Hello dear, trust you had a good night’s rest! Today, I will be sharing with you a very important topic. We’ll be talking about obedience!
What is obedience?
Obedience means to do whatever is asked of you out of respect and love for whoever gives the instruction.
It is always good to obey whatever you are told to do. Obedience isn’t doing part of what you are told to do, if you do that it’s counted as disobedience.
As God’s child, he wants you to be obedient at all times, and in all things.
Do you know that Adam and Eve disobeyed God and they were sent out of the garden of Eden? Disobedience always comes with bad consequences.
Not only do you have to be obedient to God, but you also have to obey your parents, teacher, and everyone above you.
When you disobey these people, just like Adam and Eve you will be punished for your wrong acts.
Why you should always be obedient?
1. God loves obedient children and he desires that you obey him at all times
2. Disobedience brings punishments. There is always a punishment for every act of this obedience
3. Your parents will always be proud of you. If you obey your parents they will always be happy with you and also proud of you.
4. God commands that you are obedient. It is God’s commandment that you are obedient at all times.
5. There is always a reward for obedience.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be obedient at all times. Amen
As they sat before me in the office, I counseled them and then explained a few things.
1. While you were on campus, you gave access to the devil in your life when you flouted the rules of the fellowship. That deception was the loophole that the devil capitalized on to have an inroad into your life. You see, one degree away from truth is falsehood. When you start telling lies, you are dancing on the terrain of the devil because he is that father of all lies.
2. You had no mentor or pastor over your relationship. There will always be issues you wouldn’t be able to handle alone. Mentors are supposed to save you from the tormentors of life.
3. God is never mocked. All the time you combined ministering with deceptive lifestyle, it was only the mercy of God that kept you alive. You were sowing the wrong seeds that would later haunt you.
4. The compromise you had then has destroyed trust between the two of you. And up till now, that trust is still missing. You now need to do something about it so that you don’t crash your marriage eventually. No marriage will survive without trust.
5. You asked God for forgiveness and He forgave you, but both of you have refused to forgive yourselves.
6. You need to forgive yourselves and allow the trust to be rebuilt again in your life. If you keep on being victims of your past, your past will control you.
7. As a married couple, find someone to mentor both of you.
8. And now, an important point. Consciously build trust again. You do that by constant communication. Never hide anything from each other again. Be open; be naked and not ashamed. Don’t allow secrets to be discovered. That will rupture trust the more. If anybody is disturbing you, open up immediately. If he or she has to discover, then trust is ruptured the more.
9. Pray together regularly. You cannot ignore that.
10. Relax together. Talk a lot. Go on outings together. Spend time together and rebuild that trust!
I see you come out victorious.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be a victim of the past arrows
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will help you to heal from wounds of past arrows
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 1:18 [GW] Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit.
A devourer is anything that eats up greedily or a voracious eater. It can also be defined as anything that consumes for nourishment. Devourer is used in the Bible to describe anything that seeks to steal, kill and destroy. It particularly seeks to waste resources, years, food, time, and anything of benefit.
Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. – Mal 3:10-11
The antidote for rebuking the devourer according to the Bible is paying of tithes. The Devourer is to be rebuked, not cried over or ignored but rebuked. Your tithe forms a basis and gives you a voice to effectively rebuke the devourer.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
Non-payment of tithe gives the devourer the license to devour anything valuable to you, from your health, children, marriage, finances, time, relationships, career, opportunities, to peace of mind.
Some people argue about the tithe. Some even say it is an Old Testament law that should not be obeyed. There are different arguments about the issue of tithing, especially on social media.
One thing is sure. If you are a faithful tither, the blessing you enjoy from it will not make you want to stop paying it. Your tithe is the first 10% of any income that comes your way and God commands us to pay it as a sign of honor to him.
You pay your tithe by being in awe and reverence of God, you do it first thing when you receive the income. That is honor.
When we put and keep our faith alive in the covenant of tithing, we set in motion the protective power of God in staying the hands of the enemy to waste or destroy from us.
