Sandy is a cute lady whose mien portrays a beauty that is heavenly, however within her is a world of deception that is far from reality, characterized by fantasy and wishful thinking.
Her condition was made worse from endless reading of romantic novels and spending hours on romantic movies. Her brain has been filled with romantic junks, predicated on wrong notions that are completely anti-scripture.
Her issue is even made complicated because of a wonderful pulchritude she presents with no clues such junky thoughts are swimming within.
God’s word has the ability to dissolve every fantasy and reset the brain through a complete rewiring!
For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every DECEPTIVE FANTASY that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.
2Co 10:3-5 (TPT)
We can demolish every deceptive fantasy! Whatever has been set up in defiance to the true knowledge of God can be demolished according to the word of God.
This is done by deliberate and conscious effort at READING, STUDYING AND MEDITATING on God’s word. Hey! The more you meditate on that word truthfully, the more you set up yourself for total freedom from every negative and toxic thought patterns that seek to hold you down!
I pray this morning that God will set you free from all toxic thoughts in Jesus name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My mind is filled with God’s word
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask that God will reprogram your mind
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Read, study, and meditate on the word
Sade is just simply toxic in her way of thinking and dealing with issues. This is brought about by several disappointments she has gone through in the hands of guys, especially. She believes life has not been fair to her at all. She watched a lot of her friends get married one by one while nothing seems to be happening in her life.
She prayed and prayed but it was as though God is not listening to her. She got to a place where she actually gave up and she was no longer rejoicing with those who rejoice.
Her pastime became having itchy ears and looking for negative news which seems to excite her. When she hears that someone has a broken relationship, she seems happy. She would not stop at that, but she would consciously begin to spread the news as if it was some good news. This she did and did not even know she was in error.
This is in direct contradiction to what we are supposed to do as believers. It is never in our place to spread negative news. As a matter of fact, what we are supposed to do at such times is to pray for such people, so that such will not be your experience.
When King Saul died, it could have been a time for David to start rejoicing and keep mouthing it all over. But check out what he said here:
Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
2Sa 1:20 (KJV)
He understood covenant. He said the news is not to be published!
My words of advice for you this morning is simple. Avoid being happy when something unfortunate happens to others, even when such people are perceived enemies.
Pray for them and you will unleash a new realm of favour upon your life!
Be blessed in Jesus name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I choose to rejoice with those who are happy
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Oh Lord, help me to genuinely rejoice with those rejoicing.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Romans 12:15 [ESV] Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
The transcendency of your present decisions is a blunt truth and reality that should set you thinking before doing anything!
Where you were born was never your decision, it was the decision of your parents, who were even influenced by their own parents. This brings home the resounding truth, the decisions you are making now, even as a single, will affect your children and your children’s children! This then calls for caution, since your decisions will affect several lives that are still locked up in your loins.
The choice of your spouse, the strength of your service to God, the kind of lifestyle you are living now, all have a significant effect not just on you but on others around you because it’s not only about you.
This is why it becomes really important to consider every decision well before you take them. Even more interesting is the fact that whoever you are identified with or whoever you decide to follow can affect your life, and conversely, whoever follows you will be affected by your decisions.
Take a look at this scripture:
“So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.”
(1Sa 31:6, KJV)
Saul was the one that disobeyed God. He was the one that refused to follow God’s instructions. But he did not die alone. When he was going to die, his three sons died, his armor-bearer died, and then ALL HIS MEN, of which we do know their number!
All these people who died did nothing wrong other than following a man who did something wrong. Because of one man’s wrong decision, others innocent folk died with him.
Do you now see why you have to study that person well before you marry as it’s not just about you? Ultimately, marriage wedges destinies together and changes the course and direction of life!
Be wise!
God bless you.
Have a great day!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not make a wrong decision
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask the Lord to help you make the right decision.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1 Sam 31:6 (CEV) Saul was dead, his three sons were dead, and the soldier who carried his weapons was dead. They and all his soldiers died on that same day.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Study that person well before marriage.
Wisdom lies in God. Deception and traps abound, but God’s wisdom will always avail if we connect with it. Wisdom is given so that we can avoid unnecessary mistakes that dot the path of love.
Here are a few words of wisdom that will help you.
That you are a born again christian does not mean your relationship will succeed.
