There comes a time when love should be stirred up hundred percent, consistently, daily, and without caution. That is in the domain of marriage.
But as singles, you need to be careful around your loved one not to provoke him, especially, if he is keeping the faith and refusing to compromise.
You see when you are in love, your emotions are in overdrive most of the time, you are at the borderline of compromise and messing up most of the times you are together. You can help him a lot by your deliberate comportment.
Look at the scriptures:
I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
Son 3:5 (KJV)
I charge you, O ye daughters of KHC! Do not stir up love until the right time.
Take a look at the Message Translation:
Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you’re ready.
Son 3:5 (MSG)
So, this is a warning to all ladies, do not excite love until the time is ripe and you are ready.
When will you be ready? You will be ready when you are married. At that time, you can excite love all day long. The angels will be clapping for you.
But if you excite love now, they will fly away. Lol
Let’s take a look at one more translation:
Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me by the gazelles or by the does in the field, that you will not awaken love or arouse love before its proper time.
Son 3:5 (GW)
There is a proper time.
Tomorrow, I will show you practical ways on how not to excite love before its time.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not partake in stirring up love before time
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will keep you from stirring up love before time
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 6:13 (KJV) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Don’t excite love till it’s time
Financial Areas To Talk About In Marriage. This article is continued from yesterday…
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Ecc 10:19
So let’s talk about few areas we can discuss with our spouse about our finances
1. Being transparent about our income. Be as open and sincere as possible about letting your spouse know about our income.
2. Discuss paying of tithe. Let it be an established rule in your home.
3. Discuss your family budget Have a budget your home and family runs on. Let every single aspect of your marriage be under a budget. The kids, parents, projects…etc
4. Discuss savings
5. Discuss how to improve and make more money, having multiple streams of income.
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6. Discuss investments. In the parable of the talent, the servant that invested his master’s money was commended. Get information about investment opportunities, google about money-making ideas.
7. Discuss your needs When a woman’s needs are not met, she has a tendency of trying to sort herself.
8. Discuss contentment This is very important. We are believers and our lives must be guided by scripture. Our lives do not consist of what we have. Let your spouse know that money is not everything. We have to learn to trust in God and not in riches. Let our driving force not be money but God, His kingdom, and using whatever we have for His glory.
God bless our marriages.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY We have money. Money doesn’t have us. We are rich.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us the wisdom to know how to multiply whatever amount of money we have in Jesus’ name.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Ecc 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Discuss the points with your spouse
Little children, be courageous. Sometimes you might feel afraid to do something because you are afraid of failing or being mocked. The verse below tells you to do otherwise.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Fear is part of our lives but is not supposed to stop us from doing what we are supposed to do, especially as children of God. But you must learn to be courageous. Little children, be courageous!
God doesn’t want us to be afraid of anything because, according to the verse above, He is with us all the way.
This was what he told Joshua when the children of Israel were going out to tackle an enemy. He told them not to be afraid. They believed Him and went out to battle. Guess what happened? They came back victorious. So little children, be courageous.
May the Lord give you victory and eliminate every spirit of fear in you. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, give me a spirit that is bold and courageous in You. Help me conquer mountains in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Action plan: Bring every one of your fears before God. Ask Him to show you what to do and obey His instructions.
Today I will share with you some helpful hints. A broken heart for a moment is better than a broken heart for life. You may want to carefully and prayerfully weigh your options and make your decision. Remember we make decisions and the decisions eventually make us.
1. Consider your future and destiny It is very important in falling in love to consider the future. Can you see him/her in the picture of your future? Is there destiny alignment? Are there things in destiny to accomplish together?
2. Consider your genotype For example, AS and AS is a no-go area. Don’t fall in love before finding out your genotype. A few days of pain and a broken heart is far better than a lifetime of pain and regret.
3. If he/she is an unrepentant sinner If he/she is an unbeliever or a believer who still enjoys habitual sin and is unrepentant. The things of God are taken with levity and he/she is making no efforts to draw closer to God. He or she does not go to church. A breakup may save you from a regretful future.
4. If there are a lot ofcharacter flaws Nobody is perfect but there are some character flaws that cannot be overlooked. If he or she drinks, smokes, womanizes, is a fraudster or engages in any form of violence, a break may be a better option.
