Kisses of Enemies And Wounds Of Friends. Ade met Sally and professed his love. He was all over her. Six months later, Sally was heartbroken. Ade became her enemy. There have been several kisses, but they were kisses of an enemy.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have married two years ago. Mr. Johnson had a bad habit that only his wife knows. His wife was on his case, until he began to make changes. His ego was bruised, and his pride was punctured, but he got better. He was wounded, but they were wounds of a friend.
The scripture is filled with God’s wisdom. There is enough wisdom in God’s word such that, if followed, crises in relationships and marriages will be minimized.
Let’s take a look at the scripture
Pro 27:6 (KJV) Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
There is an obvious contradiction in the verse above. I would have understood if the Bible says “The kisses of a friend and the wounds of an enemy. But the scripture says “Wounds of a friend and the kisses of an enemy.”
The friend comes with wounds. The enemy comes with kisses. Kisses of Enemies And Wounds Of Friends
Your lover or spouse will often come with wounds, yet he meant well. Corrections and confrontations will burst you ego, will dissolve your pride and will challenge your weakness zone! You will feel wounded either in courtship or marriage because that which you are used to is being unsettled.
Never refuse instructions from your spouse because your spouse knows you in and out.
Pro 15:32 (KJV) He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
Get ready to be wounded by those who love you! The one decorating you with kisses only is actually an enemy! The one that doesn’t correct you and tells you what you want to hear all the time is an enemy.
True love can be tough. God chastises those He loves! It pleased God for Jesus to be wounded so that we might be saved. It took a kiss from Judas for Jesus to be betrayed.
A kiss came from the devil because the Bible says Satan entered Judas. But a wound came from God to Jesus. He was wounded for our transgressions!
Your friend is a “wounder” and your enemy is a “kisser! Know this and know peace!
When you understand these dynamics, you will know that your spouse is not an enemy, the one who is not your spouse but is taking advantage and telling you stuff is actually an enemy! This is where we will stop on Kisses of Enemies And Wounds Of Friends. May God grant you more understanding!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not cooperate with my enemy
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask God to show you the motives of people around you
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 15:32 (MSG) An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny; an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Appreciate those who correct you
Love Before And After Wedding. Don’t Fall In Love With Just Anybody. Why fall in love with another person’s spouse? What do you wish the other person? That he or she should die so that you can get married to that person? Not a good wish and that is a prayer God will never answer.
Such desires waste your time, it blinds you to the original thing God wants to do in your life and ultimately bring delay in God’s individual plan for you. Besides, you will be endangering your life. The wrath of a man or woman whose spouse is being trifled with is not something to experience.
It’s the same when you have sex with your neighbor’s wife: Touch her and you’ll pay for it. No excuses. Adultery is a brainless act, soul–destroying, self–destructive; Expect a bloody nose, a black eye, and a reputation ruined for good (Proverbs 6:29,32-33 Message)
Why fall in love with a person you cannot spend your life with? You don’t like him, but you are in love. You know he doesn’t like you but you are in love. The pastor must not know about the relationship, but you are in love. Your parents must have none of that relationship, but you are in love. All your friends are warning you about this person, but you are in love. God’s principles are being violated but you are in love.
Well, that would not really be love, because you cannot love a person you don’t like! Something is amiss somewhere and it is an indication for you to apply the brakes.
Why fall in love with a man because of money?
You don’t love him, you hate his guts, but now you have fallen in love with his money. Man is not designed to be Jehovah Jireh, so don’t attempt to invent that.
That man promising you heaven and earth will fail you in the end. Why? Man is built to disappoint!
Why do you put up with him? Money? The wrong purpose for sticking together! Why would you put up with an older woman? Money? Wrong way of living! It is what Jesus Christ referred to as the deceitfulness of riches.
Married Couples – Love Before And After Wedding
Married couples, You fall in love over and over again with your spouse after the wedding because it keeps the marriage fire burning. It is what you must do deliberately.
Love Before And After Wedding. Let’s talk to married couples.
In marriage, you should not allow the fire to go out. Be creative. Never stop wooing each other.
There are intense temptations and traps out there, so you protect each other by falling in love repeatedly! Take yourselves out again. Toast her again. Get the flowers and write the poems again!
When you make that sacrifice for each other, you will have peace of mind in your marriage and you will be able to maximize the power of agreement that lies in a good marriage!
Finally, what do you do when you find yourself in love with the wrong person? Walk away. Run away. Fly away! By all means, save your soul!
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. (Proverbs 6:5 KJV)
I know it can be uneasy because of emotional connection, but when you think of the inevitable agony that lies ahead, the consequences of disobedience that are sure to come, the disenfranchising of oneself from the favour and support of God, and the delay of God’s beautiful plan, when you think about all those and more and you sum them together, you will muster enough strength to fly away and say a “strong NO” to a wrong lifestyle.
And the beauty of it all, God will be waiting to embrace you and make all things right! Decide today! May you receive strength today to live for God! This is Love Before And After Wedding
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will give you direction
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 6:5 (MSG) Run like a deer from the hunter, fly like a bird from the trapper!
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Disconnect from all ungodly relationships
How To Be Romantic And Spiritual. Being spiritual is one thing, being romantic is another. One should not take the place of the other in marriage. Both are essential, necessary, and needed for successful family life.
The Speaking After speaking in tongues, make sure you speak to each other. This “speaking” is important and should be perpetual. Toasting should not end on the wedding day, in fact, it should just begin. Speaking the right words is needed for a great sexual experience, especially for the wife. It helps her to get ready!
