You have waited. You have prayed. You might have even cried and wondered why your spouse is not showing up. You have dabbled into some unwise relationships out of being desperate or because you think your biological clock is ticking away.
You are agitated. You are not happy. You have fasted and still fasting. Is God really listening? You wondered.
In the midst of all these, here is the word of the Lord.
For yeta little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:37 (KJV)
He will come and he will show up. She will be found and you will meet your wife. Put all your trust in Him and never Doubt Him for a second.
The devil wants you to give up on God. Like Job’s wife said to Job, the devil wants you to curse God, and of course what will follow is death.
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
Job 2:9 (KJV)
Death of your desire and all that pertains to it. That will never be your portion in Jesus name!
Trust this God because He never fails. He has your back. He is faithful. And you will never be ashamed as a result of serving God.
Hold on tightly to Him, He that will come will come. Don’t allow pressure to push you into the zone of compromise.
He remains your shepherd and He will guide you into His plans. Wow! What a good God we serve.
How I love the Message Translation.
It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute.
Heb 10:37 (MSG)
Yes, it won’t be long. Any minute from now, your miracle will show up. Trust and hold on to the horns of the altar.
I remember how many times I was disciplined growing up. With mum, it was regular and lenient. With dad, it was occasional but terrible and indelible.
I can’t forget the day my younger sister reported me to dad that I jumped from a first floor balcony, only trying to show that what a boy could do, a girl couldn’t.
Well, she showed me what girl could do; she reported me.
My dad beat me so much that when I slept that night, I dreamt that I died and I was buried. It was that intense. The discipline “entered”
From that day, I didn’t move near High or Long jump, anything that entails jumping was a no go area! I was never led to that area again!
Even so, God disciplines us. Take a look here:
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training,
Heb 12:6 – 7 (MSG)
Some of the experiences you are going through in your relationship is just God’s way of educating you. He wants you to be better. He doesn’t want you to fail. He doesn’t want you to become a failure. He doesn’t want you to regret later. So He disciplines.
Accept God’s discipline and move on into greater heights. God doesn’t want you to drop out of that discipline system. It’s not punishment, it’s training. God will NEVER punish you! It may look like that, but it’s not!
As you respond to His discipline and learn from your mistakes or errors, a better version of you emerges and God can use you better.
That relationship broke? Oh, ensure you learn from it before you jump into another one! Take your training and let the best of God be available for you.
Got any questions? Leave them in the comments and I will respond.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God is not punishing me. I respond well to God’s training
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray for grace to receive the training with a humble heart.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go through the training patiently because God is not punishing you.
Bones are so important in the body that it cuts across the entire body mass. They are everywhere, even inside the ears! And the bones in the body are so important that any anomaly in it is the beginning of a slow death. May our bones remain strong!
Bones! You don’t see them, but they hold the entire frame of the homo sapien in place. Without bones, the man will collapse, unable to move an inch. Without bones, mobility will cease, and productivity will be grounded, so much so that any anomaly is often referred to as a disability.
Then the flesh! That is what you get to see. It is the pulchritude, the outer beauty, the color, the complexion, and the outer glory!
Adam exclaimed and said in Genesis
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:23 (KJV)
Wow! That was revelatory!
Bone of my bones first! That is, in seeking a spouse, it is not just about the flesh, which is the outward beauty. It is not just about the rotundity of the backside or the massiveness of that which dangles below the cleavage. All that is flesh!
But the order is bones first. The flesh is important as well because it is in order to be attracted. However, if it is all about the flesh alone, you are in an obvious error.
The bone of your bones talks of the inner frame, the character, the power within, the integrity, and the forthrightness that makes up the essence in a man or woman. It deals with honesty, virtue, and values, not just the lips, the hips, and the tips alone.
Go beyond outward beauty. Check the God in him or her. Check the values. Then you can say you are dealing not just with the flesh of your flesh, but with both bone of your bones and flesh of your flesh.
