I Woke Up With A Dream: Unrest In the Land. Dreams and visions are valid languages of God through which He often chooses to communicate to us. The Holy Spirit will reveal and bring warnings as needs be from time to time.
You will recall that Joseph had dreams. You will also recall that Joseph had a dream in which He was instructed to run away with Jesus. Have you ever thought why God would ask Joseph to run away as against protecting them without having to run?
Peter had a trance in Acts 10
It was somewhat of unrest and I am calling on us to Let’s Pray Against Unrest In Nigeria
People and vehicles were still able to move about but in panic. I saw crowds. I saw people running and trying to escape from something. What it was, I don’t know exactly.
I saw people crushed under the weight of others running and trying to escape.
I saw people fall into ditches and sink below the ground. There was pandemonium. There were a few deaths here and there.
It looked like unrest, not a war situation. Riots and unrest, and the accompanying violence and looting that follows.
People were kind of animated and excited, and yet you could see fear and panic at the same time. It was also a picture of confusion. Maybe you want to call it civil unrest. However, there were casualties.
I believe strongly this is a prophetic dream.
This is calling on the body of Christ to pray! This kind of dream will come because God wants us to pray to avert the plans of the devil at such a time as this.
While I will in no way impose my convictions on people, I feel strongly that God is asking the body of Christ to pray about this!
May our nation be preserved in God. May God give us a leader after His own heart!
May Nigeria be great again! Let’s Pray Against Unrest In Nigeria
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY We will not be thrown into confusion
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, heal our Nation
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 2Ch 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
The Weapon of Delilah Today. We started on this yesterday. We will conclude today. The next question is how did Delilah get Samson eventually despite that Samson knew she wanted to deliver him to his enemies? You see it right there!
Jdg 16:16 KJVAnd it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
She pressed him with words! This is The Weapon of Delilah Today
The lesson here is simple. Once you can see that a person is not the type of person to relate with, disconnect fast. If you give some allowance, you will be pressed with ‘words!’
See The Message Translation
Jdg 16:16 (MSG) She kept at it day after day, nagging and tormenting him. Finally, he was fed up—he couldn’t take another minute of it.
Words are spirits! The moment you start going out on an innocent date with that inappropriate person, you will be pressed with words. Your soul will be so much vexed and before you know it, you’ve started eating what you know will kill you!
If he or she is not a child of God, run! If he or she is not your spouse, run! If you allow yourself to be pressed with words, you will compromise!
The second card that Delilah played is here: Jdg 16:15 MSG She said, “How can you say ‘I love you’ when you won’t even trust me? Three times now you’ve toyed with me, like a cat with a mouse, refusing to tell me the secret of your great strength.”
How many times have you heard that from folk demanding sex in a courtship?
“If you really love me, bla…bla…bla.”
I have shown you two strategies that were used to ‘finish’ The Weapon of Delilah Today. Samson’s destiny! Delilah here can be a guy or a lady.
Learn from that wisdom. A word is enough for the wise. May God grant you the wisdom and strength to run away from every ‘Delilah’ in your life!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am protected
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, shield me from enemies who say they are friends
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Joh 15:12 (KJV) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Ten Good Habits of Great Couples. A lot of married couples are often caught up in the hustles and bustles of life and become distracted. Here is a reminder list of what you should do regularly to each other and how to go about it.
Ten Good Habits of Great Couples. 1. The Praying Couple
Pray for her. Let it be genuine. This helps you to harness the help of God to come to bear for you.
2. The Calling Couple Whether you will see each other later in the day is not the issue, the issue is that communication is the live wire of any relationship or marriage that will survive. Keep in touch. Send SMS. Use chats.
3. The Exchanging Couple It doesn’t have to be expensive! But let it be touching. Notice what I wrote, exchange gifts; not collect gifts! Those little gestures help to keep the fire of your relationship and marriage aflame.
4. The Sharing Couple Share with him or her what God is dealing with you in His word. Whatever God tells you in your devotion or in your personal walk with God, will also bless him or her as long as it blesses you.
5. The Encouraging Couple You are his number-one fan. You are her number-one fan. Don’t discourage each other. Don’t dissipate your energy on criticism. Be aware that your input goes a long way because you are the closest person.
6. The Forgiving Couple Forgive each other so that your heavenly father will forgive you also. You are not perfect, are you? So don’t become a judge, rather lovingly overlook and forget any mistakes that are meant to show up.
7. The Correcting Couple Do you know it takes up to nine affirming statements to be able to accommodate and see one criticism as it should be seen? But you know what people do is give nine brutally critical statements and one of none of affirming statements. It will not yield any positive result like that.
