I know a God who delivered the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He is the on-time God. He is right just on time. Not a second late, not a minute earlier.
He is awesome. He didn’t deliver them when they faced the king. He didn’t deliver them when they were bound to be thrown into the fire. He didn’t deliver them just before throwing them into the fire. He delivered them in the fire. Glory to God!
He was already waiting for them in the fire. Hallelujah! He waited for them. Let your trust in Him be strong.
What if the three Hebrew boys had started crying that this God has failed us? What if they refused to enter the fire and deny God? What if? We will not have their story written in the bible.
You may be passing through a situation right now that seems God is not answering your prayers. Maybe it’s the health of your child. Maybe it is the weakness of your husband or wife. Maybe it is a financial issue or a debt. Maybe it is a problem that seems to defy solution.
Just keep on waiting on God. Wait on him to come through in the nick of time. Don’t be anxious about when He will answer. Just be assured that He will answer.
God bless your marriage!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will go forward and press forth. I will not give up on God.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will honour you
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! (Psalms 90:12 Message)
As believers, one of the greatest things that can happen to us is being born again. The next to that is being baptized with the Holy Ghost. Now, don’t go with the popular notion you might have had about Holy Ghost baptism. Patiently follow these teachings with an open heart to learn, re-learn and possibly un-learn some things you might have known about the Holy Ghost and baptism.
The believer who is baptized in the Holy Ghost is operating under a blessing. Unfortunately, many don’t know.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. – Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
The moment you are baptized, a new power comes upon you, according to the scripture above. This power has the ability to transform you into another man. Your life before the baptism should be different from your life after the baptism.
I must state that this baptism is not only for adults. As a matter of fact, it is good when you are baptized in the Holy Ghost from a very tender age like yours.
One of the advantages you have over others when you become baptized in the Holy Ghost is that you communicate with God in another dimension. You no longer speak with Him in this realm. When you do this, the devil cannot hear or understand what you are saying.
That looks like what a superman can do. Well, you are a superman.
I will continue some other time on the other advantages you derive from this wonderful relationship.
Talk to your parents, teachers, or guardian to get you filled with the Holy Ghost today. You sure will enjoy the experience.
I want a dad in the real sense of it. I want a dad whose confidence, leadership, courage, and examples inspire me.
I want a dad who will not usher my budding destiny into smoking and drinking and clubbing by transference of spirits. I want a dad who will pay the price just so for me to emerge. I want a dad I can bless and not regret in the years to come. I want a dad I can call my own, not an absentee dad.
I want a dad that will truly love my mum. I want a dad that will not mess up my inclinations and outlook by bringing in so many ‘mums’ into his bed. I want a dad that will not teach me to lie. I want a dad that will not make my malleable emotions and innocent tendencies gravitate into the world of sexual perversion.
I want a dad that prays for me, a dad that I am proud of, a dad I am close to and a dad I can discuss everything with! I want a dad that will not touch me (girl child) inappropriately. I want a dad who will not sexualize me. I want a dad who will teach me how to love my spouse when the time comes in a pragmatic way.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am a good man. God will help me!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY oh Lord, flood the eyes of my mind with revelational light in Jesus name.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Ti 2:8 KJV I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Check the man in you and sincerely take an inventory to see whether you are pleasing God or not.
It is still the same God of the bible that is still the same now. He is the same God who turned back the red sea, who made the lame to walk, the blind eyes to see, the dumb to speak e is still the same God you are serving.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Israel God, The Jehovah the man of war, his mercies endureth forever and ever. The only one, the mighty one, awesome, wonderful, the way maker, He made a way in the wilderness, He is still the same God.
He defeated great kings, he stopped the mouth of the lions, He turned bitter water into sweetness, He made the barren mother of children, he fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes, he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He is still the same God.
The God that answers by fire, the one whose voice is like thunder, He spoke and mountains shook, the Holy God, the righteous God, the Only one, the breadth of life, the light in the darkness, He is still the same one.
The bright and morning star, the most high, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the lily of the valley, is still the same one.
The same one that raises the dead, the same one that heals the sick, He is the same one that gives joy and laughter, the great teacher, He is still the same one.
