OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22 2016.

THEME : DEALING WITH ANCESTRAL CURSES 1.

MEMORISE : Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. GALATIANS 3 : 13.

READ : COLOSSIANS 2 : 14 - 18 :

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

MESSAGE :
Many people are suffering from curses which they know nothing about because the cause of the curses took place a very long time ago in their lineage. As a matter of fact, if you think you haven’t inherited any lineage curse, you should remember that of Adam and Eve, from who we inherited pain, hunger, sickness and death. We must deal with these curses if we want to live a meaningful and fulfilled life. In our memory verse for today, we are assured of a way of dealing with ancestral curses. Curses, including the one we inherited from Adam and Eve, are being dealt with by the work of redemption wrought by Jesus Christ, our Lord. He was made a curse for us so that we can be delivered from the terrible consequences of sin and curses. Christ was to be made a sin and a curse; He felt the agony of this exercise and played asking if the deal could be amended:

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless no my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22 : 41 - 42.

Jesus Christ went to the Cross with the age-long curses upon humanity. However, Jesus endured to the end and cried “It is finished”, that is, the price of the curse has been paid in full. Hence, the human race was liberated. This is the reality which Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ described in Colossians 2 : 14 - 15.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

Beloved, if you want to effectively deal with the ancestral curses in your life, there is only one way and Jesus is that Way. He is the Lamb of God that is worthy to liberate you from the Devil.
The Bible says He is the only One that is qualified to open the seal of freedom ( Revelation 5 : 1 - 14 ). Today, I advise you to surrender your life totally to Jesus Christ if you have not done so. He will make a public show of those demonic influences hovering over your life and you will be free and blessed.

PRAYER POINT : Father, I plead the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb that was slain for my deliverance and I break my link with my demonic past in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : GENESIS 40 - 41 AND PSALMS 107 : 1 - 9.

AUTHOR : PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE.

HYMN 9 : MY FAITH HAS FOUND A PLACE.
My faith has found a resting place, Not in device or creed; I trust the ever living One, His wounds for me shall plead.
Chorus: I need no other argument, I need no other plea, It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me.
Enough for me that Jesus saves, This ends my fear and doubt; A sinful soul I come to Him, He'll never cast me out.
Chorus: My heart is leaning on the Word, The living Word of God, Salvation by my Savior's Name, Salvation through His blood.
Chorus: My great Physician heals the sick, The lost He came to save; For me His precious blood He shed, For me His life He gave.

Helpful Tips On How To Avoid A Wrong Marriage

1. What makes a marriage wrong is when you marry the person whom both of you don’t agree on both major and minor issues (Amos 3:3).

2. There are no perfect marriages or perfect partners, marriage is the union of two imperfect people but are suitable for one another.

3. Marriage doesn’t work when two wrongs enter into the union. If both demands their way, the relationship would give way due to their irreconcilable differences.

4. That a man or woman seems right now doesn’t mean they’ll be right for you in the future. Don’t marry for the now but look into the future.

5. Why do I lay much emphasis on waiting on God to choose right? It’s like climbing the rung of a ladder to see what He wants you to see and while the journey continues, you can go back to Him in case you experience any issue that may seem to be beyond your control.

6. You can’t leave God out of your decision on whom to marry and get it right. It’s better you pay the price to get Him involved now than to pay the price to have Him fix a wrong marriage.

7. One major saving tips on avoiding a wrong marriage is this: “Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. With every step you take, think about what He wants, and He will help you go the right way” – (Proverbs 3:5-6, ERV).

8. The foundation of a wrong marriage is built on lies, deceit, premarital sex, immoralities, falsehood and on mundane things. If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

9. Don’t rush into marriage, rushing cannot help you to know the right person. Don’t make the decision on whom to marry when you’re too young, your choice will be based on flimsy things and being immature can’t help you to handle the demands of a marriage relationship.

10. Acting on pressure, desperation or impatience are not good reasons to getting married. Find a solution to all of these rather than use marriage to solve them.

11. Marrying an unbeliever is a wrong marriage, there’s no how you can make it work that it would ever succeed or become the kind of home God intended.

12. The foundation of your coming together and courtship determines the success of your marriage. Don’t go into marriage because of money, sex, peer pressure, loneliness, material things, pleasure but on a conviction and confirmation that intended but of you to be together.

13. If your reasons for going into marriage isn’t strong enough and both of you are committed to making it work, a day will come when you’d find a reason to call it quit.

14. “If you find a wife (spouse), you have found something good. She shows that the Lord is happy with you” – (Proverbs 18:22, ERV). Depend on God to find a wife rather than lean on your understanding to find a partner.

15. If you want God to guide you on whom to marry, be ready to pay the price (patience, prayer, perseverance) and don’t lean on your own understanding (dating, cohabiting, catching them young etc).

16. It takes patience to marry right and it takes patience to have a great marriage. Impatience is one of the reasons why people enter into the wrong marriage.

17. There’s no marriage made in heaven but there’s a match designed in heaven. It takes two God chasers to locate themselves and build a heaven on earth marriage.

18. Married to a wrong partner leads to a wrong marriage. A wrong step into marriage leads to a wrong marriage and all these would affect your purpose in life and your unborn generation.

19. Pay the price to find and marry the right partner that’s suitable for your life rather than struggle to make the wrong partner the right one in a wrong marriage. 20. That others got it wrong in marriage doesn’t mean yours will be like that. Get the terms right with God and He’ll make His way straight before your face.

21. Not everyone with the look of a potential partner that comes into your life will be the right one. Let God guide you so that you don’t marry the wrong person.

22. Your education, exposure or experience cannot help you to know who’s right for you. The best you can know is to have someone who’s good for you but may not be suitable in the future. Rely on God!

23. A man or woman is a wrong partner, not because they’re not beautiful/handsome, rich, caring, submissive/respectful but because they’re not suitable for your life and destiny.

24. You can have a good wife or husband but when you fail to leave and cleave to your partner, your marriage will never work.

25. Don’t believe the false philosophy that God doesn’t guide people into marrying right. He does. He’s still doing it. And He can do it for you if you can pay the price.

HOW TO OVERCOME AND PREVENT SEXUAL SIN

Jesus Christ has the answer for those struggling with sexual sins, “who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). God’s will is for your holiness, your sanctification, and your abstinence from sexual immorality. God wants you to know how to possess your own body in holiness and honor, and not to become inflamed with lust (1 Thess 4:3–5). Christ can help you with every sinful and addictive behavior. His words are freely provided in the Bible. The purpose of this article is to give you scripture, and this article is packed with scripture.

Even in a life wrapped in prayers and Scripture reading, many have found themselves enslaved to a behavior that they do not want and even despise. While some Christians may not struggle with sexual temptations, many struggle with controlling sexual desires. Urging someone to read more, be saved, go to church, and stop sinning are excellent things to do, but believers can still miss how to overcome certain temptations.

Facing sexual temptations is still thought inappropriate to openly address in some churches, but people need teaching on this subject as seen by sexual immorality facing Christians from the first century unto today (1 Cor 5–7). The man who can honestly say that he has never been tempted to lust after a woman is rare. Just as rare is the woman who can say that she has not been tempted to romantically fantasize about man.

There is not any particular person or generation to blame. Christians must become accountable for themselves and to each other. Yes, it would have been nice to have avoided any exposure or abuse to such sins. However, faith compels believers to pursue freedom in Christ.

Definition of Sexual Sins What is sexually immoral? Many justify sexual sins and irrationally explain away the definition of sexual immorality. However, this keeps many from seeing how evil sin is and the state of the evil opposing them. Christians need to have an awareness and strong conviction, so that believers abhor this evil (Rom 12:9). Without recognizing, thanking, and glorifying God, people will pervert natural desires into strange lusts (Rom 1:20–28). Jesus did not have to specify what He meant by fornication and lewdness with a descriptive list.

