I See Rain For Singles and Couples In 2023. As I waited on the Lord for what this new year pretends, all I saw was rain! Wow! The heat of life will not burn you! As others suffer from heat, you will remain refreshed in Jesus’ name! It’s our year of refreshing and divine outpouring!
This is the first day of the year! Go ahead and confess these words in relation to there word God has given us this year!
According to God’s Word that says:
Deu 28:12 (MSG) GOD will throw open the doors of his sky vaults and pour rain on your land on schedule and bless the work you take in hand. You will lend to many nations but you yourself won’t have to take out a loan.
I declare in the name of Jesus, The Lord is opening unto me, in these days of waiting on Him and thereafter, His good treasure, the doors of God’s sky vault are thrown open on me to pour rain upon me on schedule and to bless the works of my hands. I will lend to many nations and I won’t have to take a loan for anything. I will not lack because God is my sufficiency! I See Rain For Singles and Couples In 2023
According to God’s Word that says:
1Ki 17:14 (MSG)
This is the word of the GOD of Israel: ‘The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empty before GOD sends rain on the land and ends this drought.'”
I declare in the name of Jesus,
This is the word of the Lord unto me, My jar of flour will not run out. I will not draw a blank. I will not be stranded. I will not be ashamed. My bottle of oil will not become empty. There is rain on my land. God sends rain on my land. There is money in my Bank account.
In this time of waiting on God, I am drenched with God’s rain and blessings. Every part of me is partaking of it.
According to God’s word in
Job 5:10 (MSG)
He gives rain, for instance, across the wide earth, sends water to irrigate the fields.
I declare in the name of Jesus, God gives me rain across every part of my life, He sends water to irrigate my fields and I am nurtured and growing in every area of my life.
My relationship or marriage is irrigated with God’s rain! I See Rain For Singles and Couples In 2023
According to God’s word that says:
Isa 30:23 (MSG) God will provide rain for the seeds you sow. The grain that grows will be abundant. Your cattle will range far and wide.
I declare in the name of Jesus, there is rain upon my seeds sown. The grain that grows in my life will be abundant. My business and the works of my hands are multiplied and extended to nations. I range far and wide in my career in the name of Jesus!
According to God’s word in
Eze 34:26 (MSG)
I’ll make them and everything around my hill a blessing. I’ll send down plenty of rain in season—showers of blessing!
I declare in the name of Jesus, everything around me and mine are blessings! God is sending down plenty of rain in this season of waiting! There are showers of blessings upon me in the name of Jesus.
Listen to me, the devil has lost over your life this time around. You will have the victory. The heavens are open over you. I See Rain For Singles and Couples In 2023
We are in agreement with you, we are standing with you and interceding for you, God’s word will prosper over your life. You will not miss out on God’s goodness. You will not be ashamed. You will not be disgraced.
Heavens will stand for you, God will honour you and His name will be glorified in your life. This year will be beautiful for you!
Today, being the last day of the year is significant!
Like they often say, he that is not grateful is a great fool! I want to quickly show you just one reason out of many why you should be grateful today!
You are alive!
Psa 150:6 (MKJV) Let everything that breathes praise Jehovah. Praise Jehovah!
Regardless of what your experiences have been, you are still alive! If there is life, there is hope and there is a way!
Do not hold back in thanking God today! You Should Be Grateful Today!
Oh, I don’t even know how to give thanks! Let me give you an example!
Rev 5:13 (MKJV) And I heard every creature which is in the Heaven and on the earth, and under the earth, and those that are in the sea, and all who are in them, saying, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever.
Say “Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto you, O Lord! Then begin to reel out all He has been to you this year! Verbalize your gratefulness to Him and let Him hear your good words.
Oh, maybe you forgot, a lot of people have been laid aside this year! A lot of people have been buried and probably forgotten! You Should Be Grateful Today!
But Pastor, I could not realize all my dreams this year! Oh, is it just about “realizing?” Are you aware that for some, the dreams and the dreamer went six feet below, buried, and never to show up again on this side of the world?
Isa 38:18 (MSG) The dead don’t thank you, and choirs don’t sing praises from the morgue. Those buried six feet under don’t witness to your faithful ways.
You Should Be Grateful Today! Thank Him throughout today! Refuse to complain. Decide to end this year on a good note and give all the glory to God throughout today! Enter the new year with gratefulness to God because He”s got your back!
