Godly Relationships🍃

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2017

YOUNG AND FREE DAILY DEVOTION

THE FOUNDATION FOR BIBLICAL LOVE RELATIONSHIPS PT.5

Galatians 4:1-2 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

One of the commonest questions many young people ask today is, "when is the right time to get into a relationship?" It is important to know that, if you are a Christian, God wants you to live by His Word and not by the opinions and standards of man and society. Society might say that if you're at some age you can decide to get into a love relationship but according to God's standard, it is not really about the age. Even though as you grow in age, it is believed that you are more experienced and expected to be more mature we know that that is not always the case. Entering a relationship is more dependent on your spiritual maturity or how mature you are in the Word of God and whether the person you're willing to enter the relationship with is born again, has received the Holy Spirit, is well grounded in the Word and has a proper understanding of love. When these areas are settled with both of you, you guarantee for yourself a successful godly relationship. Many of the challenges, mistakes and break ups young people have are because they enter relationships under pressure from feelings and from peers. Take your time! Mature in the Word. Receive the Holy Spirit today! Take your time to grow in the Word and get a godly perspective of love. Then when you get in a relationship, you'll know it's once and for all till you get married. You'll not make any unnecessary mistakes and you will be a godly example to the world.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2017

YOUNG AND FREE DAILY DEVOTION

THE FOUNDATION FOR BIBLICAL LOVE RELATIONSHIPS PT.4

John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

If you're going to enter a love relationship as a child of God you must make up your mind and have an unshakable resolve to make it work. Have the "it must work at all costs" mindset. Sometimes when I listen to people who have all sorts of reasons for leaving a wonderful courtship or marriage I wonder if they are really born again. There are thousands of reasons you can give for not seeing a love relationship through but that shouldn't be the case for the child of God. The force and nature and God's love is in you. The Bible says in Song of Solomon 8:6 - 8 (MSG), "Hang my locket around your neck, wear my ring on your finger. Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing— it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can’t drown love, torrents of rain can’t put it out. Love can’t be bought, love can’t be sold— it’s not to be found in the marketplace...." That's the character of the love of God in you. It's unstoppable. Unless you're just going in with and following your emotions. Don't keep saying nobody understands you. You're not wiser than God. If you've been born again, God knows the kind of love He has infused you with. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT), "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." You cannot convince me that it was love if you got to a point where you couldn't take it anymore. Then it was just emotions. This is the love of God at work we are talking about. In the opening verse the Bible says, "having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." Sometimes when I look at some of the things Jesus' disciples did and said I wonder why he didn't dump them and get some more spiritual guys. They actually deserted Him when He needed them most. But He never have up on them and by the work of those disciples the gospel is being spread to the ends of the earth. Dear reader, as long as both of you are born again, the love of God will prevail against every situation.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2017

YOUNG AND FREE DAILY DEVOTION

THE FOUNDATION FOR BIBLICAL LOVE RELATIONSHIPS PT.2

1 John 4:10 (AMP) In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.

The Bible does not clearly give a clear definition of love that many people can clearly put to work. However if the eyes of your heart were opened to see you will see the clearest and most perfect description of true love in the Word. It is important to know what love is so that you can properly enjoy it. Love is a spiritual nature and force that expresses itself as an unyielding force for fellowship. This love nature is the very nature of God. In fact, love is the very personality of God. That’s why the Bible says in 1 John 4:8 (AMP), “He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.” God is love! It is sometimes difficult for people to relate these things in their relationships and marriages. When we speak like this they feel that we are over-spiritualizing love. But love is very spiritual. God is love! Love is the very nature of God. Love is also a force in God. Why is love a force? Because it always acts! It is never idle. That’s why in the opening verse the Bible says, “In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son…” He didn’t just send love us and sit there and do nothing; He sent His Son. It is the force of love that was able to compress the limitless God into a limited human body. It was the force of love that held the epitome of all power and authority on the cross because 3 nails could never hold God to a tree. Now dear reader, you receive this same love nature and force into your spirit when you are born again. The exact loving ability of God is downloaded into your spirit when you are born again. That is why you can have a blissful and successful love relationship. Hallelujah!

 MONDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2017

YOUNG AND FREE DAILY DEVOTION

THE FOUNDATION FOR BIBLICAL LOVE RELATIONSHIPS PT.1

Matthew 7:24-25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

One of the aspects of life that brings great challenges to most people is the area of love relationships. When we talk about love relationships it's not just about young people courting each other and trying to get married in future. A biblical love relationship in this context is a decision between two new creatures (born agains); male and female, who love each other, to stay together in the fellowship of love to fulfil God's purpose together. So a love relationship can be a courtship leading to marriage or a marriage itself. So whether you're single, courting or married, you fall in the category of biblical love relationships. If you're born again and you desire to be or are in a love relationship, you must have an unflinching mission to enjoy it and to make sure it is a success. The only guarantee you have of enjoying and having a successful love relationship is the Word of God. The issue of love relationships is a field where almost everyone feels they are experts because of some experience they have or how they feel. Love relationships are not like a football team where every fan thinks they are a coach and has some experience or opinion to offer because they played soccer in their backyard as a child. Only what God has said in His Word about love and love relationships is what guarantees your success in it. There is a massive proliferation of opinions and theories about love relationships on all kinds of media, but dear reader, if it is not the Word of God, no matter how much it may appear to agree with your feelings and experiences, throw it away! The opening verse is emphatic, saying, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not..." As long as no two people are the same in character and personality there will definitely be challenges whether single and searching, courting or married. But when that love is founded upon the Word of God it will stand to the end. Hallelujah!

THURSDAY JULY 6, 2017

OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP DAILY DEVOTION

LOVE IS DECISION

John 13:1 (MSG) Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved His dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end.

Too many people think that love relationships and marriage is a game or a gamble. Love isn't a game at all. It still amazes me when I talk to Christians and they talk like the whole thing is a game. You can't be going into relationships or getting married with a trial and error methodology.

One important thing that must be clear in the minds and hearts of Christians is that love is a nature in our spirits. It is the nature of God and we received that exact nature when we were born again. The Bible says in 1 John 4:7-8

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and ... for God is love.

Love is the fruit of our recreated spirit (Galatians 5:22). Even though love employs our feelings and emotions it is important to understand that love actually comes from our spirits whereas emotions and feelings come from our souls. The two aren't the same; that's why the Bible makes us see the clear difference between spirit, soul and body in 1 Thessalonians 5:23

...and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So love isn't the feelings or emotions, it's the nature in our spirits. Emotions and feelings are subject to change, but the nature of love is unchangeable in your spirit. Love may express itself through feelings and emotions but 'it' is 'itself' not an emotion or feeling. Now when you decide to get into a relationship with someone or to get married to someone you have to make that decision on the foundation of the fact that you've got love in your spirit not just based on what you feel.

There are days when you may FEEL tired; when you won't FEEL like you 'love' your partner but remember that love is a decision and that decision has to be managed. Even if you don't feel it, know that it is there and decide to love! The love is in your spirit: stir it up. You must understand that people are not perfect in character just yet. As children of God we are growing into perfection. So there may be times when you may not be happy with something your partner did and you may want to quit: but remember that you can still love them because even when the emotions and feelings change, the nature of love is still in your spirit. The days you don't feel that you 'love' your partner the most or the days you feel 'tired', hold their hands; look them in their eyes and tell them you love them. Don't think you can't do it; you can do it by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not completely perfect in character yet but God's love never gets tired toward us. The opening verse tells us how Jesus loved His companions till the very end. They were not always perfect in character but He had decided to love them and He stuck with that decision.

THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017

OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP DAILY DEVOTION

YOU'VE GOT IT IN YOU

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

In the same way as everything you will need for life and godliness is in your born again spirit, all you will ever need to have a successful godly relationship and marriage is in you. I have listened to several people who gave up on their relationships because they felt they 'ran out of love' or they just didn't have what it took to continue anymore. It's one thing to endure but it's another thing to draw out of the divine resources within you to enjoy your relationship.

It's important to know that God made everybody different and unique. Inasmuch as there are similarities, everybody is intrinsically different. Whereas God looks at those differences to generate love; the devil uses those differences to create discord and hatred. That's why there's racism and gender inequality in the world. The fact that two people are completely different doesn't mean they can't have a wonderful love relationship or marriage.

It's the differences that give you the opportunity to draw on the divine resources in you to enjoy your love relationship. The opening verses talk about the fruit of the recreated or born again spirit. For a long time many people have thought  that the fruit is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. But in several devotions, we've shown from the scriptures how this is referring to your spirit. It means that in your born again spirit are wells of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. These are the things anyone will need to enjoy a blissful relationship.

