Topic: There Is Hope For You — Tuesday 24, October 2017.

Memorise: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. – Psalm 30:5

Read: Job 1:13-19, Job 42:12-13 (KJV)

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:

14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:

19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 42:12-13

12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.

Bible in One Year: 1 Timothy 3-6, Daniel 11:36-45, Hymn: Sing Hymn 1 – My Faith Looks Up To Thee

MESSAGE:

If you will ever achieve anything tangible in life, you need faith that hinges on God and that believes in possibilities. If our God could frame the universe through His word, then there is no situation or circumstances beyond His control (Hebrews 11:3). There is no situation in your life that He cannot reverse. He can bring hope to your life irrespective of the long-standing problems in it. In John 5:1-8, we see the story of a man at the pool of Bethesda, who had been in the same sad condition for 38 years. He claimed that the reason why he had not been made whole was because he had no man to assist him; but by the time the Lord Jesus came to the scene, his problems ceased without the help of any man. Irrespective of the many years of rejection you have suffered, the Almighty God is attending to your situation right now in Jesus’ Name. There are families that have lost so many things. They have been through all sorts of problems. In Genesis 18:1-10, we have the account of Abraham and Sarah, who had waited several years for the fulfilment of God’s promise. The angels of God finally visited them and assured them that their long awaited blessing was on the way. Despite all the odds stacked against them physiologically, God’s purpose was established in their lives. I speak the word of God to every family going through pains: the Almighty God will definitely visit you and settle you in Jesus’ Name.

Coming up next: Open Heavens 25 October 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Touch Not For You

There are some people in business who are already planning to close down their offices and outlets because of the situation of things. I want you to know that your moment of refreshing is on the way. Don’t quit, because the Almighty God will restore to you all that you have lost. Today’s Bible reading narrates how Job lost everything he had, from his children to his investment. However, the scripture tells us that the Almighty God arose and blessed his latter end more than his beginning (Job 42:12). I want to assure you that irrespective of how harsh the economic climate is, the Almighty God will sort you out in Jesus’ Name. Also, there is hope for a nation. A closer look at all that is going on around the world would make anyone feel very uncomfortable. In 2 Kings 6:24-7:1, the economy of Samaria was very bad due to a siege. All the technocrats had tried all they could but things got out of hand. At the peak of this adverse situation, the man of God prophesised that things would change suddenly. Those who understand global economic indices said that this was impossible. The Almighty God however performed His word as He had spoken it. I announce to you that it is about to rain upon your life, family, career, business and nation in Jesus’ Name. God will intervene and put an end to your problems in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, let my joy begin now.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional 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.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: How to Avoid Communication Breakdown (4)

Dear Reader,

You are welcome to this glorious week. It is my great privilege to share the Word of God with you, and I believe that the truth of His Word will set you free.

I have been discussing on communication as one of the great blocks that you need to build your marriage and home. The foundation of understanding what communication actually means was laid and the different ways of communicating were discussed. You can communicate verbally and non-verbally.

Sometimes, your actions could speak louder than your words. But in all, you need to understand that the essence of communicating is for your spouse to understand your ideas and your plans, in order to avoid misunderstanding. Furthermore, I shed light on some attitudes that you can put up, which can block your effective communication.

This week, I shall conclude this series by discussing on “How to Avoid Communication Breakdown!”

The Bible says: Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones. Lift up a standard or ensign over and for the peoples (Isaiah 62:10 AMP). There is a highway that is already prepared for your marriage; you must gather out the stones so that your path can be smooth. There is an adage that says, “Prevention is better than cure.” Therefore, as I go through these preventive measures I see God multiplying His grace upon you.

• Avoid Argument: Argument is defined as a process of disagreement with an idea. Whatever is the case, in the process of communication, never allow it to degenerate into an argument. If you do, you are opening the door to the devil. For many people, winning an argument is more important than winning the hearts of their spouses. But as a wise man once said, “the more arguments you win, the farther apart from each other you become.” The most important thing is to realise that there is always two sides to an issue. Whatever the opinion or perspective of your spouse, you must remember that we are all entitled to our own opinions.

Furthermore, if for any reason you sense that an argument is about to ensue, leave the matter till another time. Communicate your opinion to your Heavenly Father in prayer and ask for right words, correct timing and approach to bring up the issue. But never quarrel! He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he (Proverbs 16:20). If your conversation always ends in an argument, a gulf is being created between both of you. If it is not handled on time, it can totally separate you.

• Avoid bottling up: Sweeping issues under the carpet is as dangerous as a green snake under the green grass. When grievances are not aired, an explosion is inevitable someday. When a bottle of Coca-Cola is shaken repeatedly over a period of time, it bursts open. So many couples have burst out in anger and behaved unexpectedly. Therefore, it becomes very important for couples to ensure that nothing comes between them that are not sorted out. The Bible says: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27).

If you desire effective communication in your home, the right place to begin from is a personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. If you want to start this relationship right now, you can say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today acknowledging that I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I believe You died for me and rose again on the third day. Forgive me my sins, wash me with Your Blood and write my name in the Lamb’s Book of life. Thank You Lord for saving me.”

Congratulations, you are now born-again! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now 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, and 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).

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: God Has a Great Plan Just for You! [Monday October 23, 2017]

I write to you, fathers, because you have come to know (recognize, be conscious of, and understand) Him Who [has existed] from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the Word of God is [always] abiding in you (in your hearts), and you have been victorious over the wicked one. — 1 John 2:14

We need to refrain from comparing ourselves to anyone else, because God doesn’t want us to be frustrated and feel unworthy of the blessings He desires to give us.

Comparing our lives with other people’s lives is unfair—to them and to us. It’s unfair to them because if we become jealous of what they have, what they know, how they look, etc., we start to resent them. Then we can no longer appreciate them as the wonderful people God made them to be.

It’s unfair to us because it limits God’s plan for our lives. Comparison says to God, “I want to limit Your work in my life to this and nothing else. I just want to be like this other person.”

But God has an individual plan for each of us. His plan for you is greater than you could possibly imagine. Stop looking at His plans for others so you can walk in the plans He has for you and receive the blessings they bring.

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, help me to examine my heart honestly and expose any jealousy, resentment or frustration in me that has developed from comparing myself to others. I want to be all You want me to be and live the life You have for me.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries