The second group is made up of those who may be believers but whose minds are not renewed. The only thing is that they already have a relationship with God, but apart from that, they are still carnal.
They still do their stuff like unbelievers would do. They still want to have fun in forbidden areas and they still want to explore the perverse, which would often come with dire consequences.
My advice for couples in this group is that they seek help as soon as possible.
They don’t see anything wrong with pornography, masturbation, and sleeping with each other. They believe some grace will cover their habitual sexual sins.
They go to church and profess to be born again but their lifestyles and actions are an embarrassment to Christ that they profess.
A carnal brother will beat his wife and justify it with scriptures. A carnal sister will dabble into affairs, especially emotional affairs which may be taken to the next level.
Don’t walk down the aisle with a carnal believer. There will be too many things to manage to the point you would even wish you had married an unbeliever instead!
3. Unbelieving and believing Lovers
Here is another scenario that doesn’t always play out well, except with a lot of patience, prayers, and perseverance. I always advise singles, don’t think of getting married to someone who doesn’t have a relationship with God. It would always be filled with challenges that you might have to fight alone because you are not agreed with your choice of weapons.
You want to pray, but he or she thinks you are just being fanatical. That can be very disconcerting, to say the least. It is always a good combo when both are agreed and are going in the same direction in terms of belief systems and practices.
Your greatest influence is always your spouse. An unbeliever doesn’t see anything wrong in doing drugs, cheating, stealing, violence, and some other ills. How would all these be handled?
The believer who is married to an unbeliever and who cannot persevere or be patient or prayerful will end up frustrated and a loser in that relationship.
The believer can even end up in an adulterous mess in his or her bid to retaliate or get back at the unbelieving lover who is full of atrocities.
To be continued tomorrow…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes to the realities of life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Romans 14:17 [KJV]For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
There are couples that are sitting on a keg of powder
As singles and married couples, you are to deliberately work things out in your relationship or marriage and with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Here is what the scripture says:
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12 KJV)
In a relationship and or marriage, you are to work things out. A relationship or courtship does not lead to marriage automatically. You are to work things out in your disposition, attitude, and reactions.
A marriage does not just succeed; you are to work things out between yourselves.
Now there are some couple combinations that are sure to crack along the way. When you find yourself in these spots, you need to seek help prayerfully and with a lot of wisdom to address the lurking issues. Here are those combinations:
1. Unbelieving Lovers
Two people who are unbelievers may love themselves, may be committed to each other, but when the storms of life come, they will fight their battles alone and you know, some of those battles can be very fierce. They will not have God’s support since they don’t have a relationship with God. They will not have the benefit of sonship and it can be very intense!
They need to connect with God!
Do not fall in love with an unbeliever! The consequences may be debilitating.
Who will they consult in the day of trouble? They will try herbalists and the occult which would plunge them further into the abyss.
Their options are many but shallow. God is the unfathomable one in whom all possibilities lie. He is the merciful God that shields, protect, directs, instructs, heals, and does so many things. A life, marriage, and home devoid of God will dissipate into nothingness in no time.
To be continued tomorrow…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes to the realities of life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Romans 14:17 [KJV]For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
“But why? You are beautiful, you are active in church and everything seems to be going on well.”
“Na beauty I go chop?” Beautiful and yet husbandless at thirty-five?”
“God has a man for you”
“Where is the man? And when will the man come?”
“Just be patient and be prayerful.”
“Shebi, you are already married, cooling off in your husband’s home, with a romantic six-packed man to rest your naughty head on every night, while I am speaking in tongues alone on cold nights with no one in sight”
“Sister Susan!”
“Sister Joy!”
“What about Brother David?”
“It is you that will marry Brother David!”
“Ah! What happened to Brother David?”
“You came to church this morning in a Toyota Lexus right?”
“Yes”
“So, I should go and marry Brother David so that I can improve on all the trekking I have done in the last thirty-five years? So that my name can enter Guinness Book of Record for The trekker of all times, abi?”
“Ha!”
“You no know say the trek wey I don trek for this world, e no get part 2?”
“You can make somebody laugh”
“How will you not laugh?” Please, don’t talk about Brother David o?”