On the other hand, singles should use the right words for each other, and align their souls rather than their bodies. The bodies are meant to come together after the wedding, not before.
What should come together before the wedding is the souls, in the place of beautiful conversation, healthy chats, romantic exchanges of words, making plans for the future, and envisioning the future together.
Speaking in tongues should not replace speaking loving words to each other. Both are very important. Speaking loving words to your lover should not replace speaking loving words to your creator.
Both are lovers. God is the lover of your soul, your dear one is the lover of your body! God loves you to speak loving words to Him. Your lover craves loving words to be spoken to him or her. After you have prayed, make sure you also play with your loved one!
There must be a balance of the romantic and the spiritual in order to keep your love life going and in order to make the relationship lead to marriage. This is How To Be Romantic And Spiritual
Speaking loving words to each other will keep false assumptions away. Speaking in tongues will keep demonic influence away.
Speaking loving, romantic words to each other adds strength to your love life. Speaking in tongues adds strength to your inner man.
With your love life, you fight doubt and insecurities. With your inner man, you fight and wade off attacks of the enemy.
That is why the scripture emphasizes that romance alone will not deliver.
Rom 14:17 (KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
That is, if you want to bring the kingdom of God into your relationship or marriage, it is not in meat and drinks alone, it is not in ice cream and cinema outings alone, it is also in right living, in Shalom, and in the Holy Spirit!
Do you get it? That he is handsome alone would not be enough, can he speak in tongues? That she has hot legs alone would not suffice, does she have a hot heart as well?
I will stop here this morning! This is How To Be Romantic And Spiritual
As we begin a new month, I pray for you, that God will bring a new beginning into your life.
I prophesy new beginnings in your relationships, marriage, home, family, finances, and career.
So shall it be for you in Jesus’ name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am a love being
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to balance my love life
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Rom 14:17 (MSG) God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy.
This Is Why Your Love Life Took A Nap. Marriage wine can often dry up, turn sour or simply lose taste. Relationships can lose the spark, the fun, and the glee! Love can wane, can grow old, and can fast dissipate. Feelings are fickle, never with a forever status.
What do you do when love seems to wane when the tummy butterflies have all rested their wings, love birds have no more songs when words evoke no more feelings, and the blushing, the dimples, and the smiles have all gone?
What do you do at such times? This is the subject of our discourse this morning.
You are in courtship and everything seems intense, but recently, you are no longer excited. You don’t even look forward to hearing from each other and yet you still have peace that you are in the right relationship.
You are married, and the marriage bed has gone cold. Sex used to be a trip but right now it is a complete bore. You could almost be reading a novel while you are at it.
And yet the Bible unequivocally advises that
Pro 5:19 (KJV) Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
What happened? Here are a few things that could steal the wine from the marriage shelf, that could sap out and zap off every fun in the union.
This Is Why Your Love Life Took A Nap 1. When you allow pressures to stifle the pleasure There will always be pressures, especially pressures from work. Wise husbands and wives learn to leave office pressures at the office and not bring them home.
For those in courtship, do not allow work pressures to swallow up fun communication times, times of bonding, and times of aligning the souls.
Decide to enjoy your courtship through vibrant communication and unhindered flow irrespective of the pressures that be
2. When you allow the hustles and bustles of life to steal your rest in God Whether you like it or not, there will always be issues to deal with. You must have a commitment to each other in relationship or marriage to put each other first place after God.
3. When you refuse to spend quality time together Love will wane when you don’t spend time with each other. Nothing will ever replace quality time spent together enriched with destiny discussions and plans for the future.
Those times of fellowship can never be replaced with any other thing For singles in courtship, this quality time must not be tainted with sex and other sexual sins.
With compromise, quality time will become dangerous time, bringing with it, damnation and guilt.
4. When you refuse to give yourself self-development and learn how to please each other Bringing new wine into a relationship or marriage can be learned. Both parties must give attention to learning.
Study temperaments, weaknesses, and strengths. Learn how to minimize your weaknesses and maximize your strength
5. When you stop praying and the devil starts preying When the wine finished at the wedding at Cana in Galilee, they had to enlist the help of Jesus. There is no doubt that the supernatural is needed in keeping the fire of the bedroom hot and in bringing fresh wine into relationships and marriages.
Keep your relationship and marriage established on the foundation of prayers!
That is how it is going to last! These are different reasons Why Your Love Life Took A Nap
May God grant more understanding in Jesus’ name
CONFESSION I am refreshed in God
PRAYER Lord, I ask for new wine in my relationship/marriage
THOUGHT Pro 5:19 (MSG) Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose— don’t ever quit taking delight in her body. Never take her love for granted!
ACTION PLAN Invest time in your relationship/marriage
There’s No Going Along With The Crowd. Our generation is beleaguered with so many pressures that believers are even compromising heavily, and yet the truth is that God will not lower or change his standard because of the peculiarity of our generation or the pressures of our environment. God’s word remains forever.
Look at the following verse:
Eph 4:17 KJV This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,’
The Spirit of God writing through Paul here says, as children of God, we cannot walk as the unbelievers walk. There has to be a distinguishing. We cannot be lumped together. Our light must shine in the midst of darkness. We must stand out. The life of God in us will not allow us to live carelessly.
Message translation says we cannot move with the crowd!
Eph 4:17 MSG And so I insist–and God backs me up on this–that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. There’s No Going Along With The Crowd!
You as a child of God cannot flow with the tide. Having done all, you’ve got to stand, unmoved, unshaken, and unyielding to the grip of iniquity.
