Stress is a daily part of our lives. We can’t hide from it but can only find ways to minimize its effects on us. A little stress though is good for us.
Children also experience stress. It could be a bully at school, a harsh teacher, or even an uncomfortable classroom. At home, it could be rifts between siblings, parental discord, or the death of a family member or friend.
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
1 Sam 3:8 KJV
Older children often are able to identify something that is bothering them (i.e. a stress to them), unlike younger ones who have not acquired the capacity to do so.
Children don’t and can’t manage stress the way adults do. It shows through their words, actions, and behaviours.
Little Samuel heard God calling to him but didn’t know what to do. He ran to Eli every time he heard God’s voice asking if the old priest was the one calling him. Eli identified that it was God calling little Samuel. He then told Samuel what to say when next he heard the voice.
The bible doesn’t record that Samuel experienced any stress but it was a situation that was new to him. He couldn’t process it and went to the only person he knew that could help. And Eli was able to help him.
Parents must be observant to notice any change in their children. Children won’t tell you what is disturbing them immediately, even when you ask. Only by observing can a parent find out. Parents must give total attention to children when they are speaking.
Declaration: My children are not under stress. They learn to speak out. They are surrounded daily by the right people.
Prayer (parent): Lord, help me to be truly observant about my child(ren). Help me to notice the changes in them no matter how subtle they may be. Amen.
Action plan: Parent, sit down and watch your child today. Go through their things, room, and find things you never noticed before.
Today is Oil For Today – Day 165. Let’s lift up our voice one more time as we pray to God! Watch Video on Youtube HERE. Check other days HERE.
Scriptures For Today
Oil For Today – Day 165
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 KJV
Prayer Points For Today
Oil For Today – Day 165
1. Let us begin to worship and give thanks to God
2. Lord, grant me the grace to always value your Word above all in Jesus mighty name
I receive peace in every area of my life in Jesus mighty name
4. Father grant me Grace not to focus on the challenges and pressures in my life in Jesus name
5. I receive Grace to be joyful and always cheerful no matter what in Jesus name
6. I overcome every situation and circumstances the devil throws my way, in my marriage, life, family, business, career in Jesus name
7. Every offense the devil is bringing my way I overcome by the power in the name of Jesus
8. Every hindrance to my experiencing victory in my life in 2022 be destroyed in Jesus mighty name
9. All throughout 2022, I am cheerful, I rejoice, I dance, I laugh on Jesus mighty name
10. Let’s begin to give thanks to God for answered prayer
Confession For Today
Oil For Today – Day 165
Father, I give you thanks for victory. I overcome every wile of the enemy. Throughout 2022, I overcome. I enjoy and experience peace in every aspect of my life. I experience joy, laughter, and rejoicing all through 2022. I receive every Word from your mouth in 2022
The greatest power you have as a single is not your handsomeness or beauty. It is not your height neither is it your hot legs. It is not your phonetics, and it is not your finesse.
Your greatest power, strength or advantage is your CHOICE!
Marriage is not or is not supposed to be by force but by choice.
Your choice!
You will live with your choice! You will live with the consequences of your choice. You will live with the strengths of your choice. You will live with the weaknesses of your choice.
If your choice is good, it translates into a good life. If your choice is bad, bad stuffs awaits.
A lady has the power of choice before wedding. After wedding, she still has choices, but her choice is subdued and influenced by the ultimate choice of her husband.
Many choice ladies on fire for God as singles ended up using the fire to cook only because of their choice.
Destinies have been warped and distorted by the choice of their choice!
In deciding who to marry, go beyond the obvious and plunge deeper to see what is beyond the pulchritude.
Go beyond the flesh of the flesh and check out the bone of the bones.
After you have seen the hot legs, does she have a hot heart as well? His height attracted you, but does he have a life a well?
A man who doesn’t have a life should not seek for a life partner.
You love his beard gang, are you sure it is not a gang-up against your destiny? Her smile slays you, but behind the smiles, are you sure there lies no bile?
The choice of a man is zeroed up after wedding, so choose well. The choice of a woman after wedding is final, choose well.
There is no clean divorce, it is always a tearing apart.
To be continued tomorrow.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I make the right choice in God.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to choose wisely.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Marriage requires a lot of hard work and focus. You must be so focused that all your thoughts are filled with how to make your home a success through hard work and holding on because the storms of life are real.
And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mar 4:37 [KJV]
Woe to any marriage that does not have Christ in their marriage. Only Jesus is the calmer of every storm of life. When you have Him, the storms of life bow. He is the Prince of Peace and the only one qualified to say peace be still.
Usually, when storms come, their only aim apart from killing and destroying is to distract us.
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mar 4:38-39 [KJV]
Storms distract us from our focus. A storm is anything contrary to the peaceful state of our marriage. A storm could come in form of a fight, strife, disagreement, sickness, pressures at work, pressure from the in-laws, unpaid bills, children, whatever affects our state of peace is a storm.
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Whenever there is a storm, Jesus is inactive. May Jesus not be inactive in our home!
You have to be together as a couple and avoid distractions together. Your husband and Jesus in your boat are your main focus. Every other thing or person is a distraction.
God has a race set for each of us. That race should be our focus. Whatever will not help us in achieving our goal in marriage is a distraction.
You have to learn to stay by each other. Be a pillar of strength to each other and support yourselves to achieve your divine destiny.
Stand by your husband with your finances. Stand by your husband emotionally, don’t let him be vulnerable. Stand by him with encouraging words. Stand by him with your prayers. Stand by him by being obedient and in agreement or being agreeable with him.
God bless our marriage
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not distracted. I am focused
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help to focus on Jesus and not see the storms
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mar 4:39 [KJV] And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Keep Jesus at the center of your focus in your marriage
Don’t pay evil for evil. ‘Look! It’s Taye’. Dele pointed out to Femi as they walked home from school. ‘He’s alone. Now you can do whatever you want to him” Dele urged, his eyes gleaming with vengeance.
‘Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone’ (NIV)
Romans 12:7
Taye had stumbled into Femi on purpose earlier today at school during lunch break. Femi’s whole lunch had spilled over his white shirt. This earned him a huge reprimand from the teacher. And his mom was still going to do so too at home.
Dele was right, this was the perfect opportunity to pay Taye back. He remembered what he had learned from the devotional this morning. He remembered the verse in the Bible.
‘Be kind and compassionate to one another. Forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’.
Ephesians 4:32
‘No, I won’t do anything to him’ he shrugged his shoulders.
‘Are you serious?’ asked a dumbfounded Dele. ‘He bullies you all the time’.
‘My mom read today in the devotional that Jesus said I don’t have to be mean to him also’. He gave Taye a wide smile and waved as they passed him.
‘Did you just smile and wave at him?’ Dele asked, his eyes huge as lemons.
‘Yeah, I did’, said a happy Femi. He felt good as he walked on. ‘I am going to pray for him instead’.
People will always hurt us no matter how good we are to them or others. Being obedient to Jesus is not to hurt people back when they hurt us.
Declaration: I learn to forgive. I will not pay evil with evil.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I want to obey you by not hurting back anybody that has hurt me. In your mighty name, I pray. Amen.
