One of the greatest gifts a believer can develop is the ability to see beyond the surface. This spiritual perception is often called discernment. It’s the inner knowing that helps you sense what the natural eyes cannot see and understand what words cannot fully explain.
Hebrews 5:14 says, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who because of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Discernment grows through spiritual maturity and intentional use. It is not automatic, but cultivated.
In a world where deception can be dressed in beauty and evil can wear the face of good, discernment helps you recognize truth, align with God’s will, and make sound decisions.
The Holy Spirit nudges you when something isn’t right, guides you when a path is unclear, and gives you peace when a decision is divine.
Jesus functioned with spiritual perception. Luke 5:22 says, “But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them…” He wasn’t guessing; He was spiritually aware.
Discernment helps in relationships, decisions, and spiritual warfare. It shields you from wrong connections and helps you embrace God-ordained opportunities.
Ask God today for a heart that perceives. Pray like Solomon in 1 Kings 3:9, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart…”
Also, we don’t just need eyes that see, we need hearts that perceive. What you discern today can protect your destiny tomorrow.
Stay close to the Word, sensitive to the Spirit, for the sharpening of your perception.
I want to take a moment to speak to the women this morning.
A woman often senses who her husband is before the man even realizes it himself. It’s part of how God made them. Women are naturally intuitive. There’s a knowing deep within, long before anything is said or done. But even with that inner knowing, it’s not her place to take the lead or make the first move.
On Kisses and Huggs Club, we do not advocate a woman asking a man out, no matter how convinced you are. You can position yourself, present yourself, but not ask out.
This is because God is a God of order, and that order has purpose. When we step outside of it, confusion tends to follow. The man is designed to pursue; the woman is meant to respond.
Genesis 2:23 (ISV): So the man exclaimed, ‘At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. This one will be called “Woman,” because she was taken from Man.’
The first wisdom here is that it was the man who exclaimed. The man who spoke up. Not the woman. Notice that God didn’t even say anything at that moment. He left it all to the man to recognize what was before him and to respond accordingly.
The second wisdom here is that as soon as Adam saw Eve, he spoke. A man who’s serious about you won’t leave you guessing. He’ll be clear from the beginning. So if you’ve been spending time with a man for a while, and he still hasn’t made his intentions known, it’s worth paying attention to that.
He’s been around, but not stepping forward? That silence speaks volumes.
The third wisdom here is this: Adam recognized Eve as his. He said, “bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.” That kind of recognition and certainty matters. The person you’re meant to spend your life with should know, without hesitation, that you’re the one.
Yes, as a woman, you need to have peace and conviction about him. But he must be just as convinced about you. If he’s not sure, how can he truly leave his father and mother and fully commit?
The truth cannot be overemphasized. Saying the truth at all times, regardless of the consequences, is a virtue that sets the foundation for lasting relationships. That is why I smile when I see people’s checklists for a marriage partner. You’ll often find: “God-fearing,” “financially stable,” “tall,” “beautiful,” “speaks in tongues,” and so on. But rarely do you find “truthful” or “trustworthy.” And yet, without truth, everything else is at risk.
Integrity is the bedrock of peace in both singleness and marriage. It’s not just about how things are today; it’s about building a life for 30, 50 years, and beyond. Truth keeps the foundation strong. Lies may seem small today, but they ripple out into the future with painful consequences.
To date, some people still don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead. Why? Because a few soldiers were paid to tell a lie
Matthew 28:12-15 [MEV] When the chief priests were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave much money to the soldiers, saying, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we weresleeping.’ If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this saying has been commonly reported among the Jews to this day.
Their decision not to speak the truth has had eternal consequences for countless lives. Whenever we choose deception, no matter how “harmless” it seems, we are potentially robbing others of their peace, their trust, and even their destiny.
Whether you’re single or married, let truth be your banner. If you’re waiting for a spouse, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes not just to beauty or charisma, but to integrity. If there’s a red flag to take seriously, it’s the inability to be truthful.
If you’re already married, let truth guide your home. Don’t allow fear or pride to choke honesty. A marriage where truth is absent is one step closer to decay, no matter how spiritually vibrant it may appear on the surface.
May Godhelp us to love the truth, speak the truth, and walk in integrity.
What’s in Resurrection Power for Relationships and Marriage?
Resurrection power isn’t just a theological concept—it’s a transformative force that can breathe new life into struggling relationships and marriages. The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is available to us today, offering hope, healing, and restoration where brokenness seems insurmountable. But what does resurrection power look like in the context of marriage? How can it mend wounds, revive intimacy, and strengthen your bond as a couple?
1. Overcoming Hopelessness with New Life
When a relationship feels dead or stuck, whether due to betrayal, unresolved conflict, or emotional distance—resurrection power reminds us that nothing is beyond God’s ability to restore, Ephesians 1:19-20 declares, “His incomparably great power for us who believe… which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.” Just as God brought life back to Jesus’ body, He can bring vitality and renewal to even the most strained marriages.
