I saw on our Facebook page a comment where somebody said that all men are liars. She said there are no truthful men. It was the same thing Elijah said at a time when he told God that all the people are compromised except him, but God told him there are still 7,000 men who have not bowed to Baal!
The truth is that you will always attract what you believe. A person’s life will always move in the direction of his most dominant thoughts. If you believe all men are liars, that is who will be attracted. It is one of the basic laws. If you believe there are faithful men and there are, you will be found of such people.
I understand a bit where the lady that commented might be coming from. It is possible she has had several negative experiences with men and I feel for her. But you see, experiences will not nullify the truth of God’s word!
This is the lesson here, never allow your experiences to overshadow the truth of God’s word in your life!
Back to our devotional:
Yesterday, I showed you two kinds of men you should run away from.
1. The man I am not in love with 2. The man that tells lies
3. The man that is unfaithful Well, I have heard some ladies say things like every man is unfaithful. There is no man that doesn’t have other ladies out there. That is not true and that is a justification and encouragement of adultery. That concept is from the pit of hell.
If all men cheat on their wives, then what have we been teaching? Where is the place of the delivering power of God? Where is the place of renewal of mind by God’s word?
I don’t cheat on my wife and I don’t have any lady out there and I know I am not alone!
If I were a single lady, I will run away from a guy who is already rehearsing for adultery during a supposed courtship. I will not accommodate or manage iniquity.
But pastor, if I am too hard, will I get a spouse? You see, it is not about being hard; you shouldn’t be hard on anybody because you are not perfect yourself, but you should seek to obey God! That’s all. Follow God! I am sure God does not want you involved with a guy who wants to marry you and who has still has other girlfriends and you know! God is not in that kind of arrangement!
4. The man that doesn’t love God If I were a single lady, I will not get involved with a man that doesn’t love God. If he doesn’t love God and has no regard for God, it will invariably affect you one way or the other.
But Pastor, what if I want to change him? You are not a “changer” You are not the Holy Spirit who convicts! Listen to me, there is something about a family that loves God.
Now, I have to balance this out here. What about those that are already married? Pastor, are you saying I should leave my spouse? NO! Is there still hope for things to be made right? YES!
There could even be situations where you got married as an unbeliever. Now you got born again. Do you leave your spouse? No! You step into intercession and the place of prayers to trust God for your spouse as well. And believe me, God will answer a heartfelt prayer for your spouse, because God is not only interested in individuals, He is also interested in families.
Never give up on God, because God will never give up on you!
Shalom!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I know how to love correctly.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me not to fall in love with the wrong person. Teach me when to run away.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Prov 4:6 (NLT)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take an inventory of your love life. Run away when neccessary.
Do you know that giving is a great habit? And God has given you a pattern of how to give. According to the bible, God gave His only son, Jesus, to die for your sins.
God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. John 3:16 GW
Jesus did so too through His actions, to show us that giving is a great habit. Look at how He fed the thousands of people while teaching them about the kingdom of God.
Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the crowd. Luke 9:16 GW
Giving is a great habit. It’s a habit you show that makes people know that you are truly a child of God. If God can allow Jesus to swap places with you, why won’t you forgive that person that hurt you? If Jesus can pray to God to bless the food to feed the people, why won’t you pray for a friend who has a need?
You can give your things, time, prayers and even a smile. As long as your gift makes their situations better.
Developing giving as a habit reflects to others that you have God’s spirit working in you. As you start little by little, it becomes a part of you. And as you grow older, you become a person that gives. That way you have formed the habit of giving.
May the Lord bless you more and more as you give to other people. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for showing me that giving is a great habit, and for showing me how to give. Help me to give cheerfully, with love and respect for those I give to. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Action point: Remember to give with joy in your heart. And to show respect to the people you give to.
No matter how long you have been single, never walk down the aisle because you are desperate to settle down.
