What Type of Baggage Are You Carrying? Sandy had been in four relationships and each time, she was sure she was going to walk down the aisle. But to her consternation, one thing or the other will crop up and there would always be a break-up!
She prayed and prayed. At some time, she thought she had been cursed. When God would have mercy on her and answer her prayers, she noticed that she had a lot of things going on in her thought life, she discovered she had fears and she was able to see it was her past that was stretching forth its hands like a monster and obfuscating the future.
There are four types of relationship baggage we may be carrying at one point or the other. Let’s quickly take a look at one of them
What Type of Baggage Are You Carrying? The Handbag Baggage This isn’t much of a bag, Huh? Well. That’s exactly where the problem is. It’s a handbag, but it can hold some loaded pistols that can unleash havoc in moments. The handbag folk believes they don’t have many problems to deal with simply because their issues can be neatly tucked away.
These type of people carry their issues anywhere they are going like you carry a handbag and can “manifest” anytime! They believe my issues are there but they are manageable!
Such people are really nice and cute until you take a peep into the handbag and then the content therein might not be as cute as the container.
God doesn’t want us to live forever with “small issues” because that is the foundation for the big issues.
Small anger, but can leave tears and wail on its trails. Of recent, a lady set her husband on fire and then killed herself because she suspected her husband was cheating!
These are handbag types of issues. These issues come out under pressure!
Jesus did not call for big problems and issues alone.
It was a general invitation!
Mat 11:28 (KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
A handbag can be a heavy load!
Why don’t you respond to the call today? Give Him that bag and let Him bring you into a place of healing and strength! What Type of Baggage Are You Carrying?
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have rest from all troubles in Jesus’ name
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord, open my eyes to see what I need to work on by your grace
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 11:28 (AMPC) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Empty your handbag at the foot of the cross
This sounds like a preaching topic on a Sunday morning service. But we can also apply this to our marriage. We can’t separate our lives as Christians from our marriage. We have a Christian marriage because we first of all live the Christian life.
We have an enemy, an accuser, an adversary, the one who hates us with perfect hatred, the one who comes to steal everything good in our lives, he seeks to kill everything alive and seeks to destroy everything that gives us joy.
Look into your marriage, are there things that make you happy, that give you joy? Are there things you are grateful to God for, things that you are excited about?
Know that the devil is working over time, and he desires to put an end to your joy. But thank God for His Mercy, He will never allow this to happen.
Ps 94:17 KJV Unless the LORD had been my help, My soul had almost dwelt in silence.
We are all recipients of God’s mercies. We should never take these mercies for granted.
In learning to cooperate with God in other to get His will totally done and manifested in our lives, we have to be obedient to whatever He asks us to do.
One such instruction is ‘Go Ahead And Laugh at the Devil’. This may sound strange but it is an ‘act’ of faith. How can I laugh at the devil? When he is throwing ‘fiery darts’ at me? I don’t know whether it’s the fire of the dart to deal with first or the pain of the dart.
Sometimes it could be overwhelming. When you are like that, just laugh out loud!
You know God told the children of Israel to look at a brazen serpent hanging on a pole when they were bitten by real serpents. It looks ridiculous, but that is where their victory lies.
God will never ask anything that is not an act of faith and that He Himself has not done before.
Ps 2:1-2, 4 KJV Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision
God Himself laughed at the devil and his cohorts (the heathen that imagine a vain thing against the Lord).
So instead of giving the devil attention, complaining, arguing, murmuring, getting frustrated, depressed, or downcast, just give out a good laugh.
First, the devil will be confused. Then he will flee. Light and darkness can’t stay together, darkness has to bow and go.
One of the surest ways to get the devil off your back fast is when you do the opposite of what he expects.
Sometimes he even expects us to be binding and loosing, sweating with unbelieving prayers. Just act out in faith. Do the extraordinary and laugh.
In famine and in war, you shall laugh. He has put laughter in your mouth so laugh.
Glory to God.
Go Ahead And Laugh at the Devil
May the sound of rejoicing and laughter never cease from your home and marriage
God bless your marriage
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God has already given me the victory so I can laugh at the devil
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Keep my eyes on your finished work Lord
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Ps 2:1-2, 4 KJV Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision
There are three things I said yesterday that you can do when he or she is insisting.
1. Make it clear 2. Be accountable 3. Ask questions
This is Part two. We started on this yesterday! If you missed it, read it HERE. What more can you do when He is insisting?
The fourth thing you can do if the insistence will not stop is to discontinue the relationship. The continual insistence and stubborn posture to what is clearly wrong can be a symptom of a deeper issue.
You see, most of the issues you will confront in marriage would all be glaring for you to see as singles! But what do we do most times? We close our eyes to the obvious signs and bury ourselves in the mire of love. As they say, love is a blinder, but marriage is an eye opener.
Pastor, why would I stop something I have invested so much in? How will I cope with a broken heart?