How it helps: Resurrection power gives you the courage to face seemingly impossible challenges, trusting that God specializes in making all things new (Revelation 21:5 ).
2. Breaking Strongholds That Bind Relationships
Every marriage faces strongholds—patterns of sin, bitterness, unforgiveness, or pride—that hold couples captive. These chains can feel unbreakable on our own. However, resurrection power shatters these bonds, freeing both partners to walk in freedom and forgiveness. 2 Corinthians 10:4 assures us, “The weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
How it helps: Through prayer, repentance, and surrender, resurrection power enables spouses to forgive one another fully and release toxic patterns that hinder their union.
3. Restoring Intimacy and Connection
Intimacy—both emotional and physical—is often the first casualty in troubled marriages. Resurrection power rebuilds what has been lost by renewing hearts and minds. Romans 6:4 says, “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order to be raised to a new life.” This “new life” includes rediscovering joy, passion, and closeness with your spouse.
How it helps: As each partner allows God to transform their heart, walls of resentment crumble, paving the way for deeper vulnerability and connection.
4. Empowering Sacrificial Love
Resurrection power equips husbands and wives to love sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church. John 15:13 teaches, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” In marriage, this means putting your spouse’s needs above your own and serving them selflessly—even when it’s hard.
How it helps: When both partners embrace this kind of love, fueled by resurrection power, they create an atmosphere of mutual respect and devotion that strengthens the marriage covenant.
5. Healing Past Wounds and Hurts
Many marriages struggle under the weight of past hurts—infidelity, abandonment, or deep-rooted insecurities. Resurrection power brings healing to those wounds, replacing pain with peace. Isaiah 61:1-3 , a prophetic passage about Jesus’ ministry, speaks of binding up the brokenhearted and comforting those who mourn. This promise extends to marriages scarred by hurt.
How it helps: By inviting God into the process, couples experience supernatural healing that human effort alone cannot achieve.
6. Renewing Commitment to Each Other
Marriage vows are promises made before God, but over time, those commitments can waver. Resurrection power renews the marital covenant, reminding couples of their purpose together. Malachi 2:15 emphasizes God’s desire for covenantal faithfulness, saying, “He did not make them to be two, but one.”
How it helps: Couples who lean into resurrection power find renewed strength to honor their vows and persevere through trials.
7. Providing Hope for the Future
Sometimes, the greatest barrier in marriage is despair—the belief that things will never get better. Resurrection power offers eternal hope. Philippians 3:10 says, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.” When couples anchor themselves in this truth, they gain confidence that their marriage can not only survive but thrive.
How it helps: Hope inspires action. With resurrection power at work, couples take practical steps toward reconciliation while trusting God’s ultimate plan.
Sometimes, when someone does something we don’t like or aren’t used to, we start labeling it a “red flag.” For instance, we’re like, They’re too quiet, too deep, too serious, too ‘into God.” Or they’re not texting fast enough. They don’t talk the way we expect. They have boundaries we’re not used to. And boom, immediately we tag it a red flag.
But here’s the truth: not everything that feels uncomfortable is a red flag. Sometimes it’s just unfamiliar. Sometimes it’s challenging your unhealed parts. Sometimes it’s healthy, but unhealed wounds, maybe from past relationships, just make it feel “off.”
On the other side, we can also miss the real red flags because they come in a nice package. Good vibes. Easy conversations. Physical attraction. Maybe even church attendance. But beneath all that, there’s inconsistency, lack of growth, poor character, and zero spiritual leadership. We ignore it simply because they “get us,” or because we’re already emotionally invested.
And this is how people end up in relationships/marriages where they thought they picked a green flag, only to realize it was painted red the whole time.
Here are real red flags that should not be ignored:
1. They say they love God, but their life says otherwise. If someone consistently minimizes faith, mocks spiritual things, or lives in unrepentant sin, that’s not just a “difference”—that’s direction. Love is hard to grow when you’re walking in opposite directions.
2. They charm in public, but control in private. Emotional manipulation often wears a smile. If they make you feel small, confused, guilty, or constantly responsible for their emotions, you’re not building love, you’re managing dysfunction.
3. There’s no accountability, no mentorship, no godly voice they submit to. If no one can speak into their life, correct them, or call them out, you eventually won’t be able to either. Humility is essential in a God-honoring relationship.
4. They’re always hiding something. Secrets, double lives, half-truths, or silence when transparency is needed—this will slowly erode trust. Trust is hard to build, and easy to break.
So before you write someone off, ask: Is this truly a red flag or just something unfamiliar or different from what I imagined? And before you commit, ask: Is this genuinely right, or does it just feel good right now?
Sometimes, what feels “off” at first is just new and worth giving space to grow. And sometimes what feels “right” in the moment is just familiar but not necessarily healthy.
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
It’s not just about guarding your heart out of fear. It’s about inviting God to shape your lens so you see and not overlook something good… or settle for something that simply looks good.
