Before we can talk of keeping love ablaze we have to talk of couples living true to their covenant responsibilities. First, we should know that our marriage has a certain mandate in the heart of God to fulfill.
And here’s a second offense: You fill the place of worship with your whining and sniveling because you don’t get what you want from God. Do you know why? Simple. Because God was there as a witness when you spoke your marriage vows to your young bride, and now you’ve broken those vows, broken the faith-bond with your vowed companion, your covenant wife. God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that’s what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don’t cheat on your spouse. -Malachi 2:13-15 (MSG)
Let’s see how the scripture goes in the Amplified version.
Yet you ask, Why does He reject it? Because the Lord was witness [to the covenant made at your marriage] between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously and to whom you were faithless. Yet she is your companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your marriage vows]. -Malachi 2:14 (AMPC)
This is an indication that God takes our marriage vows seriously.
Our marriage vows are not just some cute words spoken on our wedding day, it is a promise before God and then to our spouse.
It is this understanding that will help us to see the reason why love must be kept ablaze, it is a lifelong work. We have to keep at it, at good times and not-so-good times, if we don’t understand the covenant of marriage, we will struggle.
Finally, let me add this for women. Being your best means being a virtuous woman, protecting your husband by satisfying him always sexually, know that his vulnerability will increase and become more intense if you don’t. Refuse to cheat on him no matter what, come what may.
I pray God helps us all in Jesus name.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY The wine in my marriage will not run dry, our love is rekindled and our hearts burn for each other.
PRAYER FIR THE DAY Lord, help me to keep my marriage covenant
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Yet you ask, Why does He reject it? Because the Lord was witness [to the covenant made at your marriage] between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously and to whom you were faithless. Yet she is your companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your marriage vows]. -Malachi 2:14 (AMPC)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Study the word ‘one flesh’
‘Virtuous’ from the Hebrew word ‘Chayil’ means excellence, strength, ability, efficiency and force.
The Bible talks about a Virtuous woman see how the scripture puts it;
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. –Proverbs 31:10 (KJV)
She is the woman considered ‘balanced.’ She has her acts together. She has wisdom and strength and the force of an army. She is the epitome of Christian virtue in feminine form. She is the one who has discovered the secret of drawing strength from her maker and Lord.
She is gracious and elegant in every way, strong within and she stands for what she believes. She is a woman who knows her individuality and uniqueness and yet submits her will, desires, and opinions to her husband.
She is not trapped, hindered, or subservient. She is just submissive. She is not limited or restricted, she is simply fantastic.
All these may not sound like what you see in your fiancée or what you are now as a lady, but there is a hidden desire in every lady to become the Proverbs 31 woman.
God does not focus on our past, or concentrate on how fragile we are in the present. God looks out with pleasure and sees what we are capable of becoming in the future.
We are all ‘projects in progress’ God is still very much at work within us, healing the wounds from our past and strengthening our weak hands. Don’t allow anybody to abuse or despise you. Don’t condemn yourself. Only one person can condemn you, and that is God! But he has refused to do that!
Believe in yourself! You are the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31; the writer just wanted you to have the honour of putting your name there by yourself. Remember, the one who formed you said ‘you are very good!’
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I discover and develop my God-given gifts and talents.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father in Jesus’ name, I ask for a spirit of wisdom and revelation in discovering my purpose and the grace to maximize it.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. –Proverbs 29:18 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Remove the mental block and limitations that exist only in your mind.
It is often said that a friend in need is a friend indeed. The value of friendship is known in hard and tough times. Nothing is as soothing as when a friend speaks to you in your down moments. When his or her words are like cold water to a thirsty soul.
If the effect of a friend could be that felt, how much more is the effect of a spouse? Of course, our spouse is supposed to be our best friend; who we are vulnerable with, with who we can share the joy and the privilege of being naked and not ashamed.
I think every spouse should ask themselves this question: “Am I a friend to my spouse?” Can your spouse confidently say, he/she can find a friend in you? Does your spouse find you easy to talk to?
Every spouse should ask these soul-searching questions and try to find answers to these questions.
It’s easy to point accusing fingers at your spouse, but are you also fulfilling your end? Quit playing the blame game and face reality, walk and work together to make a formidable team.
