Everyone has names. Your name is a reflection of the relationship between you and another person. You call your mother “mommy” because that is who she is to you – your mother. She refers to you as her son because she gave birth to you. There is a mother-son relationship between you two.
God, also, has other names. Did I hear you say what? Yeah, He does. You call Him God, Jehovah, Yahweh, Almighty, and more. But there are also very special ways we refer to God.
These other names tell us about the unique qualities that God possesses. They tell us of the many different dimensions of how God operates. Like a car has different parts and each part contributes to how we identify a car.
God has different names that reflect His many attributes as the creator of all the earth and mankind. Each name speaks to a part of Him that we see or want to see in operation in our lives.
When you call Him by one of these names, it draws out a part of His essence, something unique and powerful about Him. You are calling Him to be that which you have called Him to be.
Knowing and calling Him these names help you develop a deeper relationship with Him. You marvel and wonder at how great and mighty He is.
Also, you get to depend on Him and not on your strength, intelligence, power, skills, or social standing. When you identify Him as your helper, provider, keeper, friend, et cetera., it helps to put your total trust in Him.
Lastly, these names of God reveal deeper worship of Him. You just get lost in the amazing greatness of Him, His name, and Word.
These names remind you of who God is and can be for and to you. Your God can be anything and everything you want Him to be. He wants to display His power and sovereignty for you.
Tomorrow we will start the series and see the many ways God displays His power and might through His names.
After God created man, God spoke to him in the very first words ever recorded from God to him. Interestingly and amazingly, God referred to man as “them”
Gen 1:27 (MKJV) And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created THEM male and female.
God created man. He created them! What is going on here? The reason is that God wasn’t only talking to Adam, He was talking to Adam and all of humanity in his loins. Male and female were both within the loins of Adam and God addressed all of humanity at that moment.
If you are like me, you will want to be interested in the very first words God spoke to Adam and all of humanity. As Adam stood before the Lord, along side with you and me, in huge frame and in the very image of God, here is what happened.
Gen 1:28 (MKJV) And God blessed them. And God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heavens, and all animals that move upon the earth.
So we see what God did. And He spoke the very first words!
Be Fruitful!
Herein lies the mandate of God over your relationship and eventually marriage.
Fruitfulness does not include broken relationships. Fruitfulness does not include jilting experiences and broken hearts. Fruitfulness does not include abandoned marital promises. Fruitfulness does not include irresponsible brothers or unavailable sisters, who are just out to scam your emotions and make a mincemeat of your emotional health.
Never accept or believe anything less of the mandate of God over your life and relationships. It’s fruitfulness all the way and nothing more! This is what you should embrace. This is what you should believe. And that is what will be your experience. So I declare over you in Jesus name!
Don’t forget to join us daily for a daily Encounter in prayer on “Oil For Today” by 5.30am on Mixlr (khcglobal) and on Instagram (pastordunamis). If you miss that time, we are still live daily on YouTube by 6.00am (Dunamis Tunde Okunowo)
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will fulfill the mandate of God over my life.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to fulfill the mandate
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gen 1:27 (MKJV) And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created THEM male and female.
God’s first wordsto Adam and all of humanity, encapsulated in the loins of Adam is “Be Fruitful!” How encouraging and strengthening that is!
Let your imagination run free! Adam, in his huge frame stood before the Almighty! God in his divinely amplified voice, (I guess it will be loud and soothing at the same time) massively reverberating to the very core of Eden, proclaimed over Adam and in effect over you and I “Be Fruitful!
Hey! Your marriage is blessed! Irrespective of the antics and attacks of the enemy of our soul, God’s voice is a resolute and firm. It’s a mandate of Fruitfulness!
You know what I am excited about? It’s the unchangeability of His words and voice! His voce never changes!
Gen 1:28 (MKJV) And God blessed them. And God said to them, BE FRUITFUL, and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heavens, and all animals that move upon the earth.
Nothing less. In terms of finances, fruit of the womb, job opportunities, career, job, health, the list is endless, the mandate is fruitfulness.
Do not allow the devil to negotiate you out of this blessing. Oh, yeah, that’s his tool of trade! You must be resolute, believing and trusting about what God said about you!
I pray for you this day, fruitfulness in every area of your marriage in Jesus name! We come against every plan of the devil and we cancel and nullify them in Jesus name!
So shall it be for you and your family in Jesus name!
Don’t forget to join us daily for a daily Encounter in prayer on “Oil For Today” by 5.30am on Mixlr (khcglobal) and on Instagram (pastordunamis). If you miss that time, we are still live daily on YouTube by 6.00am (Dunamis Tunde Okunowo)
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will fulfill the mandate of God over my marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to fulfill the mandate
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gen 1:27 (MKJV) And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created THEM male and female.
That Which Was From The Beginning was taught by Rev. Dunamis Okunowo on the 15th of August 2021 at Shouts of Grace Center, Joke Plaza, Beside Trans Amusement Park, Bodija-UI Road, Ibadan.
In his teaching, Rev. Dunamis made mention of the following important points:
God has a good intention for my life from the very beginning. But the devil comes in to mess it up.
The problem is that we are trying to correct the problems in the now with ‘now,’ but we have to go back to the beginning. The only way to correct the now is to go to that which was from the beginning.
The more you try to run away from your beginning the more you have to face it.
What the devil does is to get you occupied with ‘now’ at the expense of your beginning.
You must be able see and hear that which was from the beginning.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
1 John 1:1 (KJV)
Then you look upon it. Looking upon is you going to that which you have seen, to give it attention. This takes a deep concentration.
What you look upon the most takes ascendency over what you think about the most.
What you see is what you can give. What you see is what you can handle.
The faith process is not complete until you say it.
Two Things You Must Do In Life To Succeed
There must be a clear-cut goal; you must see it
You have to declare and keep saying it
Every word that God has spoken goes on to replicate itself till eternity.
Every time you go through life and you can’t see a reflection of what God has said, don’t just leave it and hope that things will change. You must go back to the beginning and then enforce that which was from the beginning.
You must learn to look upon God’s word until light shines in your soul. It is interesting to note that one can be so anointed but yet can’t see. You must therefore labour to see.
To listen to messages of Rev Dunamis, go HERE or HERE
Our text this morning comes powerfully shining a spotlight on the very beginning of things.
1Jn 1:1 (KJV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
From the text above, there was something or someone which was from the beginning.
Your spouse to be or the person you are about to marry is not just about to be decided by God. He already existed in the mind of God, even before you were born.
Both of you have been “chosen” before you were born! You can now begin to appreciate the scripture which says
Jer 1:5 (MSG) “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations— that’s what I had in mind for you.”
You are wondering whether you just read the right words? Oh yes you did! Before your conception, some things have been decided by God!
No wonder most of all what God wants from you is to listen to Him, follow him and follow that divine map!
Psa 81:13 (MSG) “Oh, dear people, will you listen to me now? Israel, will you follow my map?
If that is the case then, can all singles go and rest a while and stop disturbing yourselves about who to marry?
No wonder Adam had to go to “sleep” before Eve showed up.
Could it be that you have ben too “awake,” and you have been trying to do your own thing rather than simply cooperate and follow that which was from the beginning?
Oh, how the reality sets in, powerfully and resolutely, God has it sorted out!
I only need to trust Him and believe Him as the Lord my shepherd who will not lead me wrong!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, show me what I need to know that I don’t know.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
You should learn how to make your grandparents happy. As soon as Daniel’s grandma saw him, she began to shake her head. His hair was uncombed, his shirt unbuttoned down to his chest and he had no belt around his trousers. The trousers were sagging to his thighs and he kept pulling them up.
Are you sure your grandparents have happy thoughts when they think of you or heavy thoughts filled with fear for you?
The bible says that
Grandchildren are the reward of old people. And children are proud of their parents Prov. 17:6 ICB.
Did you see that? This shows that grandparents will love to see their grandchildren make the best of their lives. So you should learn to make your grandparents happy.
Live in a way that makes your grandparents proud of you; this will make your grandparents happy.
When grandparents see their grandchild living the right way, it is a source of joy for them. It gives them a feeling that they have once more raised a child the right way.
When your grandparents see you, they should be filed with joy. Do not live your life in such a way that will cut short their lives.
