Topic — Love: A Principal Ingredient in Marriage (Part 4)

Dear Reader,

For the past few weeks, we have been looking at love and marriage. We have seen God’s involvement in the marriage institution and love as the first principle of marriage. Last week, I taught you mutual submission in love. To conclude this series, I will be showing you some of the ways you can increase your love for your mate.

Communicate effectively

Effective communication is the basis for a fruitful and lasting relationship. Lack of effective communication is the reason for so much tension in many marriages and homes. It can be said to be the “mortar” that cements the marital relationship. A wise man said, “If you talk together, you stay together”, and I believe it is very true. You know, marriage is about living together!

Spend time together alone

This issue is time — who gets it? How we spend our time reveals what is really important to us. Successful couples spend time together. They pray together. They read the Bible together.

Touch each other

Successful couples touch each other. They hug, squeeze, embrace, pat, hold hands, put arms around each other, and endeavor to sit close enough to touch when sitting anywhere together.

Encourage each other with words

Encouragement is the food of the soul. We all need to be lifted up when we are blue, but the successful couples go another step –they create a positive environment. They verbally affirm each other at every opportunity. They try to catch each other doing good things “right.” They pass along compliments others make about their mate.

Unconditionally accept each other

Unconditional love and acceptance form a crucial foundation in successful marriages. Happy couples don’t feel like they have to perform to be loved. They don’t feel like they will be rejected, if they don’t meet a set of standards. Jesus accepts us just as we are, and smart mates accept others they are too.

Be committed to each other

Successful couples have a commitment to their love life. The word “divorce” is not uttered, no matter how upset one becomes. They have an agreement on how to “fight fair” under peaceful conditions. They try to let the little irritations go. They make an active commitment to want the best for their spouse, to help him or her grow as a person. They learn to quickly give and receive forgiveness.

Laugh with each other

An antidote for boredom in marriage is lively humour. If your mate tells a joke, laugh, even if he isn’t so funny to others. Look at the funny side of life. If you are positive, looking for humour in difficult things– you will enjoy life more.

Make each other your top priority After God, but before others, make each other your top priority. Don’t let anyone — not even your children, and especially parents — come between you.

Be each other’s best friend

Happy couples commit to spend time together as friends. They share secrets with each other. They enjoy each other’s company. They realize they are the only ones who are really in this “together.” Don’t forget couples are “one flesh.”

You need the grace of God upon your life to be able to express your love to your mate. This grace can only be accessed by those who are the children of God. You become a child of God by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you are already born again, rejoice because your case is settled. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: 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 personal 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 [email protected], 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).

“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”

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.

Topic: Trust God Through the Hard Times [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Sunday September 2, 2018]

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] — Matthew 11:28 (AMPC)

Often when we think of trusting God, we think of trusting Him for things we need or want—financial provision, physical healing, the restoration of a relationship, or a promotion at work. A true relationship of trust in God extends beyond trusting Him for something and includes trusting Him through a situation. We need to learn to not simply look to Him for the results we desire; we need to learn to trust Him through the process of attaining them.

There was a time in my life when I focused intensely on trusting God for things, saying, “I want this, God,” “I want that, God,” and “I need such-and-such, God.” In the midst of my requests, He began to show me that getting all those things was not what was most important. Those things would come later, but back then He needed to teach me first how to trust Him while I was going through situations.

He wanted me to learn that He may not always rescue us when we want out of circumstances, but He is always with us as we walk through them. Because He is with us, we can go through trials in our lives with stable, positive attitudes, trusting God completely, even against seemingly impossible odds.

Remember, your attitude in every situation is yours to command. No one can force you to have a bad attitude or a good one; it is entirely up to you. Maintain an attitude of faith, praise, thanksgiving, and positive expectation, and you will definitely come out of your situation victoriously at just the right time.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for being with me in the midst of difficult times. Help me use them as an opportunity to grow closer to You. Teach me to receive Your joy and peace even when life isn’t perfect. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Topic: Depend On God, Not The Gift [Andrew Wommack 2 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Mark 11:2 “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.”