When you are desperate, you are apt to make a lot of mistakes! The first thing you need to understand is that being single is not a disease. Yes, there are times you might need to work on some attitudes because wrong attitudes can actually make a man to run away! For example, extreme and unnecessary anger can make a man run away! That’s the truth. So as a lady, work on your attitudes and character.
However, no matter how single or how long you have been “singled” there are some men I will have nothing to do with if I were you.
You see, it is BETTER to remain single than walk down the aisle with a wrong man! Trust me, I am a counselor, and I can’t count how many times young ladies have called me and they want out of their marriage. Some of them have only been married for weeks and they are asking me if I know any good lawyers!
If I were a lady and single, these are the men I will run away from.
1. The man I am not in love with
Ladies, don’t get involved with the man you are not in love with! It is not going to work. Even the one you are in love with, there would still be issues, but because you are in love, the issues are quickly resolved.
But when you hate his guts deep down inside you and you only got hooked because of pressures from friends and families, issues can quickly become compounded and the fact that you don’t love him will haunt you for life.
When you marry the one you are not in love with, each time you wake up in the morning, and you see his face, your mistakes will stare you in the face and I tell, you, the absence of true joy in a marriage can be debilitating.
There is no point getting hooked up with an old, pot bellied man that you detest so much but got hooked up with because of pressures.
2. The man that tells lies
One of the most unfortunate choices a lady can make is to choose a confirmed, habitual and impulsive liar. Dear daughter, don’t ever make that mistake, or else you won’t enjoy that marriage. How can you live with someone you cannot trust? That is an affliction in itself.
You know he is lying and the liar knows that you know he is lying, what kind of life is that? Even in the little times he is telling the truth, you are unable to trust him because you don’t have an idea when he is telling the truth. As a matter of fact, if you are not a good believer, you might start telling lies as well in order to get back at him.
What about the possibility of giving birth to children who are liars because of transference of spirits? You see, at the end of the day, you always discover that it is not worth it! Run away from pathological, compulsive of obsessive lairs!
To be continued.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I know how to love correctly.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Dear daughter, pray that the Lord helps you not to fall in love with the wrong person.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Prov 4:6 (NLT)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take an inventory of your love life as a daughter.
We’ll continue from the devotional we started yesterday “Here is how to love your spouse”
3. Learn About how a man and a woman think
Apart from loving God, you need to discover how men and women think. This will help you in consciously following the pattern of their thought process. There is a way peculiar to how men think. Men are logical being, they process things and see things from the logical point of view.
Men also think in box-like patterns. That is why they love things that are box-like. They love television, football, mobile phones, cars, etc. A man cannot do too many things together, they can’t multitask, like women. An understanding of how men think will help you understand them.
Women are emotional beings. They see things from the emotional point of view. That’s why they cry mostly. A woman hurts deeper than a man.
They think in spaghetti-like patterns. That’s why a woman can have all her emotions juggling up and down. A woman can multitask and do so many things at the same time. This knowledge can solve some major issues in learning to love and understand your spouse.
4. Learn your spouses’ love language
We have dealt with love languages in depth in the past. Kindly refer to it for more about love languages. There will be a primary way your spouse feel loved. Find out that language and speak it. It is an amazing way to love your spouse when you speak their love language.
5. Be yourself, don’t pretend
In loving your spouse, you don’t have to pretend. We are all a work in progress. We are all getting better by the day. I can say I am getting better at loving my own husband now than before. The things that used to get me feeling bad are probably not a major concern to me anymore. I have become more matured.
So, if you are not there yet, don’t pretend you are there. You will soon discover you can’t fake it for long and then you will be back at square one. Go at your pace and don’t pretend. In fact, love never pretends, love is always transparent.
We will continue tomorrow with the concluding part of “how do I love my spouse?”
