The word ‘blossom’ creates a picture of a fruit tree having flowers. It depicts a season when the plant has grown, increased, and now bears flowers, showing it will soon bear fruit.
A lady is always associated with ‘blossom’, ‘flower’, ‘fruitful’, which depicts their ability to procreate and of course, the beauty they possess.
‘Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house and your children like olive plants round about your table’. –Psalms 128:3
The scripture today is about a wife becoming a fruitful vine. The vine is an interesting plant. It is a twining; coiling tender plant that produces grapes used for wine.
It is interesting to know that a tender plant that needs support eventually produces the all-important grapes used for wine. You do not want to joke with wine. It is served at parties, offered to dignitaries, it is medicinal, it shows prosperity, it makes merry and it is always found during joyous occasions.
As a man, the lady you are married to has great potentials but you as the vinedresser or gardener have the responsibility of bringing out the best in her.
Now read this carefully. You will never find a perfect woman or wife. God will always give you a raw material, and you as her head and crown can develop her into what God wants for her by the instrumentality of God’s word, your love for her, a lot of patience, and a lot of prayers.
Am I shifting the ladies’ responsibility of productivity to the guys?
No. I am only saying that there is an environment you can create for your wife that will cause her to blossom, be more fruitful and maximize her potential.
Remember whatever she becomes, she will still be ‘by the sides of thine house’. That side does not mean ‘hidden’ or in a corner, it means right at the door. She occupies a conspicuous part of your life.
Married men, know that your wives are your precious asset. Accept her, love her and be determined to help her blossom.
Yes, she might be like a wild, unfruitful olive vine, but ask God to help you. God anointed you as a husband to make your wife blossom. You can do it by God’s grace if you trust and seek his help.
Dear wives, please submit to the leadership role of your husband. God anointed him for you so you can blossom. Until you are submitted to him, you will not be all you can be, your full capacity. Your submission to him is a lot of wisdom because that is when you can truly blossom.
I know some of you might be hurt and bitter over issues in the past, and you are rightly justified to feel so, but remaining in that state will worsen things and slow you down.
Don’t close up your spirits on your husband, forgive again and again and ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Don’t give up; rather, keep on trusting God for the best.
Don’t try to retaliate by opening yourself up to affairs. That will usher in more demons to afflict your home.
Always remember this, the wisdom you need to resolve the present issue lies with God.
I pray for your home this day that God will surround you with His love, you will blossom in Jesus name. You will burst forth with the full manifestation of your gifting in Jesus name.
Men, receive grace and wisdom to be the best that God has called you to be over your wife and your home!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am like a fruitful vine beside my husband’s house.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Father, I receive help to be all you desire me to be.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Thy wife shall be like a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house’ Psalms 128:3
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Be deliberate about your marriage.
The word obedience according to the dictionary means compliance to a command, prohibition or known law and rule of duty prescribed; the performance of what is required or enjoined by authority or the abstaining from what is prohibited, in compliance with the command or prohibition.
Taking a closer look at the life of Father Abraham, you will discover that it was obedience that made him great.
Genesis 12:1,4 (KJV) Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
I will be sharing with us few reasons we should take obedience seriously.
1. Obedience proofs your love for God and to God. If you truly love God, you will obey Him.
2.Obedience is part of our worship. If we profess to love and serve God, then one of the ways we show it is our obedience.
3.Obedience is a test of our faith in God. This is true because faith in God means believing in his instructions and if we claim to have faith them we must obey.
4.Obedience is also a test of character, the ability to follow simple instruction is evidence of good character
5.Obedience helps us as God’s children to shine forth our light in this world
Obeying God is a vital part of our lives as believers, nothing can be compared to a life of obedience. I pray that you receive grace to be obedient all the time in Jesus name. Amen.
PRAYER: Father in the name of Jesus, I receive grace to be obedient at all times in Jesus name
ACTION PLAN: Obey every instruction given to you today
Thank God I am not God! If I were God, probably a lot of folks would have met me up there – “Today, thou shall meet me in Paradise!” And really, thank God you are not God too! Oh my, my…It would have been serious. God is just, truthful, and full of righteousness. His thoughts are different from ours.
If I were God, sincerely, some of the portions of the Bible would not be there. I will not include the adulterous fling and murder committed by our beloved King David; neither will I include the visits to prostitutes of our Macho Man, Samson.
But God in His unfathomable wisdom knew it is the truth that will set us free. A lot of people would not have been set free from suicidal guilt over what they have done, but upon learning that God gave David and Samson a second chance, they realized that there was still hope for them.
But what was the genesis of their problems? You wouldn’t believe one of the things I found out here!
Their eyes! This becomes more interesting when you put in mind that men are moved by sight, one of The Doorway To Your Thoughts. Check out the following scriptures:
And it came to pass in an evening tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he SAW a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. –2Samuel 11:2 (KJV)
What of Samson?
And Samson went down to Timnath, and SAW a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. –Judges 14:1 (KJV)
Then went Samson to Gaza, and SAW there a harlot, and went in unto her. –Judges 16:1 (KJV)
What really made Amnon rape her sister, Tamar?
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in HIS SIGHT
…he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. –2Samuel 13:8,14 (KJV)
From all these, there are two things.
1. Men, watch what you see
2. Ladies, watch what is seen.
How are the guys supposed to achieve this? Never look again? Well, you are permitted to admire, but not desire. There is a difference between a first glance and then a serious look!
There is a difference between looking and getting obsessed with what you see in your thoughts.
No wonder Job said:
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? –Job 31:1 (KJV)
Another translation says:
I promised myself never to stare with desire at a young woman. –Job 31:1 (CEV)
So what are we supposed to do with our eyes?