Verse 20 says: Eph 4:20 KJV But ye have not so learned Christ;
That is not what we learn about Christ when we gave our life to Christ. At what point did we accommodate the devil’s antics into the programme of our lives?
At what point did we think that as a child of God, you can be dating three people at a time?
At what point did we start combining a life of fornication with a life of leading others in worship?
At what point did pastors think they can go free with sleeping with naive church members because they are anointed? That is not how we learned Christ! There’s No Going Along With The Crowd!
Eph 5:2 MSG Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
You’ve got to learn a life of love and not a life of lust. God did not love us in order to get something from us! The moment you say you are in love with a person and then you want something you can get, either money or sex, you have moved from love into lust. People ask me, how can I know whether he or she loves me? That is the answer right there!
Love wants to improve the other person’s life, not deplete it. If you are in a relationship with a person, and your Christian life goes down, watch it. God will not lead you into a relationship where all you have is the anguish of the soul, a life of iniquity, and a life full of lust. You cannot tell me you love a lady whom you have impregnated thrice and paid for abortions. That is not love!
Look at the next verse:
Eph 5:3 MSG Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed.
I will stop here this morning! Good morning! There’s No Going Along With The Crowd!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am a love being. I love like God loves.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, show me how to imitate you through your word
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 5:4 GNB – Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God.
Two Indications That A Marriage Might Crash. Our Marriages will not crash in Jesus’ name. However, there are indications or tendencies we should guard against.
These indications are sure signals that marriage will crash.
Two Indications That A Marriage Might Crash. What are they?
1. When the couple lives in deception No marriage can be built on deception. Deception is a sandy, fragile, frail, and flaky foundation that would seem to hold a marriage for a while, but will give in, and crash eventually.
Deception brings with it, false promises and this even becomes intense when both husband and wife are deceiving and lying to each other.
It is a matter of time before the loud crash is heard around and beyond.
Pro 27:6 (KJV) Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
It is even worse if the couple knows they are in deception, and they keep encouraging each other rather than seeking help.
2. When the couple lives in isolation A couple that lives in isolation will die in desolation.
It is not a curse, it is a predictable end.
A couple that has nobody speaking into their lives is at risk.
This Dream Requires Your Prayers. Today’s devotionals are basically the same, for singles and married, because of the significance of the message. Dreams and visions are valid languages of God through which He often chooses to communicate to us. The Holy Spirit will reveal and bring warnings as needs be from time to time.
You will recall that Joseph had dreams. You will also recall that Joseph had a dream in which He was instructed to run away with Jesus. Have you ever thought why God would ask Joseph to run away as against protecting them without having to run?
Peter had a trance in Acts 10
It was somewhat of unrest and I am calling on us to Let’s Pray Against Unrest In Nigeria
People and vehicles were still able to move about but in panic. I saw crowds. I saw people running and trying to escape from something. What it was, I don’t know exactly.
I saw people crushed under the weight of others running and trying to escape.
I saw people fall into ditches and sink below the ground. There was pandemonium. There were a few deaths here and there.
It looked like unrest, not a war situation. Riots and unrest, and the accompanying violence and looting that follows.
People were kind of animated and excited, and yet you could see fear and panic at the same time. It was also a picture of confusion. Maybe you want to call it civil unrest. However, there were casualties.
I believe strongly this is a prophetic dream. This Dream Requires Your Prayers.
This is calling on the body of Christ to pray! This kind of dream will come because God wants us to pray to avert the plans of the devil at such a time as this.
While I will in no way impose my convictions on people, I feel strongly that God is asking the body of Christ to pray about this!
May our nation be preserved in God. May God give us a leader after His own heart!
May Nigeria be great again! This Dream Requires Your Prayers.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY We will not be thrown into confusion
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, heal our Nation
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 2Ch 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
I Woke Up With A Dream: Unrest In the Land. Dreams and visions are valid languages of God through which He often chooses to communicate to us. The Holy Spirit will reveal and bring warnings as needs be from time to time.
You will recall that Joseph had dreams. You will also recall that Joseph had a dream in which He was instructed to run away with Jesus. Have you ever thought why God would ask Joseph to run away as against protecting them without having to run?
Peter had a trance in Acts 10
It was somewhat of unrest and I am calling on us to Let’s Pray Against Unrest In Nigeria
People and vehicles were still able to move about but in panic. I saw crowds. I saw people running and trying to escape from something. What it was, I don’t know exactly.
I saw people crushed under the weight of others running and trying to escape.
I saw people fall into ditches and sink below the ground. There was pandemonium. There were a few deaths here and there.
It looked like unrest, not a war situation. Riots and unrest, and the accompanying violence and looting that follows.
People were kind of animated and excited, and yet you could see fear and panic at the same time. It was also a picture of confusion. Maybe you want to call it civil unrest. However, there were casualties.
I believe strongly this is a prophetic dream.
This is calling on the body of Christ to pray! This kind of dream will come because God wants us to pray to avert the plans of the devil at such a time as this.
While I will in no way impose my convictions on people, I feel strongly that God is asking the body of Christ to pray about this!
May our nation be preserved in God. May God give us a leader after His own heart!
May Nigeria be great again! Let’s Pray Against Unrest In Nigeria
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY We will not be thrown into confusion
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, heal our Nation
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 2Ch 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
The Weapon of Delilah Today. We started on this yesterday. We will conclude today. The next question is how did Delilah get Samson eventually despite that Samson knew she wanted to deliver him to his enemies? You see it right there!