Let’s Burn That List of Personal Grudges. Sally has personal grudges against several people and legitimately too, but not spiritually justified. She has been jilted so many times that she has a diary of offenders and violators of her emotions and body! From time to time, she would go over that list and invoke God’s judgment on her offenders.
The Johnsons have hurt each other over the years and they are unable to move on as husband and wife, devoid of strife and acrimony.
Let’s get into the scripture!
2Co 2:10 (MSG) So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don’t think I’m carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I’m joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us.
Here was Apostle Paul telling the people under his purview that he doesn’t carry around a list of personal grudges.
Was he saying nobody offended him? No. In fact, he has been offended so much that he could build a list!
Well, you have to burn that list! Let’s Burn That List of Personal Grudges
You hold a list, you don’t carry it! But he used the words “carrying around a list” because the list is heavy!
Eh, you don’t need such a heavy load in the new year! Burn the list!
Why should you burn the list? Let me show you in the next verse.
2Co 2:11 (MSG) After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!
A list of personal bridges will give the devil “an opening!” Let’s Burn That List of Personal Grudges
May you not open the door for the devil in Jesus’ name!
The Amplified version says:
2Co 2:11 (AMPC) To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us…
Check more translations:
2Co 2:11 (BBE) So that Satan may not get the better of us…
2Co 2:11 (ERV) I did this so that Satan would not win anything from us…
2Co 2:11 (GNB) in order to keep Satan from getting the upper hand over us…
2Co 2:11 (GW) I don’t want Satan to outwit us…
2Co 2:11 (TPT) so that we would not be exploited by the adversary…
These are the reason why you burn the list!
Don’t “carry” that list into the new year! Let’s Burn That List of Personal Grudges
God bless and honour you as you hearken to these words and let go of every offence!
Have a great day!
If you missed our Morning Devotion today, check the Video below for REVIVE Day 9
An End To All Affliction! Sally is the quintessential official Lord of the Rings! She has gotten so many rings that were later either thrown away, sold or collected back by erratic, flash in the pan lovers! She had gone through cycles of acceptance and love only to be followed by rejection and she is beginning to think that there is a curse following her. She believes the “village people” are “sitting” on her destiny because of her “star!” She even tried to be nice and overly courteous in her subsequent relationships, but the approach never worked. Her second name seemed to be afflictions.
The Johnsons are the award winners of The Tom and Jerry Couple. They fought at every opportunity. Playfully, seriously, they kept at it. At a time, they even thought it must be the elder sister of the wife’s mum that is behind their afflictions!
They never agreed on anything together. They were always at loggerheads and at each other’s throats! It is what you will call a toxic relationship. Imagine two people wrapped in thorns who are trying to embrace each other! They kept hurting one another! Can there be An End To All Affliction?
Let’s look at the scripture!
Mar 13:19 (KJV) For in those days shall be affliction, such AS WAS NOT FROM THE BEGINNING of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
Afflictions were never part of the plan of God for your relationships or marriage!
Again, look at another scripture in direct reference to marriage!
Mat 19:8 (KJV) He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but FROM THE BEGINNING IT WAS NOT SO.
Jesus, all these afflictions, all the anomalies were never there from the beginning! They came in along the way! They are experiences to be rejected, not entertained!
The anomalies were never part of God’s original plan! There must be An End To All Affliction!
I love the way Message Translation puts it!
Mat 19:8 (MSG) Jesus said, “Moses provided for divorce as a concession to your hardheartedness, but it IS NOT PART OF GOD’S ORIGINAL PLAN.
The word “affliction” in Matt. 13:19 is “thlipsis” in Greek which means pressure, compression, affliction, distress of mind, distressing circumstances, and trial
Are you going through any of the above? It is time to get out of them because they are not in God’s original plans for you.
Apostle Paul used same Greek word here:
2Co 2:4 (KJV) For out of much affliction and anguish of heart
I pray for you, every anguish of hearts in your relationship and marriage ends today in Jesus’ name! There is An End To All Affliction!
If you notice, what we treat on the devotional each day is also the teaching and prayer focus on REVIVE, our daily Prayer Meeting, so you may want to check the video below the page and pray alongside whatever we look at each day in the devotional.
Buried Dreams and Lost Hopes. Sally used to be a highly spirited girl with a bright future ahead of her until she mixed with bad friends and her life seemed to nosedive into an endless abyss. She is now at a point where she believes nothing good can come out of her life because of the experiences she has been through. She thinks she is too far gone and that all God promised her has been scrapped. She tactically buried her dreams and lost all hope!
