The Nation Newspaper

Category: Family forum

  • Communication: A must in marriage! (1)

    Dear Reader, Congratulations and Happy New Month! It is my prayer that this month brings lots of joy, blessings and fulfilment to your life and home. Today, as you take practical steps to apply the Word of God that is coming your way, your home shall be heaven on earth indeed, in Jesus’ Name!

    This month, via God’s Word, I will be looking at the topic: “Communication: A must in Marriage!”

    Today, many marriages break down as a result of faulty communication. Couples talk and nag until they become weary of each other. Why?  Because there is no effective communication.

    Communication is very vital in marriage. You may not enjoy your marriage, if you and your spouse don’t know how to communicate effectively. It is like having gold in a garden, but not knowing how to dig it out. The gold is there, but as long as it is not dug out, you cannot be enriched by it.

    That is why the basis of any fruitful and lasting relationship is effective communication. God, our Father and our ultimate example, proved this to us by communicating His plans and intentions to those whom He trusted. He spoke clearly to Moses, Samuel, David, right through to Jesus and beyond Him, to those of us who love and serve Him.

    Marriage without effective communication can never work! In times past, particularly in African societies, women were regarded as mere objects and a part of a man’s possessions. They were not consulted on major issues, neither were their views regarded as important.

    In those days, women stayed married because they had no choice; but that has never been God’s plan. He made marriage as an avenue for both husband and wife to find fulfillment, and this comes when there is effective communication.

    Remember, it takes deliberate efforts to build an enviable home.  Thus, effective communication is one of the requirements for building a successful marriage and family. Note that the need to constantly improve your communication skills and strategy cannot be over-emphasized.

    However, no matter how effectively you communicate with your spouse and family members right now, it can still be improved upon;  because, there is always a better way of doing things.  As someone rightly said ‘the largest room in the world is the room for improvement.’

    Don’t ever believe that you are communicating the best way.  The truth is: You can communicate better than you have been doing before, if you care to constantly improve on the strategies you engage.

    Communication is the key to success in marriage. A wise man said, “If you talk together, you stay together,” and I believe it is very true. Marriage is about living lives together!

    Adam’s family, for example, will help you appreciate the importance of effective communication. God commanded Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam, I suppose, believed, but failed to effectively communicate the seriousness of this command to Eve; and she took it lightly.  If you read the account carefully, you will find that in Eve’s dialogue with the serpent, she mentioned that God “said”, not “commanded” (Genesis 3:3). But God did not just say, He commanded.

    So, communication must first be one-on-one, between the man and his wife, and then other members of the family. That responsibility cannot be shifted to God. He will not leave heaven to come to your home and speak to your wife or your children on your behalf. It is a non-transferable responsibility.

    However, until you are born again, you cannot successfully communicate with God, which is the basis of effective communication with spouse and family members. Being born again entails confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. If you are set for this awesome experience, please say this prayer of faith with me: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today acknowledging that I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I believe You died for me and rose again on the third day. Forgive me my sins, wash me with Your Blood and write my name in the Lamb’s Book of life. Thank You Lord for saving me.”

    Congratulations, you are now born again! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

     

  • Marriage: A garden of treasures (4)

    The family is God’s delight.      When God delights in you and you delight in Him, He makes your life and your home a delightful place. If it is joy you need, He gives it to you. If it is money that is in short supply, God releases it. If it is peace that is required, He brings peace. Everything it takes for your family to succeed is made available. When God delights in your family, everyone against your family progress is silenced and you enjoy all-round security and speedy answers to your prayers.

    Furthermore, when your delight is in Him, your life will always be on the increase (Psalm 18:19); God will promote you and you will enjoy abundance in every area of your life. God’s Word says: Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken; neither shall thy land anymore be termed desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord DELIGHTETH in thee, and thy land shall be married (Isaiah 62:4). This is God Word’s for you right now.

    Every successful home is a threat to satan’s kingdom, which is why he would do anything to destroy it.  Unfortunately, he gains entrance to many homes often through the woman. Remember, he gained access into the first home through Eve, and history always repeats itself. God’s Word says: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).

    For this reason, men should protect their wives spiritually, to ensure that they do not engage in private discussions with hell, which can send them out of their “garden”.  Once the woman is effectively shielded from satan, he will have difficulty in trying to penetrate the home.

    Women are more susceptible to the attacks of satan, because of their roles in the home.  She is usually more at home than the man; so, she is more available to satan. He creeps in on her and tells her, “What makes you different from the man? Are you a slave? Have you forgotten that you too are educated as he (husband) is? Have you forgotten your placement in your office? There is no Jew nor Greek, male or female; the same Lord is rich over all.” If unguarded, the woman would be tempted to agree with him.

    Somehow, satan is able to easily secure the attention of women, particularly when they are idle.  He barrages them with all sorts of negative information, which in turn makes them unhappy. He often arrests them by painting a deadly picture of calamity and woe, which they readily accept. But unfortunately, some women claim that it was God that revealed such information to them, not recognizing that it came through “the prince of the power of the air.”