Remember, they were once like you many decades ago, so if they give you an instruction, it is wise that you follow through. Following the instructions of your grandparents will make your grandparents happy.
So, check your lifestyle and ask if your grandparents would like the way you are living now.
Are you a reward for them?
May God make you bring happiness to your grandparents. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, I want to live in a way that would bring much joy to my grandparents.
Action point: What things about you do you think your grandparents wouldn’t like? Put away those things so as to make your grandparents happy.
In today’s devotionalwe are looking at loving your spouse with the original plan. We sit at the feet of our master, Jesus this morning as we glean directly from His words and bring light to dark areas of our marriage.
Mat 19:7-8 (MSG) They shot back in rebuttal, “If that’s so, why did Moses give instructions for divorce papers and divorce procedures?” [8] Jesus said, “Moses provided for divorce as a concession to your hardheartedness, but it is not part of God’s original plan.
The reality sets in. Whatever you see in your marriage, is not to be swallowed hook, line and sinker. The question, like a powerful beam light, must be shone upon that situation with all intensity;
Is this part of the original plan?
Before you accept that situation as part of the norm, or as your cross to carry and as something you must live with, can we ask that question again and again?
Is it part of that God’s original plan? Is this what God has in mind for me? Could the situation I am in with my spouse be what God wanted? How do you even know what God wanted for you?
God will not tempt you with evil. God will not punish you. God will not bring you an irresponsible spouse or someone that brings you heartache all day.
Whatever does not look like God’s original plan must be refused with every fibre of your being. It must be refuted and resisted.
Don’t ever allow the devil to push you into accepting what doesn’t not belong to you.
This is why you should be conversant with His word and know what He wants for you. It is now what you want that must be enforced.
What is not in the original plan should be rejected. No wonder the Bible says:
Mat 7:19 (GNB) And any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.
Every tree God has not planted, that is not in His original plan for you is uprooted in Jesus name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I refuse every wrong trend in my marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Oh God, show me the original plan you had for my marriage.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go back to the bible and search for the original plan.
How often do you praise the Lord? During family devotions in the mornings? On the assembly ground at school? Sunday school?
Psalm 145:1 “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Everyday I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.”
You must have a personal time where you praise the Lord . There are so many ways to do this. Some ways are:
1. Reading psalms of praise from the bible. 2. Play and sing along to praise songs. 3. Sing from your heart praise songs. 4. Write love letters to God telling Him how much You love Him. 5. Write poems of praise.
When you praise the Lord, you are exalting Him over everything and everyone in all the earth and heaven. You are acknowledging Him as your Lord. God enjoys our praises. He delights in them, and he wants us to continually praise Him.
Only God deserves your praise. Make it a daily habit of praising God. You don’t have to spend long hours at it unless you are led to do so. And ensure that the time you have put aside for praising God is used for that. Don’t allow distractions.
Focus on God and His mightiness and splendor. He wants to hear you praise Him always. It is a good thing to praise the LORD! And it’s something you should learn to do always. Praise the Lord!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for receiving my praises. You are the Almighty God. The Lord highest. I praise You with all my being. Help me to always praise You. Amen.
Action points: Praise the Lord for some time today. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you new ways to praise God.
The messageof faith is fast giving way to other popular messages especially now. I think in my own opinion that we heard more ‘how to live by faith’ messages than we do now, yet, it comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
As a single lady when I was in the university, we were taught how to trust and believe God for stuff. Then we listened to Papa Kenneth Hagin, the Copelands, Creflo and Taffi Dollars, Jerry Savel, Jesse Duplantis, Bishop Oyedepo, and a host of others. We saw living by faith as a necessity and we had no options but to do so.
It seems to me that as we got married and life began to happen to us, we allowed the message of faith to slip by. We are now working-class people, so we don’t believe God for stuff as much as we did before. We simply wait for the next paycheck.
When we feel symptoms in our bodies, we simply notify our HMO, and we get free access to health care. We even feel it is our right to use the hospital since it is deducted from our salaries. The problem is that we are gradually losing our cutting edge in exercising our faith.
