​ 4 YEARS OF WAITING... FINALLY BAPTIZED!

​After four years of praying and waiting behind bars, this brother in Christ finally took the plunge into baptism!

​Surrounded by 208 of his fellow inmates, he shouted, “I’m in love with Jesus!” He’s telling everyone who will listen: he’s no longer defined by a conviction—he is completely free in Christ!
Repost @godbehindbars

​ Help us bring hope behind bars: Just $10/month allows us to host more revival events and share the Gospel in prisons across the U.S. Join the movement at godbehindbars.com!

​#FreeInChrist #PrisonMinistry #BaptizedInJesusName #Revival #JesusSaves

Mike Westerfield was raised as a Christian, but when he was imprisoned, Muslim inmates challenged his faith with questions he could not answer. Eventually, he left Christianity and embraced Islam.
For 12 years, Mike devoted himself to Islam, studying the Quran and preparing to become a Muslim imam. But over time, he began to question what he believed and started reading the Bible again.
A former Muslim, Abdu Murray, prayed, "Jesus, appear to Mike in a dream."
That very night, Mike dreamed of Jesus. He saw His piercing eyes looking into his soul, and then the blood of Jesus covered him completely. Instead of fear, he experienced overwhelming peace, love, and forgiveness.
Mike knew Jesus had revealed Himself to him. In January 2013, he gave his life back to Christ.
Today, Mike Westerfield shares his testimony, proclaiming that Jesus is alive and still transforms lives.

An Olympic Gold Medallist

Eric Liddell refused to race on a Sunday at the 1924 Olympics because it was the Lord's Day. Honouring God was more important than the chance of an almost certain Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres.

He ran instead in the 400 metres, a completely different event, requiring completely different training and skills. On the morning of the final he was handed a note from his masseur which simply reads "The Bible says, 'He that honours Me I will honour.' Wishing you the best of success always." God did honour him as he went on to win the 400 metres in a new world record time.

His desire to serve God led him in 1925, one year after winning Olympic gold, to retire from athletics and travel to Tientsin, China, as a missionary.

His missionary work took him to outlying villages and he worked in constant danger as the Japanese occupied China. Foreigners risked internment or worse, yet Liddell continued his work serving God. In 1941, with fears for their safety running high, Liddell's wife of seven years and his two daughters sailed to Canada leaving him behind. In March 1943 he and his colleagues were taken to an internment camp at Weihsien, where he was to end his days.

In the misery and squalor of the camp it was Liddell who constantly tried to brighten the lives of the hundreds of inmates. Working far too hard with insufficient rest and

nourishment he was a father, brother, friend and teacher. He missed his wife and daughters (one of whom he had never seen) and would often be found gazing at photographs of them.

His selfless work took its toll and his health began to suffer. He continued cheerfully, but ultimately, it proved too much for him. On 21 February 1945 at the age of 43 Eric Liddell died of an inoperable brain tumour. With his last breath he whispered to a long time friend, "It's complete surrender." He surrendered himself into the arms of God and went to be with Him. At the funeral, attended by the entire camp, Liddell's favourite hymn was sung- "Be still my soul; the Lord is on your side."

Eric Liddell received accolades from all aspects of the media and was universally acclaimed as a hero. "Scotland has lost a son who did her proud every hour of his life." "Probably the most illustrious example, Christianity has ever known." These were just two of the headlines. Liddell did not seek those headlines. God had given him a gift, which he used to the full..

He never once compromised his principles and with God's help, ran the race set out before him and achieved the prize which was far greater than any Olympic medal.

Christ is Victor, AUGUST 2004

• Hades—Found ten times in the New Testament, the Greek word hades can be a synonym for the grave (see Acts 2:27, 31), but the majority of occurrences refer to the place where the souls of lost people are presently confined while they await the final day of judgment. Hades is like the county jail where inmates are held until their trial and their transfer to the penitentiary (Gehenna), where they will serve out their eternal sentence.

The Bibles Sabbath # 4
Please, share these lessons with your family, friends, and Facebook groups. To enhance the Kingdom of GOD.

How Celebrating the Sabbath Can Strengthen Your Family Relationships

What Day do You Go to Church? The Hope Channel Helped This Couple Find the Right Day

Did you know that keeping the Sabbath can help make your family stronger?

After all, it’s a time set aside by God to enjoy all that He created—from the air we breathe to the people we come in contact with each day.

By stepping away from work, school, and all the other obligations and stressors of the week, we can enter into rest and communion with God. This allows us to better connect with those around us as well.