Yes, you are born again. Yes, you are filled with the Spirit. Yes, you are a child of God. All of these are true, but what is not true is that because of all the above, you will have a fantastic relationship or marriage.
With the addition to all above, you will now consciously work at your relationship or marriage by working the principles of God.
All love feelings may not all be God’s leading
Falling in love may not be God’s leading all the time. There are times you fall in love and you feel so strongly in love and it’s all looking like God’s direction, but it may not always be.
You cannot make major decisions as result of your feelings because feelings are fickle.
When you spend time with anyone, you fall in love with that person.
The more you hang around a person, spend time with that person, the more you are going to fall in love with that person. It happens all the time. Emotions will be involved and in no time, reasoning will be impaired.
It is good to always draw boundaries and define relationships at the early stage. This way, you can be sure there won’t be mistakes, all in the name of love.
Once you don’t love a person, don’t bother to spend much time together.
Have a blessed day today and always in Jesus’ name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I receive divine wisdom
PRAYER FOR THE DAY I will follow God’s leading in the name of Jesus
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY James 1:5, (NLT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Delay is perceived as anything that doesn’t come at the expected time. Quickly this morning, I want to identify three sources of delay that could be experienced in relationships and marriages.
1. The delay that comes from you Self-inflicted delays can come when you are just too impatient. God has a timetable for your life. When you alter that timetable by impatience and unnecessarily hurrying, one can actually cause delay.
Actually, and candidly speaking, hurrying up things eventually bring delay. These are what I call self-inflicted delays.
See the scripture:
…he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isa 28:16b (KJV)
The delay allowed by God. God can also allow delay when He knows you are about to make a decision that will jeopardize your salvation, your joy, or which can bring any form of evil.
The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 AMP
See another translation:
The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.
2Pe 3:9 (GNB)
Since God does not want you to perish, what He can do is to allow delay in stubborn decisions you are about to take in other to save your soul. This kind can be brought about when you refuse to work on your character.
Constant attitude adjustment is pivotal to speed in your relationship and marital endeavors.
Delay can come from the devil Finally, delay can also come from the devil. This is the work of the devil and it is not to be tolerated. It is to be refused, rejected, and resisted. Jesus has already destroyed the works of the devil.
The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b AMP
I pray for you this morning, every spirit of delay is bound in your life in Jesus name.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will cooperate with the timing of God.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, do that which you are set to do in my life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Ecclesiastes 3:11a He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:
How do you even recognize a good man? It’s a million dollar question!
The Holy Writ even asks the question;
but a faithful man who can find?
Pro 20:6b (KJV)
The scripture seems to portend the idea that it’s difficult to find a good man.
This morning, we will attempt to identify a good man through just one quality. This quality is something you should not trade anything for.
Let’s take a look at another verse.
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
1Pe 3:7 (KJV)
This guy who is interested in you and you are considering for marriage, Can you say he honors you?
‘Oh well, the way he is now, he is not perfect, but I know he will honor me eventually.”
Hey! If he doesn’t honor you now, chances are that same treatment will continue or even get worse. Marriage hardly changes anybody.
His behavior and attitudes now are trailers of the actual movie waiting for you and that movie is long, with several seasons in it! The only way to ensure it’s not a horror filled movie is to be led by God and to open your eyes very well.
How do you know if a man honors you?
It means to have high respect or great esteem for someone.
If he is sleeping with you through coercion or any form of manipulation, there is no honour there.
If he tells you that you are just one of his numerous girlfriends, there is no honour there.
If he lifts his hand against you, over and over again, only to apologise later, there is no honour there.
Does he delight in you in a genuine way and not because he is going to get some sexual gratification?
Another translation says:
Husbands, in a similar way, live with your wives with understanding.
Is he understanding? Does he have you in mind? Does he allow you to talk or he shuts you down till your default mode is mute?
Lastly, another translation says:
If you are a husband, you should be thoughtful of your wife.
Is he thoughtful? Is he sensitive to your needs or he feels you are too demanding?
These are pertinent questions to consider carefully.