    Woman, please learn to prove the source of the information that comes to you.  Find things out for yourself from the Word of God, because nothing anybody says can make the Word of no effect.  The destruction many families have experienced today came from information that had satanic sources.

    Man, it is time to awake and chase satan out of your garden! Until you say, “Get thee behind this family, satan”, he will keep hanging around. As man’s eternal enemy, satan has vowed to pull down the family unit.  God’s Word says: How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up? (Deuteronomy 32:30). He wants to stop you from destroying his kingdom.

    In the covenant, one can deal with 1,000, two, especially in marriage, are empowered to put 10,000 to flight!  Satan knows this and wants to keep his kingdom; so, he launches attacks on the family, to prevent them from destroying his kingdom.  Since one family can destroy 10,000 demons, Satan aims at destroying the 10,000 capacity destroyers.  If he succeeds, he has preserved more demons to run errands for him.

    Another reason the devil wants to gain entrance into families is found in I Peter 3:7; Likewise, ye husband, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

    When a man and his wife are at variance with each other, their prayers are hindered, and they are disconnected from God.  They may pray all the time, but there will be no response from heaven.  Heaven will be shut, making it impossible for them to enjoy the harvest of whatever seed they may have sown.

    The man, who opens up his home to malice or discord, has blocked his access to God’s blessing.  Satan knows this, so he does all he can to see that there is rancour and strife between a man and his wife.  Anytime you sense any animosity rising within you against your spouse, know that satan is seeking an entrance.  Therefore, resist him steadfastly in the faith.  Tell yourself that since you have no intention of having another home, you will not give satan a foothold in your family!

                In case you are not yet born again, this is another opportunity for you to do so today. If you want to overcome satanic loopholes in your family this year, don’t miss this golden opportunity. You can become born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 or 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

     

  • Marriage: A garden of treasures (3)

    Marriage is not a trap; it was designed by God to make life great for man.  It is for good, better and best.  Many are scared of entering into marriage because they see it as an instrument of stagnation.  Marriage is meant to advance, increase and promote you. It is not a necessary evil as you may have heard and believed.  Marriage is designed to make life complete for you.  A bachelor may say, “But life is good for me now.” No matter the kind of wonderful experience you may be having now, the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 that: Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him.  This is a total package for better living!

    I used to be scared by certain marriage vows I hear couples chant on their wedding day.  They say such things as: “I so and so get into wedlock with you, for better for worse, in sickness and health….”  I saw the ignorance of the statements as the intending couples chant the so-called marriage vows, because marriage is not designed to be “for better for worse”, but “for better for best!”  That is why Deuteronomy 32:30 says: How should one chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight? Matthew 18:19 also says: Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Your marriage garden has the treasures of double victory!

    One common treasure in any healthy garden that is well cared for is healthy fruits.  Marriage fruitfulness is a guaranteed treasure in your marriage garden. God Himself commanded this to being, just as He commanded creation to be. Immediately after He conducted the first wedding ever in Genesis 1:28, He said: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion.

    It was not an admonition but a treasure added to the marriage garden. God did not say, “You may be fruitful”, but “Be fruitful!”  God designed your marriage to be fruitful and He has not changed His design.  Whatever contrary and negative report you may be experiencing now is of the devil and this must be forcefully dealt with via an understanding of the treasures of fruitfulness that God has made available unto you.  I command such report be cancelled today, by the blood

    Fruitfulness and multiplication talk of increase. Family life, therefore, is for increased living. It is for increase in joy, fulfillment, peace and progress. Another word for “fruitfulness” is “success”. God wants you and your family members to succeed in life, not just to succeed but to keep on succeeding everywhere you turn to. Failure is not God’s desire for you whether financially, spiritually, academically or maritally. Failure is not a part of the nature of God; it is alien to Him.  If you are a

    Every good thing in life has a price; there is always what to do to get what you want. In the search for increase, some bypass the proper channel and look for other ways of getting speedy increase. However, any genuine increase that will last in life must have its source in God. Increase, whether in your health, finances, family life or family peace, must come from God. Unless God is the source of your increase, it will not last. The Bible says: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).

    Before God can bring about increases in any area of your life, there are two basic things that are mentioned in that scripture that you must do.

    I have planted…. The first step to increase is to plant the seed, which you desire to increase. A good illustration of this process is in farming. Before a farmer receives a harvest, the kind of seed he wants increased is planted in prepared ground. Likewise, the kind of increase you desire to see in your life right now will determine what you should plant.

    Perhaps you have planted in times past and you cannot see increases coming your way, it could be that the seeds died of lack of watering (speaking the right words). Don’t be discouraged, for your time of increase is on the way. The Chinese bamboo tree is an unusual tree you can learn from. After being planted, it is watered for four years without it showing any increase. It may even appear dead. However, the watering process must be consistently done for four years and in the fifth year, the tree would grow to a height of 90 feet within 5 weeks to the surprise of everybody. Who says God does not answer prayers? He will grant your desired increase, but you must not give up. Quitters don’t win and winners don’t quit!