When Jesus spoke of adulteries, fornications, and lewdness, He called these behaviors “evil things” that defile people (Mark 7:20–23). Jesus described adultery that is in the heart as coveting another man’s wife (Matt 5:27–28). Adultery is sex with another person’s spouse or for the married to sleep with anyone who is not one’s spouse. Jesus also revealed that adultery includes divorcing and marrying another person unless the divorce was because one’s spouse sinned by committing fornication — extramarital sex (Matt 5:32; 19:9;Mark 10:11–12; Luke 16:18; cf. 1 Cor 7:10–11). The definition of fornication is from the Greek word porneia. This behavior is any sexual intercourse outside of marriage between one man and one woman (1 Cor 6:16; Eph 5:31; Heb 13:4).

Jesus did not need to specify that rape, incest, and homosexuality as forms of sexual sins, because these behaviors are outside the natural union of marriage between a man and a woman. However, Jesus does infer to condemn pedophilia when He opposed the abuse of children and alluded to sexual abuses (Matt 18:7–10; Mark 9:42–50).

Jesus also used the definition of fornication according to the Law of Moses when He spoke to those who were under Moses’s Law. Within the Law of Moses, immoral sexual behavior was all extramarital sex specifically adultery, premarital sex, incest, rape (pedophilia), sex during menstruation, homosexuality, bestiality, prostitution, and uncovering nakedness, which is lewdness (Lev 18; 19:29; 20; Deut 22:5, 22–30).

Christ also spoke against lewdness. The apostle Peter defined lewdness as to “entice by sensual passions of the flesh” (2 Pet 2:18; cf. Luke 17:1; Jas 1:13–14). To cause others to lust through tempting speech, revealing clothing, and nudity is lewdness. Jesus also taught not to look to lust (Matt 5:28). Looking at another person with an inflamed craving and lust is adultery in the heart. Jesus revealed, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt 5:28; ESV). Looking to lust is within the definition of sexual uncleanness, which comes from within the heart. Remember Jesus’s words that out of the heart proceed evil behaviors and evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, covetousness, and sensuality (Mark 7:20–23).

The Cause of Sexual Sins

“What is happening to me?!” How can someone become enslaved to a sin that a person does not want to do? If someone feels enslaved and feels like he or she cannot control one’s sexual behavior, the Bible offers freedom from such enslaved behavior. Sexual immorality is an enslavement — a compulsive and addictive sin.

Sexual immorality is a sin against one’s own body (1 Cor 6:15–20). Sexual sin traps many like any habitual sin. Those who struggle with such can relate to these words, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Rom 7:15; ESV). Jesus professed, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38; cf. Matt 26:41). The problem is sin dwelling within one’s flesh, and that person cannot find how to do what is good. The apostle Paul depicted,

So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Rom 7:17–20)

Since the sin is no longer from oneself, does this mean that someone can continue in sin and grace will abound? This cannot be (Rom 6:1). No one can overcome indwelling sin without the indwelling Spirit of God. The apostle Paul responded to such uncontrolled sin confessing, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom 7:24).

There is a way of escape for all. The apostle Paul revealed,

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:12–13)

To be continued........

LUST

Lust is an emotion or feeling of intense desire in the body. It can take any form such as sex.

It’s an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. Get it right lust is different from attraction. 1john2:16.

When you check the creation and the fall of man in the beginning, it was caused by LUST. Genesis 3:5

Marriage does not cure lust: if it did adultery would not exist. Don’t view marriage as a sex release. Lust does not care if you are married or single, irrespective of your personality, pastor, bishop, and evangelist.

With my own insight, this is very interesting ………….

You may be Abram in faith
You may be Joshua in war
Moses as the spoke man of GOD
But if you are not Joseph in discipline, you will end up like Samson in destruction.
Looking at David life, despite HE was a warrior, won battles, carrying the presence and power of God, Lust never cared about that, He ended up in adultery with one of this solders wife called Bathsheba. 2samuel 11:2-5…

Don’t mix this up, it wasn’t that Joseph was a perfect man, but the grace of God was upon him to discipline himself. His own case was an offer, but it took Him a great determination to maintain His stands.

Why are rate of Adultery and fornication much today?

This erupted from the kind of thinking and activities we gave our heart to.

Some see it as a normal thing
Some take it as a daily thing to do
Some get influenced.

But the bible made us understand that thou shall not commit adultery that means it’s a great sin in the sight of God.

The things we associate our lives with also, contribute to the rate of adultery and fornication.

The cure we can have is a divine break down through the help of the Holy Spirit. The existence of the Holy Spirit in your life is not for show, it’s to direct and keep your mind on holy thing. It was the help of the Holy Spirit that made Joseph maintain his stand.

I have fallen, stumbled and risen, but one thing keeps me on my feet and that is the Grace and Mercy of God.
Many youths are carried away and have lost glories and destinies via LUST You can experience a new heart without LUST from today, but you have to genuinely confess your sins to God and forsake them.
Invite the Holy Spirit to break you down and remold you into the heavenly taste. Let Him direct you in your daily decisions.
“The devil is cunny, but am saying this to you flee all appearances and activities that will make your heart LUST”.
Subdue your flesh under the authority of the most high God.

Lust is an act of ungodliness……………Flee. 2tim 2:22, Titus 2:12,

Lust doesn’t bear something, but destruction of man. James 1:15.

Sexual Temptation: It’s Cause & Cure

By Mayowa Adeniyi

One of the inevitable challenges of life that everyone would face is the issue of sexual temptation. This is a battle that has ruin lives and great destinies. Many who have been victims of it are yet to recover from its deadly sting because of its irredeemable effect.

The major cause of premarital sex, whether it’s done willing or influenced, masturbation, pornography and the likes is as a result of the temptation many fail to overcome.
Billy Graham, a renowned evangelist once said that “One of the toughest battle to overcome in life is the battle against sex, if you don’t conquer it, it’ll defeat you”. Have you won the battle?

Sexual temptation comes in different forms to different people.

-Some are tempted by what they see.

-Some through words.

-Some through touches or intimate affection.

-And to some, it’s spiritual – reasons beyond the natural.

What is sexual temptation? Literally, temptation is a pressure applied to your thinking which is designed to create wrong emotions which will eventually lead to wrong action. A lady that’s indecently or decently dressed is an object of temptation to a man that hasn’t overcome lust in his heart.
Meanwhile, the genesis of all sexual temptation is a product of your lust. What you desire to do or a feeling which you desire to implement at that moment is what would tempt you into the act. You can’t be tempted into an act you don’t have a desire (feeling) for. Never!

For instance, when you desire to know how premarital sex (or other sexual sins) feels like, the appearance of every opposite sex that comes your way will trigger the desire to have sex within you. The touch, the call, the chat and so on will be geared towards committing the very act.

The difference between Joseph and Samson is that Joseph had no desire for premarital sex but Samson had a desire for strange women. The flames of sexual temptation cannot be fanned in you when you don’t have a desire for the act.

However, the major cause of sexual temptation can be defined as this: “Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. Then when sexual desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death” – (James 1:14-15)

What are the cure for sexual temptation? Kill the desire before it destroys you. The moment you begin to nurse the desire to kiss, caress, indulge in premarital or extramarital sex, sex chat and so on, events around you would lure you into the act. Don’t ignite it otherwise it would get out of hand.

And the accurate solution to sexual temptation is to destroy the root of lustful thought in your life which is rooted deep in your flesh. Those who are carnally driven cannot overcome sexual temptation because it’ll become a normal thing to them.
And to destroy it is to come to the Man on the Cross. He has the power to deliver you to the uttermost when you believe, repent and confess your sins. Believe Jesus is able to deliver you. Repent of those act that you’ve embraced in the past. And be born again!

