Marriage Manual

Why are so many marriages breaking up? Why aren't they able to pass the test of time? When will we discover that the one who created life also showed us how to work it by giving us his manual - THE BIBLE. Why are women not submitting to their husbands Ephesians 5:22, Loving their husbands Titus 2:4 or busy at home Titus 2:5 and why in the world are men not loving their wives Ephesians 5:25 Providing for them 1 Timothy 5:8 take leadership in their families and just be men? Why?

A relative just walked out of a marriage after 9 years and 4 children. She has had enough. She despises the man, can't submit to him, is sick and tired of fending for the family on her own while trying to keep the home and is sick and tired of dealing with hateful in laws. He in turn, can't deal with an insubordinate wife and can't understand what the big deal with providing is since his parents have given them a house to live in their compound (never mind that his mother is insulting to his wife), and his parents give them an allowance every month so they practically dictate what goes on in their lives and marriage. His parents are raising the children for them and paying their bills. What does he do all day? Sleep and eat, and go see his friends.

This really angered me. I know that God's command is to submit, and I am sure that there are things that she could do to make the marriage better, but she doesn't seem to have any more strength left to fight for her marriage. She is physically worn out from trying to make money, run the home, deal with four young children, and the demands of marriage as a wife. The first thing out the window was sex. She didn't have the energy for it, she was resentful due to his laziness, and she just is unable to deal with bossy in laws. As I write, she has absolutely no desire to deal with him or work things out. She has no feelings towards him other than hatred and spite, and never wants to see him again, leave alone be a wife to him.

All I could think about was if only each one had taken their own role in marriage and stood in it. Then none of them would be overwhelmed with what they needed to do. If the man could only be a leader, protector and provider for his family, and the wife focus on keeping the home, and child rearing maybe she would have been less overwhelmed and he would have the respect from her that he desires. This makes me even more determined to do marriage God's way. My marriage must work! I must start by finding out what my own role is and doing it. Paul's counsel to younger widows in 1 Tim 5:14 says it very well:

So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.

And in Titus 2:4-5

...train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

And in Eph 5:22

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

God help us, and help each man and woman out there who's marriage is struggling. Only you can do it. So make haste to rectify the damage done in our homes.

A Walled Garden

You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; You are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.

Song of Songs 4:12

Heritage of the Sons of God

I smell change in the air. Usually I would be terrified of it, especially because the enemy is all dressed up for battle. But this time around I am strong and very courageous. God is fighting for me. Plus if he can conquer Jesus then he can conquer me since I am hid in Christ. I must get mine!! Whether the devil is happy about it or not I must take my inheritance. I must walk in the heritage of the sons of God. And what is my heritage?

a) I am the top, never the bottom
b) I am the head, never the tail
c) I am above only, never beneath

God is about to showcase me. I'm I not created for the display of his splendor? My time has come. I am expectant and very joyful. God has done it for me.

Psalm 45:7
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.

Psalm 75
6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt a man.

7 But it is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.

Psalm 18
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.

STRONG IN BATTLE, MIGHTY IN WAR

It is so interesting how God says to you “Do not fear” when you are going into battle with the enemy. But it is because you are hid in him. There is nothing to fear. He activates Ps 91 and hides you under his wings so that you only see with your eyes but it does not come near you. The Bible says that our heritage in warfare is that no weapon formed against us shall prevail and every tongue that rises against us we condemn in Jesus name. I want this part of my heritage activated in my life. I sense in the Spirit that I am going into battle and that a storm is brewing. But I am already a conqueror in Christ Jesus. I have never had so much confidence in God to carry me through as I have now. He who promised is faithful to do it.

Ephesians 6:10-18 gives instructions on how to prepare for Battle. It says be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Clothe yourself with Jehovah’s strength and power. Put on the full armor of God and take your stand against the devil's schemes. So he is scheming, strategizing and putting together a battle plan. As he is getting ready to fight me, I too must get ready to engage in war. But who or what I’m I fighting?