    Though unfruitfulness is a problem plaguing many marriages today, I want you to know that your marriage was designed for fruitfulness.  It should be a natural blessing, addition and favour from God to you in your marriage garden.  Everything He created came to being and is still in existence today.  God will neither lie nor change.  Also, He’s not a respecter of persons but of His Word (Ecclesiastes 3:14).  His counsel stands sure forever (Psalm 33:11). If He said, “Let there be light” and there was light, then when He said, “Be fruitful”, you must be fruitful.

    No biological or any other report from man has the power to keep your marriage garden fruitless.  Mark 10:27 says: With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.  Disabuse your mind of every scientific explanation.  Trust God by holding Him to His Word and you shall receive a miracle.  Your marriage garden was meant to bear treasure fruits as written in Deuteronomy 7:13-14.  Instead of mourning and weeping over negative reports, wipe your tears and start enriching your mind with the covenant rights of your marriage garden.  Choose to walk in the knowledge of the revealed truth and you will soon find out that no force can hold you down anymore.

    In case you are not yet born again, this is another opportunity for you to do so today. If you want to overcome satanic loopholes in your family this year, don’t miss this golden opportunity. You can become born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 or 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

     

  • Marriage: A garden of treasures (2)

    Marriage is good!  It is a garden of treasures.  It is meant to bring out the best in your life and offer you several blessings that even money cannot buy. The only way you can effectively tap into the treasures in your marriage garden is by allowing God have the first place in your marriage, family and home. You must not only hear His Word, but believe and practice it. Obedience to the Word of God received will always open you up to the treasures loaded into your marriage garden. This week, we shall be examining more of these treasures and some tools needed for cultivating the marriage garden.

    The Bible states in Genesis 2:10: …And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.  This means that God added treasure of a river into the garden He planted.  River represents water, which in turn is very essential to human life.  Water is for drinking, bathing and washing.  River makes planting more effective.  Water in Bible terms also represents the presence of the Holy Spirit (John 7:38).  Lack of water can cause death by thirst. Refuse to die of thirst in your marriage. It is thirst in marriage that makes couples prefer staying away from home.

    I once knew a man who preferred to stay back at the office after closing hours rather than go home, not because he had work to do, but to keep away from home and have some peace.  His home lacked the treasures of peace. You can make up your mind to make your home a peaceful place for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for yourself, spouse and children.  To the glory of God, my husband and I receive a lot of inspiration from the presence of the Holy Spirit right inside our home. A greater percentage of instructions we have received for ministry till date were from the home.  Make your home a conducive place.

    The river also can be used to generate power in the natural, and in marriage this implies all-round power, spiritually, physically, materially, financially and socially. Ecclesiastes 4:9 states: Two are better than one….  In addition, inside rivers are precious treasures such as mineral deposits that can yield prosperity when properly traded with.  That is why Isaiah 60:5 says: …the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee.  When you handle marriage in the scriptural way, you are bound to prosper in all areas of your life.

    Your marriage garden like the natural garden must constantly be dressed, weeded and taken care of.  Unwanted elements must be removed, water and manure applied, time, patience and hard work invested in it, so that a higher level of productivity can be attained.  For you, therefore, to enjoy the treasures the marriage garden has to offer, you need to dutifully invest spiritual labour in prayer, studying the Word and diligently applying the virtue of patience. You must keep your marriage garden shielded from the enemy who is a destroyer. Protect your home from the attacks of the enemy that may come in several forms such as bad companies, selfishness, arguments, misunderstanding, disobedience of the commandments of God for marriage, etc.

    Tapping the best that the marriage garden has to offer demands a total obedience to God’s commandments concerning marriage, and He has also made available several tools for the man and woman to best accomplish the task of cultivating and keeping their marriage gardens.  The most important tool given to the man as a vital instrument for digging out the treasures in marriage is the tool of love.  God Himself used this tool in John 3:13 and commanded that man use the same tool in Ephesians 5:25. The only type of love that can stand the test of time and dig out the treasures in the garden is the God-kind of love, the unconditional love. There is no woman who does not respond to love. Even if she does not respond at first, keep loving her and very soon you will be amazed at the warmth and closeness it will generate.

    Love must be expressed. When one loves another, it is so obvious by the things they say, do and think about the person. The depth of love one has for another is seen in its expression. So, you must not only express your love in words, you should also love in actions, thoughts and deeds.

    For the woman, the tool of submission is what you need to bring out the treasures in your marriage garden (Ephesians 5:22). Your effective use of this tool will bring the treasures of unity, genuine care, strength and covering. A rebellious and non-submissive woman is alone. She will have to struggle to take decisions on her own and to see to their execution. Such a woman has removed her covering and can expect unprecedented attacks.

    Complete obedience to the tools given by God and a practical use of them will guarantee your enjoyment of the treasures in your garden. However, having the power to obey comes by first being born again.  If you are not born again, you are not entitled to enjoy the treasures in marriage and you cannot enjoy God’s best for your life. To be a beneficiary, you must surrender your life to Christ. You can surrender by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you desire to surrender and be born again, say this simple prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 or 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

     

     

  • Marriage: A garden of treasures (1)

    Dear Reader,  Happy new month! In this month where we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, everything dying or dead in your life, marriage and family shall be resurrected, in Jesus’ name. Songs of victory shall be sung in your home, as all things will be turning around for good in your life.

