Not too long ago, Lydia, a sister from South Africa, wrote to me. I believe that many of you would be able to identify with what she shared about her struggles in relating to God as her Father:
Dear Pastor Prince,
I grew up with very low self-esteem, having been labeled the difficult child in my family. I was an unplanned baby, and my parents already had one child—a girl, so they really wanted a boy. They were disappointed when I turned out to be a girl and even considered giving me to a paternal family member who did not have children.
My dad comes from a very cold, strict family, and he has a very bad temper, so I grew up naturally fearful of him and always felt like I was walking on eggshells around him. My mom also grew up in a household where she had not received love. Both my parents are extreme perfectionists, very organized, and raised us with military discipline and no compassion.
Thus, I could never relate to God as a Father. God was unapproachable and sitting with a lightning bolt ready to strike me whenever I wasn’t good enough, didn’t pray enough, or wasn’t obedient enough. I was under the impression that God was only pleased with me when I obeyed the law, that I never met His expectations, and I was always under condemnation.
Since encountering your teaching resources, the veil in my life has been torn. For the first time, I am free. I no longer walk under the heavy burden of condemnation. I learned that God loved us first, and I can now have a love relationship with my heavenly Father and Jesus.
I have experienced victory over fear and sin that kept me captive for years—not by trying to be obedient, but by just learning that my sins have already been forgiven on the cross. And no, I am not sinning more now. I am actually overcoming more and sinning less, and I have a grateful heart for what Christ has done on the cross.
Do you feel as though you are never good enough, can never do enough, and be obedient enough for God to love and accept you? Do you feel you are always living under perpetual condemnation? Perhaps you can’t relate to God as a loving Father because you’ve never experienced the love of your earthly father or because your own father has hurt you terribly.
My friend, I pray that as you begin to meditate on today’s Scripture, 2 Corinthians 6:18, you will supernaturally experience the intimate love of your heavenly Father in a deep and personal way as never before. I pray that this experience will heal, renew, restore, and transform you in a spectacular way because His love for you is nothing less than spectacular.
One of the most evil teachings I have heard is that God will chastise His own with sicknesses, diseases, accidents, and tragedies.
When I was a teenager, one of the youth leaders in my previous church was involved in a horrible accident that nearly killed him. A church leader gathered some of us youths to go visit that youth leader and began to lament, “Why did this happen to him? What did he do to cause God to chastise him this way?”
Can you imagine how I felt when I “realized” that God was behind the accident? Honestly, it frightened the living daylights out of me to think that God would chastise a believer using such a harsh method!
I remember praying, “God, please don’t ever chastise me this way. Whatever it is, please, just tell me, all right? I will listen, I promise!”
I didn’t want to draw near to Him also because I was afraid of Him, afraid that if I made a mistake, He would not hesitate to chastise me with an accident that could leave me crippled for life or even dead!
Do you know that this erroneous teaching is actually based on the old covenant and not the new covenant? In Leviticus 26:28, God says to those who fail to obey His commandments, “I will chastise you seven times for your sins.”
But guess what? You are no longer under the covenant of law. You are under the covenant of grace! Jesus has already borne all your chastisement and punishment on the cross. Read it for yourself in today’s Scripture, Isaiah 53:4–5, then reread it and reread it once more.
The prophet Isaiah saw a prophetic vision of our Lord Jesus on the cross, bearing the punishment for our transgressions. He declared that the chastisement we deserved came upon Jesus so that you and I will never have to go through what He endured on our behalf. And by the stripes laid on Him as He bore our chastisement, we are healed! Hallelujah!
So how can anyone have the audacity to say that God will still chastise us with sicknesses, diseases, and accidents today? To say this is to negate the finished work of Jesus Christ! Under the new covenant, God will never again chastise the believer for his sins!
Whatever condition you have today, it is not from the Lord! Look to Jesus on the cross. See Him beaten and scourged for you, and receive healing and wholeness from Him. He has paid the price for your total healing. By His stripes you are healed!