Let’s look at exactly how Sabbath can provide the focused, quality time to build up your relationships with those you love.

Review: Why was the Sabbath created?

How is the Sabbath beneficial to families?

What did families in the Bible do to grow spiritually?

Ideas for celebrating the Sabbath with our families (and friends)

First, let’s look back at why the Sabbath was created and how it’s perfect for uniting families as they focus on God.

WHY WAS THE SABBATH CREATED?

The Sabbath was created as a gift on the seventh day of Creation (Genesis 2:1-3). God had our well-being in mind during the first creation week. He knew how much we’d need time set apart to refresh our weary hearts and remember how much He loves us.

He also knew the importance of taking a moment to revel in the goodness of His creation. And in the beautiful relationships that are part of it.

The word “Sabbath” comes from the Hebrew word shabbat, which means to stop or pause for the purpose of rest.

At the first shabbat, right after creating the world, God stopped His work and rested on the seventh day, enjoying what He just made, as an example to us.

After a long day’s work, we’re worn out. We need physical rest from our labor. The blessing of the Sabbath restores us physically, spiritually, and emotionally:

We are able to physically rest on the Sabbath

We are able to reconnect with God by reading His word and being in His presence

Through these things, we are able to strengthen our family relationships and help fulfill one another’s emotional needs.

So let’s look more closely at exactly how the Sabbath helps us enrich our relationships, especially with our families.

HOW IS THE SABBATH BENEFICIAL TO FAMILIES?

True rest is more beneficial than we might realize. Taking time to hit pause allows us time to focus on what is truly important in life.

During the week, we tend to forget to prioritize our relationships as we get caught up in deadlines, work projects, home projects, etc.

The Sabbath helps us realign our priorities.

God knew that prearranged, set-aside time is highly beneficial for keeping relational bonds strong. Relationships need nurture. Or they can wither over time.

So it’s no surprise that families who spend more time together are stronger and happier.

In fact, time and proximity alone can be enough to spark new friendships. Consistently being in the presence of someone helps us bond in ways we aren’t even aware of, or can’t always put into words.

And each Sabbath, this can happen regularly between us and God, and between us and our loved ones.

To help us understand what this looks like, let’s see what we can find in Scripture.

WHAT DID FAMILIES IN THE BIBLE DO TO GROW SPIRITUALLY?

It’s God’s design for families to worship and pray together. We see in the book of Deuteronomy that prayer, worship, and knowledge in the Lord were encouraged to be part of an everyday regimen:

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (ESV)

For God’s people, faith is a part of their everyday lives. Parents are to teach their children the Scriptures and the commandments of God, including the Sabbath.

Writing to Timothy, Paul says:

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV)

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14, 15 (ESV)

Timothy’s mother and grandmother taught him to be a faithful follower of Christ. What a wonderful legacy to pass down to future generations.

We can learn so much from the faithful people in the Bible. We can also use the example of Jesus to learn ways to keep the Sabbath as a family.

In the Bible, Jesus:

Rested by communing with God and others (Matthew 27:58-60)

Healed the sick (Mark 3:1; John 5:2; John 9; Luke 13)

Taught people about the love of God (Matthew 12:19; Mark 1:21; Mark 6:2)

Spent quality time with/shared meals with loved ones (Matthew 12; Luke 14:1)

We can use these activities as starting points for other ideas. Participating in things that align with Jesus’ actions on the Sabbath can restore our family relationships and bring us closer to our Heavenly Father.

IDEAS TO CELEBRATE SABBATH WITH YOUR FAMILY

Keeping the Sabbath is really about spending your time focusing on those things in life that really matter. Try planning activities on the Sabbath that can bring you closer to God and your family.

Creating family traditions for the Sabbath can help make the day something to enjoy and look forward to. It can also create stronger bonds between us and God.

Some of these traditions can revolve around:

Preparing for the Sabbath

Beginning the Sabbath

Enjoying Sabbath meals

Spending quality time with God, each other, and fellow believers

Let’s explore each of these in detail to help us find ways to strengthen our families.

#1 Preparing for the Sabbath

Sabbath preparation will help you:

Anticipate the Sabbath and feel more rested

Bond through working together on shared tasks

First of all, observing the Sabbath is so much easier when you don’t have to worry about things like:

What you will all eat

If the house is clean

If you have the things on hand you’ll need for the weekend

Preparing your home for the Sabbath is the first step in making sure you’re able to truly rest. It’s easy to still feel stressed if your environment is still messy or full of half-done projects.