Well, a broken heart is better than a broken life! There is no point in getting married to someone who outright disobeys or disregards God’s word. One of the ways you will know if a man or woman will respect you is if such a person respects God!
Anybody who doesn’t respect God, who is nonchalant at the things of God, will lack the capacity to respect you or value your person.
Especially if he or she is threatening you to break up if you don’t yield to the request! Don’t beg! And don’t yield under pressure because you want to keep the relationship.
Let Him Go When He is Stubborn! Hear this, you cannot keep or preserve anything of worth with the vehicle of compromise and disobedience. It has never worked and will never work!
It is better to walk away from compromise than to preserve it and nurture it.
Let Him Go When He is Stubborn! Don’t be like Esau!
Heb 12:16 (KJV) Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
The Message Translation explains better:
Heb 12:16 (MSG) Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite.
Remember, whatever you cooperate with now is a subtle acceptance of such like eventually in marriage!
I pray God will give you more understanding! Be blessed today!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I refuse to compromise!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me your wisdom in my relationship
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Heb 12:16 (AMPC) That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. [Gen 25:29-34]
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Read a book on relationships
We will be concluding this topic today and this is Part 3
Yesterday we looked at the second thing that will Sustain you in marriage, which is
2. Discover yourself ( if you missed this, check it HERE).
Things That Will Sustain You In Marriage
3. Discover your purpose.
This is very much similar to the discovery of your Person. It is after you have discovered your person that you can embark on the journey to discover your purpose.
When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. The purpose of anything determines its function. When your purpose is known, greatness is inevitable because you can move faster to get things done.
Imagine if you have a washing machine and you don’t know what it’s used for. You still take out all your family clothes outside to wash with your hands. What a waste of time and energy.
Fulfillment and joy in life are some dividends of discovering your purpose. There is an inner joy that comes to your life, which your spouse can’t give you knowing you are doing exactly what you have been created to do.
Many spouses are unhappy because they are not doing what they were created to do. Many husbands and wives are doing jobs that are just stressing their lives. They experience burn out and their loved ones partake of their burnout.
Your wife can only help you fulfill the assignment you are aware God gave you.
Your purpose is to be discovered, not decided by you. You don’t decide what you are created to be. Your purpose predates your existence.
Discovery of your purpose is one of the Things That Will Sustain You In Marriage. Our purpose was already determined before God formed us.
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5 KJV
Your Marriage has a purpose. You didn’t just get married to have sex, give birth to babies, have a nice job, live in a fine house, and use bone straight weave on.
This journey to discover purpose is done as you seek God. He is the creator of your life and your marriage. He knows your specific purpose.
Go to His word and seek His face in prayer. Be sincere and intentional, and He will reveal your purpose to you.
Some indications can help in your discovery of purpose. What do you naturally like doing? What are your gifts? What are the things you do without effort?
Take time and discover your purpose.
God bless your marriage
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God created me for a purpose. He doesn’t created without a purpose. I have open eyes and I discover my purpose
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, cause the eyes of my understanding to be flooded with light, that I may discover my purpose in life in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5 KJV
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Ask God to reveal your purpose and that of your marriage to you.
What Do I Do When He Is Insisting? This happens a lot in relationships, even among believers, where you don’t expect such, You are in a relationship, and he is insisting on consummating the relationship, all pleas falling on deaf ears!
What do you do at such a time?
Interestingly, and on some occasions that I have handled in counseling, it is the lady insisting on it. On one of such, the lady invited the guy over for a discussion. Upon getting there, she asked for sex. The guy refused, but the lady went ahead and stripped naked and then got on him. Of course, it ended where you are thinking!
The reality is that the scripture never asks you to stay in such an atmosphere, rather you were advised to run!
1Co 6:18 (KJV) Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
The word “flee” means to “run away as in terror” Like you saw bandits, that is how you the off!
Obviously, you cannot know yourself more than God knows you, and God advises you to run! You are down here, but God who up already sees fire on the mountain!
Back to our topic, What Do I Do When He Is Insisting?
1. Make it clear at the inception of a relationship that you are not there for sex, till after the wedding! It’s good to make it clear before somebody will not allow you to rest!
2. Since both of you are expected to be believers, be accountable and answerable to someone, a mentor or a pastor. That you can easily report yourselves to. That wil make Uncle or Aunty to behave! If you are locked in with an unbeliever, or what else do you expect?
What Do I Do When He Is Insisting?
3. Why is he insisting? What are his reasons? Can he or she prove that such actions will not in any way contradict what God wants from us? Of course, it would be a contradiction!
I will stop here this morning! See you tomorrow for more.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not compromise!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord, help me to stand strong in the face of temptation
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Co 6:18 (AMPC) Shun immorality and all sexual looseness [flee from impurity in thought, word, or deed]. Any other sin which a man commits is one outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Refuse to yield to any ongoing pressures
3 Important Things In Marriage. So we started this amazing topic yesterday. This is Part 2. For us to easily remember, the 3 important things that sustain us in marriage are in ‘P’.
