Here’s What You Do When Discouraged. The very life itself seems to be oozing out of Sandy! She was just recovering from a major disappointment that life meted out at her and then another thing happened. Yes, she lost a relationship, and while she was still licking her wounds, when she was laid off her work.
The whole horde of hell seemed to be against her. Has God abandoned her? What do you do when discouraged?
Mr. and Mrs. Johnsons were not exempt from their own share of happenstances of life. They quarreled in repeated cycles till they began to demonize themselves. Would that ever end?
Here’s What You Do When Discouraged. There is one thing I will like to tell you this morning! In the midst of that discouragement, Never Compromise!”
Disappointments can often make a person vulnerable. The reactions from people, friends, family, and the environment can create unbelievable pressures that can quickly increase vulnerabilities to temptations around.
Now, I speak to you this morning, as by the Spirit of God, don’t compromise!
Singles, never allow pressures to push you into the “whoever-comes-corner! That is not your portion! You cannot end up with a wife beater because of pressures! You cannot end up hooking up with a son of Belial because of pressures. You can’t walk down the aisle with a strange woman because of pressure. You cannot dine with an adulterer because of pressure.
Listen to me, you have waited a while, your waiting will not be in vain! Your waiting will not culminate in shame! Your waiting will not be a ‘wasting!” God has you in mind and He will not fail you.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (Isaiah 40:29 KJV)
When you are down and out, rather than turn to compromise, turn to God. He will lift you up in that weak moment. It is not a sin to become weak, it only becomes a problem when you try to feed your weaknesses by compromise rather than turn to God. God is waiting to give power to the faint and increase in strength when you turn to him.
So, my dear, when you are so down and discouraged when you are so weak and feel like crying all day, go back to God in that moment! He will speak to you and assure you of what He will do in your life.
When you feel like going back to the world, go to the word and to the throne of grace lest you become like the proverbial dog that went back to its vomit!
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:22 KJV)
That will never be your portion. Continuing from the verse above, Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: (Isaiah 40:30 KJV)
Many people will fall around you. Many will go back and compromise and for a while it would seem to be working for them. In fact, it would like they are smart while you are so foolish! You cannot follow people; you are to follow God. Why? You’ll see it in the next verse.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)
Here’s What You Do When Discouraged. Let your waiting be a ‘waiting upon the Lord.” It will change your level, it will bring speed into your life, and you will be able to do a lot without getting tired. It will all end in a testimony, when you refuse to compromise in those vulnerable moments!
Couples, be in agreement with your spouse. Avoid any form of rancor that may lead to bitterness, for such can dissipate the anointing quickly. Don’t allow concerned family members to push you into compromise of any sort, focus on God and you will surely see His salvation!
Here’s What You Do When Discouraged. Enjoy your moments together, at the times you abound or you are abased.
For those trusting God for fruit of the womb, I pray for you this morning, that God will open your womb in Jesus name! Whatever could be the hindrance, low sperm count, blocked tubes, abnormal hormonal level or whatever it is, in Jesus name.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not compromise
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give me strength in Jesus name in areas of weaknesses
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. (Isaiah 40:29 Message)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Cut off from every compromise and all negative influences
Handling The Marital Valley Of Death. Sandy was on cloud nine. It was just a few weeks before her wedding! D-Day was approaching and her ecstasy was palpable. God has given him a handsome pocket-loaded man! Preparations were in top gear and then the unexpected happened. His husband-to-be called off the wedding! No warnings, no reasons, he just withdrew. Sandy was paranoid.
What? Sandy thought she was going to die! Suicidal thoughts crept up. What would people think? What kind of curse was that? Her tender heart spiraled down into an emotional abyss where darkness enveloped her very mind and despondency wrapped her up.
Mr. And Mrs. Johnson on the other hand, who got married three years ago, faithfully serving God with their time, money and energy just had hell unleashed on them as the husband lost a plush job he had barely engaged in less than a year! It was devastating for them as a family. How could God allow this? They had given testimony, they had told several people, they had made plans and then all that comes crashing down!
Well, Sandy and the Johnsons are passing through the valley of the shadow of death!
Psa 23:3 (KJV) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Everything looks good and yummy here. He is leading me on the path of righteousness. Cool. But wait for the next verse!
Psa 23:4 (KJV) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
What? How did paths of righteousness quickly turn into the valley of the shadow of death? To now think that it is God leading me? What is going on here?
Now here is the catch. Here is what to do in Handling The Marital Valley Of Death
Valley experiences will come in relationships and marriages. Jilted, abused, cheated, disappointed, abandoned, used, and so on.
