Yesterday, I established that the enemy often seeks to use the weapon of hurt to worth his threefold agenda in marriages. This is to steal, kill and destroy. No marriage is immured to the strategies and attacks of the enemy.
He will often steal from our marriages, kill and snuff out life from our marriage and totally destroy all that our marriage stands for.
It is a blessing blocker. When you are hurt, your heart cannot receive from God, get rid of hurts, and make sure your heart is guarded against any form of hurt that may arise.
If you don’t learn to handle your hurts the right way, it will lead to bitterness, which can lead to rage which can lead to all sorts of vices like murder. There is a right way and a wrong way of handling hurts. Make sure you are not a victim of the deadly poison of hurt.
Some wrong and unhealthy ways to handle it include:
1. Vengeance or Retaliation
This is when you allow the hurt to get at you so much that you act back based on the hurt. Retaliation could come in various ways, wanting to hurt your spouse back, or inflict pain.
2. Closing your heart
We have a tendency to block our hearts as a way of protecting our hearts from further hurts.
3. Rehearsing or replaying the hurt
We may also be in the rot of replaying the words or events that hurt us.
I know there are different levels and degrees of hurt. But whichever, we have a responsibility of guarding our hearts and we have a choice not to be hurt.
The best way to guard our hearts against hurts is by taking communion. Try it, it works so well. Take communion and plead the blood of Jesus over your heart.
Also, take authority over the hurt, and exercise authority over words that cause hurt.
Guard your heart against the effect of hurt using these two scriptures
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and overall the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. –Luke 10:19 (KJV)
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. –Isaiah 54:17 (KJV)
Anytime there is a quarrel between couples and there is an exchange of harsh words, you will do well to guard your heart against this hurt.
Even after you have made up and started talking, if not properly dealt with, you could still be nursing the hurt. Get rid of the hurt and don’t allow any root of bitterness to defile you.
Let your heart be void of offense, bitterness, or hurt; against your spouse, siblings, parents, God, life, etc.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY: I declare concerning my life and marriage, I have victory, the enemy has lost the battle over my life and mind. I refuse to stay in hurt and unforgiveness, Jesus is glorified.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY: Father in the name of Jesus every fiery dart of the evil one is destroyed in my life and marriage in Jesus name
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. -Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY: Forgive and let go of every hurt today
SINGLES – How To Survive Hurts And Disappointments
Continued from yesterday…
Forgiveness is releasing the offender in your heart only to discover you are freeing yourself. The offender or the person that hurt has moved on, and it is even probable he might meet Jesus along the way, retrace his steps and do well. It is you that must not resign to fate because of some past occurrences, let go and let God!
Why must you forgive hurts? God says so. You also want Him to forgive you anyway.
It will be too much to hold a person or persons in bitterness in your heart. Free yourself and allow God who is the re-writer of history to rewrite your life. Allow God who can collapse years to recompense every lost year. Allow God who is the restorer to help you to the point that you will forget the shame of your youth!
Yes, he really hurt you. He jilted you. She deceived you. He pushed you into abortions. She eloped with your money. He raped you. Your cousin violated you. Your big sister abused you. Your father slept with you. Your house-help did this and that…the issues are endless…It has happened!
Don’t ostracize yourself like Mephibosheth to Lo-debar, a land of no communication because he was dropped by his caretaker and broke his ankles. Rather, allow God to make a message out of the mess. Allow Him to turn the mistakes into miracles. That is How To Survive Hurts And Disappointments.
Allow God to birth a dream out of the doom. Allow him to showcase you to the world that when He covers anybody with His glory, the shame and the embarrassments become a thing of the past, and the broken become masters at mending.
The first step is to forgive hurts. I pray for strength for you today in your inner man to let go. Some of you have bottled it for years and it has kept you captive like when a lion holds its prey at the jugular.
Don’t allow bitterness and strife to lock their jaws on you and keep you immobilized. If you need somebody to talk with to initiate the healing process, feel free to give me a call on +234 802 3507395. If I don’t pick up your calls, keep trying, I might be in a meeting.
Don’t just become a survivor. Become a forgiver!
It’s a new day for you!
You will succeed!
Your life will be a testimony!
You are blessed!
How To Survive Hurts And Disappointments
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My future is colorful and bright. I will not allow an unforgiving spirit to rob me of it. I receive grace to forgive all hurts and offense
PRAYERS FOR TODAY Lord, I ask you to give me a loving heart like Jesus. Give me a heart that forgives hurts and prays for those who despitefully use us.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 6:14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Make a list and forgive all and don’t keep an unforgiving spirit
SINGLES – How To Survive Hurts And Disappointments
Today’s devotional is about a decision we all have to make. Some people have been badly abused, cheated and taken for granted in their past relationships. They feel justified to hold their offenders in unforgiving spirit but the truth is that an unforgiving spirit holds you as a prisoner to the past.