8. The Obedient Couple Seek to help each other in obeying God’s instructions. You are the greatest influence. Don’t encourage him or her to sin. Stand on the path of truth and help him or her to resist temptations.
9. The Balanced Couple Don’t feed each other’s weaknesses. Rather, you should balance him or her out, because you will always have strength in areas where he or she is weak. Be available to help him stand. Be there to help her say No to iniquity. Don’t be seen as a partner in crime, or partner in iniquity. Let him or her be able to say, I trust my spouse; he will never compromise. Trust one another and protect your trust.
10. The Accountable Couple Be accountable together. Make sure you have a mentor you talk to from time to time. Sometimes, very intense issues and disagreements are dissolved with a few statements. Well, that is the grace of God upon our lives and upon this ministry; to provide positive intervention in crisis-laden marriages and to provide godly counsel for those in courtship. Accountability to those who have done what you are trying to do is a lot of wisdom. Stay close to these devotionals that have been succor to a lot of marriages and relationships across the world, discuss them from time to time and keep on making adjustments! So help us, God! These are the Ten Good Habits of Great Couples.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I respect my spouse out of respect and honor for God.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY God, I receive grace to love my spouse in my relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 4:27 (KJV) Neither give place to the devil.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Find practical ways to be a great couple
How To Deal With Delilahs Today. The story of Samson and Delilah will never cease to amaze me. Samson was called by God, anointed, and appointed. He was one of the privileged few whose birth was announced by an angel! His birth and assignment were that significant.
However, he had a terrible weakness, and that is women! Samson was a womanizer. He would see a woman and completely lose his bearing. His erection would become his direction.
Jdg 16:1 KJV Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
He was uncontrollable when it came to girls! Despite that he was anointed and appointed, he eventually became a disappointment because he would not deal with his weakness.
He was so undisciplined that all he needed to lose his bearing was just to ‘see’ a woman. At one time, he saw a lady and he could not speak his language correctly! He said, “…get her for me to wife!”
Jdg 14:2 KJV And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
This is the kind of person Samson was. The result? His eyes were gouged out and he was caught off in the midst of his days.
How To Deal With Delilahs Today. Delilah wanted to find out the secret of Samson’s power with the intent of killing him. Samson knew Delilah wanted to set him up and yet he refused to disconnect from her. Three times, Samson deceived Delilah about the secret of his power, and those three times, the Philistines came upon him to kill him, so Samson knew really well what was Delilah’s intention. Yet he clung to Delilah and would not let go.
How many of us are in this kind of scenario today? We find ourselves in an ungodly relationship, that we know is heavily compromised and yet we would not let go! You find yourself to be in love with a person that constantly abuses you and yet you did not run for your life. You find yourself in love with the one that is not in love with you. You find yourself to be in love with a person that does not value you. You find yourself in love with a person that beats you up at any little provocation and yet you cling to that relationship.
You can see that the person you are amorously in love with is leading you straight to hell, yet you cling to the person. You can see that the person you love is about to introduce you into the world of illicit drug use, and yet you stay there professing your love! You can see that the person you met in the church is not really a child of God by virtue of what he or she has done to you and with you and yet you refuse to heed warnings.
My advice to you this morning is simple. Don’t become another Samson. You are gifted, don’t let it end with asking God to let you die! Don’t let it culminate in you being delivered right into your enemies’ hands. Don’t let it get to the point where your spiritual eyes are dismembered, and you can longer behold the perfect law of liberty! Don’t let it be that the brother or sister that has been greatly used by God is now a pitiable sight to behold.
Run for your life! If Samson had run, maybe he would have been saved. But his undisciplined life led him to his death. Flee! That is what the scripture says. When the scripture says run, do not say ‘let’s reason together!’ This is How To Deal With Delilahs Today
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am kept by God’s power
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, protect me from evil
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 119:22 (KJV) Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
Identifying The Wrong Voices In Marriage. God is a good God. God speaks to us. The devil is a bad devil. He also attempts to speak to us. That is why the scripture declares:
Joh 10:4-5 (MKJV) And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him. For they know his voice. [5] And they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
As children of God, God speaks to us as a father will speak to his children. When we listen to His voice, we will not get into problems. When we disregard His voice, we start listening to another voice. The moment we don’t flee or run away from that voice, we get into a serious mess.
When we make up our minds to listen to God and fill our hearts with His word daily and consistently, we will not listen or take heed to the voice of the evil one. That is why the way Jesus refuted and refused to listen to the voice of the devil during the temptation was to speak out God’s word. Three times he was tempted, three times he said, ‘It is written…’ What if he doesn’t know what is written?
