The Rat Who Wanted to Eat the Sky ⸻ In the lowlands of Uvoko, where millet grew tall and fruit trees leaned with sweetness, lived a rat named Diga. He was small, fast, and full of wild ideas. But of all his dreams, one was the strangest: He wanted to eat the sky. “I will nibble the clouds,” he said. “I will chew the stars like maize.” “I will swallow the moon and save the sun for dessert.” The other animals laughed. “The sky is not food,” said the tortoise. “You barely reach the mango branch!” cackled the parrot. “Dream smaller,” sighed his cousin. But Diga didn’t care. He believed hunger wasn’t just for the stomach—it was for wonder. So he built. He gathered bamboo and vines, old calabash shells and woven baskets. He stacked and tied, climbed and fell, mended and rose. Soon, a towering pillar spiraled into the clouds, shaking with every breeze. The animals watched from below, jaws open. “He’s going to do it,” they whispered. “He’s going to bite the sky.” Diga climbed for days. He passed birds. Surprised bats. Even caught a glimpse of the moon, who blinked nervously. At last, he reached the top—and opened his mouth. But as he bit into the sky, something strange happened. It didn’t taste like anything. It didn’t break. It didn’t fear him. Instead, the sky whispered, “You have come far, but not for food.” Diga blinked. “Then… why did I come?” “To remember that some hungers are not for filling—but for feeling,” the sky answered. And in that moment, Diga understood. He didn’t want to eat the sky. He wanted to touch it. To know it. To believe he could reach something no one thought he could. He smiled, turned around, and began his descent. When he reached the ground, the animals waited. “Did you eat it?” they asked. “No,” he said. “I tasted something better.” “Like what?” “Like belief.” From that day on, Diga didn’t climb the sky. He taught others to dream instead. And whenever a young animal doubted themselves, they were told the tale of the rat who almost swallowed the heavens—but chose wonder instead. ⸻ 3 Moral Lessons: 1. Not all dreams are meant to be achieved—some are meant to stretch you. Diga’s climb wasn’t about conquering, but growing. 2. It’s okay to dream big, even if others laugh. Diga’s boldness inspired a forest that once mocked him. 3. What you seek may not be the answer—but the journey to it is. Diga’s hunger led him not to food, but to faith. ⸻

Bishop David Olatunji Abioye: The Pastor of Generals By Daniel Breakforth In the year 1983, a new church called the Living Faith World Outreach Centre was commissioned by Pastor Enoch Adeboye in Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria. Shortly after the commission date, the Church moved by divine instruction to Kaduna instead of the initial plan to start off at Jos, Plateau State. The new Church was led by Pastor (later Bishop) David Oyedepo. Oyedepo was not a stranger to Kaduna. In the year 1973, he had attempted to join the Nigerian Air Force at the age of 19 through the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) just after the Civil War. Now a young pastor, he sometimes visited his military friends at the NDA as well as other collocated units within the massive Ribadu Cantonment. However it appears that God had other plans for Oyedepo. In 1987, one of his young pastors, David Abioye who had joined the Church as a staff at the end of his National Youth Service Corps period was sent to Maiduguri to open up a new branch. Shortly after this, by 1988, Living Faith was considered the largest Pentecostal Church in northern Nigeria. In 1989, Bishop David Oyedepo announced to the 3000 members that the Church intended to build Garden of Faith-the largest Church auditorium in Northern Nigeria. The Church opened up a new branch at Iyana Ipaja in 1989 called Winners' Chapel in response to a divine call to Oyedepo-Get down to Lagos and raise me a people. That was not all, in his own words, Bishop Oyedepo explains the change of baton that soon transpired. THE CHANGE OF THE KADUNA CHURCH PASTORATE "In view of the enormous work on ground at Kaduna in the early days of the Lagos church, I was shuttling between Lagos and Kaduna; Lagos this Sunday, Kaduna next. I was always in Kaduna anytime I had any outreach up north. On a particular day in May 1990, concluding a seminar in the city of Jos on Saturday night, I started racing down to minister at the Sunday service in the Kaduna church. Suddenly, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘When you were the Pastor of the Kaduna church’. Immediately, I questioned, ‘Were?’ I did not have the patience to listen to what followed; I shouted, ‘Who then is the Pastor?’ And God said, ‘Send for my servant, David (Abioye), he shall be the shepherd of the flock’. While I ministered at the church that Sunday morning, in my characteristic manner, I shared with the congregation exactly what the Lord told me, and that was how the pastorate of the Kaduna church changed hands by divine order. From that very day, I ceased to see myself as the Pastor of that church. The good news is, there was no rethink or regret but testimonies of growth and expansion. Today, the Kaduna church is a beauty to behold". Pastor David Abioye was then transferred from Maiduguri to Kaduna in the early days of the Living Faith Church’s national expansion. This seemed like a routine ministerial reassignment. However, what followed was not just a chapter in church growth—it was the quiet unfolding of a legacy that would deeply influence Nigeria’s military elite. Kaduna is home to several of Nigeria’s most critical military institutions, including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji, Infantry Centre and School Jaji, Headquarters 1 Division Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Training and Tactical Group (TTG), other NAF units, and the famed Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria, among others. Into this unique military atmosphere, Pastor Abioye was posted as resident pastor of Living Faith Church Barnawa—popularly known as the Garden of Faith. He was then consecrated Bishop in 1993 at the age of 32. He remains the youngest to be consecrated Bishop of a mainline Church globally Humorously, Abioye just like Oyedepo had also previously attempted to join the military from Kaduna. At a time when spiritual depth and moral guidance were quietly sought by many gentlemen officer cadets of the NDA and in fact, many young and seasoned officers alike, Bishop Abioye’s life and message stood out. His disciplined lifestyle, gentle demeanor and commanding yet humble pulpit presence drew men and women in uniform to the church in large numbers. For almost two decades, the Garden of Faith remained the largest megachurch in northern Nigeria and one of the most spiritually influential. NDA was, very tough...to say it very nicely. Consequently, week after week, cadets from the NDA having endured grueling training sessions all week, would find refuge and refreshing on Sundays at the Barnawa church. Midweek services were an unaffordable luxury! For the gentleman officer cadet, 'Heaven at last' was simply not enough as the daily sufferings and challenges otherwise known as Punishment Tutorials Endurance ( PUTTEE) always stretched them physically and spiritually to the limits. They needed reassurance, they needed words of Hope, they needed encouragement and they needed a purpose to stay alive. The Catholic Church is known to be very disciplined with time. Service times are fixed and start and end promptly. However majority of Christian cadets at the time were either non Catholics or at least did not attend the Barracks Catholic Church. Imagine a situation where a Rev Father complains during mass of sounds of 'up, up, up, up up...while voices under duress were counting...33, 34, 35...101, 102 etc behind the Altar (Very few, will understand this). The only other church which had the combined qualities of timeliness and promptness at the time was 'Living Faith'. The cadets could not afford a church that had no respect for time. Time was of essence and the time to come out through Abakpa, Equitation, Kurumashi or Silver Jubilee Gate was not fixed. With the 3 services at Garden of Faith which was the only Living Faith Church at the time, one could always find an early or late morning service that would fit into their 'Up' plans and Bishop Abioye was always on hand and bellowing... There is Hope for you! At the time Bishop Abioye took over in Kaduna, members of the NDA 37RC were passing out cadets. General Gwabin Musa would have been a 4th termer and gradually transforming from 'Kati Kati' to Acting Period. Also by the time Bishop Abioye was moved to Abuja in 2004, the members of 55th RC were second termers. This implies that Bishop Abioye oversaw about 18 Academy (Regular) courses (asides various short service courses) as the longest serving Living Faith Church pastor over Garden of Faith. Bishop Abioye’s messages were not only encouraging—they were stabilizing. They offered hope, moral clarity and spiritual courage, reinforcing the discipline instilled during military training but anchoring it in godly values. His altar call would always begin with... Say with me Dear God... Beyond the cadets, officers stationed across military formations in Kaduna and beyond—AFCSC, ICS, NAF Base, Depot NA Chindit Barracks/NASMP Zaria and even more remote military units—made it a routine to worship under his leadership. His consistency, integrity and rare ability to relate the gospel to leadership and purpose earned him the respect and loyalty of Nigeria’s rising military brass. In 2002, he was invited to minister at the Fellowship of Christian Cadets within the NDA. That service made history: For the first time, the NDA’s garrison protestant church auditorium was filled to overflowing. Cadets, officers, administrative staff and even civilians came en masse to hear him minister—a moment that solidified his role as a spiritual compass to many within the armed forces. Though eventually represented by one Pastor Victor Olafisoye, the message he personally sent was well received. Over the years, many of those cadets have risen through the ranks to become 1-star, 2-star, 3-star and even 4-star generals in the Nigerian Armed Forces and many other countries within Africa. Yet, they continue to hold Bishop Abioye in the highest esteem—not just as a preacher from their youth, but