He is still the same one you and I call, He is the same one who has promised that will never fail. He is the same one who will never leave us or forsake us. He is the one who has called us to trust in him, He never sleeps nor slumbers. He is the great I am. The I AM WHO I AM. The Word of God. The Amen.
This God is still the same God. Trust Him. He will take care of you.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God is a great God over my life
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, let me see your greatness
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 71:19 (KJV) Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
“What do you want?” is probably the most important question you must ask yourself as a person.
Everyone should have something they want. Even animals have needs. Plants have needs as well. God, our father, has needs too. He needs us to believe, trust, and obey Him amongst other things.
The blind man in (Luke 18:38) called out to Jesus “… Jesus, Son of David! Please help me!”
Note the exclamation marks at the end of his words. Even when people told him to keep quiet, he didn’t listen to them. He still raised his voice, crying out to Jesus for help (vs 39). And he got what he wanted the most because Jesus heard him and stopped.
Jesus stopped and said, “Bring the blind man to me!” when he came near, Jesus asked him, what do you want me to do for you?” He said, Lord, I want to see again.” Jesus said to him, “Then see! You are healed because you believed.” – Luke 18: 40-42 ICB
The man got what he wanted because he knew what he wanted. When you know what you want, you can have it.
Imagine if Jesus asked the man what he wanted, and the man had nothing he wanted. That would have been a waste?
Know what you want and pray about it. Jesus hears you and will stop to ask you what you want.
God bless you.
Prayer point: Lord, Jesus, thank you for hearing me and stopping to ask me what I want. As I tell them all to you, I receive the answers to my prayers in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Action point: It pays to have a list of what you want and pray along with them.
Declaration: I will be specific with my requests. I will have what I ask for. God will honor me.
Dear single men, pay attention to today’s devotional. Yesterday we examined God’s perspective of an ideal man; today I want to show you what every virtuous woman looks out for in a man.
The lady speaks;
I want a man, a real man, man enough to be my husband, strong enough to stand in his place as the head of the house and the breadwinner. I want a man who is a king and a servant at the same time.
I want a man whose royalty is rooted in God, I want a man I can be proud enough to call ‘my crown!’ I want a man who despite being a king is humble enough to have the heart of a servant.
I want a man I can call my own! A man I am proud of! I want a man of integrity. I want a man whose words I can go to bed on. I want a man who will protect me. I want a man that will not want me to compromise my virtue in order to satisfy his lust during courtship.
I want a man who will be my head and not my headache! I want a man who will love me properly, accept me as I am, nurture me, and commit to my spiritual development.
I want a man that will stand by me in the labour room. The hands of Zerubabbel started it. It ought to complete it!
I want a man I can vouch for. I want a man that will love me only and no other. I want a man that is thinking of me all the time. I want a man, not a boy.
I want a man that will not bring another to our matrimonial bed. I want a man who fears God so much and will not desecrate the marital covenant because of lust. I want a man that will rather die than become adulterous! I want a man that will respect the covenant and will not throw our home into untold chaos and havoc with his actions. I want a man that can zip up!
I want a man in the house that will usher me into peace when I am not around. I want a man in the house that the house-help is safe with. I want a man who has self-control.
I want a man that can lay hands on me and bless me. I want a man that I can rely on emotionally. I want a man whose shoulders I can lean on. I want a man that will lead our family to God.
I want a leader in the house! I want a man who will make my heart bless him and not make my heart bleed at his appearance. I want a man that will make my heart filled with thanks and not tears. I want a man that will make me be at rest and not under duress! I want a man that will make me his queen and not his doormat! I want a friend, confidant, and companion, not a competitor!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am a good man / I will find a good man. God will help me!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father in the name of Jesus, I ask that you flood the eyes of my mind with revelation light. As I study your word give me understanding. Let my relationship be transformed as my mind gets renewed daily.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. -1Timothy 2:8 (KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Check the man in you and sincerely take an inventory to see whether you are pleasing God
When there is disunity in a household, there are all sorts of evil works of unrighteousness there. The devil has a field day because the demons are at work in such a family.
A family where they don’t pray together, study God’s word, take confessions, and do spiritual exercises together invites the devil.
The atmosphere in such a family is tense; there is hardly laughter, playing, or any of such. All there will be is suspicion, strife, unforgiving spirit, and abuse.