Jdg 16:16 KJVAnd it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
She pressed him with words! This is The Weapon of Delilah Today
The lesson here is simple. Once you can see that a person is not the type of person to relate with, disconnect fast. If you give some allowance, you will be pressed with ‘words!’
See The Message Translation
Jdg 16:16 (MSG) She kept at it day after day, nagging and tormenting him. Finally, he was fed up—he couldn’t take another minute of it.
Words are spirits! The moment you start going out on an innocent date with that inappropriate person, you will be pressed with words. Your soul will be so much vexed and before you know it, you’ve started eating what you know will kill you!
If he or she is not a child of God, run! If he or she is not your spouse, run! If you allow yourself to be pressed with words, you will compromise!
The second card that Delilah played is here: Jdg 16:15 MSG She said, “How can you say ‘I love you’ when you won’t even trust me? Three times now you’ve toyed with me, like a cat with a mouse, refusing to tell me the secret of your great strength.”
How many times have you heard that from folk demanding sex in a courtship?
“If you really love me, bla…bla…bla.”
I have shown you two strategies that were used to ‘finish’ The Weapon of Delilah Today. Samson’s destiny! Delilah here can be a guy or a lady.
Learn from that wisdom. A word is enough for the wise. May God grant you the wisdom and strength to run away from every ‘Delilah’ in your life!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am protected
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, shield me from enemies who say they are friends
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Joh 15:12 (KJV) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Ten Good Habits of Great Couples. A lot of married couples are often caught up in the hustles and bustles of life and become distracted. Here is a reminder list of what you should do regularly to each other and how to go about it.
Ten Good Habits of Great Couples. 1. The Praying Couple
Pray for her. Let it be genuine. This helps you to harness the help of God to come to bear for you.
2. The Calling Couple Whether you will see each other later in the day is not the issue, the issue is that communication is the live wire of any relationship or marriage that will survive. Keep in touch. Send SMS. Use chats.
3. The Exchanging Couple It doesn’t have to be expensive! But let it be touching. Notice what I wrote, exchange gifts; not collect gifts! Those little gestures help to keep the fire of your relationship and marriage aflame.
4. The Sharing Couple Share with him or her what God is dealing with you in His word. Whatever God tells you in your devotion or in your personal walk with God, will also bless him or her as long as it blesses you.
5. The Encouraging Couple You are his number-one fan. You are her number-one fan. Don’t discourage each other. Don’t dissipate your energy on criticism. Be aware that your input goes a long way because you are the closest person.
6. The Forgiving Couple Forgive each other so that your heavenly father will forgive you also. You are not perfect, are you? So don’t become a judge, rather lovingly overlook and forget any mistakes that are meant to show up.
7. The Correcting Couple Do you know it takes up to nine affirming statements to be able to accommodate and see one criticism as it should be seen? But you know what people do is give nine brutally critical statements and one of none of affirming statements. It will not yield any positive result like that.
8. The Obedient Couple Seek to help each other in obeying God’s instructions. You are the greatest influence. Don’t encourage him or her to sin. Stand on the path of truth and help him or her to resist temptations.
9. The Balanced Couple Don’t feed each other’s weaknesses. Rather, you should balance him or her out, because you will always have strength in areas where he or she is weak. Be available to help him stand. Be there to help her say No to iniquity. Don’t be seen as a partner in crime, or partner in iniquity. Let him or her be able to say, I trust my spouse; he will never compromise. Trust one another and protect your trust.
10. The Accountable Couple Be accountable together. Make sure you have a mentor you talk to from time to time. Sometimes, very intense issues and disagreements are dissolved with a few statements. Well, that is the grace of God upon our lives and upon this ministry; to provide positive intervention in crisis-laden marriages and to provide godly counsel for those in courtship. Accountability to those who have done what you are trying to do is a lot of wisdom. Stay close to these devotionals that have been succor to a lot of marriages and relationships across the world, discuss them from time to time and keep on making adjustments! So help us, God! These are the Ten Good Habits of Great Couples.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I respect my spouse out of respect and honor for God.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY God, I receive grace to love my spouse in my relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 4:27 (KJV) Neither give place to the devil.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Find practical ways to be a great couple
How To Deal With Delilahs Today. The story of Samson and Delilah will never cease to amaze me. Samson was called by God, anointed, and appointed. He was one of the privileged few whose birth was announced by an angel! His birth and assignment were that significant.
However, he had a terrible weakness, and that is women! Samson was a womanizer. He would see a woman and completely lose his bearing. His erection would become his direction.
Jdg 16:1 KJV Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
He was uncontrollable when it came to girls! Despite that he was anointed and appointed, he eventually became a disappointment because he would not deal with his weakness.
He was so undisciplined that all he needed to lose his bearing was just to ‘see’ a woman. At one time, he saw a lady and he could not speak his language correctly! He said, “…get her for me to wife!”
Jdg 14:2 KJV And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
This is the kind of person Samson was. The result? His eyes were gouged out and he was caught off in the midst of his days.
How To Deal With Delilahs Today. Delilah wanted to find out the secret of Samson’s power with the intent of killing him. Samson knew Delilah wanted to set him up and yet he refused to disconnect from her. Three times, Samson deceived Delilah about the secret of his power, and those three times, the Philistines came upon him to kill him, so Samson knew really well what was Delilah’s intention. Yet he clung to Delilah and would not let go.
How many of us are in this kind of scenario today? We find ourselves in an ungodly relationship, that we know is heavily compromised and yet we would not let go! You find yourself to be in love with a person that constantly abuses you and yet you did not run for your life. You find yourself in love with the one that is not in love with you. You find yourself to be in love with a person that does not value you. You find yourself in love with a person that beats you up at any little provocation and yet you cling to that relationship.