You cannot be pregnant of yesterday and expect to deliver of your tomorrow and enjoy your today. Nature detest vacuum. It is either your heart is filled with the bitterness of yesterday or filled with the joy of today and the hope of tomorrow.
Some of you were rejected and forgotten by your fathers. Some of our mothers were not there when we needed them. They failed in their responsibilities to bring us up. Some mothers even abandon their babies. Some of those we love and hold in respect disappointed us, even abused and violated us.
For some, a trusted friend, aunty, brother, sister, cousin or even a fiancee betrayed your loyalty.
No matter the case, God understands. He knows the pain of the hurts. He loves you so much as you are but He also loves you too much to leave you the way you are. He desires your healing.
Remember He is a Doctor, the Physician. Doctors prescribe the medication for your recovery. The patient will have to trust the expertise of the doctor to receive his health back. No matter how painful or bitter the medication is, the patient has to follow through patiently. You endure the pain knowing it is just for a while…
Most medicines, injections, drips, operations or any recovery procedure are not palatable, but because our health is also very important, we endure them all.
I want you to see yourself as a patient today and Jesus as the doctor, telling you to forgive as a medication to heal your hurts and make you free again to live, love and laugh.
Remember you are not perfect either and always need the gift of forgiveness from God. The fact is that as long as you are still alive, you will hurt people, people will hurt you and you will need each other’s forgiveness.
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My future is colourful and bright. I will not allow an unforgiving spirit to rob me of it. I receive grace to forgive all who have hurt and offended me
PRAYERS FOR TODAY Lord, I ask you to give me a loving heart like Jesus. Give me a heart that forgives and prays for those who despitefully use us.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Mat 6:14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Make a list and forgive all and don’t keep an unforgiving spirit
Women get easily hurt. And the husbands may not even be aware that they are hurt because their needs are miles apart.
Those are the times a husband asks his wife, “what is wrong?” She simply answers “Nothing!”
She says nothing because she doesn’t feel good explaining that something so little gets her upset.
Or she knows if she tries to explain, the husband might end up making her look like an idiot. So she keeps quiet.
What are examples of those little things that could upset your wife?
1. Don’t do things that make her uncomfortable sexually. Don’t embarrass her and don’t compare her with some past escapades.
2. Don’t ignore her when it comes to making important of financial decisions. Don’t leave her in the dark, keeping her guessing all the time.
3. Don’t compare her with others especially when it has to do with her appearance, weight or hairdo. Don’t go out of your way to appreciate and dote on other women while you completely ignore her.
4. Don’t do things that you have disallowed her from doing, making her feel like a little child who cannot think for herself.
5. Don’t ignore her when she is emotionally down or physically tired. Don’t say things like, “I am tired of you. When you get out of your nasty moods, let me know!”
6. Don’t hug and embrace other ladies endlessly while you don’t even hold her hands in public. Go out of your way and offer some PDA! Public Display of Affection!
7. Don’t leave her alone to do all the house chores while still expecting her to be an amazon in bed later in the night. That would be insensitive.
8. Don’t watch football all day and all night while refusing to let her watch her favorite programs. Don’t make her look like an idiot for her preference of programs. Join her to watch sometimes, and encourage her to join you as well.
9. Don’t forget or deliberately ignore her special days like birthdays and other anniversaries. Rather go out of your way to set notifications so that you can surprise her on those special days.
May God grant more understanding
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am good spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, bless our marriage
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 5:18 (KJV) Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
I remember many years ago, as a young Christian, I was praying and trusting God for some things. God answered me very clearly and told me to forgive so and so.
Now, these people really hurt me, and I felt justified walking in an unforgiving spirit. But then God gave me two scriptures and said if I want to move forward in life, I have to forgive.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” – (Romans 12:19 ESV)
The second scripture God gave me was:
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices – (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 KJV)
I had to listen to God and it was only then I was able to move forward.
From the above scriptures, a few things are clear.
1. People will hurt you, as long as you are human and you are in the days of your flesh.
2. You will like to get even, born again or not.
3. Don’t get even; don’t avenge yourself.
4. God will avenge you, He will fight for you and that is when it is sweetest.
5. If you stay in unforgiving mode, Satan will use it as a loophole to cause havoc.
6. You are not to be ignorant of how the devil operates.
A third scripture I will like you to see is here:
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses – (Matthew 6:14-15 KJV)
Now, you don’t want to find yourself here. You don’t want to find yourself in a place where God will not forgive you.
And yet, the only way not to get there is to forgive people easily!
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I choose to forgive all who have hurt me
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask for the grace to forgive all who have hurt you
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 ESV)
