Valentine’s Wisdom For Married Couples. There are so many stories about who valentine actually was. Here is one of the prominent stories.
He was a Roman priest during the 3rd century A.D. Emperor Claudius II was the king at the time. He decided to ban marriage, because of the notion that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers. Valentine secretly officiated marriages. He was eventually found out, arrested, and imprisoned. He was then beheaded and he became a martyr by the Church because he gave up his life to perform the institution of marriage.
By the 5th Century, Pope Gelasius declared the 14th of February to be Valentine’s day!
Well, today is no longer a sacred day as it were! In the lives of some ladies, today would probably be the saddest day of their lives. To some others, it would be the day they would be introduced into the world of sexual compromise! A lot more have penciled today down today as the day they would desecrate the one they profess they love.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
Here are a few words for married couples
1. Be faithful with your spouse today. Do not cheat on him or her.
2. If you have quarrels, today is an opportunity to settle such quarrels. Take him or her out! Apologize, stay humble, and don’t flare up on a day like this.
3. Don’t hide under spirituality. Get something for each other on a day like this. Exchange gifts; not just husbands giving to wives but both ways.
4. If your spouse has traveled for any reason, stay in communication and resist any kind of pressure to compromise!
5. End every strife and stay away from bitterness. If you have been sexually depriving yourselves, try and make up today. Make her happy first, go back to the days you met her. What are those things you did that made her say “yes?” Those are the things to replicate and you will be amazed. Find out his or her love language and speak that language. Your goal is not to get what you want, but to make your spouse happy!
6. Decide to be joyful. Avoid strife. Refuse to be depressed on a day like this. Rather, use the pain you feel to talk to God to move on your behalf.
Tonight, we have Valentine’s dinner for Couples! More details HERE
CONFESSION OF THE DAY I seek to understand my spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord I receive grace to understand my spouse more
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous
We started with this topic yesterday and I will be concluding on it today. I established yesterday that unity or being united has to do with being whole, being one and being together, speaking the same language, with the same voice for the purpose of achieving a common goal
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. – 1Co 1:10
The issue of husband and wife being one is very crucial. The opposite of unity is division, seeing differently and having opposing viewpoints. With unity, we can build maximally and reach our highest potential as couples.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! – Ps 133:1
From the story of the Tower of Babel, we can see the power of unity and the power of disagreement.
Unity comes when we as couples are in agreement. This happens when we see ourselves with the eyes of the spirit, when we see ourselves the right way that we are in a covenant relationship, and that whatever we do affect our spouse and eventually the union and our progress.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
To understand and have a spiritual perspective of who we are, we must remain spiritual and make the Holy Spirit our friend. Marriage is spiritual and to make a success of it, we in turn have to be spiritual, and have guiding principles.
Never go to bed with an unresolved disagreement. When your spouse hurts you, don’t react, talk to the Holy Spirit first. That sounds hard or impossible, but it works. You have to practice it before you become perfect doing that.
Some benefits of being united, being in agreement and being as one are;
1. Unity brings progress
2. When you are in agreement, your prayers are answered.
3. Your voice will be as one in the spirit and you will command much respect. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.
4. Unity brings prosperity
5. Unity brings peace
6. Unity enables you to achieve more.
7. Your results are exponentially multiplied.
8. You and your children are protected and preserved
9. The power of God dwells with you
10. There is God’s favor and blessings upon your home and in all you do, you prosper.
Make up your mind to never fight or be in disagreement with your spouse again. Accept the headship of your husband. Please him and do whatever he says. Be happy with him, honor him because the word of God says so and it will be well with you and your family. You will have rich rewards to show for it.
May God open our eyes and understanding in Jesus name, amen!
God bless our marriages.
CONFESSION OF THE DAY I seek to understand my spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord I receive grace to understand my spouse more
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Be patient to understand your spouse
You wouldn’t imagine how important this is to women. They want to hear it all the time! A man wonders why he should keep saying that because he is logical.
A woman thinks if you don’t say it often, with emotion, eyeball to eyeball, you don’t really love her!
For singles, It is okay to express your love to your fiancée but you must not allow verbal expression to lead to physical aggression. You sure know what I am talking about!
2. Tell her she is beautiful.
Women have issues with their bodies especially after giving birth. She worries about her shape, her belly, her face and more. It goes a long way when you tell her and keep telling her that she is beautiful. I say this to my wife all the time and she would still blush and smile like she is hearing that for the first time.
If your fiancé or husband never says that to you, ask him directly how you look in a dress.
Ladies who are not yet in a relationship, understand that you will not appear beautiful to everybody. If somebody says you are ugly, that is a personal opinion. You will be beautiful to your spouse!