5. If love is not genuine If the love is lopsided and he or she only loves you for what he can get from you a breakup is a better option. There is no genuine basis for the relationship.
6. If there is a major parental and family disapproval If prayers, efforts, and all possible options have been explored and yet there is strong parental disapproval despite prayers, you may want to consider a breakup. It may happen to be direction in the long run.
Remember that as a child of God, He wants the best for us and our future.
God bless you.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am wise in my decisions
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give me a wise and understanding heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 16:9 (KJV) A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Consider these points and see if need be to break up
We know money is a major part of our lives as married couples. In fact, we make about 70% of our decision based on finances.
The house we live in, the area we stay, how many kids we have, what school they go, the type of clothes they wear, the type of food they eat, how comfortable the house we live in is, do we rent an apartment or buy one, what work we do, where we work, what part of the country we live in, what type of friends we have, the type of car(s) we have, what church we attend, our spiritual level…and it goes on and on.
Money is so important that it appears in the Bible 123 times.
The only thing that can compete with God in our hearts is mammon or finances. Every sin of covetousness especially of material things is traceable to Financial issues.
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Most adulteries and fornications are basically traceable to money. For example, a beautiful lady or handsome guy who you get attracted to is attractive because she/he can afford expensive things that make her/him beautiful.
No one is attracted to an ugly and poor fellow.
Money is a defence. It can defend our spouse and marriage from falling if properly used
For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Ecc 7:12 [KJV]
So, as couples, it is important we talk about finances and guard against its adverse effect on our marriage. We can make money serve us at whatever level we are in. Finances will answer and solve the majority of our marital problems.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Ecc 10:19 [KJV]
Tomorrow, I will show you some pertinent areas to discuss the issue of money with your spouse.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY We have money. Money doesn’t have us. We are rich.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us the wisdom to know how to multiply whatever amount of money we have in Jesus name.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Ecc 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Discuss the points with your spouse
There are several ways you can make your parents happy, and you should make them happy. This morning, I will show you one of the ways to do that.
One good way to make your parents happy is by truly listening to them when they are speaking to you. Looks simple right? But that’s just it.
Don’t be too quick to talk back, interrupt, grumble, or be rude to them. When you keep quiet and listen to them, you get to hear what they are saying, and what they want you to do.
Listening is also a way of showing that you care about them and their feelings and that you understand what they are going through. This will make your parents happy. It’s hard enough being parents to you and your siblings, juggling work, church, the home and so many other parts of their lives.
Give them room to breathe by just hearing them out. They think they are old-fashioned or country bumpkins. They were once teenagers like you and understand you more than you know or can imagine.
After they finish speaking, then you can speak and tell them what you feel. Every parent loves to hear their children air their views. This will make your parents happy.
If you have done something wrong, apologize and mean it. This way, you get to listen and they get to listen to you too. Both parties have a win-win situation.
“My child, guard my sayings; store my commandments with you.”
Prayer: God, please teach me to listen so I can understand what my parents are communicating to me concerning my actions and words. Give me the grace to learn to listen. Amen.
Action plan: Make your parents happy. The next time your parents are talking to you about something you did wrong, listen and don’t argue. Apologize when you should and need to.
Declaration: My children are good listeners. They don’t speak back to me. They are very cooperative.
The Answer is No! You can marry an imperfect person because nobody is perfect. Nobody! We are all a work in progress.
But wait… let’s make some clarifications.
An imperfect person is not someone who is living in an unrepentant habitual sin, sinning willfully and enjoying the pleasures of sin.
In other words, I am saying, you cannot marry someone who is living consistently in habitual sin, with no remorse or repentance. Such a person is going get you into trouble and drag you into misery.
About being imperfect, the scriptures lets us know we will get better as we stay in the word, study the word, pray in the Spirit and pay attention to the things of the Spirit.
Is your lover doing all these?
Check the scriptures:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2Co 3:18 (KJV)
Again we see here:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:2 (KJV)
We are promised a change as we pay attention to the word. This is entirely different from a habitual sinner. He is not interested in changing or getting better in God.
He may profess interest in change with his mouth, but his heart is far from that. He or she is not interested in God’s word, he is only religious, he goes to church.