I pray that God will guide you indeed as you make this all important decision.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY The Lord is leading me to a good man
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1 Pet 3:7 (NLT)In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Look out for the word ‘honor’ in your relationship
Life is really interesting. Children have been known to suffer sometimes for the action of their parents. A careless parent can raise a defective child. Our prisons are filled with young minds whose minds became warped because of the negligence of a father or mother. Too many people are incarcerated today because of an absentee father. Too many baby mamas do not really know the agony and pain they are initiating into their lives and that of their children whose worlds have been marred even before reaching the age of accountability.
This then becomes a point of cogitation as you begin to realize that it’s not all about you, but about your progeny which lies in your bosom. That your actions and inactions do not end with you, but their consequences can affect and alter the lives of the generations that are locked in your loins.
My discourse this morning was prompted by my meditation on a verse that jumped at me as I read my Bible.
“So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.” (1Sa 31:6, KJV)
It was Saul that messed up and disobeyed God. But here are the lists of those who died with him.
1. His three sons. 2. His armourbearer 3. All his men
Isn’t it sobering? They all died with him the same day and together.
So then, you slept with a guy or a lady? So you did something wrong? It’s not ending there. You live your life carelessly the way you want it?
After all, “It’s my life!”
Well, it’s not your life. It goes beyond you. Your actions will affect generations. Think about today alone. How many decisions have you made that has affected others?
Are you taking conscious steps to change, and make adjustments?
This then leads to a logical and revelatory conclusion. You must live responsibly and in fear towards God, in the realization that you will one day stand before Him to give account.
Good morning!
CONFESSION FOR TODAY I choose to live responsibly
PRAYER FOR TODAY Ask for grace to do it right
THOUGHT FOR TODAY 1 Sam 31:6 (CEV) Saul was dead, his three sons were dead, and the soldier who carried his weapons was dead. They and all his soldiers died on that same day.
ACTION PLAN FOR TODAY Live responsibly, for your actions are beyond you
Yes, you can believe God for a spouse! How do you that? By following the leading of God. God wants to lead, in all reality.
God will not choose for you but He has the best choice for you if you ask Him. There is God’s perfect will and there is God’s permissive will.
Your goal is to locate God’s perfect will for you concerning marriage. There is a beautiful assurance and confidence that stays with you when you know you are in God’s plan.
When the storms of life come, and marital wind begins to blow, you will not be assuming it’s because of being out of God’s will, rather you will have the strength and the wherewithal to overcome the storms.
So in a pragmatic sense, how do you believe God for a spouse?
There must be a promise from God’s word which is discovered and revealed in your heart concerning what you are believing God for.
Then you take this promise and think on it, and then think, and think and keep thinking. That is what is referred to as meditation.
When this word has been sown as a seed in your heart, it takes root.
Well, you need to water any seed that will grow.
So you do that by confessing what you believe. The moisture from your mouth is needed to water your seed. It is easy if you have really thought and meditated on it, because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
In no time, that seed grows and brings forth fruit. That fruit is the manifestation of that which you are believing God for.
It works every time. The word is the seed!
My question, is what scripture are you standing on?
Drop it in the comment section if you have a promise you are standing on now.
Good morning.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I believe. I receive!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, show me what I need to know
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Jer 15:16 (NKJV)Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Write out the word you are standing on
There are habits that are stubborn, resilient almost bothering on strongholds, that hold you by the jugular, breathing down on your neck, suffocating God’s blessings, and ruining the operations of God’s favour
These habits can be killing. You have read about it, you have heard sermons about it, you have prayed and fasted about it, yet this weakness or habit stands tall, cocky, and refusing to move an inch.
What do you do?
Samson found himself in this kind of addictive trap. He knew Delilah was from the enemy. He knew Delilah wanted to kill him. Yet, he played along and cooperated till he lost his life.
Samson that all of Philistines were scared of! Samson that used the jawbone of an ass to kill a thousand men! Samson that killed a lion with his bare hand!
How did Samson get to this point?
He cooperated with the enemy of his soul. He ignored that which clutched to his very soul. He underestimated the power of the enemy because of his past victories.
Samson knew Delilah was after his life, yet he could not disconnect from her. He knew Delilah wanted to kill him, yet he clung to her and would not let go. In the end, his eyes were gouged out and he had to ask for his own death.
How many things are we doing now that it looks as though we are cooperating with the enemy?
I am here to tell you by the power of the Holy Spirit, to let go of what doesn’t want to let you go!
That something is holding unto you will not be an excuse for holding on to that thing!