You rebuke the devourer by speaking boldly and commanding the devourer to take its hands off everything you hold dear. You command sicknesses and diseases not to come near your abode.
Is it that we are paying God so that we don’t experience the devourer? Not exactly! It is a covenant principle and covenant practice. You do your human part and then God does His part.
As we obey this instruction, may God hear us in the day of trouble, and may the name of the God of Israel defend us in Jesus name.
God bless our marriages
CONFESSION OF THE DAY We rebuke every devourer over our finances
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Oh Lord, I rebuke the devourer over my health
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mal 3:11 [BBE]And on your account I will keep back the locusts from wasting the fruits of your land; and the fruit of your vine will not be dropped on the field before its time, says the Lord of armies
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Declare God’s promises over your life
Learning prayer by observation is one great way to learn how to pray. At home, listen to how your parents pray. Notice the following:
Their choice of words.
What they use to pray.
Where they pray.
Do they sit or stand always, often, or once in a while?
Do they hold hands?
Do they pray in the Holy Ghost? How often?
Do they shout or mutter to themselves? When do they raise their voices? What do they do then?
Do they pray at night? How often? What time at night?
Do they pray in the morning? How often? What time in the morning?
This list is just a way for you to see how prayer is done. What you notice might not be how you would want to do yours, but it would certainly help you to pray.
At church, watch how people pray. Sure, you will see tons of differences there. Again, you are not meant to follow everything you see. The Holy Spirit can give you your own way to pray. He will supply you with the words to use. That is how unique you are to God.
Watching and listening to fellow Christians praying is meant to point out to you where you need to improve, how to improve, what to stop doing, and what to continue. You learn, unlearn and relearn.
The bible says we should not abandon the gathering of brethren. I believe this is to help us grow spiritually. Part of spiritual growth in Christianity is praying. When in the presence of other brethren regularly, we grow our prayer muscles.
Iron sharpens iron as the bible says, so, if you want to learn how to pray, one sure way to do that is to watch and listen to other believers when they pray. Be a sponge and soak what you see. Also, as a sponge get ready to be squeezed – flushing out wrong perceptions about prayer, building your prayer muscles for more spiritual growth, and learning new ways and things about prayer.
They were in love with each other the moment they set eyes on each other, and they expressed their love for one another. However, the executives of the fellowship were not allowed to initiate a relationship or be in courtship while in the office unless they have started a relationship before assuming the office. So, they had to keep the relationship secret.
However, they were so much in love, and in no time, they began to get physical. They haven’t gone all the way yet, but it was like they got involved in everything apart from actual penetration.
It wasn’t a good time for them, because they would ask God to forgive them and they would be there again. Eventually, they went all the way and they compromised. It was difficult for them because everybody looked up to them. They began to live in deceit. They needed help but they didn’t know who they can talk to without being seen as the greatest and the most monumental disgrace and disappointment to Christianity!
After a while, the deception went to another level. Bode’s conscience became seared and he believed the lie that God must be overlooking what he was doing since he would still operate under the anointing. Bode would sleep with Terry and then would still preach on fornication. He was a walking error…and he didn’t know.
Terry could not handle that level of deception. Eventually, she went to seek help, and both of them were summoned over the holidays and restored back to their fellowship with God. They stopped from that time on till they eventually got married, but a wrong seed has been sown into the foundation of their marital journey and that is what is haunting them six years after marriage.
Terry believed that Bode would still compromise at any opportunity because he could accommodate deception while he was the president of the fellowship. Bode believed, that since Terry could not stop him then and be strong, she is still probably weak and vulnerable and he keeps searching her phone suspiciously all the time.
To be continued tomorrow…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be a victim of the past.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will help you to heal of the past
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 1:18 [GW] Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit.
We cannot claim ignorance of the times we are in. The spirit of fear is upon the people and men everywhere are left mere hoping it will not get to them. We need more than hope to navigate these times. We need to engage the promise of protection. We need faith in God’s word.
It becomes our responsibility to declare and confess God’s word over members of our household.
We don’t have to claim to be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. We cannot afford to be careless with our lives or members of our household. We have to switch into the defensive mode.