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I know how to love my spouse. I have God’s wisdom
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to know and understand how to love my spouse.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY “Finally, all [ of you ] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [ with one another ], loving [ each other ] as brethren [ of one household ], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).” (1Pe 3:8, AMP)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Start loving appropriately
The indication of intense tests and trials in your life is not necessarily because there is a curse somewhere or because God dislikes you. It is actually because of a glorious future that you cannot see, but the devil can sense. This is why it is sometimes important to always ask God to show you a glimpse of your future. You see, the devil wants to be weakened and discouraged, but you must not be ignorant of his devices.
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV)
You have to be alert and be spiritually awake to disallow the devil from taking advantage of you.
The devil only fights what he fears. Assuming, you are planning a meeting, for example, whose impact is going to raze down hell as it were, the devil will throw all kinds of tantrums at such times to cause distractions and discouragement. You must not allow such at those times.
Assuming you are closest to a major breakthrough, for example, financial breakthrough, the devil already has an idea. It is not as if the devil is omniscient, but he is experienced, having being around for thousands of years!
So, his device is to cause distractions and to make you lose that breakthrough.
When Job was closest to his miracle, his wife told him, “curse God and die!” In order words, stop trusting God and give up! That is the devils tactics! He wants you to see God as unfaithful and the moment you yield to that, your miracle actually dies!
There are three things you must take note of at such times.
1. Stay away from sin and don’t break the hedge. When somebody breaks a hedge in a group, sometimes others in that group can be affected.
2. Stay close to God’s word and keep praying
3. Disallow the spirit of fear because it is not from God.
If you can take note of these three things, you will always come out victorious.
You see, what you are going through is not because God hates you, it is because God loves you, wants to do a great thing in your life, but the devil doesn’t want you to enjoy it!
So, be alert in the things of the Spirit and refuse to be discouraged. Understand that Praise is waiting for God in your life.
Finally, what do you do while you wait for the salvation of God as regards that miracle after identifying that you are going through specific attacks from the devil?
Here are few things you can do
1 Prayerfully read Psalm 91 daily
2 Bless you food as Holy Communion and take it regularly at such times of get Communion emblems to use. Taking the communion will always arrest the negative trends in your life.
3 Be full of praise at what God will do.
4 Believe that whatever is lost will be found. Believe that just as it was told Saul, that the asses which were lost have been found, that whatever has been lost will be found. Believe in restoration and that all things will work out together for your good.
I pray that God will strengthen you in your inner man today to rise above every distractions and discouragement in Jesus name! You have wisdom in identifying the plans of the devil over your life.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not ignorant in identifying the devices of the devil
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, I reject every antics and devices of the devil. I have wisdom in identifying the plans of the devil over my relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief––we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! (2 Corinthians 2:11 Message)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take Communion and read Psalm 91
Your fellowship with other Believers is one of the great habits to imbibe, and today we would start with a scene that happened in Jide’s life. Jide took the stairs two at a time as he made his way up to the second floor of the school’s building. It was almost fellowship time and he was leading opening prayers. He didn’t want to keep the others waiting and God too.
“not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [ faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching. Hebrews 10:25 AMP
The verse above tells you why you need to develop the habit of constant fellowship with other believers like yourself. You worship God together and learn from Him. Not that you can’t do this on your own. You can, but with other believers, you will experience God in a new way.
Look at how people in church speak in different tongues. Or say one prayer in different ways. How about when someone or the pastor says he has a message from God for everyone. Yes, God will speak to you when you are alone with Him, He can also do so in a gathering of believers.
Another thing you will enjoy in a fellowship with other believers is encouragement. When you feel weak to pray, they can pray for you. Their prayers will boost your spiritual muscles and connect you to God’s power node where you draw strength to pray.
And finally, you know Jesus’ return is almost here, you need to be more spiritually sound and one way to be so is in the presence of the brethren (fellow believers). Constantly connecting with them keeps you from falling into sin easily or at all. You should learn to fellowship with other Believers.
