kings 6:24-33, things were very heated in Samaria because an enemy king had besieged the land. Food and commodities were really expensive, and the inhabitants of the land could not leave to seek help because the enemy had surrounded them. The economy got so bad that mothers began to eat their children. When the situation got really unbearable, God released His word through Elisha to turn things around. He said that by the next day, Samaria’s heated economic situation would become cool and food would become cheap. By the next day, food items that were scarce and expensive became cheap and readily available, and the inhabitants of the nation had more than enough (2 Kings 7:16-17).

The widow of Zarephath was another person who found herself in a heated situation. First of all, her husband died, and then there was a famine in the land, which made life unbearable for her and her son. Things got so bad that she had only one meal left, which she planned to eat with her son and await death. However, my Daddy, who hears the cry of the helpless and knows how to calm heated situations, sent Elijah to her. At the word of the prophet, her last meal became the first of many miraculous meals throughout the famine, as we see in 1 Kings 17:8-16.

Beloved, do not be anxious or worried if you find yourself in any difficult situation. The same God who makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19) will bring you out of heated situations and establish calm in your life. I pray that God will turn things around for your good in any area of your life where you might have found yourself in a tight corner, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN

1. Father, I thank You for the gift of children in my family, local assembly, community, and indeed all over the world.

2. Father, as we celebrate Children’s Day today, let all the children have an unforgettable divine encounter that will transform their lives for good, in Jesus’ name.

3. Father, please help all the children around the world to grow in godly wisdom and stature. May they know You, love Your ways, and stay on the path of righteousness all their lives, in Jesus’ name.

4. Father, please create a longing for You in the hearts of all the children around the world. Pour out Your Spirit upon them afresh and let them love You with all their hearts, in Jesus’ name.

5. Father, please let Your favour rest on all the children around the world. Open doors of blessings and opportunities to their parents and guardians so that they will be able to provide for their needs.

6. Father, please protect all the children around me from satan’s evil plans and surround them with Your angels and a wall of fire.

7. Father, please protect all the children in the world from ungodly addictions. They will not be slaves to lustful desires, sin, or satan, in Jesus’ name.

8. Father, please let all the children around me keep godly companies in their schools, churches, and wherever they find themselves. They will not be companions of fools but will be surrounded by wise friends, teachers, and mentors, in Jesus’ name.

9. Father, please keep sicknesses and diseases far from all the children around me. May they grow old in good health and strength, in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, please position all the children around me in Your purpose at this early stage of their lives. Don’t let them wander outside Your will for them, in Jesus’ name.

11. Father, please give all the children around me hearts of obedience. May their lives be pleasing to You because they will know Your laws and obey them, in Jesus’ name.

12. Your personal prayer points for children all over the world.

Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Yesterday, we saw how Peter fell into temptation because he couldn’t keep watch in prayer (Matthew 26:40-43). Prayerlessness is one of the signs that a believer is relying on his or her own strength. Unlike Peter, however, David kept watch day and night in the place of prayer (Psalm 55:17). He often stayed awake at night, spending time with God and meditating on His word (Psalm 63:6, Psalm 119:148). He was so aware of the limitations of his strength that on many occasions in the Bible, he enquired of the Lord to know what He wanted him to do (1 Samuel 23:1-5, 1 Samuel 30:8-9). However, in 2 Samuel 11, where he obviously didn’t enquire of the Lord but rather gave in to lust, he got into a predicament that negatively impacted his lineage (2 Samuel 12:9-12).

Daniel also knew the importance of prayer. He knew how much he needed God in the strange land of Babylon, and the Bible tells us that he prayed thrice daily (Daniel 6:10). Even when a decree was made that nobody should pray to anyone except the king, he was too aware of the limitations of his strength that his first reaction was to open his windows and pray as usual. His response to everything was prayer.

Prayer is so important that the Bible urges us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The moment you don’t feel like praying or see the need to pray is actually the time to pray more intently because prayerlessness can leave a believer in a weak state and cause such a believer to lose his or her spiritual vitality. Once the devil douses a believer’s spiritual fire, he can ruin him or her. Praying puts us in a posture of humility before God, where we acknowledge that we cannot do anything without Him. It keeps our hearts tender and reminds us of the limitations of our physical strength. When we cultivate a lifestyle of waiting on God in prayer, we renew our strength daily (Isaiah 40:31) and are able to overcome the devil’s temptations (Matthew 26:41).

Beloved, how do you respond to life’s challenges? Do you always try to solve them with your wisdom and strength first? Do you only run to God when everything you’ve tried fails? Do not make God a spare wheel in your life; rather, He should always be your first resort. Cultivate the habit of praying without ceasing, and you will live victoriously all the days of your life, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Luke 5:1-10, Peter did not fail because he wasn’t diligent, hardworking, or skilful. He had those characteristics, yet he failed. However, when help came from God, he succeeded. Your strength, skills, connections, and diligence are good, but if the Lord is not supporting you, they cannot make you successful.

Psalm 127:1 says:
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Except the Lord guides and directs a fellow in his or her decisions, his or her labour will be in vain. Without God’s support, a person will look like a fool who doesn’t know how to get to the city (Ecclesiastes 10:15). Some young people try to do many things because they think they have the strength to do them. However, the Bible makes us understand that although the glory of the youth is their strength (Proverbs 20:29), they will faint and be weary and utterly fall (Isaiah 40:30). This means that while the strength of the youths can help them achieve some things, it is not enough. It can fail them at some point, but if they wait on the Almighty God, they will be able to soar like eagles.

In Matthew 26:31-35, Peter felt he was strong enough to withstand temptations, yet he failed. His physical strength was not sufficient to sustain him in the day of adversity. His overconfidence in himself showed when he was sleeping instead of praying (Matthew 26:40-43). Believers who rely on their strength in the face of temptation will fail. Many have fallen because they felt they were too prayerful to fall into sin. They believed they were too wise and strong to fall into temptation, but eventually, they let their guard down.

1 Corinthians 10:12 warns us never to think that we can stand without God’s help. People who think in such a manner eventually fall. Jeremiah 17:5 tells us that a person who puts his confidence in flesh is cursed. Samson didn’t fall the day Delilah called a man to cut off his hair; rather, he started falling the moment he began to trust in his strength. The day a person stops trusting in God is the day his or her downfall begins. I pray that you will never come to a point where you feel you are strong enough to do without God, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Spiritual discernment is crucial for every Christian, especially when making critical life decisions such as choosing a marriage partner, where to live, and who to associate with. Some Christians have married evil people disguised as angels of light because they lacked spiritual discernment. They embraced Jezebels and Nabal’s - idolatrous and foolish people who can lead them astray and ruin their lives.