Can two walk together, except they be agreed? -Amos 3:3 (KJV)
Come in agreement with each other. Forgive every hurt and pain. Marriage is where we hurt deeply.
Some spouses are so hurt they vow never to forgive. If you have any knotty situations, talk things over with your mentors. Sometimes, the issues in marriage require the authority of someone higher than you, just a word, a prayer or a prophetic utterance can solve the issue.
Some people have destroyed their marriage because of staying on their viewpoint of being right. In marriage, it is not always about who is right or wrong, but our willingness to allow God’s purpose to be done.
Jesus our model didn’t insist on being right. He willingly suffered for us, the righteous for the unrighteous. He loved us while we were yet sinners and died for us so we can be made sons of God.
The mandate on our marriage must be fulfilled. Let’s get over with all forms of bitterness, malice, and unforgiveness, these are toxic to our being best of friends with our spouses.
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. –Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)
This scripture is very profound. You must show yourself friendly to have your spouse as your friend.
The issue is some of us don’t even know to be friends; we must aim at being friends with our spouses. I believe the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth and revelation will help us if we ask Him to.
Here are some ways to be friends with your spouse:
1. Maintaining the right attitude and positive disposition is important.
2. Kind words and loving words; every human being responds to love.
3. Believing the best of each other.
4. Being fun to be with.
5. Not pointing attention to the weak areas of your spouse.
6. Encouraging our spouse.
7. Avoiding criticism, accusation, and blaming.
8. Being very understanding.
These are a few tips for being there for your spouse.
God help us indeed.
May God bless our marriages.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am my spouse’s best friend, I am loving and kind towards him/her
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to keep my marriage covenant
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. –Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Study the word ‘one flesh’
Dear precious child, yesterday I began talking to you about what it means to Fear God. The fear Of God is the beginning of wisdom, and God wants you as his child to be wise, this is why the bible further explains what it means to fear God.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. –Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)
Yesterday we discussed two of these points mentioned in our focus verse:
1. The fear of God is to Hate Evil.
2. The fear of God is to Hate Pride and Arrogance.
Let’s continue today with the remaining two!
3. To Fear God is to Hate Evil Behaviour.
What exactly is evil behaviour? Things such as lying, stealing, gossiping, malice, unforgiveness, etc, these and more are more things like this are evil behaviour. There is a long list of commandments called the Ten Commandments that God gave the children of Israel through Moses. This is an indication that God wants us to act right all the time, if we as his children say we fear him, then you and I must hate any behaviour that is evil.
4. To Fear God is to Hate Perverse Speech.
Perverse speeches are wrong words, words that don’t build, but rather tire down, slang that are not godly. Children of God shouldn’t be found speaking vulgar languages or using slang that doesn’t represent Jesus. You are God’s ambassador on earth; everything you do should represent God.
This is the end of our lesson on what it means to fear God, make sure you put to use what you have learned.
PRAYER: Father in the name of Jesus, I pray that I have the fear of God in Jesus name.
ACTION PLAN: Decide to put in your best in all you do today
DECLARATION: I have the fear of God, I hate evil all the days of my life.
Sandy has been frustrated over and over again. She has been involved in several relationships that kept breaking and she is beginning to think she is cursed. All her friends are married and she seemed to be the only one left. The more desperate she became, the more relationships and marriage were evading her. She has prayed, fasted, and cried, and she doesn’t know what to do again.
On the other hand, Ade had so many girls he sleeps with regularly, and he feels that is being a man. Sadly he is misinformed and confused. He fails to realize that he has been sucked into a cycle of sexual perversion with damning consequences and only God can save him if he is genuinely repentant. The more he did that, the more he frustrates and truncates the plan of God for him in this area.
Buddy and Angie are married but are not enjoying their marriage one bit. They got married without knowing the purpose of marriage, hence abuse set it. They are both well-read and educated, but unfortunately, you are not taught how to run a marriage in school. You are left with deliberate tutoring through self-development or through mentors.
So now, the question is “how do you know the purpose of a relationship/marriage is being abused?
