To the glory of God, we are in the second week of the second month of 2026.    We need to continue to appreciate the LORD for His mercies that endureth forever.

Brethren, only God knows what lies ahead for all of us. 

What is sure is that some of   those things would please us, some would be unpleasant.   Whichever comes your way, submit it to God.

After all we are told in 1st Thessalonians 5 vs. 18 ( KJV) “ In every thing give thanks: for this  is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”.

Our prayer is that the enemy will not have the last say  in our lives in the mighty  name of Jesus.

While we are hopeful for testimonies, we should also prepare for challenges that could come in any form and from any quarters.

Brethren, in most cases,  stubborn challenges are inflicted on us  by those close to us.  They may be  relations,  or   those we regard as  trusted friends.

Let’s  watchful and may the Spirit of God lead us all .  

People do unimaginable things.

Let me share with  you the story of two friends who appear close especially to other neighbours.

Unknown to madam A,  madam C  her supposed friend is an enemy in disguise.

Madam A is into fashion design and her friend patronizes her but unknown to Madam A, her friend has been advising people to make  their dresses from another person instead of Madam A.   Her aim is to dry up  Madam A’s income.

But madam A never knew why she has been losing customers.

The climax  of it was when Madam A’s brother got into depression and she advised her to meet her friend Madam C for counseling.

Madam C advised the brother to poison his sister and her husband suggesting that when they die, he would have access to  their possession and become wealthy.

About two weeks after this evil  piece  of advice was given, another friend invited Madam A to a church programme.   It was while praying that  a prayer point against  enemies pretending to be friends was raised.

Madam A prayed violently.

A couple of days later, the brother came to ask his sister for forgiveness that it was her friend Mrs. C that told him  to poison her.

The evil plot failed because of the  prayer arsenal  that  Mrs. A   fired from the altar of God. 

As you hold on to the LORD, my prayer is that every evil plot against you and your family will fail in Jesus name.

Mrs. C’s children also came to Mrs. A to say, “ mummy you are so kind to us but why does our mummy hate you?

Mrs. A didn’t bother to fight her friend, she only learnt to keep her at arms length.

That’s wisdom.  It’s not every enemy that one should fight  physically.  The prayer weapon is better.

Beloved, as a Christian, many weapons are available to us to use to fight the enemy and coast to victory.

The first is prayer.

1st Thessalonians5 vs. 17 “ Pray without ceasing”.   We  need to pray  regularly  with a focus on what we actually want the Lord to do for us.

Hannah prayed and fasted.  God answered and gave her Samuel.  She returned the child to go in fulfillment of her vow.

 Her action provoked more blessings.  1st Samuel 2 vs. 20&21: “ 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.

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

Let’s come closer, our Lord Jesus also fasted and prayed to overcome the devil.

Luke 4 vs. 1- 4 ( NIV) “ Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,  returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert.

 Where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing  during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “ If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread”.

Jesus answered, “ It is written: Man does not live on bread alone”.

Brethren, you are familiar with the rest of the story.

Even, as the Son of God, Jesus  had to seek the face  of the Father with prayer and fasting to overcome the devil.

If Jesus could do this, what stops you and I except for medical conditions.

In a couple of days, precisely, Wednesday, February 18, Christians would emulate Christ with the commencement of the 40 day fasting and prayer.

Some other churches have already commenced fasting.

R.C.C.G. has commenced a 30-day fasting.

Beloved, fasting is so important in the life of a believer.   You need to deny yourself the pleasures of life for sometime in order to subdue the flesh and overcome the devil and his demons.

The story of  the failure  of the disciples to cast out a lunatic demon from a child, tell us more about fasting.

Matthew 17 vs. 19 – 21 ( KJV) : “  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Howbeit, this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting”.

It was earlier stated in verse 18: “ And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child  was cured from that very hour”.

From the response of  the Lord Jesus,  faith is important but faith needs to be made more potent with fasting and prayer.

To win a spiritual battle or war is not a tea party and an often time does not happen by chance or luck.  A  price is paid .The price to pay could be fasting, 

Be  determined to subdue all challenges in 2026 so that you can enjoy a peaceful life.

The time to begin is now. If you local assembly hasn’t declared fasting, you can choose to fast and pray.

Fasting and Prayer are rewarding, they are not only useful to subdue enemies,  they open the windows of heaven for blessings to come into your life.

May the Holy Spirit lead you to fast and prayer.

The result of the exercise would surprise you in Jesus name.

Prepare for victory with self-denial and you will sing  new song ,

Jesus lives.