Text: Mark 11:1-6

The gifts of the Spirit are not meant to be a substitute for our own faith in the Lord. We are not to depend so completely on some individual with a spiritual gift that we neglect our own spiritual growth and maturity. We can receive anything we need from the Lord without a gift of the Spirit operating through another individual, if we know how to believe. Dependence on the Lord directly is superior to dependence on the Lord indirectly through someone operating in one of the spiritual gifts.

What if there were no gifts of the Spirit and the Lord established that the only way we could receive from Him was through our own faith? There would be some individuals who would get born again who already had terminal diseases but didn’t have enough time left to mature in their faith and receive healing. They would die if it wasn’t for others interceding for them or someone with the gift of healing praying for them. That’s why the Lord gave these gifts–to keep us encouraged and alive so we can mature.

It is also wrong for an individual not to mature in his personal faith in the Lord and become dependent on the gifts. It is not right for someone to receive a miracle through someone with the gift of miracles and then just struggle along until the next time that gifted minister comes through town.

The Lord wants us to receive His power through these gifts, but then we must mature so that we can walk in God’s best on our own.

We are able to mature beyond a total dependency on the gifts to where we can hear and receive from God directly. But none of us will ever reach such a level of maturity in the Lord where there is nothing left to learn or receive. Let Him teach you through His Word today.

Also Read: Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

Topic: The Struggles of Life [Billy Graham Daily Devotional 2 September 2018]

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree … — 1 Peter 2:24

All life is a struggle—that is the nature of things. Even within our physical bodies, doctors tell us, a conflict for supremacy is going on. The bacteria in our bloodstream are waging a constant war against alien germs. The red corpuscles fight the white corpuscles constantly in an effort to maintain life within the body. A battle is also raging in the spiritual realm. “We fight,” the Bible says, “against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” Darkness hates light. I have a dog that would rather dig up a moldy carcass to chew on than to have the finest, cleanest meal. He can’t help it—that is his nature. Men cannot help that it is their nature to respond to the lewd, the salacious, and the vile. They will have difficulty doing otherwise until they are born again. And until they are changed by the power of Christ, they will likely be at enmity against those who are associated with Christ.

Prayer for the day: When I consider the work of Jesus on this earth—which led to His supreme sacrifice—I pray all my labor this day will glorify You, my beloved Savior.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click HERE to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: The Word Is Constant [TREM 2 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119: 89 (KJV)

As we climax the age, everything we see in this physical world is headed for corruption and therefore, susceptible to change. However, there is only one thing that remains constant and that is the word of God. The word is the same yesterday, today and forever. It never changes. It is like an ancient landmark, which the fathers have set. It is constant and it means the same at all times. The word of God is the final authority on all issues.

For instance, no matter how society may attempt to make gay marriage acceptable, we know that the scripture does not say a man shall be joined to a man. The word of God simply says that ‘’a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife {woman} and they shall become one. [Genesis 2:24} That is an absolute. That is an ancient landmark that cannot be changed, even in the face of 21st Century modernism.

In the same vein, no matter how much of good works a man engages in, or how much kindness he displays, the totality of his goodness cannot earn him his salvation. Yes the Bible encourages having high moral values, but as good as being kind is, there is only one doorway to salvation. The answer is an absolute. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’’ {John 3:3}. You are not saved and made righteous because of what you did, but because of what Jesus did.

Beloved, as a new creature, do not let the devil deceive you into thinking that God is angry with you. The truth is that He is actually in love with you. Yes, you may not qualify by human standards, but God not only qualified you, He chose you ever before the foundation of the earth was laid. There is nothing anyone can do about it. Believe the word of God and begin to see things from God’s perspective and not from your own small perspective because your natural sight is limited.

Further Reading: Proverbs 22:28. John 1:1-14, Mark 13:31

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 137-139; Evening- 1 Corinthians 13

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM’s Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

Topic: Go for Revelation Knowledge [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 2 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. – 2 Peter 1:2

If you were to look up the Greek word that’s translated “knowledge” in that scripture, you’d find out that it means more than just a mental understanding of something, more than the kind of knowledge that can be gained through your senses. It means exact knowledge. Knowledge that’s been revealed directly to your heart by the Spirit of God. I call it revelation knowledge.

