Most times, family members are the most ignored set of people. We tend to think that they will always be there or they don’t need much from us. We pay more attention to people that we meet on the street than to the people we have inside the house. You can easily apologize to a random person you stepped on in the street, but you find it difficult to say ‘sorry’ at home. That is not how it should be!
Now take a good look at your relationship with your family members. Do so by asking yourself these questions and giving an honest answer to each of them:
How often did you tell or show them you love them?
How many times did you help them when they needed it?
How often did you help your parents at home?
How often did you obey parental instructions?
How many times did you pray for your parents or siblings?
What was the last gift you gave your family members?
How often did you spend time with them?
How often did you fight your sibling?
These are personal questions that will guide you. You can and should add yours to these. Showing love to your family is important and gladdens the heart of God. One of the reasons is because the family is the fundamental unit of the society; when things are right there, things will be right in the larger society. As a Christian child, you are supposed to value the family system. Christianity itself is a family of believers in Christ. May the Lord bless you in name of Jesus. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for the family you have blessed me with. I thank you for my parents and siblings. Help me to value them more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Action point: Start by saying a big thank you to your family members for being there for you throughout the year. You can make a big “thank you” card for them.
Signs or symptoms make us pay attention to certain areas of our lives.
There are certain signs or symptoms that our marriage shows that make us know that it is time to pay attention to our marriage. When you have a headache, it is a sign that you need to pay attention to your body. Something is wrong somewhere. It could be as a result of body weakness or something.
Finding out what went wrong is a whole lot of effort on its own. After you find out what is wrong, you then take the right medicine to cure or get rid of the symptoms.
In the same way, our marriage show certain signs that makes is aware of the fact that our marriage need help.
Here are some of those signs:
Observation from friends and family. When friends and family begin to ask questions and are worried about the way your marriage is going. When things are obviously wrong and it is visible to your friends. Then you need to retrace your steps and begin paying attention to your marriage.
When your children’s attitude begins to change. There are several ways when things are not cordial between husband and wife, that affect the children. They may become withdrawn, stubborn, sickly, prone to domestic accidents, lower performance in school. Once you begin to see these signs, then your marriage needs attention.
Physical abuse If there is any kind of abuse in your marriage then that marriage needs attention. Either you visit a marriage counselor, read books, pray, listen to messages, or change your attitude or behaviour. When either of the spouses becomes violet or threatens the marriage, then your marriage needs attention. Note that in all these, it is not about who is right or wrong, it’s about quick intervention in the marriage, and proffering solution to wherever the problem is.
Withdrawal When either of the spouse is withdrawn and no longer enjoy the company of the other spouse, that marriage needs quick intervention. When the couples are nothing but mere bed mate or housemate When silence becomes the order of the day and you find it difficult to share your thoughts, feelings, et cetera. That marriage needs help. When the new normal is monosyllable questions followed by monosyllable answers, your marriage needs help.
I will stop here today and continue tomorrow by God grace.
May God send us needed help at the right time.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I pay attention to my marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to pay attention to my marriage.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
The world is full of so much evil; everyone needs to be protected. And this is where your prayer comes in – you can also pray for protection; for people to be protected by God. The bible tells us that God is the ultimate protector of all mankind. If God does not protect someone, then every form of human protection is utterly useless. See this verse of the Bible:
If the LORD does not build the house, the work of the builders is useless; if the LORD does not protect the city, it does no good for the sentries to stand guard.
Psalm 127:1 (GNT)
Did you see that? Therefore you must learn to pray for protection, if you want people to be guarded by God. Pray for your parents on their way to work, at work, and on their way back home. Pray for your friends, neighbors, extended family members, classmates, and others.
Pray that God will keep them safe from any accident, infection, trouble, or loss. God can protect, and He will protect whatever you hand over to Him. Do you think there is anything that can come and take what is in the Hand of God? I don’t think so. God is so powerful that whatever you commit to Him is kept safe. When you pray for protection, you are putting those people or things into the Hand of God, and they will sure be safe.
You could pray for people worldwide also, especially in places where there are wars or insecurity.
May the Lord keep you and your family safe, as you pray for protection. Amen
Prayer: Lord, I pray that you keep all my family members safe throughout today. Keep my friends safe. Watch over all my loved ones. Amen.