1. Experimenting is not the Purpose of a Relationship.
You see, a relationship is not supposed to be an experiment. It is something you initiate deliberately and purposefully. It is an institution created by God, and as such, it should be held as sacred. When God began the marriage institution, he had something in mind. He was not performing an experiment, he was deliberately packaging a purposeful institution. So, the moment you do anything experimentally, you have moved away from the original intention, hence the consequences.
2. Pre-marital sex is not the Purpose of a Relationship
During friendship or courtship, it is the mind that should be aligned, not the body. When the body comes together in a sexual relationship before marriage, the light of God’s word is tampered with because of violation and confusion enters the soul!
One common statement you will hear from people who are compromising is “I am confused!” They know it is wrong, and yet they are held in the embrace of sin because an illegal bonding has been formed. It takes God and guts to break such.
3. Initiating a relationship while still hurting or bitter.
I have said it over and over again, you don’t begin a relationship immediately after getting off one because you want to prove a point or you want to get back at your ex. At that point, your reasoning is impaired and your definition of love has been warped by the recent experience. It is always good to take a break for about six months and allow yourself to heal. Wisdom says you should find out what went wrong with the first one before you dabble into another.
If you have had several relationships broken over and over again, it is not about a curse anywhere, it is just that you lack wisdom and you are abusing the purpose of a relationship. You don’t enter a relationship because you want the person to fill some emptiness in your soul. That is only what Jesus Christ can do by His Spirit! If you haul a job meant for God on a guy or a lady, you will end up frustrating that person!
After a broken relationship, take your time. Ask questions. Why did it go wrong? Don’t jump into the next available arms just to deal with hurts and wounds. When you do that, you will get hurt the more, because you have not followed the right process. Never ever try to give sex in order to get attention or love. It will never work that way. Young ladies, drum that into your head and carry yourselves with some dignity!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the discovery of my purpose, my role, and the purpose of marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, Lord help me to function with grace in the area of my calling. Anoint me for my calling as a husband/ wife in my marriage
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. –Colossians 1:15 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Search every scripture on marriage in the bible to discover God’s mind and purpose for marriage.
It is in marriage that all our bad attitudes show up. They show up bad that they give an offensive odour literarily, and guess what, your spouse won’t be able to stand it for too long.
Most of the things we can get by with as a single, we won’t be able to get by with them as married couples.
Remember, your mum used to tell you, you were lazy, and it didn’t matter as long as you were single.
Your friends told you, you were a snob. Your dad told you, you were too temperamental. Your boss told you, you were rude. Your roommate told you, you were too greedy.
All the weaknesses that show up and we get people to correct us about them, is God trying to correct our wrong attitudes.
These same wrong attitudes are what we carry into our marriages. These attitudes cause a lot of trouble. We expect our wives to cope with our negative attitudes, all in the name of being submissive and respectful. The wives should be submissive, but please don’t let us over-stretch ourselves.
Also, the wives complain about the husbands not loving them, but let’s say the truth. Is it easy to love a wife with negative attitudes? Let us make it easier for our spouses to submit to us and love us, as the case may be, and begin to correct any negative attitudes you notice in your life.
God corrects us because He does not want to leave us the same way we are. We have to yield to His corrections if we must live a better life.
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. –Proverbs 3:12 (KJV)
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? –Hebrews 12:5 -9 (KJV)
The Lord urges us to change our negative attitudes. Here are some bad attitudes that will not make our marriages work;
1. Lazy attitude
2. Unforgiving attitudes
3. Insincere attitudes
4. Selfish attitudes
5. Mean attitudes
6. Unpleasant attitudes
Work on these negative attitudes and the Lord will bless your marriage.
CONFESSION OF THE DAY I work on my negative attitudes
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, help me, I receive grace to work on my negative attitudes
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY I will work on my negative attitude
THOUGHT OF THE DAY For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. –Proverbs 3:12 (KJV)
Dear child, you have been taught that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Whoever wants to be wise must first start by learning what it means to fear God, and deliberately walk in that fear, putting God first before every decision.
Today I’d like to show you more things about the fear of God. Let’s take a look at our focus verse for today!
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. –Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)
This verse listed some things God wants us his children to take note of. The fear of God means to; hate evil, to hate pride and arrogance, to hate evil behaviours, and to hate perverse speech. Let’s pick these things one after the other, shall we?