Today’s Word Today’s Scripture If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9, NIV
Forgive Yourself We have all sinned, made mistakes, done things that we’re not proud of. We know that God has forgiven us, but too often we keep reliving our failures, replaying our mistakes, thinking about the times we haven’t measured up. All that’s doing is making you feel more guilty, more condemned. God is not judging you because you haven’t performed perfectly. Don’t go around thinking about everything you’ve done wrong and beating yourself up over it. You have to do something important, and that’s to forgive yourself. You have enough people in life against you. Don’t be against yourself. If God has forgiven you, why don’t you let it go?
Don’t be defined by your mistakes. Don’t let what you’ve been through taint the rest of your life. You can’t change what’s behind you, but you can do something about what’s in front of you. You have to take off the negative labels and thoughts—divorced, addicted, compromiser, failure, loser, doubter—and put on what God says about you—forgiven, cleansed, redeemed, restored, a new creation, a child of the Most High God.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that when I sin and make mistakes that Your mercy covers me. Thank You that You forgive and forget my sins the moment that I ask You. I am saying goodbye to the guilt and the shame of the past and believing You have something awesome in my future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SECTION TWO
God’s heart is never for you to die prematurely, nor to live a life that is miserable. Psalm 91:16 says, “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
This means that God not only wants you to have a long life, but He also wants you to have a satisfying life that is full of His peace, provision, and joy! In the verse, the word “salvation” is the Hebrew word Yeshua, the name of Jesus. So God will satisfy you with a long life that is full of Jesus and His grace!
Chronic illness, depression, or a short life is not, and will never be, part of God’s plan for you. He wants you to experience a long, full life in which you walk in all the blessings of health, wholeness, and provision that He has given you through Jesus!
Today’s Word Today’s Scripture “Let him take hold of My strength.” Isaiah 27:5, NKJV
You Can Handle It We all face pressure, opposition, situations that are unfair. Someone who should be for you turns against you. We all have times when we feel overwhelmed and think it’s too much. But God promised that you’ll never face anything that you can’t bear. You have to remind yourself that you can handle it. You’ve been designed for it. You’re not going to collapse under that weight. You don’t have to try to get revenge or live bitter. You can overlook an insult, you can take the high road, and you can forgive.
The key is to take hold of God’s strength. He will put in you the courage, the power, the determination, and the fortitude you need. Instead of thinking about how difficult it is, turn it around and say, “I can do all things through Christ. I’ve been armed with strength for this battle. I’m anointed for difficult times. I may walk through the dark valley, but I am not settling here. This valley is not myhome. I’m coming out better, stronger, victorious, into new levels of my destiny.”
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that You are the Most High God and seated on Your throne. Thank You that I can come to You and take hold of Your strength when I feel overwhelmed. I declare that You have armed me for the battle I am to fight and that I am strong. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
SECTION TWO
Stop believing the LIE that God gives you sicknesses, diseases, and accidents to punish you or teach you a lesson. These things are from the devil, and because of Jesus’ finished work, we have been redeemed from every evil work and curse.
We can receive protection from every evil occurrence, sickness, and disease. And by the stripes on Jesus’ back, we are healed!
Don’t fight for the right to be sick and defeated when God is full of grace and mercy, and wants you to be healthy, blessed, and protected from all evil occurrences!
Start to expect good gifts from the Lord. Reject anything that even remotely suggests God is angry with you, and disciplines you with sicknesses and accidents. He is a good God and a good father!
Today’s Word Today’s Scripture …let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:4, NKJV
The Hidden Person of the Heart There’s a lot of compromise in our society. People think nothing about being dishonest, making underhand deals, not keeping their word. Then they wonder why they can’t get ahead. It’s because they don’t have integrity. It’s because in “the hidden person of the heart,” their motives are wrong. In their hearts, they’re thinking, “How much can I get away with and still get by? How late can I come to work and not get in trouble? How far can I stretch this half-truth and not get caught?” Rather than trying to cross the line, a person of integrity is careful to see how far behind that line they can stay.