As believers, whether we are singles or working-class we need to exercise our faith daily.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17 KJV
To live a righteous life, to live victorious over fear, diseases, attacks of the enemy and much more, requires faith.
We can never graduate from the school of faith. That is how we live. That is how we exist. That is how we get answers to our prayers. There are some issues that will happen in marriage that your way to experience victory will be only when you learn to exercise it.
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23 KJV
Let’s look at this scripture well. We will see that process. Whether you are believing God for babies, contract, prosperity, or general wellbeing, the process of faith must be completed.
Let me analyse the process here.
1. You must speak to your mountain. Don’t speak about it, speak to it. Address it because you have authority.
2. Speak and give direction to the mountain.
3. Don’t allow doubt in your heart.
4. Believe that you have what you SAY.
5. Then, You will have what you say.
6. Thank God in advance. The faith process is not complete until you thank God by faith for your answers.
The big question is, what are you saying about the situation you are trusting God to see changes? Do you pray, declare God’s word, and then begin to worry?
It’s time as believers to begin to exercise our faith against the attacks of the enemy. Any issue the enemy brings our way is an attack on it. We can deal with the enemy by exercising it.
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16 KJV
With our shield of faith, we quench every fiery darts the wicked one throws at us.
When we have issues in our marriage, issues with our spouse, our in-laws, it is not the person that is the issue. It is the wicked one stirring up issues to steal your joy, peace, prosperity, and health. Rise up in the authority of the Lord and hold up the shield of faith against the fiery darts of the wicked one.
God bless your marriage in Jesus name.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My faith process is strong.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help my unbelief.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16 KJV
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Start believing God for the supernatural
Having to start your day with asking God for forgiveness daily can be very frustrating, especially when you know you are going to commit the sin again. Self condemnation comes once we violate God’s principles.
This self-condemnation will surface at much unexpected times. Most times, young folks get involved in jeru trip before marriage in order to express their freedom or liberty. In the end, the purpose is defeated, because the very freedom they seek to express will be lost to emotional captivity and slavery. Freedom from a guilty conscience will be gone.
Years ago, a lady sat before me. She was genuinely troubled. She felt God would never forgive her, because she was involved in jeru trip. She wept bitterly. She said she has asked God to forgive her severally and she was not sure God heard her.
Another lady actually lost her mind after indulging in jeru trip because she believed she had committed an unpardonable sin. She couldn’t recognize anybody again. She embraced the devil’s lie that she has committed the unpardonable sin because of the jeru trip. She was talking gibberish and making faces. When we were called (alongside another pastor) upon to pray for her, all our attempts failed until we started to address the issue of guilt by the Spirit of God. As we began to speak to her about God’s love and kindness, that demon left her, she calmed down, sobered up and tears began to flow. It was only then she was restored. It was then she told us what really happened. The negative emotion of guilt is a terrible experience. Guilt can be so real to the point of being suicidal.
When troubles ganged up on me, a mob of sins past counting, I was so swamped by guilt I couldn’t see my way clear. More guilt in my heart than hair on my head, so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out. (Psa 40:12 MSG)
I’m swamped by my bad behavior, collapsed under gunnysacks of guilt. (Psa 38:4 MSG)
You wouldn’t want to live with guilt all your life for violating God’s law. However, no matter how guilty you feel right now; God can always send help if you call upon Him and trust in His Word. That’s the way out. It could be a sin of fornication or adultery or any form of sexual perversion, the blood of Jesus took care of all!
Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to GOD.” Suddenly the pressure was gone– my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. (Psa 32:5 MSG)
I want you to know that there is a lover of your soul that is different from any lover who might have disappointed you. You might have been disappointed by men, abandoned by men, used and dumped by men, treated shabbily by men…but when you meet the man, He will restore your soul! The Samaritan woman had met so many men…but then when she met the man, the lover of her soul, she couldn’t but express the difference that turned her life around!
Joh 4:28-29 KJV The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man…
Respond to God’s love today. Refuse the emotion of guilt! You see the moment you have asked your father to forgive you, He forgives and forgets. The devil tries to bring guilt so that you can feel unworthy and thereby prevent you from coming into God’s presence boldly.
