One of the reasons God created you is for you to continually praise Him. You need to praise the Lord.
Praising God is a sign that you honor Him as your creator and this gladdens the heart of God.
God made both living and non-living things. Non-living things can only be appreciated by you and in a way, you are praising God for creating such wonderful and exquisite creations.
But as a living thing, with breath in your lungs, you are the ultimate praise singer of God.
His praises should continually fill your mouth and heart. Just like the psalmist.
Psalm 150:6 – “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!”
Praising God should be a habit. One that you can and should never stop doing. Praising God should be programmed into your daily living manual.
May the Lord’s praises fill your mouth constantly. Amen.
There are signs to know if he will eventually marry you or not. If only you decide not to ignore the signs. God is not an author of confusion, He is our father! He will not leave you alone. He would always make his will known if you allow him.
1. Spiritual signs
If you are a child of God and you are filled with the Spirit of God, the first thing that will happen to you if you are involved with a wrong person (notice I did not write a bad person) is that you will lose your peace.
How will you know if you have lost your peace or God is not with you on that decision? How does God speak?
Now, God speak in several ways, but I will talk about how He speaks to us through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
There are three ways.
a. In inward peace; it is like God is saying, “Yes, my son, go ahead, I trust you. The other side of inward peace is “A Check”
b. In inward witness; it is like God saying, Yes, my son, this is exactly what I want you to do. An inward witness is a little bit stronger than inward peace. The other side of Inner witness is a “A Bad Feeling.”
c. In inward voice; God grabs your attention and says “Yes, do this!’ It is the most specific because God specifically speaks to your heart through the Holy Spirit. The other side of inward voice is “Don’t Do It”
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. (Col 3:15 AMP)
Here is another translation
The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful. (Col 3:15 GNB)
When you read Acts 16:6-9, you will see examples of these leading.
What if you don’t ever bear God? Do a little bit of fasting and prayer. It will help you. Fasting puts down the outward man while prayer builds up the inward man. The result is that you hear God clearly.
Also, you need to get filled with the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues! God is ever willing to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have God’s direction in my every day life
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, guide my steps and help me to make the right decisions in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psa 31:3 (KJV) For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Life is about challenges. Without these challenges, there will not be opportunities for thrust and lift. That you are a child of God will not exempt you from having your own share. But what I love so much is what Jesus really said that we have already overcome. I love that!
I know you are facing one thing or the other. I don’t have a child yet. I have children, but they are wayward. My husband is not responsible. My wife is not cooperative. My husband is too hard and never listens. My wife is not submissive. My in-laws are my enemies. My husband listens more to his mum. My mum is not welcome in our house. And the list goes on and on. Issues are in the billions, as numerous as humans on earth.
I want to talk to you this morning about one the most powerful weapon God has given you to overcome situations.
What the Bible says in each situation we find ourselves is a very great weapon in our hands to overcome such situations.
Most people don’t know anything about the Bible or about the potency of God’s word. The result is that a lot of people live in defeat despite the victory that has been wrought for them by Jesus Christ.
The truth is that words are powerful. Now when those words are spoken by God, it makes all the difference! The reason God’s words are powerful is because words are as powerful as the person who speaks the word. We all know God is all powerful!
When you find yourself in a marriage or life issue, the first thing you should do is to go into the scriptures and find out what God said about the situation.
You can confront that marriage issues and problems with the power of the spoken word. What you say matters a lot.
As believers, you have access into the promises of God. Take these promises and meditate on them until they are rooted in your heart. It then flows out naturally from your mouth.
Once the words are in your heart, start speaking what God said and not what the situation is.
Somebody says ‘would I not be telling a lie? No, God’s word is the truth! The situation is a fact, but truth is higher than a fact, so you use your mouth to superimpose the truth on the fact, and because God cannot lie, He deploys every available resources including angelic interventions to make sure what you said come to pass. No problem or challenge can withstand God’s word. Try Him today!
Take authority over that issue. Your mouth is your might. Keep saying what you want to see and not what you are seeing.
Stay stubbornly on God’s word until you see the travail of your heart. Do not cave in or give up, hold on to the horns of the altar.
I see God turning that situation around for you. Lift up your hand and thank Him for that!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I love God’s word.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, open the eyes of my understanding in Jesus name.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Heb 4:12 MSG God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take a promise of God’s word and meditate on it.
