Happy New Year to everyone at Kisses and Huggs Club! This year has been declared our year of supernatural growth, and with this declaration comes the promise of remarkable progress in every area of our lives.
Growth is a natural progression in life. When a single man gets married, it signifies maturity, as marriage is not for the immature. Like we say, ‘marriage is not for boys’. Similarly, when a married woman gives birth, it marks a new level of growth within the family. This year, I encourage you to embrace the promise of supernatural growth and pray for its manifestation in every aspect of your life.
One specific area where I urge you to grow this year is your consistency. Studies have shown that consistency is the key to achieving anything worthwhile. This is not the year to repeat the same patterns and routines of the past. A great scholar once said ‘Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly, but expecting different results.’ You must do things differently if you want a different result this year. This is a year to step into greater maturity and achieve remarkable outcomes through unwavering commitment.
Let’s draw wisdom from the Scriptures:
Luke 18:7 (AMP) And will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on their behalf?
Here, we see the importance of persistent and consistent prayer. God is moved by those who seek Him consistently—day and night—not by those who come to Him sporadically or half-heartedly.
Consider your own prayer life. Are you consistent in seeking God, or do you waver? This year, resolve to pursue Him with steadfast devotion. For instance, as you participate in the GPPS (Global Prayers and Praise Storm) challenge, don’t be haphazard about it. Don’t settle for three days in a week and expect the same results as someone who goes all the way.
My questions to you this morning:
Have you ever been wronged or felt like life has treated you unfairly?
Do you long for God’s justice to intervene in your circumstances?
Are you feeling helpless and in need of the Great Defender to fight on your behalf?
If so, the answer lies in your consistency. Cry out to God both day and night.
Matthew 7:7: (AMP) “Ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
Notice the recurring theme: persistence. Don’t ask during the day and fall silent at night. Seek Him continuously, knowing that His justice is promised to those who diligently pursue Him.
This year, my desire is that you grow by developing a deeper and more consistent relationship with God. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. This unwavering commitment is the key to unlocking His justice and experiencing supernatural growth in your life.
David, a formidable warrior and a field marshal in every sense, fought numerous battles and emerged victorious in almost all of them.
But he experienced moments of intense emotional turmoil, reaching his lowest point.
One such instance occurred when his biological son attempted to seize his throne.
What happened? Did Absalom chase him away from his throne? Yes, he did.
Psa 3:1-2 (KJV) A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. [2] Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
He was down as he attested that many others joined Absalom in the rebellion. He recounted how many people abandoned him, and even some people claimed that God had forsaken him and refused to assist him.
Have you ever experienced situations where it felt like those closest to you betrayed your trust? Have you been disappointed by people you considered trustworthy?
Well, let me tell you about David. He prayed a prayer that I’d like to share with you!
Psa 3:3 (KJV) But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
There are four things in that one verse:
Relationship with God: But thou, O LORD God, My protection: Art a shield for me; God, my glory: My Glory God, lifter up of my head: The lifter up of mine head.
Whatever challenges you’re facing, God will be there for you! Whenever you’re going through a stormy time, pray that prayer and God will show up for you!
Let’s take a look at The Passion Translation.
Psa 3:3 (TPT) But in the depths of my heart I truly know that you, Yahweh, have become my Shield; You take me and surround me with yourself. Your glory covers me continually. You lift high my head when I bow low in shame.
Do you know what part I love the most? You take me and surround me with yourself!”
In the remaining days of this month and the days ahead, God will envelop you with His divine presence! What else would you need apart from that? Walk into the coming days with that assurance that “God surrounds me!”
Dating discipleship is about seeing your relationship as a way to grow closer to God and each other. It’s intentional, faith-centered dating that moves beyond simple activities to a deeper spiritual connection.
2. Recognize Why Shared Faith Matters
Sharing a faith foundation creates alignment in values and goals. With God as your base, you gain a toolkit for tackling challenges together, helping both of you stay grounded and connected.
3. Set Spiritual Goals Together
Set goals beyond everyday plans, like praying, studying the Bible, or serving together. Spiritual goals, even in small steps, deepen your bond and align you with God’s purpose.
4. Work on Growth Together
Challenges will come, but a shared faith gives you the resources to handle them. Communicate openly, respect each other’s journeys, and seek guidance from mentors for a grounded, faith-based approach.
5. Enjoy Faith with Fun
Balance spiritual growth with fun! Try daily devotions, worship together, or celebrate small faith milestones to keep things light and enjoyable as you build spiritual unity.