So, when next your parents say it’s time for church, don’t frown or grumble. Rather, grab your Bible, put on a beautiful smile on your face, and say “I am ready!”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for my fellow believers. Thank You for the wonderful Christian family I have. Teach me to fellowship with other Believers. Amen.
Action point: Why not lead prayers or praise at the next prayer meeting or fellowship at school or in church.
How do you know how to love your spouse? This is an all-important question that we all try to answer ever since we got married. We all are still trying to answer it and we will still be answering it till death do us part. It is an awesome truth that only death is supposed to part husband and wife. Apart from that, no other thing is permitted to separate us.
Some of us need to learn and be taught how to love our spouses. No matter how complex they are, you have the capacity to love your spouse with the love of God. It is actually spiritual to love your husband/wife. There is nothing carnal in loving your spouse.
These are some ways
1. Love God first of all This is the very first step in loving your husband/wife, love God. A spouse that doesn’t love God cannot love his/her spouse. God is love and it takes a heart that knows God to love. You love God by loving His Word and doing His will.
When you love God this way, it becomes easier for you loving your spouse because you would have developed the capacity to love and put the flesh under. Human nature is generally selfish and does not want to love unconditionally.
God expects us to love our spouse unconditionally.
2. Know that you need God all the way Loving God is not something you do half half-heartedly or once and for all or once in a while. Because you cannot fully know God completely, you have to keep yearning for more of him. The more you discover about God, the more you want to love him. So in loving God, you become a God chaser.
I have seen in my own experience that, the more I chase after God the better I love my husband
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I know how to love my spouse. I have God’s wisdom
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to know and understand how to love my spouse.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY “Finally, all [ of you ] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [ with one another ], loving [ each other ] as brethren [ of one household ], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).” (1Pe 3:8, AMP)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Start loving appropriately
Today’s Focus: Prayers For Supernatural Establishment
Thanksgiving
Glorify the LORD for all He has done.
Psalm 147:7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises with the harp or the lyre to our God!–(AMP)
Nation/Church
Pray for supernatural establishment of your nation and the church on Christ
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).(AMP)
Pastors/Parents/Mentors
Pray for your pastors, parents and mentors with this Scripture
Psalm 45:7 You love righteousness, uprightness, and right standing with God and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.(AMP)
Finance
Declare that you have supernatural establishment in your finances
Psalm 128:2 For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you.(AMP)
Family
Pray for your family with this Scripture
Psalm 128:3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house; your children shall be like olive plants round about your table.(AMP)
Warfare
Come against the principalities fighting against your supernatural establishment.
Psalm 127:1 EXCEPT THE Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.(AMP)
Desire for the Month
Pray for your desires this month
Matthew 7:7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.(AMP)
Psalm 91 Declaration
Psalm 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.(AMP)
Blood Declaration
Declare that you have supernatural establishment by the Blood of Jesus
John 6:56 He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him.(AMP)
Declare that you receive wisdom for supernatural establishment
Ephesians 1:17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,(AMP)
Healing
Declare healing over that sickness
Luke 6:19 And all the multitude were seeking to touch Him, for healing power was all the while going forth from Him and curing them all [saving them from severe illnesses or calamities].(AMP)
Favour/Mercy Today
Declare that the mercy and love of the LORD is established in your life forever.
Exodus 20:6 But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.(AMP)
This is a question we need to ask ourselves from time to time. “Is God first in my marriage?” How do you deliberately keep God in that first place in your marriage?
Youdo that by making His word come first place in your relationship or marriage
How do you do that?
You read His word regularly.
You study His word regularly.
You obey His word all the way.
Let God be the first place.
When you have this covenant attitude, it will help you to resolve issues quickly in your marriage. You wouldn’t want to disobey God with strife and bitterness.
Listen to me, husbands, when you are angry with her, and you stay away from her and you refuse to talk with her, you are tampering with the blessings of God upon you as a family.
It is right there in the scripture:
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1 Peter 3:7 KJV)
Treating your wife roughly can run prayer aground!