Yesterday, we looked at the Peace of God, which is so important. As we journey in our marriage till life do us part, (which by the way is a long time)
God knows that life will happen on the way. So in His love and Mercy, He made His Peace available to us for the taking. 3 Important Things In Marriage
The second thing we will be looking at is:
2. Discovery of your Person
God is the source of every life because He breadth the breadth of life into Adam, and we all became a living soul.
This life became regenerated when we received Christ into our lives and became born again.
However, we all carry a piece of God. We are all masterpieces and are unique in our personalities. People are the same and no one is a waste or useless. The DNA of God in us.
Let’s look at Colossians 3 verse 3 in different translations.
Col 3:3 (TPT) Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God in Christ
Col 3:3 MSG Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
Col 3:3 AMPC For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
We know from this scripture in different translations, that we have a new, real life that is hidden in Christ.
This hidden life is the real you. You have to discover that real you, if not you will never be fulfilled in life and of course in marriage.
You are not what people are calling you. You are not what your spouse is calling you. You are not what your present situation is calling you. It’s not new, people will call you based on what they can see.
They don’t know you, they didn’t create you so they should never call you, or better still you should not answer what others call you (if it is not in line with the Word of God)
Lazy wife, good for nothing husband, stubborn wife, barren wife, depressive wife, harsh husband, liar, cheat, useless and the list goes on. Even in bible days, people called blind Bartimeous, Rahab the harlot, and even Jesus of Nazareth.
Like Jesus, we have to know who we really are. Only then can we fulfill our marriage mandate. Marriage is an assignment. It takes you to discover who you are to be able to function well.
It takes a wife who has discovered herself and a husband who has discovered himself to be one. Unity in marriage is impossible without a discovery of oneself.
This discovery is a personal journey you have to embark on. It is also a spiritual journey because it takes you going back to God in sincere prayers and studying the Word.
The more you know Christ, the more you discover yourself because your real life is hidden in Christ.
May we discover ourselves in Jesus’ name.
God bless your marriage. This is the second of 3 Important Things In Marriage
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My new real life is hid in Christ. My life is hid not from me but for me to discover.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, cause the eyes of my understanding to be flooded with light, that I may discover myself in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Col 3:3 AMP For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go on a personal journey to discover yourself
Father, Why Have You Forsaken Me? It is noteworthy to find out that a large number of juvenile prisoners or even men in prisons scattered all over the world either had absentee fathers or had no fathers at all.
We often underestimate the power of a father’s presence in the home! It’s powerful. Growing up without the benefit of a man in the house can be emotionally defective for the child.
Fathers are needed.
When Jesus was on the cross, God looked away from Him at the moment he was carrying the sin of humanity because God wouldn’t behold sin. Jesus felt that separation and cried out; Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? He couldn’t bear the father forsaking him, even the earth reacted by welcoming darkness all over the earth, yet it was afternoon! All because the Father turned his back on Jesus!
The father looked away! Father, Why Have You Forsaken Me?
As children of God, we make mistakes, we often disappoint God and we outrightly disobey especially with sexual sins. When this happens, we usually think God forsakes us!
But He doesn’t! We are actually the ones that run away from Him as a result of guilt!
We quit reading our Bible, quit going to church, we feel we have disappointed God, we feel less of ourselves and we just run away from anything spiritual. Well, the devil has you right where he wanted, when you do any of that!
When you have messed up, that is the time to run into the father’s embrace and bury yourself in the river of mercy that flows in His bosom.
The devil wants you guilt-ridden, full of regret, caught in the web of your errors, blaming yourself endlessly, and feeling God won’t have you back. This in turn drives one more into the trenches of iniquity! You see, no place is safe when you are away from his presence!
Father, Why Have You Forsaken Me? The father never forsakes us, we are the ones that forsake His presence!
My point this morning? Get back to Him. His loving arms are well spread to embrace you and cleanse you from all errors! Never doubt the father’s love!
Gal 4:6-7 (MSG) You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” [7] Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY The Father loves me. I dive into the embrace if the Father
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes to your love
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gal 4:6 (TPT) And so that we would know for sure that we are his true children, God released the Spirit of Sonship into our hearts—moving us to cry out intimately, “My Father! You’re our true Father!”
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take a step of action today
3 Things That Sustains You In Marriage. Why do we write devotionals every day and invest time and energy to keep pumping the word to you? It is because we need to keep hearing these words. There are so many voices struggling to get your attention, and you are what you hear.
Whatever we give our attention to will influence our actions, that is, how we behave.
Our intention is that your marriage can be all God says it will be. The more you hear or read, the more you will recover and be converted.
So this morning, I will be writing on 3 Things That Sustains You In Marriage
The first thing is:
1. The peace of God.
Many of us wonder what the peace of God is. Some believe that when I have a good job, have money to pay my bills, have no trouble at work, attend parties at weekends, and my children go to a good private school, then I have the peace of God.
