Family Happiness Begins with You (Part 1) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Family Happiness Begins with You (Part 1)

Dear Reader,

I count it a great privilege to share God’s Word with you today. I will be discussing with you all through this month on the subject: Family Happiness Begins with You. Most times, the joy, fulfilment and blessings we desire is dependent on us. You are the key factor to what becomes of your home. The devil has no right to torment or afflict you without your permission. However, we permit some happenings unknowingly through ignorance. Hence, this week, I will be exploring the topic: Understanding your spouse.

For you to have a stable home, you need to understand your husband or wife. Understanding your spouse is very important in becoming a good spouse. You must get to know that everything about your spouse is unique. There are no two people on planet earth that are exactly the same.

Everyone God has made is unique. Thus, you, your spouse and your children are peculiar. You are not a carbon-copy of anyone, you are an original and so is your spouse. You and your spouse are wonderfully and fearfully made (Psalm 139:14). You must understand your spouse if you must enjoy a stable family. You need to study his or her background, likes, dislikes, what makes him or her happy and what affects his or her mood.

Also Read: Attaining Intimacy In Marriage (Part 1) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

For those who are yet to be married, before you say, “Yes I do’ to any man or lady on the altar, ask yourself, “How much of him or her do I really know?” Someone met me some years back, who has only been married for three months and both of them were already so fed up that they were ready for divorce. I asked a simple question, “How much of your spouse did you know before you got married?” I was amazed at the next-to-nothing knowledge of the spouse this person had. No wonder in three months, their marriage had technically broken down. If not for divine intervention, that would have ended their marriage with all of its consequent effects.

To enhance the understanding of your spouse, two things must be in place:

1. You must be sensitive. Never walk around with your eyes closed. Your mind is a sound mind, be sensitive.

2. Communicate effectively. Communication is the life-blood of any relationship. Learn to communicate effectively with your spouse and when you know how to do this, it will help you understand who your spouse is. You need to ask questions. The disciples of Jesus were around Him; they didn’t only listen to His teachings. Whatever they didn’t understand they always asked and Jesus never told them to shut up, He always answered their questions. So, rather than assuming understanding, ask questions, e.g. “How about this area? How about that area of your life?” Communicate so you can have a better understanding; and when communication is effective, you will become a good spouse. Understanding is what is required to have an outstanding marriage.

Wisdom – The Principal Thing

Wisdom is the principal tool for securing peace in the home. Wisdom is the principal thing… (Proverbs 4:7). Both the man and the woman in the home need to constantly ask God for wisdom in handling the day-to-day affairs of the home.

Most times, what people call affliction in their home is nothing but ignorance. The treatments for ignorance are wisdom and understanding which enhance peace in the home. In fact, the Bible says, Through wisdom is an house builded, and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3).

James 1:5 say: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and unbraided not, and it shall be given him. Wisdom tells you when to talk, when to keep quiet, what to say and the right time to say it, where to go and at what time. Do you know it is possible to say the right thing but at the wrong time and thereby cause lack of peace in the home? I pray for a fresh baptism of the wisdom of God upon your life today, in Jesus’ name.

Complement Your Spouse

One other way to nurture your relationship is by an often neglected key, and that is complement. Every human being loves to be praised either for what he has done or simply for who he is.

The key is to locate the good qualities in your spouse and focus on it. Then express your appreciation for those good qualities by the words of your mouth. Learn to show appreciation for both small and great acts of kindness. You can also show appreciation by giving little gifts.

Make room for praise in your home. Praise God always and complement your husband or wife and your relationship will be a heaven on earth!

Are you born again? Today, Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of your heart. Say this prayer of faith if you desire to: 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: Just Give It Time [Joyce Meyer Devotional 16 October 2018]

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine. — Exodus 19:5

When you spend time with God, it becomes evident. You become calmer, you’re easier to get along with, you are more joyful, and you remain stable in every situation.

Spending quality time with God is an investment that yields rich benefits. You begin to understand what He likes and what offends Him. As with any friend, the more time you spend with God, the more like Him you become.

Spending time with God causes you to become more sensitive to the love He wants to demonstrate to you and to others. Your conscience alerts you when you’re talking to someone in a way that does not please Him.

Your heart grieves when He grieves, and you quickly pray, “Oh, God, I’m sorry.” You soon want to apologize to the person you have offended and discover that saying, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” isn’t so difficult after all.