Stress is a daily part of our lives. We can’t hide Children from stress but can only find ways to minimize its effects on us. A little stress though is good for us.
Children also experience stress. It could be a bully at school, a harsh teacher, or even an uncomfortable classroom.
At home, it could be rifts between siblings, parental discord, or the death of a family member or friend.
Older children often are able to identify something that is bothering them, unlike younger ones who have not acquired the capacity to do so.
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. – 1 Sam 3:8 KJV
Children don’t and can’t manage stress the way adults do. It shows through their words, actions, and behaviours.
Little Samuel heard God calling to him but didn’t know what to do. He ran to Eli every time he heard God’s voice asking if the old priest was the one calling him. Eli identified that it was God calling little Samuel. He then told Samuel what to say when next he heard the voice.
The bible doesn’t record that Samuel experienced any stress but it was a situation that was new to him. He couldn’t process it and went to the only person he knew that could help. And Eli was able to help him.
Parents must be observant to notice any change in their child. Children won’t tell you what is disturbing them immediately, even when you ask. Only by observing can a parent find out. Parents must give total attention to children when they are speaking.
Declaration: My children are not stressed. They learn to speak out. They are surrounded daily with the right people. Amen.
Prayer (parent): Lord, help me to be truly observant about my children. Help me to notice the changes in them no matter how subtle they may be. Amen.
Child: I will speak out when I have an issue bothering me. I will ask for help.
Action plan: Parents, sit down, and watch your child today. Go through their things, room, and find things you never noticed before.
Rather than weep, lift your voice and cry unto the Lord! He will come through for you! You’ve been jobless for a while? And you are beginning to give up? No, don’t round up your life and make a permanent conclusion because of a temporary situation. The job will still come! Your relationships have not all worked? When you meet the right person, it will work. Rather than feel forsaken and abandoned, use that time to develop yourself! Age is no longer on your side? Agreed, but God is still on your side. When God is on your side, you will laugh last. That very depression is not the way out, in fact, it drives potential suitors away upon seeing your countenance, so cheer up!
What you need to do is to cast down those thoughts. Refuse to agree with what he says. Rather, choose to accept what God says about you. The devil says you are finished. God says He is just starting. Whose report will you believe? If you believe the devil, you will slide into depression, but if you believe in God, you will rise in the joy of the Holy Ghost. That is why the scriptures advise that you should count it all joy. Why? Because there will be victory in the end.
Resort to praise and the heaviness will lift. Start meditating on God’s word and God’s word will come through for you! Despite contradictory and obvious happenstances, switch into praise, praise God to a point till you get the devil confused. Praise God to a point till God has no choice till He deploys every available divine resource in your favour including angelic interventions. Joy is not a function of a situation or circumstance, it is the fruit of the recreated human spirit. It is there all the time. I only need to stir it up! You stir it up with a shout, a dance, or laughter! So, go ahead! It is the dawning of a new day for you. Shout ‘No more depression! No more, not me!’ Did you feel strength from within? That is what joy does! You get it now.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have the joy of the Lord always
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY I break the hold of depression over my life in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 12:25 KJV Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take a promise of God’s word and meditate on it.
5. He does not want you to provoke your children unnecessarily.
God does not want you to take out what you feel or how you feel on the children. Don’t transfer your aggression to them or else they will grow up doing exactly the same things to their siblings and then their spouses. What you do to children and around them goes a long way to influence their thought patterns and outlook on life.
Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.] (Col 3:21 AMP)
Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits. (Col 3:21 MSG)
6. He does not want you to deny your husband sexual pleasure.
Never do this for any reason! It is unwise under any circumstance unless, of course, you are certain that your husband would transmit STDs as a result of his lifestyle. Many wives have unwittingly pushed their husbands into the waiting hands of adulterous women by starving their husbands with Jeru trip. It is not a wise thing to do. Jeru trip means to your husband much more than it means to you!
Let me drive home the point with this illustration. A couple held themselves in a good embrace at night and in a split second the husband is ready for Jeru trip and was warming up for that. To his consternation, the wife said “No. “I just wanted you to hold me, that’s all, no Jeru trip!” The husband, all worked up went to bed with a serious headache.