Anytime you come up against a challenge, draw on the wells in you. Begin to confess, "I have the love of God in me. I'm always joyful. The peace of God is in me. There's longsuffering in me. I'm always gentle! I'm full of kindness and goodness! I'm full of faith. I exhibit meekness and temperance in the Name of Jesus! Don't be moved by what is going on on the outside of your relationship. Focus on what's inside you in Christ!

OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP DAILY DEVOTION

HARNESS YOUR EMOTIONS

2 Corinthians 10:5 (MSG) We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

Emotions are one of the four aspects of the soul, including the intellect, the will and the conscience. Emotions are not bad or evil but when you don't learn to harness them they have the ability to control you. God didn't create us with emotions so that they control us but that we harness them in our relationships both with Him and with others. Emotions were never meant to be what controls you and governs your actions and decision making. God wants His Word and His Spirit to move you and govern your actions and decisions. Emotions aren't the master; they are tools that we have the authority to control and channel in the direction we want.

Unchecked emotions have ruined relationships and marriages and have prevented people from getting into relationships with the right people. Loose emotions have moved people to do  things in a rash after which  they later regretted. And amazingly, they feel like they don't even know what came over them. In an instant, their emotions just took over them. If you allow emotions and feelings to fuel your actions, thoughts and decisions you're in for a bumpy ride in your love relationship or marriage. And chances are that ride won't end well. Let's look at Jesus for example. When He was about to be crucified and He was in the Garden of Gethsemane,  His feelings weren't totally in line with God's will. The Bible says in Matthew 26:38

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

He could've backed out at that moment if He had decided to go by what He felt. But look at what He said in Matthew 26:39

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

If Jesus had been moved by feelings and emotions He wouldn't have gone to the cross. He put His feelings aside and said, "not as I will, but as thou wilt." He decided to go by the Word and not by what He felt.

If you'd carefully analyze your emotions you'd realize that they are influenced by information. Sometimes your spouse would say or do something that could fill you with so much happiness then another time something they would say or do something that could make you angry. Sometimes you'd realize you were happy until you started thinking about a particular thing and then as if it was automatic, you just begin to feel sad. So those feelings are neutral until they are fed some information. That's great news! It means you can constantly feed your emotions with the information of God's Word so that in every instance you can respond the way God would. Glory to God! You can keep your emotions in check by the Word of God.

The opening verse in the Message version goes into further detail about what the original King James talks about. He says, "fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." A life shaped by Christ is one governed by the Word and by the Spirit. And we must fit every loose emotion into that structure of God's Word and the leading of the Spirit. You'll realize your relationship will be full of the joy and beauty of the Spirit. Don't be like the worldly people who say to do only what you feel. This doesn't mean that if you have something to say you should bottle it up because you don't want to be emotional. But let the Word of God and the Holy Spirit shape your emotion so much that whatever response you give is a reflection of Christ.

THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017

OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP DAILY DEVOTION

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET

Genesis 13:14-15 (TLB) ... "Look as far as you can see..., for I am going to give it all to you ..."

Your perception in life determines what you expect and what you experience. A perception is the way you think about or understand something or someone. It is how you view or see life, a person or an idea. A perception may not necessarily be the truth; it is just the way a person 'sees' something.

Even though God has designed that you should enjoy love in a blissful relationship and marriage, your perception of love will determine how you enjoy it the way God wants you to. Too many Christians have very 'interesting' perceptions of love and you can see it in how they talk and how they act.

As a believer, your perception of anything in life MUST be shaped by the Word of God and not by worldly ideas.  Let me share an example of how some Christians view relationships and marriages with you: "In every relationship there are going to be arguments, tears, fights and ups and downs. Things said in anger; mad exes, attitude and jealousy. But at the end of the day if you truly love the person, you'll stick around." Now I saw this on social media. But most Christians don't see any issue with that. To them that is the truth about relationships. And sincerely because that is their perception about relationships, that is exactly what they experience. The Bible says in 1 John 4:7:

...for LOVE IS OF GOD; and every one that loveth is born of God, ...

