There are those times you get to and you feel you have made too many mistakes, of you have disobeyed God or you have not been proactive enough and time is gone? Do you feel time is gone concerning relationships or marriage?
God is asking you a question this morning.
1. Whose time? 2. Who is the timekeeper? 3. Who made the clock, if there was ever one?
You see, we often believe the words of the devil most times and these words are designed to weaken and weary us!
So the question is how do you get the strength to restart, refire, or revive?
Do you Feel Time Is Gone?
Heb 11:11 (KJV) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Sarah was past childbearing age. Her time was gone!
Gen 18:11 (MSG) Abraham and Sarah were old by this time, very old. Sarah was far past the age for having babies.
She wasn’t just old, she was past that age! In the same way, you can say you are past some opportunities!
However, she received strength!
That is what you need to do this morning!
How did she receive strength? That scripture tells us she judged God faithful
It is the same thing you need to do! Receive strength this morning!
Do you Feel Time Is Gone?
Decide to judge God faithful over your life rather than be encumbered with regretful reminiscences.
Decide to judge God faithful that at least you are still alive and whatever you went through did not swallow you!
You are still alive and if you are, there are still possibilities!
God will still come through for you!
Stay joyful by judging God faithful over your life and you will see His power in your life and your situation!
Judge Him faithful today and tomorrow and the next and for the rest of your life!
You will receive strength. You will conceive. You will deliver that business or project or whatever it is!
Male-female differences, differences in temperaments, differences in upbringing, and differences in emotional needs and expressions can put a strain on the marriage.
It is not actually these differences that put a strain but not accepting these differences and managing them well puts pressure on the relationship.
Couples should learn to accept, love, and celebrate each other’s uniqueness.
Criticizing, devaluing, demeaning, and having a sense of superiority will only put undue strain on the marriage.
So couples, you want to enjoy yourselves in your marriage? Celebrate each other’s differences. Don’t compare. Never make jest of your spouse publicly. Your spouse’s difference is what makes them unique.
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4. Intimacy and Sexuality
Differences and changes in emotional, mental, physical, and sexual intimacy and Compatibility can be very challenging in marriage. In marriage, both husband and wife must be able to fully express what intimacy means to them.
They must not be robbed of what intimacy means to them
Whatever makes the needs of the other party more important will put a strain on the marriage.
5. Conflict Resolution
Disagreements in marriage are inevitable. Couples however must learn to disagree to agree. Disputes can arise over various issues. The question is, do you have effective ways of conflict resolution?
Any conflict you cannot resolve with both parties reaching a compromise has not yet been fully resolved. It will put an undue strain on the marriage.
Couples should embrace whatever method will make them achieve conflict resolution in their own marriage.
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6. Balancing our individuality
In marriage, it is two people that are becoming one. Yet their personality and individuality must be respected.
The man is the head of the marriage for functionality not for superiority purposes.
Anytime the husband sees his needs as superior to that of his wife there will be problems and vice versa.
Couples should find a means to balance each other’s needs and find a way to meet those needs
Another dangerous combo is ‘two people who are deceptive.’ They both operate under the delusion of grandeur. They tell themselves lies and refuse to confront each other. They sweep things under the carpet and live under illusions. They deliberately flout God’s principles hoping that somehow things will work out. Everybody around them wonders why they can’t see the obvious. They are unapproachable and unreachable. But the scripture is very clear:
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 KJV)
No matter how we pretend, we cannot mock God. You can do all of that with humans, but not with God. At the end of the day, it is not worth wasting time on what would not work.
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7. Unforgiving Couples
Lastly, two people who refuse to forgive one another easily can block the blessings of God in their marriage, home, and life. Bitterness of heart is a blessing blocker. If one of the couples is forgiving and praying for the other, it can be easier to resolve the issues, but when both parties are hurt and bitter from time to time, they are not helping themselves, they are not helping their home and of course, the inflow of God’s blessings and favour will be truncated.
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:15 KJV)
The root of bitterness in a marriage will eventually spring up and get everybody including children defiled.
The way out
So what do you do? Seek help. Don’t keep quiet and watch things degenerate. Re-connect to God and pray a lot. Seek wisdom from pastors or mentors. Seek to understand your spouse and see how he or she is thinking to have the right perspective. I pray concerning every storm in your relationship and or marriage this morning, Be still in Jesus’ name! I speak the peace of God, Shalom, not missing, nothing broken over you and yours in Jesus’ name!
We started on this yesterday. We will continue today.
3. Differing Spiritual Beliefs
Here is another scenario that doesn’t always play out well, except with a lot of patience, prayers, and perseverance. I always advise singles not to think of getting married to someone who doesn’t have a relationship with God. It would always be filled with challenges that you might have to fight alone because you do not agree with your choice of weapons. You want to pray, but he or she thinks you are just being fanatical. That can be very disconcerting, to say the least. It is always a good combo when both agree and are going in the same direction in terms of belief systems and practices.
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4. Sentimental Couples
When two people who are sentimental get married, their lives will be devoid of principles that are meant to keep them focused and energetic in their marriage and home. Two sentimental people will always judge a situation from a sentimental point of view rather than principles. In no time, they can ruin themselves because you cannot go very far living and swimming in the ocean of sentiments. They would not be able to achieve much because they would have excuses for their mediocre lifestyles.
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5. Angry Couples
Two angry people in a relationship and marriage cannot go far. See the scriptures:
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul (Proverbs 22:24-25 KJV)
The scripture here advises that you should not get involved with somebody who has anger problems and who refuses to work at it. An angry man can take a knife or gun one day and end it all. An angry wife can ruin things in seconds. Take a look at the Message Translation:
Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious–– don’t get infected (Proverbs 22:24-25 Message)