We have to engage with weapons like our biblical prayer of faith, daily pleading the blood of Jesus on our house, taking communion, and everyday prayers for God’s mercy to prevail over judgment.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
Now, the best psalm for such a time as this is psalm 91. You have to read it meditatively. Take time to study this portion of the Bible. Read it in different translations and see what God has promised us. Fill your heart with this scripture and pray it.
God is faithful to His word. His word works
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. – Pro 18:10
There is safety for us, if we learn to trust in the Lord. We take hold of His names and we run into it literally.
Let us see psalm 91 in The Passion Translation.
When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and he will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm. You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you. Don’t fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you, nor will the powers of evil launched against you.
Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed. You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done! When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us? God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm. If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling. You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet!
For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: “Because you have delighted in me as my great lover, I will greatly protect you. I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence even in your time of pressure and trouble. I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast. You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!” – Psa 91:1-16
We are kept by His mercies in Jesus name.
God bless our homes.
CONFESSION OF THE DAY My family is protected by the mercies of God
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray for protection from all evil
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Ps 91:10 [NET] No harm will overtakes you; no illness will come near your home.
You should learn to guide your thought pattern. Let’s take a look at a relay race. Have you ever watched a relay race before? Four people in a team will have to complete a set amount of distance, each covering a distance before passing the baton to the other person.
This continues till the last person takes the baton and finishes the race. The last person holds all the chances of the team either winning or losing the race.
Now, imagine your THOUGHTS, WORDS, and ACTIONS as members of a relay team. Who do you think will start the race? Who will be in the middle and who will end the race?
Be careful about what you think. Your thoughts run your life. Prov. 4:23 ICB
Your THOUGHTS will definitely start the race because they are what inspires or fires up the rest. Their speed is an advantage to the team. They birth the whole process and come from deep within you.
If you don’t teach them to run within the lines of the racetrack, they will run the race as they like and hamper the chances of the team winning the race.
Prayer: Lord, help my thoughts, words and actions start and finish their relay well in my mind, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Action point: Check your thoughts always, watch your words, don’t jump into acting instinctively. Pray about these three areas.
The home of the Johnson’s has always been tense. Like the humorously wicked characters in Tom and Jerry, they fought constantly. By the way, if you have two boys in the house, don’t allow them to watch Tom and Jerry too often, otherwise, they wouldn’t like themselves!
Bode and Terry Johnson never trusted each other. They were born again, tongue-talking, demon-chasing believers, but they are usually suspicious of each other.
They have been married for six years, yet the issue of trust is still a big deal. The other time Bode traveled out of the country for about three weeks, they still fought on the phone on issues that bothered on trust. They were constantly checking on each other, about who they were with, who visited them, who they visited, and so on until they got on each other’s nerves.
Bode was there, wondering about who his wife might be with at work. Terry too never had peace of mind because she never seemed to know what Bode was capable of doing.
Trust is fundamental to the success of a relationship or marriage, but here they are with their trust for each other in question.
In situations like this, there is usually a source of the fears they have for each other. Something has happened in time past that keeps the trigger of suspicion on all the time.
As they sat to be counseled, I began to probe into their past and beginning from where and how they met each other.
First of all, both of them had come from a home where either of the parents cheated at least once. Whether they agreed or not, they both came into a relationship with some attitude from defective parental examples.
They were both born-again Christians when they met. As a matter of fact, they met in the fellowship. Bode was the president of the fellowship while Terry was the prayer secretary. Both posts were pivotal and they are practically the leaders of the fellowship.
What else did I find out about Bode and Terry?
To be continued tomorrow…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be a victim of the past.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will help you to heal of the past
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 1:18 [GW] Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit.
Wives ought to respect their husbands as a service to the Lord. That is the order of God. To make something worthwhile of the marriage institution, we have to follow His order.
Only when we follow God’s order do we experience the fullness of God’s blessings.
Husbands are commanded to love their own wives. This commandment does not exclude any husband. You are to take that wife of yours and love her, obeying God.