1. The fear of God is to Hate Evil.
The word evil means being wicked, and harming people. The God we serve is a good God, his thought for everyone is to do us good. You can’t be a child of God and think of harming the people around you. The proof that you are a Christian is that you love your neighbour, and everyone around you just like Jesus commanded.
2. The fear of God is to Hate Pride and Arrogance.
Pride and Arrogance are similar words; it is the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself, having an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities. Humility and kindness are very important virtues for us as God’s children, you might be smarter or prettier than the people around you, but that doesn’t mean you are better than they are. Jesus lived a humble life on earth, that’s what every child of God should do too.
To be continued…
PRAYER: Father in the name of Jesus, I pray that I have the fear of God in Jesus name. Amen
ACTION PLAN: Decide to put in your best in all you do today
DECLARATION: I have the fear of God, I hate evil all the days of my life.
It is important as young people, and also as people trusting God for marital bliss to keep your focus on God. That is how things are going to work. Why focus on God and on God’s word?
Here it is:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. –Hebrews 12:2-3 (KJV)
Looking unto Jesus! Why the focus? You see it right there. He is the author and the finisher. Your life is like a book. Each year is like a chapter. 2022 is a chapter. It has been authored. He has authored great and mighty things about your life!
So you have to focus on Him in order to be consistent with what is in the book concerning your relationship life. In that book, there is no compromise, no fornication, or any other form of sexual perversion. So you must abstain from all these in order to have your destiny aligned with His plan for your life!
I want you to read verse 3 carefully in The Message Translation:
When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! –Hebrews 12:3 (MSG)
At those times when you get weak along the way, and your faith begins to flag, you focus on Him and His word, read it and study it, meditate on it and you will get some shots of adrenaline to your soul!
This day, I pray for you, God will strengthen you and honour you as you focus on Him in Jesus name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I acknowledge you Lord as the Lord over my life, I say today that you are the most important person in my life and relationship
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, in Jesus’ name I ask for a heart that loves and worships you. Make my focus be on you continually, Lord.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. –Hebrews 12:2-3 (KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Make a commitment to spent time daily in prayers, worship, and reading God’s word. Also start attending a good bible believing church.
All married couples should be aware of what marriage is before they venture into getting married.
Marriage is not the next step to be taken after you are twenty-four, you have finished your Youth service, you have a good-paying job, you have a good apartment, you are good looking and to crown it all, you have a car.
Marriage is not just to fulfill a social or religious obligation nor is it just to fulfill the procreation commandment in scripture. Marriage is more than all these.
It is high time we begin to view marriage with the eyes of God who created marriage. There is a truth in the heart of God about marriage. Marriage is first of all Spiritual before it is physical, natural, and then societal.
Marriage is a mystery that cannot be explained mentally. It is a representation of the Trinity here on earth. That is, how the Godhead is in heaven, marriage is that on earth.
It is really a mystery that can only be lived according to God’s instructions. It is almost impossible to adequately live a successful marital life without following God.
Two different individuals, born and brought up by two different parents, in two different locations with different experiences, different opinions and outlooks to life, different temperaments and just living their lives with differences so parallel to each other. It is a mystery to have these two people joined together to become one flesh. It is almost impossible.
It takes a revelation and a spiritual understanding of what the marriage relationship is all about. Both parties must be meek and humble enough to learn and ask from God how to go about living this mystery.
Without these revelations and understanding, the marriage relationship will be a mirage. This revelation is progressive in nature. The husband and the wife need to be everyday students in the institution of marriage.
Until a class or lesson is passed, there is no promotion to the next class. It is this promotion that marks our progress in life. Once we devote ourselves to being committed to learning from the mysterious institute of marriage, then we begin to enjoy the benefits.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Mat 6:33 (KJV)
As we seek God’s kingdom to be established here on earth in our marriages, only then can we begin to see every other thing added to us. We have to aim at doing it in God’s way because that is the only way.
I pray God will enlighten our understanding of the mystery of marriage.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I understand the mystery of marriage
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to understand the mystery of marriage.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 6:33 (KJV)But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Study the word ‘one flesh’
Dear child, there are lessons from the ant. One of the virtues you need in life is hard work and diligence. God wants you to be hardworking and diligent at all you do, let it be one of the things you are known for.