A few days after that, they went on a shopping spree. The wife saw some jewelry, clothes, and designer shoes and the husband asked her to pick them all. Then she saw skirt suits and trouser suits. The husband still said she could pick them. She was enraptured. As they moved over to the counter to pay, the husband said, No! I just wanted you to hold them. Hold them tight, that’s all!
7. He does not want you to nag or disrespect your husband.
Nagging is dangerous to marriage! Every man detests it. It will never work, so don’t resort to it.
8. He does not want you to discuss your husband with others.
Never make that mistake. That male colleague that seems to have a listening ear is really looking for ways to take you to bed at the end of the day. With a few exceptions, though.
That other guy with whom both of you exchange marital challenges and how your spouses have not been good is not a good relationship to keep. There would soon be an emotional affair and then it will be taken to a physical level if care is not taken.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God is my strength. He will guide me in the right path.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, I ask that you open my eyes of understanding in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 5:33 KJV Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take an inventory of your life in the light of God’s principles
Growing up as a child, I had big dreams of being great and having victory in all I did. I would see myself doing great and mighty things; I know you have these kinds of wishes and dreams too.
My challenge then was, I had absolutely no clue how it was going to happen, some of the things I dreamt of doing were very spectacular and sincere, it would have taken someone greater than I was to make them my reality.
Look at what the bible says in Psalms 18; 35
You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. -Psalms 18:35 (NIV)
God our father is interested in our victory and us being great, and it doesn’t matter how young or old you are, God wants each and every one of this children to be great and victorious.
Guess what, he doesn’t leave us all by ourselves to figure it out, God is always at the background working everything out for us.
See what that scripture says;
You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. -Psalms 18:35 (NIV)
God first of all gives you his shield of victory, this is an assurance that you will always be victorious because God never fails and he is giving you and I the shield he uses to be victorious.
He also sustains you with his right hand. That assures you of his guidance and protection.
Lastly he stoops down to make you great, wow! God gets to work to make sure you are great; he gets busy on your behalf.
You see there is no need to feel too small for your dreams?
Prayer: Lord, I declare that I am great and victorious and I will grow up to be who you created me to be. Amen.
Action point: stop thinking small of yourself.
Declaration: I am great and victorious at all times
We all know what depression is. We have all experienced it at one point or the other. So, I am not about to give you a definition from a dictionary. You can easily get that and thousands of more definitions from online dictionary tools. But beyond several justifiable reasons for depression and all the psychological jargon and explanations, I want to write on its spiritual implications.
I am going to tell you one thing. Depression is a tool in the hands of the devil to wreck your life! That sounds very hard, but it is the truth. I know you have very good and sane reasons to be depressed like the loss of a dear one, the pain of being jilted, the agony of being used and abandoned, the deep wounds from past sexual abuses, the regrettable waves of sadness from a failed marriage, the trauma of physical abuse and so on and so forth.
And those are exactly the reasons that the devil presents to you which makes depression and despondency justified. Interestingly, the flesh enjoys the feelings of depression, but really depression offers no solution. Rather, it complicates the issue on ground and makes your eyes blurred the more from finding a way out.
Depression comes from the pit of hell and it is a potent weapon in the hands of the devil to stagnate you. However, one good thing is that depression cannot be forced on you as you can either yield to it or resist it.
Depression is first of all oppression, then it graduates into obsession and finally, it could get to a point of possession if you don’t have Jesus Christ in your life. It comes stealthily, almost looking healthy and natural, but before you know it, it will overwhelm you and attempt to control and give direction to your life.
The devil will attempt to attack everybody with depression, but you don’t have to cooperate with his antics. If as a single, you have had some failed relationships, it is not uncommon for the devil to try and attack your mind with depressive swings, telling you something is wrong with you! If you embrace those thoughts, you are simply giving him a foothold to operate in your thought realm.
Why is depression so dangerous? It steals your joy. And that is supposed to be your strength. It stops your prayer life. And that is supposed to be where you get help. It stifles you by making it impossible to read and study God’s word. And that is where life is supposed to flow from. It isolates you from good people. And that is one way wisdom is supposed to come.
What is the way out?
Join me tomorrow as I conclude on this topic.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have the joy of the Lord always
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY I break the hold of depression over my life in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 12:25 KJV Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take a promise of God’s word and meditate on it.