I wish I could tell you that life without struggles is all there is to the peace of God.
We all know that life happens. Sometimes good people have bad problems that they can’t even account for. It seems as we grow older, we begin to experience life. That was why I loved being a child, but the reality is that no one can be a child forever. Even children now have issues which is no fault of theirs.
This world is on a downward movement and will always have troubles no matter what.
Our father is so good and merciful that He has already made provisions for us to overcome and navigate this world. He gave us His peace.
John 14:27 AMPC Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
The peace of God is one of 3 Things That Sustains You In Marriage. No matter what comes along the way or what the devil throws at you, His peace will sustain you.
When God speaks, He speaks peace. He is the prince of peace and He says peace be still to any raging storm in our lives or marriage.
Jesus wouldn’t just speak, you have to consciously have Him on your side. Have Him on your boat. Have Him in your home and marriage.
At the wedding in Cana of Galilee, Jesus was invited.
(John 2). He was not only invited but He was also recognized and acknowledged. His words were taken as important enough to obey whatever He said.
Do you want to experience peace in the midst of chaos? Let Jesus, the Word be given priority. Whatever He (the Word) says then do it.
What He (the word) says may not make logical sense just like it didn’t make any sense to fill water pots with water when they needed wine.
Whatever situation you are in that wants to steal the peace from your marriage, just listen to the prince of peace. He has peace in His custody.
May the Lord grant you His peace in Jesus’ name, Amen.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God has given me His peace. I declare I have peace in the midst of whatever crisis
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord in the name of Jesus, give me the tenacity to study your word, the source of peace.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go for the peace of God in the midst of whatever crisis you may be experiencing
Hello Champ, its another awesome time to learn from God’s word. Today I will be talking to you about anger and why you should always control your temper.
Let me tell you a story about an Angry boy, his name was Tobi.
Tobi was a young child who got angry at the slightest provocation. He had lots of scars on this body from head to toe as a result of always getting into a fight or breaking something when he is angry.
One day, just after the school bell rang for the close of school, while Tobi walked the school hall, one of his classmate ran pass him and mistakenly touched his school bag. Tobi got angry as usual and began shouting and cursing. Then all of a sudden, he charged angrily towards his classmate, aiming to punch him and start a fight. Just as he took the first step, he fell on the floor and landed flat on his face. Immediately, his two front teeth fell out and there was blood every where. Apparently, he stepped on a banana peal that made him slip.
He was rushed to the hospital but the damage was already done. He lost his upper incisors and his upper lip was also stitched.
From that time onward, his missing tooth reminded him to stay calm when he is about to be angry.
King Solomon has a word for you in his book, let’s take a look at it.
He who is slow to anger is better and more honorable than the mighty [soldier], And he who rules and controls his own spirit, than he who captures a city. —Proverbs 16:32 (AMP)
Dear child, it’s always better to be slow to anger, you shouldn’t respond angrily to any thing. Be patient and calm at all times, it is more honorable than showing you can fight or speak more hurtful words than your challenger.
Taking charge of your situation calmly just like the bible says is not equals taking control of a whole city, that action is greater.
Don’t get in a fight with anyone for any reason, learn to calm down at all times.
Darkness Is Shattered, Walk in The Light! Has anybody ever told you that you are a child of light? Yes, that’s right. Darkness is shattered, it cannot endure over you! The light shines, yes it shines, and no darkness can comprehend, contradict or withstand it!
We are not talking about natural light that comes from the sun. Nay, we talk about the light of God!
Here God created the sun and the moon:
Gen 1:14 (KJV) And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
But in verse 3, He said
Gen 1:3 (KJV) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
This light in verse three is what we are talking about. The light shines! Say it loud, “No darkness around me! I have the light of God!”
The light is described to be in the life of God.
Joh 1:4 (KJV) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
The light is the life of God, The very life in Jesus is what gives the light! I declare light into your life right now, into your relationship, Every darkness bows! Jesus did not casually deal with the problem.
See how what He did was described.
Rom 8:3 (MSG) God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant…
There is light over that relationship now!
There is light over that courtship now
There is light over that marriage now.
Darkness doesn’t fight light, once you switch on that light, darkness disappears. May every darkness around you be shattered in Jesus’ name! Darkness Is Shattered
May the light of God dawn upon your heart in Jesus’ name
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I walk in the light! No darkness around me!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, I shatter every darkness around me in Jesus’ name!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Rom 8:3 (TPT) For God achieved what the law was unable to accomplish, because the law was limited by the weakness of human nature. Yet God sent us his Son in human form to identify with human weakness. Clothed with humanity, God’s Son gave his body to be the sin-offering so that God could once and for all condemn the guilt and power of sin.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take a step of action today
Emotional Maturity in Marriage is what we are looking at this morning. Man is a tripartite being. We are spirits, we have a soul and we live inside a body. Our body is the earthly suit that makes us able to live and function on this earth. Exactly what a spacesuit is to astronauts in space, and makes it possible for them to stay and function in space.