If love is of God, then it is only wise to that our understanding of love, of marriage and relationships be received from Him in His Word. His Word is truth concerning every matter (John 17:17). So the truth about love relationships and marriage can only be found in His Word and not from the world. God's perspective of love is clear and it is stated in 1 Corinthians   13:4-7 (NLT):

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

That's the perception you should have about love and relationships. Don't let the world shape your perception of love. Renew your mind to ideas and views you have received about love from the world. (Romans 12:2)

Don't just accept anything you see about love on social media or television. If it's not from the Word reject it! That's the only way you can fully enjoy love the way God ordained it. In the opening verses God told Abram, "as far as you can see...I am going to give it all to you.." How you see or perceive your relationship affects how you enjoy it. Enjoy love the way God ordained for you to enjoy it. See love in the light of the Word and not from the view of the world.

THURSDAY JUNE 1, 2017

OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP DAILY DEVOTION

MATURITY IN LOVE

Colossians 1:28 (NCV) So we continue to preach Christ...in order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature person in Christ.

One of the greatest keys to enjoying a blissful and fruitful love relationship and marriage is maturity. Unfortunately many people don't really get what maturity is in this respect. Maturity isn't the same as experience even though experience may produce maturity if used rightly. Maturity is not the same as age. Many people who have reached the age society may deem fit for a relationship or marriage are still not mature enough. Maturity isn't a personal conviction and adherence to some personal principles you deem fit to work in your relationship or marriage. In fact maturity isn't in not crying or crying, for in that case Jesus would've been said to immature when He wept in John 11:35.

So what is maturity and how is it important in  a love relationship or marriage?  Sometimes when I listen to people share their challenges in their relationships or marriages; what appears to be a big issue for one couple is trivial and absolutely nothing to another. You'd realize that the difference in these perspectives is in the maturity of the couples. Many people who are facing sexual challenges in love relationships keep falling because of a lack of maturity. Maturity simply means to come of age. It means to grow up to a level that you're able to respond appropriately to spiritual, mental, emotional and physical and environmental circumstances based on appropriate knowledge. Your response to circumstances is what determines how mature you are. Look at the story of Jesus and His disciples when they were faced with a storm in Mark 4:37-41. While the disciples' response to the storm was fear and dismay, Jesus was asleep on a pillow in the boat. And He responded appropriately to the storm by calming it. The amazing truth in this story is that, the disciples could've calmed the storm as well. Otherwise He wouldn't have rebuked them and questioned their unbelief. He responded appropriately to the situation based on appropriate knowledge. He knew who He was from God's Word (Luke 4:17-21) and He knew He had authority over the storm; so He got right up and calmed it.

The reason many Christians aren't enjoying their relationships and marriages is because of a lack of maturity. In fact, the root cause of challenges in relationships and marriages is immaturity in one or both parties in the relationship. God actually designed for you to enjoy your love relationship and marriage so much. In fact when I say enjoy I really mean enjoy. The world has so corrupted that word enjoy that some Christians don't like to hear it. But the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17 that:

...the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

But your enjoyment is tied to your maturity. That's why the Bible says in Galatians 4:1

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all.

Even though as a child of God, you are legally entitled to a blissful and fruitful relationship and marriage, you won't enjoy that right when you're still immature. This maturity we are talking about is spiritual maturity developed by feeding on the proper diet of God's Word. In reality, the appropriate knowledge needed to mount an appropriate response is the Word of God. Once you are truly spiritually mature, it will affect your speech, your thoughts, your emotions and your actions. There is no way you can be truly mature spiritually and be immature in your relationship. Before you enter a relationship or get married or even if you already are, build yourself up by feeding in God's Word. Build a strong foundation on the Word of God and you will be mature enough to enjoy the bliss of love.

THURSDAY MAY 18, 2017

OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP DAILY DEVOTION

THINK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE

Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Some people don’t really think about their future when it comes to marriage and raising a family? And for those who even do they think about the fantasies they have been having since childhood. They think about how they will be sitting on a horse with their husbands; or how they will have gold dust sprinkled at their feet on their wedding day among other very interesting things. It is not wrong to do nice things  but nobody ever started building a house and started with the summer hut before starting to build the actual house. You need to build the foundation for the essential things before you move to the others.

One of the things that point to the fact that several people don’t think about their future in terms of marriage and family life is their choices of who they enter relationships with. When some people get into relationships, it is pretty clear they are not thinking about and investing into their future. Inasmuch as looks and feelings are not bad; they are not the most important things.

