1. Accept your spouse and never attempt to change him/her.
If one has to be happy, one must make up one’s mind, that no matter what, I must keep my joy in place.
Some marriages are very problematic and require extra effort to stay happy.
All in all, every marriage has its own peculiar problem and each one has to do certain things just to stay and remain happy.
2. Be contented with whatever you have per time
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:6 KJV
Bible says there is great gain in being content, with being godly. Why? Because with your godliness, your situation will eventually change for the better.
You may start out with your spouse from not enough, not being able to afford the basic necessities of life, just hold on to the Lord. Most of the great men of God you see today had stories of humble beginnings.
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Be content with your husband or wife’s temperament. Know that her weaknesses are good for you because the other temperament you admire so much, also has a weakness you will never be able to cope with.
3. Find a reason to laugh every day
No matter what life throws at you, laugh. I know it is easier said than done. Life has to be approached by doing what has to be done no matter whether it is convenient or not.
A good hearty laugh is a healthy medicine.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Pro 17:22 KJV
4. Be grateful and thankful that you have a family
One of the things that keep anyone happy is having a grateful attitude.
The truth of the matter is that you will have more things to thank God for than you can ever imagine. Take time out to be thankful for yourself, your spouse, and all the so-called ‘little victories’ you have.
Be grateful for each day. The gift of life, for the air you breadth and all the things we so take for granted.
5. Forgive your spouse easily
Not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person that offended you to die. This will never happen. The effect of the poison will always be on the one who drank the poison,
Learn to forgive easily and quickly. Not forgive and then hold your spouse in strife and malice and don’t talk to your spouse again.
Marriage is for two great forgivers. When you forgive you are lighter in your spirit and happier because you can have a free flow of the spirit and then you enjoy the joy of salvation.
Wisdom, understanding, and peace can also access your spirit when you are void of unforgiveness.
Do these five things and you will see that you are a more happy person. Not that your situation will change immediately, but you will have peace with yourself.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am a happy person and am full of life
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to embrace those things that make me truly happy.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 17:22 KJV A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Do these things and watch your marriage transform
The family altar is where the family consisting of the father, mother, children, and any other person living in the home come together and all look up together to God as their rock of Defence against all the odds in marriage and life.
It is a place of unity, where God is invited to unite the family together. The prayer altar is meant to be a place of sincerity and honesty. Each member of the family should be taught not to approach God’s presence like a superhero but to be vulnerable in His presence.
Each member of the family must be taught to participate enthusiastically in worship, praise, prayer, confessions, reading the Bible and discussions, since these are the activities done during the family altar.
Now there are many scenarios in different homes and marriages that can debar a proper daily family altar. We have couples who have never had family altar as their family routine before and just want to start.
We have a family where the husband doesn’t like the idea or doesn’t give it much priority or attention.
We have a family where the husband is always busy thus the wife is left to organize the family devotion.
We have a family where it is a headache to get the children to participate.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
In other families, the issue of timing is their case. Others yet, it is a disagreement between the couples that forms a hindrance to their family altar.
Whichever group we fall into, we should know that our family devotion is very, very important. The importance of the family altar may not be obvious at the present but it will eventually show.
I grew up with my dad leading the family altar in the morning and evening and we can see the benefits 30 years after in the lives of all of the children. Begin to make efforts to start your family altar now if you have not and you can strengthen your family altar if you already have a family altar.
Let your children be more participative. Let it suit their ages, as you put them into consideration. Let the time of the devotion not be too long to help their concentration.
Let God help you to find what suits the whole family. Work out something that everybody will be comfortable with.
God bless your marriage
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I receive the grace to take my family altar more seriously.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Ask for wisdom and understanding for your marriage
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Prov 11:29 (GW) Whoever brings trouble upon his family inherits only wind, and that stubborn fool becomes a slave to the wise in heart.
Today I will share with you some helpful hints. A broken heart for a moment is better than a broken heart for life. You may want to carefully and prayerfully weigh your options and make your decision. Remember we make decisions and the decisions eventually make us.
1. Consider your future and destiny It is very important in falling in love to consider the future. Can you see him/her in the picture of your future? Is there destiny alignment? Are there things in destiny to accomplish together?
2. Consider your genotype For example, AS and AS is a no-go area. Don’t fall in love before finding out your genotype. A few days of pain and a broken heart is far better than a lifetime of pain and regret.
3. If he/she is an unrepentant sinner If he/she is an unbeliever or a believer who still enjoys habitual sin and is unrepentant. The things of God are taken with levity and he/she is making no efforts to draw closer to God. He or she does not go to church. A breakup may save you from a regretful future.
4. If there are a lot ofcharacter flaws Nobody is perfect but there are some character flaws that cannot be overlooked. If he or she drinks, smokes, womanizes, is a fraudster or engages in any form of violence, a break may be a better option.
5. If love is not genuine If the love is lopsided and he or she only loves you for what he can get from you a breakup is a better option. There is no genuine basis for the relationship.
6. If there is a major parental and family disapproval If prayers, efforts, and all possible options have been explored and yet there is strong parental disapproval despite prayers, you may want to consider a breakup. It may happen to be direction in the long run.
Remember that as a child of God, He wants the best for us and our future.
God bless you.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am wise in my decisions
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, give me a wise and understanding heart
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 16:9 (KJV) A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Consider these points and see if need be to break up
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.
