Matters Of Dè Heart

TOPIC: BULLETPROOF MARRIAGE: (INVITE GOD INTO YOUR MARRIAGE & MAKE IT BULLETPROOF) 7 BIBLE REF: Ephesians 5:20 *Grateful for Each Other* It is too easy to take for granted what you have in life and then find yourself riddled with envy, resentment, and discontentment. But what if you were to live from a place of gratitude? * Gratitude is the antidote to envy, resentment, and discontentment; it tames the desire for more and leads to a content heart. * Gratitude creates space for peace in your marriage, but it will also help you see the best in each other.   Treating your spouse with gratitude means recognizing your life would be lacking without them and the tremendous blessings they provide . * You were created for each other and to help each other through this life—not simply to survive but to thrive.* When practiced daily, gratitude can yield healthy benefits and nurture a lasting and meaningful marriage . Count your blessings! Even in the midst of a fight, you can still be gra...

 TOPIC: * TOP 9 RELATIONSHIP STAGES that all couples must experience * Are you in a new relationship? Or are you in a seasoned relationship with someone you’ve been with for several years? It doesn’t matter how long your relationship has lasted, because all the relationships will fit snugly in one of these relationship stages. Find your own relationship stage here, and it’ll definitely help you understand your own love life better. * Stage 1: The infatuation stage. * This is the first stage in every relationship. It almost always starts with an intense attraction and an uncontrollable urge to be with each other. Both of you may be intensely sexually attracted to each other, or both of you may just love the cuddles and each other’s company. In this stage, both of you overlook any flaws of each other and only focus on the good sides. * Stage 2: The understanding stage. * In this stage, both of you start getting to know each other better. You have long conversations with your p...

TOPIC: BULLETPROOF MARRIAGE: (INVITE GOD INTO YOUR MARRIAGE & MAKE IT BULLETPROOF) 5 BIBLE REF: James 5:16 Becoming One Couples used to enter marriage with an absolute resolve to be married to each other until death. * Now, many couples list reasons why they will abandon the relationship before they ever begin!* - _The moment you begin listing reasons why you'll leave the marriage is the moment you start punching holes in it_ . Stop giving yourself an excuse for a way out and start pursuing the Father together through prayer! * The only hope for a successful marriage is a joint effort and a relentless determination to make your marriage the best it can be. * Do the work, do the right things, and avoid the temptation to criticize your spouse; these are the checkpoints on the marital road map to success. The ultimate key for the success of your marriage is for you to consistently pursue God together and to do so daily. Life will get busy, and stress will become overwhelming at ti...

TOPIC: BULLETPROOF MARRIAGE: (INVITE GOD INTO YOUR MARRIAGE & MAKE IT BULLETPROOF) 4 BIBLE REF: Matthew 18:19-20 Pray Before Engaging A moment of conflict can be a great opportunity for us to experience the presence of God and see His grace amplified and alive. _ Matthew 18:19–20, in context, refers to dealing with discipline in the church. When Jesus said, “Where two or three gather,” He was implying large audiences and large crowds were unnecessary to experience His presence._ When you attempt to navigate conflict with your own understanding, it is impossible to please God and find a viable end to the issue. * When you pray together before addressing conflict, you submit your own desires and will to God’s purpose and plan for your marriage .* You also align your heart and mind to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ask God for His direction, wisdom, and leading through conflict. It doesn’t matter what the conflict is about, you should always proceed with prudence and...

TOPIC: BULLETPROOF MARRIAGE: (INVITE GOD INTO YOUR MARRIAGE & MAKE IT BULLETPROOF ) 3* BIBLE REF: Colossians 4:6 The Tone of Love A sheepdog holds the line, stands guard, confronts evil, and battles against the vilest enemies of society. These stressors often translate into a tone that resembles the verbal commands on the battlefield. Think about the power of words. The same applies to the tone in which you deliver them. How effective would your verbal commands be toward an adversary if you gave those commands like you were reading a bedtime story?  * The tone of your voice has the power to either bless or devastate your marriage. You know the power of command, but when communicating with your spouse, command is best shown by making your spouse a priority in every way*. This will not come easily, my warrior brothers and sisters, and it will require intentional, daily effort. * Friends talk to each other with respect and admiration, and before you were ever spouses or lovers, y...