Before the Johnsons got married, they were so on fire for God, advancing in their career and their marriage seemed like the best thing that would ever happen. As singles, they had wonderful dreams and shared these together as they were preparing for marriage. They believed that “He that finds a wife finds good and obtains favour from the Lord.
They believed that “if two or more people shall ask anything of the Father, it shall be done. They were looking forward to multiplied strength of chasing ten thousand as they’ve individually chased a thousand!
But it was not to be. The pressures of marriage, the unattended issues, the pent-up tensions, the quarrels and strife all came with shovels and diggers and successfully buried their dreams and hopes.
Eze 37:11 (KJV) Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
What should Sally do? How will the Johnsons ever come out of the graveyard where their dreams and hopes have been buried? Would their Buried Dreams and Lost Hopes come alive?
Eze 37:12-13 (KJV) Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 (KJV) And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
Wow! God said He would open up the graves! And bring out all the dreams and hopes! You probably thought it is over, but not with my God! God is rekindling the fire! All hopes lost are going to be found again!
Eze 37:14 (KJV) And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Your dreams will Iive. All Buried Dreams and Lost Hopes are coming alive! The graves will be confounded and exhumed!
God said it, and it would indeed happen! This is the word of the Lord unto you! God will bring all your dreams out of the grave! You will live again!
You Will Never Be Left Stranded! David was anointed king at the age of seventeen, but the reality of the throne was far from him.
So what happened? He became a worker under Saul and helped Saul to drive away the evil spirits troubling him in the palace. He would simply play his harps.
As he helped Saul in one way or the other, what he didn’t know was that he was securing his future and that when the time comes for him, help would arise for him as well.
A time came in his life that he actually needed help. He had been anointed king, but he could not ascend the throne!
Have you ever been there before? You know what God said you will become, but the reality seemed far away!
What you need is help from God.
All is set, you have a good job, you earn good money, and your spiritual life is great, but there is no spouse.
You are married, but there is a certain area where there is no fulfillment.
You simply need help. And sometimes, that help could just be one person away.
If you have helped others in one way or the other, if your seed has advanced the kingdom, help will show up for you!
God will never leave you stranded.
David had sown into the vision of Saul. He has served. He helped bring Goliath down. He played harp for Saul.
A time came in his life, he needed help to fulfill God’s purpose.
Yes, he was anointed, and yes he was a man of God, but he could not do anything by himself. Men had to help!
Listen to me, this morning, you will not lack help when it is needed in Jesus’ name! You Will Never Be Left Stranded!
So what happened? Let’s check it out. This is one of the foundation scriptures of our ministry.
“For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God. And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.” (1Ch 12:22-23, KJV)
Can you see that? Day by day, they came to help him.
This year, you will experience day-by-day help in Jesus’ name. You Will Never Be Left Stranded!
David had once helped another man, now when his turn came that he required help, help showed up for him.
Those people came to turn the kingdom of Saul to him. He was the one that was anointed, he was the one chosen, yet he couldn’t do it all by himself until help showed up for him.
Whatever God asks you to do at any time, do it, for therein lies your success in whatever you do from that time.
The ways of God are past finding out. God doesn’t always make sense. But He can never lead you wrong!
As the year inches to an end, and another year roll in, I pray for you, You Will Never Be Left Stranded! God in His infinite mercy will send help your way in Jesus’ name!
Skin Deep Or Real Thing? Sally is in love with George but George is not in love with Sally! It is not a good idea to be in love with the one that is not in love with. Outwardly, the relationship looks cool, like something you even want to envy, but it’s actually riddled with insecurities, endless quarrels and perpetual suspicion. The relationship is only skin deep!
The Johnsons who have been married for a while are great actors. They have been living in a cycle of strife, but they have learnt to put up appearances. All they are interested in is how people see them, not how God sees them. They are just going through the motions, their love is just skin deep and any little provocation would result in expulsion of deep seated magma within the crust of their hearts.
We have been looking at the book of Ezekiel for a while, and this morning, I want to show you an insight God gave me here which describes many relationships and marriages! Skin Deep Or Real Thing?
We looked at verse 7 yesterday. Today, we are looking at verse 8
Eze 37:8 (KJV) And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
Sinews, flesh and skin came upon the bones! What an astounding miracle!
But there is a “But”
It says there is no breath in them! It was a miracle, but not complete!
This describes a lot of relationships and marriages. Just skin deep. Covered with sinews and flesh, but no breath. So it is still lifeless.