Believers need God’s direction to know the right people to marry. For example, when Abraham wanted to choose a wife for Isaac, he gave his servant specific instructions about the type of woman who would be suitable for his son and fit to partake in the covenant God had made with him (Genesis 24:1-. He told his servant to go to his country and kindred to take a wife for Isaac. This is the first criterion for a Christian’s choice in marriage; he or she must marry a fellow Christian because our country as believers is heaven. Some believers have disregarded this criterion to their detriment.

Apart from a believer ensuring that whoever he or she wants to get married to is a Christian, it is also crucial to ask God to show him or her the right person among His numerous children. Some Christian ladies have been carried away by a suitor’s charisma, so they didn’t ask God if he was a suitable spouse for them or not. Likewise, some Christian men have allowed a lady’s commitment in church to blind them to what God is saying about her character. When it comes to the issue of marriage, a believer cannot afford to be carried away by external things and miss the Holy Spirit’s direction. If you are still single, I pray that you will allow the Lord, and not your emotions, physical preferences, or human calculations, to guide you in your choice of a marriage partner, in Jesus’ name.

Where to live is another crucial decision that requires spiritual discernment. In Genesis 13:10-13, Lot didn’t inquire from God before choosing to pitch his tent towards Sodom. He found himself in the midst of sinners and wicked people, and eventually, he lost his home when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sins of their inhabitants. Only spiritually discerning people will know whether God wants them to relocate or not, and where to relocate to.

Beloved, don’t make critical life decisions based solely on your judgment and understanding. Seek God’s counsel and remain spiritually discerning to know what He wants you to do.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

There was once a young man who was the secretary of a cult group at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in South-West Nigeria. One day, he gave his life to Christ and decided to leave the cult. Immediately, the other cult members decided to kill him because he knew their secrets. One night, after arriving in his hostel from the library, he was very tired, so he said a quick prayer and got on his bed to sleep. As he lay on his bed, the Holy Spirit nudged him to get up and pray. He got on his knees, said another short prayer, and tried to sleep again. However, he got another nudge to pray, and he just thought to himself, “Well, let me pray just as God wants.” He did so, and as he got up from his knees, he saw a huge demon with charms all over its body walk into his room, even though the door was locked. The demon made its way towards him, and he immediately started rebuking it in Jesus’ name. Slowly, the demon retreated from the room. When he told me about the incident, I asked him, “Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?” He replied, “I’d have thought I was dreaming too; however, because of how I shouted when rebuking the demon, my roommate moved on his bed, and as he did so, his leg touched the demon as it retreated. My roommate’s leg, which touched the demon, swelled to three times its normal size, and he spent a year treating it.” Being spiritually discerning can be the difference between life and death.

As we read in Balaam’s story yesterday, disobedience to God’s instructions can prevent a Christian from discerning spiritual things. Are there instructions the Lord has given you to follow? Don’t try to negotiate your way out of complete obedience to Him. Always obey God’s instructions, because it will make your heart more sensitive to hearing Him. Toying with sin will make a believer become spiritually dull. Samson didn’t know when his hair was cut because sin had made him spiritually dull. He was fast asleep and didn’t know that he was in trouble until Delilah woke him up. When he awoke, he wanted to fight the Philistines as he had always done, but he was unaware that God had left him.


Beloved, flee disobedience and sin so that you will remain spiritually discerning. May you not become spiritually insensitive and sleep the sleep of death, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that the natural man cannot understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned. This means that such a fellow cannot follow God’s direction, as he or she cannot understand spiritual things and will even consider them foolish. Those who walk in the spirit, however, know how to discern spiritual things.

For instance, when it seems that several people are trying to get a Christian angry, it could be that the devil is seeking to open a window through which he can attack him or her. If the believer cannot spiritually discern the devil’s plan, he or she might eventually give in to anger, thereby giving the devil access to carry out his attack. Likewise, if a Christian keeps encountering people in need, especially if they are fellow Christians, it could be that God wants the believer to help them so that He can open windows of blessings over his or her life. However, if the Christian cannot spiritually discern what is happening and ignores the people in need, he or she would miss out on God’s blessing. Spiritual discernment is crucial in the journey of every Christian.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

In Numbers 22:22-33, Balaam’s donkey began to behave strangely when he was on his way to meet Balak despite God’s initial instruction forbidding him from going (Numbers 22:12). Balaam was so spiritually insensitive that he didn’t know the actions of the donkey were for his own good. When his donkey didn’t move as he wanted it to and kept turning away from the path it was supposed to take, he hit it in an attempt to force it to obey him. Even when the donkey spoke, which was very strange, Balaam was too spiritually insensitive to sense the danger ahead until God opened his eyes. I pray that your spiritual senses will be sharpened enough to see any dangers that are ahead of you, and you will be prudent enough to hide yourself, in Jesus’ name.

The lack of spiritual discernment has destroyed so many homes and ended so many lives prematurely. This is why spiritual discernment is a must-have for you in your walk with God, relationship with others, and dealings with the world. I pray that the Almighty God, in His mercy, will sharpen your discernment and help you see things as they really are, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Exodus 7:10, when Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh bearing a message from the Lord, they demonstrated the power of the One who sent them by casting down Aaron’s rod, and it turned into a snake. The Egyptian magicians also turned their rods into snakes, but it soon became obvious that all power belongs to God, as the snake from Aaron’s rod swallowed all the magicians’ snakes. The devil might attempt to copy God, but he will always fail because God is above all (1 Chronicles 29:11-12). For instance, the devil has given many people wealth through various unholy means, but my God is the only One who gives power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Furthermore, the wealth that comes from God’s blessing is without sorrow (Proverbs 10:22).

The Almighty God can change the unchangeable. He can take a beggar from a dunghill and cause him or her to dine with princes (1 Samuel 2:. He can also do the impossible. In one night, He delivered His people from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:31-33). He also provided food for them for 40 years in the wilderness. He fed them with the food of angels and gave them meat throughout their journey to the Promised Land (Psalm 78:24-25). Furthermore, they didn’t need new clothes or shoes because their clothes and shoes did not wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5). The God who did all these wonders can do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). He can meet your needs effortlessly because the cattle upon a thousand hills are His (Psalm 50:10), and all the silver and gold in the world belong to Him (Haggai 2:. He owns the whole earth and everything within it (Psalm 24:1). He is God above all gods (2 Chronicles 2:5); the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15).