He is a serial fornicator. He plays sport with sin. The Bible warns against such people.
Here are some clear instructions:
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:11 (KJV)
You are not to be friends with such people not to talk of getting married to such because they probably have some money.
Amplified Bible puts it this way:
But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.
1Co 5:11 (AMPC)
Again take a look at the Message translation:
But I am saying that you shouldn’t act as if everything is just fine when one of your Christian companions is promiscuous or crooked, is flip with God or rude to friends, gets drunk or becomes greedy and predatory. You can’t just go along with this, treating it as acceptable behavior.
1Co 5:11 (MSG)
Let’s take a look at one more scriptures and I will rest my case:
I wrote you in my earlier letter that you shouldn’t make yourselves at home among the sexually promiscuous. [10] I didn’t mean that you should have nothing at all to do with outsiders of that sort. Or with crooks, whether blue- or white-collar. Or with spiritual phonies, for that matter. You’d have to leave the world entirely to do that! [11] But I am saying that you shouldn’t act as if everything is just fine when one of your Christian companions is promiscuous or crooked, is flip with God or rude to friends, gets drunk or becomes greedy and predatory. You can’t just go along with this, treating it as acceptable behavior.
1Co 5:9-11 (MSG)
I will have to stop here this morning.
May God grant you more understanding!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will hearken to God’s voice. I will work on myself till I am perfect.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will perfect you
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Co 5:11 (GW) Now, what I meant was that you should not associate with people who call themselves brothers or sisters in the Christian faith but live in sexual sin, are greedy, worship false gods, use abusive language, get drunk, or are dishonest. Don’t eat with such people.
The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit was promised to us believers as Jesus was ascending.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
He is supposed to comfort us. The comforter lives in us forever. He is not leaving us, He is in us to stay. He is not planning to go anywhere now, tomorrow, or in the nearest future. He is to comfort you in your marriage. There are times we need the comfort of the Holy Spirit, not that of our spouse.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
There are so many things we need to know about our marriage. There are things about yourself first of all you don’t even know. It takes the Holy Spirit to teach you about yourself.
As a wife, there are some times we are just complicated because of our make-up. Sometimes we are just so emotional, we wonder what’s wrong with us. Nothing is wrong, we are just unique and we need to be uniquely understood.
The Holy Spirit was there when God was creating us so He knows.
We need to understand our spouses. Without understanding our spouse, quarrels will be the order of the day. Have you ever had a misunderstanding with your spouse? Both of you are seeing things from two different perspectives and each is sure they are right. You need to know the different sides and the complex temperament of your spouse. It takes the Holy Spirit to do this job.
The institution of marriage itself needs to be understood. Marriage is so dynamic, so complex, so unique, so diversely different. It takes the Holy Spirit to help us steer the course. He wants to help us and teach us and show us how things will work in our marriage.
The most important key in our relationship with the Holy Spirit is not having Him but allowing Him to fulfill His Ministry in our lives and marriage. Most of us have the gift of the Spirit, but how many of us have a working relationship and fellowship with His person? Until we have this relationship we cannot benefit from what He has to offer.
My prayer is that we develop this relationship with the precious Holy Spirit, Amen.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I love the Holy Spirit and I enjoy fellowship with him.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Holy Spirit, let me know you in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY I will no longer ignore God’s Spirit.
This morning, let’s look at one powerful, inspiring, and breathtaking verse in the bible. The verse says that you were wonderfully created.
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:14
What is this verse telling you? How do you feel when you read this?
You should feel important and unique that your Yahweh says you are as wonderful as all His works. You were wonderfully created.
Let’s break down this verse
“I praise you, for I am fearfully…
This means that you are meant to instill fear in the enemy’s heart because you are made of God.
“…and wonderfully made”
Never has the world seen a unique and one-in-a-lifetime person like you. The world has never experienced you before. Out of all the billions of people on the earth, none is like you. You were wonderfully created.
“Wonderful are your works:”
Everything God made is wonderful, exquisite, and a blessing to all mankind. This same God made you.
“my soul knows it very well.”
The psalmist acknowledges that even his soul knows how great a creation he is. He knows that God didn’t make him ordinary. God made him be a special type of creation, different from all the other creations of God. Do you also know that you were wonderfully created?