How do I know that God wants you to be hardworking and diligent? It’s in the word of God, anything God talks about is what he wants you to do. Let’s see what the Bible says.
You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy — do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest. –Proverbs 6:6-11 (MSG)
The Bible wants us to learn from the Ants, first off, I want you to know that everything God created has an interesting fact about it, be it an Ant or an Elephant, or a Mango tree. Just like these things have peculiar, interesting, and good things about them so do you.
What does the Bible want you to learn from Ants? God wants you to learn hard work and diligence from the ants.
Fun Facts about the Ants:
1. Ants are not lazy; they are hardworking and very diligent.
2. Nobody tells them what to do, yet they do all that needs to be done at the right time, without supervision.
3. Ants know when to save.
4. Ants also can tell the difference between when to plant and when to harvest.
5. Ants always work as a team.
PRAYER: Father in the name of Jesus, I help me to be hardworking in all I do. Amen
ACTION PLAN: Decide to put in your best in all you do today
DECLARATION: I am wise, hardworking, and diligent at all times
Some people think they are the most important person in their relationship. They feel if everything can just favour them and be exactly the way they want things to be, everything will be alright.
Generally, human nature is that of selfishness and the different temperaments clearly show this.
All the temperamental weaknesses are based on physical or emotional selfishness. It’s either you want to have it your own way, you hurt others without care or you’re just overly sensitive.
You hurt easily and don’t seem to be able to control your extent and duration of hurt. Interestingly, opposite will always attract, and so we usually find the one that hurts getting attracted to the one who easily gets hurt, akin to the predator and the prey, needing the other for survival.
Some others feel their fiancé/fiancée is the most important person in the relationship. They try their best to give their partner all they need almost to the point of pampering them. Their partners become their focus and obsession.
This will work for a while but soon you will discover that no man can fully satisfy the needs of another man, there is a downside to everything. Man in himself is not wired to sustain himself, not to talk of another.
Both parties require a common focus. They both require a common source of strength, encouragement, joy, power, grace, inspiration, direction, and fulfillment. It is only God that is qualified to take this place. He is the most important person in our relationships.
As we seek to please Him, serve him, worship and obey Him, we become better and bring out the best in our partners. Our relationship with God gives us the required wisdom to be a loving person in a relationship. His principles and person impact us with the grace needed for success.
Don’t put the cart before the horse. In the natural anyone who does that is considered ‘sick upstairs’. It looks like the highest form of foolishness, yet we want to do that in our relationships and expect things to work.
If you’re in a relationship now, the best thing you can do for yourselves is to begin developing your relationship with God. Make Him your focus. Courtship time is not the time for all play and fun. It’s the time to build a solid foundation of a qualitative relationship with God.
If you are not born again, get born again and consecrate yourself afresh to a lifestyle of fellowship and worship. This is wisdom and it’s your ticket to a blissful marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I acknowledge you Lord as the Lord over my life. You are my focus and my obsession. My relationship will work.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, in Jesus name I ask for a heart that loves and worships you.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way? –1Corinthains 3:3 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Make a commitment to spend time daily in prayers, worship and reading God’s word. Also start attending a good bible believing church.
The original intention of God for our homes and marriages is that we are blessed by the Lord. God wants us to be abundantly blessed with the treasures of heaven and earth.
We are supposed to be blessed in the city, blessed in our going out, and coming in, blessed in the field, blessed in the fruits of our baby, blessed in the works of our hands, and blessed all around. The blessing is supposed to follow us and overtake us.
The blessing is supposed to be a gift to us as we stay in God’s purpose as His children who obey Him. These blessings don’t however come automatically. The devil will try and contend with the blessing God has already released to us.
He will want to negotiate us out of the blessing. All the devil is after is the blessing. He knows that he who has the blessing is blessed, and there is nothing he can do about it.
The contention over the blessing is real and that is where our intercession comes in.
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; -Luke 18:1 (KJV)
Our intercession should be always at all times. We are pushing back the hands of the enemy and dislodging his arsenal, his works of wickedness to distract us from doing God’s will. We have to keep the door shut against the devil who is always tempting us with sins.
