Attaining Intimacy in Marriage (Part 3) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Topic: Attaining Intimacy in Marriage (Part 3) Dear Reader, You are welcome into God’s presence in Jesus’ name! Last week, I showed you the characteristics of intimacy. This week, I want to share with you: Hindrances to developing Intimacy. It is important to know that everything converse to enhancing and preserving intimacy is an obstacle; including the following: Pride This makes you feel you are better than your husband, therefore, you can’t condescend and bring yourself low to do all that is required to foster intimacy. If you are proud your husband will likely want to prove to you that he is the one in charge. The Word of God says:Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom (Proverbs 13:10). Anger This can make your husband to fear you and seek either to defend himself or withdraw into an impenetrable shell. If this happens, there can be no intimacy. The Word of God says: He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty… (Proverbs 16:32). Bitterness When you are not living at peace with someone, bitterness begins to build up in your heart towards that person. Remember, God is not where bitterness is. Why? God is love. Light cannot dwell with darkness. He cannot manifest His power where there is hatred. It doesn’t matter whether the person is a Christian or not, as long as you have bitterness in your heart against anyone, you carry a burden and your prayers are hindered. At times, the person you are angry with is not even aware of it, but you make it impossible for yourself to approach the throne of grace. Bitterness destroys! It is a serious sickness! Give it no room in your life. It is true that the person has offended you. He is wrong and you are right. Forgive him in your heart and tell him so. By so doing, you free yourself from the effects and consequences of bitterness, so they won’t trouble you. Don’t repay evil for evil. Repay bitterness and hatred with the love of God.Also Read: Dwelling In Understanding (Part 1) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Below is a testimony: “I joined the Winners’ Chapel in 1997 and became born again that year. When I came for a service that year, the preaching of the Servant of God, Bishop David Oyedepo, really touched my heart. So, when the altar call was made, I came out and surrendered my life to Christ. Since I became a child of God, I can now forgive people easily. The former spirit of unforgiveness has now been removed and replaced by the spirit of forgiveness. In fact, people now see the changes in me. I give glory to God for everything happening in my life.” – Okafor, H. In case you are reading this article and you are having this kind of spirit, I decree your freedom from it today in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Careless Speech This is a major obstacle to intimacy. If your husband observes this about you, he would prefer to stay on his own and not open up to you. Also, careless speech would stir up anger in him. If you are the source of your husband’s anger, intimacy will be far-fetched (Proverbs 15:1). Contention This means having a tendency towards nagging and quarrels. Also, it is seeking for quarrels even when there is none in sight. A contentious woman is considered and avoided like a plague by her husband and even other people, (Proverbs 19:13, 9:19). BENEFITS OF INTIMACY- It brings about unity, which promotes God’s presence and blessings within the marriage, (Psalm 133).
- It brings about free flow of communication (Proverbs 27: 1)9.
- It makes marriage last a lifetime (Proverbs 31: 11, 28 – 31).
- It makes marriage more enjoyable (Proverbs 31: 25; Isaiah 62: 5).
- It brings about greater spiritual strength than ever before (Ecclesiastes 4: 9 –12).
- It negates shame, reproach and confusion because there is openness, (Genesis 2: 25).