But you see, this issue is a family affair! If your earthly father has forgiven you of an offence, what else can the servant in the house say? You simply tell him to shut up!
That is the way you handle the devil. It’s none of his business. God forgave you, period. Tell the devil to shut up, it’s between you and your father, it’s a family affair and it is settled! He should stop poke nosing. The blood of Jesus handled it already!
If he tries to remind you of your past, remind him of his future, it’s the bottomless pit! Make sure you stop sinning. That is what God does not want, especially continuous and habitual sins. Grace cannot abound when sin continues!
Only hearken to what Jesus said to that adulterous woman caught in the act.
Joh 8:11 KJV… And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
The fact is that you did something wrong. The lie is that you will never be forgiven. The Truth is that you are already forgiven and it is forgotten! Embrace the truth today and let it set you free! Truth is superior to fact!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I refuse the lie from the devil. I embrace the truth of God’s word.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask that God helps you to see the truth in his word.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psalm 32:5 (KJV)I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
God is a God of order. He is a beautiful and loving God. And more importantly, He is an intelligent God. I mean, He has to be the greatest being that has the most intelligence to manage all of humanity in their diverse religion, culture, race, language and dispositions without wiping the brow. That is an extreme intelligence, you will agree!
As a young man in the Primary school, I would often sit at our balcony and stare at the sun imagining who God is and where He is. I would wonder at who gave birth to Him. Then I would consider there was nobody before him which means no parents. So, then where did he come from? And then, after a while, I will just give up!
Today I know He is simply unfathomable! His wisdom is too deep!
Rom 11:33 (AMPC) Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!
It is from this perspective of God as an intelligent father that I want you to know that He wouldn’t want or lead you into a marriage that will extinguish your fire!
It can’t be God when you are so full of fire, serving the Lord with Zeal and passion and then you suddenly become your old self because you are now “in a relationship!”
Something is not right! Something is not at par! When it is like that, you really need to slow down and really understand what God in all His wisdom is trying to pass across to you! It calls for you lifting up your voice and praying that God should show you what you don’t know!
Jer 33:3 (MSG) ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’
The devil issuch a bad devil. But thank God we have a good God! Left for the devil, he doesn’t want any progress for your life or marriage. So he comes up with several devices, just to keep you ultimately away from God.
He would use just anybody around you to fight and attack you and bring weariness and tiredness to your soul. He would incite strife, depression, and moodiness just to create problems.
The fire in marriage should not be allowed to go out. The fire in you as a child of God must not die.
Are you in that place and it looks your spiritual life dropped after you got married?
There could be a lot of reasons responsible for that. It could be a result of unexpected pressures arising from the transition from being single to becoming a married person. It could be that marital activities and the desire to please your spouse overtook the time you usually spend with God.
However, it is your passion for God that must be prioritized.
As David noted:
Psa 42:1 (KJV) As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
This panting, this passion, must not be substituted with any other thing!
I so much love how Message Translation puts this.
Psa 42:1 (MSG) A psalm of the sons of Korah. A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of God.
You must keep drinking from God, deeply. This is what ignites the fire in your soul and in your marriage.
The fire in your life must not go out. The fire in your marriage must not go out. The fire in your bedroom must not go out.
Keep the embers fired up with honesty, faithfulness, love, submission, and absolute focus on God and your spouse.
May God’s help never cease in your life and marriage!
Have a beautiful day and see you tomorrow for another word from the Lord.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My marital fire will not be extinguished.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that you will remain on fire for God even after marriage
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 42:1 (KJV) As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY What were those things you did before getting married? Are you still doing them?
The last way we will look at, in this series where we are learning how to pray, is by listening and watching others.
At home, listen to how your parents pray. Notice their choice of words, what they use to pray, where and how they pray, whether they hold hands, do they pray in the Holy Ghost? Do they shout or mutter to themselves? When do they raise their voices? What do they do then? Do they say a prayer at night? How often? What time at night? Do they say a prayer in the morning? How often? What time in the morning? This is a way of learning how to pray.
This list is just a way for you to see how prayer is done. What you notice might not be how you would want to do yours, but it would certainly help you to learn the art of prayer.