I have seen some Christians who were so ‘blinded’ by their feelings that they went on to date people who were not born again; had no interest in God’s Word; didn’t go to church and never prayed. I have seen Christians who are in relationships with people who have no reverence for God and are just interested in sex and other things of the world. And these Christians go on in these relationships even when they are cautioned; because they are so consumed by their feelings they don’t take time to think about their future. That person that you are choosing to be in a relationship with and hoping to be with them all your life is not just going to be a gift to you but also a gift of a good mother or father you give to your children one day. If you don’t think about your future family, your children and how to bring them up in a godly way you will just enter a relationship with anybody because ‘you feel you are in love’.

There are a number of divorces and broken families today that are a result of one of the spouses not really thinking about their future before entering that relationship or marriage. There are certain feelings and unnecessary pleasures you need to delay or simply deny yourself of because of your future. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:2 (MSG)

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed — that exhilarating finish in and with God — he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

Seriously consider where how you want your future to be. I doubt you would want to be at a divorce court fighting for the custody of your child or children. I doubt you would want to come home every night and wait for your partner to return from a party drunk. The blissful marriage you envision is embedded in the choices you make today based on God’s Word and by the leading of the Spirit.

The opening verse says that God has plans to give you a hope and a future. He doesn’t need your help to do it but He wants to do it with you. Partner with God to give you a glorious marriage and family. Let the choices you make today be in the light of God’s Word and by His Spirit in order  to bring you into that perfect plan of a glorious marriage God has for you.

THURSDAY APRIL 27, 2017

OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP DAILY DEVOTION

SELF-CENTEREDNESS CAN DESTROY RELATIONSHIPS

Philippians 2:3-4 (NCV) When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide.... give more honor to others than to yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.

No matter the kind of relationship; whether it’s a family relationship, a business partnership, a friendship or a love relationship, self-centeredness is toxic to its fruitfulness. Self-centeredness is simply always thinking of only what is beneficial to you or the attitude of always wanting only your desires gratified or gratified first. But the amazing thing is that sometimes self-centeredness is actually unconscious. We must remember that even though someone may be born-again, their minds may still be totally un-renewed. The way they think, talk and behave may be totally contrary to what the Word of God says. Let’s say you are in a relationship with or are married to someone who was raised as an only child. As a child they had all the attention they wanted. When they wanted anything, their parents had to stop all they were doing to attend to them. This person may be born-again but because their minds may not be renewed in that area, they will think, talk and behave in a very self-centered way. Another person may not have been an only child, but they grew up getting everything they wanted done for them the way they wanted it, exactly when they wanted it and exactly how they wanted it and so they bring that same attitude into a relationship and probably meet another person who probably had to work and earn everything they wanted; rarely getting anything they actually wanted. It’s going to be a very interesting relationship or marriage. But you know, the Bible says in Colossians 2:20 (NET)

If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?

When you are born again you live by the Word of God and by the Spirit of God. If the way ‘you’ were raised is contrary to the Word, put it aside and walk by the Word! So how will one know if they are being self-centered? Some people are clearly and evidently self-centered. They are constantly focused and dwelling on what they want, what they think and how they feel and always insist on having everything their way. But the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:5 (AMPC):

Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking…

So apart from renewing your mind; how else can one practically remove any form of self-centeredness from their relationship? Because, sometimes it’s not really because someone in a relationship is self-centered; it’s either because one person knows what is right and must be done in a particular instance and insists on the right thing being done or both people just have different views or perspectives of doing things and think that what must be done should be done their way. Really, the practical solution is Christ-centeredness. Someone may ask, “how is that relevant if I want to go out to eat and if my partner wants to stay in their room to eat?” Very relevant! As long as there are two different people in a relationship there will be different expectations. So who is always going to give up their expectation for the sake of the other? The only way to solve this is to be Christ-centered. That means to submit to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. He will always tell both of you what to do; where to go and how to do everything. It’s no longer what you or your partner wants but what the Spirit leads in even the smallest of matters. Let your love function through the Spirit and put all selfish insistences aside.

THURSDAY APRIL 20, 2017

OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP DAILY DEVOTION

TWO LUMPS OF CLAY

Jeremiah 18:3-4 Then I went down to the potter's house...And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it...as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Today we want to address by the Spirit, a very important  issue that some Christians appear to have. It is important that you don't miss the import of this message. In previous devotions we have shared with you how when choosing a life partner, the person must be born again, be filled with the Holy Spirit, be a lover of the Word, have an intimate fellowship with the Holy Spirit and have a proper biblical understanding of love. It does not necessarily mean that the person must have attained the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ but at least that should be their priority and they must be on this course. When you have a  'pool' of such people you can make a choice by the Spirit in the direction of the one you are genuinely attracted to.

