“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Welcome to the 8th Weekly Devotional Recap of the year. This week, we learned to choose relationships with God’s word, identify green flags and red lights, embrace abstinence until marriage, and manage conflict.
We started the week with an instruction to make relationship choices with the Word of God in view. One of the most important decisions one will make after salvation is the choice of a life partner. You must look beyond physical attributes and see through the lens of God’s Word. God instituted marriage (Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:6-9), and He is interested in your love life. Honour His will and align yourself to His leading when choosing a partner.
Tuesday’s article taught us to pay attention to signs when choosing a friend or partner. You must look out for red flags and avoid entering into the relationship when you spot these signs (I Thessalonians 5: 22-23). On the other hand, when a potential partner or friend demonstrates the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and supports you, embrace those green flags and ensure that you treat them likewise.
On Wednesday, we were reminded to keep ourselves from sexual sins, as God designed sex to take place only within the confines of marriage (Genesis 2:24). To overcome sexual sins, you should expose them, be accountable to a trustworthy believer, and remind yourself that you are dead to sin (Romans 6:11-12). Another powerful way to overcome sexual sin is to walk in the Spirit, so you will not fulfil the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-18).
On Thursday, we learnt to embrace supernatural leading concerning our relationship choices. We often yearn for more dramatic leading patterns from God, when God mostly leads us through His word (Psalm 119:105, 2 Corinthians 6:14). He also leads us through His Spirit dwelling in us (Romans 8:11), divine encounters (Acts 10:9-19) and wise counsel (Proverbs 11:14).
We brought the week to a close on Friday with a lesson on dealing with relationship conflicts. Conflicts are a part of every relationship. And as believers, we should handle it right. We must not give room for strife in our relationships. Instead, we must resolve misunderstandings peacefully. An example of a person who practised peaceful conflict resolution is Abraham, who resolved the conflict between his and Lot’s herdsmen (Genesis 13:7-8).
It is also important to speak kindly and with love. Remember, a silent answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).
Dear Believer, just as our anchor scripture states, acknowledge the Lord in all your decisions, and neither rely on your understanding nor emotions alone, as they can be deceiving. Rather, let God’s word be a guide in your relationships.
Have a blessed weekend!
Bible Reading Plan Catchup