Topic: Renewing Your Marital Relationship

Dear Reader,

You are welcome to this glorious and exciting moment in God’s presence. As you pay rapt attention to God’s Word today, His hands shall rest upon your marriage.

This month, we shall be looking at this all-important subject, Renewing Your Marital Relationship. To renew your marital relationship, one of the things that must be in place is your Expectation.

One key factor for the miraculous is expectation. It is your expectation that gets fulfilled. Every man sets a stage for his miracle. Do you totally and truly believe God? Or do you doubt Him in your heart saying, “I tried everything, but nothing worked. I never saw anything. I am tired. I don’t think it will work.”

Don’t be offended in God; the fact that you still have the breath of life is something to be grateful for. Instead, express your mind to God.  Say, “Lord God, I know You are forever faithful. Thank You that I am still alive today to approach You on issues I couldn’t achieve last year. Thank you for the promise of a glorious and fulfilling year. I know You will do it.”

Forget about those old things that are bygones! God will do a new thing in your family, this year, which will make you thank Him every day.  God is set, but you have to be set too.  However, to be set, you must determine to do some things, especially, if you desire a successful home this month and beyond.

Husband, can you see a turnaround in the character of your wife? Can you see your children obedient and God-fearing? Can you see abundance of peace, joy and harmony in your home? Wife, what do you see? Do you see your husband turning from his sinful habits to pleasing God this month and beyond? Do you see his business succeeding, thereby enabling him provide more for the family? Can you see serenity in your home? As far as you can see, it shall be given to you as it is only what you see that you can possess.

Stop seeing the negative side of issues. Stop seeing your business going down, because of economic meltdown. Stop deducing reasons why you think things won’t work out well in your family. Stop celebrating failure. Believe God and let it be counted to you for righteousness. If God has said what He will do, let it be settled in your heart and in your actions, that He will do it. He is not a liar!

Many years ago, I made up my mind to believe God’s Word in Proverbs 4:18. I have never had cause to doubt it. No previous year has been better than the current one for me and my family. In fact, my present position today is the least I can ever be. God is ever faithful. Friend, see good and you shall have good. See no lack around you this year, and you shall walk in abundance. God will see to it that His Word does not fall to the ground in your own life. Choose to believe God and you will have no occasion to regret.

See with your eyes of faith. Walk by faith and not by sight. Don’t determine the happenings in your home this year by the environment. See into the plans of God for your life and family, and assure yourself of the best of times ahead.

Someone once came to me for counselling, and had been having a very tough time in her marriage.  As she spoke, I discovered that the root cause of her problems was her wrong ideas about marriage.  She had expected grief and calamity. So, when the storms rose against her marriage, she began to say, “They told me it will be like this.”

You must first desire a tower, before you can plan to build one.  Don’t enter into marriage without an expectation. The Word of God says:  For surely there is an end; and your expectation shall not be cut off (Proverbs 23:18). What you expect is what you will get.  God’s servant, Bishop Oyedepo would always say, “Expectation is the mother of manifestation.”

God has promised to grant your expectations, no matter the situations around you. So, let your expectations be based on God’s Word, for it is higher than any evil experience or information you may have had or heard about marriage.

If you are already married, there is still an opportunity for you to change all your negative expectations.  As a couple, discuss your positive expectations and I guarantee that things will work out more smoothly in your home.

As single persons, what do you expect in marriage? Your expectations shall not be cut off! Before my husband and I got married, we made discoveries from God’s Word that made us expect a hitch-free marriage. Till today, those expectations have not been cut off.  If you expect the best, it will be yours!

A right expectation begins with being connected to God.  You get connected by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. That is what being born again is all about. If you are ready to be born again, please say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

If you prayed this simple prayer, congratulations, you are born again and 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]; OR 07026385437 and 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).

Topic: Error of Persistent Disobedience [Wednesday May 10, 2017]

Text: Judges 2:11-15

Key Verse: “And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them…” (Judges 2:12).

A man once spent 16 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. It was a miscarriage of justice! Although there are occasional miscarriages of justice in earthly courts, there will be none of such in the hearing of Heaven.

When men appear before God to give account for their deeds, every transgression and disobedience will receive a just recompense of reward. For the Judge of all the earth will do right! When a man appears before Him, it will be either “Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you…”, or “Depart from Me, ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”. Israel had been special, occupying a privileged position in the heart of God. No other nation enjoyed such immense privilege. Yet, Israel did evil in God’s sight.

They forsook the God of their fathers and served Baalim and Ashtaroth. As a result, they could no longer stand before their enemies. The hand of the Lord that had been their sustenance was now against them and they were delivered into the hands of spoilers (oppressors). God, being merciful, would raise up judges to deliver them, but they yet rebelled and disobeyed the judges and reverted to their evil ways. Eventually, the Lord promised not to deliver them again as they persisted in rebellion and disobedience. Many times, oppression comes in form of sicknesses, diseases, hardship, failures, penury, all in the bid to bring the rebellious back to God when the once beloved of the Lord goes astray from Him.

Continual disobedience at such times will only result in perpetual displeasure from the Almighty. Are you already experiencing the heavy hands of God in any area of your life? The sure way back to His favour is sincere repentance and humble return like the prodigal son and He will abundantly pardon and restore you unto Himself again.

Thought for the day: The God of justice is yet a Father of mercy.

Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chronicles 9-12

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.