You can see that the person you are amorously in love with is leading you straight to hell, yet you cling to the person. You can see that the person you love is about to introduce you into the world of illicit drug use, and yet you stay there professing your love! You can see that the person you met in the church is not really a child of God by virtue of what he or she has done to you and with you and yet you refuse to heed warnings.
My advice to you this morning is simple. Don’t become another Samson. You are gifted, don’t let it end with asking God to let you die! Don’t let it culminate in you being delivered right into your enemies’ hands. Don’t let it get to the point where your spiritual eyes are dismembered, and you can longer behold the perfect law of liberty! Don’t let it be that the brother or sister that has been greatly used by God is now a pitiable sight to behold.
Run for your life! If Samson had run, maybe he would have been saved. But his undisciplined life led him to his death. Flee! That is what the scripture says. When the scripture says run, do not say ‘let’s reason together!’ This is How To Deal With Delilahs Today
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am kept by God’s power
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, protect me from evil
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 119:22 (KJV) Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
Identifying The Wrong Voices In Marriage. God is a good God. God speaks to us. The devil is a bad devil. He also attempts to speak to us. That is why the scripture declares:
Joh 10:4-5 (MKJV) And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him. For they know his voice. [5] And they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
As children of God, God speaks to us as a father will speak to his children. When we listen to His voice, we will not get into problems. When we disregard His voice, we start listening to another voice. The moment we don’t flee or run away from that voice, we get into a serious mess.
When we make up our minds to listen to God and fill our hearts with His word daily and consistently, we will not listen or take heed to the voice of the evil one. That is why the way Jesus refuted and refused to listen to the voice of the devil during the temptation was to speak out God’s word. Three times he was tempted, three times he said, ‘It is written…’ What if he doesn’t know what is written?
This morning, by the Spirit of God, I want to identify ten areas where we might have been listening to the wrong voice. It comes in subtle ways mostly.
The devil often uses people and situations to speak to us. We must be careful. Here are the people and voices the devil often uses.
Identifying The Wrong Voices In marriage.
1. The user’s voice I can marry her, but I don’t have to be committed to her
2. The deceiver’s voice I don’t have to let my spouse know everything, or else the marriage can be jeopardized.
3. The religious voice Everybody has a lover somewhere, God must accommodate that or we will all go to hell.
4. The foolish voice As long as I have a prophet somewhere that I consult and prays for me, I can continue with my lifestyle.
5. The sensual voice I am not sure of my spouse’s commitment. I can as well explore and also live my life.
6. The greedy voice I can collect money from him to help my spouse. After all, it’s for the family. It’s for us and that can be a secret. If I don’t do it, we will be hungry.
7. The unbeliever’s voice My family does not need Jesus. I have enough money. It is poor and hungry people that go around praying. Are you Identifying The Wrong Voices In Marriage already?
8. The self-righteous voice I don’t want my family to be fanatical. We don’t have to go to church. The church is full of hypocrites.
9. The carnal voice I serve God passionately and I give. But God knows that addictions cannot really go like that. I will keep on working on it and one day God might even give me a sign to stop.
10. The confused voice The only way to keep this man married to me is to allow him have his way with other ladies out there. As long as he doesn’t bring them home, he can do whatever he wants. Life is give and take, I can’t be policing him around, since he doesn’t disturb me from doing what I am doing.
Well, all the above statements are defective These types of statements are defective statements indicative and symptomatic of deeper spiritual problems. They are belief systems that are sure to crack and leave you cracked. That will not be your portion in Jesus’ name.
If you are married, and one or more of the above seems to be the scenario, you will need to pray a lot for God’s help and intervention and then seek counseling as well.
In life, God has laid out His principles and when we deviate from them, things will not work out however we try because the scripture cannot be broken! In any way where you seem lacking, God will forgive, forget, redeem and restore as necessary when you genuinely repent.
Why not call upon Him this morning?
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be confused
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give me a sensitive heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 4:27 (KJV) Neither give place to the devil.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Refuse to listen to or entertain the wrong voice
Tender Loving Care For Married Couples. In the below verse, there are three instructions that I believe every married couple should take cognizance of.
Eph 4:32 (KJV) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
1. Be kind to one another
2. Be tenderhearted.
3. Forgive one another
These three instructions will go a long way to help couples in relating with one another and also help in managing a lot of issues.
A kind husband living with a kind wife will minimize unnecessary quarrels. This is what Tender Loving Care For Married Couples is all about
Then it says to be tender-hearted.
That is, let your hearts be tender towards each other.
Do you know how a mother is tender towards a day-old baby?
How does she handle her, feed her, carry her and nurture her?
What if you are tender this way to your loved one?
You won’t shout at each other.
The husband will never lift his hands against his wife.
The wife will never use abusive words on her husband.
Then it talks about forgiving one another.
And this is powerful.
Don’t be bitter towards each other. Forgive easily and quickly.
Take a look at the Message translation:
Eph 4:32 (MSG) Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Be gentle.
Be sensitive.
Let forgiveness be quick and thorough.
Do not forgive halfway.
Finally, let’s take a look at the amplified Version:
Eph 4:32 (AMP) And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [ readily and freely ], as God in Christ forgave you.
Take a look at the words used.
Compassionate. Understanding. Loving.
This attitude will eliminate screaming at each other, shouting at each other, being at each other’s neck, being vindictive, being in strife, being violent at each other, and speaking wrong words at each other. This is Tender Loving Care For Married Couples
I pray that God will grant us more understanding.
