4. He does not want you to place your career/work above your relationship with him.
God comes first. That is the order and that is how to make a success of your career.
God wants you to follow the principles as outlined in His word because true prosperity comes from following Him. Your business acumen is nothing compared to His wisdom.
Look at what the bible says in Matthew 6:33;
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. –Matthew 6:33 (MSG)
5. He does not want you to place your career/work above your wife and children.
After God comes your family before your career. Make sure you devote time and attention to your family. Money will not fill that gap. Your wife and family need your manly direction and presence.
6. He does not want you to abuse your wife or take advantage of her femininity.
He does not want you to physically or verbally abuse your wife and children. A good man will never hit his wife. If you have started doing that, you can stop and make a resolve in your heart, that no matter what, I will never hit my wife! That is how to be blessed of God.
Do you know that spiritually, when you hit your wife, you are hitting yourself? That is not a good place to be. And of course, there are some wives that beat up their husbands. That is even worse.
7. He does not want you spending more time with friends and colleagues than you spend with your family.
He does not want you keeping late nights unnecessarily. When you do that, emotional affairs can develop quickly and that is where adultery starts from.
8. He does not want you keeping secrets about you or your weaknesses from your wife.
Be open to your wife. Like my Pastor would often say, if somebody is winking at you, tell your spouse first. You know what? Immorality is perpetuated in secrecy. The power of iniquity is broken when exposed.
The moment you share it with your spouse, the problem is half solved. If you like the way a certain person dresses, tell your wife to dress same way. Be open, communicate well and that will help your marriage a lot. Remember this golden truth, the moment you can hide it from her, it is the beginning of trouble!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God is my strength. He will guide me in the right path.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, I ask that you open my eyes of understanding in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. – Ephesians 5:33 KJV
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take an inventory of your life in the light of God’s principles
Do you know that the Lord meets your needs? There are several verses one can recite offhand. One of it is the shepherds psalm.
Every child is taught right from Sunday school days. It is so easy to memorize.
The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want – Psa 23:1
The Lord is…it didn’t say the Lord was…
This assures us that God is very ready to meet out immediate needs.
God is a God of the now, one that can relate with you based on what you are going through at every point in time.
Here is another verse to confirm that;
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. – Psalms 46:1
There you have it again. God is… Isn’t it wonderful to know this God?
Children, it is not enough to be able to recite this verse or several others verses offhand, you must allow the revelation of these verses to hit you and stick with you.
That way, when faced with any form of trial, you have what it takes to stand tall, even in the midst of contradictions.
I know that there are no perfect persons and we are all projects in the hands of God, however, there are basic traits to watch out for generally. While you may not be able to find a person that successfully combines all these, the qualities should guide you in your decision. If a person does not have character defects and does not live in habitual sin, some of these qualities can be improved upon by asking God for His grace.
1. The Test Of Integrity.
Test him for faithfulness and integrity in little and big things. Make sure she has integrity and her words and actions line up. Integrity is very important because that is what will eventually preserve you.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. -Proverbs 11:3 (KJV)
God loves integrity. In Job 2:3, God boasted about Job and he mentioned his integrity. Integrity in that verse means ‘innocence.’
The potential guy or the lady must have integrity as well. It is a great legacy to pass to the children. Integrity is from the word ‘Integral” meaning one. You are supposed to be the same person within and without.
Don’t marry a gentle saint on Sundays but a vicious man on Mondays. Be careful of dual personalities who seem to give their lives to Jesus one moment and then take the life back the next moment. How will you know all these? These are the things you will find out when you are friends.
That is why pre-marital sex should be avoided because it will get you confused and distracted. You see, the moment you are illegally bonded together in pre-marital sex, the obvious character defects that others can see will mean nothing to you.
They will ask you questions like, “What are you doing with that kind of person?” And you will be like; ‘leave me alone, I love him, he will change!’
You see, you have not even changed yourself! You are not the Holy Spirit who changes people! What the scripture says is that you should not be unequally yoked!
Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? -2Corintians 6:14-15 (MSG)
2. The Test Of Diligence.
You cannot afford to marry a lazy man or an indolent woman. It will slow your journey down. Diligence is measured with so many indices like tenacity, business acumen, career pursuit, doggedness, and so on. You may not have so much today, but with diligence in a potential spouse, you can be sure you will be great in life.
Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. -Proverbs 22:29 (AMP)
You cannot afford to commit your life to the hands of a lazy person. That is subjecting your life to unnecessary afflictions that could have been avoided.
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have the Spirit of wisdom to discern and choose that which is good for my destiny.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Holy Spirit, fill me afresh with your wisdom in the affairs of my relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry put you further behind. – Proverbs 21:5 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Commit your ways unto the Lord
Yesterday we looked at “What God Wants From Every Man.” Today, by the Spirit of God, we will be considering “What God Does Not Want From Every Man.”
1. He does not want you to be harsh and inconsiderate with your family.
God wants you to be like Him. That is why the scripture says the husband should be to the wife as Jesus Christ is to the church. What Jesus did for the church is an indication of what God wants every husband to do for his wife. What did Jesus do? He laid down his life. He sacrificed for the church. God wants you to sacrifice for your wife.
Here is an instruction for all husbands:
In the same way, you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God’s unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise, you cannot pray effectively.] 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). Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God–that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection]. -1Peter 3:7-9 (AMP)
Now let’s take a look at the Message translation:
The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women, they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground. Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless–that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. -1Peter 3:7-9 (MSG)
The part I love most, Bless your wife! That is your job, to bless! You are the priest over your home, dear husband, so keep blessing. And of course, you don’t want to be praying with no answers!
But my wife is difficult! Yes, just like the church is difficult, and yet Jesus keeps blessing the church and sanctifying it and will present to himself a glorious church at the end.
Keep blessing your wife; you will enjoy the best of her. Keep saying what you want in her and not what you are seeing now!
2. He does not want you to get involved with extra-marital or adulterous relationships.
God does not want you getting involved in adultery. Why? It can ruin your family. It can make you lose your relationship with God. In fact, the Bible sees it as a stupid decision.
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. –Proverbs 6:32-33 (KJV)
Here is Message Translation;
Adultery is a brainless act, soul-destroying, self-destructive; Expect a bloody nose, a black eye, and a reputation ruined for good. –Proverbs 6:32-33 (MSG)
If you are already involved, God does not condemn you. He still loves you. It is left for you not to condemn yourself and let God’s love set you free from the bondage of adultery. You may call me so I can guide you on how to fully disconnect and be faithful to your wife.
3. He does not want you to disregard his Word, principles, and any other scriptural injunctions.
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. -Proverbs 4:20-22 (NIV)
God wants you to follow the principles as outlined in His word because true prosperity comes from following Him. Your business acumen is nothing compared to His wisdom.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY
God is my strength. He will guide me on the right path.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY
Lord, I ask that you open my eyes of understanding in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life so that nothing will hinder your prayers. -1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY
Take an inventory of your life in the light of God’s principles
A promise is defined as a declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen. Do receive God’s promises.
God has promised in his word that he will do quite a lot of things for us.
For example, one of such promises is found in
Your Seed I will establish forever, and I will build up your throne for all generations. – Psalm 89:4 AMP
The first part of the scripture above is a promise from God and we should always pray and confess these promises over our lives.
God wants to establish us forever! Wow!
This was the same thing he told Abraham and we all know that he fulfilled his promise. Today, even unbelievers know Abraham.
This assures us that God will always do what he says he will do.
May God grant us more understanding.
Prayer for children: Dear Lord, help me to always put my trust in you to achieve what you have purposed for me according to your promise for my life in Jesus name, Amen.
Prayer for parents: Lord, we receive grace to teach our children your word till it becomes part of them.
Action plan: Pray, confess, and obey God’s word always.
Declaration: I receive the manifestation of God’s promises for my life.