The scripture says you are ‘fearfully’ and ‘wonderfully’ made. So it is okay to be ‘fearful’ to some people. Beauty is in the beholder’s eyes. When your spouse sees you, you will be the most beautiful woman on earth. So stop worrying yourself unnecessarily.
3. Listen to her when she talks, give her attention, and don’t ignore her presence.
This is very important to both singles and married couples. It is important you listen well. In a particular country, women pay listeners per hour to just listen to them talk. If a woman finds a listener in her colleague, an emotional affair is knocking on the door. Ever wondered how respectable women end up sleeping with their cooks or drivers?
They were neglected by their husbands and they found a companion elsewhere!
The highest form of listening is empathic listening and this is what your fiancee requires. It involves a guy putting himself in her shoes as he listens with compassion.
Give her your time and attention. Don’t let her compete with laptops, blackberries, ipods, ipads and other ‘toys’
To be continued…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, help me to trust your timing.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Psalms 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Fall in love with your common sense! Don’t fall in love with a married man or woman!
He tells you that you are the one he loves. That is a lie! He loves his wife at home; they might just have issues.
Why fall in love and play the second fiddle? Why fall in love with a man that visits twice a week in a house he rented for you? What kind of life is that?
God has got your own spouse for you, but you will keep on delaying what God wants to do when you are busy carrying out your own agenda. Be wise!
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. (Proverbs 9:13 KJV)
5. Don’t fall in love with a stranger
Don’t fall in love with somebody you don’t know. There is nothing like love at first sight, only with foresight. There may be a ‘knowing’ at first sight, but it is never love at first sight. Why? You cannot fall in love with somebody you don’t know!
The rush of adrenaline in your body does not translate into love! Body chemistry is not love!
Infatuation is not love. Lust is not love. Love is a deeper ‘sensing’ and knowing, more than a feeling, it is an assurance, and it is deep-seated in the heart. It’s not something that happens with a stranger.
Fall in love with a friend, not with a stranger, so that strange things will not happen to you! You don’t’ even know her name, and you are saying you are in love!
For married people, never get tired of your spouse. You have to keep falling in love over and over again. Wives, learn to dress for your hubby at home, he is moved by sight, so stop tying wrappers all the time unless that is what your husband wants. Go get some lingerie and learn to fire up his blood. It is a holy thing to do, for your husband!
I pray that God will grant more understanding.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will not miss it in marriage.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, open the eyes of my understanding.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Eph 1:18 [GW] Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit.
We have been looking at this topic building to last in marriage for some time now and I will be taking the concluding part of the same topic.
I pray and sincerely hope this message will bring couples to ways they can discuss this together to find their own way of implementing the points. There may be ways based on their peculiar situation, they could adapt the points discussed here.
8. Never talk bad about your spouse to anybody
Respect the covenant between you. Let no one be able to come between you. Don’t betray trust. Defend each other. Don’t fight with each other but fight for each other. Don’t fight your spouse because of any other person. Don’t give any other person the privilege of being more special than your spouse. It will backfire. What is between the two of you cannot be compared with any other relationship.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
9. Love jeru trip
Enjoy Jerusalem trips. It is pleasure to both of you. Never get tired of each other. Give yourself to one another unhindered
10. Keep the word ‘divorce’ out of your dictionary
Remember your marriage vows. It is till death do us part. There are no problems without solutions. There are issues, challenges but there are ways of handling them. We may not be patient enough or seek God’s face enough to find a lasting solution. God has promised us a way of escape.
Jesus said in John 14:6, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life
Have a bulldog approach to your marriage. Whatever happens, God can restore and make all things new. That doesn’t mean staying in an abusive relationship and environment. Seek all the help you can get for your marriage to be better.
11. Understand each other’s love language
Your love language is like your native mother language, you are most comfortable speaking it and have a free flow with it. Just like you speak the language your spouse understands, you must be willing to learn and understand your spouse’s love language. Don’t insist on your own way of expressing love.
Try to please your spouse. Do whatever he/ she likes and best expresses that you love and care for him/her.
It is either it is gifts, words, touch, actions, or quality time. If it is words, learn to speak tender and kind words to your spouse. Don’t be harsh with your words. Don’t correctly sharply.
If gifts, surprise each other with gifts, do this frequently.
If actions, help to do the dishes, throw the garbage out, wash the car, etc, just offer to do something.
12. Spice up your marriage with little gestures.
Surprise each other with gifts, kisses, and sex. That shows you are thinking of your spouse. Let your spouse know that you are still in love with them.
Kiss passionately, hold hands, cuddle and show public display of affection. Look into each other’s eyes when talking. Be deeply concerned about each other. Look out for yourselves and ask whatever may be happening to your spouse emotionally, physically, or otherwise.
May God bless our marriage as we put these things into practice.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I love my spouse wholeheartedly.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, teach me how to trust my spouse in Jesus name.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1Ti 2:1
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Decide to show genuine love to your spouse.