A little provocation, there is fight. A little correction there is strife for a month. A different opinion, there are tantrums, withdrawal, and silent treatments! Good and playful intentions are seen as an affront and disrespect. The couple is walking on egg shells!
That relationship or marriage has sinews, flesh and skin, but no breath! Skin Deep Or Real Thing?
What did God do? He didn’t give up.
He said again, Prophesy!
So you don’t give up at this stage. There is hope because it’s not completely dry bones again, at least there is sinews and skin now!
Pray this morning, that God will complete His work in your life, relationship and marriage in Jesus name! You may also use REVIVE day 5 to pray as that was what we discussed and prayed about. You will see the video below!
Bone To His Bone. Let me start by wishing you a beautiful Merry Christmas! I pray that you experience the reason for the season!
Today, we will quickly continue with our study and look at Ezekiel 37. We stooped earlier at verse 5.
Eze 37:6-7 (KJV) And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. [7] So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
Where I am going exactly is verse 7!
and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
This morning, this is the word of the Lord for you!
Bones are coming together! Bone to his bone!
What are bones here? Take a look at this scripture here:
Gen 2:23a (KJV) And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones,
When Adam saw Eve for the first time this was what he said!
I pray for you this morning, bones are coming into alignment for you!
Things are coming together for you in a beautiful sequence.
The lines will fall on you in pleasant places. All things are working together for you!
The valley of dry bones was a hopeless situation. The bones were not only dry but they were also scattered!
Everything was in disarray!
Yet God performed a miracle!
Bone came to his bone!
God will give you a miracle in your relationship or marriage!
For singles, bones will come together! In supernatural circumstances, you will meet that God-ordained person in Jesus’ name!
For couples, in every marriage that has been “scattered” there is a coming together!
Scattered communication, scattered emotions, misplaced affection, and so many issues! Irrespective of what it is, God is performing a miracle in your marriage today!
The situation is intense with the Johnsons. The marriage is extremely troubled. There have been accusations and counter-accusations. Wrong words have been said. Strife and bitterness have become the order of the day. The marriage seems headed for a resounding crash.
Sally’s relationship with her fiancee is troubled too. She changed her status to “it’s complicated” because that is what could describe the scenarios.
Both situations above can be described as deep valley experiences.
In our study in Ezekiel 37 yesterday, we saw that the beginning instruction that God gave to the prophet is to prophesy, and say something!
The next verse says:
Eze 37:5 (KJV) Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
God is revealing His plan of action! Your Relationship or Marriage Will Live
He is going to cause His breath to enter into that relationship or marriage and it will Iive.
It doesn’t matter if the marriage seems dead.
God has a plan of action. Something will “enter”
I pray for you this morning, God will breathe into your relationship, and cause it to live in Jesus’ name!
His breath is the power of the Holy Spirit.
How much of the Holy Spirit are you giving space for in your relationship or marriage?
Oh Pastor, don’t spiritualize this!
Well, no matter how disconnected you are from the Holy Spirit, no matter how far away from developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit, the truth remains that the Holy Spirit is the one that will do most of the work within you.
You are the one that will enter yourself. The breath God will cause to enter is not some air, it is the person of the Holy Spirit. Your Relationship or Marriage Will Live
If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, that is the coolest thing that can happen to you and your spouse or fiance.
The next thing is to bring alive your relationship with the Holy Spirit so that you may live and your relationship or marriage may live.
You do this by communicating with Him and listening to Him for instructions on what to do and how to do it.
You should no longer live by reactions, feelings, and sentiments! All these don’t bring life.
What will bring life is a conscious and deliberate relationship with the Holy Spirit
Open Your Mouth Sound is powerful. When a baby is born, the first sign of life is that the baby makes a sound. Once the baby cries out, everybody is happy! Why is this so? It is because sound announces life!
We started looking at Ezekiel 37 yesterday!
The situation was hopeless. It was a valley of not just dry bones, but very dry bones!
Where do we even start? If it’s somebody who just died, maybe there will be a window of hope for resurrection. But very dry bones?
Is your relationship or marriage like a valley of dry bones? Well, the first instruction God gave to Ezekiel is to open his mouth!
Eze 37:4 (KJV) Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
You will need to do the same in your situation. Notice, God did not argue or deny the dryness of the bones!
But open your mouth and say “Hear the word of the Lord…” Open Your Mouth
This is what we are doing with REVIVE! Hear me, nothing withstands the word of God!
The teaching and prayers for REVIVE Day 2 is on Youtube and You can access it here!