Beloved, isn’t it amazing that the One who is above all is your Father? He has given you access to all His wisdom, riches, glory, power, grace, and goodness, and all He expects from you is your praise and worship. He expects your love and devotion, and He truly deserves it all. If you really want God’s special attention and you want to experience His almightiness, ask Him to give you a heart of worship today because He will give His attention, which will come with all that He has, to those who worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Psalm 105:37 tells us that when the Israelites were leaving Egypt, not a single one of them was feeble, meaning that the young and old were healthy and strong. Those who had suffered in the hands of the taskmasters suddenly became strong and healthy as they ate the Passover meal and prepared to leave Egypt. If God divinely healed people who had been constantly beaten and maltreated before they came out of slavery and kept their feet from being swollen for 40 years in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:4), He can grant you divine health as well.

No matter how long a person has been ill or how severe the sickness is, God can heal the person completely. In John 5:5-9, it took only one word from Jesus to heal a man who had been sick for 38 years in an instant. Psalm 107:20 tells us that when God sends His word, healing and deliverance follow.

Sicknesses and diseases cannot stand the power of God’s word. When He sends His word, it never returns to Him without accomplishing what He has sent it to do. Isaiah 55:10-11 tells us that just as rain and snow come upon the earth’s surface to water it and make it fruitful, God’s word always prospers wherever He sends it.

A word from Jesus was enough to heal a nobleman’s son in John 4:46-54. Jesus spoke the word where He was in Cana of Galilee, and the boy was instantly healed far away in Capernaum. God’s word cannot be hindered by space or time or slowed down in any way. In Matthew 8:5-13, all that was required to heal a centurion’s grievously ill servant was a word from Jesus. The Syrophoenician’s daughter also experienced miraculous and instant deliverance when God released His word over her situation (Mark 7:24-30). God’s word spoken through His servants and believed in faith can bring healing to the sick. However, His word, as it is written in the Bible, is also more than enough to bring a fellow healing if he or she believes.

Beloved, if you have any sickness in your body, the word of God has provided for your healing already – all you need to do is believe. Beyond believing God for healing, however, He wants you to live in divine health, as echoed by Apostle John in 3 John 2. Again, all you need to do is believe in His word. I pray that you will never experience any form of sickness henceforth, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. When He commanded light into existence, He was declaring that darkness should disappear, sorrow should give way to joy, and stagnation should give way to promotion. God’s word changes lives and situations. When His word comes to a fellow, that person will experience a great turnaround in every aspect of his or her life.

Psalm 29:4 says that God’s voice is powerful and full of majesty. Every time God speaks, all beings in heaven and on earth tremble to do His bidding. Since we know how powerful God’s voice is, we must be careful about what He says concerning us. We must be careful to ensure that He doesn’t pronounce anything negative over us because it will surely come to pass. We must also ensure that He speaks blessings over us because when He does, they will be irreversible.

You might be asking, “How can I get God to speak irreversible blessings over me?” In Genesis 27:1-4, Isaac wanted to bless Esau, and to properly position him for the blessing, he told him to get his weapons and hunt for venison in the field. He also asked him to prepare it in a way that he loved so that after eating the meal, he would bless him. Jacob, however, pretended to be Esau, his brother, and tricked their father into giving him the blessing that was meant for Esau. Later on, when Isaac discovered he had erroneously blessed Jacob, he was unable to reverse the blessing (Genesis 27:33). Hebrews 12:17 tells us that Esau’s protests and tears could not reverse what Jacob had received.

Isaac wanted Esau to serve and please him before he could bless him. The same is true if you want God to bless you. People who serve God wholeheartedly and please Him in their thoughts, words, and actions always receive His blessings. A fellow cannot keep doing what his or her father hates and expect to be blessed by him. He or she cannot continue displeasing him and disobeying his instructions and expect to be looked upon favourably by him.

Beloved, does your life please God? Do you shun sin and run away from the things He hates? Do you obey His instructions willingly and promptly? If your answer to all these questions is “Yes”, then you can expect Him to constantly speak His blessings over you. He will always pronounce blessings over His children in whom He is well pleased.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. Also, John 1:1-3 tells us that all things were created by the word of God. As powerful as God’s word is, however, when it is spoken in unbelief, it cannot be expected to produce results.

In 1 John 4:4, it is written that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. God lives within you, and He is greater than every problem or challenge that the world can throw your way. This is the absolute truth about you; you are above poverty and destruction because God’s power resides in you, and you can leverage it to subdue negative situations. Despite this, unbelief can hinder the power of God from flowing through His word in your mouth.

It is possible to be a Christian and be tormented by the spirit of doubt and unbelief. What this spirit does is that it undermines the power of God’s word in your heart and makes you feel that the word of God is ordinary. It also makes you begin to think that God’s word is not true, thereby filling your heart with uncertainty. If the spirit of doubt and unbelief is tormenting you, I pray that it will leave you right now, in Jesus’ name.

Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5:35-43 with His word. When He got to his house, He drove out those who were weeping and commanded the dead girl to arise. Peter followed the same pattern when God used him to raise Dorcas in Acts 9:36-42; he sent the mourners out of the house and commanded the dead woman to arise.

Beloved, there is no limit to what you can achieve when you proclaim God’s word in faith. As Jesus said in Matthew 17:19-20, nothing shall be impossible to you if you speak the word of God in faith without any doubt or unbelief, God wants you to believe His word and act upon it. He wants you to go to places where there are hopeless cases so He can show the world that there is still hope through you. He wants to use you mightily and shine His light through you so that He will be glorified (Matthew 5:16). However, you must learn to trust in His word completely and proclaim it boldly over every situation you encounter. May you be a conduit of God’s mighty power everywhere you go henceforth, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Jubilee means emancipation, deliverance, or restoration. In Leviticus 25:8-10, God commanded the children of Israel to observe Jubilee every 50 years. When the Year of Jubilee arrives, anyone who is bound as a slave is to be set free. Even if a fellow became bound through his or her fault or error, he or she will be set free. Furthermore, anyone who was in debt would be forgiven of the debt in the Year of Jubilee.

We are talking about Jubilee today because God wants to set His people free from satanic bondages. He wants His people to walk in liberty in every aspect of their lives. Liberty is freedom from every form of bondage. Anyone who holds someone bound when God has declared jubilee will be fighting against God, and I am yet to see someone who fights against God and wins.

Unlike in Israel, where Jubilee was observed every 50 years in Old Testament times, if you have Jesus, you can experience Jubilee every day. Jesus came to save, deliver and restore us to God, and anyone who comes to Him will experience Jubilee to the fullest. In Christ, God has proclaimed Jubilee for you and your household, and every power of darkness that wants to keep you and anything that concerns you in bondage will be consumed by the Consuming Fire, in Jesus’ name. When God makes you free, you become free indeed (John 8:36). Being free indeed’ means that you are delivered from the effects of bondage. It means you have been made new, as if you were never in any bondage before. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reveals that once you are in Christ, you are a new creature. Your old record of slavery under sin and satan is wiped off, and everything becomes new.