    Marriage entails hard work. Unlike what some people think, especially Christians, a good marriage is not a promise from God, neither does it come by mere wishing. It’s a covenant, and demands responsibility from both parties involved. Just as the man has a part to play, the woman too has a responsibility to make the home work, and until both parties’ play their role, God is not committed to the success of the home.

    Marriage can be likened to a garden filled with treasures. In every garden, there are weeds, thorns and other harmful plants that grow along with the good and edible plants. It is the responsibility of the gardener to tend his field and ensure that these weeds are pulled out to enable healthy growth for the right plants.

    In this month’s series, I shall be teaching you on how to tend the garden called marriage. A garden signifies pleasure, abundance, fruitfulness and fulfilment. For marriage, God is the originator of this garden of blessings. The Bible states: And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.  …to dress it and to keep it (Genesis 2:8, 15).

    From the above Scripture, it is clear that God is the originator of marriage and His intent is to create a better living for man within this context. For you to benefit maximally from this garden, it needs to be properly dressed and cared for. This implies that you remove all unwanted elements that could hamper a great harvest.

    Dressing your marriage takes time, labour, energy, diligence, patience, skill, among others. When your marriage becomes beautiful, its productivity and impact increases. Some people have potentially great marriages, but do not create the time to make it work. Dressing your marriage is a personal responsibility. No one can imagine for you how your marriage should be. In the same vein, no one can work out your marriage the way you would want it.

    The marriage garden is filled with treasures and these are highly valuable. When these treasures are traded, they take one off the realm of the ordinary to that of the supernatural. One of the assets in the marriage garden planted by God are trees.  In the natural, trees have several uses and can be converted into several useful things. God’s Word says: Out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food… (Genesis 2:9).

    Well-planted trees are a thing of beauty and they beautify the environment.  Marriage is meant to be beautiful! You can enjoy the beauty of marriage, if you choose to.

    Secondly, trees provide shade from the heat of the sun, and are used to prevent desert encroachment.  Your marriage can be shielded from the heat of the scourging sun that is beating many people so hard, in the world today.  Desert signifies dryness, thirst and hunger.  Your home is not designed to suffer any of these.  Therefore, if you will walk in accordance with God’s Word, you will be exempted.

    Thirdly, certain trees in the natural are used in draining excessive water from swampy areas. Marriage is meant to help you curtail the excesses of life.  Swampy areas breed mosquitoes and cause health hazards.  All hazards of life can be taken care of, by consciously obeying what the scriptures say about marriage.

    Fourthly, some trees bear edible fruits. God’s Word says: Out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is…good for food… (Genesis 2:9). Marriage is meant to give you satisfaction in life. Don’t die of hunger, when you can be filled. Many in the world are dying (even though married) for lack of fulfilment. It is hunger or a lack of fulfilment in marriage that makes a married man or woman go outside the home to commit adultery.  Begin to tap into the treasures in marriage and enjoy God’s best for your life.

    Fifthly, trees can be converted into several other useful things such as paper, firewood, rubber; and from trees, houses are built. If the resources in marriage are profitably tapped, they make you a man and woman of many parts. You become useful in many areas of life. An understanding of this truth has helped me to diversify in many areas of my life, and made me to become a blessing to more people, than I ever thought. You too can do same!

    You are the builder of your home; you determine what happens, good or bad. However, you must remember that God is the ultimate builder. Constantly remember that you are only able to keep your home through God’s enablement. The Word of God is the basic raw material required for effective tending of the marriage garden. As you keep applying God’s Word to your home, He will keep manifesting His power through you.

    To access and effectively tend your garden using God’s Word, you must have a genuine connection with Him. This begins by being born again. This means accepting Jesus as Saviour and Lord of your life. If you desire to surrender and be born again, say this simple prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 or 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

     

  • Bedrock for marital bliss (5)

    You are welcome to the last edition in this series. By the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, I have been able to show you several principles to marital bliss and so, your marriage must succeed. Today, I shall be teaching on the subject: Mind your tongue

    The tongue is an important part of our human make-up as it affects our daily triumphant living. The Word of God says: Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21). This part of our system is so important; it determines whether we live or not. God has promised to grant the desires of your heart this year. You need to always say only what you want to have. You may desire life, but if you permit your tongue to speak death, you cannot have anything but death.  The Word of God says: …He shall have whatsoever he saith (Mark 11:23).

    What are you saying to your life this year? Are you speaking glory to your life or are you saying negative things to your life? Life is a choice! Choose whether to use your tongue to bring about peace in your home or not. The tongue is either for blessing or cursing. As you use it, you reap its fruits. The Word of God says: What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (Psalm 34:12-13). Do you need peace and harmony in your home? Are you longing for serenity and happiness? Then, use your tongue to your advantage. When you become a child of God, old things pass away from you, and your spirit becomes regenerated. Let your tongue too be regenerated. Bring about peace in your home this year by the use of your tongue and you shall reap the rewards of a successful family life.