This morning, by the Spirit of God, I want to identify ten areas where we might have been listening to the wrong voice. It comes in subtle ways mostly.
The devil often uses people and situations to speak to us. We must be careful. Here are the people and voices the devil often uses.
Identifying The Wrong Voices In marriage.
1. The user’s voice I can marry her, but I don’t have to be committed to her
2. The deceiver’s voice I don’t have to let my spouse know everything, or else the marriage can be jeopardized.
3. The religious voice Everybody has a lover somewhere, God must accommodate that or we will all go to hell.
4. The foolish voice As long as I have a prophet somewhere that I consult and prays for me, I can continue with my lifestyle.
5. The sensual voice I am not sure of my spouse’s commitment. I can as well explore and also live my life.
6. The greedy voice I can collect money from him to help my spouse. After all, it’s for the family. It’s for us and that can be a secret. If I don’t do it, we will be hungry.
7. The unbeliever’s voice My family does not need Jesus. I have enough money. It is poor and hungry people that go around praying. Are you Identifying The Wrong Voices In Marriage already?
8. The self-righteous voice I don’t want my family to be fanatical. We don’t have to go to church. The church is full of hypocrites.
9. The carnal voice I serve God passionately and I give. But God knows that addictions cannot really go like that. I will keep on working on it and one day God might even give me a sign to stop.
10. The confused voice The only way to keep this man married to me is to allow him have his way with other ladies out there. As long as he doesn’t bring them home, he can do whatever he wants. Life is give and take, I can’t be policing him around, since he doesn’t disturb me from doing what I am doing.
Well, all the above statements are defective These types of statements are defective statements indicative and symptomatic of deeper spiritual problems. They are belief systems that are sure to crack and leave you cracked. That will not be your portion in Jesus’ name.
If you are married, and one or more of the above seems to be the scenario, you will need to pray a lot for God’s help and intervention and then seek counseling as well.
In life, God has laid out His principles and when we deviate from them, things will not work out however we try because the scripture cannot be broken! In any way where you seem lacking, God will forgive, forget, redeem and restore as necessary when you genuinely repent.
Why not call upon Him this morning?
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be confused
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give me a sensitive heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 4:27 (KJV) Neither give place to the devil.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Refuse to listen to or entertain the wrong voice
Tender Loving Care For Married Couples. In the below verse, there are three instructions that I believe every married couple should take cognizance of.
Eph 4:32 (KJV) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
1. Be kind to one another
2. Be tenderhearted.
3. Forgive one another
These three instructions will go a long way to help couples in relating with one another and also help in managing a lot of issues.
A kind husband living with a kind wife will minimize unnecessary quarrels. This is what Tender Loving Care For Married Couples is all about
Then it says to be tender-hearted.
That is, let your hearts be tender towards each other.
Do you know how a mother is tender towards a day-old baby?
How does she handle her, feed her, carry her and nurture her?
What if you are tender this way to your loved one?
You won’t shout at each other.
The husband will never lift his hands against his wife.
The wife will never use abusive words on her husband.
Then it talks about forgiving one another.
And this is powerful.
Don’t be bitter towards each other. Forgive easily and quickly.
Take a look at the Message translation:
Eph 4:32 (MSG) Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Be gentle.
Be sensitive.
Let forgiveness be quick and thorough.
Do not forgive halfway.
Finally, let’s take a look at the amplified Version:
Eph 4:32 (AMP) And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [ readily and freely ], as God in Christ forgave you.
Take a look at the words used.
Compassionate. Understanding. Loving.
This attitude will eliminate screaming at each other, shouting at each other, being at each other’s neck, being vindictive, being in strife, being violent at each other, and speaking wrong words at each other. This is Tender Loving Care For Married Couples
I pray that God will grant us more understanding.
I pray for your marriages, that God will abate every storm and crush every opposition in Jesus name!
The plans of the devil over your marriage are destroyed in Jesus’ name!
Be blessed!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will love my spouse with tender loving care
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us a tender heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Luke 1:78 (CEV) God’s love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Give your spouse some TLC!
A Conversation On Feelings, Sex, And Guilt. Buddy, with a lot in his mind, a lanky handsome guy of twenty-five years of age goes to his mentor’s office for some talk. George is about forty years old, a leader in the church, a man of one wife and no more, and a man who truly loves God.
Buddy: Good evening sir
George: Eh…Buddy, how are you doing? (Lowering his eyeglasses)
Buddy: I am cool
George: So, how has it been?
