The tactics the devil uses doesn’t change. It is important we get conversant with his tactics so that we can better prepare ourselves and safeguard our destinies with the help of the Holy Spirit from falling into his traps.
That is why the scripture says
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. -2Corinthains 2:11 (KJV)
The Amplified version says:
To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. -2Corinthains 2:11 (AMP)
We must by the Spirit of God protect ourselves so that he does not get an advantage over us in our relationships.
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? –Genesis 3:1 (KJV)
In verse one of the above verse, he said:
“Yea, hath God said…”
He still does the same today. What he does is to challenge the truth of God’s word in your heart.
He did the same thing for Jesus Christ!
The temptations of Jesus Christ were crafted to challenge the word of God. That was why the moment Jesus Christ responded with “It is written…,” he won!
Why would the devil always challenge God’s word?
The reason is obvious. The moment he makes you doubt God’s word or reject God’s word, he would have a foothold to operate.
So he comes and says things like:
“Did God really say we should not have pre-marital sex?”
“But everybody is compromising! Why should I be different?”
“Can I really marry someone without ‘testing’ that person in bed?”
Sometimes he even comes quoting scripture and misapplies it. He says things like:
“The scriptures says we must be wise as a serpent, so I don’t think it is wrong to fight for my job at workplace by sleeping with my boss”
“Is it really wrong to be involved in adultery? David was adulterous, and yet God still said He is a man after His heart. Did God not approve adultery there? If God hates an adulterous life, He would have killed David!”
He comes and tells two people who are in courtship:
“See, there is nothing wrong in kissing and petting. It is something we should do in order to express our love since we are sure of getting married!”
He tells another:
“There is nothing wrong with masturbation. We must find a way to relieve the pressure, in as much as we did not fornicate. Even one Pastor said it is okay…”
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY In all things, I give thanks, including for the priceless gift of a good spouse and helper. I will not allow the devil, pride, pressures of life, and ignorance direct, and lead me astray.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give me your wisdom to be a good partner to my future spouse
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. –Hebrews 12:28 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Make up your mind to stand strong in God
We serve a God who delights in doing the things that we think are impossible. We call Him the God of the possibilities.
What is it in your life that seems to look impossible? What is that difficult thing that has defied all solutions? What is that issue? Is it barrenness or joblessness? Is it a mountain of debt or bills to pay? Is it a financial need and you are tired of the same level?
Are you on the same spot for years? Rejoice, for we serve the God of all possibilities. He is coming through for you.
The bible says:
‘For with God nothing shall be impossible’ Luke 1:37(KJV)
It is an absolute statement. Nothing shall be impossible, not with the government or with your rich uncle but with God. Do you have this God in your life? Then be rest assured.
And he said, the things which are impossible with men are possible with God”. – Luke 18:27 (KJV)
You have to believe God’s word. He said those things that are impossible with men are possible with God.
Your situations that are impossible are becoming possible right now. Do you believe that?
What God wants is that you believe.
Just believe in the one He has sent. Believe in Jesus. Believe what He says he can do.
Maybe your marriage is not what you dreamt it would be like. You feel this is not what you bargained for.
All your mentors have tried talking to you and it looks like it’s over. Trust again.
For nothing shall be impossible with God. He will do the impossible
God bless your marriage
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God has a purpose for my life. I will cooperate with that purpose
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, show me what I need to know right now in my life
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. –Proverbs 3:5 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Read Papa Kenneth Hagin’s book on “Following God’s plan for your life”
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. –Proverbs 10:1(NIV)
One of the things you should work really hard at doing is making your parents happy at all times. God wants you to do this, that’s why it is mentioned in the bible.
If you want to be called a wise child, you should bring joy, and smiles to your father, and make your mother happy at all times.
The Bible defines this as wisdom.
It is also stated in the bible that when you as a child honour your father, and mother your days will be long on the earth. This is the only commandment with a promise.
It’s really important that you as a child prioritize the happiness of your parents. How do you do this?
It’s by thinking of their happiness in all your decisions and making sure that you obey them. Let me show you ways in which you can make your parents happy and be a wise child.
1. Obey everything they tell you
2. Pray for them all the time
3. Read your books and do well in school
4. Do your house chores without being told to
5. Be hardworking and diligent at all you do
6. Keep your books properly so they don’t get torn or missing
7. Honour elderly people around you
8. Be nice to your friends and siblings
You have to be intentional about making your parents happy, be deliberate about it, always do things that will make them smile, and before you do anything ask yourself; will mum and Dad be happy about this thing I am about to do?