A house where the father is the lion of the tribe of the house; he is feared with trepidation, where the children are full of lies, abuses, and emotional hurts, where the children hibernate in their rooms for lack of companionship. Where the wife is full of lies, insincerity, hurts, bitterness, and schemes, all this ought not to be so.
We as believers are called to Christ-like life, to live like Christ, to love like Christ, to be meek and gentle like Him in all that we do.
When Jesus was on earth, He lived a selfless life, he lived to please God and not himself, his relationships were selfless.
He taught forgiveness, he lived forgiveness, even when he was dying on the cross he said; Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. That statement alone can set us free in our marriages.
Ask yourself, the wrong that is done to you, does that person know it is a sin? Then if they do not know, forgive them. Be quick to forgive easily. Develop a forgiving spirit. Learn to forgive in advance. Make up your mind; you are going to forgive your spouse no matter what he/she does.
When you forgive, you are actually helping yourself, because you cherish your relationship with God more than anything, and you don’t want anything to disrupt your relationship with God, you forgive.
Let us work towards making our home a haven and not an oven. It is your responsibility. Don’t wait for one person to do it for you. You have to be committed and take up the responsibility to do it yourself.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have God’s wisdom to do the right thing
PRAYER FOR THE DAY I receive grace to forgive easily
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. –Romans 6:14 (KJV)
We are still talking and learning wisdom from the life and times of King Solomon. The truth of the matter is that we can never know it all.
Why do we keep on talking about wisdom? We do this because we learn everyday.
See another thing Solomon has to say about wisdom
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” –Proverbs 9:10-12 (NIV)
Children, I want you to know that God abhors mockers. Mocking is a serious sin before God. Do you know that God destroyed some Israelites because of mockery?
Furthermore, Solomon’s father, King David, warned us about mockery. He told us no mocker will be blessed.
a BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. – Ps 1:1[AMP]
This tells us there are places you should not find yourself as a believer. There are gathering of mockers you are not meant to be found in. There are certain locations that should not be traceable to you.
I believe you want to be blessed even as you advance in age, then never give room to mockery. The resultant effect is that you will suffer alone.
May that no be your portion in Jesus name, amen.
PRAYER: Lord, help me not to be a mocker in Jesus name.
ACTION PLAN: List out associations you should do without.
Throughout every generation, God seeks a man that can bear his flag. Look through the scripture and you will see that God is always in search of a man that can stand for him and his people.
See what the bible says here;
And I sought for a man among them… -Ezekiel 22:30 (KJV)
What kind of man is God in search of?
God wants a man that will lift up holy hands in his presence. A man compelled and propelled by a sense of destiny. He wants a man he can bless and prosper who will not withhold from my kingdom, a man that can be his mouthpiece at home and at work; that the anointing can be placed upon!
God wants a man that will not falsify documents, a man that will be faithful to his wife. He wants a man that can be made a channel of blessing to others, someone who will not bow to the systems of the world. God wants a man king enough to bear his message, and lamb enough to refuel in his presence.
A humble man is who God is searching for!
Are you a man he can bless to bless others? Are you a channel?
God doesn’t want a dam! He wants a man he can exalt who will exalt others, not an intimidated and insecure man who is yielded to the flesh all the time.
Are you a man that can raise sons, and not add sores into other destinies?
God wants a man who knows that his kingdom is perpetuated in lifting others and not putting them down.
God is seeking for a man, even in this generation, who will repair destinies and not wreck them; a man that will remember where God picked him from and not mutilate other destinies.
God wants a man that is conscious of the day of reckoning between him and his maker, the very day he will stand before God to give an account of all he has done.
Are you God’s man? Are you one who forgives easily, not someone who will churn out weapons in his arsenal to destroy others?
God seeks a man he can use to lift burdens off others and not add more.
God seeks a man who will not use his name to manipulate ladies into sexual relationships!
God seeks a man who will not use the grace he is given to bring disgrace into the kingdom!
God wants a man who will not try to build ‘his kingdom’ at the expense of the kingdom of his dear son. Can God trust you with His power and riches?
Are you that man who will not use the wisdom and the platform you have been given to manipulate destinies and leave them warped at the end?
