This is a few days gone in the new year. What will happen at the end of this year starts now. Our everyday steps, moving in the positive direction are so important.
As couples, let us think ahead. Let’s have a projection of what we want to achieve in our marriage. We have to get certain principles right.
There are a lot of things we do consciously and unconsciously that frustrate our marriages and are detrimental to the bliss of our marital journey.
Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? – Luk 14:31[KJV]
As we begin a new year, we should sit down in retrospect and cast a vision for ourselves.
You need to ask yourself what exactly do I want from my spouse and marriage. Put it in one or two sentences; something you can put before God and aim at.
Also, know that it takes two to tango. Just as you have certain expectations from your spouse, your spouse too has expectations. Break those expectations into smaller bits and have a vision for this year.
For example, I want my spouse to be more Godly this year. Find out all you need to know about being godly. Let that be your focus. Your spouse can tell you they expect you to be more homely. Humbly, accept that and keep working towards it through the year.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
Let each one of us be committed to doing what our spouse demands of us. Stay focused to this. Do all you can this year to become a better person!
Read books that will show you and help you be a better and happier person. Commit your ways into God’s hands and make sure you talk to God about this. Measure your progress weekly. Don’t get discouraged in your pursuit and don’t become critical of yourself or your spouse.
May God strengthen us!
God bless our marriages.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will be a better version of myself this year
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to be a better spouse
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Luke 14:31 [ERV] “If a king is going to fight against another king, first he will sit down and plan. If he has only 10,000 men, he will try to decide if he is able to defeat the other king who has 20,000 men.
People will often disappoint you in this world. There are things you expect them to do or not do that they will not do or do. You can’t expect people to always be the same. They are human like you and have to deal with so many things. But one person will never disappoint you. He is Jesus, the son of God. He is the unchangeable God. In the book of Hebrews, we see how Jesus remains the same forever.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8
This verse is saying that before you were born, Jesus was loving and kind (yesterday), and He is still the same kind and loving person He was today, and that He will still remain loving and kind tomorrow and forever.
So, you can see how Jesus has remained the same all through generations. He was kind and loving to your great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents. He will be and is kind and loving towards you as He will be to your children.
Jesus will never change towards you. No matter the sin you commit as long as you ask for forgiveness and stop the sin.
Write this in your top thirty verses to know. Let this be a weapon to use when the enemy tries to tell you that Jesus will fail you. Tell him that your Jesus will never fail you.
May the Lord’s love continually surround you all the days of your life. Amen
Prayer: Lord, Jesus, thank you for displaying your trustworthiness all through generations. I rest in Your reliability. Thank You.
Action Point: Are you gradually losing focus? Retrace your steps right away.
Today is Oil For Today – Day 183. 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 183
Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
Joshua 1:13 KJV
Prayer Points For Today
Oil For Today – Day 183
Let’s begin to worship and give thanks to God
2. Holy Spirit bring to my remembrance both the logos and rhema of your Word in Jesus name
3. Holy Spirit give me a specific Word for my situation in Jesus name
4. Let me fight the enemy by the Word you have commanded on Jesus name
5. I receive Grace to run with the Word Pursue, overtake and recover all and every other Word I receive from God in Jesus name
6. God gives me rest in every aspect of my life in Jesus name
7. I plead the blood of Jesus on my marriage, my business, my career, my family in Jesus name
8. I obtain Mercy on behalf of all that concerns me, my spouse, children, business, ministry in Jesus name
9. I take every land God is giving me this year by the Mercy of God in the name of Jesus
10. Let’s begin to give God thanks for answers to our prayers
Confession For Today
Oil For Today – Day 183
I remember all your commandments to me. I am careful to obey them. Your word guides me. I am wiser, smarter, bolder, and guide my affairs by your Word. The Holy Spirit gives me specific words for my situation.
Now as you read this, I really want you to check yourself out. Are you holding a few people in your heart without forgiving them? Well, it could slow you down!
It could cause delays in marriages, it could cause relationships not to work out, and other havocs can be wrecked.
That’s why I tell people; don’t start another relationship immediately after one has just ended. Give yourself a break, at least, six months.