Selah!
We started our fast yesterday. Find more details HERE
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will marry the bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to get it right martially.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gen 2:23(CEV)and the man exclaimed, “Here is someone like me! She is part of my body, my own flesh and bones. She came from me, a man. So I will name her Woman!”
There is a plan of heaven this month on your life! It’s good news! Get ready!
One of the most joyful events among humanity is the birthing of a new baby! How beautiful can it be? Especially, when the parents have been trusting and waiting for a while! The arrival of the baby elicits a joy that knows no bounds, an excitement that goes really deep and an ecstasy beyond what any drug can offer!
All because of what? The birthing of a new baby!
I love Septembers! Forget about the wild belief of “ember” months! I choose to disregard that! It’s going to be a September To Remember! I choose to believe the report of the Lord.
September is that month that signifies the 9th month, when gestation period is complete and the baby has no choice, but to come forth!
May I announce to you, with a trumpet laid to my mouth this morning, that this month will be a September to Remember!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
A few days back, while in the bathroom, God spoke to me on this. And this is why we are embarking on a month-long fast beginning from today!
Wouldn’t you rather join us!
It’s a fast that God Himself called. And when God calls for a fast, He has some goodies in stock for you and I.
God said you are about to birth that which you have been carrying!
The reason you have not given birth is because there is no strength!
And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
Isa 37:3 (KJV)
And that is why we are fasting. To provide strength to give birth to that greatness, that increase, that advancement, and whatever pregnancy you have been carrying!
From the 1st of September, we will be waiting on God daily. You can break your fast daily from 2 pm. Prayer points will be available every day on our website here. I pray that it will be a September to Remember for you in Jesus name.
There will be two prayers sessions daily, morning and evening.
Morning prayer will be by 5.30 am and 6.00 am, (online) while evening prayers will be on-site at Shouts of Grace Center, Ibadan.
Evening prayers wily 6.00 pm but on-site at Shouts of Grace Center, Joke Plaza, Beside Trans Amusement Park, Bodija-Ui Road, Ibadan.
If you are outside Ibadan or Nigeria, join for prayers online at any of indicated handles above! Prayer points will also be available on the site daily.
This month, God will answer you!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am bringing forth
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to bring forth
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY They said to him, “Hezekiah says, ‘This is a black day. We’re in crisis. We’re like pregnant women without even the strength to have a baby! Isaiah 37:3 MSG
There are several gateways to a man’s spirit. These gateways are like large open doors through which good or bad spirits can access our inner man. I believe it is to this intent that the scripture says:
Pro 4:23 (KJV) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
The heart has to be kept with security systems that would prevent unsolicited access into your heart. The gateways in every man include the mouth gate, the eye gate, the ear gate, and nose gate.
This morning, I want to say a few words as it relates to the eye gate and relationships.
The Bible actually talks a lot about being cautious with what we see. One such scripture can be found in:
Job 31:1 (KJV) I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Job had to come to a point in his life and he realized his eyes are going to get him into serious trouble. So he dealt with his eyes in order to deal with his thoughts. His eye gate was feeding his thought life and those thoughts were far from healthy.
He knew if he was going to be okay, he had to make decisions. And that is what you will need to do too, you will need to make decisions!
Jesus even elaborated more here:
Mat 5:28 (KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Just having a deliberate lustful look, Jesus said it’s the same as an adulterous sin.
What do you do?
You see, the first look is not always a sin or any trouble. It is the second, third and perpetual look that becomes the problem. It’s when you start thinking on or meditating on an unhealthy sight that issues begin to rear their heads. The solution is simple, like Job, you must make a decision and deliberately refuse to look at whatever is going to feed your weaknesses.
I pray that today will be a great day in your life, even as you make those decisions.
Be blessed!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am deliberate with what I see
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask for the grace not to feed your weakness.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Job 31:1 (MSG)”I made a solemn pact with myself never to undress a girl with my eyes.