If you do this all the time, you will see that you will gradually become mindful of their happiness every day.
PRAYER: Father in Jesus name, give me the wisdom to make my Parents happy always
ACTION PLAN: Choose to do one thing today to make your parents happy
DECLARATION: I am a good child, I am wise. I have the wisdom to make my mum and dad happy all the time
Like Adam, have you been in that place where no help-meet has been found? Have you searched and prayed and fasted and yet nothing is forthcoming?
You see, you have to cease from your own strength! Your intellectual prowess cannot get a prudent wife from the Lord. Your nice manners and Queens English are irrelevant. The parameter of your cognitive abilities is not the issue here.
Adam successfully named every creature on earth, a display of uncommon spiritual and mental energy and prowess, and yet was frustrated at the end because he could not find a spouse!
Are you in that place like you are a graduate, but no helpmeet? You are rich and comfortable, but no helpmeet? You attend functions and join the church workforce and do a lot but no helpmeet? That was where Adam found himself.
What was God’s solution to the imbroglio?
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept…
Guys and ladies, you’ve got to “sleep” and allow God to lead you! Some of you have simply refused to sleep! The scripture said “and he slept,” so it was a choice. He could have said, “I am not sleeping, and just start jumping or jogging.
After you have done all you know to do, why not just sleep and abandon yourself in God’s arms and plans for your life? You have been too much awake and yet no result!
Just sleep and trust God to do it. When you sleep, you don’t wake up every two minutes to check your security. You just sleep. Go into a deep sleep and stop sampling ladies all over the place every Sunday! You don’t even listen to messages again in church!
By the time Adam woke up, God brought her to Adam! Ladies, don’t bring yourself, allow God to bring you! When God brings you or showcases you, it comes with a revelation or conviction to your husband-to-be. Don’t be suggestive. Don’t sound too available. Don’t take the lead. The man is the aggressor and the lady is the responder!
When you “sleep,” God will show you your spouse. He will bring her to you! You will see her and know! That was why, without God saying a word, Adam went into a frenzy of romantic prophecy and began to speak in tongues!
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Who told him? I wonder! But he had gone through the process of “sleeping” and allowed God to do it, so He woke up with conviction and with no doubt about who his wife was. He didn’t have to go to a mountain in Eden to pray again, He just knew because he had slept!
The next time you want to take things into your hands and step outside His will, remember to step back and got to “sleep!”
I pray for you this morning that this year, God will establish all that concerns your relationship/marriage and dissolve every puzzle in Jesus name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY By the Spirit of God, I am making wise decisions. I make the most of opportunities in my relationships.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, I ask for an anointing of wisdom. Teach me to do the best and at the right time.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Lam 3:27 KJV It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Discern which season you are now and ask God for wisdom to maximize it.
God wants us to serve him with the integrity of heart.
In our homes and in our individual lives, God requires that we serve Him with an upright heart. Serve God in the faithfulness of your heart. Seeking to know God and His ways will engender walking in the integrity of your heart, where you are not deceived in your own heart.
Some people try to mock God. They serve God unfaithfully and expect the reward of being faithful.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. – Gal 6:7
What you reap is a function of what you sow; that is God’s word. You can’t serve God without integrity and expect the reward of those that serve God with integrity.
David served God with the integrity of his heart. He was sincere. He was true to himself and to God. He loved God genuinely, he served him with the whole of his heart. He had no other God. Were David’s heart to be opened, you will see him serving God with the truth. He had no skeleton in his cupboard.
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. – Psa 78:72
God promised that if we walk in the integrity of heart and in uprightness, keeping all His statutes, He will establish us. In the works of our hands, in our homes, and on the job, He wants to show Himself faithful.
And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. – 1Ki 9:4 – 5
Let us be true to ourselves. Let us not think we can do things on our own. Let our heartbeat be to do His will. Some of us don’t want to do things God’s way because we think His ways are too difficult.
In our hearts, let us check for any form of deception that may want to deceive our hearts. As a husband or as a wife, seek to serve God with the integrity of your heart. God is searching for those whose hearts are upright towards him.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have the wisdom of God to do the needful
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will teach and instruct you in the way to go
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye (Psalms 32:8 KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Discuss the issue of integrity