I pray for your marriages, that God will abate every storm and crush every opposition in Jesus name!
The plans of the devil over your marriage are destroyed in Jesus’ name!
Be blessed!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will love my spouse with tender loving care
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us a tender heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Luke 1:78 (CEV) God’s love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Give your spouse some TLC!
A Conversation On Feelings, Sex, And Guilt. Buddy, with a lot in his mind, a lanky handsome guy of twenty-five years of age goes to his mentor’s office for some talk. George is about forty years old, a leader in the church, a man of one wife and no more, and a man who truly loves God.
Buddy: Good evening sir
George: Eh…Buddy, how are you doing? (Lowering his eyeglasses)
Buddy: I am cool
George: So, how has it been?
Buddy: I’ve got stuff on my mind and I need to see you, sir
George: Right, (Pushing his book away) I am all ears
Buddy: You know my fiancee?
George: Remi? How is she doing? Has she gotten a job?
Buddy: Yes, she is working in a Bank now
George: So, what is the problem?
Buddy: You know we compromised once?
George: Yes, I remember
Buddy: And you prayed for us and restored us and all that
George: Yes, and I am sure God forgave you
Buddy: But my problem is that anytime we are together, irrespective of what we are discussing, my body misbehaves. I feel like grabbing her, sincerely.
George: But did you grab her?
Buddy: No
George: So you are doing great
Buddy: But this feeling, I mean, my eyes are almost red all the time, not because I smoke cigars, but because my body is smoking. And she doesn’t seem to have an idea. Sometimes, she touches me, and then she looks at me intently, innocently though, but my God, you know she is beautiful!
George: Yeah, I understand.
Buddy: So these feelings, I really don’t want to mess up again. How can I eliminate the feelings? This thing of sin, I sometimes and ridiculously feel like cutting it off.
George: It is not a thing of sin. It is a gift of God.
Buddy: Waoh!
George: You see, that is not where the problem is. The problem is not your manhood. When it gets engorged with blood and changes in size when you see the one you love, it means you are perfectly normal. The problem is not down there; it’s up here. (touching his forehead)
Buddy: How do you mean?
George: The problem is with your mind.
Buddy: How do you mean?
George: If there is anything you feel like cutting off, it should be your mind.
Buddy: So how do I do that?
George: God never says you should cut off your mind. He says you should renew your mind. He tells you that you can have the mind of Christ.
Buddy: How do I do that?
George: The more of God’s word you listen to, the more your mind is renewed. The more your mind is renewed, the more you come to appreciate God’s word and the more you get revelation knowledge. The more revelation knowledge you get, the more you are strengthened in your inner man. The more might you have in your inner man, the more you are able to put your body under.
Buddy: Umnnnn
George: The feelings you have are okay. I have those feelings sometimes. I sometimes even have those feelings towards somebody I perceive as beautiful aside from my wife.
Buddy: Are you serious?
George: Yes, but after marriage, you are permitted only to admire, and not desire! So you don’t act out those feelings. Those feelings are brought about in my mind through my thoughts. So I consciously dispel those thoughts, casting down imaginations and every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
Buddy: How do you cast down those thoughts?
George: By thinking about what God says concerning that situation and saying them out. That is why it is good to read your Bible regularly. The point of being tempted is not when you start looking for your concordance.
Buddy: I see. Are you telling me even after marriage, I will still feel like going out with others apart from my wife?
George: The devil continues to tempt you, especially in the areas of your weaknesses, but when you resist him, he will leave you alone for a while. You resist him the same way Jesus resisted him…It is written.
Buddy: But Jesus was never tempted by women
George: Read your Bible very well. He was tempted at all points, so says the scripture.
Buddy: Ok, give me an example of where you think he must have been tempted by women.
George: Ok. I will do just that. Do you remember when the lady with the alabaster box began to pour oil on his feet and then began to rub his feet with her hair?
Buddy: Oh!
George: So you agree now, he was tempted at all points…but the scripture says the prince of this world hath nothing in him. He refused to fall into any traps.
Buddy: Lord, help me.
George: He has helped you already. He sent you a helper. So when you take advantage of that help, you will be kept safe.
Buddy: How?
George: Did you read in your scripture where it says, Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh? The Holy Spirit is your helper.
Buddy: Yes, I remember
George: That is it.
Buddy: One more thing. That time my fiancee and I compromised…it wasn’t her fault. It was mine. I was the one that put pressure on her
George: Why are you still talking about what God has forgotten?
Buddy: How can God forget? I understand the part about forgiving, but forgetting?
George: You see, He said your iniquities would I remember no more
Buddy: How is that possible?
George: It is made possible by the blood of Jesus.
Buddy: You mean he has completely forgotten about it
George: Yes, when you go back and ask for forgiveness the second time, He is wondering. It’s no longer in your records. But you complicate matters when you go back into that sin and it becomes habitual.
Buddy: So what about this guilt I still feel
George: That’s the devil, trying to make you feel worthless so that your prayers can be hindered.
Buddy: God help me
George: You know the Bible says “let us now come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need?”
Buddy: Yes
George: He tries to rob you of that boldness by reminding you of sins that God has forgotten and forgiven
Buddy: So how do I deal with that?
George: By quoting and meditating on what the scripture says.
Buddy: I hear!
George: You can wait and you can hold on.
Buddy: Yes I know, God help me.
George: Every time you compromise, you lose something. Something dies.
Buddy: I know
George: Sin is a destiny destroyer. But the power of sin is broken. What the devil is contending with is your glorious future. So you don’t mess up a permanent blessing with a temporary pleasure of a few minutes like Esau did.