2. He does not want you to place your work/career before your family.
You should never make that mistake. Your family comes first and the wife is really the homemaker. If you do not put priority on your home, you make your husband vulnerable and make the children grow in a defective way.
While it is good to pursue your career, your family must come first. Too many women have pursued their career at the expense of losing their husbands and children. The key here is balance.
3. He does not want you to live a life of depression and unhappiness.
God wants you to be a happy wife! He wants you to create an atmosphere of joy in the home and not that of gloominess and despondency. A woman can literally change the mood in the house! That is how powerful women are.
Take it easy. Be humorous. Learn to relax and don’t be too closed up in your own worldview.
A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. (Pro 15:13 MSG)
4. He does not want you to get involved with adulterous relationships.
Don’t try to revenge on your husband’s attitude by developing affairs with colleagues and friends. It may make your flesh feel good in revenge, but in the real sense of it, it will bring untold anguish and heartache. Your life will slip down to that of deception, lies, and other false intrigues.
The conscience can become seared until one sees nothing wrong in having adulterous flings just to feel good and ‘enjoy life”. Don’t cheat on your husband, the consequences are debilitating and crushing. Adultery is a stolen pleasure and the spiritual implications are not good for anybody.
Stolen bread tastes sweet, but soon your mouth is full of gravel. (Pro 20:17 MSG)
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God is my strength. He will guide me in the right path.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, I ask that you open my eyes of understanding in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 5:33 KJV Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take an inventory of your life in the light of God’s principles
There is a Scripture that says we should not be conformed. Dear children, do you know all scriptures written are for our own good?
The are several roles the written word plays.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. – 2 Timothy 3:16 – 17
One of such scriptures written for us is found in the twelfth chapter of Romans.
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]. – Romans 12:2 AMP
Just like we read in the scripture above, it is to our advantage when we obey the instructions written in the word of God.
God is saying when we are filled with his spirit, we will not be conformed to the world and it’s standards.
Prayer for children: Lord, we declare that our children are taught of the Lord, they are not conformed to the world, in Jesus name. Amen.
Prayer for Parents: Dear Lord, help us to teach our children your ways and we pray that they will never depart from it.
Declaration: I am not conformed to this world. I daily renew my mind with the word of God.
That is respect for individuals. People are like ladders. Does he treat people well? How about his mum, sisters, father, colleagues, etc. Is she courteous? Is she respectful? Does she disdain folks with a passion?
6. The Test of Excellence
That is wisdom. Is he hungry for wisdom or does he thinks he knows it all? A friend who isolates himself will crash. He or she cannot be corrected. There are no authority figures that can speak to him or her.
Let me tell you something here. The moment you look at a person and there is nobody you can report him to, there are no regards for parents or pastors, he is just an island by himself, you need to reconsider such friendships.
It is a trap of the devil and such tendencies are symptomatic of an unhealthy outlook to life.
7. The Test of God’s Fear
He must love God. She must be a God lover. Does he value God and His word? Does she revere God? This is the ultimate acid test. If he doesn’t love God, he cannot love you!
If he treats the things of God shabbily, he will end up treating you the same way. Let him or her be a person that fears God!
It is not enough to say one is born again these days, because the term has been grossly misapplied. It is not even enough to say one is a pastor or a choir leader or administrator in church; the question is does he or she fear God?
It was the fear of God that made Joseph run away from adultery. It was lack of God’s fear that made Samson with all his anointing to get into sexual sins repeatedly until he brought himself down. God gave him a long rope because the scripture says he judged Israel for twenty years.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have the Spirit of wisdom to discern and choose that which is good for my destiny.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Holy Spirit, fill me afresh with your wisdom in the affairs of my relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 21:5 MSG Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Commit your ways unto the Lord
1. He Does Not Want You To Be Disobedient or Rebellious To Your Husband.
God wants you as a wife to be obedient and submissive to your husband. Let’s look at the scriptures;
IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives, When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him–to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband]. -1Peter 3:1-2 (AMP)
Now wives, there is no way you follow the above scripture and you will not have victory in your marriage.
Why? Because it is the word of God and His word never fails. Take a look at it again!
You are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him–to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].
That is how to make your husband love you like no man’s business!
Before you give up in that marriage, before you start complaining, make sure you obey what God instructs you to do here.