Your reaction is what determines your victory! You are not to murmur or complain! You are to thank God for where you are and then you will see why He led you through that valley!
There are things you hold on to, that He does not want for you. There are people in your life that will ruin everything five years down the line. There are possible suitors who might turn you into a widow or widower in a few years and you can’t see it! There are handsome evil men and beautiful strange women!
The only way God can deliver you is to lead you into that valley. It is the valley of the shadow of death because things die there, that the old might go and new can be ushered in.
Did you notice what it says in the second part of the verse?
…I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Don’t fear. Don’t panic. He is right there with you and you won’t perish in the fire!
Don’t complain that the guy left you in the cold. There is the new you are not aware of, which can only be unveiled and possessed with the right attitude. Don’t blame God because you lost a job or contract, rather rejoice and thank God.
Tell God, I don’t understand, but I believe you are my shepherd. You may lead me round, but you will not lead me wrong!
The devil wants you to get angry, murmur, throw tantrums and get offended, when you do that, you actually lost. Like job was told by his wife, the devil wants you to curse God and die in that valley!
Job’s response was epic!
Job 2:10 (MSG) He told her, “You’re talking like an empty-headed fool. We take the good days from God—why not also the bad days?” Not once through all this did Job sin. He said nothing against God.
In verse 13, he said; Job 13:15 (KJV) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
If you can switch into praise if you can sing a song, if you can rejoice in the midst of obvious contradictions, you will see the salvation of God, you will see victory and you will laugh last. You see, it is after you have the right response in praise and joy that the next verse becomes a reality.
Psa 23:5 (KJV) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
God then gives you victory before those that have mocked you and clarity comes to your mind and your cup runs over, which is abundance! When this happens, then you’ve done great in Handling The Marital Valley Of Death!
May God grant you more understanding! Good morning!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I choose to rejoice
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes to see the new in this situation
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 23:2 (MSG) You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Pray in the Spirit for about an hour
Forgiving The Lover Who Hurt You. Sandy was badly hurt, that ten years after the blow meted to her by her lover, she was still hurt! Without knowing, the hurt has morphed into wounds and the wounds have crystallized into bitterness. This in turn affected everything about her life.
How do you forgive in the real practical sense of it?
Forgiveness is not talking about the issue. Forgiveness is not explaining the situation. Forgiveness is not reporting the person to your pastor. Forgiveness goes beyond that especially when the issue is very grave and hurting.
Usually, the female gender is the most hurt, they are more like at the receiving end. A lady attaches more to a relationship than a guy will. Man is a logical being, so it is easier for him to walk away from relationships and console himself so that somebody else will show up.
The lady on the other hand, has her whole life, emotions and essence woven and intertwined in a relationship because she is a relationship being, so it is usually more hurting for her especially when she is not the one initiating the break-up.
In marriage; it is the same, the wife is more hurt. When I am settling quarrels between a couple, you find the man smiling after a while, but the lady finds it more difficult to let go like that, depending on the process that led to the hurt. However, in marriage, the greatest thing you can learn to do is to forgive! In fact, it is good you practice advanced forgiveness!
Forgiving The Lover Who Hurt You. The first thing to do in forgiving a person is to
1. Decide to forgive
This step is actually important because you can say “I have forgiven so and so,” when in reality, you never decided to forgive such a person. Forgiveness is a conscious and deliberate decision you make. You have been jilted, used, abandoned, rejected, abused sexually, treated shabbily, and so on? Let go! Decide to forgive so that you can move on. The best revenge is success and good marriage. But that will only come when you forgive! Forgiving The Lover Who Hurt You is a must!
2. Ask God to give you the needed strength to forgive.
If the name of the person who hurt you is mentioned, and your countenance changes, you have not forgiven yet. If you hissed at the thought of the person, you have not forgiven yet. In such instances, you need strength from God. You need to pray that God should reach within you, touch you where no man can touch you, and heal you indeed.
Your offender who you thought would rot in hell can meet Jesus along the way and go to heaven! You that were offended too should make heaven and not allow someone to occupy a space in your heart springing up into bitterness. Being bitter will never make you better! Wives, forgive your husbands, yes, you think he is naughty and sometimes wicked, but forgive him all the same, so that you can both believe God for greater things! Never curse your husband in your heart!