God wants a man whose heart is after him!
My question for you this morning is; are you the man God is looking for?
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am a good man / I will find a good man. God will help me!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father in the name of Jesus, I ask that you flood the eyes of my mind with revelation light. As I study your word give me understanding. Let my relationship be transformed as my mind gets renewed daily.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. -1Timothy 2:8 (KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Check the man in you and sincerely take an inventory to see whether you are pleasing God
Today, I want to encourage us to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking.
Don’t give up on your spouse, don’t give up on your children.
The Bible says,
‘Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find, knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you’. – Matt 7:9
Keep on asking, seeking and knocking on a continual basis, day in, day out, 365 days a year, so that we may keep receiving what we need.
How long do we stay awake all night wrestling with our issues and losing our sleep? Instead of simply casting our cares upon Him by asking Him and trusting Him.
Maybe your spouse has a weakness and you have talked to him/her about it for a long time and he doesn’t seem to listen.
Maybe your spouse even agrees to change but find it difficult to change. Your children are wayward and they seem impossible.
You are having a difficult time maintaining a close, godly relationship with them. Just don’t give up or maintain the status quo.
You must know how to stay with what you want. Jesus already promised in His word that
…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him”. – Luke 11:13
God wants us to trust Him with our request. He wants to see how much we trust Him and how much we can stay on what we want without shifting grounds.
You have to keep asking till your marriage becomes what you want it to be. You have to keep on knocking until your children become what they should be.
Never give up on God and this goes for everything. Never give up until you are rich, until you have your children, until you get that job.
God is committed until it is completed.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not give up on my dreams.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord make right everything wrong in my marriage
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 128:2 (KJV) For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Dear child, you have heard over and over again that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. You probably have memorized that verse in your Sunday school class, and in your religion classes at school.
Today I want to emphasize what you already know.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” –Proverbs 9:10-12 (NIV)
The Fear of God is indeed the beginning of wisdom, and as I will always say fear in this context isn’t being afraid, it’s reverence and honour for God.
Why is the fear of God the beginning of wisdom?
It’s because whoever fears God will not do certain things, and that naturally puts you in the place of wisdom.
Knowing what to do, and doing it at the right time is a display of wisdom.
Take for instance it is the fear of God that won’t allow you to take what doesn’t belong to you, it is the fear of God that will not allow you to keep what doesn’t belong to you. Do you now see how that translates to wisdom?
This verse also talks about the knowledge of the only one; knowing God will help you understand God and the things around you. How do you know God? It’s by reading God’s word; The Bible.
Wisdom translates to long life; the bible says your days will be many. This will also mean good health, you won’t fall sick. What you know about Jesus will prevent you from sickness.
This verse also says that years will be added to your life, and you will be kept continually. Nothing will be able to harm or hurt you.
The bible calls this wisdom your wisdom, that’s because no one will be able to take it away from you. Once you are wise will receive the reward for being wise which are numerous.
Lastly, the bible says wisdom will not make you suffer, it will take you off the path of suffering for life.
Today choose to always fear God, choose to know him, choose to be wise, and God will help you in Jesus name.
PRAYER: Father in Jesus name, help me to know you
ACTION PLAN: Memorize the focus verse for today
DECLARATION:
I fear God, I love him, and the Holy Spirit helps me to know him
There are many potential virtuous women among prostitutes out there! What they are doing is wrong but the way they pursue their trade relentlessly is the same way they will pursue their destiny if they ever meet Jesus!
Jesus told the adulterous woman, “Go and sin no more!”
It was her sinful life that swallowed up the virtuous woman in her. But if she ever listened to Jesus, if she walked away from that adulterous lifestyle, she became a virtuous woman!
A virtuous woman is a lady who is under tremendous sexual pressure in her office but refuses to dip her hands in adultery!
That is why Proverbs 31:11-12 says:
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. –Proverbs 31:11-12(KJV)
My submission this morning is not to validate a sinful lifestyle; but to call you out of the sinful lifestyle into the virtuous woman that you are meant to be.
The harlot that welcomed the spies that were sent to the Promised Land was eventually mentioned alongside people like Moses and other Patriarchs because of the inner strength she had but was covered up with a sinful lifestyle.