Love means several things to several women. Husbands are to love their wives based on what the wives see as love. You have to learn and speak your wife’s love language.
For example, you don’t give your wife flowers for her birthday when she loves chocolates. You have to love your wife not based on what love means to you but on what love means to her.
Women have basic needs and it is part of the husband’s responsibility to see to it that he meets these basic needs.
However, we should note that our husbands will never to able to fill the void in our hearts meant to be filled by God.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
God is love and to effectively love your wife, you have to know God. The Bible says those who walk with the wise will be wise and the companion of fools shall be destroyed. So if we walk with God, we are guaranteed wisdom. It will simply rub off on us.
Every husband has a mandate in their life to love that woman. Love her with all your heart and let your love be genuine.
Understand her person and cherish her. You cannot love your wife and maltreat her. You cannot love her and belabor her with house chores without offering a helping hand.
Care for her and be sensitive to her needs and feelings. You also have to correct her because love does not seek your wife’s destruction. As a husband, it is your duty to also forgive her because love covers a multitude of sins.
In fact, 1 Cor 13, the love chapter, should be the manual for all husbands
May God pour the love of God into every husbands’ heart for their wives in a new way in Jesus name
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION OF THE DAY I seek to understand my spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord I receive grace to understand my spouse more
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Be patient to understand your spouse
Have you ever heard the words patience is a virtue? Well, you might think it is a cliché, but it is not. Patience is indeed a virtue; be patient. Patience is something you need in life to move forward.
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws. – Gal 5:22-23 [TLB]
Patience is one of the fruits that we see when we are recreated in Christ.
It is patience that will not allow you to hit back your classmate when he/she hits you.
It is patience that will make you overlook talking back to your brother because he said some harsh words to you.
Children, let the Holy Spirit control your life. Let him direct you.
Let us see another translation of our anchor scripture as I conclude this morning.
God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. – Gal 5:22-23 [CEV]
It is God’s spirit that makes us patient. If we don’t have the spirit of God in us, we won’t be able to exhibit this all-important fruit.
I hope you have been learning from this topic.
We will continue tomorrow.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you to be patient. Amen
Action point: Are you patient with those around you? If not, start learning it now.
Declaration: I am a patient being because my God is patient.
Valentine’s day is here and it will go. But there is a decision you must make, do not let your destiny go with it.
How shall we do Valentine and then life is crystallized into agony afterward. Don’t lose it. You are a child of God, remember that.
Demons of lust, adultery, compromise, and all other sexual perversion are on overdrive today, do not cooperate with them.
Today, the atmosphere would all be set. Your body would literally crave for it. But you would be making the greatest mistake of your life if you listen to your body.
A strong desire does not authenticate that which is desired. The voice of your body is not superior to the voice of your spirit. The spirit ought to take ascendancy and not the body.
This is what Apostle Paul was saying here
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. – 1Co 9:27 (KJV)
Your body would scream for compromise, but don’t listen to it, for decisions taken in the flesh will always lead to some form of death.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. – Rom 8:6 (KJV)
The amplified version expatiate further
Now the mind of the flesh [ which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit ] is death [ death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter ]. But the mind of the [ Holy ] Spirit is life and [ soul ] peace [ both now and forever ]. – Rom 8:6 (AMPC)
Don’t go to areas that are already set to trap you. Evening parties, clubs, guest houses, love gardens, and hotels. Any meeting in such places today would end in regrets.
On the other hand, while at home, do not stay behind closed doors with a lover or intending lover. It takes a closed-door to close up your destiny.
Don’t drink. Things happen when you drink.
Don’t be deceived by that deceptive statement, let’s just touch ourselves, we won’t do much! Dry humping each other will end in some wet humping and could drown you.
Be vigilant. Stay close to God’s word.
Whether you have a Val or not, find an evening church program and attend.
Thankfully, today at Shouts of Grace Center in Ibadan, if you are around, you can join us as we take a dive into teachings on sex and relationships. Also, we have a valentine’s dinner for singles. You can check HERE for more information.