Notice that includes uncooperative husbands, the scripture says you can win them over by your attitude! That is how powerful a woman is.
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God is my strength. He will guide me in the right path.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, I ask that you open my eyes of understanding in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. – Ephesians 5:33 (KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take an inventory of your life in the light of God’s principles
Hello dear one, how are you today? I want to talk to you about pride as a character and what God thinks about it. You will learn how to detect pride.
What is Pride? Pride is a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from achievements, qualities, of possessions that do one credit, being consciousness of one’s own dignity; it’s the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself. It simply is feeling like you are better than everyone else and treating them less.
Now let’s look at what God’s word says.
In a few places in the bible, God expresses his displeasure in prideful people; it is not one of the attributes of God’s children.
Take a look at what the bible says about Pride and why we as God’s children should not get involved in it.
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6 (NKJV)
God resists prideful people; he doesn’t want them around him. He isn’t pleased with people who exhibit this character. But everyone who is humble, God gives grace.
Don’t you want the grace of God? If you do, then being proud isn’t an option for you.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. – Proverbs 8:13 (KJV)
Being prideful is regarded as an evil thing. It’s an attribute of someone who doesn’t fear God. As a child of God you ought to fear God and so you can’t afford to have pride.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. – Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)
Disgrace comes with having pride; it’s not God’s desire for his children to be disgraced. Pride is never the will of God for us as his children.
Is he or she focused? Where is his passion? A visionless man is so easy to identify. His speech will betray him because the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. Once you know a particular friendship is getting deepened, ask a lot of questions when you can still reason well before emotions take over.
The world is full of people who will readily compromise and who lack focus. You haven’t been together for long and he or she is already asking for sex? That is gross irresponsibility. Run from such people, they are not your friends!
Jesus said; “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives!” -Luke 9:41a (MSG)
You ask him what his job is, and he says “He is planning to travel out of the country.”
“Since when?”
“Well, for like three years now.”
Is that a job? Why must a young person stop his or her life because of plans to travel?
4. The Test of Sincerity.
That is openness. Is he sincere about his faults, weaknesses, feelings? Is she willing to talk about them or does she pretend?
It is dangerous to walk with someone who lives in a delusion of grandeur. Some of the most dangerous sets of people are those who are self-deceptive. They can abort twenty times and simply use some scriptures to cover up. If it was done in ignorance, that is another thing, because God cleanses you and you can start your life all over again when you genuinely repent.
But I am talking of those who have successfully combined this sinful lifestyle with serving God alongside. I don’t care if he is a pastor or she is a minstrel, if he or she uses scriptures to justify a habitual sin that even an unbeliever will often refrain from, you should run from such people and not be joined in their unrepentant sinful adventures.
An insincere guy will lure you into sexual sin and then turn around to say you seduced him. What are you doing with such people? An insincere lady will offer her body to get some money and then turn back to say you forced her. That is nothing short of wickedness. Those are not friends! He says he is a pastor and he slides his hands into your blouse each time you visit his office.
I don’t care how much ‘anointing’ you think he has, he is a charlatan! What counseling are you looking for with such people, run for your life because there are counsels that can cancel destinies.
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have the Spirit of wisdom to discern and choose that which is good for my destiny.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Holy Spirit, fill me afresh with your wisdom in the affairs of my relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind. – Proverbs 21:5 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Commit your ways unto the Lord
4. He does not want you to place your career/work above your relationship with him.
God comes first. That is the order and that is how to make a success of your career.
God wants you to follow the principles as outlined in His word because true prosperity comes from following Him. Your business acumen is nothing compared to His wisdom.
Look at what the bible says in Matthew 6:33;
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. –Matthew 6:33 (MSG)
5. He does not want you to place your career/work above your wife and children.
After God comes your family before your career. Make sure you devote time and attention to your family. Money will not fill that gap. Your wife and family need your manly direction and presence.
6. He does not want you to abuse your wife or take advantage of her femininity.
He does not want you to physically or verbally abuse your wife and children. A good man will never hit his wife. If you have started doing that, you can stop and make a resolve in your heart, that no matter what, I will never hit my wife! That is how to be blessed of God.
Do you know that spiritually, when you hit your wife, you are hitting yourself? That is not a good place to be. And of course, there are some wives that beat up their husbands. That is even worse.
7. He does not want you spending more time with friends and colleagues than you spend with your family.
He does not want you keeping late nights unnecessarily. When you do that, emotional affairs can develop quickly and that is where adultery starts from.
8. He does not want you keeping secrets about you or your weaknesses from your wife.
Be open to your wife. Like my Pastor would often say, if somebody is winking at you, tell your spouse first. You know what? Immorality is perpetuated in secrecy. The power of iniquity is broken when exposed.
The moment you share it with your spouse, the problem is half solved. If you like the way a certain person dresses, tell your wife to dress same way. Be open, communicate well and that will help your marriage a lot. Remember this golden truth, the moment you can hide it from her, it is the beginning of trouble!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY God is my strength. He will guide me in the right path.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, I ask that you open my eyes of understanding in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. – Ephesians 5:33 KJV
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take an inventory of your life in the light of God’s principles
Do you know that the Lord meets your needs? There are several verses one can recite offhand. One of it is the shepherds psalm.
Every child is taught right from Sunday school days. It is so easy to memorize.
The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want – Psa 23:1
The Lord is…it didn’t say the Lord was…
This assures us that God is very ready to meet out immediate needs.
God is a God of the now, one that can relate with you based on what you are going through at every point in time.
Here is another verse to confirm that;
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. – Psalms 46:1
There you have it again. God is… Isn’t it wonderful to know this God?
Children, it is not enough to be able to recite this verse or several others verses offhand, you must allow the revelation of these verses to hit you and stick with you.
That way, when faced with any form of trial, you have what it takes to stand tall, even in the midst of contradictions.
I know that there are no perfect persons and we are all projects in the hands of God, however, there are basic traits to watch out for generally. While you may not be able to find a person that successfully combines all these, the qualities should guide you in your decision. If a person does not have character defects and does not live in habitual sin, some of these qualities can be improved upon by asking God for His grace.
1. The Test Of Integrity.
Test him for faithfulness and integrity in little and big things. Make sure she has integrity and her words and actions line up. Integrity is very important because that is what will eventually preserve you.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. -Proverbs 11:3 (KJV)
God loves integrity. In Job 2:3, God boasted about Job and he mentioned his integrity. Integrity in that verse means ‘innocence.’
The potential guy or the lady must have integrity as well. It is a great legacy to pass to the children. Integrity is from the word ‘Integral” meaning one. You are supposed to be the same person within and without.
Don’t marry a gentle saint on Sundays but a vicious man on Mondays. Be careful of dual personalities who seem to give their lives to Jesus one moment and then take the life back the next moment. How will you know all these? These are the things you will find out when you are friends.
That is why pre-marital sex should be avoided because it will get you confused and distracted. You see, the moment you are illegally bonded together in pre-marital sex, the obvious character defects that others can see will mean nothing to you.
They will ask you questions like, “What are you doing with that kind of person?” And you will be like; ‘leave me alone, I love him, he will change!’
You see, you have not even changed yourself! You are not the Holy Spirit who changes people! What the scripture says is that you should not be unequally yoked!
Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? -2Corintians 6:14-15 (MSG)
2. The Test Of Diligence.
You cannot afford to marry a lazy man or an indolent woman. It will slow your journey down. Diligence is measured with so many indices like tenacity, business acumen, career pursuit, doggedness, and so on. You may not have so much today, but with diligence in a potential spouse, you can be sure you will be great in life.
Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. -Proverbs 22:29 (AMP)
You cannot afford to commit your life to the hands of a lazy person. That is subjecting your life to unnecessary afflictions that could have been avoided.
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have the Spirit of wisdom to discern and choose that which is good for my destiny.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Holy Spirit, fill me afresh with your wisdom in the affairs of my relationship.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry put you further behind. – Proverbs 21:5 (MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Commit your ways unto the Lord
Yesterday we looked at “What God Wants From Every Man.” Today, by the Spirit of God, we will be considering “What God Does Not Want From Every Man.”
1. He does not want you to be harsh and inconsiderate with your family.
God wants you to be like Him. That is why the scripture says the husband should be to the wife as Jesus Christ is to the church. What Jesus did for the church is an indication of what God wants every husband to do for his wife. What did Jesus do? He laid down his life. He sacrificed for the church. God wants you to sacrifice for your wife.