as a father in the faith whose words and character deeply shaped their journey. Some regularly consult him for prayer and counsel; others simply draw strength from his continued presence, teachings and landmark example of stewardship and loyalty. The Transfer of Bishop David Abioye to Abuja Bishop David Abioye was transferred from Kaduna to Abuja during a period of rapid church expansion and reactions as well as to douse some inflammable situations that had arisen. At the time, the Church was transitioning from a regional ministry centered in northern Nigeria to a national and international force and strategic placement of senior leaders was essential. Bishop David Oyedepo, founder and presiding bishop of the Church, needed to solidify the church's presence in Nigeria’s new Federal Capital Territory and neutralise efforts at rebellion in some quarters. He appointed Bishop Abioye to lead the growing work in Abuja, a move that proved to be both strategic and transformative. Upon arriving in Abuja, Bishop Abioye began pastoring at Durumi which was then the only branch in Abuja. This would eventually lead to him pioneering the Church work in the suburbs at Goshen City, the church’s massive 700 acre mission headquarters in the northern region which was built within 13 months with no assistance from the International headquarters and broke the record of Garden of Faith, Kaduna as the largest Church facility in northern Nigeria by 2010 However, even before the establishment of the Goshen facility in 2010, Abioye’s ministry had already gained deep roots in Abuja. His influence in the city, particularly among military officers and senior civil servants, began to grow in a quiet yet profound way. This rise in influence among military personnel can be attributed to several factors. First, Abuja is not just Nigeria’s administrative capital—it is also home to major military installations, including the Defense Headquarters, Army, Navy and Airforce Headquarters, National Defence College and numerous officers’ quarters. The proximity of Abioye’s ministry to these centers meant his church was physically accessible to officers seeking spiritual direction and balance amid the demands of national service. After his move to Goshen, they were also willing to do the 30km+ drive out of Abuja metropolis to Goshen on Sundays. Second, and perhaps more critically, Bishop Abioye’s personality and leadership style deeply resonated with military culture. He is known for his calm demeanor, disciplined approach to ministry and unshakable loyalty to his spiritual leader, Bishop Oyedepo. These traits mirrored the military’s values of order, hierarchy, loyalty, and self-control—values that often determine who an officer chooses to follow or confide in. Abioye’s messages frequently emphasized honor, service, integrity, and responsibility—not only in spiritual matters but in daily life and leadership. His teachings avoided controversy and remained grounded in scripture and character development. For many officers, this was both refreshing and reassuring. He did not pander to status or power but modeled consistency and humility, which earned him long-term trust. Moreover, the structure of the Living Faith Church itself—with its protocol-driven services, cell systems and clear chains of authority—created an environment that felt orderly and familiar to those from military backgrounds. It’s no surprise that over the years, many high-ranking officers not only became members of the Abuja church but developed close spiritual affiliations with Bishop Abioye himself. Essentially, Bishop David Abioye’s transfer to Abuja was a pivotal moment in the growth of the Living Faith Church in Nigeria’s capital. His personal integrity, disciplined leadership and spiritual consistency made him a natural magnet for military officers and government elites alike. Today, he remains one of the most respected spiritual voices in the region—both within and beyond Pentecostal circles. Remarkably, his influence has grown beyond church walls. Bishop Abioye has ministered and lectured at the National Defence College in Abuja, addressing elite military officers from Nigeria and across the world. He continues to engage actively in both physical and virtual fora where military personnel seek spiritual and ethical guidance. Recently, Nigeria’s only serving 4-star general was spotted worshipping at the Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly, the new phase of Bishop Abioye"'s ministry—an unassuming but telling sign of how enduring and respected Bishop Abioye’s pastoral role remains within military circles. Yet, in all of this, he has remained profoundly humble. Never one to boast or seek titles, Bishop Abioye continues to walk with quiet dignity, reflecting the servant leadership he has modeled for about 4 decades. His life is a testament to the truth that divine influence is not always loud—but it is lasting. Indeed, his posting to Kaduna and later Abuja was more than a church assignment; it was a divine deployment. In the process, Bishop David Abioye became, almost inadvertently, the Pastor of Generals. #ChurchGist