So open your mouth and begin to declare life into that relationship or marriage! Begin to say the right things!
Ignore all the attitudes or uncooperative attitudes of your spouse. Focus on the instruction!
As singles, it’s the same thing. Speak life into that relationship and say what you want to experience rather than what you are experiencing!
The dry bones were in a valley…
When either of the spouse is in a valley, things are unclear, sight is obscured, and the mountaintop advantage is absent.
So ignore attitudes and pull yourselves out of that pit of depression, confusion, and irritation toward your loved one! Open Your Mouth
Where do you think all the irritation and hatred are coming from? Where do you think all the assumptions are coming from?
Sure you know they are not from the Holy Spirit. They are coming straight from hell. Demonic entities assigned to ruin things for you. But you reject their antics by opening your mouth!
Do you know you are a repairer, a renovator and restorer?
Isa 58:12b (KJV)…and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
You are a repairer of the breach!
Take a look at the Message Translation
Isa 58:12b (MSG) …You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
Your relationship or marriage can be livable again!
How? By the word!
You build by the word.
God himself framed the world with His word. We are created in His image, so we can build our world with the Word too!
Open your mouth and let God fill it with choice words that will navigate you out of that depression and confusion!
I speak life to your relationship or marriage now! I command the power of hell to be broken over your life in Jesus’ name! If there is any sickness of pain you have, I command them to leave now in Jesus name! Be healed now!
I want to be sincere with the question I want to ask right now.
With the way your marriage is, is there still any hope yet?
Have you given up on your marriage or relationship and you are just going through the motions?
What is your response?
I want to show you something powerful this morning, which was what we taught on REVIVE Day 1. If you missed it on Mixlr earlier this morning at 5.00am, there will be a repeat broadcast on YouTube soon.
I was writing a story yesterday! Permit me to pause the story and I will be back to continue the story later!
Can These Bones Live?
Eze 37:1 (KJV) The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
These valleys were full of bones and Ezekiel must have been asking, what is God up to here? I mean these are dry bones and nothing much can come out of them.
Have you come to a place like that in your marriage where you believe it can’t be good again?
Have you been in a cycle of strife and bitterness that you believe marriage is not for you?
Have you had so many broken relationships as singles that you believe you should just remain single?
This is where Ezekiel found himself. Can These Bones Live?
Verse 2 makes it worse!
Eze 37:2 (KJV) And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
Lo, they were very dry! It’s not a little dry and but very dry!
Things have gone really bad!
Eze 37:3 (KJV) And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
If Ezekiel were a Nigerian, he would be like “God, are you whinning me? How can they live?
He said, God, it’s you that knows!
Are you in that place already? Can your marriage be good again?
Uhmm, It’s God that knows!
When will you get married?
It’s God that knows!
This is what we addressed and prayed about this morning! Can These Bones Live?
God is asking you that question not to point you to the impossibility but to ignite your hope that He will intervene in your situation!
God will come through for you!
He will intervene!
The first step is to let all aches and bitterness go! Let God! Forgive and let God bring something new in your life!
God was trying to work on the heart of Ezekiel with that question!
God wants to heal your heart first!
Psa 12:5 (MSG) Into the hovels of the poor, Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks: “I’ve had enough; I’m on my way TO HEAL THE ACHE IN THE HEART OF the wretched.”
Decide to forgive one more time. Decide to let go of bitterness!
Watch the video below the page anytime from around 8am and use the prayers!
In The Hole – The Assault. In one deft kick, I sent him sprawling on the ground. He couldn’t believe it. In a melange of consternation and agony, he came for me. I was ready for him and I expected that. His consternation arose from the reality of a lady humiliating him like that, a rather slim lady. His agony from the lethal pain I carefully meted out to him.
I knew something like that might happen at such an ungodly hour. It was a risk I had to take as I was feeling feverish and I couldn’t stay throughout the party. I had to risk it and walk home. My bestie that would have walked me home was as drunk as a fish.
In The Hole – The Assault
This unwanted ally had approached me thinking he had easy meat to fry. He was going to sexually assault me, and I was in no mood for such. Little did he know I was a black belter.
His consternation and agony morphed into a fearful fury as he saw that I did not run from his charge. He came with his right hand raised and clenched. The mistake of his life.