Buddy: I’ve got stuff on my mind and I need to see you, sir
George: Right, (Pushing his book away) I am all ears
Buddy: You know my fiancee?
George: Remi? How is she doing? Has she gotten a job?
Buddy: Yes, she is working in a Bank now
George: So, what is the problem?
Buddy: You know we compromised once?
George: Yes, I remember
Buddy: And you prayed for us and restored us and all that
George: Yes, and I am sure God forgave you
Buddy: But my problem is that anytime we are together, irrespective of what we are discussing, my body misbehaves. I feel like grabbing her, sincerely.
George: But did you grab her?
Buddy: No
George: So you are doing great
Buddy: But this feeling, I mean, my eyes are almost red all the time, not because I smoke cigars, but because my body is smoking. And she doesn’t seem to have an idea. Sometimes, she touches me, and then she looks at me intently, innocently though, but my God, you know she is beautiful!
George: Yeah, I understand.
Buddy: So these feelings, I really don’t want to mess up again. How can I eliminate the feelings? This thing of sin, I sometimes and ridiculously feel like cutting it off.
George: It is not a thing of sin. It is a gift of God.
Buddy: Waoh!
George: You see, that is not where the problem is. The problem is not your manhood. When it gets engorged with blood and changes in size when you see the one you love, it means you are perfectly normal. The problem is not down there; it’s up here. (touching his forehead)
Buddy: How do you mean?
George: The problem is with your mind.
Buddy: How do you mean?
George: If there is anything you feel like cutting off, it should be your mind.
Buddy: So how do I do that?
George: God never says you should cut off your mind. He says you should renew your mind. He tells you that you can have the mind of Christ.
Buddy: How do I do that?
George: The more of God’s word you listen to, the more your mind is renewed. The more your mind is renewed, the more you come to appreciate God’s word and the more you get revelation knowledge. The more revelation knowledge you get, the more you are strengthened in your inner man. The more might you have in your inner man, the more you are able to put your body under.
Buddy: Umnnnn
George: The feelings you have are okay. I have those feelings sometimes. I sometimes even have those feelings towards somebody I perceive as beautiful aside from my wife.
Buddy: Are you serious?
George: Yes, but after marriage, you are permitted only to admire, and not desire! So you don’t act out those feelings. Those feelings are brought about in my mind through my thoughts. So I consciously dispel those thoughts, casting down imaginations and every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
Buddy: How do you cast down those thoughts?
George: By thinking about what God says concerning that situation and saying them out. That is why it is good to read your Bible regularly. The point of being tempted is not when you start looking for your concordance.
Buddy: I see. Are you telling me even after marriage, I will still feel like going out with others apart from my wife?
George: The devil continues to tempt you, especially in the areas of your weaknesses, but when you resist him, he will leave you alone for a while. You resist him the same way Jesus resisted him…It is written.
Buddy: But Jesus was never tempted by women
George: Read your Bible very well. He was tempted at all points, so says the scripture.
Buddy: Ok, give me an example of where you think he must have been tempted by women.
George: Ok. I will do just that. Do you remember when the lady with the alabaster box began to pour oil on his feet and then began to rub his feet with her hair?
Buddy: Oh!
George: So you agree now, he was tempted at all points…but the scripture says the prince of this world hath nothing in him. He refused to fall into any traps.
Buddy: Lord, help me.
George: He has helped you already. He sent you a helper. So when you take advantage of that help, you will be kept safe.
Buddy: How?
George: Did you read in your scripture where it says, Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh? The Holy Spirit is your helper.
Buddy: Yes, I remember
George: That is it.
Buddy: One more thing. That time my fiancee and I compromised…it wasn’t her fault. It was mine. I was the one that put pressure on her
George: Why are you still talking about what God has forgotten?
Buddy: How can God forget? I understand the part about forgiving, but forgetting?
George: You see, He said your iniquities would I remember no more
Buddy: How is that possible?
George: It is made possible by the blood of Jesus.
Buddy: You mean he has completely forgotten about it
George: Yes, when you go back and ask for forgiveness the second time, He is wondering. It’s no longer in your records. But you complicate matters when you go back into that sin and it becomes habitual.
Buddy: So what about this guilt I still feel
George: That’s the devil, trying to make you feel worthless so that your prayers can be hindered.
Buddy: God help me
George: You know the Bible says “let us now come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need?”
Buddy: Yes
George: He tries to rob you of that boldness by reminding you of sins that God has forgotten and forgiven
Buddy: So how do I deal with that?