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. It is not the person who is used to bring the war that I am fighting. The battle is against the rulers and authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. It is a spiritual battle and requires spiritual armor so that I will be able to stand my ground when the evil day comes.

a) The belt of truth – His word is the only truth there is. Everything else is a fact, temporary and changeable. I must stand on the truth of God. What he says about the situation or circumstance.

b) Breastplate of righteousness – I must understand that I am the righteousness of God in Christ. That he became sin so that I may become the righteousness of God. I must rely on his righteousness and not my own. Hide in him.

c) Dress my feet with readiness – The readiness that comes from the gospel of peace is a readiness unto obedience in Christ. I must be ready to follow after Christ. I must know that he orders my steps and be ready to go where he tells me to. It is a mine field in the spiritual realm at this time of warfare and I will escape by following and keeping in step with the Spirit of God.

d) Shield of Faith – Standing on the word of God. Knowing that I know, that I know that whatever God has promised me is so. Now!!! Be sure of what I hope for, certain of it, even though I still cannot see it. I must believe it, speak it, confess it and pray my expectation and hope. I must surround myself with what I believe God for. Create vision boards with pictures and verses that fuel my faith and kill any fear.

e) Helmet of Salvation – Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!! Claim all the benefits of redemption. Freedom from sin and sin nature, Freedom from all sickness and disease, freedom from financial struggle and walk in them by faith until they manifest in the physical.

f) The Sword of the Spirit – the word of God. ‘Nuff said!!

g) Pray in the Spirit – Build myself in faith praying in the Holy Spirit with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this said I must keep alert and keep praying. Philippians 1:27 adds the final touch to it. Lord knows I need this one “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…” So help me God!!

God of the 24 hour turn around!

With God all things are possible. Circumstances that seem dire and unchangeable can be changed in the twinkling of an eye. Hallelujah! He is the God of the 24hr turn around and he is my God.

God has been known to make some really incredible statements. Picture this: Your city has been under siege for quite a while. The water has dried up, the food has been long gone. It is so bad that women actually make deals to kill, cook and eat their own children. Then God says through the man of God 2 Kings 7:1 Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah [a] of flour will sell for a shekel [b] and two seahs [c] of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria." He was proclaiming a 24hr turn around in a place where a donkey's head is a King's meal!!

Now there are two ways to look at God's statements. You can take the Abraham approach and count him faithful who made the promise or you can say like the soldier "Look, even if the LORD should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?" I choose the Abraham approach. I choose to count him faithful who has made the promise. I choose to look to the Rock from which I was hewn and follow in my fathers steps. I believe and it is credited to me as righteousness in heavens records. He is the God of the 24hr turnaround!!

And you know exactly what happened, God made a way and the word of the prophet was fulfilled. Vs 16 "Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, as the LORD had said".

Ruth is another person who experienced a 24hr turn around. She was a poor widow, and outcast in society one day and the next she was the wife of Boaz a wealthy Jewish man, and a leader in the society. The Bible says that she went to the threshing floor, made her request and went home. That morning Naomi says to her Ruth 3:18 "Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." Praise the Lord! Today the matter will be settled. Today it will happen. Today the turn around comes! And sure enough, Boaz gets up and hurries to the City gate to make sure the deal is done. The Bible records that he calls the elders of the land to witness that Ruth is now his wife.

Ruth 4:10 "I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife..." Just like that, in 24hrs, she turned from a poor widow to the wife of one of the wealthy leaders of the city, and was put in line to be King David's grandma and an ancestor of Jesus!! Ruth 4:13 "So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son." God is just quick like that!!

When your Kairos time comes, he does it in the twinkling of an eye. When the set time comes, there is nothing to stop it. The turn around must come. Hallelujah Lord!!!

Psalm 102:13
"You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come."

My Kairos time has come. It is time to show favor to me, my appointed time has come!!