Guys, before you judge anybody, try and know where they are coming from!
To every lady out there this morning, I write to the virtue on your insides. I am calling forth the virtuous woman that lies within you this morning. I feel like I have a trumpet to my mouth to sound an alarm and to issue an edict to every devil trying to distract you and confuse you that their time is up!
I write to the great destiny that lies within you, come alive! I write to the great wife and incredible mother in you, covered in a myriad of weaknesses, come forth in the name of Jesus! I call forth the greatness in you!
Some of you have been abused before you knew your left from right. Some of you have been introduced to sexual intercourse before you reached the age of accountability. It wasn’t your fault, but it would be to your detriment if you remain in that state!
Yes, you may not have been able to influence your past, but from today, you can determine what your future will look like!
Don’t let the devil tell you, you are too far gone! That is a lie from the pit of hell. Jesus is able to save from the gutter-most to the uttermost!
Arise and shine! You can have a great home! You can have a beautiful marriage. All you need to change the equation of your life is Jesus Christ!
He will forgive, cleanse, wash you and make you a new person!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. I’m not defeated in my mind. My relationship is taking a new turn.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father in the name of Jesus, as I study your word give me understanding. Let my mind be transformed and renewed daily.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. -2Corinthians 4:18 (AMP)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Fill your mind with pictures of a better life and a beautiful marriage. See everything about working and you will have what you see.
Today, we will be looking at a house that is not united; the causes and consequences and the possible solutions.
God created homes to be united and to be the greatest source of togetherness and unity so that from our homes, unity can spread to the nation, our workplace, and to other relationships we have.
The devil is scared of families. He is scared of the unity in the family. He cannot imagine the havoc that will be done to his kingdom if families are united. He became proactive, and so all his attack is on the family. He wants to prevent unity in our homes and families as much as possible.
Let’s look at the scriptures
But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.- Luk 11:17
The Amplified version puts it in a better way
But He, [well] aware of their intent and purpose, said to them, Every kingdom split up against itself is doomed and brought to desolation, and so house falls upon house. [The disunited household will collapse.] – Luk11:17
It says a disunited household will collapse. May that not be our portion in Jesus name!
We should try to prevent disunity in our homes. Husbands and wives need to be on the same page. And one major thing that can cause disunity or a breach in the spirit is not being truthful.
Insincerity will break the unity. In the spirit realm, it is like a breach. Quarrels, strife, and suspicion, are all causes of disunity.
Wives not being submissive to their husbands threatens the unity in the home. One degree away from the truth is falsehood. There is no little lie or white lie. A lie is a lie
May God bless us.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not disobedient to God. I am quick to hear and obey.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me your ways that I may do it your way
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 133:1 (KJV) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Dear Child, today we’ll be learning about corrections and instructions. As children, you know you don’t know everything. You still need the help of adults around you to give you instructions and correct you when you need it.
Corrections won’t always go on your good side, that’s because you will be scolded when need be.
As a child, taking instructions is necessary. You always need someone to guide and direct you so you don’t hurt yourself or make grievous mistakes
See what the bible says;
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. –Proverbs 9: 8-9(KJV)
When a wise man is rebuked (corrected), he will love the person that corrects him more. Why is this? It’s because he loves to be corrected and he or she has realized that it’s only people who love you and want the best for you that will correct you.
You also should love to be corrected, regardless of how you feel after you have been rebuked.
When your parents and adults around you correct you, it’s not because they hate you, it’s because they love you and want you to do better.
Another thing this verse says is that, when instruction is given to a wise person, he or she becomes wiser.
It’s interesting, isn’t it? It’s true because a wise child will follow every instruction given to him or her. This will inevitably make the child wiser because you do what you are told to do and you learn from it.
Do you want to be wiser, smarter and better at what you do? Then what you need to do is accept every correction and follow every instruction you are given, and you will see a great transformation in what you do and how you do it.
May God help you to take corrections.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to listen when I am corrected.
ACTION PLAN: Put up the right attitude whenever you are corrected.
First of all and as a background, I will like you to see the meaning of the word “virtuous”, this will help us put proper perspective.
The word “virtuous” is from the Hebrew word “Chayil” which means virtue, valor, strength, and wealth.
When we say a virtuous woman, it actually means “strength” A virtuous woman is a virgin and someone who has kept herself because that is a definition of some strength, but that is not all to it! A virtuous woman is also a lady who despite all she has gone through refuses to give up and makes up her mind never to compromise again!
Don’t get me wrong, a virtuous woman is a lady that is clean and refuses to sin, but a virtuous woman is also a woman who has sinned so much or has been abused so much and yet comes out to stop sinning and fulfill her destiny!
For example, Joyce Meyer is indeed a virtuous woman! Her father slept with her constantly into her teenage years. She was abused sexually, verbally, and in all ways. Her self-esteem was crushed. Her first marriage ended in divorce. Yet out of the ashes of her messed-up life, she rose with the help of God’s Spirit and built a worldwide ministry!
You couldn’t mention three names of women in ministry today without her name popping up! That is what a virtuous woman is! She was broken but she ended up becoming a master at mending!
Let me convince you more.
The word “Chayil” from which “Virtuous” was translated is from the root word “chûl chı̂yl” which means to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), that is, (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain, fall grievously (with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow (-full), stay, tarry, travail (with pain), tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded.
Those words present a picture of someone who has gone through so much and yet continues to fight to overcome those things. If I can make a sentence out of that definition, it will look like this:
Somebody who has been twisted and whirled around, abused and messed up, gone through so much pain and grief, has been wounded, and yet refuses to lose hope but allows all the experience to shape her into who God really wants her to be!
To be continued
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have victory in my mind and so I am victorious in my life and marriage. I am replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father in the name of Jesus, I ask that you flood the eyes of my mind with revelation light.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. -2Corinthians 4:18 (AMP)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Consciously begin to replace the negative thoughts in your mind with positive ones.
Expecting your spouse to change overnight will leave you heavily disappointed. It is entirely different if either spouse is an unbeliever; change in that sense is possible and can be anytime.
But when we talk about habits, attitudes, and behavioral patterns it can take a while.
Take note of these few points:
1. Patience
You will need to exercise patience! It takes a while. Let’s assume your spouse was twenty-five years old by the time you got married. It means that he or she has been formed into a certain mold for twenty-five years. Coming into marriage and expecting a quick change because you sermonized or lectured him or her will not make a change in a few days, expecting a quick change, may leave you disappointed.
Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud… -1Corinthians 13:4 (CEV)
I think in marriages, you always get to understand that virtue called “long-suffering!”
2. Don’t Lecture Or Sermonize
Your lectures and long talks do nothing at the end of the day; it only turns you into a nag, a domineering spouse, and an impatient spouse.
Between a husband and a wife, one will talk more than the other; don’t ever make the mistake of thinking your ability to package words is effective on your spouse.
It is even much more annoying and irritatingly hilarious if your spouse is a phlegmatic who doesn’t want trouble; he or she will allow you to talk and talk, and then will promise you there is change, only so that you can stop talking!
Only to do the very thing you’ve been talking about again!
You feel like escaping from the marriage, but sorry, you are hooked already!
Trust God that things will get better.
3. Pray Rather Than Talk And Talk
Your most effective and sure way to create any change is to pray. Take it to God and stop wearing yourself out.
Try and think about it, you’ve been complaining about something for seven years, yet no change! and you keep complaining!
Don’t you think in seven years, your spouse has disconnected himself or herself from your complaints?
He or she has mastered the art of closing the gate of his heart; you are only talking to the ears!
It does nothing and it would do nothing!
Pray about it!
4. Get Back Into Dating Mode
You used to love yourselves! You used to overlook and ignore some things you are bitterly complaining about now. What happened?
You need to get back into that romantic mode and love each other again rather than thinking your spouse is the problem of your family!
Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. -1Corinthians 13:7 (CEV)
Be supportive, be hopeful, and trust again. Cast your cares unto Jesus and stop focusing on the flaws of your spouse.
Get back into appreciating him or her in their area of strength.
I pray that God will help you need and send the very help you need in Jesus name.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am patient
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to love my spouse again
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, and never gives up. -1Corinthians 13:7 (GW)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Read Myles Munroe’s book on the Myth of Singleness