We are spirits and really we need to understand we function from the spirit realm. We have to understand our identity as spirits and operate as such.
My focus for this morning is really centered on our Soul. Our soul is what connects our spirit and body together. Our soul is what makes us give expression to our spirit on earth through our bodies.
Our Soul contains our will power, intellect, and emotion. Our willpower is what helps us in decision-making. Our intellect is the faculty that help us function in the intellectual world. Our emotion is the seat of our feelings. It is where we feel pain, hurt, bitterness, loyalty, faithfulness, guilt, joy, etc
3 John1:2 in AMPC Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
Our soul must prosper. We must move from one level to another. We must grow in our soul realm. We should not be directed by our feelings alone in our marriage. This is what Emotional Maturity in Marriage is all about.
Have you ever eaten at a buffet and felt very full? At that moment, you are full but in some hours that changes and you become hungry again. Our feelings are fickle. Our feelings change.
Don’t take permanent actions based on temporary situations.
Our feelings are subject to change. When we feel like being bitter we switch to our spirit.
That is how we mature in our souls. Don’t yield to the dictates of your feeling. You are not your feeling.
In the practical sense, it’s not everything, every word, every action you respond to, to mature in your soul. Grow up in your soul.
Guard your heart and your soul for it affects your life and indeed your marriage. It affects your relationship with your spouse. Get rid of every bad feeling, hurt, pain, and negative vibe in your marriage. Replace them with positive emotions.
God bless your marriage. Emotional Maturity in Marriage is a must
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not my feelings. I live above my feelings.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, I receive grace to master my feelings.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Rom 12:2 (CEV) Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
Dear Lover, When Will You Decide? Decisions are powerful. So much powerful that everything depends on it. Imagine the number of decisions you have made today! Its amazing! As a matter of fact, you are reading this devotional because you decided to do so!
Can you quickly share the devotional to Facebook or WhatsApp groups? Use share buttons below or above the devotional.
Some of you will obey, and some of you will just simply continue reading. That’s a decision you took right there!
But seriously, go ahead and share….decide to decide!
After sharing, that’s all it takes to decide. You just do what needs to be done. You refuse to procrastinate! You learn obedience to the point your obedience is complete so that every disobedience can be avenged!
Dear Lover, When Will You Decide? Why am I writing about decisions today?
You all remember Jacob and Esau. How Jacob deceived his brother and stole the blessing. As a result of that Jacob hated him and wanted to kill him.
Esau’s father could not really bless him but he made a significant statement to Esau which is the crux of our teaching this morning. Let’s take a look at it.
Gen 27:40 (KJV) And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
Now let’s take a look at another translation.
Gen 27:40 (CEV) You will live by the power of your sword and be your brother’s slave. But WHEN YOU DECIDE to be free, you will break loose.”
Wow! Esau, despite that your blessing is stolen, despite that you will serve your brother and be his slave, the day YOU DECIDE to be free is when you will be free!
That took the responsibility off God completely!
O God, I want to marry, Do it. Let me be found. Let me find.
God answers: The day you decide to marry is when you will marry!
When you have dominion, when you come to yourself, when you take responsibilities and stop offering excuses, when you stop yielding to your flesh and you learn to put your body under, when you come into sonship and put away childish things, when you DECIDE for God, then you will get done what you want to do! Selah! Dear Lover, When Will You Decide?
Good morning!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will decide for God. I will no longer procrastinate
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord, help me to make that decision!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gen 27:40 (MSG) You’ll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth, and you’ll serve your brother. But when you can’t take it any more you’ll break loose and run free.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take a step of action today
What Do You Call Yourselves? I know couples have sweet names that they call themselves, and that is so sweet. I would like to draw the attention of husbands and wives to the immense power that lies in ‘calling’ ourselves. We tend to lose the power thereof when we lack the revelation behind that action.
The man was created in the image and likeness of God. That means we are in the class of God. We are a speaking spirit.
Gen 2: 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
We are to call those things that are not as though they are.
God allowed Adam to call Eve whatever name he deemed fit. He called her ‘woman’. She is to birth and be the mother of all living things.
We.should call ourselves based on whatever revelation of what we want to accomplish. We are to assume our priestly role. Priests use their mouths to declare. What Do You Call Yourselves?
We have to practice using our faith to call our wives and our husbands. There must first be a desire in your heart.
What do you want your spouse to be? Begin to prophesy. Not just a name you call yourselves, but making a habit of constantly calling your selves what you want to see.
Habakkuk 2:4 says …the just shall live by his faith’.
You don’t have any business experiencing whatever you don’t want in your marriage. If you have a mouth and you have God’s word.
Every one of us has a total of 24 hours. Those hours are more than enough to change the course of your marriage and your spouse.