When God told Moses he had found favor in His eyes (see Exodus 33:12), Moses understood that God was telling him he could ask for anything his heart desired.

Moses responded by saying that he simply wanted to become more intimately acquainted with God. Moses had seen God perform history’s most magnificent miracles, yet what he wanted most of all was to know God intimately.

I pray that knowing God is the desire of your heart. You can know Him and hear His voice as clearly and as intimately as you want to. All it takes is spending time with Him.

Prayer Starter: Father, like Moses, I want to know You more intimately. Help me to take time to grow closer to You and develop a deep, personal relationship. Help me to become more like You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

Topic: What Prayer Can Change [Teens Open Heavens 16 October 2018]

Memorise: Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven. Matthew 18:19

Read: Mark 4:35-41 (KJV)

Bible In One Year: Isaiah 59-61, 1 Thessalonians 4

MESSAGE:

If people are undecided on who the true God to be worshiped is, it is because we believers have not prayed to the point of effecting change. Many believers were prayed into the Kingdom and I am one of them. Are your loved ones, relatives and friends still living in sin? It is evident that you have not prayed enough for them.

Back up your evangelism with serious intercession as you stand on scriptures that promise salvation for the lost. With prayer, you can change the decisions of people on your issues. Your prayer closet is a strong control room. Use it regularly from today or you will be held for the changes you could have made which you failed to make.

Key Point: Specifically list out your friends and family in need of Jesus’ salvation. Determine to pray for them every day.

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 15

1. Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, 0 won’t you believe It?
Wonderful story of love.

Chorus:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, Wonderful story of love.

2. Wonderful story of love,
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.

3. Wonderful story of love:
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of Love.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: He Is Ever Faithful [DCLM Daily Manna 16 October 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Psalm 89:30-46 (KJV)

Key Verse: “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips“ (Psalm 89:34).

MESSAGE:

The story was told of an exhausted wayfarer who ran out of water in a desert. He later got to a well and in his desperation pumped with the strength remaining in him with the aim of getting water but to no avail. About to give up, he saw a jug of water with an inscription on the side directing him to pour the water into the machine for priming before pumping to get water. In this desperate situation, he was afraid of taking the risk of pouring the water into the pump and not getting needed result. However, he summoned up courage, poured the water into the pump and started pumping. He got water surging out of the well which he used to refresh himself, stored up for his journey and filled back the jug as he was instructed.

The house of David had a divine bouquet of promises wrapped in God’s faithfulness and love. He promised pardon since God knew that sin could block their access to His promises. God’s promises are true, universal and made out of a heart of love. However, the enjoyment of His divine benevolence is always predicated on readiness to fulfil certain conditions.

As it was with the desert traveller, drawing from God’s well of love and mercy, so is it for everyone who approaches the throne of grace with faith and trust. Your destination depends on the route you choose. To benefit from God’s unbroken promises and put an end to grumbling, complaints and lamentations, decide to turn away from sin and receive Christ as your personal Saviour. Then He will forever remain faithful if you consistently abide in His word.

Thought For The Day: God is ever faithful when He is approached in penitence.

Bible Reading In One Year: Matthew 9-10

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.

Topic: The Destiny of The Wicked [Seeds of Destiny 16 October 2018 Devotional]

Scripture: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

Thought For The Day: There is no destiny for the wicked, and there can be no future for the disobedient.

Destiny refers to a person’s future or the actualization of God’s purpose for one’s life.

It is established that there is no one on earth who exists without a definite destiny. God has a purpose for everyone. And your character determines your destiny, your habit determines your habitat, your manners confirm your making.

The wicked are the disobedient, the rebellious, the carnal, the immoral, the diabolic, the corrupt, the robbers, the murderers and all those who live contrary to the Word and principles of God. The truth is, there is no destiny for the wicked, and there can be no future for the disobedient other than destruction and damnation in hell.

Beloved, what is the destiny of smokers, drunks, womanizers, prostitutes, cheats, liars, backbiters, gossips, ritual killers, etc. if they refuse to repent? What is the fate of the armed robber who went to rob a family and after robbing, raped the only daughter in that family who was even a virgin and possibly infected her with the HIV virus? God forbid! What kind of future awaits such a wicked agent of the devil on earth and in eternity? What is the destiny of the hired assassin, who was paid to kill, and he killed a man rendering the man’s wife a widow and the children orphans? What is the destiny of people who derive demonic pleasure in taking the lives of defenceless innocent people; ripping open pregnant women, cutting off human organs and dismembering the slain? What is their destiny other than damnation and eternal torments in hellfire? Hellfire is the Destiny of such people!