Seat 11A: The Miracle Seat in Two Plane Crashes What are the odds? ✈️🙏 In a stunning twist of fate, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh — the sole survivor of the recent Air India crash — was seated in 11A, the exact same seat occupied by Ruangsak Loychusak, a Thai singer and survivor of the 1998 Thai Airways crash. When Ruangsak heard about the crash and learned the survivor sat in 11A, he was overwhelmed and called it “a miracle beyond explanation.” He offered prayers for Vishwash’s recovery and said it gave him chills to know someone survived in the same seat more than two decades later. Two different crashes. Same seat. Same miracle. Life truly works in mysterious ways. 💔✈️✨ #SurvivorStory #AirIndiaCrash #RuangsakLoychusak #11A #MiracleSeat #Faith #LifeIsFragile

🌟 Hey friends, just a little reminder... 🌟 No matter how tough things get, don’t give up. Every step you take—no matter how small—is progress. You’ve made it through hard days before, and you’ll do it again. Keep your head up, your heart strong, and your faith alive. ✨ You’re not behind. ✨ You’re not failing. ✨ You’re growing. ✨ You’re learning. ✨ You’re becoming. Let’s keep pushing, supporting each other, and shining bright. Better days are ahead! 💪💖 #KeepGoing #StayMotivated #WeGotThis

BEAUTY FROM THE ASHES Episode 6 The women’s conference stretched across the week like a divine unfolding, each evening a sacred appointment that Amara hadn’t even known her soul had been craving. It wasn’t just a program; it was an invitation. An invitation to heal, to awaken and to breathe again. The first night had left her in tears. The speaker, a soft-spoken woman with eyes that seemed to hold the weight of a thousand stories, had shared her journey from despair to deliverance. Amara sat quietly in the third row, tears slipping down her cheeks as the words struck something deep, something raw within her. She wasn’t alone. Not in her pain. Not in her confusion. Not even in her silence. Every session after that peeled back another layer of pain, of pride, of fear. Like an onion shedding its skin, Amara found herself slowly unraveling. The masks she had worn for years...the brave wife, the silent sufferer, the spiritual martyr, began to fall. With every worship session, with every testimony, the walls she had so carefully constructed began to crack. Each night, she came home lighter. And each morning, she woke with a little more clarity. It was as if her heart was remembering how to feel again, how to hope. By Thursday, something inside her had shifted. That night’s message felt like it was delivered straight from the throne room of heaven to her wounded heart. The speaker, a fiery preacher with a voice that could calm storms or rouse an army, stood with authority and grace. She read from Isaiah 61:3: “…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” The words echoed through the hall, soaking into the atmosphere like rain on dry soil. Amara closed her eyes and let them wash over her. Beauty for ashes. Joy for mourning. Praise for heaviness. She didn’t know when the tears had started, but they came in quiet streams, not of sorrow, but of release. For the first time in a long time, Amara allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, her story wasn’t over. That perhaps God hadn’t abandoned her in the wreckage of her marriage, but had been waiting in the wings for her to find the strength to choose. Later that evening, Amara sat in Chinwe’s cozy living room, cradling a warm mug of ginger tea. The lights were dim, the air fragrant with the scent of cinnamon and honey. Chinwe sat across from her, legs tucked under her on the couch, listening intently. “I feel like I’ve been sleepwalking for years,” Amara began, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was so sure I was doing God’s will by marrying Eddy. Everyone said I was. And when things turned ugly, I thought... maybe this was my cross. Maybe I was supposed to endure it.” Chinwe reached out and gently took her hand. “Amara,” she said, her tone gentle but firm, “God never asks us to stay in darkness and call it faith. He’s not glorified by your suffering. He’s glorified by your healing, your wholeness, your courage.” Amara looked down, tears pooling again. “But how do I just walk away? I made vows. I kept hoping he’d change. I didn’t want to give up.” “Walking away from abuse isn’t giving up,” Chinwe replied. “It’s waking up. It’s choosing life. God is not a taskmaster. He’s your Father. And He loves you far too much to watch you slowly die in a house where your soul can’t breathe.” A long silence passed between them. “So what do I do now?” Amara finally asked, her voice cracking. Chinwe squeezed her hand. “You choose,” she said softly. “You choose light. You choose life. You choose you.” That night, Amara didn’t sleep much. She lay in her room, staring at the ceiling, thinking of all the moments she had silenced herself for the sake of peace, all the prayers she had whispered in the darkness, asking God to change Eddy, to save their home. But something had shifted. She realized she had been praying for resurrection in a grave she was never meant to lie in. The next morning, the storm arrived. Eddy came home with a man and started raining abuses