Wives, when you stay hurt over trivial issues and refuse all apologies or you refuse to apologise, you are actually playing with fire in the spiritual realm.
I jokingly said in an interview I had that my wife doesn’t say sorry to me. I say all the “sorry!”
But you see, in the first few years of our marriage, I didn’t use to say sorry! She said all the “sorry!”
So I guess she had exhausted her quota of “sorry” because she said it so many times! Now she doesn’t say it again, so I had to take over! It doesn’t diminish me a bit; the important thing is that somebody says “sorry!” That’s the goal.
All issues should be quickly resolved. It is not about who is wrong or who is right, it is just that you don’t want to get cut off from God’s blessings because of some feelings or ego!
It is a covenant understanding that you must imbibe which will make you go far in your marriage and in the things of God.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am wise. I put God first place in my life and marriage
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord, teach me to be a wise son/daughter by placing a value on your word.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (1 Peter 3:8 KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go ahead and end all quarrels
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 43 – 45
Gratitude is a great habit to start practicing as early as you can. It is the act of looking for the good things that you have or that have happened in your life and be thankful for them. Look deep into your life and search for things you are enjoying right now. Thank God for them.
Thank God that you have parents who love you and provide for all you need. Appreciate God for giving you a roof over your head, food to eat, clothes wear, friends, and more. Gratitude is a great habit!
When you refuse to be grateful, you are taking for granted God’s blessing over you. You are saying to God that you don’t need Him or that what He is doing for you is not enough. Or that He is not even doing anything for you. But God is always doing something for you. Even if you are being bullied at school, still thank God that you can pray to Him and He will answer your prayers.
Always look around you and find something to be thankful for; gratitude is a great habit for you. Every morning you wake up, thank God for keeping you and your family members alive. Thank Him for the good health you are enjoying. Even if you are sick, thank Him for the medications you are using and the medical personnel that are treating you.
Don’t keep looking at the bad things happening. Search for the good ones. And be grateful for them. Learn to put on the cloak of gratitude. Yes gratitude is a great habit that you can wear, and it will sure do you good.
in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 18:5 AMP
Keep a journal of all the things you are grateful for and check them in a month. You will be surprised at how many items you are going to have in it.
May the Lord bless you with a heart of gratitude. Amen.
Prayer: I am grateful for all the Lord has given me, is giving me, and will give me in the future. Engrave this phrase in my heart: Gratitude is a great habit. Thank You, Lord.
Action plan: Keep a Gratitude Journal and start recording
There is something you should completely avoid. What can that be? It is called pride!
The reason why pride is such a dangerous sin can be found in some of these verses.
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6 KJV)
Obviously, this won’t be a good place to be. When the Bible says God resisteth the proud, what that means is that God Himself will oppose and hinder a proud man.
Again you find the same thing here
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5 KJV)
In the Old Testament, Nebuchadnezzar became proud, and he was humbled, he became an animal.
In the New Testament, Herod made a prideful statement, he was eaten from inside out.
Pride is not a good commodity that should be found with you.
Do you want God to help you in life? Be humble!
It is such a thin line between humility and pride. If you are a humble person, and you know it, then you are no longer humble! Humble people don’t say it or flaunt it, others identify it in them and talk about it. The day you talk or boast about your humility, you already lost it, because you are now proud of your humility!
The greatest problem a proud person has is that he never owns up that he is proud. His pride will not allow him to own up that he is really proud, and even when he sometimes discovers, he is still proud of his pride! This is something you should completely avoid as a single.
A lot of people have lost opportunities of a godly relationship because of pride! The picture of the person they wanted to get married to, is far from those that are showing up, so they keep on rebuffing opportunities that come their way. The problem is that after a long time, they always end up with just anybody because they suddenly wake up to the reality that age is no longer on their side.
‘My husband has to be handsome like my pastor!’ Ask your pastor’s wife to show you her husband’s picture before they got married. You will almost want to tell her that she took a risk!