Beloved, I counsel you to make your ways right with God; do not join a person who has made up his mind to go to hell. If you cannot bring him to heaven, do not follow him to hell.

Remember This: There is no destiny for the wicked, and there can be no future for the disobedient.

Assignments:

1. Ask God for mercy in any way your actions in time past inflicted pain on people.
2. If possible, prayerfully meet those persons your actions have hurt to ask them for forgiveness.
3. Determine to show love to all that come in contact with you. Live right; shun the lifestyle of wickedness.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your Word to me today. Help me not to be a source of pain to people. Order my steps away from wickedness, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: SEVEN-WAY LIFESTYLE TEST

Quote: Wickedness is the foundation for emptiness. Good ending is never the portion of the wicked. Culled from 365 Wisdom Capsules by Dr Paul Enenche

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 28:1 to 29:32, 1 Timothy 1:1 to 20 Psalm 86:1 to 17, Proverbs 25:17

Amazing Fact: When there is scarcity of water, lizards save water and excretes only salt and you can actually see a white residue on their body which is salt.

Today In History: 16/10/1964 China became world’s 5th nuclear power.

Don’t Forget To Attend: The two Power-Packed Communion Services tomorrow by 4:45pm and 6:30pm respectively. Invite your friends and loved ones. God bless you

Also Read: Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche

Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities

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.

Topic: Grace Will Cover You [TREM 16 October 2018 Daily Devotional]

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them”. Genesis 3:21

The world we live in today is evil. But as you confront different challenges in life, understand that you have an advantage. It is called Grace! Others may be more qualified than you are and more educated. They may know every person that matters. But that has nothing to do with you because when God’s grace is upon your life, nobody can stand against you. The grace of God will work for you.

The entire Bible is plastered with grace. You can’t even be saved without grace. In the book of Ephesians 2:8-9: it is written: “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Grace and mercy always work together. Mercy is God not giving to you the judgment you deserve and grace is God giving to you the blessing you don’t deserve. Anytime you see grace, watch closely there is mercy attached to it.

Remember how Adam dishonored God when he disobeyed God’s instruction and was trying to cover himself with leaves. God said no, leaves can never cover you. Leaves are like man’s effort. God said except I cover you, you cannot be covered.

God had to slaughter an animal to cover Adam. Think of it! Adam had just disobeyed God and spat on his face, so to say. Yet God said to him, I don’t want you to go naked. Adam was trying to cover himself and hide from God but God was probably laughing, saying: Mortal man, I made you, you can’t hide from me. And the more he tried, the more naked he became. God decided to cover them. He slaughtered an animal, skinned the animal and covered them. I declare to you that Grace will cover your nakedness.

Further reading: Genesis 3:7-21; Ephesians 3:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:1-10

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Isaiah 47-49; Evening- 1 Thessalonians 4

If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM 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.

Kenneth & Gloria Copeland Devotional 16 October 2018 – Put Patience to Work

Topic: Put Patience to Work [October 16, 2018]

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. – Hebrews 10:35-36

Most of us have a distorted idea about patience. We think of it as something designed to help us suffer failure gracefully, but according to these scriptures, it will actually put us on the path to success!

Patience (or being consistently constant) is the power twin of faith. They work together to see to it that the promises of God are fulfilled in your life.

Say, for example, you need a job. You can go to the Word and see clearly that God promises to provide your needs. You can see He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants. Once you see that, faith takes hold and you shout, “Hallelujah, I’ve got the job I need.”

But what happens to that faith tomorrow morning when you go to three interviews and get turned down all three times? Then what? That’s when patience has to take over! That’s when you have to make a decision to stay constant, to act as if nothing’s changed.

The truth is, if you based your confidence on the Word of God, nothing has changed. It says exactly the same thing it said yesterday.

So, if you’ll put patience to work, you know what you’re going to say after those three unsuccessful job interviews? You’re going to say, “Hallelujah, I’ve got the job I need!” just like you did before.

You see, faith opens the door to God’s promise for you; and patience keeps it open until that promise is fulfilled.