Topic — Prayer of Enquiry: A Key to Dissolving Mysteries [Wednesday May 10, 2017]

Scripture: Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel 2:19.

Thought For The Day: Mysteries can be dissolved by the prayer of enquiry

Previously, we saw mystery as an issue clothed in darkness – something in your life that cannot be understood. We also noted that camping with God can help to unveil and dissolve mysteries.

Today, we would look at how to dissolve mysteries through the prayer of enquiry.
One of the ways through which mysteries can be dissolved is the prayer of enquiry. This is when you make up your mind to pray for the unveiling of the mysteries around your life.

A real life story can help to illustrate this: a lady told me some time ago that every time things were about to work for her, something would mysteriously happen and suddenly, they would slip off her hands.

So, she decided to embark on prayer of enquiry and began to ask the LORD, ‘O God, what is happening to me? What is the mystery behind my predicament?’ Then the LORD opened her eyes: in the dream of the night, she saw that she was on a queue alongside other people and some people were distributing good things to them. When it was her turn to collect hers, someone who looked exactly like her but was not on the queue jumped into the line, collected what was meant for her and disappeared. By this revelation, the mystery was unravelled; an impersonating devil had been responsible for her predicament.

Beloved, determine to pray and enquire and God will show you something that will dissolve the mysteries around your life in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: Mysteries can be dissolved by prayer of enquiry.

Assignment(s):

1.     Embark on a deliberate prayer of enquiry for the dissolution of mysteries around your life.

2.     Press into God until you see results.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: UNVEILING MYSTERIES.

Prayer: O LORD, I decree that every mystery around my life be demystified in the Name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Quote: God is interested in revealing and dissolving the mysteries around your life. Culled from ‘PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER’ by Dr Paul Enenche.
               
Daily Reading: Judges 21:1 to Ruth 1:22, John 4:4 to 42, Psalm 105:1 to 15, Proverbs  14: 25.

Amazing Fact: The word “set” has the most definitions in the English language.

Today In History: 10/05/1994 – South African president Nelson Mandela was sworn into office.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and Dr 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.

Topic: Unlighted Paths [Wednesday May 10, 2017]

Read: Joshua 1:1–9, Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 10–12; John 1:29–51

The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

As we ventured home from a family vacation, the road took us through some desolate parts of central Oregon. For nearly two hours after dusk we drove through deep canyons and across desert plateaus. Fewer than twenty sets of headlights punctuated the darkness. Eventually the moon rose on the horizon, visible to us when the road crested hills but eclipsed when we traveled through the lowlands. My daughter remarked on its light, calling it a reminder of God’s presence. I asked whether she needed to see it to know He was there. She replied, “No, but it sure helps.”

After Moses’s death, Joshua inherited leadership of the Israelites and was charged to take God’s chosen people into the Promised Land. Despite his divine commission, Joshua must have felt challenged by the daunting nature of his task. God graciously offered Joshua assurance to be with him on the journey ahead (Josh. 1:9).

The road of life often travels through uncharted territory. We voyage through seasons when the path ahead isn’t clearly visible. God’s plan may not always be apparent to us, but He has promised to be with us “always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). What greater assurance could we hope for, no matter what uncertainty or challenge we might face? Even when the path is unlit, the Light is with us.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being near me even when I cannot see You. Please comfort me with Your presence.

God is with us even when we can’t see Him.

Insight:

A classic worship song describes God as “immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes.” One of the challenges of faith is that we trust in a God we cannot see. But, Jesus came to make the invisible God visible. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God [Jesus] . . . has made him known.” When we become fearful or discouraged in the dark seasons of life, we can still see God’s love clearly through His Son.

This message was written By Kirsten Holmberg [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Head for the Light [Wednesday May 10, 2017]

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. – 2 Peter 1:19

So many times when we need insight into a problem, we try to get it by focusing our attention on that problem. We study it. We ponder it. We examine it from every angle. But the Apostle Peter gives us a different approach. He says we should take heed (or focus our attention) to the written Word of God until the answer to that problem dawns on us through the light of revelation.

We use the term seeing the light in the natural all the time. We say, “Have you seen the light on that yet?” meaning, “Do you have insight into that situation?” Well, the entrance of God’s Word into our hearts brings light (Psalm 119:130). It brings the insight we need.

Have you ever been in a dark room and tried to find your way out? Or been lost outside in the night? What is the first thing you look for in these situations? Light!

It could be coming from under the door or shimmering from a lamp in a house far off. But either way, you head straight for it. You don’t waste your time studying the darkness. You don’t focus your attention on that. You fix your eyes on the light because you know its brightness will drive out the confusion of the darkness and orient you to your surroundings.

If you need insight on some problem or situation you’re facing, pay attention to the Word. Head for the Light and the answer you need will dawn on you.

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-9

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: The Purpose of God for You [Wednesday May 10, 2017]

Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory. To him be glory evermore. — Romans 11:36 (TLB)

Have you ever wondered why God placed us on this planet? What our purpose is in being here? It is because God is love. There may be life on other planets, but I believe man is unique in the sense that he was created in the image of God. God created on this planet as it were “little gods” whom He could love and who would return love to Him. Reverently speaking, God was lonely. He wanted someone to love and who would return love to Him. That sounds incredible, but the Bible tells us that God loved, and so He created and put us on this planet.

Prayer for the day: Freely I love You, divine God, who daily brings joy to my soul.

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.