Comparing your spouse or anything you have or don’t have in marriage is actually a trap. It leaves you unsatisfied and ungrateful.
The comparison trap as defined in the dictionary is the habit of measuring your life against others and is one of the most toxic behaviors we can engage in. The idea “the grass is greener” is a wild misconception fueled by jealous evaluation, and often leads to stress and anxiety.
Marriage should be lived with the two couples fully into themselves. Whatever they are or whatever they have should be celebrated by the couples. Little can become much if both can focus on what they have.
In marriage, both couples strengths are multiplied to achieve even greater results. Rather than wasting their energies in comparing and preferring another persons spouse to their God given spouse.
Every marriage is unique and has a unique purpose. No two marriages are the same, will go through the same exact path, experience the same things and have the same seasons.
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Each marriage is to celebrate their own uniqueness. They are to find joy and happiness in being themselves and in going through their journey.
What comparison does is to stifle the joy in doing life together. Life comes with its own challenges, ups and downs. The strength that God gives, trusting in His word, relying on the Holy Spirit for help, and being on the same page with one another will make the journey sweeter.
Comparing your spouse with the other person deprive your spouse the opportunity of working together with your gifting and talents to achieve the common goal.
Most wives easily fall prey to comparison trap. It is not only in terms of finances is your spouse compared, but in very many ways. From looks, to mannerisms, to gestures, to emotional and mental attributes, to spirituality, intelligence, to material things.
No two people are the same and no two people will go through life in the same way. So give your spouse to grow and become who God says they should be.
This doesn’t mean we should be satisfied with the status quo, No. We are to push ourselves and press on to becoming better. While improving ourselves, we should go through life encouraging our spouse not comparing them.
We may not be satisfy at where our spouse are but we cannot change them, we can only encourage, pray for and trust God for them to become better.
The Lord will help us all in Jesus name.
God bless our marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am wise. I will not compare my spouse with another.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Oh Lord, make me satisfied with my spouse.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Stop comparing your spouse
The mercy of God is an important component of human life. Let’s look at the story of John and his mum as we seek to understand the mercy of God.
John’s heart boomed in his chest as he stood looking at his mother. He didn’t mean to break the five bottles of freshly pressed orange juice meant for the women’s meeting at church tomorrow. One of the bottles sat on the bread wrapper and as he pulled the bread out from the fridge, disaster struck.
“I am sorry, mummy,” he said.
He waited for his punishment. He couldn’t meet her eyes as she looked long and hard at him.
“It’s okay” she said. “Just clean it up.”
That was it. He couldn’t believe his ears. Instantly, he got the mop and bucket and began to clean.
Minutes later, mummy hears Loveth crying. John had hit her for removing one of the tires from his toy car. It was a mistake.
“But I didn’t do anything to you when you broke the bottles of juice?”
John acted like the wicked servant in Matt. 18: 21-35 as told by Jesus.
The wicked servant refused to be merciful to his fellow servant after receiving mercy from his master. He owed his master more, compared to what his fellow servant owed him.
Much like John’s mistake compared to his sister’s. He could have just told Loveth “It’s okay. Just fix it.” Much like mummy said to him.
Why do you think John and the servant in the story acted as they did? They did so because they weren’t grateful for the mercy they received. They forgot that their offense was worth punishing for but who they offended decided they were worth not punishing.
The story teaches us two things:
Firstly, we should be grateful for God’s mercy because we’ve all come short of mercy. And it’s only through Jesus’ death on the cross that we have the right to receive mercy from God.
Secondly, as we have received this mercy, we are meant to reciprocate it to others ‘You should have mercy on your fellow-servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ Matt. 18:33.
What do you think mommy would do to John? Well, the master in the story was angry when he found out what happened and had the wicked servant thrown into jail until he could pay back what he owed Matt. 18: 34.
Jesus said that is how God will deal with us if we don’t have mercy on others.
Who are you going to forgive today?
Prayer: Dear God, I thank you for showing me mercy. Amen
Action point: Continually ask God to help you to do this continually.
Parents: My children are merciful. As they receive mercy from God, they give mercy out to others in Jesus name. Thank you, Lord.
Declaration: My children show mercy. They are considerate and loving to their neighbours.
Today, every form of delays, stagnation, unrealized dreams, dashed hopes, they are destroyed in Jesus name!
I really don’t care if they originated from family lineage or if there is any family curse, what I know is that they are broken in Jesus name!
Now, listen to me, God will not punish you with delay that never seems to end. When you make mistakes and and bring self imposed delays, the moment you run back to God, He forgives and forgets!
There are times that God allows delays as well in order to accomplish His purpose, but listen to me, delay is not denial.
God will not bring delays in marriage till you have crossed menopause! That is not God because He cannot contradict Himself! He already said you should be fruitful.
Now, no delay is permitted to be everlasting in your life. A delay that God allows because of your disobedience or stubbornness is always for A WHILE once you repent!
A demonic delay seeks to become everlasting! There seems to be no end in sight. It brings ridicule to you and your God!