    Every good tree brings good fruit, while a bad tree produces bad fruit. What do you want in your family this year? I don’t care how much you can pray, fast or give, you will still reap the fruits of your lip. Keep your mouth from speaking evil. The Word of God says: A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled (Proverbs 18:20). Your home shall be satisfied with the fruit of your mouth. What is happening to you now is not the work of any devil, neither is it any witch near your house, but rather, it is the fruit of your tongue.

    The words of your mouth are seeds. When you plant them in your home,they begin to germinate and bring forth the kind of fruit your seed is made of. In Matthew 16:19, we are told that whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and that which you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. You bind and loose with your tongue; therefore, determine how to use your tongue. Your tongue is creative. Use it well. Our God is not a purposeless God. For everything He created, there is a purpose. He created the tongue for a purpose.

    God wanted to create a world that would be very good. His desire was implanted deep in His heart.  The day He gave voice to His desire, our world was born. When He looked at all He had made, He put a final stamp of approval and declared them, “Very good” (Genesis 1:13). Even if the creation work was not very good, as soon as God proclaimed that it was very good, the earth adjusted. Whatever good you desire to see in your home, speak it into being.

    From the Word of God, we understand that there are different types of tongues. God will not force anything on you. He has given you a will to choose that which will benefit you and bring about all-round happiness to you. We have:

    1. Wholesome Tongue (Proverbs 15:4): It is a healing tongue. It is spirit-filled. It heals the heart of the weary.
    2. Soft Tongue (Proverbs 25:15): It breaks the bone. It dissolves anger. It pacifies. (See Abigail – 1 Samuel 25)
    3. Just Tongue (Proverbs 10:20): It brings about deliverance. It produces life. It delivers the oppressed. It delivers one from fear. It speaks only the truth.
    4. Tongue of Wisdom (Proverbs 15:2): This has no relevance with age. It correctly applies knowledge. It speaks with grace and the wisdom of God.
    5. Lying Tongue (Colossians 3:9; Leviticus 19:11; Proverbs 12:20-22): This is a tongue that makes false statements with the intention of deceiving another person.
    6. Deceitful Tongue (Psalm 50:19-22, 52:2-5): A tongue full of deceits. It eventually brings about destruction.
    7. Flattery Tongue (Proverbs 6:24): It speaks wrong words of praise to destroy.
    8. Slanderous Tongue (Genesis 39:7-20): It destroys another person’s character.
    9. Backbiting tongue (Proverbs 25:23): It speaks evil concerning a person in his/her absence.
    10. Double Tongue (1 Timothy 3:8): It says different things in deceit to suit oneself.
    11. Perverse Tongue (Proverbs 17:20): It is a foolish tongue. Talks without having a purpose for talking. Argues unreasonably.
    12. Sharpened Tongue (Psalm 140:3): Full of poison. Ready to murder. Speaking words of destruction to other people’s destiny. It incites evil between people.
    13. Excessive Talking (Proverbs 10:19): It  talks without break. Gossiping.

    Dear friend, of all listed above, which do you choose? Or rather, which is your own? The Bible encourages us to constantly examine ourselves and make amendments. Which of them is operational in your life now. Is it the positive one or negative? Examine yourself and make amendments. As it affects you, your family and all around you, let there be changes in your tongue this year. You will no doubt reap the fruits. Determine to reap good fruits by the words of your mouth. Ask God to touch your lips with His coal of fire, even as He did to Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5-7). This year, by the words of your mouth, you can turn the situation in your home from bad to good, from good to best, and from shame to glory. Speak well concerning your husband or wife. Let words of grace come out of your mouth to your children. Refuse to talk like the people of the world concerning your business.

    Read also: Bedrock for marital bliss (3)

    To fully maximise all of the points written herein, you need to be born again; have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ by making Him Lord and personal Saviour of your life. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please, pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 or 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

     

  • Bedrock for marital bliss (3)

    In this third edition in the series, I will start by establishing that love is a vital key for the effective running of the home. Love is the price every member of your family must pay to have a glorious home. The Word of God says: And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

    If you want your home to be a glorious one, love is the requirement. Love is mandatory. This love does not have its origin in the world, but in God.  The Word of God says: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:8). A Christian home must be a home where the love of God is practised.

    WHAT TRUE LOVE DOES

    By true love, I mean God’s kind of love that is demonstrated in actions. Let’s see in practical terms how Jesus loves and how He expects us to love. I shall be taking my text from 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. The Living Bible renders it thus: Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, Never haughty or selfish or rude.  Love does not demand its own way.  It is not irritable or touchy.  It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.

    True love is patient and kind:

    Jesus, while He walked on the earth, was an epitome of patience and kindness. He tolerated, accommodated and endured with His disciples.  He could have given up out of anger, but He didn’t. Going beyond His disciples to the Jews at large, whose sick He healed, whose dead He raised and whose demoniacs He freed, Jesus was still an epitome of patience.  He closed His eyes to their jeering and went to the cross for our sake. Jesus was kindness personified! Many miracles He wrought were based on compassion. God instructed man to love as He did. Many things try your patience as husbands, most of all, imperfect wives.  But if Christ was patient with us, then husbands ought to endure and be patient with their wives.