George: By quoting and meditating on what the scripture says.
Buddy: I hear!
George: You can wait and you can hold on.
Buddy: Yes I know, God help me.
George: Every time you compromise, you lose something. Something dies.
Buddy: I know
George: Sin is a destiny destroyer. But the power of sin is broken. What the devil is contending with is your glorious future. So you don’t mess up a permanent blessing with a temporary pleasure of a few minutes like Esau did.
Buddy: I will wait
George: Sin shall no longer have dominion, so says the scripture.
Buddy: One other thing…she sometimes wears provocative and tantalizing clothes…
George: Tell her, not accusingly, but let her know that she doesn’t have to show her cleavage or laps to you. She needs to know how she can help you.
Buddy: And you know she is light in complexion…
George: I know…but let her know that men are moved by sight…including you. Don’t suffer in silence or pretend or act spiritually when you are burning inside.
Buddy: I will tell her…she would just think I am a miserable sinner
George: No, she would respect you more…because she suddenly sees that you are willing to preserve virtue rather than fulfill the lust of the flesh. That would bring trust. It will cement your relationship more. Good things come to those who wait.
Buddy: Thank you, Uncle
George: You are welcome! We just had a Conversation On Feelings, Sex, And Guilt
Buddy: Thanks for your time. What about Auntie…
George: She is resting…we just came back from an outing, today is her birthday.
Buddy: Oh….kindly wish her Happy Birthday on my behalf…
George: Will do just that
Buddy: Ok then.
George: Yeah, see you later.
This is the end of A Conversation On Feelings, Sex, And Guilt
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will wait. I will not compromise
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, let your Holy Spirit be my helper indeed, that I may walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Make amends where necessary
Know These And Know Peace In Marriage. I want to talk about two crucial things in marriage. They are pivotal to a smooth relationship as couples. Let’s dive into it.
Know These And Know Peace In Marriage
1. Renewal and Recharge Junctions
In marriage, you must learn to take breaks from work and relax. You have to have time that you spend together as husband and wife.
You need to go back to what used to excite you before the wedding and do those things again and again.
Apart from reading your Bible and praying in the Holy Ghost which refreshes and recharges your spirit, you should also learn to be relaxed once in a while.
2. Mentoring
Every marriage must have a mentor to whom you defer and seek wisdom.
There is something that a couple that has been married for thirty years knows that a three-year-old couple is oblivious of.
It is plain wisdom to seek counsel.
Most issues that lead to serious strife and possible separation and divorce could easily have been resolved by seeking knowledge.
That is why I am a little scared of couples who talk to nobody! Something is not quite right with that. Part of having a marriage mentor is being humble.
3. Sincerity and Openness
Finally, this is so crucial to the survival of any marriage! Be open
Marriage is not a secret cult! Talk about everything and anything.
Hiding things and allowing your spouse to discover will only lead to mistrust and suspicion. The rule of the game is to talk about everything. That will go a long way to establishing trust. Know These And Know Peace In Marriage
If you keep talking exactly how it is, it would be difficult to go into adultery, because adultery is perpetuated in the platform of insincerity and deception. May God help us all.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have God’s wisdom in my marriage
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us a humble heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 51:10 (KJV) Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Discuss on mentorship and agree
I Wish I Knew This During Our Courtship. I wish I knew we were supposed to be different. I got engaged to my wife in the year 1996. That was a long time ago. I was born again, with ministry in view, but I was an ignoramus when it came to the issues of temperament.
You see; knowledge is power. I am a quick, nimble person when it comes to how I do my things. My wife is not like that; she is deliberate in doing her things.
So, having waited for her like three times, and almost getting late for fellowship, (We lived in the same hall – male and female section!) I got angry. So I would lecture her and all that. Then I stumbled on the book by Tim LaHaye on temperament, and that book delivered me.
I understood that we are supposed to be different. I saw that it was actually our differences that got us attracted to each other in the first place because opposites attract.
However, after being lost in love and you are now awake, and your eyes are cleared, the very ‘opposites’ that attracted you in the first place now becomes an irritation and many relationships do not get past this stage!
Understand that you are supposed to celebrate your point of differences because that is how the balance would be achieved in your relationship and marriage later on. What would the world look like if everybody were like you? It would be so boring! I Wish I Knew This During Our Courtship
Many husbands ignorantly try to “change” their wives to be like them. It will not likely happen!
You can learn from each other over the years, and even exchange temperaments at some points, but you are going to be different in thought patterns, opinions, and so on.