Many decisions we face are simply tests. God is seeing if we are ready to go higher. People may not be watching, but God is watching what we do in secret. How we live in private will determine how high we go in public. Don’t let small things keep you from the big blessings God has in store. Be trustworthy, honorable, a person of your word. Start passing these tests.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that down at the foundation of my life I can be a person of integrity, someone who’s true to You no matter what. Thank You that You see what I do in secret and bless me when I do what’s right. I will not let small things keep me from Your big blessings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
When I was a young believer, I heard a preacher say, “In order to draw a straying lamb to him, a shepherd will break its legs. When it’s unable to walk, he will nurse the lamb back to health. Once it’s healthy again, the lamb will be attached to him.” That terrifying picture of a shepherd stuck in my head for years!
One day, I was able to ask a real shepherd if that story was true. Aghast, he replied, “That’s nonsense! What kind of shepherd does that?”
Sadly, there are people today who still believe this nonsense. Beloved, Jesus is our good shepherd (John 10:11). When He is your shepherd, you will not want for anything.
He is your supply of everything you need. He does not “break your legs.” Instead, He leads you to places of rest, refreshing, healing, and renewal of strength!
When Money Develops Wings: A Case Study on Criminality Amongst Men of Honour
By Livy-Elcon Emereonye
Livy-Elcon Emereonye
“A good name is better than gold.” – African Proverb
Money is a restless spirit. Like fire, it warms when controlled but consumes when mishandled. Its neutrality can mislead; it uncovers character rather than forming it. The phrase “when money develops wings” captures the tragedy of resources disappearing without accountability. The true tragedy stems not from losing wealth, but from the betrayal of trust, especially when those responsible are individuals who once presented themselves as honorable men.
While money itself remains impartial, it can unveil the essence of human character. In the hands of the upright, it is a resource for building, empowering, and preserving values. However, when corrupt individuals handle it, it turns into a tool for betrayal, oppression, and destruction.
When money develops wings, it does not fly on its own — it is given wings by men. And when such men are those entrusted as honourable custodians, their fall becomes both personal and societal tragedy. The fundamental insight reveals that honor is a fragile concept that requires diligence, transparency, and moral fortitude to sustain.
Honour should serve as a protective barrier of integrity, but when those who hold it fall prey to greed, that barrier transforms into a disguise — hiding their true selves while they engage in theft.
An honorable man needs to live by honesty, justice, and faithfulness. But history and present realities show a painful irony: the gravest betrayals are often committed not by the notorious outlaw, but by the respected elder, the decorated leader, the esteemed professional, and the self-acclaimed men of honour.
Socrates once said, “The greatest way to live with honour in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” Too many men wear honour as a costume, pretending virtue in public while practicing vice in private.
Among the Igbo, there is wisdom: “The child who says his father’s house should not stand is also saying his own house should not stand.” When men of honour betray the trust reposed in them, they do not only damage society’s foundation; they also destroy their own legacy. Alongside the neatly pressed brocade, the true character cannot remain concealed from the public eye.
Life presents the irony that guardians can morph into hunters, benefiting from what they should be preserving. They inflate contracts and rob society blind, taking lives for the sake of power.
Trust bestows honour; it cannot be claimed like a mantra. Elders, leaders, fund managers, and law guardians are expected to serve the common good. This trust, however, holds a certain temptation. The figure has no limits.
The public official who raises contract prices, causing projects to stay eternally undone.
The religious figure who redirects contributions meant for those in need.
The patriarch who takes advantage of inheritance for his benefit.
The specialist who masks fraudulent behaviour with professional titles.
In each case, money “develops wings” — not through accident, but through design. The misfortune grows larger since it is not outsiders who take from us, but people we once regarded as exemplars of moral integrity.
The phrase ‘money develops wings’ implies that it disappears, lacks oversight, or suffers from mismanagement — often linked to criminal behaviour. It is particularly ironic that the individuals designated as ‘men of honour’ — leaders, professionals, and trusted guardians — are often the ones committing the crime.
Money develops wings through predictable paths:
Greed embodies a never-ending hunger that possessions cannot appease. “The goat that eats the yam does not consider the rope tied to its neck.”