    True love is never jealous or envious

    I want you to know that Jesus was never jealous of His disciples’ achievements.  The seventy went out in twos and wrought great deliverance. Jesus only replied: He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12). Jesus’ love compelled Him not to envy the works of His disciples, but to desire that they did greater works. Likewise, husbands need not feel threatened by their wives’ success. Rather, they should wish them well and encourage them to put in their best. Even if the wife earns more money, perfect love places a demand on the husband to desire only the best for her.

    True love is never boastful or proud

    Jesus never spoke proudly of Himself; He never boasted. Everything He said and did points to God the Father.  The Word of God says: …The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do… (John 5:19). Jesus had cause to boast about His works, but His eyes were focused on God and on the ones He had come to save.  Some husbands tend to get carried away with the things they provide in the house and are misled to think: “I am the breadwinner in this house; I do so and so, I give and give and give!” However, when you realise that you have only because He (God) provided, your language will change.

    True love is not selfish, haughty or rude

    The attitude of “Me, Myself and I”, has destroyed so many homes. Another name for it is selfishness.  Marriage is built on selflessness and courtesy. Jesus, our perfect example, was not selfish.  He relinquished His throne to live on the earth for thirty-three and a half years. The Word of God says: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Husbands must pay the price of selflessness, if they want enviable marriage.

    Does not demand its own way

    Love does not demand its own way!  That does not mean that the man should become subservient to the wife, no!  The key word here is “demand”.  This word means “to claim as a right.” Love means asking, “Could you do this please?”  You’re neither begging, nor rude.  It is a mixture of authority and courtesy.   The Word of God says: Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones (Proverbs 16:24).

    Not irritable or touchy

    This means that you should not be over-sensitive.  Some people are offended at the slightest thing. They just flare up and fly off the handle.  Some are very touchy.  Husbands, learn to desensitize your nerve! If Jesus had been over-sensitive, He would have fought the Pharisees who always sought to trap him.  Your wife is neither a Pharisee nor Sadducee!

    Does not hold grudges or notice when it’s wronged

    A grudge is an angry feeling against a person for something done in the past; it leads to unforgiveness. Love forgives and forgets.  Love does not keep record of wrongs.

    Grace to hear and do these is made available when you accept Jesus Christ and become born again.If you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 or 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Bedrock for marital bliss (1)

    Dear Reader, it is another beautiful month, in which God will be opening strange doors of favour, blessings, provisions and peace for you and your family. I must congratulate you, therefore, for your best days are here already. The Bible clearly states: In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2). This means that there are blessings reserved for each month. Therefore, your package for the month will not elude you, in Jesus name!

    All through this wonderful month, I shall be teaching on the topic: Bedrock for Marital Bliss. Marriage is one institution that everyone desires to succeed in, and the foundation of anything determines its ultimate end. A good understanding of the foundation upon which marriage is built will constitute the raw materials upon which your family will be built. As it is in the natural, if you consider the foundation of any building as unimportant, no matter how beautiful that building looks, in no time, it will crumble.  No wonder the Bible says: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm11: 3).

    Let us examine some of the characteristics of marriage to help us understand God’s original purpose for the family.

    Marriage is an incident not an accident:

    Marriage is not an accident but an incident that God, the Almighty Himself, had to specially prepare for and bring into existence by being practically involved in its institution. There is a world of difference between an accident and an incident. A servant of God once gave an illustration saying, whenever an accident happens in the natural, people gather. Among those who gather are sympathizers and ordinary onlookers who haven’t come to render any help, but just to find out what has actually happened. That is why so many people, Christians inclusive, who see marriage as an accident, will always have to gather a crowd to settle quarrels. They will always have to gather a crowd to tell them how to behave and sympathize with them and boost their longing for self-pity. They will even gather a crowd who are not even beckoned to, but who will come of their own accord because of the terrible situation that they are going through. But for you and me as believers in Jesus Christ, whether as married or singles, it is very crucial we know from the Word of God that marriage is not an accident but an incident that God Almighty specially prepared for.

    Marriage is a mystery not a mistake:

    It is also very important for you to know that marriage is a mystery and not a mistake. The Word of God speaking about it says: This is a great mystery… (Ephesians 5:32). Marriage is a mystery, and every mystery is designed to give mastery in life’s endeavour. A mystery is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as a religious truth that is incomprehensible to the reason and knowable only through divine revelation. You are meant to live a life that is beyond the imagination of the world, a mysterious life that even the devil himself can neither understand nor predict.God’s wish for you is to live a life of mastery.

    Marriage is a life of mystery where you are able to overcome every obstacle of the enemy and enjoy God’s best for your life. For those of you who are married and are reading this article right now, I want to congratulate you because God has brought you into a life of mastery. For those of you who are single and not married yet, Ephesians 5: 32 tells us that marriage is a mystery designed to make you a master, not a mistake.  It is a thing that is meant to make life better for you, not worse. I pray that every person reading this article today will enjoy the mystery that is in marriage, in the name of Jesus Christ!