Know this and know peace! Celebrate your differences and let weaknesses be covered by each other’s strengths.
No spouse is useless. Everybody is bringing something vital to the table.
Work together and harness your strengths. Minimize your weaknesses and you will be a power couple eventually.
I hope you are blessed this morning. Good morning! This is What I Wish I Knew During Our Courtship
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I seek relevant knowledge. God’s word gives me light
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me wisdom in areas where I lack in Jesus’ name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. Proverbs 24:5 KJV
Communication Is So Important In Marriage. I started writing yesterday on things that should be present in every marriage and we looked at one thing yesterday. Today we look at four more things.
The second thing that must be present in every marriage that will succeed has to do with communication.
Communication Is So Important In Marriage. Constant Communication. A man was once asked what the three most important things in a marriage are.
His response:
1. Communication 2. Communication 3. Communication
Do I agree? Yes, I fully do!
When communication dies, assumptions, suspicions, lies, and deception will take over.
There is nothing as beautiful as a marriage where both parties can fully express themselves. Hear each other out!
When a man talks, his goal may be a logical explanation, but when a woman talks, it is more than an explanation, it is a release; an emotional release.
So every time she is muted, there are pent-up tensions being stored up for a later time.
It is akin to the molten magma within, nothing shows on the surface much, but one day, the magma can no longer hold still, and there will be a volcanic eruption causing untold havoc!
Unexplained hurts, unexpressed bitterness, are all like the molten magma in the belly of the ground.
So, when you tell your spouse to “shut up” continually, and it looks as though you are in charge and winning, well, you are not really winning, you are actually losing!
Allow free expression in your matrimonial home.
When a lady is also reluctant to talk or communicate, it shows some deeper issues as well.
Both husband and wife have to be committed to communication. The excuse of temperaments should not be brought in.
Well, people at work, in church, or elsewhere can look at you and say you are a quiet person, but your spouse should be able to say “you are not quiet to them!” This shows they are friends!
Make the commitment to be friends and to keep talking. Communication Is So Important In Marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will keep communicating with my spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to work on areas where I am lacking
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 12:35 (MSG) A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Have a time out with your spouse
He Doesn’t Love When He Says These. As I said, problems don’t just show from the blues. They have always been there and would have been hinted at because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
We looked at two yesterday, let’s dive into the remaining today.
He Doesn’t Love When He Says These
3. Out of all my girlfriends, you are the best
This is often a logical way to manipulate the emotions of the lady. As a lady, I don’t really know what you are doing with someone who tells you out rightly that you are not the only one he is seeing. Are you encouraging adultery after marriage and giving him a go-ahead? Men don’t really change after marriage! When a man has the guts to tell you that he has several ladies as lovers including you, then as a lady you should have the guts to walk away from such affliction!
4. We don’t have to tell anybody about this relationship
When a guy begins to make this statement, your antenna should go up! Something is defective right there. There are no commitments when he hides the relationship from friends and family. There may be occasions when the parents are not interested in marriage and it is wise to keep quiet for some time, but at least, he should be willing to notify his pastor. What if he doesn’t have a pastor? The answer to that is another question. What are you doing with such a person?
5. I am just managing you and you should thank your stars
When a guy doesn’t love you, he will verbalize it one day, one way or the other. If you are sensitive, you can pick it up from his words. When a guy says he is just managing you, that sounds like wickedness to me. Probably the lady in question has a self-esteem issue, but as a lady, you don’t have any business with anybody that doesn’t value you or appreciate you as a person. After marriage, you don’t want to be treated as a doormat, you want to be valued as a true help.
He Doesn’t Love When He Says These
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be deceived
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, show me what I don’t know
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 12:34 (KJV) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Disallow your relationship to be sex driven
How To Discover He Doesn’t Love You. Problems don’t just erupt like a volcano in relationships and marriage. They have always been there. Sometimes, we simply close our eyes to all the warning signs and red lights because we are in love. It is however wise to be alert and be open to taking heed of all these warning signs.
God is not a wicked God. He will attempt to talk to you through His Holy Spirit and try to warn you about some of these things. It is always good to pay attention and try to listen to what God is trying to say! Here is How To Discover He Doesn’t Love You. It is revealed in the statements he makes! Let’s look at two of them.
1. There is nothing wrong with sex. Everybody does it
When a guy begins to pressurize you to compromise using logic and persuasion tactics, it shows he doesn’t really love you. All he wants is your body and once he gets that, anything can happen. As the lady, you have a responsibility to preserve your virtue by insisting on waiting till after marriage. A guy that truly loves you will be willing to wait as against satisfying his rush of adrenalin at your disadvantage. God’s word is so clear on pre-marital sex and any guy that loves you and fears God should be looking for ways to obey God, not the other way.