Let go.
It could be a boyfriend, a girlfriend, an affair, a habit, an addiction, a deception, or some lifestyle or any other works of the flesh… whatever it is, Let Go!
Then you can let God.
Good morning!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I receive grace to let go and let God.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give me the grace to let go.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Isa 43:18(CEV)Forget what happened long ago! Don’t think about the past.
There are many tell-tale signs that will usually show that a lady doesn’t love you and will not likely marry you. Below I have listed some of them. If you find up to five of any of these in your lover, it’s time to sit down and talk and seek counsel.
1. She will take from you and not give; there will be no mutual giving of a gift 2. She will not introduce you to her Pastor. 3. She will easily snap at you, shut you down, and even scream at you as occasion demands. 4. She will not pray about you or about the relationship. 5. She is comfortable not speaking with you for many days. 6. She shows her preferences for other guys and endlessly compares you to other guys. 7. She is only momentarily happy with you when you buy her stuff 8. She allows you to do all the pursuing without making any efforts to reciprocate 9. She embarrasses you in the presence of her friends 10. She lets you know that she is managing you and that you are not her type. 11. There will be disregard and disrespect 12. If a lady is not interested in you, it will show in her value system towards you. 13. It will manifest in disregard for your person and principles. 14. It will show in her utter disrespect for you. 15. She will deliberately ignore your preferences. 16. She will despise your wisdom and won’t care a hoot about what happens. 17. She will see your missed calls and will not make an effort to call back. 18. She will annoyingly ignore your calls and not pick them. 19. She will not introduce you to her friends or parents. 20. She will show that she is not proud of you and all you represent.
The above are signs that she is disenfranchised from you and only holding on because of some favor she is getting from you or using you as an emotional fill-in-the-gap.
I pray that God will grant you more understanding and give you divine direction as to know the right decisions to take in your relationships.
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CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not oblivious to the tell-tale signs. My eyes are open.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God will deliver you from the person that will not marry you.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1 Cor 13:5 (AMP)It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Review your relationship based on the above and be sure the person will marry you.
I still remember my wedding day. It was twenty-two years ago, in the city under the rock! The service was long, and the sermon was boring.
I can tell you what happens in a long service on a wedding day! The couples have left in their mind, and a major part of the crowd have left in reality, on their way to reception to wait for the main item of the day. A lot of people are not as concerned about the marriage as they are concerned about not missing the wedding “Jollof” rice!
By the time the church folks are getting to the reception venue, another set of crowds are already waiting! Those ones don’t attend church service. They are not interested in the church’s blessing.
This is why the family of couples usually gets bouncers!
The bouncers would keep unwanted visitors away! The bouncers are usually hefty-looking guys, muscular and well built to send fear to intruders!
In the same vein, God has given you bouncers to keep you from falling in love with intruders!
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Php 4:7 (KJV)
This bouncer is called the peace of God. Look at what it says; shall keep your hearts!
You don’t want your heart broken? This peace is the bouncer! You don’t want your heart violated and you end up being cheated? The peace of God is the bouncer!
Now take a look at the Amplified version.
And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding SHALL GARRISON AND MOUNT GUARD over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Php 4:7 (AMPC)
Garrison Mount guard.
This peace is like an army barrack keeping you secured from marital bandits and kidnappers! This peace wades off attacks like divorce, adultery, strife, and so on!
How do you find this peace? It comes when God has spoken. It is absent when you are about to make a mistake. Follow this peace. Follow this bouncer and you will avoid a lot of mistakes in your marital endeavor!
Be blessed this morning, as always!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I follow the peace of God.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, lead me by your peace.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Phil 4:7 (TLB)If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Do you have peace about that decision?
As they walked down the aisle, Kunle holding his bride, and their faces punctuated with laughter and sheer joy. Betty and Kunle are finally getting married and both of them were so happy.
They had looked forward to this day. Preparations were in top gear as they pumped millions into ensuring the day was glorious. They left no stone unturned, and both of them even borrowed some money for the D-Day. The day was colourful, and people went home belly-full. Everybody eat to their satisfaction as they hired the best caterer in town.
By the time they arrived at the honeymoon venue, they were both exhausted. And now, a new chapter of their life begins.