on Amara; " See this idiot! You think you can come from African part of Nigeria to outsmart me that came from American part of Nigeria? It's either you hand over the school to me, channel all income to my account or I make sure the school is closed down completely." Her children, all came out to watch helplessly as usual. As Amara was trying to explain to the man he came home with, Eddy rushed Amara and started pounding her, targeting her face and bragging that he must make sure Amara becomes useless to any other man in this life; "By the time I'm done with you, people would spit on you at sight" Eddy continued hitting Amara until she collapsed on the floor. The poor man that came to ask for money to feed his family couldn't help the situation. When Amara regained consciousness, she saw only her children crying and waking her up. She sent for Chinwe. Chinwe immediately and secretly arranged for a drop that took them to Divine Mercy Hospital. The doctor was furious and demanded for his presence. When he arrived, he pleaded with the doctor that it's devil's handwork. As soon as he sighted Amara's brother, he begged Amara not to tell her brother but mocked her immediately her brother left. It's already few days Amara returned from hospital. Pastor Dickson visited their house. Bro Eddy pls kindly tell your wife what you shared with me. Eddy hesitated. "Sister Amara, your husband impregnated a lady called Jacinta and asked her to keep the baby. Although the lady insisted he must furnish a flat for her otherwise she will terminate the pregnancy. He was mad against you because he was having a showdown financially and couldn't meet the lady's demands and you refused to hand your income over to him." Pastor Dickson explained. Amara was lost in thought...so this man wanted me dead because of women. She remembered how he was bashed by one of his customers when she visited at the hospital. "Eddy, were you not the one that that told me this woman gave up her 12month salaries for you to have an English machine? Why are you treating this woman as if she worths nothing?" Mrs Aleme queried "How dare her say no to my order, a woman that bends to urinate? She must hand over the school to me. My account must be used for all income!" he thundered. But she has left the factory for you. The woman reminded And then? Eddy persisted. To Be Continued 🙏 What do you think that happened next? Find out in the next episode 🤔 Pls encourage me with like, follow, comment and share. God bless you 👏 ©️Grace Amarachi #teacherwritersingerlover #BeautyFromTheAshes #ChristianFiction #FaithAndResilience

* THE WIFE WHO PRAYS YET DESTROYS HER MARRIAGE... WIFE/Husband... God, I want to fast and pray this week GOD: What will you be fasting and praying for? WIFE: My marriage GOD: Have you told your husband about it? WIFE: I don't think I need to GOD: Where is your Bible? WIFE: It's in my handbag GOD: When was the last time you read the Bible? WIFE: It's been a long while GOD: Then how do you expect to pray in the right way if you don't take time to know My will by reading My Word? Pray using My Word WIFE: How do I pray using Your Word? GOD: By returning My Word to Me. Speak My inspired Word back to Me. Like Jesus, say "It is written". My Word will not return to Me void but will accomplish the purpose intended. Hold Me to account on My Word. Go get your Bible my child WIFE: Yes Lord WIFE: I am back GOD: Read 1 Corinthians 7: 5 WIFE: It says, "Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." GOD: That passage of Scripture is addressing the husband and wife. I don't think you fully understand what I mean when I say in marriage, two become one. You and your husband have become one. You should be informing your husband WIFE: Why? What for? It's not like he will want to fast with me GOD: Have you tried asking him? WIFE: Aah. I know him. He doesn't like this spiritual stuff. I wish he was as spiritual as me GOD: My child, I know him better than you do. Your attitude of seeing yourself as spiritually superior is what is discouraging joint prayer between you and him. You already formed an opinion about him and you push that opinion in his face. Why do you feel the need to show how spiritual you are? WIFE: I take hours to pray for my marriage. I wish he knew how much I am on my knees for this marriage to work GOD: My child, you're doing the right thing but your attitude and motives don't please Me. You pray a miss because your heart is not in the right place. I have seen you spending hours at keshas in Church buildings; only to come back home and shout at your children and husband as you pass judgement on them. I have watched you kneel in your bedroom in prayer, only for you to show contempt and disrespect to your husband some hours later. I have seen you fasting, only for you to speak negative belittling your husband. What exactly do you want? Your prayers and fasting seem religious, like you do them to appease yourself or to show off. In the Church congregation, you are celebrated because you never miss concerts, fellowships, revival meetings, Church services and keshas; but at home you are an ungrateful wife, an angry wife, a cold wife, a harsh mother, a discouraging