Why?
When you rush into another relationship with hurts, wounds, bitterness, and an unforgiving spirit, you will end up frustrating that other person and the relationship will still not work out. You cannot establish a relationship on a foundation of hurts, wounds, and bitterness!
When you stay in unforgiving mode, it’s like moving away from God’s protective arm into the terrain of the devil. A lot of us fast and pray fervently, but hear me and hear me well, if you don’t forgive, you will never be able to enjoy the fullness of God’s blessings.
I come to you this morning, by the Spirit of God and by His grace which He has endowed me with and I speak into your life and destiny, ‘Forgive!’
Yes, I know you are hurt! Yes, I know you were jilted. Yes, I know you were raped. Yes, I know you were defrauded. Yes, I know you were abandoned when it is just a few days to the wedding. Yes, I know there has been a divorce. Yes, I know you were cheated. Yes, I know you were wrongfully accused. Yes, I know your spouse cheated on you and manipulated you…and the list goes on.
But you cannot afford some bitterness. It is too expensive for you! You need God now, don’t you?
You yourself are not perfect, are you?
The only way God can overlook, forgive and forget your own imperfections and cause His mercy to avail for you is when you forgive that person.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I choose to forgive all who have hurt me
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask for the grace to forgive all who have hurt you
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 ESV)
We started this instructive devotional yesterday. If we will be successful, get it right and gain speed in 2022, we need to take these points seriously.
Not striving to be super couples only slows us down. We move in circles and we achieve very little. Whereas, God’s intention for us is to multiply grace and do ten times our normal capacity.
We looked at the following yesterday:
1. Worship 2. Understand your spouse 3. Excellence
Today, we will continue from where we stopped.
4. Forgiveness
If you can’t forgive, don’t bother getting married. Forgiving in marriage is a compulsory course. You only slow yourselves down if you find it difficult to forgive.
Some couples hold their spouse and refuse to forgive because they feel their spouse doesn’t deserve the luxury of their forgiveness. They want to hold on to wrong because they feel they are punishing their spouse.
How humorous that is. I have always said it. Not forgiving is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. You cannot afford it.
Be like a duck that water doesn’t stay on its back. Let nonforgiveness fall off your back like a duck.
Deal with every form of hurt, malice, bitterness, strife et cetera. These are Satan’s most common arsenal.
Forgive because God says to forgive and trust God to reward you.
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. – Mat 18:34-35
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
5. Fun
Be fun-loving. Don’t be too serious. Have a child-like approach to life and cast all your care upon the Lord once and for all.
Casting your care is like throwing your care on God. Don’t pick it back, drop them and leave them with the Double-breasted one.
Laugh, make jest of yourselves, play like clowns, behave like little children, pull your husband beards, do funny faces, and so on. Be creative with fun. By all means, play.
I know you are busy, but out of no time, create time. If you were told if you don’t play, you will not live past 2 months, you will take playing seriously.
It takes away the boredom and monotony out of your marriage. It even helps you to forgive better. If you have to pray for God to make you playful, do. Some of us are not naturally playful. We need the Holy Spirit’s help.
Fun in marriage is not complete without doses of intercourse. Let it be regular, spontaneous, creative, and pleasurable.
6. Be the best
This is simply being your spouse’s best friend. Remember when you were younger, how you did with your best friend. Bring the same into your marriage.
Cherish your time with your spouse. Talk about everything with the exception of nothing. Talk, talk, talk, and listen, listen and listen. Be concerned and truly care from your heart.
Think of ways to outdo yourself in being kind.
Being the best spouse to your own husband or wife entails looking into your marriage and finding out the ingredients that are missing.
Remember, you cannot change your spouse. Love your spouse without trying to make him/her conform to your own standard. Who told you your standard is the best?
Best friends never attempt to change one another. At best, they seek to lovingly influence the other person.
Do the above things, and you will be on your way to becoming a super couple. It is the doer that God promises to be blessed in his ways. Don’t just read, be a doer.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I get it right in my marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray for the spirit of excellence
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 6:33 [KJV] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.