Next, is to be disciplined. A man that lacks self-control will be controlled by what he fails to control. Becoming disciplined isn’t magical, it takes a process of time and you must cultivate the habit in you.

Watch what you look at. The first look is not a sin but when you fix your gaze on it the second time, you’ll fall into it. Shun indecent touches and compliments that would come from the opposite sex. When you’re beautiful extends to your face is sexy, don’t take that as a compliment or blush over it. In addition, be careful of the words you utter or that’s said to you. Words have the power of creating a desire if it’s not rebuked.

Finally but very important, renew your mind daily with His word. Everything we see around are registered in the heart. If you fail to renew your mind, just like servicing a car engine periodically, it’ll breakdown someday. Your heart must be renewed with God’s word every time and everyday.

In closing, you can’t be conquered by sexual temptation if you haven’t lost the battle in your heart. Prayerfully destroy every stronghold of lust in your heart. Be born again, this gives you a new heart. Live a disciplined life and renew your mind with His word.

How You Can Be Spiritually Sound In Life And In That Relationship

Are you having challenges in your walk with God? Do you find it difficult to walk in the Spirit but easily manifest the works of the flesh? Is that relationship or the burden of life itself draining your appetite for the things of God? Then you need to diligently read through as the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of your understanding.

God created man and he once enjoyed an intimate relationship with Him but due to sin he fell out of that relationship until Jesus came to reconcile us back to Him.

But despite this grace that has been made available to us, many are still finding it hard to be connected with God due to their relationship and the burdens of life.

Many have been in a relationship that has separated them from God due to what they do in it. The likes of premarital sex, kissing, petting, caressing, erotic conversations and fondling of each other’s sexual organs cannot make you spiritually sound regardless of your position in the church if you engaged in it as unmarried or someone else’s partner.

All of these are products of walking in the flesh and the flesh is an enmity against God. You can’t suppress the flesh for too long unless you destroy its nature in you. Can you do that through the arms of the flesh (self-control, yearly resolutions, weak determination)? Never!

Meanwhile, the following are the perfect ways to accomplish it.

1. Be born again

Unless you’re born again, you can’t see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Going to church, being born into a Christian family or having Christian friends doesn’t make you born again unless you have personally confessed Jesus as your Lord and savior and you’re walking in Him.

Being born of the incorruptible seed of the word of God makes you born again and not going through foundational or convert class of any church that makes you lack real experience of salvation. There must be a deep conviction in you birthed through the word of God. This also happens when you believe the Word in your heart and confess Him with your mouth.

When you’re genuinely born again, you become a new creature
(2 Cor. 5:17). There’s a new nature in you that differs from your old nature that you’re born with and this new nature gives you the ability to think godly and avail His spirit the opportunity to dwell in you. 2. Be filled with the Holy Spirit

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born of water and spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

Being born again is just the first step, being filled with the Holy Spirit is another aspect you must reach. It is the Holy Spirit that gives you the ability to act like God and walk in the spirit instead of fulfilling the lust of the flesh.

How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? How do I know that I’m filled with His Spirit? Being filled with the Spirit is achieved byasking from the Father (Luke 11:13). He gives you when you ask persistently and your heart is right before Him.

An evidential sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit is by speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives you utterances and not the blabbing that’s mostly done by many people in today’s world. 3. Feed your mind with His word

These first two processes enables you to enter into God’s kingdom and prepares you for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But one thing is needful, feed your mind with the word of God daily. Why? Everything you see around you are capable of polluting your heart even when you’re born again. The human heart is like a car engine, if you don’t service it regularly and do all the necessary daily checks, it’ll breakdown someday.

It’s not the day people commit sin they fell. They have fallen long ago because their heart has been muddled with sin. The word of God is the only means of renewing your heart against all this contaminants that surrounds us in the world. Read the word daily. Meditate in it day and night. And delight in it always so that you can easily walk in the Spirit. 4. Pray often

To be spiritually sound entails that you can live like God above sin, a life of holiness, godliness and righteousness.

To achieve this, you must pray always. Prayer strengthens and quickens our spirit man. It gives us the strength supplied by the Holy Spirit to live according to God’s will in our lives.

If you don’t pray often, you’ll become a prey to the enemies of your soul – sin, spir itual forces, Satan and the society you live in.

5. Create more time for God than the world

Rather than allow that relationship pull you away from God and drag you to hell by wasting time on frivolities, spend more time with God.

We tend to create more time for whom we love regardless of how busy we are. You can’t be spiritually sound if you don’t have time to fellowship with God on daily basis.

In fact, He can’t come closer to you and teach you His will if you hardly find time for Him. Remember, He says He loves those who love Him and those that seek Him early will find Him (Prov. 8:17).

Being spiritually sound is your best bet in living a life of holiness. You can’t overcome the flesh through carnal principles but you can crush it through the power of the Cross and spiritual mortification of it.

Check your relationship and life, are you spiritually sound or carnally minded? Carnal mindedness is death and destruction in all areas but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

3 Ways To Control Your Sexual Desire Before it Controls You

3 Ways To Control Your Sexual Desire Before it Controls YouPremarital sex or other sexual related issues can’t come into play when there’s no desire for it. Hence, a little desire can ignite the main act when it’s well nursed.

There’s a desire in everyone that longs for sexual intimacy with the opposite sex, whether you’re spiritually minded or carnally minded. How strong the desire is, it’s a function of what you do to it or the kind of heart you have.
Just like a tap of water that’s connected to the main supply, without the valve, there won’t be control to the outflow of water. The same happens to your sexual desire. Sexual desire is normal and it’s not absurd that you desire to have sex because you’re human except you’re the type that’s born an eunuch or with a zero libido for sex. God created sex, sexual desire and He also kept a ‘valve’ in you to control it.

However, due to the inability to control sexual desire especially at puberty years and afterwards, many had ruin their lives with sexual sins (pornography, premarital sex, masturbation, lustful thoughts). Yet, they have become slaves to their desire. Moreover, the desire you fail to tame will enslave you. How can you control your desire when your hormones says go or when the drive becomes so strong?

1. Don’t follow the direction of your erection or emotions

There’s a direction that every desire tends to lead people in life. And since it’s produced in the mind, it activates a man’s erection making him to act in line with it, especially when he’s a weakling.

Similarly, an intense desire or pressure would make a lady follow her emotions to the place where her sexual dignity will be destroyed. She’ll be head over heels in love with the man that would ruin her life even when it’s glaring but due to the enslavement of her emotions, she’ll follow suit.

Don’t think in the direction of your erection or emotions when a sexual desire is ignited in you because you’ll destroy what you may not have the capacity to repair. When sexual thoughts comes, don’t brood over it but think on what is pure, godly and of good report.

It may sound difficult to do but more destructive if you do it.

2. Learn to say NO

It’s one thing to say no, it’s another thing to say it and mean it. Many try to say no but their thoughts or deeds are yearning for a yes.
You can’t overcome sexual sin if you say yes to your sexual desire. You need to learn to say an affirmative no and walk your talk. Saying it would prevent you from exposing your life to the consequences of saying yes.

Say no to temptation and all appearance of evil that many ignite sexual desire in you. Know when to turn off the movies that stimulate sexual desires in you. Avoid novels that create sexual fantasies and the sites that throws porn at your face.

Say no to friends that intimidates or negatively influence so that your story won’t be like Amnon and Tamar in the Bible. Saying no doesn’t make you a fool or a weakling, it only prevents you from ruining your life and precious destiny.

3. Cultivate a life of principle

He that fails to live by the rules will be ruled by the circumstances of life. Many people are yet to cultivate a life of principle this is why everything goes well for them, especially the bad ones.
Live a principled life that shuns pleasure or denies the destructive ones. What you tolerate the most has more effect over your life if you give in to it. Does your sexual desire own you or you can control it?