People often justify theft by labeling it as entitlement, ‘borrowing,’ or ‘settlement.’
Usman dan Fodio declared, “Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it.” Yet many silence conscience to enjoy ill-gotten wealth.
Impunity involves the assumption that one’s social standing or recognition provides immunity from negative outcomes, but change is constant.
The impact of criminal behaviour among men of honour extends beyond financial loss; it also affects moral values and future generations. Trust erodes, institutions falter, and young individuals discover that deceit yields greater rewards than integrity.
Chinua Achebe observed, “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.” But compromise among men of honour makes corruption seem ordinary. It makes betrayal seem acceptable and weakens the core values that unite a people.
Even so, honour isn’t an everlasting crown; it’s a fragile attire that requires daily renewal through integrity. Aristotle once wrote that “the greatest virtues are those most useful to others.” By this measure, a man’s honour is worthless if it enriches only himself while impoverishing the community.
African wisdom reminds us: “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” When those in positions of trust become agents of betrayal, the fall is collective, not individual.
To grasp the notion of trust being broken, integrity being undermined, and how greed or wrong priorities can change ‘men of honour’ into offenders, it may be useful to critically analyze some groups that depict custodians as predators.
People holding positions of power tend to engage in various fraudulent behaviours for self-promotion, compete in sexual exploitation, and heighten administrative recklessness using deceptive phrases and slogans, reflecting a concerning inclination to elevate malevolence with blatant audacity.
Ultimately, when money develops wings, it is not the currency that flies but the conscience that fails. When men of honour fall into criminality, the loss is heavier than stolen wealth — it is the collapse of trust, the weakening of values, and the betrayal of future generations.
The principle holds true across time: money will always tempt, but honour must always resist. Fortune can vanish, yet a good name remains. And as the old African saying insists, “A good name is better than gold.”
When money develops wings, it does not fly on its own — it is given wings by men. When individuals like these take on the role of esteemed guardians, their downfall turns into a tragedy for both themselves and society. Integrity is tenuous, and to protect it one must exercise caution, sincerity, and boldness in morals.
Secrets come to light with time, yet no individual can flee from their shadow.
The crimes we commit for the sake of money will eventually come back to haunt us.
Today’s Word Today’s Scripture When [Joseph’s] master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did…Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. Genesis 39:3–4, NIV
Stand Out Because there was a blessing on Joseph’s life, he went from being an unnoticed, insignificant slave to being the favorite. Potiphar was so impressed he put Joseph in charge of his household. That’s the power of the blessing. When people try to push you down, it causes you to rise up. When people try to discount you, it causes you to be noticed. There were other people working for Potiphar who had more seniority, more training, and more experience, but the blessing on Joseph’s life caused him to stand out.
People may not recognize you yet. Your boss doesn’t give you credit. Relatives discount you and think you don’t have much to offer. You may be overlooked now, but the time is coming where you’re going to be noticed. Keep doing the right thing, honoring God, being your best. People are going to recognize your value, your gifts, your talents. God is going to cause you to stand out. You’re going to go from being unnoticed to being in charge, from being not recognized to being the favorite. That’s the blessing on your life.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for the gifts and talents that You have given me. Thank You for calling me to keep developing my skills and being my best in whatever I do. I choose to walk in Your blessing no matter what my situation is, knowing You are causing me to rise to the top. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
SECTION TWO
I encourage you to take some time each day to get the revelation of your righteousness in Christ deep into your spirit. Meditate on it and declare it every day.
It will put courage in your heart and bring an unshakable peace to your soul. It will energize your faith when you pray and give you a confident expectation to receive good things from your heavenly Father.
I believe that’s why our heavenly Father, in knowing the things that we need daily, tells us not to worry about them. What are we supposed to do then? We are to seek first “His [Jesus’] righteousness”—the righteousness that He has given us—and all the things that we need will be added to us.
Beloved, when you know that your right standing with God always puts Him on your side, every fear will melt away like butter on a hot day. For if God is for you, who or what can successfully prevail against you (Rom. 8:31)?