“But my husband didn’t have a car when we married.”
“I don’t have that patience.”
“Ok, what about Brother Godwin? He asked you out and he has a car?
“That one? That bushman? He cannot even pronounce the name of his car well. He is out of it.”
“Brother James also asked you out. That one nko?”
“Brother James is too spiritual for me. He doesn’t know more than quoting Bible and praying in the Holy Ghost. I am not sure I will ever get to see a movie if I marry him.”
“Tee Boy also asked you out. He is not as spiritual.”
“Ah, that choir boy who has toasted every lady in church? He is too carnal for me.”
To be continued tomorrow…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes to the realities of life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Romans 14:17 [KJV]For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
“It is not enough to know what you want. You must also know what God wants for you. You yourself, are you a virgin?”
“Not really.”
“So, is your desire fair and just? Your mind seems confused. If you are not careful, it will be long before you get married.”
“Why do you say so?”
“Stop stressing yourself, with all you want and what you don’t want.
Relax in God and allow Him to lead you. Stop all these nonsensical lists you are making because you will never find anybody that conforms to your lists and desires a hundred percent.”
“Seriously?”
“Unless you want to order for a robot that will be built to your specifications”
“So, what should I do?”
“Go and pray and let God’s Spirit lead you. When you embrace God’s leading, you will find out you have made the right choice in the end. God knows the right statistics that a lady will become in another five years and ten years that will still fit into what your desires are. Allow Him to lead you. Your brain is too small to lead you.”
“Will God also take into consideration the pulchritude?”
“Yes!”
“Then, I will follow God.”
“You had better do so. Pray and look around. She is around you. She will not fall from heaven. Ask God to open your eyes of understanding to see beyond your nose and stop making carnal fleshly decisions.”
“I hear!”
“I pray for you, you will not miss God in Jesus name! God will lead and establish His marital plans in your life in Jesus name!”
“Amen!”
“I need to go now! I have an appointment with my fiancée!”
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes to the realities of life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Romans 14:17 [KJV]For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Thinking aloud, Bob said, “O Lord, where is my woman?”
His friend Ade, looked at him, hissed and retorted, “Woman ko, Grandmother ni!’
“Abeg, I no dey talk to you o”
“You better not be talking to me and don’t bother to talk to God as well.”
“Thank God you are not God! My God will answer my prayers”
“God will not answer that prayer!”
“Kai! What is your problem now?”
“Where is your woman? She would drop from heaven?
“I am patiently waiting for God.”
“What are you waiting for? May you not wait for ever. The wife you will marry is around you.”
“Is it because you are lucky and you are getting married next month? God will do my own too.”
“God has already done it, but you are blind, proud and stubborn”
“Who are you talking about?”
“I am talking about Sade. That lady likes you.”
“I cannot marry her. That girl will fry me alive if I marry her!”
“Why?”
“That sister can talk. The other time we had a date, she dominated everything. I thought I could talk, until I met her. That day, I surrendered.”
“I think she was just being free and being herself.”
“Well. I got scared. I am not sure that is what I want.”
“Ok, what about Sandra? You went out with that one briefly too”
“If I marry Sandra, our house will be too boring. She hardly talks. She will just be looking at you like Lucozade, sitting like sitting room, and as cool as cucumber!” I need someone in-between.
“Ok, what about Sister Comfort? She is not a talkative and she is not so quiet. I think there goes your bride.”
“It is not only Sister Comfort you will see, you will soon see Sister Compassion! Why did you not marry her before you chose that damsel of yours?
“It is you that said you don’t want a loud lady and you don’t want a quiet one. Sister Comfort is just perfect for your desires.”
“She does not have the pulchritude.”
“Pulchritude” Which one is that again?
“She does not have the rotundity of my dreams.”
“Yeh! Rotundity! This brother is backslidden.”
“She does not have the tips, hips and lips. I want a babe, not just a sister.”
“Lord, God Almighty!”
“There is a difference between a sister, a sisto, a babe and a woman!”
“Ha! May you not remain a bachelor for life!”
“I simply know what I want.”
To be continued tomorrow…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open my eyes to the realities of life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Romans 14:17 [KJV]For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