4. Consider the timing

What would happen to your life when you implement the desire at the wrong time? Have you thought about it? It is safer to lower your gaze for better days than to fix your gaze, act upon it and destroy the better days ahead. There’s time having sex is better – when you desire it with your better half. But when you fail to consider the timing and you carry out what you desire, you’ll destroy your life before the right time comes.

To control your sexual desire, stay clear of friends that are negative influence. Walk your talk – you can’t overcome when you are taking solace on the laps of Delilah or you’re a Potiphar’s wife. Be disciplined. And don’t follow the direction of your desire (thought).

Having a desire for sex is normal but abnormal when you allow your desire to determine your actions in life.

As a lady, not just an ordinary one. WHAT IS YOUR WORTH?
ARE YOU SO CHEAP FOR GUYS?
DO YOU HAVE ANY PRIDE, AND ARE YOU GUIDING IT?
Give your answers..........,,,,,,,,

Once you miss GOD"S purpose for you in MARRIAGE, to enjoy HEAVEN on earth will be very difficult

Ladies – What Would It Cost A Man To Get You?

By Mayowa Adeniyi

Marrying a rich man is not a license to a 'rich' marriage. Look beyond the physical and let God guide you otherwise you'd trade your happiness for riches. I do not say you should marry a poor man but look beyond the money a man has.

For every goods and services that is bought or rendered, there’s always a price tag. The price tag placed on an item describes the worth and value to which it carries.

There’s a price tag on every woman you tend to find. When I mean price tag, it simply means what it would cost a man to find them, either for serious relationship or not. Do not forget that a man does the finding of a spouse and not the other way round, you’ll become to cheap to source for a man yourself.

Proverbs 31:10 talks about how priceless is it to find a virtuous woman but today, most ladies are easy to get once a man knows how to get into their heart.

Some ladies are cheap to get, some fairly expensive or very expensive. The cheap ones are gotten through ‘cheap’ means and the expensive ones made themselves so through their adornment and external features. But the price of a virtuous woman is far above rubies. It takes a man, I mean a man to pay the price in finding her.
Dear ladies, what would it cost a man to find you for a serious relationship? The following points are usually the price tag placed on most ladies.

1. Money

It’s often said that ladies love money, I don’t know how true this is but oftentimes a large number of the female folks loves to marry rich men or those who are already made.

If you love money and the things that it can afford extremely and it determines your choice of selecting a man to marry, it only shows how covetous you are and a liability in the making.
When you turn down a man’s proposal because he’s not rich or well-to-do as you do, you’ll end up missing the one God meant for you. A man that’s not too financially buoyant who’s God’s will for you is far better than a rich man who has everything you wanted in life.

Marrying a rich man is not a license to a ‘rich’ marriage. Look beyond the physical and let God guide you otherwise you’d trade your happiness for riches. I do not say you should marry a poor man but look beyond the money a man has.

2. Material items

Love isn’t induced or conditioned and any marriage built on the foundation of material items would collapse when there’s a famine of it.

Dear ladies, don’t think that because he buys you gift and all the things you need meant that he’s the right person for you. Gifts has the tendency to blind the eye.

If you proposal can be bought, then someone else too who has more may buy you off from him. Don’t auction your marital bliss for gift items. Grow up in material things and be contented with the little you have.

When you allow material things seem so special to you, you’re only doing yourself more harm now and in the future.

3. Attention

That he calls often, comes around when you need him, keeps your company, you enjoy his presence or he becomes the model of your dream man; doesn’t guarantee you a happy home. He could change all of a sudden when he’s got what he wanted. Don’t let a man buy you off through false care and attention. Although, attention is needed in a relationship but it should not be a determining factor in accepting a man’s proposal. Raise your standard and values above ephemeral things that can be easily bought off. You need more than attention (physical beauty) to get the right partner. 4. Pursuing God

The crucial point of getting the right partner is to first get it right with God. When you place your emotions in God’s hand, it would take a man who’s sold out to Him to get your heart.

How do you esteem God in your life? Does He become number one or the last thing you could ever think of? A major point of reference or your last resort?

To be happily married is to pursue God more than anything while you’re single. When you do this, only a real man who loves God would be able to get your heart owing to the fact that you know and you’re convinced that he’s the right one.
If you don’t seek after God, do not expect a man that’s sold out to God to locate you except he goes carnal.

What’s your price tag ladies? Isaac indirectly paid the price to get Rebecca. Don’t let money, material things, false care and attention to be a platform of accessing your heart. Any foundation that’s not built on God cannot guarantee you a successful marriage. Let God be the major factor that would make a man consider you for a serious relationship, it may look absurd but it’s the best bet.

THE MYSTERIES BEHIND FEELINGS

Why do emotional attraction becomes so intense amongst people who share intimacy, especially the opposite sex when they’re not married?

Unarguably, all relationship between the opposite sex, especially a love relationship started off on the basis of feelings. You cannot be in a relationship with someone you don’t feel anything towards.

What attracted A to B may not be the same thing that attracted B to A but feelings is the foundation of all love relationship. As an unseen force, feelings is capable of setting lives on fire depending on how and to what it is channeled.
Except you live by the rules, your feelings has the capacity of influencing your life negatively in your relationship with the opposite sex. And if you wouldn’t be a slave to your feelings (emotions), you need to know these mysteries.

1. When care isn’t taken, feelings will become so intense and lead to sexual immoralities

Since it works with the force of attraction, mutual feelings with the opposite sex has every tendency to lead to sexual immoralities when you break the law.

This is often the case with those who entered into relationship within weeks and ended up in bed. The more you fan the flames of feelings, the intense it becomes and as intense it is, it has the ability to burn the cord of purity leaving ashes when the deed has been done.

2. Feelings has a strong force of attraction to bind two people together who are in a relationship when it’s mutual

Feelings deals with your emotions or lies within your emotion. A relationship can be sustained for long when there’s mutual feeling between the parties involved.

It has no respect for age or status. A married man and a single lady can share mutual feelings, likewise an older lady and a younger man can be in a relationship when feelings is mutual.

3. Feelings can last for as long as you sustain its flow

Fire keeps burning for as long as you fuel it, the same goes with your feelings.
Frequent communication such as chatting or phone conversation sustains the flow of feelings. When you talk or see often, there’s a greater influence your feelings will have on you two if it’s the major drive in your relationship.

Hence, frequent communication is the fuel that sustains the tempo at which feelings burns in your relationship. The more you talk/see, the stronger your feelings become.

4. Love isn’t dependent on feelings because feelings are temporal and can change when it is faced with the realities of life

Oftentimes, a lot of people mistaken love with feelings. Feelings isn’t love. Love is an intentional act to be committed to the welfare of whom you love, meanwhile, feelings is an emotional force of attraction that’s dependent on circumstance. Sometimes when you choose to love someone, they might not have anything that got you attracted to them but feelings will have a condition why it’s attached to the person it’s directed to.

5. Feelings will cause you sleepless night but when you give it time, you’ll discover that it lacks depth

Have you ever imagined the weird things people do when they’re under the influence of feelings? They’ll chat into the wee hours of the night when they have something important to do the next day.

But overtime when it wanes, you’ll discover that it’s no longer what it use to be.

6. When feelings is directed towards a particular object in your partner’s body, it breeds lust which then leads to sin when the act is carried out

Some people sometimes feel like having sex, some feel like ‘romancing’ who some could feel like having an erotic conversations. All of these are directed towards a cause. When it’s carried out, it leads to sin. Feelings can also be said to be a strong desire in you to do a thing which might be ungodly especially when you’re not married.

7. When soul tie is created, feelings becomes difficult to break but when communication is lacking, it wanes gradually but smokes once in a while

Show me a man or woman that has had their souls knitted together and I’ll tell you it’ll be quite difficult to knock off the feelings they once had.

As long as they do not communicate, the feelings would wane but when conversation becomes more intimate, the flames of feelings would resurface and take them back to where they had stopped.