2. I may not call you or send SMS often. You have to understand.
When a guy loves you genuinely, he wants to be in touch. He wants to call, send an SMS, or chat. He just wants to stay in touch one way or the other. I know there are times he can get so busy depending on the intensity of his work or the level of attention needed, but I also believe he should be able to talk to his loved one daily, even if it is for five minutes. The only tenable reason is when he is working where there are no networks, which could be rare. Even at that, a guy who is in love will climb mountains; go to the top of buildings, and hold his phone high in the sky searching for a network!
These two statements show How To Discover He Doesn’t Love You. I will write more tomorrow.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will love my spouse with tender loving care
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us a tender heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Luke 1:78 (CEV) God’s love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Pray over your relationship
This Must Be Present in Every Marriage. A lot of things must be implemented for a marriage to succeed.
Conscious and deliberate inputs must be in place so the marriage can bring bliss and not blisters.
Here is one of them
Prayers. This Must Be Present in Every Marriage.
A family that prays together stays together.
A husband and wife that pray together will overcome the flesh easily.
Prayer protects, shields, and connects you to your inheritance in God.
As husband and wife, pray for one another rather than tear one another apart.
Intercede for each other.
What the devil wants is a tearing apart, do not cooperate with him.
Wake up in the middle of the night and pray together.
The power of agreement is better harnessed as a couple.
In the first few years of our marriage, my wife and I would wake up by 12.00 am and pray in the Spirit.
I am persuaded that those prayers advanced our lives and ministries.
There is a purpose for coming together in marriage.
It is not just for making love and then dying at the age of ninety.
There is a purpose in the heart of God.
That purpose is not to be decided, it is to be discovered.
When you discover that purpose, you just stepped into your wealthy place.
You can only discover in the place of prayers.
The devil will do all he knows to make sure you don’t pray.
You will notice that each time you decide to pray, something else will interrupt it. Those are not natural. The devil doesn’t want you to pray at all. Prayer-less couples will leave so many cracks and loopholes open for the devil to explore.
The devil will not access your marriage. Your marriage will be preserved in Jesus’ name!
Do not let anything interfere with your prayer times. May God help you and your spouse in Jesus’ name
Be blessed!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will respect my loved one
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us a humble heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Jas 4:7 (KJV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Start praying together if you weren’t doing that
More Things A Lady Expects From Her Lover. There are things a lady expects from her lover that may be oblivious to an average guy. We started on this two days ago and we looked at the following
1. She expects that she would be genuinely loved
2. She expects that he is no longer living in sin
3. She expects him to pray for her
4. She expects that he will not take advantage of her
5. She expects that he is responsible and will be able to care for her
Let’s take a look at some more.
More Things A Lady Expects From Her Lover
6. She expects him to be romantic
Every lady wants a romantic man. Most men are really romantic until their wedding!
After the wedding, the romantic button seems to stop functioning.
And really it should not be so. Being romantic should be part of every man towards her lover.
As singles, being romantic does not include any form of sexual expression. After you have prayed and spoken in tongues, you should speak good words in a romantic way to your loved one.
7. She expects him to be her defender
What’s the point if you cannot defend her?
You always guard jealously what you prize most, isn’t it?
Don’t leave her at crucial moments when she needs you.
Don’t stand with a stranger against your loved one.
Don’t condemn or try to correct her publicly.
8. She expects him to protect her from her future in-laws
In-laws are people. And people can be difficult.
If your parents are the difficult type, you must protect your loved one.
Don’t leave her at their mercy wherein she starts playing the role of a wife before becoming one.
9. She expects PDA
Your fiancée expects some public display of affection.
Not that you ask her to walk ahead of you every time.
Walk with her. Hold her hands. It won’t lead to sin out there.
It is what you do in the dark and behind closed doors that lead to sin.
10. She expects him to be humorous
Ladies loved those who make them laugh.
Not that you should become a comedian, but you should have a great sense of humor.
Make her laugh. Let her know when you are around, there are no dull moments. She will love you more.
Let her get some hearty laughter from you and not from Basket Mouth and Bovi all the time!
Don’t become a source of depression. The moment you are around, despondency descends. Nah!
The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Stay joyful. Stay positive. These are some More Things A Lady Expects From Her Lover
May God grant more understanding
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will take care of my loved one
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, surround me with your favour
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 5:18 (MSG) Bless your fresh-flowing fountain! Enjoy the wife you married as a young man!