Jubilee, however, doesn’t only mean freedom from slavery. It also means restoration of what has been forcefully or rightfully taken. In Leviticus 25:25-28, God said that if a fellow becomes poor and sells his or her possessions, and he or she is unable to recover them, the fellow is free to return to his or her possessions in the Year of Jubilee because Jubilee is also the time of restoration. I proclaim in the name above all names that everything that has been taken from you or that you have given away ignorantly will be restored to you. You will experience and enjoy divine restoration in all areas you need it, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

In many societies today, more focus is placed on training girls than boys. While it is good to train female children to become responsible adults, the same focus must also be given to training boys; they must not be neglected. Every boy is a man in the making and the future leader of a home, church, organisation, or nation. Zechariah 13:7 says, “…smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered…” The devil understands this, so he tries to strike future shepherds before they are grown so that the sheep they are meant to guide will be scattered. Every little boy around you is going to be a leader tomorrow, and the kind of leader he will be is dependent on the way he is raised today.

Samuel lived in the same house as the irresponsible sons of Eli, but he was not like them because he was a product of prayer (1 Samuel 1:11), dedication (1 Samuel 1:25-28), and godly grooming (1 Samuel 1:22). If you are a parent, you must ensure that you pray for your boys constantly and dedicate them to God. You must spend quality time with them, grooming them to become good men who are well-suited to serving God. If you do these, with God helping you, you will raise men like Samuel.

The Bible tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favour with God and man (Luke 2:40, 52). That is the divine pattern – every boy should be nurtured to grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. For example, statistics show that many prison inmates had irresponsible fathers who were not present in their lives. Also, many boys today are left to be trained by social media, ungodly friends, and worldly music. Some parents only correct their sons after they have gotten someone pregnant, dropped out of school, or been sent to jail. It is better to train them when they are young than try to change them later; prevention is better than deliverance.

Today is the International Day of the Boy Child, and I urge all parents, guardians, and the Church to invest in boys just as they invest in girls. We must teach boys to pray and respect authority. We must also teach them the fear of God so they can build godly families when they are grown. I pray that every boy child will grow up into responsible leaders who will please the Lord with their lives, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, technology is advancing at an incredibly rapid rate. Technological innovations spring up every day, and people are scrambling to keep up. While it is essential for us as Christians to be at the cutting edge of what God is doing in our various industries and fields, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us as we navigate this digital age is much more crucial.

Beloved, no matter how fascinating a technological innovation might be, you must always remember that you are first a child of God and an ambassador of God’s kingdom. Sadly, some Christians have lost their way in today’s digital age. They have completely forgotten their identity, so they follow all kinds of trends, regardless of whether they align with God’s values or not. For instance, many Christians post and share all sorts of content on social media just to get likes, shares, and followers. Such Christians leave unrighteous digital footprints and misrepresent the Lord. They allow unbelievers to blaspheme God’s name because of their conduct and actions.

If you are a Christian, you are the light of the world, and you are a city set on a hill which cannot be hidden. This means that whatever you do will be seen by many people. Therefore, your digital footprint, including everything you post on the internet, will reach the devices of millions of people across the world. Social media, for example, is one technological innovation that can be used to shine your light to many people around the world. With social media, you have an easy opportunity to be a global evangelist for God’s kingdom; therefore, you must maximize it and not misuse the opportunity it presents by posting ungodly content on your social media platforms. Do not put your candle under a bushel of worldliness and carelessness. Despite the speed of technological advancement today, you have been called to represent Christ wherever you are and with everything you have.

Another advantage of maximizing your digital footprint to shine the light of God’s kingdom is that digital footprints outlive people. For example, the late Bishop Benson Idahosa has been dead for many years, but we can still find many of his teachings online. Beloved, what will your digital footprint look like when you have finished your assignment here on earth? I pray that you will always glorify God with your use of technology and in everything you do, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

If a fellow constantly takes the wrong steps in life, there is a high tendency that his or her children will do the same. However, if the fellow takes good steps in life by making the right decisions, his or her children will also have a greater chance of taking good steps in life. This is because children naturally follow their parents’ footprints.

For example, in society today, there are many men who, despite hating their fathers for beating their mothers, have become wife-beaters themselves. This is because the moment their fathers opened themselves up to the spirit behind that violent and evil act, they allowed that spirit to have access to their sons also.

Years ago, a single mother asked my wife to speak to her daughters to stop engaging in illicit relationships with men. When my wife started speaking to the girls, one of them said, “Please, counsel our mother to also stop bringing all sorts of men to the house.” The daughters were only taking after their mother, and they knew that as long as she continued in that behaviour, it would be difficult for them to stop.

If you want to be a good parent, decide today to leave a good legacy for your children to follow. Don’t become a bad example to them; rather, determine to be the kind of parent they can look up to and emulate. Some parents think they can do certain things in secret without their children knowing, but believe me, children know far more than people think they know. They can sense many things that are going on around them.

Sometimes, children inherit certain traits from their parents even before they are born. For example, in Genesis 20:2, Abraham lied to Abimelech that Sarah was his sister. Several years later, Isaac, who had not yet been born when Abraham lied to Abimelech, repeated the same lie (Genesis 26:7). Isaac’s son, Jacob, continued the pattern of deception when he stole his brother’s blessing by lying to his father (Genesis 27:1-29), while Jacob’s sons conspired to deceive their father about what happened to Joseph, their brother (Genesis 37:31-33).

Beloved, don’t cultivate unhealthy patterns and habits because your children will be in line to inherit them from you, and unless God intervenes, such negative patterns will continue from generation to generation. Determine today to leave footprints of godliness and righteousness that your children can follow. I pray that the Almighty God will help you as you commit to this, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

All human beings on earth leave their footprints in the sands of time. While some leave negative footprints, others leave positive ones. The actions you take today are the footprints you are leaving behind, and they will determine your future.

Galatians 6:7-8 says that you will reap whatever you sow. Just as you cannot plant onions and expect to reap apples, you must be intentional about the seeds you sow in your journey through life if you want to get the best out of your time on the earth. You must act and speak carefully every day to ensure that you do not jeopardise your future by sowing the wrong seeds.