This is why people still have an attraction for their ex no matter how separated they must have been. The years of separation doesn’t matter once the spark of communication had be ignited, they’ll set the ball rolling.

The only way not to return to your vomit which feelings must have caused is that you take the bull by the horn – discipline and burn off the bridge of communication. The reason why you’d still commit premarital sex or immoralities with your boyfriend or girlfriend is because you’re still creating an avenue to awaken the flames of feelings.

Check what feelings must have led you to do in the past and make amends before it drags you back. It doesn’t matter if you’re anointed or wiser, live by the rules!

TIPS

Life doesn't give you what you desire all the time, but what you determine to posses.
A good and successful marriage is not a product of wishing, it's a thing you work for.
Becoming the right person isn't dreamt, its a personality you work to develop.

WHO TO MARRY: MYSTERY OF TIMING

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

Have you ever imagined what would be said of a five months old baby that walks before it crawl in life?
Life is all about timing, doing the right things at the right time gives life order and balance. There’s a time to bother oneself about whom to marry and there’s a time you don’t have to bother yourself about whom to marry.
Quite a lot of youth, especially singles who should be busy with their lives and destiny discovery are wasting their lives in casual relationships. Going from Peter to Paul, Janet to Jennifer in search of the right partner.
Due to this wrong mindset, many had met more than what they bargained for and are left with a negative experience in life. Whether you believe it or not or you’d accept it, doing the right thing at the wrong time still makes it wrong. It is only when you do the right thing at the right time that makes it right.
How would you know the wrong time and the right time to seek for whom to marry?

1. It is wrong to seek for whom to marry when you’re underage
Teenagers or singles who are still spoon fed by their parents need not to bother themselves with whom to marry. You may disagree but that’s the truth.

Why should you be bothered about whom to marry when you’re still depending on your parent or on others for virtually all that you need? Curiosity kills the unwise cat. There’s no how a teenager can be so wise and experienced to know how to fare well in a love relationship.

The timing isn’t right to go into a relationship when you haven’t gotten a life (purpose) worth living for. Many don’t know why they exist or the reasons behind their existence, yet they want to look for the potential spouse.

Lack of purpose discovery or facing life with the right perspective is the reason why many became victims of relationship issues. Discover yourself. Face your academics squarely or vocation. But when you allow comparative analysis to get into your head, you’ll do what others are doing and experience what they’re facing.

2. The timing is wrong to look for whom to marry when you’re immature
Maturity has nothing to do with age! Some people are boys with men’s appearance while some are girls with the appearance of a woman.
How would you recognize them? Emotionally, spiritually, financially and mentally they are immature. It’s a big shame on you when you don’t know how to control your temper or tolerate the opposite sex based on their framework. How would you cope with your partner?

Most issues in life has their root in the spiritual. If they still wake you up to pray, force you to pray or coerce you to be serious spiritually, don’t go near looking for whom to marry. The largest part of marriage isn’t all about romance, it’s about facing the realities of life that needed spiritual, financial and mental approach.

If the bulk of the decision you make are still influenced by others, then you’re a weakling who would be driven by the third party in marriage. Grow up and be responsible!

How about handling financial responsibilities? Do you have a source of income or other means to make legit money? If you can’t feed yourself well and at least one or two persons, don’t worry yourself about whom to marry lest you live a frustrated life due to your inability to put food on the table, most especially as a man.

3. It’s wrong to seek for whom to marry when in two or five years time marriage won’t be in your agenda
Many people believe that going into a relationship would help them to know the right person or how the opposite sex behaves, but that’s a distorted philosophy.
You can’t know the right shoe for you by testing every shoe but you’d only know the right one by knowing your size and carefully look out for the type, color and size that fits into your life and not just your dress or situation. This also applies to finding the right partner.
Why should you be in a relationship thinking it would end in marriage when you’re not even sure of your life and the fate of the relationship? It’s a sheer waste of time, resources and productive years that could have been channeled into something more fruitful.

There’s time for everything under the heavens. Know the right time to find the right partner and the time not to bother yourself with the quest.

And lest I forget, two things are involved in finding whom to marry. You can either trust in the Lord with all your heart in knowing whom to marry or you lean on your own understanding to find who suits you. The latter may take time but it’s the best and the former is usually quick but detrimental to your life.

Right timing is everything about life. Discover your right time lest you waste away before the right time comes.

I’m Single: Is It A Blessing Or A Curse?

Life is a matter of choice, what you do with it today determines whether you’d be blessed or cursed or whether you’d become a blessing to your generation or a curse to them.
Meanwhile, the best stage of life that determines the kind of impact you will make in life is your single years. Except by the grace of God, you may not be able to correct the mistake of the past at old age.
Now that you’re single, is it becoming a blessing to you or it’s doing more harm to your life and generation? The greatness of a man is not determined by his married life, it’s dependent on the kind of foundation he built while single. Here’s how your singlehood will become a curse.

1. You are engaging in social vices
Because the glory of the young men is their strength, many have channeled their strengths to social vices. The likes of cultism, kidnapping, terrorism, hooliganism, theft and other social vices will make your life a curse to your generation and the society. The more you indulge in any of these, the more regret you experience in life. Why would you live your life in regrets when you can be a blessing to your generation? 2. Indulging in premarital sex
Due to the rage of their hormones and youthful exuberance, many singles are living a cursed life by moving from one lady or man to another. If their adventures were to be limited to fun it would have been better, but little did they know that they’re sowing wild oats that would destroy their destinies and future. Your life cannot be a blessing to your generation or to yourself when you have fragmented it on the bed of immoralities except you desist from it now.

3. Channeling your energy to the wrong cause
Show me a youth that put so much of his or her efforts into chasing shadows and I’ll show you the fate of his life in the future. I'm Single: Is It A Blessing Or A Curse?

The likes of gambling, betting, cyber crime, 419ner, dating married men and the likes are the wrong courses that many singles find themselves in. How would your life be a blessing when you have wasted it on the cause that won’t yield any positive impact on your generation?

It’s never late to chart a new course in life today if you’re ready to take the right step. Remember, a house built on a wrong foundation, regardless of its cost, design and quality is nothing but a disaster awaiting to manifest in the future. Meanwhile, your single years would be a blessing when you…

1. Remember your creator
What does that mean? It implies that you acknowledge God in the days of your youth. Seek Him with the best part of your life rather than give Him your left over at old age. Those who remember their creator in the days of their youths are those who live their life accountable to God. They’d rather live for Him than to live for self or the society and they will be a blessing to themselves and generation…ask Adolf Hilter and Martin Luther and a host of others.

2. Discover purpose
Nothing can undermine the greatness of a youth who has discovered his purpose in life. He already knows why he’s here and he’s doing something positive about it.

Having this kind of singles in our generation is to have a world where people are living a fulfilling life with no struggle or awaiting the government to help them. When you discover your purpose and you’re pursuing its fulfillment, you’ll be a blessing to yourself, generation and people around you.

3. Prepare for the married life
Rather than live a cursed life by sampling everything in skirt or receiving the wild seed of every Tom, Dick and Harry; your life will be a blessing when you utilize your single years to prepare adequately for the married life.

The single years is not a time to pursue premarital sex, it’s a time to build discipline on how to maintain marital sex. It’s not a time to use what your mama gave you to get what you want, it’s a time to honor God with your body.

Your life becomes a blessing to whomsoever you marry when you adequately prepare for the married life while you’re still single rather than mess it up on temporary pleasure.

What kind of life can it be said of you that you’re living now? Be honest with yourself and determine whether you’re a blessing or a curse to your generation. It’s never too late to make amends now when you choose the right path to tread. Remember, every works will be brought to judgment whether good or bad and it’s better to receive the rewards of living a blessed life than to be punished for living a cursed life.