    God designed your marriage for all-round fruitfulness:

    The Word of God says: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth (Genesis 1:27-28). God began the human family by blessing, not cursing it.  He said to Adam and Eve, Be fruitful; multiply; replenish the earth; subdue it! What wonderful words of blessing! It is interesting for you to know that fruitfulness goes beyond procreation; it includes success in all areas of life.  It also means having many good results.  The fact that God rained blessings on the first family is a clear indication that every family is meant to be successful.  These blessings will answer for you, in Jesus’ name!

    Make God first in your marriage:

    If you want God to form your marriage, you must make God first in your marriage, not second. As husband, wife, children or family members, make God first in everything. Get committed to the course of the Kingdom of God. Get committed to God, His Word and His work. Let God be your utmost desire for life, day and night.

    In whatever assembly you find yourself, take the work of God as your only purpose for living. When it is time for the Church to be swept, don’t sit back and cross your legs as the supervisor of everybody.  When it is time to do one thing or the other, rise up to the task; don’t wait to be called upon. When it is time to serve God with your intellect, energy, money, possession, position, the position you occupy shouldn’t matter. Let me tell you something, you are in that position because God has allowed it. If you cannot serve God with your means, money, position, faith, intellect and energy, I tell you, you will one day serve the devil with them because nature abhors vacuum. Whatever is within your power to do for the promotion of God’s work, go ahead and do it with the whole of your heart.

    Nothing and nobody should take the place of God in your life, not your husband, wife or even your children, because if that happens, you will be placing your priorities wrongly. I know my husband loves me so much and I hear him tell me almost everyday that he loves me, but I have never wished or secretly desired to take the place of God in his heart.  He knows I love him too, but he also knows that the love of God takes number one in my life, followed by His own. There are some parents, whose children are like gods to them. Your children are not your gods but God’s gifts to you. I remember that any time my parents prayed, they would refer to us as the gifts that God had given to them. Then, I didn’t understand, but now, I know better.

    In all, you must understand that you need Jesus to achieve anything worthwhile in your home. If you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, then say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 or 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

     

  • Setting a solid foundation for your home (2)

    Dear Reader, I welcome you to this teaching, in Jesus’ name! The quality of success you will ever achieve in any given venture hinges on the quality of the foundation you lay. You cannot enjoy a glorious marital life without paying attention to the foundation you build for your marriage. Last week, I taught on what a solid marital foundation is and that for your marriage to last, it must be founded on God. In this edition, I will be looking at understanding your spouse as one of the foundations for a solid union.

    As male and female partners in marriage, we must understand and appreciate the peculiarities which make up our personalities. Your understanding of your spouse is very important in becoming a good partner.  For you to have a stable home, you need to understand your husband or wife. You must get to know that everything about your spouse is unique. There are no two people on planet earth that are exactly the same. You are unique and peculiar; your spouse and children are equally unique and peculiar, fashioned to fit a particular purpose.  You are not a carbon-copy of anyone; you are an original and so is your spouse.  You and your spouse are wonderfully and fearfully made (Psalm 139:14). You must understand your spouse if you must enjoy a stable family.  Understand his or her background, his or her likes and dislikes, what makes him or her happy and what affects his or her mood.

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

    Every man should be knowledgeable about his wife and the wife about her husband. Know your likes and dislikes, preferences, choices, etc. It is common knowledge that men and women do not have the same needs. A man derives his self-worth from a sense of respect, recognition and reputation, while a woman wants to be appreciated, loved and praised. Failure to know how to satisfy each other’s needs might be a problem to your relationship.

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

    1. You must be sensitive: Never walk around with your eyes closed. Your mind is a sound mind; be sensitive.
    2. Communicate effectively: Communication is the life of any relationship. Learn to communicate effectively with your spouse and when you know how to do this, it will help you understand who your spouse is. You need to ask questions. The disciples of Jesus were around Him; they didn’t only listen to His teachings. Whatever they didn’t understand they always asked and Jesus never told them to “shut up”, He always answered their questions.  So, rather than assume to understand what your spouse is saying, ask questions such as, “How about this area? How about that area of your life?”  Communicate so you can have a better understanding.  And when communication is effective, you will become a good spouse.  Understanding is required to have an outstanding marriage.

    Wisdom – The Principal Thing

    Wisdom is the principal tool for securing peace in the home. The Bible says: Wisdom is the principal thing… (Proverbs 4:7). Both the man and the woman in the home need to constantly ask God for wisdom in handling the day-to-day affairs of the home. Most times, what people call affliction in their home is nothing but ignorance. The treatments for ignorance are wisdom and understanding which enhance peace in the home.  In fact, the Bible says: Through wisdom is an house builded, and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3). Also, James 1:5 says: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and unbraided not, and it shall be given him. Wisdom tells you when to talk, when to keep quiet, what to say and the right time to say it, where to go and at what time.  Do you know it is possible to say the right thing but at the wrong time and thereby jeopardizing the peace in the home? I pray for a fresh baptism of the wisdom of God upon your life today, in Jesus’ name!