We need to keep the door shut on our flesh. The flesh ultimately is enmity against God and all that is God in our lives.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. –Roman 8:7 (KJV)
Husbands and wives are solely responsible to take up their cross daily and follow Jesus and take the opportunity of the help of the Holy Spirit in the place of prayers.
Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. -Romans 8:26 (KJV)
As we begin to engage in the place of prayer we enforce our victory and the blessing that belongs to us rightly becomes our experience.
We don’t have to live below the blessing. It becomes an aberration if we as children of God are anything but blessed. We are the carriers of the blessing, the covenant people, God’s own blood purchase children.
I pray as we take what’s rightfully ours in the place of prayer God will grant us victory and we will experience the blessing in our homes and marriages in Jesus name.
God bless our marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am blessed, I cannot be cursed. I step into my calling as an intercessor
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, in Jesus name I ask for the grace to be fervent in prayer.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. -Romans 8:26 (KJV)
Hello dear, yesterday we began this interesting topic; what God hates. I showed you what the word of God says in the book of Proverbs.
Let’s see what the bible says;
Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family. –Proverbs 6:16-19 (MSG)
Yesterday we were able to identify some of the things God hates, which are;
1. eyes that are arrogant
2. a tongue that lies
3. hands that murder
4. and a heart that hatches evil plots.
Let’s look at the remaining three this morning!
5. Feet That Race Down A Wicked Track
God hates a foot that is quick to rush into evil, swift in running to mischief, quick to do wrong. God doesn’t want you his child to be excited about doing evil or going to places where people do evil. Be mindful of the places you go to, be excited about going to church and places where the word of God is taught, and stay away from places where people plot evil against others.
6. A Mouth That Lies Under An Oath
This goes beyond just lying, lying under an oath shows a lack of respect and reverence, be a person of integrity. An Oath should be binding, you don’t tell a lie and call the name of Jesus to prove that you are telling the truth when you know it’s a lie. Honour God, and your parents, stay true to your words as well.
7. A Troublemaker In The Family
The last thing this scripture says is God hates troublemakers. God wants you to be a peacemaker, wanting the best for everybody, don’t be the one causing issues and trouble in school or at home, be at your best always, and God will help you in Jesus name
PRAYER: Father in the name of Jesus, I help me to do your will always. Amen
ACTION PLAN: Write what you have learned today in points and paste it on a wall in your room
DECLARATION: I am the beloved of God, and I think as God thinks
SINGLES -One Thing You Need To Know As A Single Continued from yesterday.
4. God’s word is the source of joy
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. –John 15:11 (KJV)
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. –John 16:24 (KJV)
When you find yourself in situations that do not look like what God promised you, do not get depressed about it or start some pity-party, rather get into God’s word and search out every scripture that handles that particular situation.
As you begin to meditate on those scriptures and use them to pray, you find strength coming to you and the joy of God welling up on your inside!
This joy, as it wells up, rejuvenates you and gets you refreshed. All of a sudden, you start seeing clearer, that it is not about the issues, but about the God, your father who loves you so much and had already given you the victory!
Now, your trust in Him as you express it further moves God to action on your behalf. You think you are long overdue for marriage with suitor not in sight? Don’t get depressed my sister, resort to praise and let the joy of the Holy Ghost fill your heart. You will come to see that your marriage eventually will not be late; it will be the latest in town!
I come against the spirit of heaviness over your life. I come against the spirits behind despondency and suicidal tendencies. I shatter your power now!
Don’t give up on God, because you are at the verge of greatness in your life! God is coming through for you sooner than you expect.
I pray for every reader this morning, God will surround you with his mercy. Your eyes will be opened to see the reality of the kingdom of God that it is not in meat and drink only but in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost! One Thing You Need To Know As A Single
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My joy is full, and so I attract the favour of God and man.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, I ask in the name of Jesus that you give me the grace to praise and thank you at all times.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I bless GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. –Psalms 34:1 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Choose a convenient hour during the day to just praise God and do that daily.
4. Attach Pain To The Experience Of Having An Affair
Until an affair is associated with pain in the mind and the brain, a thorough work is not done. The erring couple must have several quiet moments of self-talk and deep ruminating of the issue. That’s why depending on the situation, the erring spouse must be left alone to have some sober reflections.