At church, watch how people pray. Sure, you will see tons of differences there. Again, you are not meant to follow everything you see. The Holy Spirit can give you your own way. He will supply you with the words to use. That is how unique you are to God. Yes, you are unique to God and He will teach you how to pray too.
Watching and listening to fellow Christians praying is meant to point out to you where you need to improve, how to improve, what to stop doing, and what to continue. You learn, unlearn and relearn.
The bible says we should not abandon the gathering of brethren. I believe this is to help us grow spiritually. Part of spiritual growth in Christianity is learning how to pray. When in the presence of other brethren regularly, we grow our prayer muscles.
Iron sharpens iron as the bible says, so, if you want to learn how to pray, one sure way to do that is to watch and listen to other believers when they say a prayer. Be a sponge and soak what you see. Also, as a sponge get ready to be squeezed – flushing out wrong perceptions about prayer, building your prayer muscles for more spiritual growth, and learning new ways and things about prayer.
May God bless you with the grace to learn how to pray. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for the wonderful believers you have surrounded me with. I ask that you enable me to glean from their prayer life. Let the Holy Spirit lead me on which to use, let go of, and continue using, in Jesus name, amen.
Action point: Learn how to pray by taking a good look at your parents when next they pray. Note how they do so – time, words, gestures, voice intonation, et cetera. Look at three believers you know, either at church or elsewhere, notice how they say their prayer too. What do you like about how all these people pray? What does the Holy Spirit say about them to you?
Yesterday, we started on how the Holy Ghost helps us to pray as children. Let’s continue with more benefits of praying in the Holy Ghost.
Sometimes, while praying in the spirit, God could drop a word that you should continue to pray or stop. He could also give you simple instructions.
More benefits of praying in the Holy Ghost is that it helps you to trust the Holy Spirit more and more. You trust the process – that every time you engage in prayer using the Holy Spirit, He connects you directly to the Father and helps speak what is on your mind to Him.
The bible says the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf with groaning. He teaches us what to say, when, and how to do so. This was evident in the lives of the disciples after they received the Holy Spirit.
More benefits of praying in the Holy Ghost is that it helps you pray with ease. It’s a language you don’t know how the words are formed. Even if you write them down, they don’t follow any earthly language pattern. They just flow out of your spirit.
You can also praise God in the Holy Spirit. Praising God in a language you don’t know. How sweet does that sound? God hears you call Him beautiful names in the language of heaven. Don’t you think God will smile?
One final thing the Holy Spirit can do is to lead you to pray for someone somewhere who might be in danger at a particular time. This is also part of more benefits of praying in the Holy Ghost. He asks you to pray to help avert danger or get help. This way, he leads you to intercede on someone’s behalf as He does on our behalf with God. So, you can see the immense benefits of having the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit can be imparted into you either by another believer or the Holy Spirit Himself. If you are yet to receive the Holy Spirit, ask your parents, pastor, or another believer full of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on you.
I pray that the Holy Spirit will come upon you in Jesus name. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for all that you are. LORD, open my eyes to more benefits of praying in the Spirit. I ask that you come upon me and teach me how to pray. Help me to pray from the heart of the father in Jesus name. Amen.
Marriage is the placewhere you will have to come to terms with the practicality of forgiveness. In other relationships, forgiveness is also essential but it may not be as that of marriage.
In marriage, you will have to forgive for the relationship to be healed. You and your spouse cannot avoid each other. You live together, have children together, for the sake of peace and progress, forgiveness is very necessary.
The standard of the Word of God is so high. That’s why it is a narrow road that leads to heaven. The Bible does not mince words when we are told to love our enemies. Hmmm. I thought we should love our friends and well-wishers and stay clear and avoid our enemies.
The bible tells us to love them, and bless those who curse us. That is pretty hard; a hard pill to swallow. I believe that is why we have to live in the spirit so we do not gratify the lust of the flesh. We need the Holy Ghost power. We cannot do it in our own natural strength.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:44 KJV
Our differences will most often act as a threat to our marital union and our mandate as couples. It will pose a problem to our becoming one. The natural man tends to be selfish and only the one that is submitted to Christ and His word can love genuinely.