The lack of that kind of knowledge has caused more faith failures than anything else I know. That’s because most Christians believe the Word with their minds, but they haven’t meditated on it enough for it to “light up” in their hearts. If they had, that Word would absolutely revolutionize their lives. Nothing in heaven or earth would be able to shake them loose from it.

I know a widow who got hold of that kind of revelation one afternoon. She’d been meditating in the scriptures that say if you’re a widow, God Almighty has taken His place as your provider and leader of your household.

She’d been feeling a little sorry for herself up until then. But when she received the revelation that God was actually head of her household now, she started talking to Him like she would a husband.

“I’m telling You, Lord, the plumbing in this house is pitiful. Will You please get it fixed?” she said. From that moment on, she never had any more trouble with her plumbing.

If you need something from God, determine right now that you’re going to do what that widow did. Determine that you’re going to meditate the Word until you get a revelation like that. Keep that Word before you until you receive a revelation of Jesus as your healer or your deliverer or your financier—whatever you need Him to be. Don’t settle for a shallow mental understanding of Him. Get a deep revelation and His grace will be multiplied to you!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 1

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: Strength for Your Journey [Our Daily Bread 2 September 2018 Devotional]

Read: Habakkuk 3:16–19, Bible in a Year: Psalms 137–139; 1 Corinthians 13

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19

Hinds Feet on High Places, a classic allegory of the Christian life, is based on Habakkuk 3:19. The story follows the character Much-Afraid as she goes on a journey with the Shepherd. But Much-Afraid is scared so she asks the Shepherd to carry her.

The Shepherd kindly replies, “I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop hinds’ feet, and become my companion and go where I go.”

Much-Afraid echoes the questions of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk (and if I’m honest, my questions too): “Why must I experience suffering?” “Why is my journey difficult?”

Habakkuk lived in Judah in the late seventh century bc before the Israelites were taken into exile. The prophet found himself in a society that overlooked social injustice and was immobilized by the fear of imminent invasion by the Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:2–11). He asked the Lord to intervene and remove suffering (1:13). God replied that He would act justly but in His timing (2:3).

In faith, Habakkuk chose to trust the Lord. Even if the suffering did not end, the prophet believed that God would continue to be his strength.

We too can take comfort that the Lord is our strength to help us endure suffering and will also use the most challenging of life’s journeys to deepen our fellowship with Christ.

Prayer: God, sometimes my suffering seems too much to bear. Help me to trust You and continue to walk with You on this journey.

We can trust the Lord to be our strength in tough times.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Lisa Samra [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Helping the Helpless [DCLM Daily Manna 2 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Text: 1 Samuel 22:1-5 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them…” (1 Samuel 22:2).

MESSAGE:

David was a man endowed with peculiar gifts from God. Little wonder he demonstrated this in the way he took special care of people who later became prominent in Israel. Right from his youthful days, he had rare concern for his parents and siblings. He showed this great quality even while in distress and danger as he was being hunted by King Saul.

There are lessons to learn from the life of David in his times. One, he took good care of his parents even while in distress. He secured for them a protective place far from the reach of King Saul. He moved them to be with the king of Moab, a town where his great grandmother, Ruth came from. We ought to learn from this by being supportive to our siblings and parents at home. Two, even while in distress, he manifested faith in God. He had hope in the Almighty and committed his ways to Him, expecting what He would do for him. Three, at a time like this, he did not put the messenger of God aside; he listened to Prophet Gad for guidance. We are to listen to our ordained leaders as God leads them to direct us. Four, we can also learn from David who helped those in trouble. He provided succour and warmth for them in their hour of need.

David was a Christ-like person who received sinners filled with guilt of sin. He understood the promises of God to those who trust in Him. Like David, genuine believers who are redeemed must be Christ-like in nature, providing succour and support for the helpless in times of distress and despair.

Thought For The Day: Jesus is the Helper of the helpless

Bible Reading In One Year: Ezekiel 20-21

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.