Today we will be looking at showing gratitude to your parents. Parents can be wonderful. They can be overbearing as well. They can reel out commands, rules, and guidelines. They tell you what to do and what not to do. They tell you when and when not to watch the TV.
To you, it seems as though they were over children. They just grew into adulthood one day.
Well, I have good news for you. Your parents love you. They love you so much they want the best for you. The rules and laws they give you are to bring out the best in you, not necessarily to restrict you.
They want to see you excel in your studies and in life. They want you to become a successful parent someday.
So the next time they tell you to wash your clothes, for example, know that it’s for your own good. They don’t want you to be a dirty person. When your clothes reek of sweat and are dirty, people will not want to associate with you and you could get teased or mocked at school by your mates. This could affect your self-esteem, making you withdraw from others.
Even the Bible encourages us to keep clean as it portrays the state of our hearts before God.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Wash and make yourselves clean. Isaiah 1:16 NIV.
Again the Bible tells you to obey and honor your parents so that it might be well with you.
Ephesians 6:2-3 GW “Honor your father and mother, that everything may go well for you, and you may have a long life on earth.” This is an important commandment with a promise.
Proverbs 20:6 (KJV) Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Most men will tell you all kinds of stuffs while toasting you, but where is really that faithful man?
A faithful man will abound with blessings. If you have a faithful husband, treasure him. If you have a man that will not cheat on you, you are blessed!
We are in a generation where ladies would open their legs without asking for it.
If you are unfaithful, if you are careless, if you have no self control, you will fry yourself alive!
See me, I have made up my mind o… there is no going back by the grace of God!
Making up your mind doesn’t mean you are boasting, it means you are consecrating yourself unto God and by His Spirit to stay true to His word.
I am an Ijebu man. We are very shrewd.
Which one weighs more? Your destiny or seven minutes of sweating and jacking up and down? Just asking ni o!
Enjoying yourself in the pleasure of adultery or fornication versus losing God’s favour and even losing heaven when you are unrepentant! Which one?
2. The Responsible Husband
The responsible husband will ensure his family is taken care of.
He would not spend money drinking around town while his kids are sent home for not paying school fees.
He would do all possible in God to ensure the best is provided for His family.
He is not lazy.
Every woman should pray for a responsible husband.
My heart bleeds to hear of many women who are breadwinners of their families, struggling to make ends meet because they are married to a man who is full of promises and talks but will never do anything.
Marrying a lazy man is an affliction in itself. Before you walk down the aisle, watch it.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am led by the spirit of God. My feelings do not control me.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, lead me to the rightful person for me
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Here, I will make an attempt to describe what marriage should be. This will help our focus to stand on the core of marriage.
A lot of people are into what is far from marriage in God’s perspective and they expect God to bless their union.
If we do things God’s way, He is under obligation to honor us.
1. A covenant marriage is a union between two blessed people.
You are blessed when you both follow and obey God’s injunction as stated in His word. The first step to being blessed is being born again, then attending God’s house regularly as a couple, praying together, studying, meditating, and confessing God’s word. Being blessed has nothing to do with riches but it sure will magnetism riches towards you.
2. Marriage is a union between two responsible people
Both husband and wife must be responsible for their marriage. It is teamwork that requires the input of the two of you. Know the state of each other. Look out for yourselves and never deny each other.
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3. Marriage is between two focused people
If it must be successful, then both husband and wife have to remain focused on their vows. Don’t be distracted by your work, career, children, social life, friends, families, etc. Going in opposite directions will cause disasters and accidents. Desire it to work out and both of you should work it out.
4. Marriage is a union of two servants of God
When both husband and wife serve God, it is easy for them to serve each other. It takes humility to serve God and thus it becomes easier to submit to one another in love. Serving God is the curriculum and the ingredients to having a blissful marriage. Some want to have it wonderful, yet, don’t want to get the ingredients.
May God bless our marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I understand the concept of marriage
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to remain loyal to my spouse
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Co 13:7 [CEV] Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY I will no more work against the unity between myself and my spouse
My children are responsible is our focus today. I remember when I was little and my mother gave me some money to buy fish from the market. When I got to the woman selling the fish, I couldn’t find the money I was given.
Guess what happened when I got home? My mother was angry and scolded me for losing the money.
Why do you think my mother was angry? Was she right to be angry? The answer is “yes”.
It was my responsibility to keep the money well. It was in my possession and I should have kept it well. I was trusted to keep it safe and get what I was sent.
Responsibility means doing what is expected of you and accepting the consequences for either doing or not doing these things.
This means that as a child, there are things you are meant to do, say or keep. Things you will be responsible for. And as you grow older these things increase in size and time.
“…Each person should judge his own actions. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done. Each person must be responsible for himself.”
Gal. 6:5 ICB
The bible verse above says that you are to judge your own actions, check if you are proud of what you do and that you should be responsible for yourself.
In other words, are you proud that you are responsible or not? Judge yourself.
May the Lord give you enlightenment about being responsible. Amen.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I open my heart as I learn about responsibility. Help me to keep my heart open. Amen.
Action point: Ask your parents what your responsibilities are if you don’t know them. If you do, as the bible verse said, are you proud of your actions?
Beyond learning at school, you get to relate with other individuals. You must learn how to be responsible as you relate with people. There are teachers, non-teaching staff, and your fellow students to relate with at school.
Every school has rules and regulations guiding its operations and existence.
Students are meant to obey these rules and regulations at all times.
As a student, the first way to show responsibility is by obeying the rules and regulations of your school.
You should also ensure that you help other students to obey the laws of the school.
When a fellow student is doing something contrary to school rules, you should tell him it’s against the rules. That way you have done your part.
Do not also follow other students to break the rules. Rather than do this, report to the teachers.
In class, ensure you are not causing distractions or joining others to do so. Your class is part of the school and whatever rules the class teacher lays down should be obeyed.
These are just some ways you can show responsibility at school.
May God guide your hearts towards obeying rules and regulations at school. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to be a responsible student at school. Amen.
Action point: Do you know your school rules and regulations? If yes, are you obeying them? If no, get them and read so you can start obeying them.
Declaration: I am an obedient child. I obey laid down rules and regulations.