Opposite, they say, will always attract. That has been found to be true, always and at all times. God is a God of varieties. God’s own way of ensuring that you don’t get so bored in marriage is that opposite will attract.
The reason you fell in love most of the time is because there is something you saw that you don’t have.
God in His wisdom, sovereignty and divine love, intends that your spouse will have strength in the area where you have weaknesses, and you will have strength in the area where your spouse has weaknesses.
The strengths versus weaknesses tango will then create a balance, so that the children can be properly and emotionally developed.
Won’t it really be very odd for husband and wife to have same weaknesses?
So opposite will attract. Your lover will reason and think differently from you, mostly.
These opposites that attract, however, will also now be the very thing that will cause irritations when the love euphoria dies down.
It is at this point that most relationships get broken, because they did not understand why they have been so different, without knowing that the very difference is what they need to create a beautiful balance and be able to have a matured marital experience.
So, do not despise your differences in any way, rather celebrate those differences because that is what will bring balance into the relationship and eventually your marriage.
The opposite ways will definitely bring different opinions, reasonings and conclusions, but you must be matured enough not to mute your spouse but rather create an enabling environment for expressions in the relationship and marriage.
Work on your strengths by maximizing them. Work on your weaknesses by minimizing them!
May God grant you more understanding.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am different. I am unique. I am special.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to accept the fact that we are made to be different.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12 KJV
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Study a book on temperament to know why you are different
It is interesting the extent of love and bonding that exist between parents and their children. It is simply amazing as this bonding remains for years, even after the children became adults.
You often see adults becoming and behaving all over again like babies when they are around their parents.
And that is perfectly okay.
However as marriage approaches, this has to change quickly or else there will be issues in marriage.
The Bible is unequivocal when it declares:
Gen 2:24 (MSG) Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.
Does this mean you should not take care of your parents? No. Does this mean you will not take care of them after marriage?
Not really?
What does it mean then?
It means that your husband or wife will take priority after wedding. That is exactly what marriage is.
KJV translation says there must be a leaving and then a cleaving.
Gen 2:24 (KJV) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Without properly leaving, cleaving will be unachievable. That is the simple reality.
The Bible says they will become one flesh.
There is no intimacy that is higher than that aside the one with God
But before this intimacy can be a reality, there must be proper leaving.
So the question to you as a single is, are your prepared to leave and focus on your marriage?
Are you prepared to disconnect emotionally and focus that emotional energy to the one who will be your spouse?
Are you sure you will not be a Daddy’s girl or Mummy’s boy to the detriment of your marriage? Those are pertinent questions you need to ask.
May God grant you more understanding in Jesus name.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am prepared to focus on my marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to cleave to my spouse
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Life is a question of power. The moment power is drained and strength is dissipated, life will ooze out slowly and death will set in.
Wealth and riches are a question of power. Poverty is an expression of weakness and lack of strength in finances.
Strength! It determines a lot.
Marriage requires strength. A successful relationship that will translate into a great courtship and eventually a blissful marriage requires strength all the way. When a person lacks strength, all kinds of stuff will happen to the weak emotions. The emotions are as vulnerable to the degree that the soul is weak.
I love the scripture below:
Eph 3:16 (KJV) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
If there is anything you should pray for today, it is strength in your inner man. Strength to navigate the meanders of the marital road and be able to avoid emotional mirages that appear as you journey on that road. All of us will ply that road at one time or the other.
Getting a spouse, getting married, having a glorious wedding, and then a great marriage all require strength. Walking down the aisle is no less a task, there is strength needed every step of the way to avoid distractions that scream at you.
Strength to be a husband! Strength for leadership! Strength to be a wife; to submit and respect! All these are no small feats. You are going to need strength.
God can grant you this strength. Ask for it. Pray for it. And when you have it, it will make all the difference!
I love the Passion Translation:
Eph 3:16 (TPT) And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.