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. –Proverbs 4:20-21 (KJV)
No wonder Jesus Christ said:
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. –Matthew 6:22 (KJV)
Pornography begins with what you see one day. The seed of fornication is planted when you see what stirs lust.
The sin of masturbation is achieved with what you have seen and stored up in your mind.
I guess this is why God said the book of the Law shall not depart from your eyes. When you keep looking at God’s word, you will not be seeing wrong things! The Doorway To Your Thoughts
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My eyes are riveted on God’s word. I love God’s word. I am not obsessed with lust as a result of what I see. I have the mind of Christ. My utmost desire will be towards my husband/wife and not towards any other.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY I destroy every spirit of lust in my life in Jesus Name, I receive help from the Holy Spirit to understand His Word.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I promised myself never to stare with desire at a young woman. (Job 31:1 CEV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Decide never to stare at seductively dressed ladies. Decide not to see films and movies that have nude scenes.
Yesterday, I established that the enemy often seeks to use the weapon of hurt to worth his threefold agenda in marriages. This is to steal, kill and destroy. No marriage is immured to the strategies and attacks of the enemy.
He will often steal from our marriages, kill and snuff out life from our marriage and totally destroy all that our marriage stands for.
It is a blessing blocker. When you are hurt, your heart cannot receive from God, get rid of hurts, and make sure your heart is guarded against any form of hurt that may arise.
If you don’t learn to handle your hurts the right way, it will lead to bitterness, which can lead to rage which can lead to all sorts of vices like murder. There is a right way and a wrong way of handling hurts. Make sure you are not a victim of the deadly poison of hurt.
Some wrong and unhealthy ways to handle it include:
1. Vengeance or Retaliation
This is when you allow the hurt to get at you so much that you act back based on the hurt. Retaliation could come in various ways, wanting to hurt your spouse back, or inflict pain.
2. Closing your heart
We have a tendency to block our hearts as a way of protecting our hearts from further hurts.
3. Rehearsing or replaying the hurt
We may also be in the rot of replaying the words or events that hurt us.
I know there are different levels and degrees of hurt. But whichever, we have a responsibility of guarding our hearts and we have a choice not to be hurt.
The best way to guard our hearts against hurts is by taking communion. Try it, it works so well. Take communion and plead the blood of Jesus over your heart.
Also, take authority over the hurt, and exercise authority over words that cause hurt.
Guard your heart against the effect of hurt using these two scriptures
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and overall the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. –Luke 10:19 (KJV)
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. –Isaiah 54:17 (KJV)
Anytime there is a quarrel between couples and there is an exchange of harsh words, you will do well to guard your heart against this hurt.
Even after you have made up and started talking, if not properly dealt with, you could still be nursing the hurt. Get rid of the hurt and don’t allow any root of bitterness to defile you.
Let your heart be void of offense, bitterness, or hurt; against your spouse, siblings, parents, God, life, etc.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY: I declare concerning my life and marriage, I have victory, the enemy has lost the battle over my life and mind. I refuse to stay in hurt and unforgiveness, Jesus is glorified.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY: Father in the name of Jesus every fiery dart of the evil one is destroyed in my life and marriage in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. -Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY: Forgive and let go of every hurt today
Hello dear, yesterday we began a topic on companions (your friends), a continuation of lessons from the famous King Solomon.
I was able to identify for you the kind of people the king called bad companions. I told you they are people who try to get you involved in things that will not please God and your parents.
You also have to be careful not to be that kind of friend to your friends; don’t be a bad companion to those around you.
I also told you that, these bad companions are not necessarily your age mates, they could be people older than you, so you have to be careful not to listen to people because they are older, first of all, be sure that whatsoever they are asking you to do is not against the will of God and that of your parents.
Let’s continue with our bible verse of yesterday.
Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don’t go along with them. If they say — “Let’s go out and raise some hell. Let’s beat up some old man, mug some old woman. Let’s pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals. We’ll load up on top-quality loot. We’ll haul it home by the truckload. Join us for the time of your life! With us, it’s share and share alike!” — Oh, friend, don’t give them a second look; don’t listen to them for a minute. They’re racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on. Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching, yet that’s what these people are doing — they’re doing themselves in. When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens: the more you get, the less you are. –Proverbs 1:10-20 (MSG)
King Solomon was helpful; he already told us the behaviour of these people, let’s analyze this verse to see them ourselves.
1. Let’s go out and raise some hell.
Anyone who tells you to make trouble or do things that disturb other people is a bad companion.
2. Let’s beat up some old man, mug some old woman.
Be careful of people who bring up ideas to disrespect or treat elderly people badly, run away from such people.
3. Let’s pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals.
Don’t listen to whoever asks you to take what doesn’t belong to you and hurt other people. Causing pain isn’t the will of God, and your parents will not be proud to find out you were involved in such either.
4. Join us for the time of your life!
Do not listen to anyone who promises you fun outside of God’s word; it’s all a lie of the devil. Whatever fun that your parents aren’t aware of is going to get you in trouble. Be sure to always tell mum, and Dad the truth of where ever you go.
Finally, King Solomon tells us the end of such people, it’s all trouble and regrets. Choose your companions wisely, and let Mum, and Dad know your friend and what you do together.
PRAYER: Father in the name of Jesus, I pray for wisdom to recognize bad companions in Jesus name. Amen.
ACTION PLAN: Decide to let go of every bad companion today
DECLARATION: I am a child of God, I will not be a bad companion to those around me. I keep good friends in Jesus name.