That day was super and that was it. The wedding was over and marriage began. Reality sets in. Few weeks after the wedding, the pressures showed up in their numbers and with the pressures are different scenarios.
My point this morning? We all put in a lot of preparation and resources into one day often at the detriment of the real thing. We spend millions on feeding guests while we cannot spend a couple of thousands required to take a good marriage counseling.
Here are a few things to note
1. Do not overstretch yourself because of a one-day event. It is foolishness to borrow and feed people while you spend the next six months in debt and are unable to feed yourselves properly.
2. Work more at the comfort of your spouse after the wedding. Some couples will sit on some golden beautiful settee on their wedding days and then arrange plastic chairs in the living room afterward. Who are we really trying to impress?
3. You and your intended spouse should draw a budget and work within the budget. Agree on how you want the day to look and prioritize your home after the wedding
4. Lastly, do not allow folk in the family to draw you into unnecessary spending. Be wise. Be circumspect.
I pray God to grant you more understanding
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am wise and circumspect.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask for divine wisdom to plan your wedding
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Matt 19:16 (AMP) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
There are a few things every lady wants from her man. I will attempt to write about a few of them this morning.
Every lady wants a romantic playmate
A lady loves a guy who makes her laugh and who has endless romantic ideas. It’s cool to be a serious person, but you can’t be serious all the time! It’s not even good for your health! In an already tense environment, you must devise ways to keep her calm and laughing. She looks forward to a man that can help her unwind without compromising.
Every lady wants a spiritual guy It goes without saying that every lady wants a prayerful man, who can be a spiritual covering! They need someone who is romantic and who can also explain the book of Romans!
They want some who can spend, but who is also spent for God!
Every lady wants a guide She wants someone who can advice, not one that will adversely crush her spirit. She wants someone who can point the way, who will provide navigation for the family eventually. You see, the eyes are located in the head, and since the man is the head, he is supposed to provide the compass for the family.
4. Every lady wants a truthful man Every lady is looking for a man of integrity. Men who will say something and stand by it. Our generation is filled with too many insincere people! O Lord, give me a spouse that will be truthful.
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Pro 20:6 (KJV)
Truthfulness is a legacy to leave for the children, and the children will eventually gravitate towards what they can see in their father.
Never cope with an impulsive and unrepentant lair. If you marry such, you might have to endure it for a lifetime. Whoever refuses to change now is not planning to change anytime soon.
5. Every lady wants a man who will allow them to be who they are. Nobody wants to be caged! She wants a man that will not be insecure as to limit her greatness. She wants a man that will give her wings to fly and help her fulfill all God has called her to do.
6. Every lady wants a man who is loaded in the pocket Ladies want to be comfortable and they want a man who can take care of them. Nobody wants to get involved with a liability! Every man should work! You may be out of job, but never be out of work. No lady wants to afflict her life with a perpetually lazy man! Get working!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I know how to show love to my partner.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to speak lovingly to my partner
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? Pro 20:6 KJV
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Show love to your spouse today
This is Part 2. I started writing on this topic yesterday. This morning, I will conclude. If you missed the first part, you can read it HERE
6. Don’t hold your lover in unforgiving mode. I learnt from my dad how to forgive quickly. He doesn’t know how to get bitter, and that has prolonged his life. You need that attitude in your relationship or marriage. You have to learn to lovingly overlook mistakes and errors and not be unnecessarily judgmental.
7. Do not feed your weaknesses Your strength is to provide needed balance in your marriage so that your strength will cover for her weaknesses and vice versa. Deliberately avoid feeding each other’s weaknesses. That way, you will grow faster.
8. Do not correct to hurt or in anger. Let affirmations be the landing place for your corrections. Learn how to correct in love!
O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
Jer 10:24 (KJV)
This is how God corrects and this is what we need to imbibe as well.
9. Do not lead your lover into sin You are the greatest influence on your lover. Most of the time, he or she will do what you want or what you approve of. Do not lead each other or encourage each other into iniquity. Be circumspect.
10. Do not ignore the wisdom of mentors and superiors. God will usually surround you with mentors and pastors that can help you out in your marital journey. Ignoring them could be at your peril. The wisdom you will need in navigating the path of a successful courtship and eventually marriage is usually domiciled in your mentors around you.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Pro 20:5 (KJV)
Good morning.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I know the things to do to make my lover feel loved
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me the things I need to know.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1 Cor 13:4 (AMP) Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go through the devotional again and make plans.
