The indication of intense tests and trials in your life is not necessarily because there is a curse somewhere or because God dislikes you. It is actually because of a glorious future that you cannot see, but the devil can sense. This is why it is sometimes important to always ask God to show you a glimpse of your future. You see, the devil wants to be weakened and discouraged, but you must not be ignorant of his devices.
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV)
You have to be alert and be spiritually awake to disallow the devil from taking advantage of you.
The devil only fights what he fears. Assuming, you are planning a meeting, for example, whose impact is going to raze down hell as it were, the devil will throw all kinds of tantrums at such times to cause distractions and discouragement. You must not allow such at those times.
Assuming you are closest to a major breakthrough, for example, financial breakthrough, the devil already has an idea. It is not as if the devil is omniscient, but he is experienced, having being around for thousands of years!
So, his device is to cause distractions and to make you lose that breakthrough.
When Job was closest to his miracle, his wife told him, “curse God and die!” In order words, stop trusting God and give up! That is the devils tactics! He wants you to see God as unfaithful and the moment you yield to that, your miracle actually dies!
There are three things you must take note of at such times.
1. Stay away from sin and don’t break the hedge. When somebody breaks a hedge in a group, sometimes others in that group can be affected.
2. Stay close to God’s word and keep praying
3. Disallow the spirit of fear because it is not from God.
If you can take note of these three things, you will always come out victorious.
You see, what you are going through is not because God hates you, it is because God loves you, wants to do a great thing in your life, but the devil doesn’t want you to enjoy it!
So, be alert in the things of the Spirit and refuse to be discouraged. Understand that Praise is waiting for God in your life.
Finally, what do you do while you wait for the salvation of God as regards that miracle after identifying that you are going through specific attacks from the devil?
Here are few things you can do
1 Prayerfully read Psalm 91 daily
2 Bless you food as Holy Communion and take it regularly at such times of get Communion emblems to use. Taking the communion will always arrest the negative trends in your life.
3 Be full of praise at what God will do.
4 Believe that whatever is lost will be found. Believe that just as it was told Saul, that the asses which were lost have been found, that whatever has been lost will be found. Believe in restoration and that all things will work out together for your good.
I pray that God will strengthen you in your inner man today to rise above every distractions and discouragement in Jesus name! You have wisdom in identifying the plans of the devil over your life.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not ignorant in identifying the devices of the devil
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, I reject every antics and devices of the devil. I have wisdom in identifying the plans of the devil over my relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief––we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! (2 Corinthians 2:11 Message)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take Communion and read Psalm 91
Your fellowship with other Believers is one of the great habits to imbibe, and today we would start with a scene that happened in Jide’s life. Jide took the stairs two at a time as he made his way up to the second floor of the school’s building. It was almost fellowship time and he was leading opening prayers. He didn’t want to keep the others waiting and God too.
“not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [ faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching. Hebrews 10:25 AMP
The verse above tells you why you need to develop the habit of constant fellowship with other believers like yourself. You worship God together and learn from Him. Not that you can’t do this on your own. You can, but with other believers, you will experience God in a new way.
Look at how people in church speak in different tongues. Or say one prayer in different ways. How about when someone or the pastor says he has a message from God for everyone. Yes, God will speak to you when you are alone with Him, He can also do so in a gathering of believers.
Another thing you will enjoy in a fellowship with other believers is encouragement. When you feel weak to pray, they can pray for you. Their prayers will boost your spiritual muscles and connect you to God’s power node where you draw strength to pray.
And finally, you know Jesus’ return is almost here, you need to be more spiritually sound and one way to be so is in the presence of the brethren (fellow believers). Constantly connecting with them keeps you from falling into sin easily or at all. You should learn to fellowship with other Believers.
So, when next your parents say it’s time for church, don’t frown or grumble. Rather, grab your Bible, put on a beautiful smile on your face, and say “I am ready!”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for my fellow believers. Thank You for the wonderful Christian family I have. Teach me to fellowship with other Believers. Amen.
Action point: Why not lead prayers or praise at the next prayer meeting or fellowship at school or in church.
How do you know how to love your spouse? This is an all-important question that we all try to answer ever since we got married. We all are still trying to answer it and we will still be answering it till death do us part. It is an awesome truth that only death is supposed to part husband and wife. Apart from that, no other thing is permitted to separate us.