He swung his right hand with all his might with the intention to knock me out, and he could have, but I dodged in a very cute way, by bending a little, and that was all the opportunity I needed. My clenched knuckles landed on the region between his thighs. His eyes popped out as he grabbed his balls, then a scream, and then he yelled in vernacular, “Ye mo gbe o, Aje lomo yi o.“
I chuckled. It’s not only a witch you will see, you will soon see a wizard. The pernicious knuckles I gave him had him in the hole, writhing in pain. I walked away.
That pain meant nothing to me. All my life had been one of pain.
In The Hole – The Assault
How did I get here? My early years were all loving and cute until the enemy interrupted me. I used to be a church girl. I still remember my first memory verse. Will never forget it.
Pro 1:10 (KJV) My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
I was just five years old then. Looking back, I had not only consented, but I am now the sinner enticing others. I was holed up in the hole.
It’s not even funny. Mu mum would convulse in her grave to have an inkling of how my life is.
My dad? He is alive but does not exist in my life. I care less. I hate him too.
When The Flags Go Red. Sally knew within her something is not right. But she ignored them because she felt nobody is perfect. She decided to overlook all the red signs. She should have met the couple next door, the Johnsons, the husband saw all the red flags and decided to “skip the part” Now a major issue is pulling them apart in their marriage!
What are these red flags, as singles or married? Let’s take a look at one today!
When The Flags Go Red
Red Flags Before Wedding
Lies and Deception
Your lover tells lies and you know! Really a red flag. If it has become habitual, the storyline would likely continue after the wedding. Habits don’t die easily unless one is willing to really confront them head-on. But the challenge with a habitual lair is that he or she is already courting with the spirit of deception. That same spirit responsible for always cooking up lies and telling others would also lie to the lar. This is what you call self-deception!
The habitual lair sees lying as sport or fun! This even becomes intense because God warned about this sternly!
Joh 8:44 (KJV) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The devil himself is a liar and the father of all liars.
This is really fearful, to say the least.
Again, the Bible says without mincing words here that lairs have a damnable destination!
Rev 21:8 (KJV) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, AND ALL LIARS, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Like Bishop Oyedepo would say, Caution! Caution! Caution!
A lying spirit should not be accommodated in one’s life! When The Flags Go Red
You can even take it further and discover that all adulterous lifestyles, all cheating, unfaithfulness, or infidelity are predicated on lies! An adulterer would be a good liar!
The one flesh principle of marriage, however, stipulates that when you are telling a lie to your spouse, you are lying to yourself because you are one!
Can you now see how chaotic things can get with this undesirable habit?
A lover who lies is raising a red flag for you to see!
A spouse who lies is toying with the marriage because telling lies hobnobbing directly with the devil himself. The door will be left open and the devil will explore that loophole!
Now, people tell lies for a lot of reasons, but that won’t stop the consequences! Some were even taught to lie by parents and guardians especially if you are from a polygamous setting or a broken home!
The reality is that you have to take charge of your life! You have to be responsible. Decide to confront the habit and come open before God like Jacob had to do! When The Flags Go Red
Your openness, sincerity, and integrity will save not only save you and your family and prevent unnecessary tears and agony but would also save your regeneration unborn! Put your feet down and let the devil know you will not be a gateway to his antics and deception in your lineage!
Be sincere with your spouse knowing that you will have to face God one day and give account! Why don’t you talk to God now?
There is a Good News! As we had meetings after meeting via Whatsapp with singles and married, a lot of deep questions come up that can’t be answered with some steps but require deep counseling and therapy! Kisses and Huggs Club has several books, courses, and counseling packages that can help out. However, I see a lot of people are not making the investment maybe because they don’t know the worth or are not financially disposed. Well, the good news is that all of us can now hop on our resources and enjoy the following:
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What Version Is Your Lover? Sally is such a beautiful girl. Her gentle mien, so angelic was an attraction to George who is hopelessly in love with her. Their love story looked straight out of the movies. Everything looked good. Till they began their courtship. Well they say, beauty is only skin deep. The person who lies beneath the skin showed up. the real Goerge within George met the real Sally within Sally! Things began to fall apart and the center could not hold.
They managed and got married thinking once wedded, their demons would leave them. Alas, it was not to be. It was as if the issues got married too and followed them to honeymoon and then to home.
Every time, Sally wished she could have back the George she met when he proposed to her. George longed for the Sally that used to cause all the butterflies to spread their wings in a romantic matric within his tummy, but he couldn’t find her.
What really happened? What Version Is Your Lover?
Do you want to know what happened?
You see, when two people are together, as singles in courtship or as a married couple, and begin to “abuse” the relationship or marriage, they inadvertently create another version of a lover or spouse!