It is easier for women to hold on to hurts and have difficulty forgiving. Women are hurt deeply essentially because they are emotional beings and because they analyze more. Whichever way, let God be true and every man a liar. The standard of God’s word must be followed. A different gospel is not for men and another for women. We are to follow and obey the same word. We should allow the Holy Spirit to rightly discern the situation and analyze it for us.
God is not saying we should not be hurt, angry, or need time to heal. We should do that and then get over it and move on. That’s where power lies. That’s where victory begins. The Word says we should be angry but we are not permitted to sin.
We sin when we over-analyze. There is a spiritual way to analyze things that instead of being bitter we become better. When we allow bitterness we open the door for other demons to enter our lives and afflict us. Disobedience opens the door for the enemy of our souls. We open the door for sicknesses, diseases, poverty, disfavor, et cetera.
Joseph could have wasted his life being bitter. He could have lost years by being bitter. He could have lost opportunities, but he chose to enjoy where he is on his way to being better and his way to where God is taking him to.
Joseph saw his brothers who sold him into slavery and he analyzed the situation well with the help of the Holy Spirit. He said what they meant for evil, God used it to preserve many lives. Can you allow that situation to become a tool in the hands of God?
I am not saying it will be easy. That’s where taking up your cross daily and following God is about.
Couples, learn to give that situation to God. You are reviled, persecuted, unjustly treated, abused, afflicted, cheated, et cetera. . Surrender it to the Lord. Give it to Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to make you see what it really is. Until Joseph saw correctly, he could not forgive and forget.
Jesus was able to pass through the cross because he saw well. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross. He could say father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. God is able to turn things around and make your mess a message that will liberate thousands.
Don’t fight your spouse, forgive and move on. Learn what you are to learn. Don’t be afraid of being misjudged or treated unfairly. Jesus was wrongly and falsely accused. He shut His mouth and didn’t answer back. It was though, but in the end, He was justified and glorified
Ask the Lord to help you see well and He will come to your aid.
God bless your marriage
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I amseeing well. I choose to forgive ahead.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask for the help of God concerning your marriage.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Matthew 5:44 KJV But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
A few things to note: 1. Let the leadership of the church be in the know with your decisions. Not with the intent of manipulating you, but to provide counsel relating to your decisions.
2. Don’t join a church for the sole purpose of getting a guy or a lady. Go there because you want to serve God. 3. Serve God genuinely and get busy for Him. When you get busy for God, God will get busy for you. 4. Let the pastor know before you ask a lady for her hand in marriage. It helps you to be orderly about it. In one of the churches where I had pastored, a guy went to propose to a lady who is already married with child. This could have been avoided if he went about it the right way. 5. Before you say ‘Yes,’ tell your pastor about it. Ask questions about him, what he does and where he is coming from. Imagine this kind of conversation:
Lady: Pastor, I will be getting married next month. Pastor: Good. To who? Lady: His name is Buddy Pastor: What does he do? Lady: I don’t really know… I think business. Pastor: Is he born again? Lady: He said so Pastor: Where does he worship Lady: ehmmm…I have forgotten the name of his church Pastor: Is he a worker in his church? Lady: He said he will start after marriage Pastor: Does he drink? Lady: He said he has stopped…. except for small stout for his health.
And so on.
Is this lady doing the right thing? No! You don’t fall in love with strangers! This is why weddings are canceled a few days before the proposed date. 6. Let God guide you, not your feelings alone. Feelings come and go, but God’s word will endure forever. 7. Become friends first. Let it grow. Don’t go and tell somebody you met two hours ago that you are in love. You cannot love somebody you don’t know! There is a difference between love and lust. 8. If a guy in church who is active or who is a leader is asking for jeru trip, disconnect from such a person, or you will soon yield to the pressures. You don’t visit such a person at home! Definitely, something will happen.
For those in courtship, do you find yourself in a situation where you think you might have made a mistake? Well, you need to stop afflicting yourself. What you need to do now is the way forward and not some regretful emotions. Get into a prayerful mode and ask God to intervene. Seek counsel from your pastors and mentors as well. God will surely send help to you and make everything new for you.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not fall in love with the wrong person
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask that God opens the eyes of your understanding
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. (Psalms 143:10 KJV)