Do you have your faith sights set on a promise of God today, a promise you’ve been waiting on for some time? Don’t let the delay discourage you. Put patience to work. The Word guarantees you will receive your reward.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 6:10-15

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: Terrible and Beautiful Things [Our Daily Bread 16 October 2018 Devotional]

Read: Psalm 57, Bible in a Year: Isaiah 47–49; 1 Thessalonians 4

Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. Psalm 57:8

Fear can leave us frozen. We know all the reasons to be afraid—everything that’s hurt us in the past, everything that could easily do so again. So sometimes we’re stuck—unable to go back; too afraid to move forward. I just can’t do it. I’m not smart enough, strong enough, or brave enough to handle being hurt like that again.

I’m captivated by how author Frederick Buechner describes God’s grace: like a gentle voice that says, “Here is the world. Terrible and beautiful things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you.”

Terrible things will happen. In our world, hurting people hurt other people, often terribly. Like the psalmist David, we carry our own stories of when evil surrounded us, when, like “ravenous beasts,” others wounded us (Psalm 57:4). And so we grieve; we cry out (vv. 1–2).

But because God is with us, beautiful things can happen too. As we run to Him with our hurts and fears, we find ourselves carried by a love far greater than anyone’s power to harm us (vv. 1–3), a love so deep it fills the skies (v. 10). Even when disaster rages around us, His love is a solid refuge where our hearts find healing (vv. 1, 7). Until one day we’ll find ourselves awakening to renewed courage, ready to greet the day with a song of His faithfulness (vv. 8–10).

Prayer: Healer and Redeemer, thank You for holding us and healing us with Your endless love. Help us find in Your love the courage to follow You and share Your love with those around us.

God’s love and beauty make us brave.

INSIGHT
In the book of Psalms, superscriptions often precede the actual text. These notes shed light on the individual or group designated to lead the composition, the author, or the situation that inspired the lyrics. The superscription for Psalm 57 tells us David wrote this psalm “when he had fled from Saul into the cave.” Scripture records two times when David found refuge from Saul in a cave (1 Samuel 22 and 24). While there is uncertainty as to which of these two incidents is in view here, the truth of the psalm is crystal clear—the fearful, the anxious, the fleeing can find ultimate safety in the Lord (Psalm 57:1).

When was the last time a difficult situation caused you to call out to “God Most High”? (v. 2).

Arthur Jackson

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

This message was written By Monica Brands [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Billy Graham Devotional 16 October 2018 – Loneliness

Topic: Loneliness [Monday October 16, 2018]

My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. — Psalm 84:2

Loneliness is one of the greatest problems people face today. It is a leading cause of suicide-that is now the third greatest killer of students in the United States. People feel various kinds of loneliness. One of the most common is the loneliness of solitude. Or there is the loneliness of suffering. Many people experience loneliness in society, or there is the loneliness of sorrow, guilt, and judgment.

All of us feel at times a loneliness for God. Someone has called it cosmic loneliness. We don’t know what it is. It makes us restless. You see, man was made for God; and without God, he is lonely. But Jesus is knocking at the door of our heart, saying, “I want to come in. Let me in.” He doesn’t push His way through that door. We have to open it and invite Him in; when we do, He comes in to live forever and we are never lonely again.

Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus, I remember the agony of my days without You. Lead me to the lonely people who need to experience the joy of Your companionship, too.

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

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.

Andrew Wommack Devotional 16 October 2018 – Love Comes First

Topic: Love Comes First – Tuesday October 16, 2018.

John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Text: John 13:35

Jesus didn’t say that all men would know we are His disciples by our doctrine, our rituals, our hatred for sin, or even by the way we express our love for God. He said very clearly, that the one characteristic that would cause the world to identify us as His followers, is our love, one for another.

This same night, the Lord prayed to His Father using this same thought saying, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (Jn. 17:21). The only way that Christ’s body will be one as the Father and Jesus are One, is through God’s kind of love.

Unity of believers, that can only come through a genuine God-kind of love, is the greatest tool for evangelism that the church has or will ever have, according to Jesus. The early church didn’t have the massive organizational structures that we see today or the ability to travel anywhere in the world in just a matter of hours. They certainly did not come close to spending as much money, in proportion to us, to spread the gospel. And yet, the pagans of Thessalonica said of Paul and his companions, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6). They had evangelized the known world in less than thirty years.

Before we can ever fulfill the great commission of Matthew 28:19-20, there must be a revival of love in the church, where doctrine and ritual take a “back seat” to love for one another.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click HERE to 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).