I pray for you this morning, may supernatural strength flood your innermost being in Jesus name!
Have a great day!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have supernatural strength as a person
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, increase my strength
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 3:16 (CEV) God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers
God is a God of systems. Structures. Principles. This divinely systemic nature of God helps to regulate the entire universe, nothing missing, nothing broken, or we will all be dead in a few seconds.
He upholds all things by the word of His power. Everything exists in a delicate balance, yet entirely firm and solid. You couldn’t look far before you see the hand of the Lord and His wisdom dotting the horizon of humanity.
Financial structure of this planet is in the hands of the Lord. That is why He said He is the one that gives power to get wealth. Reward systems and structures are in the hand of the Lord and God ensures that every man reaps what he sows. That is why the Bible says God will not forget your labour of love.
Now to my emphasis today:
1Sa 2:8 (MSG) He puts poor people on their feet again; he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope, RESTORING DIGNITY AND RESPECT TO THEIR LIVES— a place in the sun! For THE VERY STRUCTURES of earth are GOD’s; he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation.
You have gone through broken relationships. You have been jilted. You have been disappointed. You have been frustrated. You have been used and dumped. Whatever might have happened to you is not strong enough to thwart you, because today, God is restoring dignity and respect back into your life.
How am I so sure God is going to do that? The very structure of the earth belongs to God, and that structure can be tweaked for your advantage such that your dignity and respect which you think have been eroded are easily restored by God Himself.
The structures of this earth begin to favour you from today in Jesus name.
Fresh hope is being injected into your life right now and every area where it seems dark and out, light is shining forth, bring you into a place of light and explicit knowledge of God and His marital plans for your life.
Remain blessed today!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My dignity is restored. I receive full restoration.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray for restoration.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the Lord ’s, and he has set the world in order. 1 Samuel 2:8 NLT
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Meditate on the word “restoration”
Man is a curious being. Perhaps, extremely curious. Man doesn’t like being oblivious. And this has driven man to quests for knowledge, inventions, and technological advancements.
On the flip side, it has also driven man into the supernatural. Man has studied all available stuff to be studied, from science to psychology and to paranormal terrains. The occult is not exempt.
A man wants to know, period.
As you come to know the Lord, this thirst doesn’t go away. You simply want to know. And the good news is that God is not denying you from knowing. As a matter of fact, He wants you to know the lover more than you want to know. It’s actually the devil that doesn’t want you to know a thing.
However, the first order of what to know is God Himself. It is in your quest and pursuit to know God that you begin to know yourself and as a consequence, you come into the discovery of God’s purpose and intent for your life in terms of your marital choice.
God wants you to know the right person to marry. He doesn’t want you to miss it in any way! It is sure not God’s plan for you to jump experimentally from one person to another searching for love that was never lost. He wants to lead you! The question is, will you be led?
Jer 33:3 (KJV) Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Here, God gives you the all-clear-access to ask Him!
I love how the Message Translation put it.
Jer 33:3 (MSG) ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that YOU COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT ON YOUR OWN.’
One of the things you might never be able to figure out on your own is who to get married to. Ask Him, for He promises to answer you and show you this.
Rather than follow your emotions and dabble into a relationship whose story will touch the heart later, patiently follow God and let Him show you His will.
That is where peace is.
That is where favour is.
May God grant you more understanding in Jesus name!
This is me, Pastor Dunamis, saying “I love you, and I’m praying for you, even as you read!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I know the lover to marry.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me how to know the lover to marry.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT)Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
David was very much loved of God. He was simply God’s favorite. Just as today, we are all God’s favorites through the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
However, he fumbled along the way. From adultery, he descended so fast on the lane of iniquity, fueled by lust of the eyes and of the flesh. From the cage of adultery, he dug further into the dungeon of a murderous act.
In one swoop of his signature, he exterminated the life of one of his most loyal men, in a desperate bid to cover up a pregnancy.
