Anneke and I went to Malta in June to see St Paul’s Bay. We saw mega yachts, tourists, but no snakes. After his shipwreck, Paul washed up on the island of Malta, cold and wet, but alive. “But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand… But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.” — Acts 28:3,5. The locals assumed he was cursed, a murderer who had escaped the sea only to be judged by fate. But Paul didn’t defend himself; he simply shook the snake off into the fire and kept going. People who don’t know God often judge your worth by your wounds. They see the bites and assume you’re cursed. But they don’t know the promise over your life. They didn’t know that neither storm nor shipwreck could stop him, and this snake wouldn’t either.

The enemy may try to poison your purpose, but if God says you’re going to Rome, the only one who can stop you is you. Maybe you’ve failed. Maybe you’ve fallen. Maybe you’ve given in to temptation, lost your temper, wasted time, or doubted your worth. But God isn’t shocked by your weakness. He knew every failure before you made it—and He still chose you. His forgiveness is not for once but forever.

 Friend, the enemy may bite, but he can’t stop you from reaching your destiny unless you let him. The venom isn’t in the bite; it’s in the belief that you’re finished. God won’t give you a promise that someone else can ruin. So shake off the shame. Shake off the fear. Shake off small vision and go on, because if Heaven started your journey, hell can’t stop it.

Today, I met up with Wayne, whom I worked with 45 years ago, at the City Council, and we shared some stories! How good it is to find out that our fears and failures are common to all. Even though we are designed for connection, sometimes we are scared to be known. We wear masks, hide our flaws, and post only our best days. But that never makes us feel truly loved—because we suspect if people knew the real us, they’d not be so impressed.

We know from Genesis 3:10: “I was afraid because I was naked, and so I hid.” Fear makes us hide our past, our pain, our real selves. And the real fear is rejection. We’ve all felt it—by a parent, a friend, even believers, and we vow, “Never again.” But walls that keep hurt out also keep love out. We end up lonely and disconnected.

Jesus understands rejection. Betrayed, abandoned, crucified—He endured the ultimate rejection. So, when you ache, He’s not just watching; He’s empathising. But He doesn’t want you to stay there. Because withdrawing from risk guarantees greater pain: loneliness, insecurity, and the slow fading of your joy. You were never meant to live with secrets. They don’t protect you—they imprison you. In fact, we can become sick from the secrets we hide. The only cure is love. Not sentimental niceness—but divine love that sets you free. Scripture says, “Perfect love casts out fear.” That means the deeper God’s love sinks into your soul, the less room fear has to operate. And once you’re secure in His affection, you’ll stop living for approval and start loving with abandon.

Friends, our Father fully knows us and still fully loves us.  So tell Him you’re ready to risk again. Then reach out to someone safe. Say the honest thing. Share the real story. Because being fully known—and still fully loved—is exactly what God created you for.

It was a big night for Esther. She looked good, smelled good and was ready to approach the king. “Now…Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace…When the king saw Queen Esther…she found favour in his sight and held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the sceptre”.  Est 5:1.   Dressing in royal robes was important the first night and every other time that she came to him.  It wasn’t a “come as you are” type of thing. That robe was about beauty and about honouring and accessing the King. In ancient times, people nearest the King dressed up. When Pharaoh promoted Joseph, he gave him a title and a robe of welcome at the throne. Esther came dressed right, and she won favour and a victory!

Sometimes we take our garments off. Not intentionally, but maybe we are disappointed in God, perhaps when we fail, when we’re grieving. When we’re tired. We don’t dress with purpose nor linger at the Throne. Pretty soon, we stop stepping out. We don’t pray with boldness or expect miracles.  The good news? God doesn’t shame us for taking off our garments. He wants our partnership and simply says, “Dress again.” He removes the filthy robes and restores the mantle. He not only dresses us for His presence, but He also dresses us with His presence.

Friend, you’re not disqualified by your disappointment. Put on your garment and expect some wins in the war. The sceptre of His favour is toward you. Ask boldly because you are dressed for the throne room. He is waiting for your requests and the lost are waiting for His deliverance..

Jesus ate the fish and honey, and while the disciples’ mouths fell open in wonder, Jesus opened their understanding. Jesus was the Messiah of the ages. Their mission was clear. Tell the whole world. However, after three years, the disciples were informed but not equipped. Jesus said, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Luk 24:49.

They were to wait not until they felt ready, but until they were “endued with power.” That word “endued” means to be clothed. Covered. Wrapped in something not your own. It’s the same word used when Paul says we’ve “put on Christ.”  There’s a difference between being saved and being empowered, between being forgiven and being filled. You can be clothed in righteousness and still walk through life without power. That’s why Jesus didn’t just give His disciples a message—He gave them a mantle.

In Bible times, men wore both inner and outer garments. Our righteousness in Christ is like our inner garment.  But being clothed with His power is our outer garment. It’s the boldness to speak, the authority to heal, the courage to confront darkness. It’s what Jesus wore when He walked into villages and demons trembled. And it’s what He offers us. We don’t need the outer garment to sit in church. But we do need it to touch the world and to bring heaven to earth.