Write this verse down and memorize it. When people try to put you down and say you are nothing, tell them how the mighty God made you the most special of all His creations.
May the reality of how God made you always stick with you. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for how special you made me. I am special. I am special.
Action point: You were wonderfully created. Reflect more on this phrase and on the verse in study. Write down the wonderful things you know about yourself. You can also ask people around you too.
1. You are not lonely. If you are lonely, you are not ready for marriage. Adam was alone, not lonely. Loneliness and alone-ness are miles apart.
Marriage is never intended to cure loneliness, rather it is to compliment you and provide companionship.
If you study the word, “helper’ you will understand what I am saying here.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:18 (KJV)
The Amplified Bible calls it helper and then goes further to expatiate that word.
Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him.
Genesis 2:18 (AMPC)
2. You are not looking for a house-help. A lady is to be a helper and not a house-help. The roles are defined. They are not the same.
She can help out do laundry depending on your arrangement, but she is not a dry cleaner or a washing machine.
She is not coming to work her hands off while the husband sits back and watches news and football.
This even becomes important these days when there are a lot of career women.
If the young couple doesn’t have house-helps or anybody helping out, then they need to both face the work and not leave it for one party.
This does not undermine the hard work and industriousness of the wife as this is exemplified in the virtuous woman, but it also doesn’t make the husband redundant in the house as well.
There should be “division of labour” in love!
And this is why ladies should not go and spend weekends with a boyfriend all in the bid of securing a wedding. It doesn’t work that way.
You will end up having plenty of Jeru trips and less meaningful discussions to advance your marital plans.
The time that should be spent in knowing each other and probing character defects are spent locked up in each other’s embrace, in a passionate Jeru trip, and this is why there are problems after the wedding.
You never got to know that person with you on the bed.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God will help me to get it right in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me in every you can in the name of Jesus
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Isaiah 42:19 (MSG)You’re my servant, and you’re not looking! You’re my messenger, and you’re not listening! The very people I depended upon, servants of GOD, blind as a bat—willfully blind!
Yea, we often time want things to work ‘sharp, sharp’. We are used to instant victory. Indomie noddles kind of thing.
Even in natural things, nothing just happens. There are no instant millionaires.
In a weight loss program, it is easier to gain weight than it is to lose it.
You gain more calories by eating cakes, pastries, and ice cream. You will have to work out for hours and days to lose what you have gained.
My point is, you cannot have an instant weight loss or anything for that matter.
In the same way, we cannot expect instant victory over where we have been defeated before. It takes time and effort.
Some of us have been used to a certain way of thinking and doing things (in a negative way).
We have learned certain bad habits that are not making our marriage work out.
We shout, lie, are selfish and self-centered, we are bossy, we nag, we are lazy, we are insincere, we are not trustworthy, we unnecessarily keep quiet and withdraw, and the list goes on.
It took you years to get to that point and then you are expecting an instant change.
Deu 7:22 And the Lord your God will clear out those nations before you, little by little; you may not consume them quickly, lest the beasts of the field increase among you. But the Lord your God will give them over to you and will confuse them with a mighty panic until they are destroyed.
This is God talking to us. He says your victory will come ‘little by little.
I feel this little by little victory causes us to sober and keeps us coming to God. Holding on to Him and looking up to Him for His Mercy.
I believe ‘ the beast of the field’ among us is PRIDE, where we feel, ‘ Yes, I can press the button, and …the victory comes.
Remember it took Jesus, dying on the cross to give us this victory. It was a great price. So don’t get discouraged on your journey to making your marriage beautiful.
Pro 23:18 For surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.
God has promised you victory. He has promised that your expectations will not be cut off.
That marriage will be blissful. That husband will love you. That wife will be supportive and submissive. Those children will be obedient and together as a family you will enjoy prosperity. You will move forward. You will increase. That contract will come through.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am patient and will hold on to God till I have victory.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to patiently hold on for my victory
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Co 13:4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go back to God’s instructions for your marriage.
One of the reasons God created you is for you to continually praise Him. God needs you to praise Him. You must learn how to honour God with your praise.
Praising God is a sign that you honor Him as your creator and this gladdens the heart of God.