Today’s Word Today’s Scripture The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne. Psalm 89:7, NLT
Sovereign We all go through situations that are unfair, things we don’t understand, but God is sovereign. It’s interesting that the word “sovereign” has the word “reign” in it. God is showing us that even when things happen that don’t make sense we have to keep Him on the throne.
He’s still in control. He’s still directing our steps. When the medical report is not good, when somebody did us wrong, when we lost our biggest client, we may not understand it, but God is sovereign. He is the Most High God. He reigns over those circumstances. But here’s the key: His power and favor won’t do you any good unless you have Him on the throne.
When things go wrong and don’t make sense, it’s easy to get bitter and go around discouraged, but if you put Him on the throne, He’ll start reigning. He’ll make a way where you don’t see a way. He’ll promote you when people try to hold you down. He’ll give you beauty for those ashes. He’ll restore you and bring you through the disappointment better than you were before.
A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that You are sovereign and worthy of my unconditional trust. There are things in my life that I don’t understand, situations I want to see changed, but even if things don’t happen the way I hope, I’m still going to trust You. I believe You are in control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
A precious young lady who had been listening to my sermons wrote to me rejoicing over receiving a miracle she had been believing God for. She shared:
This time, I didn’t go to God with my good works and my obedience to try to earn this blessing. All I did was believe and confess how, through the finished work of Christ at the cross, I have the undeserved favor of God and His own righteousness.
And even though I had failed the test and an interview, because of His favor, I still gained admission to a reputable university in Germany on a full scholarship. Depending on Jesus’ grace alone, I received this breakthrough. I’m going to believe and confess His grace and love for me for the rest of my life!
Isn’t it wonderful that when we depend on Jesus’ grace alone, doors of opportunity, success, and provision open to us? May this testimony encourage you in whatever you are believing God for today!
It is important for you to recognize that there is a significant difference between God’s unmerited favor and favoritism. God’s unmerited favor is based entirely on Jesus’ merit, and we received it through His finished work at the cross. We did nothing to deserve His favor. It is completely unmerited.
Favoritism, however, stinks of self-effort. Individuals who rely on favoritism for promotion have to resort to apple polishing, office politics, manipulative tactics, backstabbing, and all kinds of compromises just to get what they want. They use all their efforts to open doors for themselves, and in the process, they lose themselves.
God has a higher and better way for you. It hurts Him to see His precious children groveling like sycophants just to get ahead in life.
If a door closes, so be it! Believe with full confidence that God has a better way for you. You do not have to depend on favoritism to keep opportunities open for yourself when you have God’s unmerited favor!
That was how Joseph operated. He depended on the Lord for his success, and not on favoritism, which would have required him to compromise his beliefs. When Potiphar’s wife, who was likely one of the most beautiful women in the land, kept trying to seduce Joseph to sleep with her, Joseph stood his ground on the firm foundation of unmerited favor.
He refused, saying, “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he [Potiphar] kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9).
From his words, it is clear that Joseph knew the source of his success, favor, and blessings. He did not see giving in to Potiphar’s wife as a great wickedness and sin against Potiphar alone, but against God too.
He knew that every blessing that he had experienced was a result of the Lord’s favor on him. He knew that it was not Potiphar who promoted him from the position of a lowly slave to become the overseer of Potiphar’s entire estate. It was the Lord!
Similarly in your life, know and rejoice that it is the Lord who is the source of your blessings and success! You don’t have to resort to trying to win the favor of significant people in your life. It is the Lord’s favor on you that sets you up for recognition, promotion, and increase.
I love how our Lord Jesus is such a loving and practical God. When there is a problem, He goes straight to the solution.
Before Jesus stepped in to heal the man born blind, His disciples were caught up in uncovering whose sin had made the man blind. Jesus, on the other hand, was interested only in using His power to give the poor man sight!
The same way Jesus didn’t get sucked into the “blame game” is the same way He doesn’t want you to. So don’t ask what or whose sin caused your sickness. Forget about what you should or shouldn’t have done or why it happened.
Be preoccupied instead with your solution—Jesus Christ, who through the cross has removed every sin in your life and who wants to work a miracle in your body!
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