Maintaining Spiritual Fervency in Marriage (Part 1) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Topic: Maintaining Spiritual Fervency in Marriage (Part 1)
Dear Reader,
Happy new month! This month shall be a splendid one for you, as God will be revealing Himself anew to you and your household. You will agree with me that marriage is more of a spiritual bond than physical. So, when man and woman come together in union, they are expected to have entered a stronger spiritual bond that will impact on their overall well-being.
Man is essentially a spirit being; he possesses a soul which is housed in a body. This implies that the moment you agree to get married, you have agreed to be spiritually joined to your spouse. This agreement, however, should lead to a stronger relationship with God – the Creator of man and Originator of marriage – and a closer bond between the spouses, especially if they are not unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Also Read: A Glorious Beginning (Part 3) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo
However, several years of counseling and listening to people share their ordeal in marriage, show that more people, even spiritually vibrant men, and women tend to wax cold in the things of God after marriage. Instead of being more effectual and fervent in their spiritual walk and prayer life, they tend to be more complacent, which sometimes take a negative toll on their family life. This is not God’s original plan for you. It is written: Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor (Ecclesiastes 4:9). God expects that married couples become stronger spiritually than when they were both single. Two of them brought together in spiritual warfare should put ten thousand demons to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30). It means, therefore, that your union and family should be a threat to the kingdom of darkness. I am of the opinion that the major reason why people experience spiritual downtime in marriage is because they pay more attention to physical things than the spiritual. They are more concerned about how to look good, please the other party and enjoy more of the physical attributes of marriage. Although, all of these are good, but they are not the ultimate. The real you is your spirit and this is what relates with God for a more victorious lifestyle on the earth.
But, What is Spirituality?
Spirituality is a growth in our relationship with God. It is not an achievement; rather, it is a journey, a process that gives room for growth and advancement. To be spiritual is to walk with God according to His dictates as stated in His Word. To be spiritually fervent, therefore, means to have a strong and sincere connection with God, to be in touch with God, who is your Source of existence and sustainer. It is being linked up with your heavenly Father from whom you draw power for performance.
Why Do You Need to Maintain Spiritual Fervency in Marriage?
1. It is Commanded by God: To be spiritually minded at all times is what God expects of you. It is written: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Romans 8:6). Your spirituality is meant for your benefit and overall well-being. When you are spiritual, you receive divine signals which will advance your life, family, and endeavors. Spirituality is not an issue of convenience; it is a subject of obedience. As you obey, God sets you up on high and establishes your dominion on the earth.
2. To Guarantee Your Dominion Over Wicked Forces: Your spirituality is your only guarantee for safety in this wicked world. The Bible says: And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness (1 John 5:19). If your family must fulfill purpose on the earth, you must learn to spiritually win the war against the opposition which is as good as winning in the physical. Your family is too precious for you to operate in the physical alone; be spiritually connected. Until you are spiritually connected, there is no way you can walk “safe” and victoriously in this wicked world.
3. To Be Firmly Connected to Your Source: Just as plants are likely to wither and be cut off if not properly nourished and connected to the root, if you are not spiritually connected to your Source, you would lack the required nutrient needed for life’s nourishment, thereby withering. Spirituality gets you rooted, connected and linked with God. Be conscious of the fact that without God, you can do nothing (John 15:5). The well-being of your family life is dependent on your relationship with God.
4. For Productivity and Impact: Your productivity and impact in life is highly dependent on your spiritual fervency. Spirituality gives you access to unusual inspirations that give you an edge in life.
You must, however, understand that you cannot be spiritual without first accepting Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour. Salvation is the first step to receiving help from above. 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).
“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