And after all of that, our God’s man gathered enough temerity to convert the widow of the man he murdered into his harem. This did not go down well with God.
He had to be confronted, because his present deception will put him into eternal jeopardy.
Out came the fiery man of God, Prophet Nathan, in one of the most dramatic confrontations ever recorded in the scriptures.
David was cornered. But he did something so powerful I want you to see. He did not live in denial or delusion once confronted. He owned up. Psalm 51 was a prayer from the heart of a repentant man.
One verse that struck me however, which inspired this morning’s discourse is this:
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
He knew if the Holy Spirit is gone, he is finished. He must have remembered Saul, and what happened to him when the Holy Spirit departed and took His mercy away from him.
Perhaps in your quest to settle down and get married, your greatest asset is the Holy Spirit.
He is the revealer. He is the teacher. He is the comforter.
Protect your relationship with Him. It is a key to a lasting relationship and marriage. He is the one that will show you who to marry, just as He showed me!
May God grant you more understanding!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY The Holy Spirit is my greatest asset. I value his friendship.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Thank God for the Holy Spirit. What a great asset!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Single or married, you dare not approach the vicinity of God’s presence in the old Testament. Even the priests who go to offer sacrifices once a year on behalf of the people had to do so in trepidation and fear. Ropes will be tied to their legs in case they died and they would simply be pulled out.
Such was the case in the old Testament.
In the new testament, it’s simply amazing. Not only could we approach God’s presence, but we are also told to come boldly.
E shock you? There is more. This same God we could not come near in Old Testament becomes a God we carry! What?
Take a look at the scripture.
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:27 KJV
Christ is now in us and He is the hope of that glory. In other words, we can taste that glory once He is in us because He is the hope of that glory.
We are now supernatural beings. We cannot be defeated. We cannot be delayed maritally. We carry God! And who we carry ultimately determines who we marry.
There is no fear that our spouse won’t show up. Nobody can refuse you because you carry God whom no mortal can resist.
You carry God, so you cannot attract a time-waster, an empty Casanova, or a suitor with an ulterior motive.
You simply live with this understanding. You relish in it. You dive into it and the reality of that supernatural life becomes our experience.
You say it to yourself and confess it till it becomes your experience.
May God grant more understanding!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I carry God
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes to see and know who I am
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Col 1:27 (AMP) To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Study the bible reading for the day
Verse 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Thank God I am not Jesus! He simply dealt with the opposition first. If it were you or me in our full strength of humanity, you will take a look at the disciples, and say something like,
“How dare you talk to me, your creator like that? Is it me that you asking a question whether I care for you or not? Now all of you go to the corner of the ship, where the storm is really strong, kneel down, and raise your hands. That is your punishment. Because of ordinary storm, you are talking to me like that? Now, I want to go back to sleep, and none of you should dare disturb my godly sleep!
But God is a God of mercy. Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the wind.
How can Jesus rebuke the wind? How can he be speaking to the wind? You see, Jesus actually addressed the spirit behind the wind and the sea. You don’t rebuke a chair or a table, or Television set. But you can rebuke and speak to the spirit behind any anomaly in your life.
What Jesus has done is what he would have wanted the disciples to do. Rebuke the situation and speak to it.
When you see a persistent negative trend in your life, rebuke it. Resist it and reject it. When you sense the storm of delay in your relationship or marriage, come against it and take authority over it rather than keep asking God why he has abandoned you!
After Jesus has dealt with the situation, what did he do? Let’s take a look at the last verse we are looking at today.
Verse 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
There are two pertinent things here.
a. Jesus asked them to stop being fearful.
b. He asked them to have faith.
In other words, if these two things have been in place, there would not have been a need to wake up Jesus before dealing with the situation. The disciples really delayed themselves by being fearful!