In this age and time, one of the popular places a fellow can leave negative footprints is on the internet. There is even a popular saying that the internet never forgets. You should be mindful of the things you post on social media and your communication on the internet in general. Posting negative content and portraying inappropriate behaviour online might come back to haunt you later in future. However, if your digital footprint is good, you will not need to worry about any negative impact.

Hebrews 12:1 says that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. Many people think that this refers to the hosts of heaven alone. However, the devil and his agents are also watching every move you make, and they are on the lookout for any mistake they can use against you in the future. Furthermore, your fellow human beings are also part of the cloud of witnesses that are observing every move you make.

Beloved, do not think you can do some things in secret without anyone knowing about them. Even if no one sees you, God sees you, and the hosts of heaven are recording all your actions. In Jeremiah 17:10, God said, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” He is constantly looking at your heart and evaluating your thoughts and actions. Therefore, you must ensure that you renew your mind daily with His word (Romans 12:2) and honour Him with your actions (Colossians 3:17). Make a commitment today to never engage in anything that will have a negative effect on your future. I pray that the Lord will continually guide you to do the right things at the right time, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many years ago, my driver and I were travelling from Ibadan to Ilorin, a city in the North – Central region of Nigeria. There was a narrow bridge along the way, and only one vehicle could drive on it at a time. Therefore, drivers had to wait for any vehicles that were coming from the opposite direction of the bridge to pass through before they could get on the bridge. When we reached the foot of the bridge, we observed that no vehicle was coming from the opposite direction; therefore, we got on the bridge and began to drive to the other side. When we were halfway across the bridge, we suddenly saw that a truck was coming from the opposite direction at top speed. We had only two choices: we could either collide with the oncoming truck or swerve and plunge into the river under the bridge. There was no time to pray, but there was enough time to shout the name of Jesus. We eventually met the truck in the middle of the bridge, and somehow, we passed beside it and drove safely to the other side. My driver was so shaken that he immediately parked the car when we crossed over. When he regained his composure, he turned to me and asked what had just happened, and I told him that God enlarged the bridge for us.

The name of Jesus is powerful; it guarantees deliverance (Mark 16:17), freedom (John 8:36), promotion (John 12:32), rest (Matt 11:28-30), satisfaction (John 7:37-39), answers to prayer (John 14:14), and victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). Philippians 2:9 also tells us that His name is above every name. This means that everything that has a name is subject to the name of Jesus. If there is any ailment that has been plaguing you, as long as it has a name, it is inferior to the name of Jesus because at His name, every knee bows (Philippians 2:10).

Beloved, Jesus has given you the authority to use His name (John 16:23-24). This means that you have the ability to control situations and align them to God’s will for your life. Never despair when you are faced with negative situations; instead, proclaim the name of Jesus boldly, and you will surely emerge victorious. I pray that the power in the name of Jesus will destroy every plan of the devil concerning you and your household. Henceforth, you will walk in victory at all times, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

All Christians will experience tribulations in the world (John 16:33), and being persecuted is one of the tribulations that every true believer must face. It is true that persecution is naturally unpleasant; however, it is a thing of joy to know that Jesus promised in Matthew 5:10 that those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake are blessed and will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

2 Timothy 3:12 says that every believer who chooses to live a godly life must experience some form of persecution, whether it is severe or mild. In whatever form it comes, persecution is naturally unpleasant. Therefore, to escape it, some believers compromise their faith and begin to conform to the world. As a believer, your witness for Christ will not be effective if you compromise your faith at every hint of persecution. Christians who compromise their faith in the face of persecution miss the opportunity to become more effective witnesses for Christ.

Every time the apostles endured persecution, they were presented with a greater opportunity to witness Christ to others. In Acts 4:1-3, the religious leaders in Jerusalem ordered Peter and John to be thrown in jail until the next day and threatened them severely not to preach in the name of Jesus anymore. After that incident, the apostles experienced God’s power in a greater dimension and received more boldness to speak God’s word (Acts 4:31-33). When they were scattered abroad after Stephen’s death, they witnessed Christ everywhere they went, and the gospel spread mightily as a result (Acts 8:4).

Child of God, whether you are persecuted for not compromising your Christian values or outrightly punished for preaching the gospel, God’s grace is sufficient to keep you from turning away from Him. His strength will carry you through every difficult moment when you keep your focus on Him. If you are experiencing persecution for being a Christian, know that you are not alone. When Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, He referred to Himself as Jesus, the One whom Paul was persecuting (Acts 9:4-5). This means that those who persecute you are also persecuting Jesus, and He is fully with you in your tribulations.

Beloved, don’t ever give up on your faith in the face of persecution; instead, draw strength from the One who promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He is the ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1), and He will be with you always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Many people want to get rich at all costs, and as such, the devil lures them into all sorts of sinful acts. Some of them eventually get the riches they want, but such riches always come with many sorrows. Only the blessing of God comes without sorrow, as we see in Proverbs 10:22.

The devil never desires anything good for anybody. He may pretend as if he wants the best for a fellow, but he is a great deceiver and is incapable of giving anyone anything good. Instead, he is interested in stealing whatever God has given His children. John 10:10 reveals his true intentions when dealing with anyone: to steal, kill, and destroy. If you yield to the devil’s temptation to engage in sin, you are giving him permission to steal from you, kill you, and destroy you.

Years ago, a female student of mine, while I was a lecturer, said to me, “Daddy, I have found a young man who wants to marry me.” I congratulated her, but she said, “No! That is where the problem is.” She then proceeded to tell me that her father had informed her that he had offered her to a marine spirit, and if she ever got married, she would die. Her father also told her that if she didn’t die, whoever she got married to would die on the wedding day. She then told me, “Now, this young man has approached me for marriage, and I have a feeling that it is the will of God that I get married to him. However, I don’t want to say ‘yes’ to him because I don’t want the marine spirit to kill him. What should I do?” I laughed and told her, “I know the Father of all spirits.” I then prayed a simple prayer in the name of Jesus and told her to go ahead and accept the young man’s proposal. Two years later, I was in a church in Yaba, Lagos, when this young lady walked up to me. She was carrying a baby in her hand, and she said, “Sir, do you remember me?” I replied, “Of course!” I asked her about her husband, and she pointed to a handsome young man. If that lady had not run to Jesus, she would have lived under the bondage of losing every man who showed interest in her.