Stay with God, you will have the victory and the last laugh.
Let me end my admonition with this scripture in The Message Translation:
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. – 1Pe 5:8-11 (MSG)
Be blessed. Be safe. Stay spiritual!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open the eyes of my understanding.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 1:18 [GW] Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit.
Today is Valentine’s day, otherwise known as Lovers day.
The singles seem to celebrate this day more than couples because they are still very much in love. The butterflies are still flying in their bellies. Most couples have allowed the butterflies to die over the years.
This shouldn’t be. Every couple should still have love in their eyes, and they should still make each other’s hearts tingle. We have to learn to keep love alive.
Through the twists, bends, and turns of the married life, God wants to step in and help us live a fulfilling married life. God’s help comes to us by Him giving us instructions to follow.
Like the instructions given to wives we discussed yesterday, the married men have their own instructions to follow.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
I believe if both wives and husbands can be devoted to obeying these instructions, we will see the love of God manifest in our marriages.
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.] -1Pe 3:7 (AMP)
The key things to note here are:
1. Married men should live considerately with their own wives.
2. Intelligent recognition of the marriage relation
3. Honoring the woman (wife)
4. Physically the weaker.
5. Realizing that you are joint heirs of the grace of life.
6. That your prayers be not hindered and cut off.
7. Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.
Let all men study these instructions meditatively.
CONFESSION OF THE DAY I seek to understand my spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord I receive grace to understand my spouse more
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Be patient to understand your spouse
The next fruit of the Spirit we will be considering is peace. Not just peace, but the peace of God.
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws. – Gal 5:22-23 [TLB]
There is a story in the bible that explains the concept of peace perfectly. Let me try to summarize it.
A certain man was travelling in a boat with his friends one faithful day. The journey was smooth until all of a sudden, a mighty storm arose.
The friends of this man began to tremble and fear, wondering if it would be the end of their lives.
Out of trepidation, they woke him up and asked him to come salvage the situation.
Listen to what he did;
And He got up and [sternly] rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still (muzzled)!” And the wind died down [as if it had grown weary] and there was [at once] a great calm [a perfect peacefulness]. – Mark 4:39 [AMP]
Wow! A superman isn’t he? Well, it happened exactly how he said. The wind ceased and the seas stopped.
What do you do when you feel there is absence of peace? Don’t just embrace it as a norm, rebuke it, just like that man did.
May God help you to embrace the peace of God. Amen
Prayer: Pray that God will help you embrace his peace.
Tomorrow is Valentine’s day. There are so many stories about who valentine actually was. Here is one of the prominent stories.
He was a Roman priest during the 3rd century A.D. when Emperor Claudius II was the king at the time. He decided to ban marriage, because of the notion that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers. Valentine secretly officiated marriages.
He was eventually found out arrested and imprisoned. He was then beheaded and he became a martyr by the Church because he gave up his life to perform the institution of marriage.
By the 5th Century, Pope Gelasius declared 14th of February to be Valentine’s day!
Well, Valentine’s day is no longer a sacred day as it were! In the lives of some ladies, that day would probably be saddest days of their lives.
To some others, it would be the day they would be introduced into the world of sexual compromise!
A lot more have penciled the day as the day they would desecrate the one they profess they love.
It is not so much of celebration of love again but a celebration of iniquity, a validation of Jeru trip and a total affront on the injunctions of God in the areas of marriage!
Here are few things to note:
1. Be extremely careful. Sin is glorified in a day like this and it is democratized.
2. Do not go to places where you are not supposed to go to because you want to celebrate Valentine. Watch your legs.
3. Do not go to nightclubs and do not stay with him or her alone! You already know what they do in night clubs. It’s not prayer vigil!
4. If you are alone, the mood in the air might set your already fired up emotions and push you into the dangerous terrain of sexual adventures.
5. Don’t allow gifts, chocolates, ice cream and things like that to buy your resolve. A virtuous woman cannot be bought because the scripture says her price is far above rubies.