Secondly, participating in preparation activities is a great way to spend quality time together. Doing cooperative tasks ensures that everyone plays a part in making Sabbath special.

Here are some ways you can work together to prepare before Sabbath day so that it can be as restful as possible:

Cleaning the house

Filling the gas tanks in your vehicles

Grocery shopping

Planning your Sabbath menu

Preparing food ahead of time

Choosing what you’ll wear to church

Shopping for items you need for the weekend

Switch things up each week, too, if you feel like that might help. For example, one week, the children of the household can plan the menu and help with grocery shopping, and on another week they can help with preparing the house.

Or, each week your family can decide on a certain part of the house to add some Sabbath decoration to, like Sabbath candles, a framed Bible verse, a special table setting, or a reminder of God’s creation, like a bouquet of wildflowers that you picked together.

These are just some examples of how Sabbath preparation can involve all members of the family. When we work together, we nourish our relationships and look forward to the restfulness of the end result: the Sabbath.

When it comes to your family, you know each other best. You might come up with all kinds of things you’ll look forward to doing (or not doing!) each week as you prepare for Sabbath.

#2 Beginning the Sabbath

Each member can play a part in greeting the Sabbath each Friday evening and making it special.

For some ideas on how to do that, a few Jewish traditions for Sabbath observance can give us a fun starting point with a biblical basis.

Since the Sabbath begins at sundown, some people light “Sabbath candles,” and a member of the family chooses a passage to read from the Bible.

You can make this specific to your family by letting each member share their favorite Bible verse or singing a praise song together.

Also, instead of greeting people with a “hello” like every other day of the week, try greeting each other with “Happy Sabbath!”

#3 Enjoying Sabbath Meals

One of the best ways to bond with people is over food, right? So it would only make sense to make Sabbath meals a special time to enjoy together.

A special meal on Friday night and Saturday afternoon is a wonderful way to relax and enjoy your favorite things while you celebrate the Sabbath.

To make it even more special, you can make your own food traditions to become part of your Sabbath celebration.

Maybe Friday night you always serve soup with Jewish Challah bread.

Or perhaps you make your favorite homemade pizza. Or make fresh lemonade.

Of course, you don’t have to have the same kind of food each week for Sabbath. It’s really all about making the day meaningful for your family and spending time together. Match your traditions to what your family enjoys.

(But a word of caution: Be careful not to let the traditions become more important than the fellowship—or your health! If, over time, some things become stressful or tiresome to maintain, or if they just lose some of their original excitement, remember that the priority is restful, bonding, God-focused time. No need to put too much pressure on yourself or your family.)

#4 SPECIAL SABBATH ACTIVITIES

Setting aside special activities to reserve for Sabbath can help you spend time with God, serve others, and spend meaningful time with your family.

To start, ask your family what activities they think would be fun to do on Sabbath. (These could possibly become the Sabbath traditions or rituals you grow to enjoy and remember.) Even brainstorming these traditions together can be an activity in and of itself!

For instance: Perhaps your family would like to wake up early on Sabbath morning for breakfast together or for a nature walk.

Or, maybe you pre-make a delicious breakfast together the day before, so you can all sleep in!

Or maybe you decide to volunteer somewhere together, like a soup kitchen, a nursing home, a children’s home, a community service center, etc.

Get creative and work together to plan for making Sabbath special each week.

But always remember that Sabbath’s real blessing is about enjoying God’s creation and spending time with those He gave us in our families.

Sabbath does not have to become all about how creative of an activity can you come up with, or how many things you can do that are uniquely for the Sabbath, etc.

This special day is also made to restore our souls. Some weeks, you may not feel like doing anything!

And that might be just what you and your family need. Some Sabbaths can be celebrated by embracing shabbat, by stopping everything else and just relaxing together, enjoying one another’s company, thanking God for this opportunity.

92 SABBATH ACTIVITY IDEAS FAMILIES CAN DO TOGETHER

Enjoy Friday night worship with family and friends

Ask for prayer requests and pray together

Take a hike or spend time in nature

Play a Bible Trivia game

Visit a neighbor or church member.

Study the Bible together

Draw or illustrate Bible stories

Do crafts to illustrate Bible characters or stories

Play musical instruments together

Read a Sabbath book out loud

Listen to a Sabbath podcast

Listen to Your Story Hour stories on CD or online

Visit online sites to answer spiritual questions people have

Invite a less fortunate family over to visit

Learn new praise songs

Write a song

Use Bible-based conversation starters to connect with one another

Draw discussion topics from a hat and talk about them

Brings treats to your neighbor and fellowship together

Take food to a homeless shelter or volunteer to help

Visit a nursing home

Invite friends to the park for a campfire and songs

Hold a Bible story time in the park

Give a Bible study to a new believer

Write and share your personal testimony

Share Bible tracts with people in town

Visit widows or shut-ins who belong to your church

Create a Bible scene with felts

Play Bible charades

Look through old family photo albums

Color in a pretty nature-themed coloring book

Create “Top Ten” lists: Bible stories, sea animals, pets, etc.

