Topic: Love & Marriage (3)
Dear Reader,
It is a new week of great opportunities and lines are fallen in pleasant places for you! Indeed, God will give you a goodly heritage this week. Just be filled with expectations because your marital story is about to change!
Marriage is very precious in the sight of God. He has laid down principles in His Word for both the man and the woman to follow, if they must find joy and fulfilment in it. However, it is important to note that in exercising the mantle of leadership, the man must be a loving leader and not a taskmaster.
Love is a necessary ingredient for effective leadership. Without it, those who are being led may eventually refuse to follow and choose to go their own ways. Jesus Christ heads the Church with the rod of love. Likewise, every husband will need the same rod of love, to get the effective followership of his family members.
When a husband demonstrates his love for his wife and children, he will be able to lead his home with ease. The truth is that no one hates to be loved. As a husband, don’t just rejoice at the fact that you are the head of the home; be ready to fulfil the responsibilities attached – make your home a loveable place.
The first home ever created was Eden which means ‘delight’, ‘pleasure’ or ‘enjoyment’. God’s original intent is for the home to be a place of peace and quietness – not in the sense of silence, but of rest.
Some spouses find it hard to say, “I am sorry,” “Please forgive me,” etc., because of their ego. However, anyone that desires his/her marriage to be “heaven on earth” won’t let ego stand between him and his spouse or children. Learn to say, “I am sorry,” when you offend your spouse. It works! If you do that, the countenance of your spouse will change.
As a husband, you need to always compliment your wife’s good qualities and that will bring out the best in her. Everyone loves to be praised, either for what he or she has done or simply for who they are. No one is perfect; so express your appreciation in areas your spouse is good at, whether small or great. You can also show appreciation by giving little gifts. Make room for praise in your home!
As couples, you must learn each other’s love language. If your spouse responds positively to physical touch, then learn to do that. If he likes words of encouragement, speak encouragement often to him or her. If he or she is the type that responds to acts of service, then be pro-active and always try to give a helping hand. This is how you make each other feel good.
Love is something you must choose to express, by choosing to be patient, pleasing, forgiving, trusting, understanding, and also learn to grow, encourage, help, be truthful, faithful, unselfish, and hopeful. Communicate in love with your spouse for the rest of your life. This is a choice you must make today.
Even if you are troubled in your marriage or your partner is not responding as you would like him or her to, you must still choose to love. Do not let your heart become hardened. It may not be easy to do all of these in the energy of the flesh. But help is available for you, as you ask God for the strength you need to choose to “love” sacrificially and unconditionally, beginning from today.
To be able to truly walk in love with all sincerity of heart, you need to become a bonafide child of God. You become a child of God by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. If you are set for it, please say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.