Beloved, satan’s ‘blessings’ always come with truckloads of sorrow. However, when God blesses you, He gives you a sorrow-free package.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When I became the General Overseer of RCCG, I was so concerned about the church’s growth that I was always fasting, praying, and preaching to the extent that I gave myself no rest or holidays. I did that for years, until suddenly, I discovered that while preaching, I would lose my voice completely after about 15 minutes. Even though I followed all kinds of recommendations to combat the issue, one of which was drinking tea with honey, it persisted. One day, an elderly woman who had noticed what was going on approached me and said, “Sir, you are suffering from Teacher’s disease.” I told her that I had never heard of that, and she replied, “You keep teaching, and you aren’t resting your voice. Now, it is in rebellion.” I asked her how to cure it, and she responded, “Rest your voice for 15 days.” “How will I do that?” I asked, and she said, “You can still teach without losing your voice for 15 minutes; when you can’t last 5 minutes, you will do what I’ve said.” Therefore, for the first time after becoming General Overseer, I went on holiday. I travelled to Germany and stayed in a house that had a sauna. My host told me that it warms the body from the inside out, and when I enter, I must exit after 15 minutes at most because I would have been sweating profusely. I went into the sauna, and 5 minutes later, there was no sweat. After 10 minutes, there was still no sweat. It wasn’t until after 15 minutes that I noticed a little sweat. I was in that sauna for 45 minutes before any real sweat came out. I had stressed my body so much that it wasn’t functioning as it should anymore. Since then, I discovered that if I am to last long in the assignment that God has given to me, I must rest every now and then.

Beloved, if you want to last long, you must always take time to rest. Genesis 2:1-3 tells us that God rested after He finished the work of creation, and that is a pattern that every Christian must emulate. It is very dangerous to keep working hard and not take time to rest because exhaustion can kill. Don’t sabotage yourself when it comes to fulfilling your God-given purpose on the earth. Take regular scheduled rests, and you will keep yourself in optimal physical condition, so you will be able to keep running your race.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Today, as I continue to discuss the secrets to longevity, I will highlight the importance of recharging your physical batteries.

Your physical batteries must not be neglected, as you need them to succeed in your spiritual assignments. For example, Moses had a spiritual assignment to lead the Israelites out of captivity and take them into the Promised Land. While this assignment was primarily spiritual, it also had a lot of physical demands on him, and he would have failed woefully if he hadn’t heeded Jethro’s counsel, which saved him from wearing himself out before his time. He was overworking himself and ignoring the need to refuel his physical batteries by taking rests when required (Exodus 18:13-26). Tomorrow, I will discuss more about taking rests.

Another way to refuel your physical batteries so you can endure and succeed in the path that God has set before you is by eating right and at the right time. In (1 Kings 18-19), Elijah had used his spiritual batteries to call down fire from heaven, call down rain, and outrun the king’s chariot. All those exploits must have depleted both his physical and spiritual batteries because when he heard that Jezebel was after his life, he took to his heels. He ran for three days and nights, then asked God to take his life. He fell asleep right where he made the request, and thankfully, God sent an angel to wake him and feed him twice, so he could refuel and successfully complete the long journey he had ahead of him.

I wonder what would have happened if the angel hadn’t woken Elijah, and Jezebel had caught up with him while he was exhausted and asleep. Many people with glorious destinies have found themselves sleeping until Jezebel caught up with them and killed them because they had neglected their bodies, and it failed them at a critical time. By Jezebel in this context, I am referring to sin. For instance, if a married man fasts so much that he neglects his sexual needs and does not get intimate with his wife for a long time, his body could revolt due to suppressed sexual desires when he is alone on a trip. This could lead him to commit a sexual sin that can put an abrupt end to his spiritual journey.

Beloved, you must learn to relax your body and cater to its needs according to God’s will at different times, so you can enjoy longevity and run your race successfully.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

As I continue teaching about the secrets to longevity, I want to discuss the importance of refuelling while walking on the path that God has set before you. To enjoy longevity, especially in the kingdom of God, you must refuel and recharge your spiritual batteries regularly.

God designed man in such a way that he would constantly need refuelling. This is why He made sure that every day would be followed by a night so that after working very hard during the day, you can sleep at night and refuel your energy. Likewise, after breakfast in the morning, it is normal to feel hungry after a few hours, especially if you have expended lots of energy. God designed you to eat at varying intervals so you can refuel your energy. For guns to remain effective, they must be reloaded after they have been fired. Likewise, if a believer wants to remain on the path that God has ordained for him or her, the believer must always recharge his or her spiritual batteries. For example, a Christian cannot function effectively based on the Scriptures he or she studied last year or the fasting and prayers embarked upon three years ago. Such a Christian will be weak and become easy prey for the devil; hence, there must be constant refuelling to remain spiritually fit.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:6

God created hunger to remind us that we are running low on fuel, so we can eat to restore our energy. Just as He created physical hunger as a signal to eat and replenish energy, He also created spiritual hunger and thirst as a sign that you must recharge. When you feel hungry for God’s word, excited when it is time for Bible Study, or are always looking forward to praying, you are spiritually healthy. However, if you don’t attend to that hunger, you may not feel it anymore after a while. If a believer does not feel hungry for spiritual things anymore, it means that he or she is already empty and is on the verge of dying spiritually.

Beloved, nobody lasts long in God’s kingdom without consistent spiritual hunger and refuelling. If you ever get to a point where you don’t feel hungry for God’s word, cry to God to renew your spiritual hunger. May you always hunger and thirst after righteousness so you will be empowered to fulfil God’s purpose for your life, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Over the past two days, I have discussed the importance of knowing when to hide and when to fight as key secrets to longevity. Today, I will be discussing another secret to longevity: knowing the times to run.

When you go through the Scriptures carefully, you will understand that part of the identity of God’s children is that they are wise and strong. For example, 1 John 4:4 says that greater is He that is in us (God) than he that is in the world (the devil), which shows exactly how powerful we are as believers. However, when it comes to dealing with sin, especially lust, 2 Timothy 2:22 says that we are not just to run away, but we are to flee! The anointing doesn’t work on lust, which means that, no matter how strong or anointed you are, the only thing that works is to flee! You might be asking yourself, with all the anointing on Daddy G.O. and the great amount of time he has spent with God, does he still flee from lust? The answer is, Yes. In fact, I even flee more now than I used to when I was a younger Christian. This is because I understand that whoever is in a race needs to run faster towards the end so as to win the prize.

Lust, however, is not the only sin we are to flee from; we must also flee from all kinds of sins. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says that you should abstain from every appearance of evil. This means that the moment something seems evil, you should stay away from it. For instance, if a group of people around you seem to be interested in evil, you should stay away from them.

Psalm 1:1 says that you are not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful. You can greet them and preach to them, but do not befriend them. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”

Beloved, if you want to succeed in the race God has set before you, you must flee from all sins and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Yesterday, I started sharing some secrets to longevity and how believers can stay the course on the path that God has set before them. Today, I will share another secret to longevity: knowing when to fight.

