In today’s devotional,we’re looking at how we as couples can respond to God’s training. Marriage is an institution, the first institution God created.
In institutions, we go to learn. In effect, marriage is a school, a major one at that.
It is probably the only institution where you get your certificate before the learning begins. On the wedding day, you get to receive your wedding certificate, and then the real school begins.
Especially as it concerns male and female differences, a lot of couples are in for a rude shock.
There will be mistakes that are done in marriage as a result of our opinions, as a result of habits, as a result of mindsets.
God in His wisdom, will start dislodging those mindsets through various circumstances and happenstances.
Your best bet will be to listen and learn from what God is trying to say.
For you to hear God and learn from the discipline, you need to have an understanding that God’s discipline is not punishment, but training.
When you see it as training, then the discipline of God becomes effective in your life.
See what the Bible says
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training,
Heb 12:6 – 7 (MSG)
I love what it says. The one that God loves is the one that He disciplines. And the Message Translation says God is simply educating you.
This education will advance your marriage and give you the needed lessons to move higher in your marriage.
Don’t drop out of it. Stay with it and learn all you can learn.
As you cooperate with God’s discipline as husband and wife, you will see your marriage get better in God and fulfilling God’s plan for you as a couple.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I respond well to God’s training
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray for grace to receive the training with a humble heart.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go through the training patiently
You have to learn to make better financial decisions as a child. Let me share a little of my childhood story with you.
From time to time, especially during the Yuletide, whatever financial gift I got went back to my parents. I remember my parents taking any financial gift I received from me with the promise of keeping it for me. Well, I never got my money back. I always forgot to ask. How do you even ask about such money?
Making good financial decisions highly impacts how you view and spend money.
The following questions will help you make better decisions financially.
Do you always spend all the money you receive?
Did you read books on financial education?
What do you know about money?
Do you buy everything you want because the money is available?
Did you buy everything you wanted as the desire came to you?
How much did you spend on things?
Do you see yourself as greedy?
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10.
Hope these questions helped you assess the financial decisions you have been making. These are also questions to guide you on reviewing your financial goals this month.
The reviews are meant to point you towards the dangers of reckless sending and not to judge you.
May the Lord grant you the right perspective about money. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, grant me the favour to spend and save wisely. Help me to make better financial decisions in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Action point: Reflect on these questions and truthfully start to make changes. God bless you.
Declaration: I make better financial decisions in this new month.
Today is Day 2 of September To Remember Fasting. Read following scriptures before prayers. Its our September To Remember!
This is the message which he told them to give to Isaiah: “Today is a day of suffering; we are being punished and are in disgrace. We are like a woman who is ready to give birth, but is too weak to do it.
Isa 37:3 (GNB)
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Heb 11:11 (KJV)
When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Heb 12:3 (MSG)
Prayers Points
1. Go ahead and thank God for the second day of the fast.
2. Everything that represent suffering in your life, that is not of God, begin to reject them
3. Every punishment being meted out to you, directly or indirectly by the enemy, as a result of past mistakes, begin to ask for God’s mercy in your life.
4. Every shame and disgrace that the enemy is planning, begin to cancel them in the name of Jesus
5. Every weakness of the womb in the realm of the Spirit, receive strength now in Jesus name
6. Every dream ideas, business plans that God has given you but has never manifested, begin to receive strength now in Jesus name
7. Every pregnancy of greatness, begin to birth them in Jesus name
8. As Sarah received strength, begin to receive strength now in Jesus name
9. Begin to receive Holy Ghost adrenaline for productivity into your soul right now
10. Go ahead and begin to thank the Lord.
I thank you Lord for enabling me to wait on you on this second day. I declare in my life, no more suffering, punishments and disgrace in Jesus name. Every past mistakes is becoming miracles by the blood of Jesus. I receive strength to conceive and bring forth in Jesus name. I give birth to that greatness in me. So shall it be in Jesus name! I receive Holy Ghost adrenaline into my soul. I am blessed today.
