Topic: Filling the Cracks! [Monday March 16, 2015]
“Neither give place to the devil.” -Ephesians 4:27
I once heard a story of a wonderful couple, who had lived their lives in peace and harmony until they allowed the devil ravage their home with strife. It started with a little misunderstanding that graduated into malice and then, unforgiveness. They allowed it linger, because they both were too proud to say those magical words: “I am sorry!” At the end of it all, the wife passed away suddenly; and because they had been harbouring so much negativity against one another throughout that period, the husband was not there for her as he should have. Yes, he regretted it at the end but by this time, it was too late.
While this can be an extreme consequence of marital negligence, it calls for caution to all couples. How long does it take you to resolve misunderstandings in your home? Do you wait for days, months, or weeks, and do you try to avoid apologizing first so you don’t seem “weak”? There is no medal gained in all of this; it ends up only putting a strain on your relationship.
Marriage is like a house built with concretes. When you harbour unforgiveness, hatred, deceit, and lies, you are hitting the wall with a nail. When that is done constantly, the building begins to crack and then it collapses. Moreover, when there is a crack, it gives room to creepy insects, reptiles, and other scary things.
These things may come in forms of bitterness, heeding to wrong counsels, allowing a third party into your home, neglect, strife, and now also very popularly, divorce. The only way to avoid this is by not allowing a crack, and in the case of such, immediately filling it.
You fill these cracks by committing yourself to forgive always: promptly and completely. As couples, it is important to practice advance forgiveness; that is, forgiving before you even can be offended. Now, this is not a free license to your partner to commit offence at will! It is loving him/her like Christ loves the church: wholly and with all sincerity. Like the Bible says, you must not let the sun go down on your anger. In the case that the sun was down at the time of disagreement, the sun must not come up on your anger! Make that a habit in your home. Also, learn to communicate whatever it is to your spouse. Do not transfer aggression but speak in love. I believe you are headed for a wonderful time in your marriage this year.
Remain Blessed!
Pastor Faith Abiola 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.
Click HERE to read other Daily Devotional written by Pastor Faith Oyedepo
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