I have always told people, the most important factor in deciding who to get married to is God’s direction.
Physical attraction is very important as well, but that is not all to it. People change over time!
People change over time! In fact, some people get handsome, the older they get! While it is different for some, the older they get, the more they lose their rhyme and the magic!
You want to marry a Joseph? Would you have said yes to him while he was a slave in strange land, his destiny unsure and his dreams almost bothering on a psychological absurdity? Would you have married him when he was in the prison, sentenced to an indefinite prison life, together in the king’s maximum prison with hardened criminals convicted of murder?
My point is that what people are now, is not what they were before! I always tell men of God, they need to come together and do a thanksgiving service to God on behalf of their wives for saying “yes’ to them!
Have you seen the picture of the great man of God, Bishop Oyedepo as a single? You wouldn’t want to say Yes! But as a lady, you should be able to discern God’s direction even when it doesn’t look like it!
Almost every lady will want to marry a man as successful in ministry or as wealthy as Bishop. But Bishop said all he had then was his mouth and his vision!
The woman in the scripture says, I perceive this is a man of God!’
You know, but there is something about being humble enough to follow God’s plan for your life!
God sees ahead and sees what you cannot see. In His wisdom and love, He seeks to lead and direct us, if we are willing to obey and stay humble, we will enter into our wealthy place and we will be fulfilled not only in marriage but in life as well.
Ask yourself, am I really proud and hindering God’s plan unknowingly?
How do you know if you are proud? Here are a few tips:
You have an exaggerated opinion of yourself.
You have an opinion of everything and anything.
You are critical of almost everything and anything.
You have a problem with accountability. You are accountable to no one.
You see yourself as superior to your friends.
You are not submissive to any authority figures, including your pastors and parents.
You sometimes think you don’t need God, it is God that needs you!
Ask God to help you. Ask Him to open your eyes and show you all you need to know about yourself. Be humble enough to do that so that you will not delay yourself! As married couples, stay humble, so that you will not hinder God’s blessings! A lot of marriages have issues because the couple is proud and would refuse to apologise for offences for many days! Apologise quickly to each other! Be humble.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will stay humble for God to lift me up. I choose to completely avoid every form of pride.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Pray against the spirit of pride and ask God to help you completely avoid it.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6 KJV)
ACTIONPLAN FOR THE DAY Write down things to completely avoid.
Ps 40:3 (NLT) He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.
Nation/Church
Declare that your nation and the church experiences uncommon favour.
Ex 3:21(BBE) And I will give this people grace in the eyes of the Egyptians, so that when you go out you will go out with your hands full.
Pastors/Parents/Mentors
Pray for your pastors, parents and mentors with this Scripture
Gen 39:21 (NET) But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him kindness. He granted him favor in the sight of the prison warden.
Finance
Declare that you have uncommon favour in your finances
Ex 12:36 (GW) The LORD made the Egyptians generous to the people, and they gave them what they asked for. So the Israelites stripped Egypt of its wealth.
Family
Pray for your family with this Scripture
1 Kings 11:19 (ESV) And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him in marriage the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.
Warfare
Come against every scheme of darkness against your uncommon favour.
Ps 5:12 (KJV) For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Desire for the Month
Pray for your desires this month
Est 2:15 (ESV) Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
Psalm 91 Declaration
Ps 91:15 (CEV) When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect and honor you.
Blood Declaration
Declare that you have uncommon favour by the Blood of Jesus
Matt 26:28 (ERV) This wine is my blood, which will be poured out to forgive the sins of many and begin the new agreement from God to his people.
Phil 1:9 (TLB) My prayer for you is that you will overflow more and more with love for others, and at the same time keep on growing in spiritual knowledge and insight,
Healing
Declare healing over that sickness
Ps 91:10 (BBE) No evil will come on you, and no disease will come near your tent.
