PATRICK

  "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." — Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)   One of the main things that keeps many believers under the oppression of the enemy is not sin, not weakness, but condemnation. Deep in the hearts of many, there's a quiet voice that says, “You’re not worthy.”   "It is not your standard"  This voice grows louder because of where we came from, what we’ve experienced, and what life has taught us. Some of us have been so bruised by life that it’s hard to believe we deserve anything good—especially what God has promised. The system of this world—designed and influenced by the enemy—was carefully set up to train us into believing that we are not qualified for certain blessings. Life has been teaching us to settle, to survive, not to rise. We’ve been mentally trained to believe that some good things are for others, not for us. That big...

  “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God…” — Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV) This powerful verse reveals a divine order: faith precedes understanding. Before you can understand how to do something extraordinary, you must first believe it is possible. Faith is the foundation—it gives birth to vision. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  This means faith allows you to see your future clearly even before it physically exists. If you want to do something new, remarkable, or beyond the ordinary, you must start by believing. Faith is not blind; it sees what the eyes can not. Once you have faith, then comes understanding—insight, strategies, and steps to bring that dream to life. Think about it: every person who has done something extraordinary in this world had faith first. They believed when others doubted. Their belief opened their minds to solutions, discoveries, and innovations that changed the...

 

  In Romans 6:11  (GNT), Paul says, “In the same way you are to think of yourselves as dead, so far as sin is concerned, but living in fellowship with God through Christ Jesus.”   This verse exposes a deep spiritual truth: the way you live in your physical body depends on how you think. You must first see yourself in your mind as someone who is dead to sin and alive to God through Christ. Your mentality shapes your actions, your habits, and ultimately, the condition of your body. From verses 11 to 13, Paul continues to explain the importance of this mindset. He says in Romans 6:12  (GNT), “Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self.”  This means you must take responsibility not to let sin reign. How? By changing how you think. If your mind accepts that sin still has power over you, then your body will follow that thinking, and sinful desires will take control. In Romans 6:13  (GNT), Paul adds, “Nor must ...

  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God wh...

  “For the Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their prayers; but he opposes those who do evil.” — 1 Peter 3:12 (GNT)   It is a natural human desire to feel safe, protected, and noticed. Every person, deep inside, longs for someone to look up to—someone they can trust and count on in times of fear, trouble, or uncertainty. Just like a child who walks boldly into unfamiliar places simply because they know their father is close by. That child may not understand everything happening around them, but they are confident because their father is near. To the mind of a child, the father is powerful, wise, and always in control. The father knows how to fix things, protect the family, and speak words of comfort. That’s exactly the image God wants us to have of Him—He is our Father. 1 Peter 3:12  reminds us of this truth. The Lord watches over the righteous, and He hears their prayers. That means no situation is hidden from Him. He sees your tears, your quiet thoughts, yo...

  In Romans 6:11  (GNT), Paul says, “In the same way you are to think of yourselves as dead, so far as sin is concerned, but living in fellowship with God through Christ Jesus.”   This verse exposes a deep spiritual truth: the way you live in your physical body depends on how you think. You must first see yourself in your mind as someone who is dead to sin and alive to God through Christ. Your mentality shapes your actions, your habits, and ultimately, the condition of your body. From verses 11 to 13, Paul continues to explain the importance of this mindset. He says in Romans 6:12  (GNT), “Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self.”  This means you must take responsibility not to let sin reign. How? By changing how you think. If your mind accepts that sin still has power over you, then your body will follow that thinking, and sinful desires will take control. In Romans 6:13  (GNT), Paul adds, “Nor must ...

  Galatians 5:24  says, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”   This verse opens our eyes to a serious truth—dealing with the flesh is our personal responsibility. The scripture does not say, “God crucified their flesh.”  It clearly says, “they have crucified the flesh.”  This shows that God has given every believer the authority and the responsibility to put to death the sinful desires of the flesh. When you came to Christ, God gave you a new heart and placed His Spirit in you. But the old nature—the flesh—is still present, and it desires to pull you back into sin. You are the one who must choose to deny the flesh and live by the Spirit. God will not make that decision for you. However, He has not left you alone. The same Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead now lives in you. When you decide to surrender and allow Him, He will help you mortify the evil desires in your body. Romans 8:13  says, “For if yo...

  Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” This verse reminds us that we are not alone in this journey. Many faithful believers have gone before us, and their testimonies cheer us on. God has given each of us a divine mandate—to run the race of life and purpose. However, to run effectively, we must first lay aside every obstacle that slows us down. The Bible is clear that both sin and any form of weakness that hinders our progress must be set aside. Sin, though sometimes hidden or small in our eyes, can become a trap the enemy uses to defeat us. Weaknesses, such as fear, laziness, doubt, and bitterness, may seem minor, but they grow over time and weigh heavily on our spiritual lives. You cannot run the race if you keep focusing on your past mistakes or your current struggles. Focusing on...

  “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” — 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) This powerful scripture opens our eyes to a divine truth: we have already been redeemed. The work is complete and finished—past tense. We were redeemed not by earthly things, but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, once and for all. The “aimless conduct” passed down from our forefathers—those generational patterns of sin, fear, poverty, or idolatry—have lost their claim over us. The blood of Jesus has paid the full price. But while the legal transaction of our redemption is settled, the practical application must still take place in our lives. That is where our personal responsibility comes in. In the next chapter, 1 Peter 2, we are instructed: "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all ev...

  In Mark 9:7 (NKJV), the Bible says, “And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’”   This moment happened during the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, where He appeared in glory alongside Moses and Elijah. The disciples—especially Peter—were overwhelmed by the experience. Peter, caught up in the moment, suggested building three tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. A tabernacle is a meeting place, a place of worship and fellowship. By suggesting this, Peter was placing Moses and Elijah—representing the Law and the Prophets—on the same level as Jesus. However, God interrupted this idea. A cloud appeared, and God’s voice thundered: “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”  This was not a mere suggestion; it was a divine command. The presence of Moses and Elijah fades, and Jesus remains alone with the disciples. This powerful moment shows us clearly that although God spoke...