Buddy: I will wait
George: Sin shall no longer have dominion, so says the scripture.
Buddy: One other thing…she sometimes wears provocative and tantalizing clothes…
George: Tell her, not accusingly, but let her know that she doesn’t have to show her cleavage or laps to you. She needs to know how she can help you.
Buddy: And you know she is light in complexion…
George: I know…but let her know that men are moved by sight…including you. Don’t suffer in silence or pretend or act spiritually when you are burning inside.
Buddy: I will tell her…she would just think I am a miserable sinner
George: No, she would respect you more…because she suddenly sees that you are willing to preserve virtue rather than fulfill the lust of the flesh. That would bring trust. It will cement your relationship more. Good things come to those who wait.
Buddy: Thank you, Uncle
George: You are welcome! We just had a Conversation On Feelings, Sex, And Guilt
Buddy: Thanks for your time. What about Auntie…
George: She is resting…we just came back from an outing, today is her birthday.
Buddy: Oh….kindly wish her Happy Birthday on my behalf…
George: Will do just that
Buddy: Ok then.
George: Yeah, see you later.
This is the end of A Conversation On Feelings, Sex, And Guilt
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will wait. I will not compromise
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, let your Holy Spirit be my helper indeed, that I may walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Make amends where necessary
Know These And Know Peace In Marriage. I want to talk about two crucial things in marriage. They are pivotal to a smooth relationship as couples. Let’s dive into it.
Know These And Know Peace In Marriage
1. Renewal and Recharge Junctions
In marriage, you must learn to take breaks from work and relax. You have to have time that you spend together as husband and wife.
You need to go back to what used to excite you before the wedding and do those things again and again.
Apart from reading your Bible and praying in the Holy Ghost which refreshes and recharges your spirit, you should also learn to be relaxed once in a while.
2. Mentoring
Every marriage must have a mentor to whom you defer and seek wisdom.
There is something that a couple that has been married for thirty years knows that a three-year-old couple is oblivious of.
It is plain wisdom to seek counsel.
Most issues that lead to serious strife and possible separation and divorce could easily have been resolved by seeking knowledge.
That is why I am a little scared of couples who talk to nobody! Something is not quite right with that. Part of having a marriage mentor is being humble.
3. Sincerity and Openness
Finally, this is so crucial to the survival of any marriage! Be open
Marriage is not a secret cult! Talk about everything and anything.
Hiding things and allowing your spouse to discover will only lead to mistrust and suspicion. The rule of the game is to talk about everything. That will go a long way to establishing trust. Know These And Know Peace In Marriage
If you keep talking exactly how it is, it would be difficult to go into adultery, because adultery is perpetuated in the platform of insincerity and deception. May God help us all.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have God’s wisdom in my marriage
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us a humble heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 51:10 (KJV) Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Discuss on mentorship and agree
I Wish I Knew This During Our Courtship. I wish I knew we were supposed to be different. I got engaged to my wife in the year 1996. That was a long time ago. I was born again, with ministry in view, but I was an ignoramus when it came to the issues of temperament.
You see; knowledge is power. I am a quick, nimble person when it comes to how I do my things. My wife is not like that; she is deliberate in doing her things.
So, having waited for her like three times, and almost getting late for fellowship, (We lived in the same hall – male and female section!) I got angry. So I would lecture her and all that. Then I stumbled on the book by Tim LaHaye on temperament, and that book delivered me.
I understood that we are supposed to be different. I saw that it was actually our differences that got us attracted to each other in the first place because opposites attract.
However, after being lost in love and you are now awake, and your eyes are cleared, the very ‘opposites’ that attracted you in the first place now becomes an irritation and many relationships do not get past this stage!
Understand that you are supposed to celebrate your point of differences because that is how the balance would be achieved in your relationship and marriage later on. What would the world look like if everybody were like you? It would be so boring! I Wish I Knew This During Our Courtship
Many husbands ignorantly try to “change” their wives to be like them. It will not likely happen!
You can learn from each other over the years, and even exchange temperaments at some points, but you are going to be different in thought patterns, opinions, and so on.
Know this and know peace! Celebrate your differences and let weaknesses be covered by each other’s strengths.
No spouse is useless. Everybody is bringing something vital to the table.
Work together and harness your strengths. Minimize your weaknesses and you will be a power couple eventually.
I hope you are blessed this morning. Good morning! This is What I Wish I Knew During Our Courtship
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I seek relevant knowledge. God’s word gives me light
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me wisdom in areas where I lack in Jesus’ name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. Proverbs 24:5 KJV
Communication Is So Important In Marriage. I started writing yesterday on things that should be present in every marriage and we looked at one thing yesterday. Today we look at four more things.
The second thing that must be present in every marriage that will succeed has to do with communication.
Communication Is So Important In Marriage. Constant Communication. A man was once asked what the three most important things in a marriage are.
His response:
1. Communication 2. Communication 3. Communication
Do I agree? Yes, I fully do!
When communication dies, assumptions, suspicions, lies, and deception will take over.
There is nothing as beautiful as a marriage where both parties can fully express themselves. Hear each other out!
When a man talks, his goal may be a logical explanation, but when a woman talks, it is more than an explanation, it is a release; an emotional release.
So every time she is muted, there are pent-up tensions being stored up for a later time.
It is akin to the molten magma within, nothing shows on the surface much, but one day, the magma can no longer hold still, and there will be a volcanic eruption causing untold havoc!
Unexplained hurts, unexpressed bitterness, are all like the molten magma in the belly of the ground.