What are your fears? That is there is a generational curse? That all the ladies in your family end up in divorce or separation in marriage? That none of the ladies in your family gets married before forty-five? That all the men in your family had child-birth issues? That there seems to be an ancestral curse? That the men in your family have irresponsibility issues? What is that storm?
Refuse to fear! Fear is a weapon in the hands of the devil. Refuse to fear because Jesus already got you the victory!
Stay in faith. Stay in God’s word. The more you read and study God’s word, the more you build your faith. When these two factors are in place, go ahead and rebuke that storm! There will be calm!
Listen to me, God will answer your prayers. Focus on Him, refuse to be distracted and stay away from all sins! Stay away from all Jeru trips! This month, God will answer you!
Say after me: I refuse to fear. I have faith in God. I rebuke every storm, I come against every wrong spirit behind my situation. I bind you in the name of Jesus. I proclaim my freedom today, for whosoever the son of man shall set free shall be free indeed! I declare today, that my prayers are being answered speedily in Jesus name. Every curse is broken, every delay is terminated. I receive speed in God to arrive at my God-ordained destination in Jesus name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I walk in faith, not in fear.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Come against all forms of fear in your relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mark 4:39(MSG) Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.
Sandra has been a child of God in all respect. She serves God with her time and energy, but she is not happy. She is getting older and all her prayers about getting the right man and settling in marriage seemed unanswered. Why does it seem God is not answering her prayers?
Bode on the other hand is married, but his marriage is full of challenges. His sweet fiancée then, is no longer his sweet wife after three years of marriage and he is wondering why he is getting tired of his marriage, and it looks like God is not answering all his prayers to salvage the situation.
Let’s delve into the scriptures, as we trust the Holy Spirit to bring to the fore precious truths that are specific to our situations.
And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:37-40 KJV)
Let’s pick it up from verse 37
Verse 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
There are two things I want you to see in this verse.
There arose a great storm of wind. In life, we have not been promised that there would never be storms, but that in the midst of the storm, if we can trust and look unto God, we will not be hurt! Our father has promised us a resounding victory in the midst of the storm.
The waves beat into the ship. The storms of life are targeted at you. It doesn’t mean you have done something wrong, it only means you are a child of God and the devil is not comfortable with that!
Let’s take a look at the next verse.
Verse 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
After the disciples have done all they could and yet the storm persisted rather than be abated, they went to Jesus out of frustration, and to their consternation, Jesus was asleep.
In Message translation, they said:
“Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”
How many times have you been there in your marital issues and you are like,
‘Master, carest not thou that I am single?’ ‘Teacher, is it nothing to you that I am getting old?’ ‘Master, carest not thou that my husband is wayward?’ ‘Teacher, is it nothing to you that I am being abused by one guy after the other?’ ‘Master, carest not thou about my finances, career, or marital issues?’ ‘Master, is it nothing to you that I am still childless?’
How many times have we felt like the disciples in our lives? Where is God? Why have the answers to my prayers lingered this much? Lord, where are you?
What did Jesus do? What will you do if it seems God is not answering you?
We will continue from there tomorrow. Don’t miss it!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I walk in faith, not in fear. God is answering my prayers.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Come against all forms of fear in your relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mark 4:39(MSG) Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.
1. He wants you to have a conscious and deliberate relationship with Him evidenced in your consistent time spent in the word and prayers. As a wife in the making, you will be able to derive and draw a lot of strength from the presence of God in other to succeed at the multi-tasking nature of a woman’s role in the house. Spending consistent time in His presence will help you to avoid burn-out and stress. It is in the presence of God you get fresh oil and get rejuvenated to cheerfully attend to your duties as a wife and a mother.
2. He wants you not only to birth children but also to birth miracles, open doors, promotions and everything desired in the place of prayer. A woman is anointed and empowered to birth. God wants you to birth the picture you desire in the place of prayer. As a single in waiting, God wants you to birth the family you desire in the place of prayer.