mother, a thorn in the flesh. Kindly read 1st Corinthians 13: 1 - 3 WIFE: If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. GOD: My child, if your husband and children don't feel loved by you then all your praying and fasting is for nothing. It is not what you do, but who you are. You can fast all this week for your marriage yet destroy your own marriage by how you treat your husband WIFE: So what do I do God? What do I do? GOD: Always remember that marriages remain strong, not because of prayer but because of love; prayer is but a force accompanying love. As you speak to Me in prayer, speak love to your husband. Praying for your marriage will not automatically make your marriage fruitful; you must work on your marriage. Stop using prayer and fasting to hide your laziness or to cover up the things you need to change as a wife. I really desire to see love in your home. I desire to see you and your husband laughing, treating each other well. Whatever you do to your husband, you do to Me. I desire to see you two together in love in My presence WIFE: God, forgive me for going about it the wrong way. Please give me some minutes. I will be back (Twenty seven minutes later) WIFE: God, I am back now. With my king, my husband. We approach Your throne, our King of kings HUSBAND: God, I want to thank You for my wife. She came to me and blessed me in a way that a wife should. Today, I want to thank You for our marriage GOD: Go on, I am listening. I am pleased by you two Since that day, the husband and wife pray together; but above all, they love each other *#SHARE to Educate others. Cheers! 🥂*

*OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL* *DATE: FRIDAY JUNE 13TH 2025* *TOPIC: PRAYERS FOR YOUTHS* *MEMORISE:* “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” - (2 Timothy 2:22) *READ: ECCLESIASTES 11:9-10 (KJV)* 9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. *PRAYERS:* 1. Father, I thank You for all the Christian youths across the world. Thank You for this new generation that You have chosen to show forth Your glory. 2. Father, please let all the youths in my community and around the world who are yet to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour be convicted by the Holy Spirit to surrender their lives to You. 3. Father, please guide the youths as they make decisions in their education, careers, relationships, and other areas of life. Help them to make the right decisions in line with Your will for their lives, in Jesus' name. 4. Father, please keep the youths focused on You. Help them to grow deeper in love with You, in Jesus' name. 5. Father, please help the youths break all negative generational patterns. May they not repeat the mistakes of past generations, in Jesus' name. 6. Lord, I come against any agenda of the enemy concerning the youths around me. They will not die, but they will live to show forth the glory of God and become terrors to the kingdom of darkness, in Jesus' name. 7. Lord, please help the youths overcome the devil's plans to indoctrinate them with perverse morals and cultures. I decree that his evil doctrines will have no influence over them, in Jesus' name. 8. Father, please set the youths on fire for You. Let them rise in every part of the world, speaking boldly about You and influencing their communities for Your Kingdom, in Jesus' name. 9. Father, please let Your excellent Spirit rest on every youth. Bless them with Your wisdom and creativity, and make them agents of positive change in their societies, in Jesus' name. 10. Father, please strengthen the youths to overcome temptations, depression, stress, and anxiety. Empower them with good health and a sound mind to deal with all of life's challenges, in Jesus' name. 11. Father, help the youths develop the right sense of responsibility that will make them excellent leaders, in Jesus' name. 12. Your personal prayer points for the youths around you. *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALMS 43-49* *AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE* *HYMNAL: 22 - SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER! SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER!* 1 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! that calls me from a world of care, and bids me at my Father's throne make all my wants and wishes known. In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief, and oft escaped the tempter's snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer! 2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! the joys I feel, the bliss I share of those whose anxious spirits burn with strong desires for thy return! With such I hasten to the place where God my Savior shows his face, and gladly take my station there, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer! 3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! thy wings shall my petition bear to him whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless. And since he bids me seek his face, believe his word, and trust his grace, I'll cast on him my every care, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

It is never to late for you to be who God intends for you to be. Have faith and do not give up.