Embrace him tonight. Let your love be rekindled. Don’t give the enemy space in your home. Husbands, forgive you,r wives, You think she is stubborn and disrespectful but forgive her so that your prayers will not be grounded. Call her on phone and assure her you have forgiven! She might come up with uncooperative attitudes, but ignore it, and bury your ego, she probably wants to be sure you are remorseful. Ignore her attitude and be resolute in making your marriage work. This is what Forgiving The Lover Who Hurt You entails.
I will probably still write more on this tomorrow.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I forgive all who have hurt me
PRAYER FOR THE DAY I receive strength to forgive in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:13 ESV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY List out names of all who hurt you and forgive them one by one
Don’t Let Anger Ruin Your Love Life. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were the quintessential couple everybody admired. But what people saw was the pulchritude. Within the family, the demon of anger reigned supreme. In no time the seemingly beautiful marriage was ruined, because of uncontrollable anger. That which could have been one of the best became a mess. Their marital life could have been a counsel to others, but they canceled each other out!
There are some things that will work and there are some things that will not work. Now, you don’t need to spend another five years trying to experiment what will work and what will not work. You only need to be willing to learn. Every time you make a mistake, it has the potential of hardening your heart against God. This is a tactic of the devil, so life is not to be permanently lived on Mistake Street by Error Avenue. You can decide to go for wisdom.
Be slow to get angry. Don’t Let Anger Ruin Your Love Life. This is what the scripture expressly advises. Not a few have lost precious relationships because of anger tantrums. Now, it is okay to be angry sometimes as a human, I do get angry myself sometimes. But when your anger becomes compulsive, uncontrollable and bothering on violence, you need to be careful.
When you get angry, you beat people around you, pick up a fight or destroy things, then you need to consciously pray to God for help. Go on the net and Google ‘anger management’ and get some materials that will help you. Go into the scriptures and study every instance where the words, “anger, angry, wrath, etc occurs.
One of such scriptures says Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9 KJV)
In order words, if you get angry too quickly, you are a…. (clearing throat) I didn’t write that, you said it!
The translation I like most is this: Don’t be quick to fly off the handle. Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head. (Ecclesiastes 7:9 Message)
The Message translation isn’t playing at all! The next time, you get so angry, walk away and check the mirror, if you can see the lumps there, relax first before you make a decision! Unnecessary anger will ruin relationships. Anger problems will make you say things you will regret later.
See the example of these guys in the scriptures who had serious anger problems. Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self will they digged down a wall (Genesis 49:5-6 KJV)
Here, their father began to talk about these two brothers who in fits of anger, killed and wiped out a whole community! You see, unnecessary anger will lead to death…death of things, death of relationships, death of opportunities, and even death of marriage!
Do you know how many people have called their lawyers in anger and opted out of marriage, then got married to another person angrily only to discover that the new person is worse? May you not get married to an angry person who has an instrument of cruelty in their habitations. Their father was so furious at their actions and actually placed a curse on them!
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:7 KJV)
Look at those words: scatter, divide…that is what fierce anger leads to! Don’t Let Anger Ruin Your Love Life
If as a single you can see that you have anger issues, don’t ignore it and don’t play the denial card. Talk to your pastor or mentor, get books and read, get into the scripture and study so that your mind can be renewed, and pray to God to help you!
Now when you pray to God to help, more people will come your way to get you angry more and provoke you the more, so that each time you lose it, you can really know you need help and then you can consciously begin to work on it.
As married couples, if both of you are angry at the same time, it can be dangerous. There are husbands that will not talk to their wives for days. That is not being a man! There are wives that get hurt at everything and will close up their spirits against their husbands. How will your prayers be answered?! You can’t run your home like that! You are trusting God to conceive, yet you are always fighting, don’t you know that is the devil?
If one is angry, the other should calm down. Here is some advice for you: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 KJV)
Try and see how it works. When the other is angry, don’t raise your voice too. Talk in a whisper, the demon of wrath will fly away! You see that demon works by working you up and causing you to vibrate like the fan made in Aba!
So, when you refuse to vibrate and say the wrong words, the demon loses its power! If he or she goes like, ‘You are crazy! You are mad!’ (That shouldn’t be the language of God’s children)
And then you respond with, ‘Your father is crazy, you mama don craze!”
What do you think will happen?
What about a soft answer, almost a whisper, that goes like, “dear, it is well.” Don’t Let Anger Ruin Your Love Life
God will help us all in Jesus’ name.