Go on a nature scavenger hunt

Visit with relatives

Go on a walk

Dress in costume and do a Bible skit

Video chat with friends or family who live far away

Write letters to missionaries and pray for them

Go camping with your family or church group

Put a nature puzzle together

Do a topical Bible study

Study trees and learn how to identify them

Offer to babysit children for a single parent

Read the words to a hymn and discuss the meaning

Sing songs around the piano

Listen to Christian music

Have a special Sabbath box of toys and activities for the children

Do Bible crossword puzzles

Play a Bible board game

Pray outside together

Read miracle stories

Pray for the family you plan to visit next week

Quietly watch the sun as it sets on Saturday evening

Call someone who wasn’t at church and let them know they were missed

Share one thing you love about each other

Visit prison inmates or start a prison ministry

Visit an orphanage

Talk about what heaven might be like together

Study the Sabbath school lesson

Think of questions you’d like to ask Jesus

Take a cd copy of the sermon to someone who missed church

Have family worship outside

Write a letter to Jesus or color a picture for Jesus

Learn a memory verse

Invite someone to your home who can’t return the favor

Make a gratitude list

Pick someone up for church who doesn’t have a ride

Take church magazines or literature to a neighbor or friend who would appreciate them

Write down your prayer requests and answers to prayers

Take your dog for a long walk or to the park

Take a meal to a shut-in or a family with a new baby

Turn off the lights on Friday night and use candles instead

Memorize Scripture songs

Visit a national forest

Invite someone to attend church with your family

Interview the oldest member of your church

Make handmade cards to send to someone who is sick

Make a shoebox diorama of your favorite Bible story

Spread a blanket in the grass and find pictures in the clouds

Have an “object lesson:” Each person picks an object and shares a lesson from the Bible using that object

Talk about how to honor and respect God’s house

Write a parable in your own words

Write a letter to a Bible character

Discuss the highlights of the pastor’s sermon over supper

Take a bike ride together

Plan a random act of kindness

Find gospel quotes to share on social media

Write in a family journal

Pick flowers and take them to a friend or neighbor

Talk about family values and what they mean to you

Write a thank you note to someone who was kind to you this week

Attend your local church

When you put in effort toward celebrating the Sabbath as a family, you can find yourselves blessed in countless ways. The Bible even tells us that God wants us to find the Sabbath “a delight” (Isaiah 58:13).

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY MAY 16TH 2026

TOPIC: RAISING GODLY BOYS

MEMORISE:
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - (Proverbs 22:6)

BIBLE READING: 1 SAMUEL 2:18-26 (KJV)

18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.

25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

MESSAGE:
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.

KEY POINT:
Every boy is a future leader, and they must be given the best training possible to help them become responsible leaders in society.

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 CHRONICLES 32-34

HYMNAL: 28 GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH

1 Guide me, O my great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.

2 Open now the crystal fountain,
where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
ever be my strength and shield,
ever be my strength and shield.

3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell's Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever sing to you,
I will ever sing to you.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 16TH MAY 2026

TOPIC: RAISING GODLY BOYS

MEMORIZE:
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

BIBLE READING: 1 SAMUEL 2:18-26
18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice

20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home.

21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord’s people to transgress.

25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.

26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.

MESSAGE:
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 s 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 1:2528), 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.

KEY POINT:
Every boy is a future leader, and they must be given the best training possible to help them become responsible leaders in society.

BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:
2 CHRONICLES 32-34

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMNAL 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
1. Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah!
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven! Bread of heaven!
Feed me now and evermore (2ce)

2. Open Thou the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow:
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer! strong deliverer!
Be Thou still my strength and shield (2ce)

3. If I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside:
Bear me through the swelling torrent,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises! songs of praises!
I will ever give to Thee (2ce)

4. Saviour, come! We long to see Thee,
Long to dwell with Thee above;
And to know in full communion,
All the sweetness of Thy love.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus!
Take Thy waiting people home (2ce)



‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
SATURDAY, 16TH MAY, 2026
*RAISING GODLY BOYS*
‎
‎✓Father, thank You for the gift of children, thank You for preparing them for signs and wonders, and as agents of transformation.
‎
‎✓Father, please bless every home with godly children: turn every barrenness to fruitfulness, and terminate every sorrow with shouts of joy, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, for every child You have given me, please help me to train them up in the way they should go- the godly way; establish them on the path of righteousness and help them not to depart from it, in Jesus' name
‎
‎✓Father, please help me never to neglect the training of the children You have given me; help me to correct and discipline appropriately, and bless me with the resources I need to help them fulfill Your purpose for their lives, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please make an edge of defence around all the children ,the future leaders of the home, church, organization, and nations; help them become responsible adults. Do not allow the devil to strike them, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please let every little boy around me grow to become great leaders, that, in the midst of corruption and perversion of the law, they will stand out as godly examples of righteousness, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please help all parents to pray and constantly dedicate their children to God: help them to spend quality time with them, grooming them to become good men and women who are well-suited to serving God, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please help all parents to raise men like Samuel, help them not to fail in their responsibilities and duties over their sons and daughters in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please help me to follow the godly pattern of parenting the children You have given me, nurturing them to grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. May my children find favour with God and with man, in Jesus' name
‎
‎✓Father, please help all fathers, not to become irresponsible in the training of the children, so it won't be too late to correct them, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please help all parents, guardians and the church, to invest in the boys just as they do on the girls, to teach them to pray and respect authority. Help us to teach them the fear of God so they can build godly families and become responsible leaders who will serve God with all their lives, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
‎
‎Thank You for making his home a good example of godly virtues; please help him all through his journey in life, never to fail as a father, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name.
‎
‎✓Father, bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points beyond measure, and all those who have been rebroadcasting them, in Jesus name.
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‎✓Father, please let every challenge, hindrance and obstacle of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name.
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‎✓Your Personal petitions.
‎(Philippians 4:6)
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‎✓..In Jesus name I pray.
‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
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#GodBlessOurNation

*These prayers have no expiry date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.

CONFLICT AND COURAGE
February 3rd, 2026

After Seven Days.

Genesis 7

And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. Genesis 7:10. CC 40.1

For seven days after Noah and his family entered the ark, there appeared no sign of the coming storm. During this period their faith was tested. It was a time of triumph to the world without. The apparent delay confirmed them in the belief that Noah’s message was a delusion, and that the Flood would never come. Notwithstanding the solemn scenes which they had witnessed ... they still continued their sport and revelry, even making a jest of these signal manifestations of God’s power. They gathered in crowds about the ark, deriding its inmates with a daring violence which they had never ventured upon before.9 CC 40.2

At the end of seven days clouds began to gather. This was a new sight; for the people had never seen clouds.... Soon rain began to fall. Still the people tried to think that this was nothing very alarming.... For a time the ground drank up the rain; but soon the water began to rise, and day by day it rose higher and higher. Each morning as the people found the rain still falling they looked at one another in despair, and each night they repeated the words, “Raining still!”10 CC 40.3

The people first beheld the destruction of the works of their own hands. Their splendid buildings, and the beautiful gardens and groves where they had placed their idols, were destroyed by lightning from heaven, and the ruins were scattered far and wide.... The terror of man and beast was beyond description. Above the roar of the tempest was heard the wailing of a people that had despised the authority of God.... In that terrible hour they saw that the transgression of God’s law had caused their ruin. Yet while, through fear of punishment, they acknowledged their sin, they felt no true contrition, no abhorrence of evil. They would have returned to their defiance of Heaven, had the judgment been removed. So when God’s judgments shall fall upon the earth before its deluge by fire, the impenitent will know just where and what their sin is—the despising of His holy law. Yet they will have no more true repentance than did the old-world sinners.11 CC 40.4

On Christmas Eve, something pretty powerful happened inside a Michigan jail. A group of inmates came together on their own and formed a big prayer circle.
No guards told them to do it. No one prompted them. They just joined hands and quietly prayed the Lord’s Prayer together.
The sheriff’s office shared the surveillance video and said they’d never posted anything like it before.
In a place usually defined by mistakes and consequences, they said they saw unity, hope, and people choosing something better — not just for themselves, but for each other.
The video quickly went viral, with tons of people online saying the moment was deeply moving and reminding them that faith and transformation can show up anywhere — even behind bars. ❤
Image: Genesee County Sheriff's Office

Pray with us for the inmates at Iloilo City Men's Jail here in Iloilo, Philippines where we conduct Chapel services every Wednesday morning