When you “mistreat” your spouse continually, taking advantage of him or her, always the one doing one wrong thing or the other, there would be a reaction. That reaction is the version of a lover you have created with perpetual carelessness and insensitivity to your spouse. There comes a time, you are almost looking for your lover and can’t find him or her, yet beside you!
Son 3:1 (KJV) By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
And the devil loves this. Both the person causing the issue and the one reacting are both in the flesh. Both sides believe the other is wrong. The hatred with which you hate now becomes greater than the love you use to love!
2Sa 13:15 (KJV) Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
May you not be found in this milieu!
What Version Is Your Lover? Depending on who is on the receiving end, you either have a version of a husband who is cranky most of the time, prefer to come home late to avoid trouble, and whose vulnerability without the home is beginning to trap him or a version of a wife who is withdrawn, withholding sex, bitter and depressed.
This happens in courtship too. You keep taking advantage of that relationship, apologizing every day and yet going back the next day to do the same thing, like you are the one anointed to create problems and the other is empowered to deal with the mess. After a while, you create a version of an angry lover who might eventually walk away.
The coordinates I am trying to establish this morning are very simple. What version of lover or spouse do you think you have created? What Version Is Your Lover?
How long will you stay in the flesh, remain stubborn, and stay in strife because you think you are right? How long will you open the door for the devil because of ego? How long will you continue to deny your weakness and bad habits that is causing woes for your spouse? For how long will you allow a spirit of deception to have a hold on your soul and refuse to confront the obvious?
Will you cry to the Lord this morning and ask for help? Will you seek the needed counsel you need or watch as thing degenerate more?
This is my conteplation this morning! You’ve got to take charge come out to open and honest and begin to treat and love your lover or spouse as the scripture recommended.
Amo 3:3 (KJV) Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Are you truly submitting to your husband? Are you truly loving your wife? Are you truly having a godly relationship without sex as singles? Selah before you answer the questions and let them lead you to a point of change and decision!
Don’t Stop The Music! No matter how Sally tried, she was never happy! Her past seemed to haunt her at every point. Her experiences in the past had become a monster reaching beyond her present and even into her future and everything looked bleak for her. Even after the wedding when she thought things would change, they pretty much remained the same!
I want to quickly write to singles and married this morning. What is expected of you? What does God want from you? While we cannot exhaust them all, here is a quick excursion into that discourse.
Isa 35:10 (KJV) And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
If you look at the above scripture, you will see that being glad and joyful is a choice you need to make!
Don’t Stop The Music!
Go after God. Let Him be the lover of your soul before you start looking for a lover of your body. Your single years should be expended on a hot pursuit after God. You see, that is the season of your life when you have the most time. After the wedding, you are going to get so busy! You should be so busy for God that there is no time for depression or some negativities.
For those who are married, let God be your priority in your family. Let Him have the rule over your family and all affairs. Trust me, as we learned on our Whatsapp Community yesterday, to keep the music on, you will need God all the way!
Don’t Stop The Music!
I taught yesterday via WhatsApp, that what the devil wants is to mute your music and stop your dance and move from a dance ballroom into a boxing ring where all you do is fight and bicker.
Even in courtship, the devil hates your music and dance. He doesn’t want you happy! He wants your relationship riddled with quarrels.
His method is to get you to sin and offend God through sexual sins so that you can be cut off from God and His favour!
Don’t Stop The Music!
Make up your mind to live for God!
Your first song is “Nobody stops my music and dance! “
Don’t let any past issues, past abuse, or past experiences stop your music.
You need that atmosphere of joy and rejoicing to get things done and have perpetual victory as single or married.
Have you ever fought and stayed in strife with your lover or spouse till you forget what even caused it in the first place? That’s the attempt of the devil to stop your joy!
Don’t allow him. You have that choice to make! Don’t Stop The Music!
There is a way to love him without unloving God. There is a way to love him and yet be godly. There is a way to make God happy while making him glad. How do you achieve that?
You see the moment you love him to the detriment of your relationship with God, things can really go awry.
Your goal is never to offend God in your bid to make him happy. Let’s take a look at a few things.
How To Respect Your Man
Respect
Col 3:18-19 (AMP) Wives, be subject to your husbands [ subordinate and adapt yourselves to them ], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives [ be affectionate and sympathetic with them ] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them.
