Having already provided all that man will ever need, the Lord wonders why the children of men are labouring to pay for that which is not bread and does not satisfy. Beware of so-called men of God who demand for money to help you pray down God's blessing upon your life. These are false ministers, who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly. They are there to deceive you by sweet words and fair speeches.

The journey that leads to heaven is painful but gainful in the end. It is the way of self denial and cross-bearing. Jesus, our example endured the cross because of the joy that was set before Him. The Lord of glory went through a painful ordeal on earth to gain His place at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven. He was beaten, wounded, bruised and finally crucified to die a painful death on the cross.

When God saw that Israel became comfortable in the wilderness, He told them to move forward. He took them through the way of the red sea to prove them and for them to learn some beneficial lessons. However, in their disobedience they stayed longer than necessary in the wilderness. The Lord is concerned about your spiritual stagnancy and lack of progress. Now it's time to make progress in your journey to heaven.

As professing believers we are daily exposed to the temptation to behave differently from what we have learnt from the word of God. But according to the Lord, His true disciples are those who continue in the word of God, come what may. As His sheep they hear His voice and follow Him. We must therefore strive to live our lives as His children, wherever we go.

Genuine repentance begins with a broken heart and its resultant effect can be seen on the outside as a transformed life. The Lord is not moved by your prayer and fasting, without a broken heart. It is not the will of God that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The Lord will not despise a broken and a contrite heart. Anyone who hardens his heart against God is actually destroying his own soul.