When you are confronted by the devil, you shouldn’t run or hide; rather, you must stand and fight. The devil is not a gentle spirit; he tries to cheat his victims out of their rights, steal from them, kill them, and destroy them (John 10:10). Therefore, every time he raises his ugly head, you must resist him immediately and put him in his place with the sword of the Spirit (the word of God). Many people think that they can cohabit with the devil and enter into agreements with him. For instance, they might have a family tradition of making certain sacrifices to deities for protection, and they think that by keeping the traditions alive, the devil will leave them alone. However, this never works because the devil is a great deceiver; he is a big liar, and he is the father of lies (John 8:44). He is not someone to make deals with, which is why James 4:7 says that you should resist him so that he will flee from you. You should not partner with him or shake hands with him.

Ephesians 6:10-17 says that believers wrestle against principalities, powers, the rulers of darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. It also says that believers must put on the whole armour of God, but you will notice that there is no piece of armour to protect our backs. This means that the moment a believer turns his or her back on the devil, he will attack the believer. Therefore, you should never turn your back to run away from him. For instance, if you perceive that the devil is trying to attack your marriage, simply calling a family meeting will not suffice because the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 that the weapons we have been given for warfare are not physical. Rather, you must send the devil packing out of your home by going against him with the sword of the Spirit (the word of God). Likewise, if you observe that some strange things are happening in the ministry that God has placed in your hands or that the devil is trying to attack your job or business, get up and fight! Never turn your back on the devil; he does not play fair.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I am 84 years old, I have been born again for 53 years, and by God’s grace, I have been the General Overseer of RCCG for 45 years. To the glory of God, I am still working tirelessly for my Daddy even at my age. I have remained a strong Christian, and the church has continued to grow by God’s grace. Over the next few days, I will share some secrets about longevity with you and tell you how to remain on God’s path for your life without going astray.

The first secret to longevity is knowing when to hide, when to fight, and when to run. Many Christians think that because they are in Christ, they never have to hide; after all, the One with all power is backing them up. This is why many believers have not stayed on the path that God has set before them and have ended their race prematurely. In (1 Kings 17:1), after Elijah told the king that there would be no rain until he commands it, it was God Himself who told him to go and hide. There will always be a time to hide if you are going to last long. Elijah had proclaimed himself as the only one who could bring the rain back, so naturally, I believe that there would have been a lot of pressure on him to command the rain to return. Therefore, rather than facing that pressure, he had to go into hiding.

Whenever you notice that there will be pressure on you to say certain things or take some actions prematurely or without specific instruction from God, you should go into hiding. For instance, no matter how pressured I feel to speak before elections in Nigeria or when something significant happens, I always keep silent if God has not yet spoken. This is why people still want to hear what I have to say after all these years, because they know that it will be from God.

Another time to hide is when brethren try to fight you. God never supports Christians fighting each other; rather, we are to love one another, which is what differentiates us from unbelievers (John 13:34-35). Therefore, to ensure that you do not get into fights with brethren who are trying to pick fights with you, don’t respond to them; rather, go into hiding. May God give you the wisdom to hide yourself when required so that you can stay the course and fulfil His perfect will for your life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Some people are so comfortable with their problems that they reject every form of help that comes their way. For example, one would have thought that Jesus would have immediately commanded the man who had been sick for 38 years in John 5:1-14 to rise from his sickbed. However, the first thing Jesus asked him was, “Do you want to be made whole?” Jesus didn’t assume that the man wanted to be healed; He first asked him if he wanted to be healed before healing him.

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
Luke 18:40-41

In the Scripture above, Jesus heard a blind man crying out to Him for help. When He asked that the man be brought before Him, He didn’t assume that he needed healing, even though he was obviously blind. He proceeded to ask him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

There was once a woman who was sick, and we prayed earnestly for her to get well. When she didn’t get any better, we were surprised because we know that our God is the Great Physician. Therefore, we turned to Him and asked, “Father, what’s wrong? Is there anything we should be doing that we are not?” Then, He replied, “You are praying for healing for this woman, but have you asked her if she wants to be healed?” I thought to myself, “Of course, every sick fellow wants to be well,” but the Lord insisted that I ask her if she truly wanted to be healed. I did, and she responded, “No!” Surprised, I asked her why, and she replied, “When I was well, my husband always returned late from work. He would go from his workplace to a club. Since I became sick, he comes straight home to me as soon as he leaves his workplace. So, I don’t want to be well!”

Beloved, God has set before you life and death, blessing and curses, prosperity and poverty, freedom and bondage; however, He will not force His gift of healing, life, or salvation on anyone. If you are dealing with sickness, poverty, or any other negative situation in your life, cry out to God today if you indeed want a miracle from Him. He will heed your cry and meet you at the point of your needs.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

When God’s mighty hand works in favour of a fellow, family, or nation, it always leads to great blessings and favour. His mighty hand also brings total deliverance to captives and freedom to the oppressed. In Exodus 3:19, God told Moses that Pharaoh would not release the Israelites unless a mighty hand forces him. So, when God’s mighty hand was revealed, the children of Israel experienced preservation, protection, light, and provision. Egypt, on the other hand, became a shadow of itself. This shows that while God’s mighty hand works for His people, it works against any force that dares to position itself against the Lord or His people.

…Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice…And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not… Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God…
Exodus 8:17-19

In the Scripture above, the magicians in Egypt, who had earlier replicated the same wonders as Moses, acknowledged that the finger of God was truly at work in his life because they could no longer perform the wonders that God was doing through him. Despite this, Pharaoh stubbornly refused to back down from his decision to not let the Israelites go. That was until God’s mighty hand descended upon him and his people. I pray that anyone who stubbornly opposes you will be visited by the mighty hand of God, in Jesus’ name.

In Joshua 4:1-3, 21-24, when the Israelites crossed River Jordan, God’s mighty hand was at work. After they had crossed over, Joshua declared that indeed, God made a way through River Jordan and brought them to the other side on dry land to show all the people of the earth that His hand is mighty (Joshua 4:24). God’s mighty hand makes a way for people where there seems to be no way. If you are indeed a child of God, rejoice because His mighty hand will ensure that all things work together for your good (Romans 8:28). However, if you are not a child of God or if you profess to be a Christian but are still living in sin, I beseech you to repent today so that you will not face the fury of the mighty hand of God. May God’s mighty hand bring you victory upon victory and shield you from the enemy’s attacks, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Years ago, I sat for a mathematics examination, and when I was handed the question sheet, I discovered that I could not understand any of the questions. Even though I was really good at mathematics, my mind had become totally blank. By then, I was sweating profusely. I looked around me, and I saw my course mates writing earnestly. Since I knew that any student who failed an examination would be allowed to retake it the following year, I decided to leave the examination hall after a while. As I was about to stand up, I felt a mighty, though invisible, hand pin me to my seat. After another 15 minutes of wondering what to do, I decided to go through the questions again. Suddenly, I realized that my understanding had returned to me, and I could now answer all of them. I started answering the questions, and I was able to finish answering them within the stipulated time. By the grace of God, I passed the examination with flying colours. Several years after the incident, I realized that it was God’s mighty hand that kept me on my seat during the examination, restored my understanding, and gave me supernatural speed. Even though I started slowly, His hand made me catch up with and even overtake some of my course mates who had started writing before me.