Does your spouse have any unpleasant behaviour? Don’t waste your energy fighting him or him. The Bible says we will have what we say. We don’t just have what God says, we have what we say. The question is what are you saying?
God wants us to labor to enter His rest. That labor is laboring in the Word. We have to grow our faith consciously, Just as we build our muscles in the gym. No matter how skinny a person is, you build your muscles by putting them to use.
Begin to use and build your faith muscles. Don’t be moved by sight ( what you can see) be moved by sight. What Do You Call Yourselves?
Be a speaking spirit. Don’t just speak as a “normal” human being. God has given you what to speak. You speak His word.
God bless our marriage as we speak the word of blessing over our marriage. It is our responsibility.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am a speaking spirit. I declare and I call my spouse those things I desire to see.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY O Lord, I receive the Grace to declare as you have spoken in your word in Jesus’ name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4 KJV
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Start speaking by faith to your spouse and your marriage
Words are powerful. Once spoken, they can’t be unspoken. The reason you have to be careful about what you say or who you say it to.
On a faithful day, Jude looked his classmate in the face and called him a drunk. Not only that, told him he was a bastard.
Everyone thought it was a joke, because no one expected such from Jude.
Mr Johnson, his class teacher was shocked. He couldn’t believe his ears. Why would he use such harsh words on his classmate? Earnest?
How could he? He had taught him so many times about using his words to bless and not curse people.
Although Jude later said he was joking, the damage had already been done. How was he going to unsay what he had already said? What an expensive joke.
When you make coarse jokes at others all for the fun of it, it reflects back on your parents. People will think your parents haven’t taught you about manners.
You bring shame, embarrassment, and disgrace to them. People will call them irresponsible and probably say that to their faces.
So, when next you want to make a bad joke, remember your parents.
May God help you to remember How Best To Use Your Words, Amen.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to bring shame, disgrace, and embarrassment to my parents.
Action plan: Ask God for the grace to help you choose your words well.
Declaration: I choose to bless only with my words.
Here’s A Major Secret To be Found. Susan has had a very rough storyline regarding being found by that remarkable man. A lot of guys have taken her on a ride, some just wanted a sexual thing, while some were having a fling. Susan was almost at that place where she thinks something must be wrong with her. She doesn’t understand why it has been difficult to get married.
I want to share with you this morning about a secret to being found. Certainly, there are many ways, but I want to dovetail on just one specific area.
Let’s take a look at the scriptures. Pro 18:22 (KJV) Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Notice this scripture.
It says whoever finds a wife…
Not whoever finds a sister!
Not whenever finds a babe.
The great question is how do you become a wife before getting married?
It’s not on going around to cook for a guy. It’s not in offering your body for sex in the quest to “insure” the guy for a wedding. It is not in spending your hard-earned money on a guy who will later ditch you for another. Here’s A Major Secret To be Found
It’s in preparation! That is how to become a “wife” before becoming a wife!
Marriage is such a great work that you will do yourself good and do your future husband good by first becoming a wife in your attitudes, responsibilities, and general outlook on life.
A wife is a helper.
A wife is a homemaker.
There are many more, but as a single lady, you must develop yourself intellectually and otherwise in readiness to be found.
You must read wide, sit down with mentors, and learn all you can learn!
Men are looking for a “wife”
And trust me, real guys ( I am not taking if those just looking for flings or sex ) know how to spot a wife!
I will stop here this morning. I pray that God gives you more understanding! Here’s A Major Secret To be Found
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not in a hurry. I receive wisdom in my relationship.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give me wisdom that is specific to me
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 18:22 (MSG) Find a good spouse, you find a good life— and even more: the favor of GOD!
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Decide to read a book a week
Every Husband Must Hear This! I feel like the Samaritan woman this morning, who excitedly went into the town and told all the men about Jesus.
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? John 4:28 – 29 KJV
I believe men really need to hear by revelation and have an encounter with Jesus. It makes all the difference. Men (of course our husbands) are the ones God gave the command, to love their wives like Christ loved the church.
I guess it just makes a lot of sense that they need an encounter with the man Jesus so that they can learn to be like Him.
What really makes Jesus who He is? What did Jesus represent and what did He come to the world to show us? I believe He came to show us the God kind of faith. To show us how to live the faith life. He lived here on earth as a man to show us how men (by extension, women also) ought to live.
If we are going to love our wives like Christ loved the church, it’s going to be by faith. Jesus wants every Husband to be men of faith. Every Husband Must Hear This
Talking about faith, our example of faith who walked by faith is our father, Abraham. His journey of faith started with God calling him to leave his kindred and father’s house.
I love the Amp translation NOW [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. [Heb. 11:8-10.] And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].Genesis 12:1 – 2 AMPC
This is the similar instruction God gave to Adam as a key to having a successful marriage.
Therefore a man shall ‘leave’ his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24 AMPC
Every Husband is called to a life of faith. It takes faith to leave the familiar and go on a journey trusting in God.