6. Face Real Challenges Faithfully
When conflicts arise, address them with honest communication, pray together, and seek outside perspectives from a mentor or pastor. Faith offers peace and patience to work through hard times.
7. Build a Faith-Based Community
Surround yourself with supportive friends, small groups, or couples’ retreats. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that community can strengthen faith, providing encouragement and accountability.
8. Cultivate a Faith-Focused Culture in Your Relationship
Practice gratitude, talk about spiritual experiences, and create simple faith-based traditions, like weekly prayer or sharing reflections, to make faith a natural part of your relationship.
9. Envision the Long Term
If marriage is the goal, use dating discipleship to build a foundation. Discuss future visions for family, finances, and ongoing faith growth, setting up a lifetime of shared values.
10. Embrace Dating Discipleship as a Lifelong Journey
Dating discipleship isn’t about perfection. It’s a journey of faith, growth, and love. Stay true to your faith, enjoy the journey, and keep building a relationship that reflects God’s love.
Dating discipleship transforms your relationship into a spiritual journey, helping you grow closer to God while nurturing the love for each other.
One of the greatest elements of the foundation of our relationship and marriage was prayers. Oh yes, we prayed. There were no mobile phones in those days, but it was made possible because we attended the same college! We prayed like our lives depended on it, and yes, our lives depended on it!
Today, you have phones and other gadgets, so distance should not even be an issue for you in praying together.
Why should you pray? The devil is on the prowl, and you cannot afford to play. A person who does not pray will eventually become a prey.
Here are a few tips that will help you build a strong prayer life in your relationship or marriage:
1. Prioritize it
The first thing in the morning is not checking your phone. The first thing is to worship and pray to your maker. If you are single in a relationship, you and your lover can have a fixed time and wake up one another via calls regardless of your location. If you are already married, it is even much better. I know some couples wake up at different times and pray separately.
That is okay, but ensure you still find other times when you pray together. Carve out some quality time to pray together and create that special connection. It’s about opening up, being real, and bringing God into your relationship.
2. Add Bible Juice.
God’s word is life! Sprinkle some relevant scriptures into your prayer times to add some extra spice. Let your prayers be Bible-based, and make sure you have a word to back up your request like a lawyer would do in court. This will encourage you as partners to dig into God’s word to find relevant scriptures for your prayers.
3. Keep It Real and Vulnerable.
No need to “form” for God! Prayer is all about being raw and open with God and your partner. It’s a safe space to share your deepest dreams, struggles, and flaws. Embrace that authenticity, yo! Being vulnerable in prayer creates an environment for you and your partner to grow together. Realness breeds a solid connection, and prayer is the perfect platform for that.
4. Make it a Habit
Consistency is the key. The devil fears consistency, and that is why he fights it. Do everything possible to maintain consistency in the timing and the place where you pray. Systemize your prayer times, and you will see God bring systems and structures into your life and finances.
I will continue where I stopped two days ago. Previously, I wrote about the fact that God gave every woman the ability and capacity to be a builder.
Our text in Proverbs 14:1 KJ V says,
“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands’.
We also talked about how we need to build according to the pattern.
Ex 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
God is the architect, He gives us the blueprint of what we should build, the material to use in building, and how we should build. It is building according to the pattern that makes us wise women who build our homes.
Today, we will be looking at how we should build our homes and families.
1. We should build with prayers
Jud 1:20-But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Our homes and families have different aspects just like any building has different sections and areas like the sitting room, the bathroom, the bedroom, the kitchen etc. Each of these different component of the building have different functionalities and you cannot replace them with each other. In the same way, the different aspects of our homes and families need to be built up through prayers.
You must build every aspect of your home, marriage, and family with prayers. As a woman, you are not permitted to joke with prayers. Pray for each child. In fact, praying for them starts from conception. And the best way to pray for your children is in tongues as the Holy Spirit grants you utterance. You pray for and about your spouse and every detail of his life. It is an assignment. Your husband’s success should be your prayer burden. Pray for yourself because you are also part of that building. It is full-time work. There are so many aspects of your home and marriage that you build up through prayers.
2. We should build with the Word
Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
The word of God is our only guarantee of a strong and solid foundation for our homes, marriage, and families. The infallible word of God is what ensures that what we are building stands the test of time and can weather the storms of life. So that whatever beats against our family and marriage, we will still be standing.
When we take time to build intentionally with fervent and continuous prayers and the Word of God we are wise. Don’t let us be like the foolish builder in Luke 6:49. Let’s learn to build according to the pattern God has shown us.
It is my prayer that we will be wise indeed and that the Lord will give us strength and Grace to carry on His mandate for our lives as women.