In 1 Kings 18:46, the mighty hand of the Lord rested on Elijah, and he outran the king’s chariot, which must have been pulled by the fastest horses in Israel at the time. God’s mighty hand gave him supernatural speed. Likewise, in Nehemiah 2:1-18, when Nehemiah wanted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild it, the mighty hand of God gave him great favour before the heathen king he worked for and also before the leaders in Jerusalem. He experienced supernatural speed in rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem because of God’s mighty hand upon him.

Beloved, if you are a child of God, you can also experience the mighty hand of God upon you by spending quality time in prayer and studying His word daily. You must also humble yourself before Him and commit all your ways to Him so that you can receive His grace that births supernatural speed (James 4:6). I pray for you today that the mighty hand of God will rest upon you and give you supernatural clarity and speed in all areas of your life, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Several years ago, we held a Holy Ghost Service at Rowe Park in Lagos, Nigeria. As I was preaching, the word of the Lord came to me, and I said, “There is someone here; you used to have only one testicle, which has now been destroyed. However, God says that He is giving you two new ones.” Suddenly, a young man in the congregation began to shout. He had been born with one testicle, and his parents decided to take him to a herbalist who eventually destroyed the only testicle he had. He shouted because he knew that the word of prophecy was for him. He was a married man, and when he came to my office some months later to share his testimony, he said, “For you to know that God has given me new testicles as He said, let me show them to you.” I told him that there was no need to show me because the result of the miracle he had received was obvious – he had come to share his testimony with his wife, who was visibly pregnant.

There is no difficult problem with God. In Jeremiah 32:27, God said that nothing is too hard for Him. There is no case that is too complex for God to resolve. When you go through the Scriptures, you will see various instances where God handled issues that seemed complex or hopeless. In John 6:1-14, for example, He fed more than five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two small fishes. He also raised a man who had been dead and buried for four days from his grave (John 11:1-44). Likewise, in Cana of Galilee, the Lord Jesus Christ turned water into wine at a wedding when the wine ran out (John 2:1-11). Luke 1:37 tells us that there is no impossibility with the Almighty God.

Beloved, you should never allow the presence of seemingly hopeless situations in your life to bring you to a state where you give up. If you are faced with such situations, instead of sinking into despair, put your trust in the Lord. The Bible says in Romans 10:11 that those who believe in God will never be put to shame. Tell Him about the situation, and rest assured that He will do the impossible. I decree that the Lord will save you from any situation in your life that may appear hopeless or too difficult to handle, in Jesus’ name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Yesterday, we saw how Jesus’ disciples overcame a storm because He was in the same ship with them. When they called on Him, He arose and stilled the storm. The truth is that everyone on earth will experience storms in life at some point, regardless of how anointed, gifted, influential, or powerful they may be. These storms can come in many forms, including sicknesses, delays, barrenness, and the loss of loved ones. As I mentioned yesterday, if Jesus is in a fellow’s boat, he or she can overcome any storm. However, if the fellow does not cry out to Him in the midst of a storm, he or she might not emerge victorious. If believers do not involve God in every step they take and decide to lean on their own understanding, they might eventually drown in the storms of life.

In 2 Kings 6:1-7, the sons of the prophets came to Elisha to tell him that they wanted to expand their house to make it more comfortable. Elisha gave them a go-ahead, but one of them wanted more than his permission; he asked Elisha to go with them to get the materials they needed to expand the house. As the men were chopping wood for the building, the axe head of the axe that one of them was using fell into the river. Immediately, just like the disciples did in the midst of the storm, the man cried to Elisha for help because he had borrowed the axe. God stepped into the situation, and the axe head was miraculously recovered.

Beloved, the Lord can give you the go-ahead to start something; however, if you do not involve Him fully in that thing, you might not become successful with it as He intended. You shouldn’t wait for things to get bad before you cry out to Jesus; instead, involve Him in every single decision you make. In Psalm 16:8, David said that he always put God at the forefront of his decisions and actions. Because he always involved the Lord in his endeavours, he was not moved by the numerous challenges he encountered. You should imitate David by setting the Lord before you at all times. Let Him be the center of your life and direct you every step of the way. Don’t just make Jesus a figurehead in your life; involve Him in all you do, and you will overcome all of life’s challenges and experience victory at all times.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Years ago, I travelled to Abonnema in Rivers State, Nigeria, to hold a crusade. At that time, the only way one could get to Abonnema from Port Harcourt, the state capital, was by sea. Shortly before the crusade, we heard that a boat capsized on that sea and many people lost their lives. That news, however, did not deter me, as I had made up my mind to go for the crusade. I called a meeting with the workers at the RCCG National Headquarters in Ebute Metta and asked for volunteers to accompany me. One of the workers raised his hand and asked me, “Sir, can I be in your boat?” I told him that he could. Then he responded, “That will be good.” I asked him why he said so, and he replied that he knew that whatever boat I travelled in would not sink. He had so much confidence in a mere mortal like me because he knew that God is with me.

In Mark 4:35-41, the disciples were travelling in a ship with Jesus. After a while, a terrible storm arose, but to their surprise, He remained fast asleep. In fear, they woke Him up, and He stilled the storm. After that, they arrived at their destination safely. This is a testament to the fact that it is a great blessing to have Jesus in the boat of your life!

Beloved, if you are a child of God, Jesus is in your boat as you journey through the waters of life. I know this because He said in Matthew 28:20 that He will be with you at all times. This is why, in the midst of life’s challenges, you must trust the One who is in the boat of your life because He alone has the power to make you victorious. If God is in the boat of your life, no weapon that is fashioned against you will prosper. If you involve Him in every step you take, you can rest assured that all your endeavours will turn out fine. If you have not yet given your life to Christ, surrender completely to Him today and acknowledge Him as the Controller of your life. When you do this, He will not only begin to direct your ways, but He will also walk with you every step of the way as you journey through life.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.