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Do something special for your loved one
Six Things Husbands Expect From Wives. This will give wives an idea of what husbands want from them
1. The Issue of Respect We all know that respect is the greatest need of a man. Every wife should strive to honor and respect her husband.
This will go a long way to make your husband honor you as well because you always reap what you sow
2. The Issue of Support in Career/Ministry/Business My wife should be my greatest and Number one fan of course!
As a wife, you should support, encourage and strengthen your husband to go forth and fulfill destiny and purpose.
3. The issue of Prayers and Intercession Women are powerful prayers. The genuine prayers of a happy wife will advance a man’s life in no small measure.
Wives, pray for your husband!
4. The Issue of caring, homeliness, and love A woman who is not homely shows no care and detests cooking will be a constant source of frustration to the husband.
There is something in women that makes caring natural for them
5. The issue of beauty and looking good always All men are moved by sight including me! So, I expect my wife to look good always. Women, do not get careless with your appearance and your looks.
Look your best all the time!
6. The issue of keeping the bedroom hot! Sexual satisfaction is paramount to any marriage that will not collapse. Wives, do not get careless in this area. Never use sex as a reward or punishment. These are the Six Things Husbands Expect From Wives
It is an obligation! 1Co 7:5 (AMP) Do not refuse and deprive and defraud each other [ of your due marital rights ], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves unhindered to prayer. But afterwards resume marital relations, lest Satan tempt you [ to sin ] through your lack of restraint of sexual desire.
Be blessed!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am a good spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, make my heart right
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Co 7:5 (MSG) Abstaining from sex is permissible for a period of time if you both agree to it, and if it’s for the purposes of prayer and fasting—but only for such times. Then come back together again. Satan has an ingenious way of tempting us when we least expect it.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Give your spouse a special treat
Dear Pastor, I Feel God Has Forgotten Me. I have a word from the Lord for you this morning. God is going to single you out for his blessing. There are over seven billion people on earth, but God wants to single you out and focus His countenance and loving kindness on you.
Does God single out people? Yes. Just like we see in the following verses.
Luk 4:25-26 (KJV) But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; [26] But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
In the midst of famine, when the heaven was shut as it were, and all hope seemed lost, God remembered one woman, singled out from the city of Sarepta.
Wherever you are this morning, hear the voice of the Lord, He will single you to be blessed!
Psa 112:6-8 (MSG) No shuffling or stumbling around for this one, But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation. [7] Unfazed by rumor and gossip, Heart ready, trusting in GOD, [8] Spirit firm, unperturbed, Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies!
Dear Pastor, I Feel God Has Forgotten Me. In the midst of contradictions and opposition, in the midst of seemingly lack and famine, God is remembering you!
God is coming for you. Just you!
He is going to give you individual attention.
I see God focusing His love and benevolence on you. Just you!
There are no two people that are exactly the same. Even the most identical twins have been seen to have deep innate variances.
And God treats you so.
There is nothing like God blessing you generally.
He wants to favor you specifically.
That Is why in the book of Acts, when the cloven tongue of fire rested upon them, it was not a general cloven tongue, but it rested upon them individually!
Each man had a cloven tongue of fire!
God knows your name!
He has your name tattooed! Did I still hear you say “Dear Pastor, I Feel God Has Forgotten Me?”
Isa 49:15 (AMP) [ And the Lord answered ] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you.
Mothers may forget, despite the deep maternal instincts, but what God has for you is beyond maternal instincts.
It is deeper. God said without mincing words, “I will never forget you!
Events may play out as to suggest that God has forgotten, but His words reverberate strongly to you this morning, His divine sweet, and resolute voice, “I will never forget you!
Then the next verse says:
Isa 49:16 (AMP) Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [ O Zion ] your walls are continually before Me.
So, in the palm of God’s hands, your picture is the DP!
What? Glory! And guess what, God is not about to change his DP!
Not just on one palm, but on both hands!
Waoh! Do you sense a rush of God’s love? That revelation is enough to blast the devil off your turf! You are especially loved by God! And He is visiting you this morning, today, this week, and this month in the name of Jesus!
Get ready as you embrace and settle down in the love of God. You will not regret it. You will not be ashamed.
You will not be disconcerted. Help is here for you! Believe it. Accept the word of the Lord this morning And that will be your experience in Jesus’ name! Be blessed!
We love you! And God loves you even more!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not forgotten!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me to embrace your love
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Isa 49:16 (GW)
I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always in my presence.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Affirm yourself in God today!