Some of us need to learn and be taught how to love our spouses. No matter how complex they are, you have the capacity to love your spouse with the love of God. It is actually spiritual to love your husband/wife. There is nothing carnal in loving your spouse.
These are some ways
1. Love God first of all This is the very first step in loving your husband/wife, love God. A spouse that doesn’t love God cannot love his/her spouse. God is love and it takes a heart that knows God to love. You love God by loving His Word and doing His will.
When you love God this way, it becomes easier for you loving your spouse because you would have developed the capacity to love and put the flesh under. Human nature is generally selfish and does not want to love unconditionally.
God expects us to love our spouse unconditionally.
2. Know that you need God all the way Loving God is not something you do half half-heartedly or once and for all or once in a while. Because you cannot fully know God completely, you have to keep yearning for more of him. The more you discover about God, the more you want to love him. So in loving God, you become a God chaser.
I have seen in my own experience that, the more I chase after God the better I love my husband
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I know how to love my spouse. I have God’s wisdom
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to know and understand how to love my spouse.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY “Finally, all [ of you ] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [ with one another ], loving [ each other ] as brethren [ of one household ], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).” (1Pe 3:8, AMP)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Start loving appropriately
Today’s Focus: Prayers For Supernatural Establishment
Thanksgiving
Glorify the LORD for all He has done.
Psalm 147:7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises with the harp or the lyre to our God!–(AMP)
Nation/Church
Pray for supernatural establishment of your nation and the church on Christ
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).(AMP)
Pastors/Parents/Mentors
Pray for your pastors, parents and mentors with this Scripture
Psalm 45:7 You love righteousness, uprightness, and right standing with God and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.(AMP)
Finance
Declare that you have supernatural establishment in your finances
Psalm 128:2 For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you.(AMP)
Family
Pray for your family with this Scripture
Psalm 128:3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house; your children shall be like olive plants round about your table.(AMP)
Warfare
Come against the principalities fighting against your supernatural establishment.
Psalm 127:1 EXCEPT THE Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.(AMP)
Desire for the Month
Pray for your desires this month
Matthew 7:7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.(AMP)
Psalm 91 Declaration
Psalm 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.(AMP)
Blood Declaration
Declare that you have supernatural establishment by the Blood of Jesus
John 6:56 He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him.(AMP)
Declare that you receive wisdom for supernatural establishment
Ephesians 1:17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,(AMP)
Healing
Declare healing over that sickness
Luke 6:19 And all the multitude were seeking to touch Him, for healing power was all the while going forth from Him and curing them all [saving them from severe illnesses or calamities].(AMP)
Favour/Mercy Today
Declare that the mercy and love of the LORD is established in your life forever.
Exodus 20:6 But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.(AMP)
This is a question we need to ask ourselves from time to time. “Is God first in my marriage?” How do you deliberately keep God in that first place in your marriage?
Youdo that by making His word come first place in your relationship or marriage
How do you do that?
You read His word regularly.
You study His word regularly.
You obey His word all the way.
Let God be the first place.
When you have this covenant attitude, it will help you to resolve issues quickly in your marriage. You wouldn’t want to disobey God with strife and bitterness.
Listen to me, husbands, when you are angry with her, and you stay away from her and you refuse to talk with her, you are tampering with the blessings of God upon you as a family.
It is right there in the scripture:
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1 Peter 3:7 KJV)
Treating your wife roughly can run prayer aground!
Wives, when you stay hurt over trivial issues and refuse all apologies or you refuse to apologise, you are actually playing with fire in the spiritual realm.
I jokingly said in an interview I had that my wife doesn’t say sorry to me. I say all the “sorry!”
But you see, in the first few years of our marriage, I didn’t use to say sorry! She said all the “sorry!”
So I guess she had exhausted her quota of “sorry” because she said it so many times! Now she doesn’t say it again, so I had to take over! It doesn’t diminish me a bit; the important thing is that somebody says “sorry!” That’s the goal.
All issues should be quickly resolved. It is not about who is wrong or who is right, it is just that you don’t want to get cut off from God’s blessings because of some feelings or ego!
It is a covenant understanding that you must imbibe which will make you go far in your marriage and in the things of God.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am wise. I put God first place in my life and marriage
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord, teach me to be a wise son/daughter by placing a value on your word.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (1 Peter 3:8 KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go ahead and end all quarrels
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 43 – 45
