There are many times in all our lives when we are uncertain as to the direction we should take. What I have always done is first to pray - then seek confirmation of what I feel in my spirit after prayer. That confirmation comes through God's Word - the Bible. If combining prayer with His Word confirms the witness in my spirit, then I go foward confidently.

Often what God is telling me to do is confirmation of what is already in my heart. The Bible says, 'Can two walk together except they are in agreement?' If we are walking with the Lord, then our hearts should be in tune with His. When King David asked for guidance, Nathan responded, 'Do what is in your heart to do.' David knew that God was directing his life - in Psalms he confidently declared that 'my times are in God's hands' and 'the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord' (Ps 31:15, Ps 37:23).

I have never taken direction in my life based on some 'prophecy' given. I need to be in a personal relationship with the Lord and, if so, He will speak to me direct! If He has to use someone else, then I would question as to what has come between us, that we are no longer in communication! Of course I recognise the gift of prophecy, one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, but this must be in the context of the other gifts of the Spirit. But the office of the Old Testament 'Prophet', as of the 'Priest', ended with the beginning of the Church. The Bible says God has made us all 'Kings and Priests' - Revelation 1:6.

This year David is celebrating 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

24 September: Holybush Christian Fellowship, nr Thirsk, UK

15, 16, 17 October: Vilnius, Lithuania: www.gospelcelebration.org These services will be broadcast LIVE online http://propheticvision.broadcastnow.ru

23-24 October: Southend, UK

6 November: 60 Years in Minstry Anniversary Celebration, Harrogate, UK

14 November: Vlissingen, Netherlands

28 November: New Testament Church, Ijsselstein, and Levensstroom Church, Leiderdorp, Netherlands

2-4 June 2011: Eurospirit, Netherlands

TBA: St Petersburg, Russia

I want to pass on to you not what I preach, but what I have experienced. It's something very strong - it's a revolutionary life, a revolutionary power through the finished work of the cross.

In Acts 3, after Jesus had risen from the dead and had appeared to His disciples; after He had ascended into Heaven and sent the Holy Spirit on them; Peter and John went up to the Temple to pray. Outside the gate they saw a man born lame. He wanted money. Peter said to him, "I have no money, but I what I have I give you!"

The whole life of Jesus was a miracle from beginning to end: from the miracle of His birth, to the miracles He performed, finally the miracle of His death. Jesus died on the cross, but don't make the mistake of saying wicked men killed Him. He was not killed, but died by the same miracle power with which He was born - gladly, voluntarily, giving His life in order to break the curse of sin and death, to set us free. That's why God sent Him into the world to live as you live, to suffer and to die, because He saw the desperation of the world. The only hope, the only way of absolute deliverance is Jesus. Only Jesus can calm the torment, mend broken hearts, only Jesus can set men free. The is why I am determined to know only one thing in my ministry - the power and glory of Jesus' Name!

The disciples did indeed receive the power of God; they were filled with the same fire, the same power as Jesus, the gift of evangelism! This man in Acts 3 was crippled from birth. Peter said, "In the Name of Jesus, get up and walk!" And he did! We too can have the same power and authority as Peter had.

The reason I want to tell you about Peter and John is that they were ordinary men like you and me. They were hard working fishermen, but something changed them: their encounter with Jesus! When you have a personal experience with Jesus, you too will be changed!

God is your Father; it is His job to look after you. It is your job to realise that He does! We do not know what burdens or difficulties the future may bring; but we know Jesus - He knows all, and He has promised He will never leave or forsake us - that is why we can boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear'. We won't always understand why circumstances happen the way they do, but we have the promise that all things work together for our good when we love God - the key is that 'all things', the good and the bad, are working for our benefit.

In every circumstance of life, talk to Jesus - trust Him to take care of you. That is all prayer is: simple communication between you and Him. Philippians 4:6 says 'Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.'

Today God is calling you. You might feel insignificant and ignored, but Jesus says to you, as He responded to Nathanael in John 1:48 who asked, 'How do you know me?' ...  'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.' Jesus sees you even when you are hiding - He came so that the lost can be found.

We all need to know God's love, healing and forgiveness. God is calling you, because He wants to give you a new life. He wants to include you in His family. He wants to renew a relationship with you. He wants to heal you. - Don't be afraid of Him - He's your Father. Even if, like the prodigal son, you have been 'reckless' in your youth, like the prodigal, 'arise and go to [your] Father'. And like the father in the story, Jesus will see you, even though you are 'a great way off', have compassion and run towards you.

Once you have come to God you are a new creation, your past is forgiven - you have a fresh start! Romans 8:1 says 'there is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus'. Condemning voices may remind you of your past: those voices are not from God, He no longer remembers your sin and mistakes! There is no problem - no 'generational/ancestral curse or influence' - that can affect you - you are a new creation in Jesus. You are a child of God!

In the Old Testament Israel had direction from prophet, priest and king. The king was the government; the priest ministered the spiritual requirements God demanded; the prophet was a clear spiritual leader, the voice of God to the people. Whether it was Elijah at Carmel, Elisha with the miracles, Joel, Jeremiah or Nehemiah - they all warned, commanded and spoke as the confirmed Word of God. But even in those days, the Bible warned us to beware of false prophets.

There is a danger today people are anxiously looking to fortune-tellers. The use of horoscopes, printed daily in newspapers, is symptomatic of the troubled, uncertain age in which we live. Don't let us, who know the Lord and His wisdom, get caught up in using so-called 'words of prophecy' to direct our lives as if they were a form of 'spiritual' horoscope. Our God-driven, purposeful lives should be evidence to a stressful, unbelieving world that God is in control and our lives are planned by Him. The Bible tells us that, 'The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord - He knows the way that I take'. Every part of our lives is part of His master plan: step by step into the will of God.

How do you search for the will of God for some specific part of your life? My father always used to teach me the importance of 'sanctified common sense'! In other words Christians ought to have a clearer knowledge of what is right or wrong than unbelievers because of the influence of the Holy Spirit, who will 'lead us into all truth'.