God made both living and non-living things. Non-living things can only be appreciated by you and in a way, you are praising God for creating such wonderful and exquisite creations.
But as a living thing, with breath in your lungs, you are the ultimate praise singer of God.
His praises should continually fill your mouth and heart. Just like the psalmist.
Psalm 150:6 – “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!”
Praising God should be a habit. One that you can and should never stop doing. Praising God should be programmed into your daily living manual. You must learn how to honour God with your praise.
May the Lord’s praises fill your mouth constantly. Amen.
So today is my birthday! It’s been 49 years! Wow! Ensure you drop a word of prayer for me! And in case you want to do a bit more than prayers, you can send your seed here – GTB, Kisses and Huggs Club, 0150088032 or see more options Here
The above topic translated will read “ O Lord, Deliver Me From Lying Lovers!
Many hearts have been wrecked, many a life has been interrupted, all because of acute insincerity of professing lovers.
Liars are simply like a plague. They will slow down, stagnate, hinder and stop a once excited and exuberant relationship.
Men and women who are ready to throw away any iota of integrity because of what they want to get out of relationship.
Many men have led astray many ladies, with blatant lies emanating straight from hell.
Many ladies have deceived their men, promising heaven and earth while knowing within them they loathe the very man that are professing to.
Married men professing to singles have violated many a heart and rupturing them in the process with lies manufactured straight from hell.
These men and women who fall in the categories are time wasters, destiny destroyers, wickedness sipping through their teeth, ready to devour and yet all these hidden behind fake romantic antics.
Lori Iro. Lying folks lying in state! My prayer this morning, is that God will deliver you from such men.
Froward men who speak frowardness from their mouth! Strange women whose lips are colored with lipsticks of deception, alluringly drawing men who are ignorant.
Here is what the scriptures says:
Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
Psa 120:2 (KJV)
Pray this prayer into your life as a single.
The Message Translation puts its this way:
“Deliver me from the liars, GOD! They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth.”
Psa 120:2 (MSG)
May you not fall in love with a liar. May your heart not be gripped and magnetized to a lying soul.
May God deliver you from such, “Lori Iro” crooners!
God bless you today. Have a great day!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God delivers me from lying lovers
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Ask that the Holy Spirit reveals the intent of the heart of your lover.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 120:2 (MSG)”Deliver me from the liars, GOD! They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth.”
ACTION PLAN FIR THE DAY Ask your lover direct questions.
Today is my birthday! It’s been 49 years! Wow! Ensure you drop a word of prayer for me! And in case you want to do a bit more than prayers, you can send your seed here – GTB, Kisses and Huggs Club, 0150088032 or see more options Here
I want to talk about how crucial integrity is in marriage.
Faithfulness is so rare that even the writer of Proverbs attested to it by saying
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Pro 20:6 (KJV)
The Message Translation says:
Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one?
Every man must stand to tell God, “Here I am!” It is a personal decision to be brutally honest. It will not come easy, but it is what God expects from us.
Your ability to be faithful, honest, open to your spouse is a quality that will advance your marriage in no small measure.
Another translation says:
Pro 20:6 (CEV)There are many who say, “You can trust me!” But can they be trusted?
Ask yourself that pertinent question:
Can I be trusted? Can my spouse trust me? Can I even trust myself?
These are questions that demand answers that should be given to your God.
Before Jacob could be blessed, he was confronted. He decided to own up and be responsible for his nomenclature. It was only after proclaiming who he was that God could bless him.
Your identity has to be confronted by you and with relevant changes made accordingly. This is what growing is. This is what maturity is.
I pray today as you commit to integrity and honesty that God will grant you grace to be a brutally honest person to God, to yourself and to your spouse.
Why don’t you start by having a long discussion with God and then with your spouse, bringing every hidden things into open.
Good morning!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I attract a man/woman of integrity.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Ask that the Holy Spirit reveals the intent of the heart of your lover
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 20:6 (KJV)Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Ask your lover direct questions.
Studying the Bible with your grandparents is another good way to love them. Grandparents can be cool bible study partners too. It would be an honor to them to hear their grandchild ask them to be co-bible study buddies. Since they have vast knowledge and experience of God, they make good teachers of the word.