I have noticed a challenge with some people which may lead them to missing out on wonderful marriages and relationships because of trivial matters. We must all realize that, despite the fact that we are new creatures, we are growing to the full manifestation of the life of God in us. We may not have all attained perfection yet because we are constantly being moulded into the perfect shape God wants us to get into. It is very good to pray for a particular kind of spouse or partner and even better to pray for them even when you haven't seen them. But the challenge I've realized is that people pray for already made pots but God may give them the clay He is moulding into the very pot they prayed for. I am not saying that when someone isn't born again or is going around living wildly, then  you convince yourself to say they are clay and God is moulding them so you will take them like that. I'm talking about people who fall within the above stated category. Many people walk away from people who would have made wonderful spouses because they didn't realize that within that lump of clay was the pot they prayed for. At every point in time, we're lumps of clay in the Potter's hands; being shaped and moulded by the Word into the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ already inherent in our recreated spirits. You yourself are a lump of clay in the Potter's hand! It is sad to see that people may walk away from someone because of an attitudinal issue only to see them a few years later totally changed. They were not patient and loving enough to let the Potter mould them into the pot they prayed for. I am in no way saying you can marry someone to change them; I am saying that you need to realize that certain challenges in people will just fall off as they grow in the Word.

The Bible says in Matthew 13:44

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field... goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

I hope you get the right import of the above scripture. It is not saying go and sell all you have to marry someone. But what you should see here is the person's ability to see a treasure that was hidden and go for it. Others probably would've passed by the same land and thought it was no good. But he saw it and went for it. It's different when you genuinely don't have an 'interest' in the person. But if  you do, don't write the person off because of little issues. Yes, those little issues may become big issues one day. But if the person is really born again, filled with the Spirit, loves the Word, fellowships with the Holy Spirit and has a biblical understanding of love, they will be moulded into shape and you will be so blessed.

THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017

OPEN HEAVENS FELLOWSHIP DAILY DEVOTION

DEALING WITH UNCERTAINTIES

James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

One of the challenges that several single Christians are confronted with is the issue of uncertainty. But amazingly, it shouldn't be an issue if you have the Holy Spirit. Sometimes you will hear several stories of people proposing and being proposed to not being certain about whether to say yes or no. And usually it makes both the 'proposer' and the 'proposee' very confused about what to do. But the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...

It is fact there are some people who are never sure whether to say yes or no when they are proposed to. But it's not an issue handling that situation. First of all let me address the people who are never sure and always want to take several years and days to think about it before they respond. There are several reasons why certain people want to hesitate responding. Firstly, they think that love is solely emotional and so if they don't feel any emotional 'high' then they are not sure. The solution to that is to detach emotions from decision making. We are not saying that you should separate emotions from love but detach it from decision making and flow by the Spirit.

Secondly, some people are afraid to say no because they think that it will adversely affect their relationship with the proposer. First foremost if someone says no to your proposal there it shouldn't affect your relationship. No is no! Just put emotions aside and flow. I'm not saying you won't be disappointed; but don't let that disappointment direct your decisions. We are people of the Word and the Spirit. Now if you are also afraid to say no, you're doing more harm than good. Just politely tell the person no and let the person move on. Sometimes there are certain decisions you have to take that people won't be happy with but it's for their own good. Wasting that person's time while the person could've moved on is more detrimental than your friendship being affected by your honesty.

Thirdly, some people like attention and will do anything to get it from anyone. So if it means stalling the person with uncertainty they will do it. But that is a sign of gross immaturity. Finally, there are those who are genuinely not sure and want to be clear in their spirits. But the truth is that, clarity in the spirit doesn't take forever. In actual fact, how clear you are about a matter in your spirit depends on how mature you've become to be led by the Spirit not on the Holy Ghost. He is more eager to lead you in every matter than you even want to be led. He said in Isaiah 30:21

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

So be certain and move forward boldly. The opening verses tell us that the double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Stop listening to worldly friends and movies and hear from the Spirit. However if you are the one waiting on the other side of a proposal, know that there are those who genuinely need clarity in the matter but there are others who might just be wasting your time. If you notice that the person isn't really sure for a while tell them politely by the Spirit to move and you also move on. Time is of the essence so don't waste it. And once you do that, be mature enough to keep your relationship unharmed as much as you can. Dear reader, be certain and move forward.