6. Do not make the mistake of passing the night with the one you are not married to. If you try it, something you will regret later might happen. It’s as sure as you see your palms that something will happen.
7. Don’t take alcohol. Things happen when you get tipsy. Don’t take drinks from strangers or somebody you met two hours ago in the name of Valentine.
Alcohol is for people who are dying, for those who are in misery. – Pro 31:6 (GNB)
8. Don’t allow him or her to talk you into sexual compromise and disobedience saying, it’s just one day! The devil doesn’t need more than one day to rupture your destiny! That will not be your portion!
9. There are things you do for seven minutes and you regret for seven years. There are people you kiss for a second and your destiny is crucified. There are strange hands you allow in your blouse or skirt and your life is messed up! Be careful!
10. All in all, stay on the God side and you will be good!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not be distracted on Valentine’s day
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open the eyes of my understanding.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 1:18 [GW] Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Celebrate Valentine’s day well
Valentine’s Wisdom For Married Couples. There are so many stories about who valentine actually was. Here is one of the prominent stories.
He was a Roman priest during the 3rd century A.D. Emperor Claudius II was the king at the time. He decided to ban marriage, because of the notion that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers. Valentine secretly officiated marriages. He was eventually found out, arrested, and imprisoned. He was then beheaded and he became a martyr by the Church because he gave up his life to perform the institution of marriage.
By the 5th Century, Pope Gelasius declared the 14th of February to be Valentine’s day!
Well, today is no longer a sacred day as it were! In the lives of some ladies, today would probably be the saddest day of their lives. To some others, it would be the day they would be introduced into the world of sexual compromise! A lot more have penciled today down today as the day they would desecrate the one they profess they love.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
Here are a few words for married couples
1. Be faithful with your spouse today. Do not cheat on him or her.
2. If you have quarrels, today is an opportunity to settle such quarrels. Take him or her out! Apologize, stay humble, and don’t flare up on a day like this.
3. Don’t hide under spirituality. Get something for each other on a day like this. Exchange gifts; not just husbands giving to wives but both ways.
4. If your spouse has traveled for any reason, stay in communication and resist any kind of pressure to compromise!
5. End every strife and stay away from bitterness. If you have been sexually depriving yourselves, try and make up today. Make her happy first, go back to the days you met her. What are those things you did that made her say “yes?” Those are the things to replicate and you will be amazed. Find out his or her love language and speak that language. Your goal is not to get what you want, but to make your spouse happy!
6. Decide to be joyful. Avoid strife. Refuse to be depressed on a day like this. Rather, use the pain you feel to talk to God to move on your behalf.
Tonight, we have Valentine’s dinner for Couples! More details HERE
CONFESSION OF THE DAY I seek to understand my spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord I receive grace to understand my spouse more
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous
The second fruit listed in our text as a fruit of the spirit is Joy. Therefore today, we would be seeking to understand the force of joy.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23
Joy is a force. Joy is a spirit. Joy is that which comes from within.
There is a huge difference between happiness and joy. While the former is as a result of external happenstances, joy is something you engage in from your inner man.
That was why Apostle Paul said:
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Joy is not dependent on what’s going in or around you.
Joy is not interested on your mid-term report sheet.
Joy can be expressed in shouts, jumps, laughter, and dance.
So my dear children, do all you can to make sure the joy of the Lord is evident in you.
Betty: Then start working on yourself. Marriage is made up of two real people with their different opinions and perspectives, and if it must last, they must be quick forgivers.
Angie: I have a problem with forgiving people. I am usually deeply hurt.
Betty: Anybody can be hurt, but love is supposed to cover a multitude of mistakes. You have to learn that if you are going to have a good marriage.
Angie: Must I be the one that will be forgiving all the time? Won’t that crush my esteem?
Betty: Which is why you don’t want to marry just anybody because of pressures. You want to marry someone you know that both of you are on the same page in terms of beliefs, serving God, and loving God
Angie: God help me
Betty: When you marry a man that really fears God, it becomes much more easier.
Angie: God, give me a man that loves you
Betty: Wrong prayer
Angie: Eeeeeh! …so what is the right prayer?