You cannot love a woman if you are a natural man. Challenges of life will come. What will you overcome them with? The bible says faith is our victory. Faith is what gives us victory 100% of the time.
In leaving your father’s house or kindred, God actually wants us to ‘leave’ the ideals, methods, and ways of this natural world. He wants us to live by another standard. Which is the standard of faith. This is done by renewing our minds.
Husbands you have to be men of faith. Every Husband Must Hear This
Romans 12:2 AMPC Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
You love your wife by being ‘a saviour’ to her. You enforce what is written over your marriage.
I remember just before our wedding, I was ill suddenly and was taken to the hospital. I actually passed out. It was the prayer of faith of my fiance, now my husband that revived me.
Life will be full of crises and challenges. Husbands, the greatest gift you can give your wife and family is to be a man of faith.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word. Be a man of the word.
Read the word, study it, meditate on it, confess it and begin to live by faith.
“Look at the proud one, His soul is not right within him, But the righteous will live by his faith [in the true God]. Habakkuk 2:4 AMP
God bless our marriage
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am a man (woman) of faith. I develop my faith and I experience victory over life’s challenges
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY I receive grace to begin to walk by faith in Jesus’ name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Look at the proud one, His soul is not right within him, But the righteous will live by his faith [in the true God]. Hab 2:4
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Begin to live by your own faith
Dear child, today yet again, we will be learning wisdom from the book of Proverbs. King Solomon has something to teach you today.
I want you to pay close attention to today’s devotional, and make sure you learn something.
Do you know who a king is?
A king is a ruler over a kingdom. He has lots and lots of people who answer to him.
His words are powerful, because once he speaks, everyone listens and follows what he says.
A king has a crown, a beautiful crown made with precision, and valuable items like Gold, sliver, precious stones and so many beautiful things.
He is also dressed in beautiful clothing because he wears the best things in his kingdom.
Another thing about a king is that he lives in a palace, a beautiful place, built specifically for kings to live in.
Do you know that God has called you and I as his children to be kings and queens on earth?
If you are a child of God, it means you are royalty. Since God is the King of Kings, and we as his children are representing him on earth, so you are a king/queen.
Today in our focus verse, King Solomon says something very important about kings, and I want you to learn from it.
A divine decision [given by God] is on the lips of the king [as His representative]; His mouth should not be unfaithful or unjust in judgment. —Proverbs 16:10 (AMP)
As a king/queen, you are a representative of God on earth, and so since you represent him, he puts wise words in your mouth to speak at all times.
You are not to speak words that don’t represent who you represent.
You know God is faithful and true, so as his kings and queens, what you say should be the truth at all times
You should always speak words that shows that you are a king/queen not otherwise.
You don’t just say something because everyone is saying it, your words should be divine and true at all times.
As God’s kings and queens, you shouldn’t tell lies, say abusive words, gossip or say things that don’t represent the kingdom of God.
What God expects you to do is to bless people with your words. Say good things all the time, don’t tell lies, don’t gossip about anyone, pray for your friends and family.
God honours the words of kings and queens because he choose you to be one.
Today, decide to live and speak as kings and queens today.
How To Handle Rejection From Lovers’ Parents. Ade and Bridget were so much into each other that all their friends saw them as the definition of a perfect love story.
It’s been over six years of love affair because they met prior to admission into higher institutions. Theirs was like a love story woven be heaven itself.
They looked forward to their wedding with glee and passion. There was nothing they have not discussed from number of children, to career compatibility and even the location where they will be domiciled.
For the very first time, they decided to open up to their parents who had been kept in limbo all the while. They didn’t expect any resistance from that end, they sure have taken care of that in prayers.
However, to their consternation and amazement, the guy’s parents refused to bless the union. These heavily stalled all their plans and threw Bridget into emotional frenzy!
What would people say? How would they explain to all who looked up to them and saw their relationship as a model?
She was devastated. They prayed, but the more they prayed, the more obstinate the parents were!
Ade was helpless. Every of their attempt to convince the parents came to null and void.
At this point, what should they do?
Ade and Bridget should be prepared to move on! What? Yes, it is not going to be easy. It is going to heartbreaking, but on no occasion should Bridget force her way into a family that forthrightly rejected her.
If she did, frustration and agony awaited her. What should be her response on How To Handle Rejection From Lovers’ Parents?
You see, in God, rejection can become direction! She should go into her closet and seek God’s face why this happened. She should resort to worship and judge God faithful!
Heb 11:11 (KJV) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, BECAUSE SHE JUDGED HIM FAITHFUL WHO HAD PROMISED.
If you are in Bridget’s shoes, you MUST worship and rejoice… then you will truly rejoice at the end.
Be assured that no parents can stop God’s plan. So when they insist, and looked like they won, God must have permitted it for a purpose, if they are unyielding after several prayers.