Here is an instruction for all husbands:
In the same way, you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God’s unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise, you cannot pray effectively.] Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble). Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God–that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection]. -1Peter 3:7-9 (AMP)
Now let’s take a look at the Message translation:
The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women, they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground. Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless–that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. -1Peter 3:7-9 (MSG)
The part I love most, Bless your wife! That is your job, to bless! You are the priest over your home, dear husband, so keep blessing. And of course, you don’t want to be praying with no answers!
But my wife is difficult! Yes, just like the church is difficult, and yet Jesus keeps blessing the church and sanctifying it and will present to himself a glorious church at the end.
Keep blessing your wife; you will enjoy the best of her. Keep saying what you want in her and not what you are seeing now!
2. He does not want you to get involved with extra-marital or adulterous relationships.
God does not want you getting involved in adultery. Why? It can ruin your family. It can make you lose your relationship with God. In fact, the Bible sees it as a stupid decision.
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. –Proverbs 6:32-33 (KJV)
Here is Message Translation;
Adultery is a brainless act, soul-destroying, self-destructive; Expect a bloody nose, a black eye, and a reputation ruined for good. –Proverbs 6:32-33 (MSG)
If you are already involved, God does not condemn you. He still loves you. It is left for you not to condemn yourself and let God’s love set you free from the bondage of adultery. You may call me so I can guide you on how to fully disconnect and be faithful to your wife.
3. He does not want you to disregard his Word, principles, and any other scriptural injunctions.
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. -Proverbs 4:20-22 (NIV)
God wants you to follow the principles as outlined in His word because true prosperity comes from following Him. Your business acumen is nothing compared to His wisdom.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY
God is my strength. He will guide me on the right path.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY
Lord, I ask that you open my eyes of understanding in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life so that nothing will hinder your prayers. -1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY
Take an inventory of your life in the light of God’s principles
A promise is defined as a declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen. Do receive God’s promises.
God has promised in his word that he will do quite a lot of things for us.
For example, one of such promises is found in
Your Seed I will establish forever, and I will build up your throne for all generations. – Psalm 89:4 AMP
The first part of the scripture above is a promise from God and we should always pray and confess these promises over our lives.
God wants to establish us forever! Wow!
This was the same thing he told Abraham and we all know that he fulfilled his promise. Today, even unbelievers know Abraham.
This assures us that God will always do what he says he will do.
May God grant us more understanding.
Prayer for children: Dear Lord, help me to always put my trust in you to achieve what you have purposed for me according to your promise for my life in Jesus name, Amen.
Prayer for parents: Lord, we receive grace to teach our children your word till it becomes part of them.
Action plan: Pray, confess, and obey God’s word always.
Declaration: I receive the manifestation of God’s promises for my life.
Continued from yesterday. You can read part 1 HERE
Some ladies fall in love before trying to find out about his character and flaws. So many young ladies with great destinies have jeopardized their future by getting involved with the wrong person.
Stop falling in love with a stranger on Facebook! It is not ideal. There are so many marital casualties today as a result of unguarded and careless relationships. Profiles, timelines, and Twitter pages cannot be used as a conclusive decision on marriage!
Ladies, don’t wait till you are head over heels in love, with flying butterflies in your tummy before probing who he is. You should find out a lot when you are first of all friends before becoming lovers. That is why friendship is very important. You would have seen enough traits that will help you make up your mind about who you want.
Sisters, have friends. That is where relationship will develop from. If you don’t have platonic friends, then you are left with strangers to approach you, and most of the time when strangers come, they are looking for sex.
That is why most sisters would say things like “it is always unserious people that approach me.” The question is do you have friends?
For guys, become friends first before you make your intention known. Do you know there would not be issues of ‘nails’ or rejection because you are already friends? She would simply tell you ‘No’ politely because she would not want to offend her friend!
When you are already in love without friendship, the likelihood is that your feelings for him will block every form of reasoning and sense of judgment.
You know he drinks, but you don’t care. You know she smokes, but you close your eyes. There are some character traits you can watch out for while just friends.
It is a simple principle of “make the tree good and the fruits will be good.” A guy can’t make a good husband if he doesn’t have a good character.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I declare that my steps and relationships are ordered.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Lord, help to get the right friends in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Job 19:19 KJV All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY List the names of your friends.