Favour/Mercy Today
Declare uncommon favour in your life.
Est 2:9 (TLB) Hegai, who was responsible for the harem, was very much impressed with her and did his best to make her happy; he ordered a special menu for her, favored her for the beauty treatments, gave her seven girls from the palace as her maids, and gave her the most luxurious apartment in the harem.
We’ll be discussing the topic “Demonic Activities Versus Fleshly Lust in Marriage” in our devotional for couples today
In severalcounselling sessions I have been privileged to be in with my husband, I have heard cases that are so difficult to resolve.
Now, after a few years of marriage, I have come to realize that some of those messy scenarios have their foundations in demonic influences.
We need to be conscious of this so that it helps us to effectively address issues well. We need to establish the fact that the devil HATES marriage. He loathes it with a perfect hatred. A good marriage irritates him and infuriates him. He is not just a nuisance but an enemy of your marriage and mine.
Having an understanding of who our enemy is, it becomes easier for us to properly wage war against our enemy.
Most of the issues or problems we face in marriage are due to demonic influences. I pray that God will open the eyes of our understanding today to recognize who the real enemy is.
There is the flesh that we all must see to it that we crucify. For example, a choleric husband can be given to anger. He sees himself always getting angry. It could be his flesh. All he has to do is crucify or mortify his flesh. If he doesn’t do that, his marriage will suffer for it.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Galatians 5:24 KJV
On the other hand are the activities of the devil through demonic influence or evil spirit. The aim of these spirits is to torment and torture us as married couples. They also don’t want is to know or serve the Lord effectively.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 KJV
The abundant life Jesus came to give us, they want to make sure it is a mirage.
For example, anger becomes demonic when demons or evil spirit makes one angry at every provocation in an uncontrollable and harmful way.
In marriage, your spouse will do things that you don’t like. The devil torments and doesn’t make you enjoy your marriage when there is a spirit of anger.
Some of the emotional or attitudinal issues we experience are the activities of the evil spirits. For example, most depression, fear, rejection, sicknesses, selfishness, etc.
What we need to do to these evil spirits is to cast them out. Cast them out of our marriages and life
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19 KJV
I will continue tomorrow by God’s grace.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have control over my weaknesses.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will give you the wisdom to stay above sin
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and overall the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19 KJV
Just as you study your textbook as a school student, you also have to study the Bible as a spiritual student that you are. As a student, you have textbooks for each subject you are taught in school. As a child of God, the Bible is your spiritual textbook too. Inspired by God to teach you about Him and what He wants you to do.
Textbooks are meant to be read and studied so that you can best understand a subject. You spend time reading and studying them. If the Bible is your spiritual textbook, then you should also spend time studying it too. Pick a book from it, read and study. You just have to study the Bible.
Forming the habit of regularly reading and studying your bible is a brilliant way to grow your spiritual life. Starting early in life is the best. Because as you grow up, it becomes a part of you and you won’t be able to stop reading and studying your Bible. You won’t rest until you study the Bible.
Like Samuel who began to serve in the temple at a young age.
Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord, as a child dressed in a linen ephod [a sacred item of priestly clothing] 1 Samuel 2:19 AMP
His mother gave him to God as she had promised. Under Eli, Samuel learnt about the ways of God and how to serve Him. And as he grew into an adult, with the knowledge of the things of God (…And the boy Samuel grew before the Lord 1 Samuel 2:21 AMP) he became a mighty prophet of God.
The Bible is filled with so much knowledge that will grow your spirit, mind and soul. You just have to study the Bible for yourself. Inside the Bible, you will find stories of love, hate, fear, anger, redemption, and much more. You could read it in the morning, afternoon or at night before you sleep. Even if you have a daily devotional that you read, it still doesn’t take the place of your personal Bible reading plan.
Study the Bible daily. Let regular Bible reading be a part of your daily life. God bless you as you do so. Amen.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank You for the Bible. I receive help to study the Bible daily. Amen.
