Blueprints for a Successful Marriage and Home by Bishop Oyedepo.
Before we dive into today’s devotional, I want to wish you a happy new month! God bless you massively! This month, God has given us a word! You will SING a NEW SONG! I’m expecting your testimonies!
The enemy has targeted the family as his number one priority to attack and prevent a Successful Marriage and Home. Bishop Oyedepo shares in his YouTube video titled “How To Build A Successful Home” how to protect your home through the power of God’s Word and have it overflowing with miracles instead of darkness.
1. The Enemy’s Target: The Family.
As we learn from Genesis, Satan was personally introduced as soon as the first family was established by God. His very first activity on earth was directed towards destroying this family unit. Satan appeared immediately after God had concluded the first marriage between Adam and Eve.
Satan knew that the family was central to God’s plan and purpose. By attacking the home, he could undermine what God was establishing. Even today, the home remains one of Satan’s top priorities to infiltrate and dismantle. Whether it is causing strife between husbands and wives or turning children away from their parents, Satan will do anything to wreck God’s design for families.
2. Jesus’ Counter: Establishing Joy at a Wedding.
In direct contrast, the first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding in Cana to save the celebration. Jesus appeared where Satan had sought to destroy, in the context of marriage and family.
By turning water into wine, Jesus brought joy to the newlywed couple on what should have been a happy occasion. He established that his mandate was to give life abundantly. Just as Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus came so that we may have life more plentifully.
This miracle sets the stage for Jesus to undo all of Satan’s works. It showed his heart was for restoring families and taking away any shame that the enemy tried to bring. Wherever Satan brought sorrow, Jesus promises joy instead. Jesus showed His support for a Successful Marriage and Home.
3. Do Whatever God Tells You To Do.
Bishop Oyedepo highlights the servants’ obedience as the key to Jesus performing miracles. When he told them to fill the water pots, they did so fully without question. This is one of the blueprints of a Successful Marriage and Home.
If we want to see miracles in our homes, we must do whatever God says – not half-heartedly, but to the fullest extent. When His Word calls us to honor our spouse, forgive easily, or put our kids first – we must obey without limit. Full obedience unlocks God’s power.
4. Fill the “Water Pots” with the Word.
The servants were filling the pots with water, but the passage likens the water to God’s Word. When we fill our minds and homes with scripture, speaking it over our situations, we position ourselves for miracles.
God’s Word has the power to transform every area, just as the water became wine. Make time each day to read the Bible and pray its truths over your family and you will enjoy a Successful Marriage and Home.
5. Miracles Will Be the Result.
When the servants obeyed Jesus fully by filling the pots to the brim with water, the scripture says he then told them to draw some out and take it to the governor of the feast. And when the ruler tasted it, he declared it the best wine of all – even though it had just been turned from water moments before.
In the same way, when we obey God’s Word completely for our families and homes, miracles will be the inevitable result. Where there was lack, abundance will come. Trouble will turn to triumph. And what the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good beyond what we could ask or think.
Through obedience, our families can be transformed from average to excellent – far surpassing what people expect. So make the choice today to do all that God instructs for your home. Miracles will follow!
6. Avoid Strife.
Bishop Oyedepo noted that Satan works by spreading unauthorized information to cause strife. But God’s people have a distinct advantage – we are called to walk in the light of His Word. To have a Successful Marriage and Home you have to avoid strafe!
7. Walk in the Word and Hear God, Not Men.
When gossip, rumors, or doubts come our way, the Bible instructs us to test everything and hold fast to what is good. We must determine if a message lines up with Scripture or comes from an ungodly source meant to deceive. By hearing God’s voice above all others, no weapon formed against our home can prosper (Isaiah 54:17). His truth protects us from the enemy’s schemes. We will stop here today and continue tomorrow.
10 Tips for Navigating Difficult Conversations in Relationships.
This is is the last part
4. Avoid Assumptions.
When communicating with your partner, it’s essential to avoid making assumptions and instead ask open-ended questions to gain a better understanding of their perspective.