By doing this, you make them feel they are a part of your life and that they are not forgotten or useless. They feel relevant, wanted, and loved. Even if it can’t be done physically due to location, you can do it online.
Grandparents love to spend time with their grandchildren and would jump at any opportunity to do so. Every godly grandparent wants to share their faith with their grandchildren.
5. The test of people skill. That is respect for individuals. People are like ladders. Does he treat people well? How about his mum, sisters, father, colleagues, et cetera. Is she courteous? Is she respectful? Does she disdain folk with a passion?
Your spouse-to-be will not likely treat you better than his or her family. How he behaves with his or her family is a template of what will eventually happen.
6. The test of excellence. That is wisdom. Is he hungry for wisdom or does he think he knows it all? A friend who isolates himself will crash. He or she cannot be corrected. There are no authority figures that can speak to him or her.
Let me tell you something here. The moment you look at a person and there is nobody you can report him to, there are no regards for parents or pastors, he is just an island by himself, you need to reconsider such friendships. It is a trap of the devil and such tendencies are symptomatic of an unhealthy outlook on life.
7. The test of God’s fear. He must love God. She must be a God-lover. Does he value God and His word? Does she revere God? This is the ultimate acid test. If he doesn’t love God, he cannot love you! If he treats the things of God shabbily, he will end up treating you the same way.
Let him or her be a person that fears God! It is not enough to say one is born again these days because the term has been grossly misapplied. It is not even enough to say one is a pastor or a choir leader or administrator in church, the question is does he or she fear God?
It was the fear of God that made Joseph run away from adultery. It was the lack of God’s fear that made Samson with all his anointing to get into sexual sins repeatedly until he brought himself down. God gave him a long rope because the scripture says he judged Israel for twenty years.
May God expound these words in our hearts in Jesus name.
CONFESSION FOR TODAY I test all spirits before I walk.
PRAYER FOR TODAY Ask the Lord to open your eyes before you take that walk.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
ACTION PLAN FOR TODAY Carry out the above tests before you walk.
It’s beautiful seeing newly wedded couples. The love spark is amazing.
There is love wave, love current and all the love vibes around them. They set out professing their eternal love for each other.
They are deeply in love and could never imagine hurting each other not to talk of harming themselves whether emotionally or verbally.
The question is what happened? At what point did they start to deviate from the zone?
Really, no husband or wife starts out over night from being loving to being rash, unkind, abusive and insensitive.
There must have been little actions or in-actions here and there, that crept into their affair.
The Bible talks about little foxes that destroy the vine, the tender vine.
Our marriages are like these vines that are very tender. Little foxes are like poisons slowly released that will eventually destroy the marriage. We therefore, need to place close attention so that we don’t allow these foxes.
Here are three things not to do if you want to keep love alive in marriage.
1. Don’t blame
‘It’s his fault’ ‘She very disrespectful’ ‘He’s not kind and loving’ She’s lazy and overly sensitive’ ‘He’s always hurting’
Stop the blame game. You have a choice, either you keep blaming and remain hurt, bitter and full of regret and revengeful.
When you keep on blaming the other person you focus on their negatives.
You become blind to their positive sides and you put him/ her on edge.
Remember, when you were in love, it was because you were blind to their negatives and only focused on how good, handsome & lovely they were.
Do the same now. Blaming your spouse continuously is poisonous.
I am not asking you to keep completely silent on your spouse’s weakness but rather confront each other respectfully and lovingly.
Remember you have your own faults too. Forgiveness and mercy is reciprocal in marriage.
CONFESSION FOR TODAY Love is kept alive in my marriage.
PRAYER FOR TODAY Help me to love my spouse unconditionally.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY Song of Solomon 2:15 (KJV) Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
There’s a way to be a true friend. Let’s look at the story of Stephen and Benjamin. Stephen noticed that Benjamin always stayed back in class during lunch break for some days now. Benjamin was his classmate and friend. Stephen decided to speak to Benjamin today immediately after the lunch bell rang.
“Benjamin, where is your lunch pack?” Asked Stephen
Benjamin looked away and tried to smile but Stephen saw that the smile was a fake one.
“I noticed you haven’t been coming to school with your lunch pack.” Said Stephen “Is there something wrong?”
Benjamin shook his head refusing to meet Stephen’s probing eyes. “Nothing.”