By Mayowa Adeniyi

QUESTIONS YOU MUST ASKED BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY

Wedding these days had turn out to be a bunch of events. What we usually know in the times of our forefathers as very simple and a quiet event had metamorphosed into a grand affair and celebrated one.
You wouldn’t be surprised with the color combinations, its event planning and management, the Aso-ebis, colorful bridal trains and specialized grooms men, varieties of food and drinks, entertainment and security, music and so on to mention a few. With all of these, it’s disappointing that many of these weddings do not see the light of the day. Many prepare for wedding but only few prepare for their life after the wedding. Many prepare for the event but only few are ready to face the married life. I then wonder, why do all of these happen to some people’s marriage? Is it a crime to prepare so much for weddings or a crime to carefully choose who to marry?
The following questions should provide you answers If you’d honestly answer them on whom you’ve chosen to marry or who you’d choose.

You cannot win a battle while preparing in battle, but you only win when you’re fully prepared before the battle.

1 – Am I prepared to cope with her when she’s pregnant and nursing a baby?
A woman never remains the same when she’s pregnant. Don’t be scared, it’s normal. She experiences some mood swings, hormonal imbalances and so on.

You must be able to love her beyond her ‘sweet sixteen’ figure otherwise you’ll have issues in this stage. Would you be able to cope when she’s giving more attention to the baby than she’d normally do for you?

Your maturity is needed her or else you’d begin to have an affair. It will be frustrating when you’re ready and all she gives you is a no response or I’m tired. If you don’t train yourself enough to cope at this stage this issue is enough to cause other issues that could tear your relationship apart.

2 – Am I prepared when he/she changes totally from who I know before marriage?
Change is constant and inevitable. Have you seen a picture of a couple that celebrated their fifty years jubilee? I’m sure you’d notice lots of changes that would have occurred in their life. It could be changes in physical appearance, behavioral pattern or entire change of personality.

He could have grown pot belly which you don’t like or she’s had some stretch mark which you don’t like. Your ability to adjust or blend with the situation would go along way in helping you.
If you don’t make up your mind to handle this unforeseen situation, you might end up having issues in the future.

3 – Am I prepared to handle some turn off if I eventually discover them?
Your dislike could be snoring, being untidy, having a habit you detest or a personality disorder. Assuming you didn’t discover everything about him or her during courtship and you later discovered it when you’re married, will you opt out of the marriage? Don’t expect a perfect person in marriage as you’d see in movies. Your ability to love, be patient and tolerate your spouse would help you solve issues like this when they arise in marriage.

4 – Can I cope when the challenges of life betide our relationship?
Marriage is not a bed of roses. There are ups and downs in it which you can’t predict. It takes beyond love to handle challenges when they come.
Will you still be there for her if probably it took a while for her to get pregnant, will you still love him if he lost his job or something terrible happens?
No one prays for evil to happen. We all love to see the bright side of life but when the eventualities of life unfolds, it takes prayer, patience, perseverance and determination to cope in this kind of situation. If you don’t have the mindset of making things work when situation seems unfavorable, it will be difficult for you to cope with him or her in marriage. 5 – Whom do you run to when there are issues?
Your parent? Your pastor? Your friend? Who you run to for help determines the kind of solution you’d get in life and in your marriage. I’m not saying it is wrong to probably seek counsel from these people but importantly, God should be the first person you consult for help. This is why it is very important to build an intimate relationship with Him while you are still single. Remember that a three fold cord is not easily broken when God is part of the bond.

Are you matured enough to know the kind of people you should run to for help? Build spiritual strength so that you won’t heed the counsel that would destroy your marriage. That the counsel seem good doesn’t mean it is godly counsel.

Marriage is a lifelong commitment. It takes more to work things out than just the wedding. Issues in wedding are not that complicated if you don’t go beyond your limits. Are you ready to cope with him or her when challenges come? Don’t be carried away by the physical qualities of your spouse or their personality impression, see their ability to cope with the issues of life and God’s consent to your choice.

Do you have a winning or timid spirit? The true test of love is known during challenges. Take your time to work on the things that would make your marriage successful instead of concentrating your efforts on the pre-wedding and wedding events. Work together. Solve issues and be mature enough to handle your spouse’s indifference.

#COPIED @Mayowa Adeniyi

PROVE THAT LOVE

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” – 2 Thessalonians 5:21

I remember the Biology practical we had when I was in secondary school. There was a test we carried out to determine the acidic properties of unripe fruits. A red litmus paper was used and after the test, it turned blue. If we hadn’t used a litmus paper, using any other means would be consequential. Do you remembered the taste of unripe fruits?

This also applies to untested love. Have you test that love?

Many people claim to be in love but only few took their time to test the love they had or that was expressed to them. You don’t test love by putting all your life or heart in it, you test it with the appropriate elements.

Some people mistaken infatuation, lust or deception as love and at the end, they’ll say love is wicked, it’s crazy or it doesn’t cost a thing. Is that true about love? Nay!

God is love. Whether you agree or not, that’s the basic truth. Loving a person that doesn’t fear God is like a time bomb awaiting explosion. And loving like God doesn’t bring any hurt but when you allow other things to define your love, you’ll be exposed to terrible consequence.

And just before you allow that love to get over your head or heart, relax and subject that love to the following tests.

1. Time

How can you, in less than three months make up your mind to spend the rest of your life with a person without doing the needful? Love comes softly and it grows with time. It is not love if you rush or induce it.

Allow time to pass over his or her claim of loving you. If it’s genuine, it’ll stand the test of time. Love can’t be hidden, but the likes of lust and infatuation can. If it’s love, it’ll give you time to grow and express yourself.

But if it’s lust and the likes, it will hurriedly demand what it want from you and leave as soon as it has achieve its intent.

2. Sacrifice

God, being the model of love sacrificed His only begotten Son and His son likewise gave up His life for the salvation of mankind.

That love isn’t love if it doesn’t sacrifice anything cogent for you. It is not love if it is self-centered. No, it’s not love if it does make blind sacrifices that would ruin its life.

Love sacrifices, not at the expense of the life of the giver but to better the life of the receiver. It is not love if you have to prove it with sex, money or meet certain conditions. Love is sacrificial.

Does it sacrifices its time, energies and resources prudently? If it doesn’t do any of that, then it’s not the kind of love you must depend on otherwise you’ll put your life in jeopardy.

It takes time for love to grow and it takes sacrifice to see love grow. If he truly loves you, he won’t ruin your life for his self-centered or selfish reasons. And if she loves you, she won’t push you into what you’re not supposed to do just to prove the worth of her love.

Don’t be fooled by how romantic or scintillating his or her claim of ‘I love you’ is all about, allow time to pass over it if it’s the kind of love that would stand the test of time. Remember, it’s not love if you have to prove it with your body, sex or any conditions. Love grows softly, naturally and without catalyst that would speed it up, only lust and infatuation does.

Have you tested that love before you put all your eggs (heart, time, resources) in its basket?

WHAT MAKES A WOMAN AN INDISPENSABLE TREASURE

The worth of a woman is not about how expensive her jewelry, makeup, clothing or shoes are. It’s even more costly than what she uses to adorn her physical appearance.
A lot of ladies felt that being physically attractive and endowed are all that is important. But little did they know that the real worth of a woman is about the quality of her character. When other things fail, it is her character that keeps her attractive.

Quite a lot of ladies in this age are often characterized by lacking good moral standards. The way some of them behaves, relate or converse with their mates and elders are appalling. Some because they don’t want to take trash would treat you as a piece of trash.

Mind you, they’ll wish to be married to a nice man while having a dent in their character. Is that possible? There are several factors that makes a woman a treasure in life but for the sake of this piece, I’d concentrate more on the quality of her character.
Character defines who a person is, it’s a distinctive feature that a person is known for. Good character spreads beyond where you get to and bad ones also spread faster.