These sober reflections are necessary for certain positive conclusion to be made. Also, a lot of prayers are needed in this period. The support of the other spouse is also needed by not criticizing, nagging and not showing rage or irritability.
A lot of love, emotional support, care and reassuring words should be given to the erring spouse at such times as this.
A spouse should come out of this ordeal stronger, better and bigger, ready to help those on the same predicament. That’s the way God organized things in the kingdom. What you have overcome, you have the Grace to help set others free from.
5. Change The Environment
It might be necessary to change that environment where the affair happened. However, this may not always be possible. If you can’t change your environment, you can at least change what you do within that compromising environment.
If you have lunch breaks together alone with a particular lady, you have to change this. Note that an affair is not necessarily sexual, it could be an emotional affair. Don’t be deceived, an emotional affair is as serious as a sexual affair, in the sight of God, they are the same.
But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. –Matthew 5:28 (NLT)
6. Make Sure You Don’t Play The Blame Game.
What has happened has happened. Don’t cry over spilt milk, don’t wallow in self-pity. That is the devil’s domain; you don’t want to cooperate with the devil to make your freedom difficult. You must embrace Gods free gift of forgiveness and obey all His principles. Don’t go to the extreme of condemning yourself.
David committed adultery and murder, yet God called him a man after his own heart. God restored him, and he was one of the most famous kings on earth.
Don’t doubt Gods love, when He says He has forgiven you, He means exactly that. Embrace His love and His forgiveness.
I believe you have found these steps helpful. May God enlighten our darkness in Jesus name.
God bless your marriage!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My marriage is blessed and fruitful
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask for the grace to be a good spouse
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I bless GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. –Psalms 34:1 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Put the above points to practice
Today from the book of Proverbs, I will be showing you a list of things God hates, and the things children of God shouldn’t get involved in.
I want you to read with rapt attention, and take note of all I will be teaching you today.
See what the Bible says here:
Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family. –Proverbs 6:16-19 (MSG)
1. Eyes That Are Arrogant
The first thing here is pride and arrogance. God doesn’t like these two things; in fact, the bible says he hates them. God doesn’t want you to see yourself above others, or treat other people like you are better than they are; he wants you to love everyone just like Jesus loves us all.
2. Tongue That Lies
This is another thing God hates, God doesn’t want you to lie as his child. He wants you to tell the truth at all times, regardless of whether it will get you in trouble or not. Always stand for the truth at all time, let your YES be YES, and your NO be NO at all times.
Hands That Murder The Innocent
Murder means to kill someone, not just to kill, but a killing that is premeditated. You know it’s wrong to kill; it’s against the commandment of God and the laws of men too. Murder is a crime everywhere in the world.
To be continued.
PRAYER: Father in the name of Jesus, I help me to do your will always. Amen
ACTION PLAN: Write what you have learnt today in points and paste it on a wall in your room
DECLARATION: I am the beloved of God, and I think as God thinks
SINGLES – One Thing You Need To Know As A Single Continued from yesterday
There are a few reasons why you should make up your mind to continually give praise to God and to always learn to stir up the joy of the Holy Ghost in whatever circumstance you find yourself.
1. We are instructed throughout the scripture to praise God
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. –Psalms 29:2 (KJV)
2. Rejoicing is a decision to make
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation –Habakkuk 3:17-18 (KJV)
One Thing You Need To Know As A Single is that rejoicing before God should not be based on what we have or what we do not have. The writer above knows that despite the situation, all he needs to have a turn his situation around is that attitude of joy!
3. Joy affects prosperity
The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men. – Joel 1:12 (KJV)
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. –Psalms 35:27 (KJV)
Make up your mind never to allow your joy to wither! If you can maintain your joy in the midst of that relationship/life issue, God will surely make a way for you!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am grateful for every little thing in my life.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, I ask in the name of Jesus that you give me the grace to praise and thank you at all times.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I bless GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. –Psalms 34:1 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Choose a convenient hour during the day to just praise God and do that daily.
COUPLES – There are certain challenging situations that may arise in marriage. One of this is handling an affair. There are two sides to this situation; there is the part of the erring spouse and that of the other spouse.