Let it go and see the beautiful story God will weave out even as you worship and rejoice.
Remember this, if you stay in hurt and bitterness, you can lose out. So stay in joy! This is How To Handle Rejection From Lovers’ Parents
Good morning!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be a loser. I embrace God’s wisdom.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY O Lord, grant me grace to overcome hurts and wounds in the soul
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Heb 11:11 (KJV) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Don’t Play the Victim In Your Marriage. I heard the story of a man of God who went hunting together with a friend (the friend was actually the one taking him hunting). He was looking forward to having a quick or fast hunting experience but to his greatest surprise this was not happening.
He then asked his friend “where are the animals?” His friend said, “I will show you a secret.” He made a certain sound, and true to his words, an animal came out from the woods. He asked his friend what was the connection between the sound and the animal coming out?
The friend told him, that was no ordinary sound, but the sound made by animals that are caught in a trap, that are already helpless. Hearing that sound means there was cheap meal available for it.
This is the crust of my message this morning.
“There is no virtue in playing the victim”.
Our lives are constantly making sound(s) in the spirit realm. What sound are you making? Are you playing the victim game? Is your life oozing out victory or defeat?
Even in our marriage, if we constantly give a sound of defeat and being beaten, our spouse will not enjoy our company despite loving us. Don’t Play the Victim In Your Marriage
Another truth is that the sound you produce determines more of what you attract. If you are joyful, you will attract more joy.
Don’t be a victim in your marriage. We all have being through some things. Yes, I know some have been through harder situations than others. Bible tells us, we can handle whatever comes our way.
1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Whatever situation we faced or passed through is to make us better not bitter. We gained experience to comfort others with the comfort where with we were comforted.
2 Corinthians 1:3 – 4 KJV Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Pick up yourself from your past. Whatever happened in your past, rise above it and don’t live in your past. Don’t keep the memory of your past in your present. You lost your mum, yes, live past it. You lost money, lost relationship, whatever your loss is, get past it and move on.
Move on as though it never happened. Dust yourself. Be like the donkey in a story, who even though dirts were dumped on it it “shook it off the dust and stepped on it”.
The more you play the victim the more life will hand you more abuse. When you murmur, complain and grumble about life the “serpent” will bite you. Your sound of murmuring and complaining will attract demons who will give you more reasons to complain.
Keep up your joy. Let the sounds of Glory, of rejoicing and shouts of praise proceed out of you.
In your marriage, you become attractive to your spouse when you are full of life. Depression is a disease that repels. It is repulsive. You want to be your spouses’ friend? Then be responsive, be jovial, be playful, be youthful.
Some times we feel when we play the victim we engender sympathy and pity from others. Yes, we might. But soon they get tried and frustrated.
We already have all the victory in Christ Jesus. Don’t have an entitlement mentality. The world doesn’t have to revolve around you. Pick up yourself and enjoy life. Don’t Play the Victim In Your Marriage
God bless our marriages.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My mind is renewed by God’s word. I am not a victim of life
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY O Lord, I ask for wisdom in areas where I lack wisdom in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Rom 12:2 (CEV) Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE Pick up yourself from whatever happened in your past. Stop being the victim.
There is something powerful in stillness. There are losses and failure embedded in anxiety and unnecessary worrying!
The very concept of faith itself, is contradicted in your efforts to do things in your own wisdom and at the detriment of His instructions and direction!
Yes, you are lover boy, and you are experienced, but can you be still before you are humbled?
Oh yeah, you are a babe who have read all major relationship books, but can you be still to hear Him!
When you are too noisy and unsettled in your communion with Him, you miss His voice! Oh Lord, that I should not miss your voice for once!
Can I tell you something striking this morning? Can it be possible that you are crying for God’s intervention in your relationship and yet the very attitude that block that is being courted?
Oh, I have had a lot of broken relationships
Oh, I can’t seem to know who to get married to
Oh, I don’t know who to choose out of so many
Well, you sure needs God’s direction!
However, seeing God in your relationship, seeing His intervention in your love life, is predicated on STILLNESS! Finding The Love of Your Life In Stillness is the next big thing!
Let’s validate that in the scripture.
Psa 46:10 (KJV) Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The scripture is so clear and explicit here. Be still and you will know He is God! God is interested in Finding The Love of Your Life In Stillness
Let’s take a look at another translation. Psa 46:10 (MSG) “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”
Wow! Get out of that traffic of anxiety and worry!
God is above all the politics of relationships and marriage!
You get it now! Light dawns on you now! You’re been taking things into your hands all in the name of planning and strategizing!
All has failed you till now. The milk of disappointment has been gobbled down severally! Now is the time of realization, that your miracle is in your stillness.
This stillness simply and aptly put, is your trust in God that He’s got your back, that He won’t abandon you and that He will not disappoint you!
Good morning! Share the blogpost! Blessings!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I ham still. I am not anxious.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me to be still and to trust you
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 46:10 (AMPC) Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!