When your name is heard, what can be said of you in one sentence? I know men also have character issues but would deal with that in subsequent article.
What defines a lady’s character is her belief and who she allows to influence her. Show me your friends and I’ll tell who you are. The kind of female friends you keep to a large extent define what kind of character you’ll be known for should you allow them to influence you.

When you walk with a lady who’s rash in her words, you’ll soon become like her because you’d believe it’s proper to spill out words without having a taste of them.
Do your friends have regards for elderly ones? Do they have courtesy, respect and piety? Watch who you walk with lest you become like them.

Concerning your belief, what do you believe in? Do you believe in good morals or loose morals? Do you believe in God or you choose to believe in human philosophy that contradicts godly virtues?
Sad to say this, a lot of ladies ignored the home training they received while some weren’t properly trained. Don’t believe in your beauty; character matters most. It takes beauty to attract a man but character keeps you in marriage.
Having academic excellence, career success, financial independence, exposure or you’re spiritually sound without having a good character is nothing but a waste. When you believe in ephemeral things as the true worth of a woman, you’ll tend to ignore working on your character.

Don’t choose to be like a celebrity, become who God wants you to be and let His word mold your being. Peter admonish women not to focus on external beauty but that they should possess a meek and quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:3-4). God is not interested in your hairdos, or how expensive your jewelry and clothes are, He respect women like Esther, Sarah, Abigail and others. In case you don’t know, your character would determine how you’d fare well with your in-laws, I hope someone reading this isn’t amongst those who wished their mother-in-law shouldn’t be alive. No matter how cruel she might be, a good character will overcome the bad ones.

Don’t allow civilization or westernized culture erode your values and culture. It’s not old-fashioned to give respect to your elders as some culture does by kneeling. Do not forget that a good character speaks volumes about who you are. Know how to show respect to the male folks for those who deserve it. And if they don’t, politely deal with them rather than be rude and harsh.

Work on your character should you notice any flaws in it. Be polite. Don’t be ill-mannered, disrespectful, proud, worldly or rash with your words. Remember, a beautiful woman without a beautiful character is not better than a woman with an enviable character.

IS RELATIONSHIP ALL ABOUT GIVE AND TAKE?

I have read and heard so much about relationship as to what it ought to be by several people from all walks of life. Perhaps, most people tend to define relationship based on their view, what they read or have watched and their personal experience about it.

Popularly, you’d hear people say that relationship is all about ‘give and take’. Undoubtedly, it’s true but many do not know what they ought to give and what they’re not supposed to give. There are some things that are deemed suitable to give and there are many things you don’t have to give. An ignorance of this simple truth has cost many their life and destiny. Yet, they cry and make a generalized statement about the gender that does them evil.

There are some things you need to give in marriage that you’re not meant to give in any other forms of relationship. When you give what you’re not meant to give outside marriage, giving that thing in marriage is nothing but a leftover. What are you to give?

1. Friendship

For a relationship that’s not leading to marriage and even if it is, the most important thing you’ve got to give is your friendship. Many have lost the art of friendship and replaced it with ‘sexship’. In friendship, boundaries are to be defined and redefined; strings are not meant to be attached and the welfare of each others are to be cared for.

Being friends with another isn’t meant to ruin or wreck your life. When friendship rights are exclusively mutual, both parties would benefit. However, the kind of friends you have would determine the outcome of your relationship. Remember, iron is meant to sharpen iron and the same goes for friendship too (Prov. 27:17). What are the things you’re NOT to give?

1. Your heart

The human heart is fragile, whether you’re a man or woman. Any relationship that isn’t leading to marriage, which you’re not convincingly sure of shouldn’t take a large portion of your heart. When you give the larger part of your heart to someone who doesn’t know its worth, you have given them the opportunity to ruin your life.

Whether in marriage or friendship, all of your heart isn’t meant for your spouse or friend. You know why? “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and might” (Luke 10:27).

If anyone takes the place of God in your heart, be ready to face the consequence, big time! No matter how loving he or she may see, they can’t love you better than God.

Enough of the empty love talk when you’re toasting him or her or they’re toasting you, only God can love you forever. Man will only promise to stand by you whenever the going is good, as soon as it is bad or worse, they’ll go to where the grass is greener. When you give your heart to God in unfeign love, He knows the heart of the right person to give. But you’re not far from heart break and the likes when you give your heart to a man or woman. This is the truth you mustn’t trivialize!

2. Your body

A lot of people are blinded to the fact that they don’t own their bodies. God created it and you’re but only a custodian. Giving your body in a relationship for whatever reason is stupidity and the beginning of failure.

Some people give their body for love on the altar of premarital sex, some give their bodies as a means for immoralities. Why? My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6)!

Why would you use your body to prove to him or her that you indeed love him or her? Why would you allow someone to tap “current” from your body because you feel it’s normal?

Wake up folks! Your body first belong to God, He gave it to you (your spirit lives in there) and He knows the right person to give if you’d allow Him.

Relationship is all about give and take but you don’t give what would destroy your own life for love. That’s the greatest height of folly! Give nothing but friendship, where no strings are attached and boundaries are defined. Not everyone would agree to these truth but you can do nothing about the truth: it’s either you take it and allow it to save you or neglect it and be exposed to its consequence! Give what wouldn’t cost you or that you’d have to regret in the nearest future.

Topic: Consistent Christians? [Wednesday 11, May

Memorise: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. – Revelation 22:12

Read: Revelation 22:11-14 (KJV) 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Bible in One Year: 2 Kings 10:18-12:21, Proverbs 22:29-23:13

MESSAGE:

At the beginning of his ministry, Paul took a ride in a basket as he escaped for his life in Damascus (2 Corinthians 11:32-33). But the God who delivered him from the garrison at Damascus, allowed him to end up in jail at Philippians (Act 16). Because God answered a particular prayer yesterday does not mean that He would repeat another in exactly the same manner.

In Acts 16:25, Paul conducted a worship service in prison right in the midst of chains and bonds. He never complained. Paul learnt to praise God in whatever circumstance he found himself. Not many people can praise God when thrown into prison for the sake of the Gospel. He was prepared to undertake the worst of sufferings for the Kingdom of God (Philippians 1:20-21). He was not ashamed. Are you ashamed to suffer minor ridicule, persecutions, denials, beatings for His Name today? Paul could say we should become a living sacrifice to God because he was one.

In African traditional religion, when a bird or animal is brought as a sacrifice to an idol, the giver forfeits his right to that animal; it becomes the property of the idol for the rest of its life. Whether it lives or dies or is given to someone is at the discretion of the idol. That living sacrifice may be fed so well in one moment and killed the next minute. This explains the term living sacrifice. You should be so yielded to God to the extent of delivering to Him the greatest pleasure in whatever you do. If dying for the Gospel will give Him the height of pleasure, you should be prepared to die like Stephen. The preparedness of Daniel to go into the lion’s den demonstrates that he was a living sacrifice. But in the end, instead of death, his faith compelled a decree for the whole world to fear Daniel’s God.
If my death can produce a United Nations decree compelling all nations of the world to worship no other god other than my God– the true and living God, I will gladly be on my way to Heaven. Are you a living sacrifice? And to what extent?

Prayer Point: Father, please give me the grace to always look unto You for everything I need in life

IS LOVE JEALOULSY

I remember my first time experience about love shortly after my secondary school education. I never had any relationship during my secondary school years. But, this came unexpected. It happened that there was a lady I admired and we became friends. We both pursued the same passion in the same department in church. We found it easy to get along, do extracurricular activities after church service. Not minding the distance of her house from mine, I’ll go to her place where we chat and spend time together. The relationship was godly and there’s no sinful habit.