In an affair or adultery, the bulk of the work lies on the spouse that had an affair, the responsibility is on him/her. The responsibility of the other spouse is just to be supportive and to forgive.
The erring spouse has the responsibility of being brutally truthful, sincere and repentant.
There are some scenarios that the spouse is under demonic influence and finds it difficult to be sincere or truthful. Prayers to God for healing by giving him/her a new and clean heart will be necessary; this is because to successfully handle an affair squarely requires sincerity and truthfulness.
Let’s see some practical steps in handling an affair.
1. Confrontation
The first step to handling an affair is confronting it. What you don’t confront, you can never change. The erring spouse should come to a place where he/she knows that having an affair is an attempt of the devil to steal, kill and destroy you.
You should call it a sin and not just a mistake; it is not confrontation when you still make excuses or when you explain.
2. Ask For Forgiveness
There is no forgiveness until there is a willingness to turn around from your sins. The erring spouse should acknowledge that he/she needs to be forgiven.
3. Seek Help And Support
That an affair has taken place shows that there are principles you don’t know, or there are principles you are taking for granted. You need to be educated and informed.
This is the time to search for books that talks about how to handle lust, how to handle affairs, how to set healthy boundaries, how to love and satisfy your spouse, etc.
What reading along this line does is that you get enlightened; when light comes, ignorance vanishes. It is also good to learn how you fell, because recognizing the pit-fall will help you avoid such next time.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I choose to honor my marriage vows.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Oh Lord, help me to Bea faithful spouse.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I bless GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. –Psalms 34:1 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Follow the above steps of you are guilty.
Hi dear, yesterday I told you how that God watches you. God keeps watch over us his children and his angels are constantly watching over you and I.
The fact that God watches over us also means that he sees all that we do, and that means everything we engage in whether good or bad, the things we do in secret, and the ones that are open to everyone.
Take for instance, your parents might not know if you disobey them, or when you make faces at them when they correct you, but God sees you, and that is because he doesn’t turn his face away from you for a second.
For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths, the evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. –Proverbs 5:21-23 (NIV)
I want you to pay close attention to today’s devotional as I will be shedding more light on our focus verse.
Asides that God sees you when you do good things, and of course bad things, another reason you shouldn’t get yourself involved in bad things is that, they will get you in trouble.
There is never an escape route after choosing to do something wrong, the truth will always be exposed and you will get in trouble. It’s even worse when you are caught in the act or you are found out.
See what the bible says;
the evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.
If you continue disobeying what you are told to do, your actions will get you in trouble.
The only way out, and the solution to not getting in trouble is following instructions, and if you follow instructions, it shows that you are disciplined.
Choose to be a disciplined child at all times, obey your parents, do what is right at the right time, and you will be glad you did.
PRAYER: Father in Jesus name, I receive grace to do the right thing all the time; Amen
ACTION PLAN: Choose to be deliberate about what you say
DECLARATION: I am a good child, I am wise, and obedient.
There are a few things you cannot do at the same time. One of such is being a ‘Praiser’ and a ‘Complainer’ at the same time. You may feel justified or even have a seemingly legitimate reason for complaining, but the truth is that complaining does not solve the problem.
Complaining is a negative attitude that will make things worse and leave you feeling sorry for yourself. It steals your joy, happiness and excitement. It can even repel people from relating with you.
You may feel your relationship is not what it ought to be right now. You might even feel your partner is not good enough, however one thing is certain, complaining will not solve the problem.
Start appreciating the good in them because what you appreciate will increase in value. Start praising God for that relationship.
Praise God in that situation. If you are hurting or have lost something, God is the reason you have not lost everything.
You might say God did not do everything you asked for, what about what God did that you did not ask for. Have a thankful, grateful attitude and you will see God step into that relationship.
God is still in the business of turning water into wine. Stay in joy, be a God ‘Praiser’ and he will turn your colourless and tasteless circumstances into joy, gladness and laughter.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have a lifestyle of thanksgiving.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Father, I ask in the name of Jesus that you give me the grace to praise and thank you at all times.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. –Psalms 34:1 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Choose a convenient hour during the day to just praise God and do that daily.
