'The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving kindness. He will not always chide or be contending, neither will He keep His anger forever or hold a grudge ... The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting' (Psalm 103:8-9, 17 Amp).

Jesus said we should ask the Father to 'forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us'. This is the condition of our salvation, this is the deal - we must forgive. Just as God is merciful towards us and doesn't hold grudges or keep records of wrongs, so we too must be the same.

Jesus said if we do not forgive others, neither will our Heavenly Father forgive us our sin. He then told the story of a man who owed a great debt to his master (Matthew 18:23-25). When he pleaded to be forgiven his debt, the master forgave him. But then this man refused to forgive the little debt a fellow servant owed him - he treated him harshly and threw him into the debtors prison. When the master heard this he said: I had compassion on you, why did you not have compassion on your fellow servant as I had pity on you? Jesus concluded the story by saying, if you do not forgive, you will be 'delivered to the tormentors'. - Your own life will become a prison and the 'jailors' - your own unforgiveness - will torment you! Jesus died to set us free - why end up in 'jail' again?

By forgiving others, we allow God to not only forgive us, but it enables Him to bring His justice into the situation. Unforgiveness doesn't punish the perpetrator; it wounds us and our families. James 5:16 says: 'pray one for another, that you [yourself] may be healed'. The only path to healing is to pray blessing upon those who hurt you (Job 42:10; Matthew 5:44).

Click here to watch David's on-demand TV programmes / webcasts / documentaries

Upcoming 2012: 

11 February: Israel-UK Revival Conference, Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, London, SW1P 3DW (Registration from 9.15am £7 for the day)

12 February: 11.00am Worldwide Mission Fellowship, Virgo Fidelis Convent School, Sports Hall, Upper Norwood, Croydon. Click here for information.

18 February: Slovyansk, Ukraine

19 February: Kramotorsk, Ukraine

23-26 February: Krivoy Rog, Ukraine

8-11 March: Immanuel Gemeinde Nuernberg, Germany

23 March: Pastors/Leaders Conference, Holland

25 March: TBC, Holland

6 April: Worldwide Mission Fellowship, Croydon

7, 8, 9 June: Israel (Tour details will soon be available)

29, 30 June: Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands

21-22 July: Oasis Christian Centre, Dwygyfylchi, nr Conwy, North Wales

24, 25 July: Germany

21 September: Hollybush Christian Fellowship, nr Thirsk, North Yorkshire

TBA: Poland

June 2010-June 2011: David is celebrated 60 years in ministry. Some have supported since the early days, others more recently - but all play a vital part. Visit the anniversary website: www.davidghathaway.org

'Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy ... Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God (Matthew 5:7, 9).

Many of us are living with hurt in our heart - pain that is hard to forgive - but we cannot live forever in that state. God sent Jesus to rescue us - He wants to heal the past, to give a new hope and a future. In the Lord's Prayer Jesus taught us to say: 'Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors' (Matthew 6:12, KJV). Often, when we have been hurt, we feel that we are 'owed' something, but Jesus said we must forgive that debt. The tragedy is, instead of letting go of the debt, we hold on to it, we count it every day, adding interest onto the original amount so that it grows and becomes a bigger offence; ultimately, the debt owed becomes so huge, in our hearts we put the other person through enforced bankruptcy.

We all have been hurt - we all have offended others. Between us all, we have mountains of unforgivable debt greater and more devastating than the entire world economic crisis. But forgiveness is the message that Jesus came to bring - He reconciled the world to Himself, no longer counting our debts against us - He has now given this ministry of reconciliation to us (2 Corinthians 5:19).

For those who need healing for wounds of the past, I would comfort you that if you will forgive those who have hurt you, as Christ has forgiven you, your wound will heal. - That is why Jesus came! Let go of the debt and trust God to restore all that is lost. Scripture teaches that love covers a multitude of sins - allow God's love to cover every debt.

'For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says: "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame" (Romans 10:10-11 NKJV).

Faith in God begins at your conversion. When you receive that faith, you have a glorious powerful deliverance! Paul says in Romans 10, the Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, the Word of Faith which we preach, that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved! Delivered! Set free! - From every curse, from every fear, from all oppression of the devil!

Even though temptation and difficulties continue to come, we need to be bold like Jesus and say to that issue: "It is written..." (Matthew 4:4). We need to know the Word of God - it needs to come alive in our hearts. Every one of us needs to recognise the unbelief that assails our hearts in each new situation and must ask God for a renewing and growth of our faith; this growth will only come by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Make it a priority to know the Word of God. When I was imprisoned for Bible smuggling, I didn't have access to my Bible for a long time, but because I knew the promises of God, and I knew His faithfulness, I knew if I put my trust in Him to release me, I would never be ashamed or forsaken. Our circumstances can be changed but the Word of God never fails. Keep confessing the promises of God - you will see your miracle!

'Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen?" ... The Angel answered her, "For nothing is impossible with God"' (Luke 1:34, 37).

I have learned that everything God does is a miracle. If it's not a miracle, then you or I could do it! In my life I know that it is God working when the totally impossible happens! Whatever the problem, God never fails - it's impossible! The day God fails, He's no longer God. It's in God's Word, it's His character. He's the God of miracles! Yes, I have problems and these mean I spend much time in prayer and fasting. Why? Because you cannot have miracles without first having problems. Every problem drives me to prayer, which then brings another miracle! But people aren't prepared to pay the price. And because they don't want the problems, they don't see the miracles. You can pray for an easy life, ask Him to prevent problems, ask for a quiet time - but where there are no problems, there are no miracles! But Jesus did caution us, that a life without problems is impossible, therefore we are compelled by circumstances to believe for miracles (John 16:33). The Bible says that the things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

I want to challenge you to dream the dreams of the impossible; to get a vision of the God of the impossible, who can do what no man can do; the God who has more power than any president, any army, any government, any financial corporation on the face of the earth - the God who is in control and who will fulfil every promise. I want you to dream until it becomes a vision and a reality.