TOPIC: BULLETPROOF MARRIAGE: (INVITE GOD INTO YOUR MARRIAGE & MAKE IT BULLETPROOF) 2* BIBLE REF: Hebrews 13:4 Breaching Intimacy If you were to sit down with a group of friends or colleagues and have a discussion on what trust, faithfulness, and intimacy in marriage looks like, you would have enough to fill a book. The dynamics of life are unchanging, but they look different to every person. Various situations and influencers affect a person’s convictions and ways of thinking. At the end of the day, do not stray from the standard of God’s Word as it relates to major issues in your marriage. Jesus raised the standard for purity when he said that “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt. 5:28 NIV). The emphasis is not on avoiding a physical relationship outside your marriage; it is on any action that will breach the intimacy between you and your spouse. Don’t allow the exposure to this world’s darkest evils soften your convict...

MARRIAGE HEALING DEVOTIONAL, SERIES 8 PART 1 TOPIC: BULLETPROOF MARRIAGE: (INVITE GOD INTO YOUR MARRIAGE & MAKE IT BULLETPROOF) 1 BIBLE REF: James 1:20 TRUST KILLERS Law enforcement is a profession with no room for error. This level of pressure faced by military members and first responders, professionals commonly referred to as sheepdogs, is one reason it is so important to stay laser-focused on your marriage and aware of potential dangers in the home. *For example, when you are spiritually disobedient to the commands God has given, you invite trust-killers into your marriage.* Although many trust-killers are unrecognizable in the early stages, preemptive strategies can help thwart their continued operation. Maybe one or both of you have invited trust-killers into your marriage either knowingly or unknowingly. *For example, when things get difficult, do you choose to remain silent, avoid conflict, or keep secrets from each other? Maybe, without the knowledge of your spouse, you ch...

UNDERSTANDING COURTSHIP. For all the single men and ladies: Having encountered and interacted with many singles, I observed with some level of sadness their gross ignorance about COURTSHIP. Therefore, today I write to explain and clarify singles on the subject matter. WHAT IS COURTSHIP? Simply put, courtship is a period of time where two lovers having decided to marry, are working towards marriage. At this level, a proposal would have been made signalling engagement or commitment by both lovers. Of course, at this level, both families would have been informed too. HOW LONG SHOULD A COURTSHIP LAST? There is actually no time frame with regards to the length of a courtship. However, a good courtship shouldn't be too short or too long. Relationship and marriage counselors, coaches and experts advocate a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 3 years. However, not every courtship has really adhered to this recommendation because of the unreadiness of one party to tie the knot at a chosen da...

RELATIONSHIP GIST: TEST THE LOVE ! When things are going well for you, anyone can claim to love you. Therefore, you have to subject every love to test to determine their authenticity. How do you test love? 1. Subject it to the test of sacrifice  Sacrifice is the ultimate test of love. Sacrifice means to deny yourself of something, to let go of something valuable. ✅ How much is the person willing to sacrifice for you? Can he or she deny himself or herself of something valuable for your sake?  ✅ When you are not able to provide for her financially as a result of being broke, will the love still be there? ✅ When you lose your job, will she still be there for you?   ✅ When you are down health wise, will the love still be there? ✅ When he asks you for sex and you decline because you believe in no sex till marriage, will he still continue with you?  ✅ When you find yourself in a very difficult situation, can he or she be there for you especially when they have the abi...

12 WAYS THE ENEMY ATTACKS CHRISTIAN'S MARRIAGES. I’ve studied spiritual warfare for sometime now and I’m continually reminded of how the enemy attacks Christian marriages. From the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), he has sought to lure individuals and couples into his traps. He wants to weaken or destroy marriages, and he delights when children are wounded in the process. Without suggesting a “the devil made me do it” philosophy, I list here some of the enemy’s primary tools I’ve seen over the years.  📌 Neglect – The same couple that spent all their dating time together grows apart after the wedding day. The neglect is usually subtle, though – which is the way the enemy often works . 📌Sin – We can’t get around this one. Regardless of what the sin is, disobedience that weakens one’s relationship with God also weakens our relationship with our spouse. 📌Blame – That’s what Adam did in the Garden, and what we often do. When it’s not my fault, I don’t have to worry about changing. My spo...