So, when you tell your spouse to “shut up” continually, and it looks as though you are in charge and winning, well, you are not really winning, you are actually losing!
Allow free expression in your matrimonial home.
When a lady is also reluctant to talk or communicate, it shows some deeper issues as well.
Both husband and wife have to be committed to communication. The excuse of temperaments should not be brought in.
Well, people at work, in church, or elsewhere can look at you and say you are a quiet person, but your spouse should be able to say “you are not quiet to them!” This shows they are friends!
Make the commitment to be friends and to keep talking. Communication Is So Important In Marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will keep communicating with my spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to work on areas where I am lacking
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 12:35 (MSG) A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Have a time out with your spouse
He Doesn’t Love When He Says These. As I said, problems don’t just show from the blues. They have always been there and would have been hinted at because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
We looked at two yesterday, let’s dive into the remaining today.
He Doesn’t Love When He Says These
3. Out of all my girlfriends, you are the best
This is often a logical way to manipulate the emotions of the lady. As a lady, I don’t really know what you are doing with someone who tells you out rightly that you are not the only one he is seeing. Are you encouraging adultery after marriage and giving him a go-ahead? Men don’t really change after marriage! When a man has the guts to tell you that he has several ladies as lovers including you, then as a lady you should have the guts to walk away from such affliction!
4. We don’t have to tell anybody about this relationship
When a guy begins to make this statement, your antenna should go up! Something is defective right there. There are no commitments when he hides the relationship from friends and family. There may be occasions when the parents are not interested in marriage and it is wise to keep quiet for some time, but at least, he should be willing to notify his pastor. What if he doesn’t have a pastor? The answer to that is another question. What are you doing with such a person?
5. I am just managing you and you should thank your stars
When a guy doesn’t love you, he will verbalize it one day, one way or the other. If you are sensitive, you can pick it up from his words. When a guy says he is just managing you, that sounds like wickedness to me. Probably the lady in question has a self-esteem issue, but as a lady, you don’t have any business with anybody that doesn’t value you or appreciate you as a person. After marriage, you don’t want to be treated as a doormat, you want to be valued as a true help.
He Doesn’t Love When He Says These
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be deceived
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, show me what I don’t know
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 12:34 (KJV) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Disallow your relationship to be sex driven
How To Discover He Doesn’t Love You. Problems don’t just erupt like a volcano in relationships and marriage. They have always been there. Sometimes, we simply close our eyes to all the warning signs and red lights because we are in love. It is however wise to be alert and be open to taking heed of all these warning signs.
God is not a wicked God. He will attempt to talk to you through His Holy Spirit and try to warn you about some of these things. It is always good to pay attention and try to listen to what God is trying to say! Here is How To Discover He Doesn’t Love You. It is revealed in the statements he makes! Let’s look at two of them.
1. There is nothing wrong with sex. Everybody does it
When a guy begins to pressurize you to compromise using logic and persuasion tactics, it shows he doesn’t really love you. All he wants is your body and once he gets that, anything can happen. As the lady, you have a responsibility to preserve your virtue by insisting on waiting till after marriage. A guy that truly loves you will be willing to wait as against satisfying his rush of adrenalin at your disadvantage. God’s word is so clear on pre-marital sex and any guy that loves you and fears God should be looking for ways to obey God, not the other way.
2. I may not call you or send SMS often. You have to understand.
When a guy loves you genuinely, he wants to be in touch. He wants to call, send an SMS, or chat. He just wants to stay in touch one way or the other. I know there are times he can get so busy depending on the intensity of his work or the level of attention needed, but I also believe he should be able to talk to his loved one daily, even if it is for five minutes. The only tenable reason is when he is working where there are no networks, which could be rare. Even at that, a guy who is in love will climb mountains; go to the top of buildings, and hold his phone high in the sky searching for a network!
These two statements show How To Discover He Doesn’t Love You. I will write more tomorrow.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will love my spouse with tender loving care
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us a tender heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Luke 1:78 (CEV) God’s love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Pray over your relationship
This Must Be Present in Every Marriage. A lot of things must be implemented for a marriage to succeed.
Conscious and deliberate inputs must be in place so the marriage can bring bliss and not blisters.
Here is one of them
Prayers. This Must Be Present in Every Marriage.
A family that prays together stays together.
A husband and wife that pray together will overcome the flesh easily.
Prayer protects, shields, and connects you to your inheritance in God.
As husband and wife, pray for one another rather than tear one another apart.
Intercede for each other.
What the devil wants is a tearing apart, do not cooperate with him.
Wake up in the middle of the night and pray together.
The power of agreement is better harnessed as a couple.
In the first few years of our marriage, my wife and I would wake up by 12.00 am and pray in the Spirit.
I am persuaded that those prayers advanced our lives and ministries.
There is a purpose for coming together in marriage.
It is not just for making love and then dying at the age of ninety.
There is a purpose in the heart of God.
That purpose is not to be decided, it is to be discovered.
When you discover that purpose, you just stepped into your wealthy place.
You can only discover in the place of prayers.
The devil will do all he knows to make sure you don’t pray.
You will notice that each time you decide to pray, something else will interrupt it. Those are not natural. The devil doesn’t want you to pray at all. Prayer-less couples will leave so many cracks and loopholes open for the devil to explore.
The devil will not access your marriage. Your marriage will be preserved in Jesus’ name!
Do not let anything interfere with your prayer times. May God help you and your spouse in Jesus’ name
Be blessed!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will respect my loved one
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give us a humble heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Jas 4:7 (KJV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Start praying together if you weren’t doing that