I rebuke the spirit of anger in your relationship and marriage, I ask the Spirit of God to intervene in your satiation and give you the wisdom to handle it in Jesus’ name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not a fool, therefore, I don’t get angry easily.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY I curse every root of anger and wrath in my life in Jesus’ name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: (Proverbs 22:24 KJV)
Here’s an Invitation To True Love. Sandy is a church girl. She goes to church regularly, belongs to the choir, and serves God passionately, but she is also caught up with some habitual sins, which she has not been able to confront for a long time.
George is the fellowship head of his campus fellowship but has sexual relationships with some of the flock he is supposed to keep. He knows his lifestyle doesn’t please God, but he would find himself from time to time doing what he preaches against.
Mr. & Mrs. Johnson want to serve God and they are doing all they can. It is just that they are both compromisers, they are seeing someone else. They know it is wrong, but they continued, thinking that somehow, things will just work out. They are practicing what is known as an ”open relationship” where both know they are cheating on each other!
What is common with these people?
They are all involved with what is not going to work. They are all hoping God’s mercy will work for them, and really it will work for a while.
Let’s take a look at the scriptures and see some principles. Here’s An Invitation To True Love, The Invitation to buy:
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1 KJV)
Here we see God inviting you to come and buy what you will eat and which will do you good. But these are not the kind of stuff you buy with money. These are the kinds of stuff you buy with time and with your heart.
The very first principle that will ensure success in your relationship, marriage, and life is to have a thirst for the things of God and to go to the waters.
The waters talk about the word of God. You buy revelation for your situation, not with your money but with a sincere and dedicated heart unto God.
You see, your thirst for a good life, a good marriage, a good home, and the good things in life is legitimate. Your thirst to make it, become significant in life, and be wealthy is a legitimate feeling. The hunger to quit living at the lowest rung of the ladder and move up is genuine, but you must take a step further to buy, the right way!
You buy with a good heart unto God and with spending time in God’s word regularly. You see, this is a lasting and tested principle that will quench that thirst of yours.
That thirst cannot be quenched with sex with the one you are not married to. You see, the hunger you feel in your soul, the emptiness of ideas, the feelings of loneliness that envelopes you can only be pacified and satisfied by honoring God’s invitation.
The devil has its own invitation cards as well.
It is an invitation to compromise. It is an invitation to spiritual apathy and mediocrity. It is an invitation to the road that leads to hell. The invitation card looks so alluring and beautiful, but you see, the consequence of honoring an invitation is not in the invitation card but in the person who is inviting you!
The guy who is insisting you should prove your love with sex is offering an invitation. The lady who told you to your face that you are old fashioned by staying away from sex is also offering an invitation.
Do you remember the invitation of the strange woman in Proverbs 7?
So now I’ve come to find you, hoping to catch sight of your face––and here you are! I’ve spread fresh, clean sheets on my bed, colorful imported linens. My bed is aromatic with spices and exotic fragrances. Come, let’s make love all night, spend the night in ecstatic lovemaking! My husband’s not home; he’s away on business, and he won’t be back for a month (Proverbs 7:15-20 Message)
But you see, the invitation is not always the end of the story. There is always a severe consequence when you honour the wrong invitation.
See what follows:
Soon she has him eating out of her hand, bewitched by her honeyed speech. Before you know it, he’s trotting behind her, like a calf led to the butcher shop, Like a stag lured into ambush and then shot with an arrow, Like a bird flying into a net not knowing that its flying life is over (Proverbs 7:21-23 Message)
This is a clear invitation to adultery! Married couples, I challenge you today! Decide to refuse every wrong invitation. It is your choice! That guy or lady that seems better than your spouse is a trap! Do not get tangled in bed with the one you are not married to! The agony that follows such is intense!
God’s invitation will lead you to the good life you have always wanted.
Start the day with God’s word. Stay away from sin. Decide to live for God by refusing every compromise. Don’t play along thinking something will just happen, nothing just happens, everything is a consequence of an action, an effect after a cause!
I will conclude this morning by showing you God’s invitation through the mouth of Jesus Christ. No other invitation will beat this one!
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)
Now you won’t really understand the weight of the above invitation until you read it in another translation, and I conclude with that this morning!
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me––watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill–fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly (Matthew 11:28-30 Message)
Oh Jesus! I could preach a whole day from that. I challenge you to refuse and discard every other invitation and accept the invitation from the lover of your soul! Embracing the lover of your soul will lead you into the arms of the love of your life! Here’s An Invitation To True Love
What if you already get entangled as a single or married? Then get disentangled! It’s an issue of your decision, your God, and what God wants for your life! May God help you!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I refuse to honour every wrong invitation
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to thirst and hunger after you
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30 ESV)