A woman is like a spiritual factory where miracles can be birthed if the price can be paid. Rather than worry about that issue of delay, cast your care on Jesus and get into the place of your strength, the place of prayer. Pay the price and wait on Him.
3. He wants you to take care of your family by being motherly and caring. God wants you as a woman to strike a balance between your career and motherly responsibilities. At the end of it all, your children would be the greatest legacy you have, so it is important to spend time developing them and nurturing them in the ways of the Lord.
May God grant you more understanding!
What else do you think God wants from you as a single lady/ Let’s hear in the comment section.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God will guide me in the right path. As a lady, I will not make a mistake.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, I ask that you open my eyes of understanding in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 144:12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take an inventory of your life in the light of God’s principles
Life can be tiring. Relationships can become wearisome really fast especially when there have been disappointments after disappointments. Discouragement can creep in so stealthily that it transforms into despondency quickly.
The pain of broken engagements is not good on the heart in any way. Delay in finding the right person can really get any strong person doubting and tired. Entanglement with the wrong persons can make your faith fizzle away that you get to a point of giving up and blaming God.
What do you do at those points when you are so down?
God’s voice reverberates through His words at those moments.
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
It’s an invitation for you. And it comes with a powerful promise. He will take your labor and whatever it is that makes you heavy laden, and give you rest in its place.
I really love what it says in The Passion Translation
Mat 11:28 “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.
There is a refreshing that awaits you, a refreshing of your life and destiny, a refreshing of your broken heart, a refreshing of your shattered emotions, and guess where that refreshing is coming from?
It’s coming from God because He is your oasis!
How powerful can that be?
Rather than resort to the hate and bitterness which comes as a result of how you have been treated, you can choose to hand it all over to your oasis and you can be sure there will be a refreshing.
It is this refreshing you need to start afresh, to begin again, and to get the best despite what has happened.
Have a wonderful day!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I receive a refreshing from the oasis
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray for rest
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 11:28 “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.
The faithfulness of God never ceases to amaze me. It is beyond every explanation. It is beyond the parameters of cognition. It supersedes the highest of the mountains, the loftiest of the buildings, the grandest of the beauty in nature, and the calmness of the night seasons.
It is a thing to know God is faithful, it is another thing to JUDGE God faithful. Ever thought of that?
The scripture elucidates here;
Heb 11:11 (KJV) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Our discourse tonight centers around the verse above. I want you to see it as I see it and as God wants you to see it. The reason Sarah received strength to conceive seed and was delivered was because she JUDGED God faithful!
Oh, how that percolates to very bone marrow!
Can you judge God faithful in your relationship? Can you judge God faithful in that broken relationship and abandoned wedding plans?
Everything about Sarah’s conceiving looked like a mirage, but she JUDGED God faithful.
I now love the Passion Translation!
Heb 11:11 (TPT) Sarah’s faith embraced the miracle power to conceive even though she was barren and was past the age of childbearing, for the authority of her faith rested in the One who made the promise, and she TAPPED into his faithfulness.
Whoa!
Can you dare to tap into His faithfulness today concerning the deepest desires of your heart? Can you tap into God’s faithfulness concerning that brother or sister? Can you tap into God’s faithfulness concerning that issue that looks like delay?
Oh sure, if Sarah did allow the authority of her faith to rest in the one who made the promise, then you can too!
I pray that God grant you more understanding to TAP into His faithfulness!
Be blessed today and always!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I judge God faithful.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Go ahead and tap into the faithfulness of God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Heb 11:11 (KJV) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
In those days, when a new bride has been given, the bridegroom will lead her into a hut where their love will be consummated. Everybody will wait outside, expecting the groom, or is it the bride herself now, to bring out a red stained cloth, a token signifying that she was a virgin till her wedding.
Yes, these values and powerful cultural practices are quickly being eroded by civilization cum immorality, we still must raise the standard as children of God.
Our bed must remain green! A green bed signifies a life devoid of sexual immorality and pre-marital compromise.