Action plan: Pick a version of the Bible, and start to read. As you do so, note things down and ask your parents to explain further for you. Or just ask the Holy Spirit.
When they woke up, all of them trimmed their lamps, but sadly, the lamps of five of them were gone out!
You see, there comes a time when activities without priority on God’s presence will fail. There comes a time where energy and service bravado will fail! When the oil in the lamp goes out, it is the oil in your vessel that will save you!
When you are serving God passionately with your time, energy, and resources but are still embroiled in habitual sexual sins and other transgressions, you are just being foolish! Ouch! That hurts! But it is the truth! It is the truth that will make you free. I am not here to tell you what you want to read or what appeals to your ears, but to declare the undiluted word of God!
When you are seen as a spiritual person and others are even looking up to you yet you know you are empty when it comes to a personal relationship with God, you are being foolish! Ouch!
If you are a pastor that only read your Bible to preach, that is oil in the lamp and nothing more than foolishness! Ouch! You don’t read Bible to preach alone, you study it to live!
If you are a lady in the protocol or ushering in church, always prompt and active, and you don’t know what it means to practice the presence of God, neither do you read your Bible regularly, you are not being wise! Ouch!
If you are the most active in church and yet you live with a boyfriend or girlfriend, that is utter foolishness.
Mat 25:12 KJV But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
When they wanted the door opened to them, Jesus simply said he doesn’t know them! Is it possible that one can think He knows God and God does not know that person? Yes, I think it is possible.
Let us all get back to getting oil in our vessels regularly. That is how you won’t make mistake in your relationship.
That is how you will know the right person.
That is how not to miss your “bridegroom” That is how not to miss your spouse. That is how the ‘virgin’ in you will not miss it! The time when you are supposed to be ready and meet your ‘bridegroom,’ or your ‘spouse to be’ is not the time to go look for extra oil! It should have been in your vessel all the while!
Mat 25:10 KJV And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
When you’ve still not learnt how to prioritize your time, and you still don’t value God’s presence, you are still caught up with deceit and sexual sins, the implication is that you are not yet ready and the door of marriage can be shut! It is only those that are ready that will go with him into the marriage! The reason why there is a delay for some people when it comes to marriage is simply lack of oil in the vessel. It can literarily shut the door of marriage!
Oil in the vessel! That is how to keep your relationship.
Make up your mind this morning to be wise!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY Lord, I receive the wisdom to rule in the affairs of this world.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will give you wisdom to stay in His presence
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 25:5 KJV While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Cut off your association with any person, place, or thing that is influencing you negatively.
Psalm 103:20 (NKJV) Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.
Nation/Church
Declare words over your nation and the church – that they shine as lights
Matthew 5:14 (NKJV) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Pastors/Parents/Mentors
Pray for the family of your pastors, parents and mentors
Psalm 112:2-3 (NKJV) His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever.
Finance
Declare words over your finances – that the abundance of the sea and the wealth of Gentiles come to you
Isaiah 60:5 (NKJV) Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
Family
Pray for your family with this Scripture
Psalm 128:2-3 (NLT) You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be! Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
Warfare
Battle with these words: the LORD is my support. He brings me into a broad place. He delivers me.
Psalm 18:18-19 (NKJV) They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
Desire for the Month
Pray for your desires this month
Philippians 4:18 (NKJV) Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
Psalm 91 Declaration
Psalm 91:2 (NKJV) I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Blood Declaration
I declare these words by the Blood of Jesus: I am sealed by the Blood
Exodus 12:13 (NKJV) Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Ephesians 1:17-18 (NLT) asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called-his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
Healing
Declare healing over that sickness
Psalm 107:20 (NKJV) He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.
Favour/Mercy Today
Pray with these words: that God’s mercy is with you forever
Psalm 40:11 (GNT) LORD, I know you will never stop being merciful to me. Your love and loyalty will always keep me safe.