    Compliment Your Spouse

    One other way to nurture your relationship is by an often neglected key, and that is compliment. Every human being loves to be praised either for what he/she has done or simply for who he/she is. However, the key is to locate the good qualities in your spouse and focus on it. Then express your appreciation for those good qualities by the words of your mouth. Learn to show appreciation for both small and great acts of kindness. You can also show appreciation by giving little gifts. Make room for praise in your home. Praise God always and compliment your husband or wife and your marriage will be a heaven on earth!

    In all, you must understand that you need Jesus to achieve anything worthwhile in your home. If you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, then say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Setting a solid foundation for your home (1)

    Dear Reader, Happy new and glorious month, dear reader. This year must have begun on a wonderful note for you, filled with so many expectations for the best. All of your desires for this year will be greatly manifested, in Jesus’ name! I am glad to let you know that God has so many good things in store for you, your home, spouses, children, business, finance and career. God is too faithful to fail! Whatever promises from His Word you have held on to till date will find speedy fulfilment beginning from this month, in Jesus’ name!

    The year is still very young and this is a perfect time to make right decisions about your family life. It is often said that the way you begin a thing determines the end of it. That is why in this great month, I will be teaching on: Setting a Solid Foundation for Your Home. We all know that the foundation of a building is the most crucial aspect of it.  No matter how glorious a building is, if its foundation is faulty, then it does not stand a chance in the face of a storm.  No wonder the Word of God states: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3). The strength, height and lifespan of any building is determined by its foundation. A building without a solid foundation is not going to last long, no matter how beautiful it may look. The mere blowing of the wind will bring it crumbling down, because the foundation cannot accommodate the strength of that wind.

    Similarly, a marriage without a solid foundation cannot stand the test of time. Success in marriage and family life, therefore, hinges on the quality of your foundation. There is nothing that can really substitute the need for a solid foundation and to set your marital foundation right, you need to begin by making a resolution to depart from iniquity. The Word of God says: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). To have a sure foundation, therefore, it is of utmost importance for you to really depart from iniquity. The only thing that will hinder God’s blessing in your marriage and family this year is sin. Sin is a destroyer of destiny. Your destiny shall never be destroyed, in Jesus’ name! Sin has robbed many families of the blessings of God and their true place in life.

    As a family, you need to do away with sin and live a righteous life. Righteousness is the sure foundation upon which a life of distinction is built. Until this is in place, life remains an endless struggle. We live in a world of sin and it has become the order of the day and the way of life in the world today. Families that will stand out are those who will care to embrace purity. The Word of God says: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). If you really want to see God’s intervention and manifestations in your life, marriage and family this year, it is time for you to clean up and return to God. The Bible says: And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes (Exodus 19:10).

    The first requirement for a life of purity is a departure from iniquity.  It is interesting for you to know that the Bible places the responsibility of departing from evil on you and me. You can’t sit down and wait for iniquity to depart from you; the onus lies on you to make a complete departure from whatever sin has been ravaging your Christian colour. The Word of God says: …For sin shall not have dominion over you… (Romans 6:14). The price for sin has been fully paid but you need to make your choice whether to depart or to remain in sin. The Bible says: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1).

    I want you to know that Jesus Christ did not shed His Blood for fun; He did so to provide for you and me an eternal cleansing from sin.  I want to say here that as a woman, you must not allow yourself to be deceived by sin. Do you remember how Eve fell? The serpent deceived her through his subtlety.  You have been warned seriously by the Word of God in 2 Corinthians 11:3:  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

    We all know that sin crept into the world through womanhood because Eve allowed herself to be deceived. Unfortunately, satan has not changed his tactics. He is still on the lookout for women to deceive, but he cannot get you!  Eve lost her unique place to sin. It destroyed her destiny, and robbed her of a life of fulfilment. The devil got Eve, but he will not get at you!

    The moment sin came, it birthed evils. One of the evils that manifested after sin was selfishness.  When God came into the garden and asked Adam why he had transgressed His command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam blamed Eve. Then God turned and asked, “What is this that thou hast done?” And Eve shifted the blame, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat”. That is selfishness! Today, many homes have been broken because nobody wants to give preference to the other.  The man is selfish, the woman is selfish, and the children are selfish!  All each person thinks about is “Me, Myself and I”. This even reflects in the kind of prayers they say, “Lord, bless me. Remember me with favour. Help me to succeed.  Well, if you care to remember others, not bad, but if not, still don’t forget me.”

    It is a known fact that humanity was corrupted through a woman, but God in His infinite mercy also chose to bring redemption to mankind through a woman. So, womanhood (or the feminine nature) is not an excuse to live in sin. Every woman can choose either to be a Mary or an Eve, and whether to live a pure or an impure life. The ball is actually in your court!

    Therefore, if you have chosen to live a pure life, then you need to surrender your life to Jesus. Just say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).