Assumptions can lead to miscommunication, conflict, and erode trust, whereas asking questions shows that you’re genuinely interested in understanding your partner’s viewpoint, which can help build trust and strengthen your connection.
By asking open-ended questions, you can clarify doubts and uncertainties, gain a deeper understanding of your partner’s thoughts and feelings, and build trust and intimacy.
Examples of open-ended questions include asking for your partner’s opinion, how they felt in a particular situation, what they need from you, and why they made a certain decision. When asking questions, it’s essential to avoid leading questions, listen actively, ask follow-up questions, and not interrupt your partner.
5. Stay Calm and Composed.
In difficult conversations that are emotionally charged, it’s essential to stay calm and composed. This means taking a moment to collect your thoughts before responding, so you can prevent impulsive reactions and promote a more thoughtful and constructive dialogue. Emotional regulation is crucial in these situations, as it enables you to think clearly, listen actively, and manage your emotions.
To stay calm, you can take a deep breath, count to ten, or step away for a moment to collect your thoughts.
It’s important to remember that staying calm doesn’t mean suppressing your emotions. Acknowledging and expressing your emotions in a constructive way can help create a more respectful and thoughtful conversation.
6. Focus on the Issue, Not the Person.
When you’re in tough conversations in relationships, it’s super important to focus on the issue at hand, not attack the other person. Personal attacks can be really damaging to your relationship and make it hard to have an open and honest conversation.
When you personally attack someone, you make them defensive, which can shut down the conversation. You erode trust, making it harder to have honest conversations. You also escalate the situation, leading to more conflict and tension
Focusing on the issue instead of attacking your partner can reduce defensiveness, making it easier to have an open and honest dialogue
7. Use Positive Language.
Frame your message in a positive and constructive way, focusing on solutions rather than problems. Use positive language to express your concerns, and try to find common ground. Instead of saying “you’re always late,” say “I feel frustrated when we’re running behind schedule; can we find a way to manage our time better?” By reframing your message, you can shift the focus from criticism to collaboration.
8. Seek Common Ground.
What if you looked for areas where you both agree and worked together to find a solution that works for both of you? When you do this, you start communicating way better, and actually listen to each other. You become a team, working together to find a solution that rocks for both of you. Your relationship gets stronger, because you’re building trust and understanding each other better.
And you reduce conflict, because you’re not fighting anymore – you’re working together. To make this magic happen, here are some tips: listen to your partner, like, really listen, and try to understand where they’re coming from.
9. Be Willing to Compromise.
Compromise is a crucial aspect of any successful relationship or marriage, and it’s essential to be willing to listen to your partner’s concerns and find a middle ground that works for both parties. This doesn’t mean sacrificing your own needs or desires, but rather being open to finding a solution that benefits both of you.
To compromise effectively, you should listen actively to your partner’s concerns, identify common goals, be flexible, communicate openly, and seek creative solutions.
10. Follow Up and Follow Through.
After having a difficult conversation, it’s essential to follow up and follow through on any agreements or actions discussed, which helps build trust and demonstrates a commitment to communication and understanding.
By following through on your commitments, you show that you’re reliable and responsible, which can strengthen your bond and build a stronger foundation for your relationship. Following up and following through on agreements is crucial in relationships because it builds trust, demonstrates responsibility, and shows a commitment to communication. To follow up effectively, set clear expectations, establish a timeline, communicate regularly, and be transparent about your progress.
By following the top ten tips, including choosing the right time and place, being aware of your emotions, using “I” statements, practicing active listening, and compromising, you can build a stronger, more fulfilling relationship based on trust, respect, and open communication.
Remember, navigating difficult conversations is an ongoing process that requires effort and commitment from both partners, but by working together and following these tips, you can build a stronger, more fulfilling relationship that lasts a lifetime.