Most times, we need to be reminded not just what to do, but what not to do in a relationship that will lead to marriage. God is clear in His word regarding the Don’ts. It is your ability to stay within the parameters of God’s word that will guarantee a great relationship that will lead to a wedding. Here are those things you need to pay attention to.
1. Do not stop praying for each other Hear this again and again, in addition to working on your relationship, you are going to need a lot of prayers. You are going to need that spiritual energy to sustain the relationship. The devil doesn’t want you to get married! He is going to do everything possible to throw tantrums and bring confusion into the relationship. When you pray constantly, you will not enter into his temptation and traps!
2. Do not ignore each other Stay in touch through calls and chats. If there is someone not to ignore, it’s your loved one! Ignoring each other will open the door for the devil to feed your souls with assumptions; and assumptions are the lowest forms of knowledge.
3. Do not stop buying gifts for each other. Gifts should not be one sided. There is nowhere in the scripture where it says it is the destiny of guys to buy gifts while the ladies collect. It should be mutual. You will always be creative with giving gifts to the one you really love.
4. Do not stop sharing spiritual truths. Talk to each other from time to time about your dealings with God. Whatever God is sharing with you in your personal closet, share the same with your spouse. This will enable you to be on the same page. In the coming days when you forget, your spouse is the one that will remind you.
5. Do not discourage each other Don’t wear each other out with criticism and discouraging words. Do not disparage each other. Rather, invest in each other’s esteem and build yourselves up in God. Say good words and prophesy unto yourselves! It works!
I will stop here today and continue tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I know the things to do to make my lover feel loved
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me the things I need to know.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1 Cor 13:4 (AMP)Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go through the devotional again and make plans.
There are several beliefs that are so popular and yet very wrong. They are as wrong as they are popular. Believing them is to the detriment of that believer.
This morning, I want to delve into some of them so you can roll them up as they come and throw them in the trash can.
Incidentally, some of them will be fed to us by precious family and friends around us. That is to the extent they know. And that is why we often believe them. However, you need to note, that irrespective of the source of an information, once it is in contradiction to the scriptures, simply throw them away.
Here is one of those beliefs;
Marriage is unnecessary in the real sense, I can just be a baby mama, have a few children and I will be okay.
Well there is nothing okay about the above scenario. It is in total contradiction to the institution of marriage that God Himself established.
Sleeping with a man because he is a celebrity or he has some money is a total departure to the principles and injunctions of the Lord as we know it.
Marriage is necessary. It helps you to contain sexual sins to a large extent.
Certainly—but only within a certain context. It’s good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder.
1Co 7:2 (MSG)
Marriage is designed to contain sexual sins. Avoiding marriage while wanting to have children will sentence a person to a lifetime of adultery.
This is why a baby mama can often have children for more than one man. What can be more debilitating than that?
I will stop here this morning. See you tomorrow and have a blessed day.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am decided for Jesus. I do things right.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask for the spirit of patience even as you keep on believing.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1 Cor 7:2 (GNT) But because there is so much immorality, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband.
Betty gave her all to that relationship. It was the very first time she would fall in love and it meant a lot to her. She saw nothing other than a glorious wedding, a blissful marriage, and wonderful children ahead. She fantasized herself being with Bode, loving each other as married couples.
She nearly failed her exam at a time because she was in love. The love was like drugs to her. She thought about nothing other than Bode. Her friends told her to slow down but she told them they were jealous and it was because theirs weren’t working.
As time progressed, quarrels reared their heads. The love story began to develop unwanted twists that nearly ended the story abruptly. But she hung on.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was when Betty discovered that Bode was cheating on her with three different ladies, one of them being her best friend.
Her heart was shattered, scattered, and battered.
“All men are scum!” She said.
She went from anger into hurt and then bitterness. From there she entered acute feminism and she was beginning to sing that “marriage is not for me”
Have you ever find yourself in this kind of scenario? I have a word of the Lord for you this morning.
Even though you are hurting and bitter, God will heal your soul! Yes, He promised that!
HE RESTORETH MY SOUL: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psa 23:3 (KJV)
He would not just heal your soul which is battered, He will restore it and reset it! Then He will now lead you into His God’s ordained plan for you maritally.
