Are you a minister, pastor, church worker, or leader, and you live in Ibadan? You are cordially invited to “Equip” a Minister’s Conference with Rev Femi Oduwole and Rev Gbeminiyi Eboda as part of our 9th anniversary convention.
Rev Dunamis and Sophia Okunowo will also be hosting us. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Kindly register on this link – https://kissesandhuggs.com/conv2025
Don’t miss it. Spread the word!
Choosing a life partner is one of the most significant decisions you’ll ever make. This person will walk beside you through joys and trials, share your dreams, and help shape the legacy you leave behind. But this decision shouldn’t rest solely on human wisdom or fleeting emotions—it must be guided by God’s direction and design. Here’s how to discern who your life partner is with God at the center of the process.
1. Surrender Your Desires to God
Before seeking a spouse, surrender your desires and expectations to the Lord. Often, our vision for “the perfect partner” is shaped by societal standards, past experiences, or unmet needs. However, Psalm 37:4 reminds us, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” When you delight in God above all else, He aligns your heart with His plan, replacing selfish ambitions with godly priorities.
Pray and ask God to reveal His will for your future spouse. Trust that His timing and choice are far better than anything you could orchestrate on your own.
2. Seek Wisdom and Discernment
God promises wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5), so seek His guidance as you navigate relationships. Look beyond surface-level attractions and evaluate character, values, and spiritual maturity. Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” Notice the emphasis on finding someone who reflects goodness—a reflection of God’s nature.
Ask yourself: Does this person exhibit fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? Are they committed to growing closer to God? Do they honor others and demonstrate integrity? These qualities matter far more than external appearances or temporary chemistry.
3. Set Boundaries and Standards Based on Scripture
As you wait for God’s leading, establish clear boundaries and non-negotiable standards rooted in Scripture. For example:
A shared faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 6:14)
A commitment to purity and holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)
Alignment in core values like family, finances, and ministry
Boundaries protect your heart and ensure you don’t settle for less than God’s best. Remember, compromise on foundational principles can lead to long-term struggles in marriage.
4. Involve Godly Counsel
Proverbs 11:14 states, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety.” Surround yourself with trusted mentors, pastors, or spiritually mature friends who can provide objective insight into potential partners. They can help identify red flags you might overlook due to emotions or infatuation.
Additionally, observe how the person interacts with their family, friends, and community. Their behavior outside of your relationship reveals much about their true character.
5. Trust God’s Timing
Patience is key when deciding who your life partner is. It’s easy to feel pressured by cultural timelines or comparisons with others, but Ecclesiastes 3:1 assures us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Rushing into a relationship without divine confirmation can lead to heartache, while waiting on God ensures alignment with His purpose.
While you wait, focus on becoming the kind of person you hope to marry. Use this season to deepen your relationship with God, serve others, and grow in wisdom and maturity.
Deciding who your life partner is isn’t just about choosing someone—it’s about allowing God to guide you to the right person at the right time. Keep Him at the forefront of your search, trusting that He knows what’s best for you. As you pray, seek wise counsel, and set godly standards, rest assured that He will lead you to a partner who complements your journey and shares your commitment to glorify Him.
Remember, marriage is not only a union between two people—it’s a covenant involving God Himself. Let your decision reflect reverence for His design and dependence on His direction. With faith and obedience, you’ll find the joy and fulfillment that come from partnering with both God and the person He has chosen for you.
Proverbs 19:14 concludes, “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” Trust that your life partner is a gift from Him—and trust in His perfect timing to bring it to pass.
Are you a minister, pastor, church worker, or leader, and do you live in Ibadan? You are cordially invited to “Equip” a Minister’s Conference with Rev Femi Oduwole and Rev Gbeminiyi Eboda as part of our 9th anniversary convention.
Rev Dunamis and Sophia Okunowo will also be hosting us. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Kindly register HERE
Don’t miss it. spread the word!
No one talks about how scary it is to fall out of love with someone you thought you’d love forever.
One minute, they’re your answered prayer; the next, you struggle to feel anything. You smile less and withdraw more. The connection that once lit up your world now feels like a flickering flame.
But before you make any rash decisions, pause. Love is a commitment, not an emotion. Feelings fade, but godly love doesn’t. The Bible says, “Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:7–8). So the spark isn’t gone, maybe it’s just buried under disappointment, unmet expectations, or unspoken frustrations.
Falling out of love doesn’t always mean the relationship is over; sometimes, it’s time to rebuild.
Ask yourself:
Have we stopped communicating?
Have we stopped praying together?
Have we grown apart because we’ve stopped growing with God?
Many relationships drift because people stop being intentional. Love can’t thrive where neglect lives.
What if you’ve done all you can and the feeling is still gone? Then you need to be honest with yourself, with them, and with God. Staying in a relationship out of guilt, fear, or obligation is not God’s will. He wants you in a relationship that brings peace, not confusion. “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown…” (Hebrews 6:10).
If you’re in this space where you’re no longer sure, don’t run, reflect. Also, don’t settle; seek clarity from the One who knows your heart even when you don’t. God is not afraid of your silence, confusion, or breaking point. He specializes in restoring what feels lost. However, He also gives you the grace to walk away when love is no longer aligned with His Will.
Are you a minister, pastor, church worker, or leader, and do you live in Ibadan? You are cordially invited to “Equip” a Minister’s Conference with Rev Femi Oduwole and Rev Gbeminiyi Eboda as part of our 9th anniversary convention.