“Will you share my lunch with me?” Offered Stephen
Stephen remembered what the bible says about helping others in Galatians chapter six and verse two.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Carrying each other’s burdens is a sign of true friendship because a friend should offer to help his friends when they have a need.
Even if they don’t ask for help and you notice that they need help with something.
This is what Jesus says about helping our friends
John 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Don’t you like to be friends with Jesus? How about calling Him your best friend? Then do what He commands. Help your friends.
I pray that God will strengthen you in the area of helping your friends.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus, thank You for the wonderful friends You surround me with. I pray that You make me a better friend. I want to be always ready to help my friends in Jesus name. Amen.
Action point: Will you look round at your friends today and see what areas they need help with. You could also ask them what they need help with.
Declaration: I am compassionate. I share what I have with my friends.
For some time now, we have been talking about this topic. I hope you are being blessed. If so, kindly take moment to share this devotional, that is after you have read and dropped a comment o.
4. The test of sincerity. That is openness. Is he sincere about his faults, weaknesses, feelings? Is she willing to talk about them or does she pretend? It is dangerous to walk with someone who lives in the delusion of grandeur.
Some of the most dangerous sets of people are those who are self-deceptive. They can abort twenty times and simply use some scriptures to cover up. If it was done in ignorance, that is another thing, because God cleanses you and you can start your life all over again when you genuinely repent. But I am talking of those who have successfully combined this sinful lifestyle with serving God alongside.
I don’t care if he is a pastor or she is a minstrel, if he or she uses scriptures to justify a habitual sin that even an unbeliever will often refrain from, you should run from such people and not be joined in their unrepentant sinful adventures.
An insincere guy will lure you into sexual sin and then turn around to say you seduced him. What are you doing with such people? An insincere lady will offer her body to get some money and then turn back to say you forced her. That is nothing short of wickedness. Those are not friends!
He says he is a pastor and he slides his hands into your blouse each time you visit his office. I don’t care how much ‘anointing’ you think he has, he is a charlatan! What counseling are you looking for with such people, run for your life because there are counsels that can cancel destinies.
May God grant you more understanding.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not walk down the aisle with an insincere person.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, lead me to a sincere man/woman.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gen 2:18 [MSG]God said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.”
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Test for insincerity in the life of your intended spouse before you walk down the aisle.
Therefore shall a man LEAVE his father and his mother, and shall CLEAVE unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gen 2:24 (KJV)
The word “Leave” means to loosen, relinquish, permit, and forsake It is a total departure. But it is never a disconnection.
The man has to do the leaving. Without leaving, there will never be a successful marriage. All undue interference and control from the parents must be minimized.
The word “Cleave” means cling or adhere; to catch by pursuit: – abide, follow close (hard, after), be joined (together), and pursue hard
Allegiance must shift from parents to your wife. This is what marriage is.
Your wife comes first from the wedding day. Your spouse becomes your priority. Your mum is another man’s wife, not your wife. Your own wife must be your priority.
Cleaving means to catch by pursuit, so you never stop pursuing your wife. You keep at it, even after the wedding. In the pursuit lies the cleaving. The man is to cleave unto HIS OWN wife! An attempt to cleave to another man’s wife will usher in a marital crisis.
It also means to follow close. Be joined and connected to her emotionally and otherwise.
When things seem not to be going right, you don’t quit. This is what it means to cleave. You don’t pack your stuff and start singing songs of divorce when there is a little provocation.
This is what cleaving is. It is just like your relationship with God. You are to cleave unto Him and not try to leave when things seem not to be going your own way. Leaving God and refusing to cleave will complicate issues, and that is the same thing in marriage.
You are to cleave for life! Any attempt to leave is a tearing part that would be painful.
Stay with each other no matter what. Cleaving means that you are dedicated to each other. It means sharing with each other on the deepest level. It means enjoying each other and supplying warmth for yourselves.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
Ecc 4:11 (KJV)
I pray that God will grant understanding. Your marriage will not suffer a crisis. Your marriage will not lose that godly steam. I pray that God will pour new wine into your marriage and cause the love between you to come alive!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I choose to cleave to my spouse only
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Help me to cleave oh Lord.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gen 2:24 [MSG]Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.