In no time, we became family friends as our parents knew each other and our siblings too were friends. Few months down the line, here comes a new member, a brother who joined us in the department and before I’d say Jesus is Lord, he got her attention. She no longer comes to my house as before. I became jealous because I sensed rivalry. Her mom also knew about it. I felt pained and almost heart broken. Should I have fought for love? Why was I jealous when someone else bought her affection? When you’re in love, there’s every tendency to desire protection of whom you’re in love with. Because of your affection, intimacy and emotional connection, you’d never want anyone to overthrow the position you occupy in the heart of who you love. Hence, you’ll do all it takes to secure the love. To secure that emotional oneness you shared, first you become jealous and then sensitive to anyone that could act as a rival. It’s normal to be jealous. But it is when jealousy gets to the extreme that envy, rage and fight would come up all in the name of love..

Why do people gets jealous when they begin to sense rivalry or emotional encroachment? Do you know that God is love? Love is not all about sexual fantasies, immoralities and sex; it has to do with commitment and improving the life of whom you love. Hence, it’s not heresy to say God is a jealous God. Does it sound weird? In Deuteronomy four verse twenty-four, God is a consuming fire and a jealous God. God will never share His glory with anyone. In the Gospels, He requested that man must love Him with all his heart, soul, strength and might (Luke 10:27). He doesn’t want anything or anyone to come in between you and Him. This is why He’s jealous.

When you love your spouse or partner, it’s normal to be jealous when you sense a rivalry. But the jealousy shouldn’t lead to aggression or cause fight between the rival. It’s not love when you’re not jealous but when the jealousy becomes extreme that it leads to a fight, it’s no longer love but rage. Similarly, when jealousy begins to make you feel possessive or monitoring your spouse’s life, then it’s not love but lust. Love is kind and not controlling. A bit of jealousy is needed to make a person feel special. But when you’re not bothered if a rival comes or not, it shows a lackadaisical attitude about love. Or perhaps you don’t treasure whom you love.

Don’t get overly protective or controlling because you don’t want a rival. It’s normal for rivalry to occur even when you’re married. Some men would still desire to have you having seen a wedding band on your finger, you only have to remain faithful to your marital vows or whom you’re engaged to. Love is jealous but going the extreme makes it worse and immature. It’s weird for a lady to be fighting because of rivalry or a man to engage in throwing punches or to do evil against someone who took the affection of whom you love. A person that’s truly in love with you, though would have suitors but would ensure to remain faithful despite the advances. If God is jealous of securing His love relationship with man, then you must jealously secure your love for your spouse or partner but not to the extreme.

© Mayowa Adeniyi 2016

Topic: Ungodly Sorrow [Saturday 23, April 2016]

Memorise: And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. – Matthew 27:5

Read: Matthew 27:3-8 (KJV)

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 23-24, Proverbs 14:18-31

MESSAGE:

The type of sorrow that Judas Iscariot experienced is undesirable. I pray that you will not experience such a sorrow in your life in Jesus’ name. We need to know why the sorrow that Peter experienced is seen as godly and why that of Judas Iscariot is perceived as ungodly.

When a man thinks he can outsmart his creator, the results is usually ghastly, and it is only when that person has godly sorrow for his acts that he can be saved. Greed and materialistic tendencies can make a man think he can outsmart God. It is unfortunate that some so-called Christians are not spared for this monster called greed (or the love of material things). The Bible says:

“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Judas Iscariot thought he could swindle the Jewish leaders by betraying Jesus, he thought Jesus could not be arrested because he had, before then, witnessed Him escaping from the hands of the Jews. However, he didn’t know that Christ escaped then because His time was not yet up.

“28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,” - Luke 4:28-30

With the background knowledge of what Christ could do, he felt that once he had collected the money and showed them who He is, Christ would disappear and life would continue as usual. To his surprise, Christ surrendered Himself. The type of sorrow he had does not lead to repentance; rather, it leads to despair, frustration, and eventually suicide as seen in today’s memory verse.

Beloved, let us fear the Lord and abstain from all forms of greed and the love of money. These things drown men in destruction and perdition.

Prayer Point: Father, please don’t let the love of money drown me in Jesus’ name

Topic: Eternal Damnation [Saturday 2, April 2016]

Memorise: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. – Mark 16:16

Read: Mark 16:15-18 (KJV)

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 6:1-8:18, Proverbs 3:28-4:9

MESSAGE:

Eternal damnation is the worst thing that can happen to anyone, it is damnation for a lifetime here on earth and in eternity. Our Lord Jesus Christ said:

“4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” - Luke 12:4-5

Jesus Christ in the above passage is taking about eternal damnation for sinners and the ungodly. Many people choose eternal damnation indirectly by escaping the cost that godly living poses to them. In the midst of trials and tribulations, some children of God deny their Lord. Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:25-34 said we should not be anxious for what to eat or drink because our Father in heaven knows we will need them and so will provide them for us. We should not bow to the enticement of the devil. Rather, we should heed the Words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, even if this exposes us to some challenges that are, as a matter of fact, temporary. This is the reason Jesus admonished His disciples saying:

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

To escape eternal damnation, therefore, we must accept the gospel of Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. It is unfortunate that there are many people in the Church today who do not believe the gospel. Some see the gospel as outdated; they believe that Christ came to redeem man from eternal damnation but they refused to keep to the terms and conditions of salvation. According to the text of our reading for today, accepting the gospel entails accepting the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives. We cannot do what pleases us anymore; we cannot afford to follow the whims and caprices of the world anymore (1 John 2:15-17). Moreover, we must learn His ways and imbibe His ideals (Matthew 11:28-30). Failure to keep to these principles of Christian living makes our profession of Christianity a mere exercise. Jesus Christ asked His audience:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” - Luke 6:46

May the Lord give us hearing ears and obedient hearts to do according to His perfect will.

Prayer Point: Father, help me to follow you and walk before you with a perfect heart that I may escape eternal damnation in Jesus name.

Topic: Divine Alternative [Friday 1, April 2016]

Memorise: And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. – 1 Samuel 15:28

Read: Acts 1:15-26 (KJV)

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostlesp. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 3-5, Proverbs 3:13-27

MESSAGE:

Many people do not know that God has alternatives for all His plans. This is why they behave as if God exists at their mercy. Such people cannot be more wrong in their perception of the Almighty God. The truth is that God cannot be held to ransom on any issue or event. This is why He always provides alternatives that are more often better than the original plan. Our memory verse for today confirms this, as we read about how God saw David as a better alternative to the first King of Israel, Saul. When a child of God becomes swollen-headed and he begins to disobey God in matters that seem very little like tithing and offering, first fruits and would winning, he or she is on the way to being replaced. My prayer for someone using this devotional is that you will not be replaced in the scheme of divine project in Jesus name.

In the Bible reading for today, there is a great revelation of God’s foreknowledge of all things and how this attribute makes Him provide alternatives beforehand. The replacement of Judas Iscariot was predicted by the mouth of King David who was also a prophet in his right. The implication of this revelation is that before Judas Iscariot chose to be a betrayer which in turn disqualified him among the twelve, God had planned an alternative for him! Another lesson we can learn from this as children of God is that whenever a way seems blocked, God has more than a thousand alternative ways to replace the blocked one. The bible says:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

Beloved, learning from the stories of King Saul and Judas Iscariot, we must be very careful about the way we live our lives, so that what happened to them does not repeat itself in our lives. 1 Corinthians 10:6 says:

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

As I was growing up in my father’s house, I leant to be obedient through the experience of my elder brother with our disciplinarian father. My elder brother was a very strong young man with a good physique, strength and wresting prowess. Only a few young men among his contemporaries could dare challenge him to a fight. However, the day our father disciplined my elder brother and this so called ‘hero’ cried like a baby, I decided never to do anything that would make our father think of punishing me. God has alternatives to any child of His that is not law-abiding. Let us therefore beware of doing things that will make God replace us with someone else.

Prayer Point: Father, help me never to do that which will make You replace me in Your Kingdom.