A green bed is devoid of perversions and all antics that have been invented by the enemy of our soul.
Here is how the scripture puts it
Son 1:16 (KJV) Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
Let the bed remain green!
Oh yes, I know, a lot of bed have been stained even before the age of accountability, through abuses that emanated from people we have trusted.
The trauma of the past must not be allowed to create a permanent stain on our soul. We must allow the blood of Jesus to remove every red stain and clean up our soul as if we were never stained before.
This is the heritage we have in God. Allow Him to bring forgiveness to you over the perpetrator, that every stain can be removed and your destiny cleaned up for the fulfillment of God’s plan for your life.
Irrespective of the mistakes of the past, you can approach marriage with a green bed, not a stained, ugly distorted bed, for that often comes with bedsheets of stigmatized coverings! Rather allow the blood of Jesus…that will do the ultimate work.
Be blessed today and always!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My bed is green
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help my bed to remain green
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Son 1:16 (KJV) Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
After God created man, God spoke to him in the very first words ever recorded from God to him. Interestingly and amazingly, God referred to man as “them”
Gen 1:27 (MKJV) And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created THEM male and female.
God created man. He created them! What is going on here? The reason is that God wasn’t only talking to Adam, He was talking to Adam and all of humanity in his loins. Male and female were both within the loins of Adam and God addressed all of humanity at that moment.
If you are like me, you will want to be interested in the very first words God spoke to Adam and all of humanity. As Adam stood before the Lord, along side with you and me, in huge frame and in the very image of God, here is what happened.
Gen 1:28 (MKJV) And God blessed them. And God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heavens, and all animals that move upon the earth.
So we see what God did. And He spoke the very first words!
Be Fruitful!
Herein lies the mandate of God over your relationship and eventually marriage.
Fruitfulness does not include broken relationships. Fruitfulness does not include jilting experiences and broken hearts. Fruitfulness does not include abandoned marital promises. Fruitfulness does not include irresponsible brothers or unavailable sisters, who are just out to scam your emotions and make a mincemeat of your emotional health.
Never accept or believe anything less of the mandate of God over your life and relationships. It’s fruitfulness all the way and nothing more! This is what you should embrace. This is what you should believe. And that is what will be your experience. So I declare over you in Jesus name!
Don’t forget to join us daily for a daily Encounter in prayer on “Oil For Today” by 5.30am on Mixlr (khcglobal) and on Instagram (pastordunamis). If you miss that time, we are still live daily on YouTube by 6.00am (Dunamis Tunde Okunowo)
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will fulfill the mandate of God over my life.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to fulfill the mandate
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gen 1:27 (MKJV) And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created THEM male and female.
Our text this morning comes powerfully shining a spotlight on the very beginning of things.
1Jn 1:1 (KJV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
From the text above, there was something or someone which was from the beginning.
Your spouse to be or the person you are about to marry is not just about to be decided by God. He already existed in the mind of God, even before you were born.
Both of you have been “chosen” before you were born! You can now begin to appreciate the scripture which says
Jer 1:5 (MSG) “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations— that’s what I had in mind for you.”
You are wondering whether you just read the right words? Oh yes you did! Before your conception, some things have been decided by God!
No wonder most of all what God wants from you is to listen to Him, follow him and follow that divine map!
Psa 81:13 (MSG) “Oh, dear people, will you listen to me now? Israel, will you follow my map?
If that is the case then, can all singles go and rest a while and stop disturbing yourselves about who to marry?
No wonder Adam had to go to “sleep” before Eve showed up.
Could it be that you have ben too “awake,” and you have been trying to do your own thing rather than simply cooperate and follow that which was from the beginning?
Oh, how the reality sets in, powerfully and resolutely, God has it sorted out!
I only need to trust Him and believe Him as the Lord my shepherd who will not lead me wrong!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, show me what I need to know that I don’t know.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