Friends, the Holy Spirit is not a bonus, an option or an upgrade. He is the Spirit of Christ living through us. Don’t leave home “without” Him, because the world won’t be changed by our private beliefs, but by our boldness.

He could see his father’s house now. He rehearsed his apology for the tenth time. The prodigal son was home. He felt so unworthy and began his speech.  But the father doesn’t even let him finish. He runs to him, embraces him, and says, “Bring out the best robe.” Not a lecture. Not a delay. A robe and a celebration. The son had no song or practised prayer.  He just returned. And that was enough.

Seems that God isn’t looking for polished performances—He’s looking for hearts that return to Him. He’s not impressed by our perfection. He’s moved by humility.  “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zep 3:17. What wait! He rejoices over us with singing. Not just tolerates us. Not just forgives us. He dances. He celebrates when we come close. Our past doesn’t have to be good, our approach well-timed, or our worship pitch-perfect. Our heart just has to be real. When you draw near, He runs near. When you love Him, even in weakness, He is moved.

Friend, if you’ve been distant, distracted, or discouraged—come home! If you’ve been comparing your journey to someone else’s, lay it down. If you must compare, compare the chill of a pig pen to the warmth of a father’s arms. If you are wondering whether your love matters to God, it does.

Peter shifted his weight on the hard tile floor. He was hoping for something to happen, and it was about to! “Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him...and he struck Peter on the side...saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands.  Then the angel said to him… ‘Put on your garment and follow me’” (Acts 12:7-8). Peter is awakened by an angel who commands, “Put on your garment and follow me.”  Perhaps Peter had taken off his outer garment to lie on the cold floor. But the angel came with a message: Get dressed and follow me back into the world of need.

In biblical times, the outer garment was more than clothing. It represented dignity, readiness, and identity. You wore it when you were going out to fulfil your role in society. Peter wasn’t just being told to get dressed. He was being told to get ready—to step back into his calling, his authority, and his mission.

As believers, we wear the most powerful garment. Paul says that we have put on Christ. Literally, you are wearing Christ. Our garment is spiritual and powerful. It is not just for comfort; it is for calling. Maybe you’ve taken off your garment too? Perhaps you’ve been in a season of survival—chained by disappointment, fear, or fatigue. But the word of the Lord to you today is the same: “Put on your garment of Jesus and follow Me.” You were never meant to lie in a prison. You were meant to walk in the world with power and authority.

Friends, there are some doors God will not open until we are dressed in our garments of Christ's character and authority. Let us intentionally put on our garment and look for the doors opened by an angel and walk through them. The world outside the prison is groaning with spiritual need and waiting for us to turn up.  Let’s be ready!

Peter and John paused long enough to see more than just a face in the crowd. Peter didn't just glance at the lame man—he looked into him. The phrase “fixing his eyes upon him” means truly seeing someone beyond their outward appearance.

When we look at people, we may notice their bright yellow dress, their pink jacket, or their spiked hair. Occasionally, we might register big ears or a missing tooth, but how often do we notice their eyes? Eyes that hold sadness, loneliness, helplessness, anger, or joy. Science tells us that those who thrive socially are skilled at reading the eyes of others. Women, in particular, often excel at this. The ability to recognise the silent social cues in a person’s gaze is a skill learned in childhood.

When Peter and John looked at the lame man, they saw faith and hope. They saw his true heart—a man ready for God. Many carry hunger and need in their eyes, yet if we only see them as part of the passing crowd, we miss their silent plea to be “seen”. If we truly look "into" people, we may see them more as Jesus sees them.

And when the lame man looked at Peter, he saw power with compassion, and faith was stirred in his heart. As they look into our eyes, they may even glimpse something they don’t often see in others.

Friend, if we are not connected at the eyes, we won’t be connected at the heart. But if they see hope and kindness, we build a bridge of love—a bridge where faith and power can flow freely.

Elijah had a very big day but after confronting the king of Israel at Mt Carmel, Elijah ran on foot and still got to the city of Jezreel before the King! Did the king lose his way, or did his horse stumble? No—the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah (1 Kings 18:46). God’s power enabled Elijah to do what was beyond human ability, and positioned him in life where he could never have reached on his own.

The hand of the Lord represents divine intervention by the Spirit of the Lord—the way God ensures that His people accomplish His purposes. It supernaturally enables us to do what we could never achieve by our own strength. In the book of Acts, ordinary disciples became mighty when the hand of God was upon them (Acts 11:21). . When the hand of God was upon Ezekiel, he was carried into the Spirit, receiving visions beyond human perception (Ezekiel 37:1). David testified that in every attack from the enemy, he was delivered by the hand of God (Psalms 118:15-17). When the hand of the Lord rests upon you, you can endure where others falter.

God is laying His hand upon His church, not just so we can survive hardships, but so we can fulfil His purpose in the world. When the hand of the Lord is upon you, you can accomplish the impossible, perceive the invisible, and overcome the incredible. It’s time to run in the Spirit, work by the Spirit, and see through the Spirit. Whatever dreams or challenges lie ahead in marriage, life, or ministry, let’s humble ourselves beneath His mighty hand and hunger for His presence to rest upon us. Let’s be living testimonies of what He can do through those who surrender to Him.

Friends, His heart is in us for our sake, but His hand is upon us for the sake of others.