Now, I declare, the backbone of every demonic delay is broken in your life in Jesus name!
Delay in getting jobs, ten years after graduation, enduring hunger and borrowing all over the place is not God.
Delay in getting married, with every relationship ending in shambles is not God, unless you are living in habitual sins and disobedience. You have to refuse every demonic delays with every fiber of your being!
Delay is for a while!
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. – Hebrews 10:37
Waiting for a spouse should be a while, not all your youthful life! You have to rebel against such trend from within you. Get restless and break the yoke.
Take a look at the Message Translation:
It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. – Hebrews 10:37 (MSG)
I prophesy over you as God’s servant, your desired spouse is showing up this year in Jesus name!
I forbid broken promises in your life this year! No more teary eyes and lonely nights in Jesus name!
Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? – Isaiah 29:17 (KJV)
It is for a little while! Don’t allow the devil to tell you that your Lebanon will not become a fruitful field!
Go ahead and speak in tongues a while now.
The Message Translations says
And then before you know it, and without you having anything to do with it, Wasted Lebanon will be transformed into lush gardens, and Mount Carmel reforested. – Isaiah 29:17 (MSG)
This year, before you know it, and without you having to run from pillar to post, God will intervene in your situation in Jesus name!
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; [7] And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. – Haggai 2:6-7 (KJV)
Yes! Your desire will come in a little while.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. – 1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)
From today, you are not permitted to suffer unnecessarily.
The tears are dried off your face supernaturally this morning in Jesus name!
I curse every delay in your life today!
The Message Translation says
The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. – 1 Peter 5:10 (MSG)
That situation is not forever. Don’t accept any lie from the devil.
That delay has an expiry day, and today is the expiry day!
Let hope come alive, let faith come to your heart now.
You have suffered a while, now I prophesy unto you according to 1 Peter 5:10,
God will perfect all that concerns you from today!
God will establish you from today!
God will strengthen you from today!
God will SETTLE you from today in Jesus name!
No more delays! No more, not me!
So shall it be for you!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY No more delays. My wedding is happening soonest.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY I bind the spirit of delay in my life in Jesus name.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? – Isaiah 29:17 (KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Start preparing for your marriage now.
God wants and desires husband and wife to naked and not ashamed. The covenant of marriage is meant to be 100% transparency.
God is honored when the husband and wife see themselves in the light of what God ordained marriage to be.
Sincerity in marriage could be defined as the absence of pretense, deceit or hypocrisy.
We do so many things in marriage that doesn’t add up to being sincere. There are lots of half-truth, outright lies, insincerity, hiding things, pretense and being hypocritical.
When there are lies, we build our marriage on falsehood. One degree away from the truth is falsehood and this can be dangerous to the wellbeing of the union.
It is the truth that sets free. The degree of openness is the degree to which there is power available for the couples to be in agreement.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. – Joh 8:32
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
It is high time couples learn to be sincere with themselves. Let truth be said in all things. Let’s have zero tolerance for insincerity.
If anything happens, we should be courageous enough to say it as it is. Let’s cast out the spirit of fear from our lives. It is fear of what your spouse will say or do or how he or she will feel disappointed that most of the time, keeps us from saying the truth.
You can ask yourself this simple question; ‘If you say the truth, will he or she kill you?’ He /she may be angry at first but I am sure he/ she will respect you more for the truth you said.
By saying the truth, you shut the door on the devil to keep you bound. You set yourself free. The problem with lies is that you will need more lies to cover up the first lie.
The most distressing thing to do is to be insincere. You belabor yourself trying to hide and cover up.
Another reason we need to be careful of lies in our marriage and home is because lies is in the domain of the devil. Jesus called the devil the liar and the father of all lies.
Let’s learn to say the truth always. It is the truth that sets free!
Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity). – 1Jn 3:18
May God help us all!
God bless our marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am truthful at all times
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Reject the operations of the devil in your marriage
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! (2Co 2:11 MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Decide to be truthful no matter what
Welcome to day three of learning about Cleanliness and Godliness as it relates to us God’s children. God wants you clean and godly.
What is Cleanliness? It means the condition of being clean, or not dirty; the habit of always keeping clean.
What is Godliness? It is characterized by reverence and love for God and respect for the ethical teachings of scripture.
I quote this scripture to you yesterday;
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. – 3 John 2 (NIV)
I told you that God wants you to be in good health and that all may be well with you, and that good health is one of the many things that Jesus Christ assures us, because it’s a promise in the work of redemption.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. -1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
One thing you just need to realize is, as much as sound health is a believer’s right, if you do not take care of yourself, you won’t enjoy this freedom.
Take for instance, not wearing your nose mask or not wearing it properly, puts anyone including a believer in a place of being infected.
Personal hygiene is very important for us all. What is personal hygiene?
It is a condition or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.
Let me show you some personal hygiene practices.
Take your bath everyday
Brush your teeth twice a day
Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet
Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing either with tissue, your sleeve or elbow.
Wash your hands often.
We have come to the end of this series; do well to keep your heart and body clean at all times.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be clean at heart and in my body; Amen