Rev Dunamis and Sophia Okunowo will also be hosting us. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Kindly register HERE
Don’t miss it. Spread the word!
Yesterday, we considered why love feels heavy. If you missed yesterday’s article, you can read it HERE.
Today, we will take a step further to look at practical things to do when love feels heavy.
1. Don’t fake peace. Be honest with God.
You don’t have to pretend to be okay when you’re not. God already knows how you feel. Share with Him where it hurts and what’s wearing you out. There’s no healing in pretending.
2. Pause, don’t panic.
Feeling pressure doesn’t always mean there’s something wrong with your relationship. Take a moment to reflect. What’s really bothering you? Is it something they did? An unresolved issue within yourself? Or maybe it’s the fear of losing control? Slow down and pinpoint what’s really going on before you misinterpret it.
3. Anchor your peace in God, not the relationship.
You love them, but they aren’t your source of happiness. If your mood hinges on how they treat you, you’ll always feel unstable. You weren’t designed to base your emotional balance on another person. Only God can carry that weight.
4. Ask God for wisdom before you act.
Not knowing what to say or do next is perfectly fine. When you’re confused, take it to God. Ask Him, “Lord, what’s the right thing to do here? Help me respond rather than react.” He promised to provide wisdom to those who seek it (James 1:5). Lean on that promise.
Conclusion
The pressure you’re feeling right now doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed or that you’re messing it all up. It might just mean that you’re being refined and that God is teaching you how to love better. You could very well be growing out of emotional immaturity. You’re learning to stay grounded even when your partner isn’t perfect.
So you might feel pressed, but you’re not crushed. Because God isn’t just watching your relationship; He’s in it with you. Supporting you, guiding you, helping you grow, and loving you first so that you can love well.
Are you a minister, pastor, church worker, or leader, and do you live in Ibadan? You are cordially invited to “Equip” a Minister’s Conference with Rev Femi Oduwole and Rev Gbeminiyi Eboda as part of our 9th anniversary convention.
Rev Dunamis and Sophia Okunowo will also be hosting us. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Kindly register HERE
Don’t miss it. Spread the word!
There are days when love feels like a lot to handle. Not because your feelings have changed, but because you’re tired. You’re putting in the effort, showing up, trying to communicate, praying, overthinking, making adjustments, and still, there’s this tension. Something feels off, and you can feel it.
This part is not often talked about. When you’re trying to love someone the right way, it stretches you thin. It’s not about a big disagreement or some obvious issue; it’s the emotional toll of striving to be consistent, patient, forgiving, and open all at once. It can start to feel overwhelming.
That’s why this scripture resonates with me so well, it says;
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)
Paul wasn’t necessarily addressing relationships here, but this verse really speaks to them. Love can sometimes feel like a heavy load. When you love someone, especially in a way that reflects God’s heart, it will expand what you can handle. And every now and then, it makes you wonder what’s really going on.
So Why Does It Feel This Heavy?
Here are three reasons love feels heavy, even when it’s genuine:
1. God uses love to grow you.
It sounds good in theory, but in real life, it means you’re going to be stretched. To love someone well, you need patience, self-control, humility, and forgiveness, and those qualities don’t just appear out of the blue. They develop through struggles. True love will expose parts of you that might still be selfish, reactive, insecure, or scared. That’s not a failure but a sign of growth.
2. You’re carrying more than just the present.
Often, the pressure isn’t solely about what’s going on right now. It can stir up past experiences. Maybe it’s a fear of being hurt again or a response to something traumatic. Perhaps your need for control is rearing its head. So, the pressure isn’t just emotional, it’s layered.
3. You’re trying to love from your own strength.
We tend to do this more than we realize. When you try to love without refreshing your spirit through God, you often end up feeling drained. What starts as effort can morph into resentment. Care becomes anxiety, and soon your relationship feels more like a burden than a joy.
Tomorrow, I will tell you what to do when love feels heavy. Don’t miss it.
How Integrity Can Change Your Relationship and Marriage
Are you a minister, pastor, church worker, or leader who lives in Ibadan? You are cordially invited to “Equip” a Minister’s Conference with Rev Femi Oduwole and Rev Gbeminiyi Eboda as part of our 9th anniversary convention.
Rev Dunamis and Sophia Okunowo will also be hosting us. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Kindly register HERE
Don’t miss it. spread the word!
How Integrity can change your relationship and marriage
In simple terms, integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. When both people practice it, love grows in a safe and trustworthy environment..
1. Trust Becomes Solid
Integrity means you say what you mean and mean what you say. When your words and actions match, your partner knows they can trust you. Trust is like the foundation of a house—without it, everything wobbles.
2. You Become Safe for Each Other
When you keep your promises and stay truthful, your spouse or partner feels safe with you. They know you won’t betray their confidence or play games with their emotions
3. It Reduces Unnecessary Fights
Most arguments in relationships come from misunderstandings, half-truths, or broken promises. Integrity clears that out. When you are honest, there’s less drama and less suspicion.
4. Respect Grows Naturally
Integrity commands respect. When your partner sees you living out what you say—whether in finances, friendships, or commitments—they naturally respect you more.
5. It Sets a Standard
Living with integrity sets the tone for the relationship. It inspires your partner to also be truthful and upright, making your relationship stronger and more stable.