A PASTOR'S BETRAYAL PART 5 The courtroom was cold. Grace sat stiffly on the wooden bench, her fingers clutching the edge of the seat as the judge’s voice echoed through the sterile room. "Divorce granted." Two words. That was all it took to end eighteen years of marriage. Beside her, Michael sat with his head bowed, his broad shoulders slumped in defeat. Their three children—Sarah, Daniel, and little Joy—were huddled close to him, their faces streaked with silent tears. None of them looked at her. Grace’s heart pounded so hard she thought it might crack her ribs. Outside the courthouse, Michael approached her, his eyes red-rimmed. "Grace," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "It’s not too late. We can stop this." She turned away, but he caught her wrist gently. "Please," he begged. "For the kids. For us." For a fleeting moment, Grace hesitated. She remembered the way he used to smile at her in the mornings, the way he’d pull her close during cold nights. But then Pastor Gideon’s voice slithered into her mind: "He’s trying to trap you again. Don’t fall for it." She yanked her hand away. "It’s over, Michael." His face crumbled. Despite everything, Michael didn’t fight her. Out of love—or maybe guilt—he gave her everything: - 50 million naira - A fully furnished house in a quiet estate - A brand-new car Their lawyer read out the terms, his voice monotone. Grace should have felt victorious. But all she felt was empty. When it came to the children, the judge asked them one by one: "Who do you want to live with?" Sarah, her eldest, didn’t hesitate. "Daddy." Daniel, her sensitive middle child, wiped his nose and nodded. "Daddy too." Little Joy, only six years old, clutched her father’s leg and whispered, "I want Daddy." Grace’s breath left her lungs in a rush, as if she’d been punched. They didn’t choose me. Her new house was beautiful. Spacious. Quiet. Empty. Grace wandered through the rooms like a ghost, her footsteps echoing off the polished floors. She slept in the middle of the king-sized bed, drowning in the silence. At night, she cried until her throat was raw, until her pillow was soaked. She missed Sarah’s laughter. She missed Daniel’s bedtime stories. She missed Joy’s tiny arms around her neck. Most of all, she missed him. But it was too late. Pastor Gideon visited often, his smile wide and reassuring. "You’ve done the right thing, Sister Grace," he said, patting her hand. "God is testing your faith. Stay strong." He brought her scriptures about "new beginnings" and "breaking chains." He told her the children would understand one day. But when he left, the loneliness swallowed her whole. One evening, as she scrolled through old photos on her phone, Michael called. Her finger hovered over the answer button. Pastor Gideon’s warning rang in her ears: "If you go back, you’ll regret it. He’ll never change." She let the call go to voicemail. That night, Grace dreamed of her old life. She was in the kitchen, cooking while Michael hugged her from behind, his lips brushing her neck. The children were laughing in the living room. When she woke up, the house was dark. And she was alone. The weight of her mistake crashed down on her. What have I done? Days bled into weeks. Grace stopped wearing makeup. Stopped cooking. Stopped caring. The money, the house, the car—none of it mattered. One afternoon, she found Sarah’s hair ribbon tucked in her purse. She pressed it to her face, inhaling the faint scent of her daughter’s shampoo, and broke down. She wanted to call Michael. To beg for forgiveness. But pride—and the pastor’s voice—held her back. Pastor Gideon called her to his office. "Sister Grace," he said, his voice dripping with false concern. "I’ve been praying for you. God has shown me your next steps." He slid a document across the table. "Donation to the church’s new building project." The amount: 30 million naira. Grace stared at it, her stomach churning. For the first time, she wondered— Was this his plan all along? TO BE CONTINUED...

Oh Gracious Lord, Weaver of Words and Crafter of Courage, I come before You with open hands and an earnest heart. In my moments of doubt, remind me of Your unending faithfulness. Fill my mouth with Your wisdom and grace, that I may speak life into the shadows of this world. Stand with me, as You stood with Moses, and guide my words to mirror Your love. Let my voice be Your vessel, and my story a beacon of Your truth. For in the sharing of our journeys, we find the strength of Your Spirit weaving through us. In the precious name of Jesus, I lift this prayer. Amen.

Great is your faithfulness oh Jesus

Great is your faithfulness Lord