Betty: Lord, make me a woman that loves you.
Angie: Ok, Auntie…thank you so much
Betty: You are welcome.
Angie: I have to go now, to think about all you’ve said and see how to apply them.
Betty: Ok, my dear. Always remember that God has a plan for you and that staying close to Him helps you to actualize that plan.
Angie: God will help me.
Betty: You must help yourself first…by your obedience…that will now unlock His help and blessings.
Angie: I hear! I need to go and call this man that wants to sleep in my house tonight. I want to tell him not to bother. We are not married! I want to do it God’s way and I don’t want to delay myself again.
Betty: Good girl!
Angie: Bye, Auntie.
Betty: Bye, I will see you later.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage. I am led of God in finding the right person.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me in my journey of finding the right person
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Allow God do the finding for you.
I know that this might not be a popular topic. Some of the women might feel not so pleased with the topic. The feminist will definitely not find this topic interesting as they seek to fight for equality between the husband and the wife.
No matter how much we justify or look at the issue of respect between husbands and wives, God’s order will still stand.
You don’t ask the purpose of a thing from that thing. You ask the purpose from the creator.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
God is the creator of the institution of marriage. There is a purpose behind the creation of it and there is how it will run properly. If the order of operation is not followed, the purpose can never to fully achieved.
God made man first and then woman as his help meet.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. – Gen 2:18-19
The man was created the head and handed the authority of leadership. That is not to say that men are superior to women. There are always the two extremes and that is the devil trying to pervert the truth that God stands for.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. – Eph 5:23
Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority as you have placed yourselves under the Lord’s authority. – Eph 5:22 (GW)
So in order for our marriage to fulfill Gods mandate, every wife MUST place herself under the husband’s authority by respecting him, deferring to him and honor him as a service to God.
Sarah, for example, called Abraham lord. She respected him and I believe that was why she could eventually fulfill purpose. She was chosen to be the mother of the promised child.
In the home setting, the order is God first, the husband and then the wife and the children. The wife must obey, respect, honor, defer to, cherish, care for and treat the husband as lord and king. The final authority should rest with the husband. He is to take decisions and the wife must not try to manipulate him in any way.
This is God’s standard.
May God help us to obey Him and reap the reward thereof.
God bless our marriage
CONFESSION OF THE DAY I seek to understand my spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord I receive grace to understand my spouse more
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Be patient to understand your spouse
Betty: Because guys are logical. When you easily compromise, they are wondering how many men you are doing that with. They will eventually go for a lady that they perceive as a ‘good girl.’ They can even go to church to look for one, but that is also a mistake on their part.
Angie: God punish them!
Betty: Why curse now? You see, guys who don’t have a relationship with God are able to identify very needy ladies and those with low self-esteem. So they capitalize on that, use them and dump them, and eventually go and marry those they think are more confident.
Angie: My God!
Betty: That is why you must make up your mind never to compromise because of some pressures.
Angie: I am trying.
Betty: Trying is not what God says. You must make up your mind. Do you want God’s plan concerning marriage to be a reality in your life?
Angie: Yes o
Betty: Then you must stop compromising. You cannot eat your cake and have it.
Angie: Auntie, I can’t wait to get married. All my problems will fly away.
Betty: There you go again. Marriage will not solve problems. In fact, if you are unprepared, it brings more problems.
Angie: Not if we really love ourselves
Betty: Loving yourselves does not eliminate quarrels and offenses. It just helps you to handle them the right way.
Angie: Auntie, what do you quarrel about?
Betty: (Smiles) Our first quarrel was during our honeymoon. There was the moon, but no honey.
Angie: What did Uncle do? Auntie, you must be tough.
Betty: He left me alone during our honeymoon and started working on his laptop. He just ignored me. I was angry. Our last quarrel was three days ago. But in all of that, you know what, we forgive each other quickly and move on because if we don’t, there won’t be a marriage.
To be continued tomorrow…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open the eyes of my understanding.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 1:18 [GW] Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit.