So when you are hurting, don’t stay in that hurt, go to God and let God do only what God can do.
I pray for you, healing and restoration will come to your soul in Jesus Name!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My soul is restored in God.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray for your emotional healing
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Ps 23:3 (AMP) He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him — not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take your hurting heart to God
Betty has been praying to God for the right man for a few years. Her expectation of her prayers being answered had driven her into some relationships that never worked out. You know how you had prayed and then the next person that showed up seemed like the right person, only for the person to heavily disappoint. Betty wasn’t happy at all. On some days, she would wake up with depression. At other times, she would think something was wrong with her.
What could be wrong with Betty?
There are those seasons in life that it looked like prayers are not working. At such times, it looked like prayers are bouncing off the ceiling back at you. At such other times, it might look like God has gone on holiday to the Bahamas.
It looked like your prayers to settle down in a marital relationship is being ignored. You were serving God in all ways you could and yet others who were not “serious” with God seemed to get their suitors and settle down quickly.
What exactly is happening?
Does God really forget someone? And if He does, should it be me?
Let’s take a look at the scriptures:
But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Isa 49:14-15 (KJV)
The truth is clear here. God will never forget you. He has you in mind. It may look late, but it will eventually be the latest.
It may look like it’s taking long, but God will cause all thing to work out together for you. Keep trusting, keep believing and rest in the assurance that He has not forgotten you!
Good morning!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not forgotten. My prayers are answered.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, comfort me and make me stronger
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Isa 49:15 (MSG) “Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you — never.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Refuse to be bitter or angry.
Yeah! Nobody is perfect! We are all projects in the making in the hands of the Lord. We are all still growing and getting better by the day.
We also often bring with us old practices before we got born again and we still indulge in some of these things even though the Bible says we are to put off the old man.
Even the best of saints will still make mistakes occasionally. And there is provision for this by God in the scriptures.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:9 (KJV)
However, there is a clear difference between making a mistake and having a character defect.
There is also a difference between having a character defect and working on it, and having a HABITUAL character defect that one is not willing to work on.
The former is actively working on it and seeking all help, while the latter is just frolicking in the pool of iniquity because it’s already a habit.
Old habits die hard, they say. The person has to be committed to changing and turning a new leaf. If you are in love with someone who is unwilling to make changes as regards character, then you really need to be extremely careful.
If he or she keeps telling you and promising you that change will come after wedding, that promise might as well be an empty one. There must be genuine repentance and the willingness to change.
However, before there can be a change, there has to be truthfulness and honesty as regard what needs to change. In denial, change is impossible because you cannot change what is deemed as inexistent.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will work on my character before marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Pray that God helps you to work on your weaknesses.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1 John 1:8-9 (MSG) If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins — make a clean breast of them — he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY List your strengths and weaknesses.
Back then, as a young man in the university, I had just fallen in love. It all looked so unique because that would be my first and incidentally, the last. I remember how I was giggling all over the place, because I was in love.
Next thing I felt like doing and which I did was to introduce her to all loved ones, friends, family and all who matter to me. It was just a natural course of action.
If you are in a relationship and your partner is reluctant to introduce you to family, then something might not be at par.
“Oh’ let’s keep it between ourselves for now.” “I don’t want anybody to know about us now.” “Give me some time, I am not ready to let my family know anything now.” “I will take you home when we are close to wedding. For now, let’s keep it low.”
While some of these statements might be genuine, a lot of them are symptomatic of non-commitment in the relationship.
You see, falling in love is not supposed to be like joining a secret cult. I believe it’s a joyful thing and whenever anything joyful happens, you want people who matter in your life to know about it.
The moment things are hidden and coded and you are just been shielded from family despite repeated promises of wedding, care need to be taken.
It is even more intense if your relationship is hidden from your pastors! The person who is hiding usually have issues with accountability or has ulterior motive and is not ready to really be committed.
The person knows telling more people will make it difficult to pull the carpet off when it is time to take off.
So, when he or she is getting secretive, you might need further counseling to get to the root of it.
Have a great day.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I choose to do it right and not secretly.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to make the right choice.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1 Cor 14:40(NKJV)Let all things be done decently and in order.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Be careful of any lover who wants to love you secretly.