Singles:
How To Respect Your Man
Respect is a major issue for men. An average man out there is egocentric. Your ego is always there even after giving your life to Jesus. There is nothing wrong with ego, but being overly egocentric is not too wise; especially when you take it out on her all the time. It is this issue of ego that men have that makes respect a big issue for them. It is not uncommon to hear from men, even when you are not yet married, “You don’t respect me!”
As singles, there should be a limit to which you can be subservient because you are not yet married. You see, until you are married properly, and legally, there are some things that should not be dabbled into. You cannot say in your bid to respect a husband-to-be, you now allow yourself to be trampled over. You cannot lose your virtue in your bid to respect your fiance. Let me explain further with an example. He wants sex. You know it is a sin and God frowns at it.
You are not being respectful when you cooperate with him to disobey God. That is not being respectful, that is being disobedient! You see, you cannot satisfy your fiance at the expense of God. If you try that, you are sowing the seeds that will truncate that very relationship. It is God that will keep your relationship up until your marriage, not your cooperation with sin.
Another example. He has a family function. He asks you to come over and be part of the function. Being your future husband, you obeyed. You went there, and it’s getting late and you ask where you will pass the night. He says you are sleeping over with him. You say, No, you are not yet married and he gets angry. At that point, you are either going to “respect” him or “respect” God!
To wrap this up, respect for him that translates to disrespect for God should never be entertained. Let your respect for him be guided by God’s word. Respect does not mean being stupid or foolish! Anything you try to do to respect him which translates to disrespecting God will backfire. It just won’t work out, and at the end of the day, all your bid to respect him will end in disrespect of your person.
Married Couples:
How To Respect Your Man
For married couples, it is also a major issue. The Bible advises that as a wife, you should submit to your own husband. Respect for your husband is not just a physical issue; it is a deeply spiritual issue. The devil knows this and capitalizes on it. As a wife, if your husband keeps saying you don’t respect him, don’t ignore it. You need to get to the root of it.
Usually, you will not agree with him when he says that and it even hurts you to hear that, but if he keeps saying that, you need to calm down and not flare up. Usually, men are thinkers, and before they say something, they have thought about it and concluded. Of course, their conclusions can be very selfish and wrong most times, but for peace to reign in your home, don’t ignore him when he says that.
What do you do if he keeps saying that and yet you can’t see what he is saying? As I said, men and women seem to be from different planets because they think and process differently. So, what you need to do is to seek to understand what he sees and wants in terms of respect.
What is the specific definition of respect for your husband?
Is it in terms of greeting and genuflecting when you greet? Is it in terms of cooking certain delicacies? Is it in terms of food is ready by the time he gets home? Is it in terms of your cooperation with him in spiritual things? Is it in terms of your willingness and excitement in bed? Is it in terms of your career and business? Is it in terms of the way you answer him back when he talks? Is it in terms of how you treat him in the presence of his friends or your own friends? Is it in terms of finances? Is it in terms of your spending habits? Is it in terms of how you treat the children? Is it in terms of the kinds of friends you keep? And the list goes on!
So you see, why the statement, “You don’t respect me!” should not be ignored? As couples, go out eating or when you are very relaxed, say something like this:
“Dear, You know I love you? I want you to know that. I know you often say that I don’t respect you, but I really want to make you happy. Do you know sometimes, I don’t really understand what you meant by that? Can you explain this to me further? How do you want me to respect you? Tell me in practical terms and give me examples if possible so that I can understand better. I don’t want anything coming in between us, you know you are my crown.”
When you say something like that, watch your tone and your countenance! Don’t raise your voice, maintain eye contact, smile all the while, and touch him while saying that. When he starts trying to explain, don’t get angry. That is not the time to get hurt over one use of a word; it is time to try to get what he is really trying to say. Even if he gets back to raising his voice while trying to explain, allow it, because that shows it is really a big issue for him, so absorb it because your goal is not to argue or defend yourself, it is your goal to let him explain so that you understand what he really wants.
After he is done, and you get what he is really saying, hold his hands and tell him, you are going to work at it. Tell him you will need his help by being patient and gentle with you. When you are done, ask him to pray for you! He might be shy or say he doesn’t know how to pray if that is the first time, but tell him you just want him to bless you because he is anointed as the head of the house.
As you do this, you will see some improvements. That statement, “You don’t respect me!” will gradually reduce with time.
Why I have gone to this extent to break it down? I am committed to the success of your relationship and marriage. It is my passion and assignment and God has given me tremendous grace to do that. I pray God will grant you grace to follow His principles which will ensure the success of your relationship/marriage.