Confession
To understand purpose of fast, Go HERE To view all, Go HERE
Bones are so important in the body that it cuts across the entire body mass. They are everywhere, even inside the ears! And the bones in the body are so important that any anomaly in it is the beginning of a slow death. May our bones remain strong!
Bones! You don’t see them, but they hold the entire frame of the homo sapien in place. Without bones, the man will collapse, unable to move an inch. Without bones, mobility will cease, and productivity will be grounded, so much so that any anomaly is often referred to as a disability.
Then the flesh! That is what you get to see. It is the pulchritude, the outer beauty, the color, the complexion, and the outer glory!
Adam exclaimed and said in Genesis
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:23 (KJV)
Wow! That was revelatory!
Bone of my bones first! That is, in seeking a spouse, it is not just about the flesh, which is the outward beauty. It is not just about the rotundity of the backside or the massiveness of that which dangles below the cleavage. All that is flesh!
But the order is bones first. The flesh is important as well because it is in order to be attracted. However, if it is all about the flesh alone, you are in an obvious error.
The bone of your bones talks of the inner frame, the character, the power within, the integrity, and the forthrightness that makes up the essence in a man or woman. It deals with honesty, virtue, and values, not just the lips, the hips, and the tips alone.
Go beyond outward beauty. Check the God in him or her. Check the values. Then you can say you are dealing not just with the flesh of your flesh, but with both bone of your bones and flesh of your flesh.
Selah!
We started our fast yesterday. Find more details HERE
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will marry the bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to get it right martially.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gen 2:23(CEV)and the man exclaimed, “Here is someone like me! She is part of my body, my own flesh and bones. She came from me, a man. So I will name her Woman!”
It is often said that a friend in need is a friend indeed. The value of friendship is known in hard and tough times. Nothing is as soothing as when a friend speaks to you in your down moments. When his or her words are like cold water to a thirsty soul.
If the effect of a friend could be that felt, how much more is the effect of a spouse. Of course, our spouse is supposed to be our best friend with who we are vulnerable, with who we can share the joy and the privilege of being naked and not ashamed.
I think every spouse should ask themselves this question. “Am I a friend to my spouse?” “Can my spouse confidently say, he/she can find a friend in me?” “Does my spouse find me easy to talk with?”
Every spouse should ask these soul-searching questions and try to find answers to these questions.
It is easier to point accusing fingers at your spouse. Quit playing the blame game and face reality, walk and work together.
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Amos 3:3 KJV
Come in agreement with each other. Forgive every hurt and pain. For marriage is where we hurt deeply.
Some spouses are so hurt they vowed never to forgive. If you have any knotty situation, talk things over with your mentors. Sometimes, the issues in marriage require the authority of someone higher than you. Just a word, a prayer or a prophetic utterance can solve such issues.
Some people have destroyed their marriage because of staying on their viewpoint of being right. In marriage, it is not always about who is right or wrong, but our willingness to allow God’s purpose to be done.
Jesus, our model didn’t insist on being right. He willingly suffered for us, the righteous for the unrighteous. He loved us while we were yet sinners and died for us so we can be made sons of God.
The mandate on our marriage must be fulfilled. Let’s get over all forms of bitterness, malice, and unforgiveness. These are toxic to our being best of friends with our spouse.
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24 KJV
This scripture is very profound. You must show yourself friendly to have your spouse as your friend.
The question is some of us don’t even know to be friends. We must aim at being friends with our spouses. I believe the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth and revelation will help us if we ask Him to.
Some ways to being friends with your spouse
1. Maintaining the right attitude and positive disposition is important. 2. Kind words and loving words. Every human being responds to love. 3. Believing the best of each other. 4. Being fun to be with. 5. Not pointing attention to the weak areas of your spouse. 6. Encouraging our spouse. 7. Avoiding criticism, accusation, and blaming. 8. Being very understanding.
These are few tips for being there for your spouse.
God help us indeed.
May God bless our marriage!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My marriage is blessed.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to be there for my spouse always.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Prov 18:24 (CEV)Some friends don’t help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Be friends with your spouse
