Category: ABBA 23

Sincere dating allows us to be original and confident

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Sincere dating allows us to be original and confident in the person we are.

 

First of all, let us look at the word DATING. Dating is a form of romantic courtship typically between two individuals with the aim of assessing the other’s suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse. 

  To be sincere means to be original, truthful, genuine, to be pure, to mean what one says or does, not lying. 

  In a relationship, dating is a very crucial period when partners try to know each other better. In some partners, the dating period determines the success or failure of their relationship. In the dating period, some partners claim who they are not, and that is why some spouses after their marriage will say ‘ I didn’t know that he/she is like this ‘. They have been pretending to be who they are not. Prov 12:22  says that the Lord detests lying lips but delights in people who are trustworthy.

 

Here are some reasons why sincere dating allows us to be original and confident in the person we are.

 

1) Sincere dating helps partners to build trust in each other. When you are sincere, your partner believes in whatever you say or do without any doubt or fear.

 

2) It helps us to be who we are. In some dating where sincerity is lacking, some partners will tell themselves many lies, and after their marriage, they will be surprised to see a different personality apart from whom they claim to be. It is better to be proud of whom we are. In Psalm 139:14, the Psalmist says ‘ I praise you Lord for I am fearfully and wonderfully made’.

 

3) It makes us to be confident anytime anywhere without being afraid of being exposed.

 

4) It inculcates self-esteem and self-respect.

When you lied about your real identity and your partner came to know, you have sold your self-esteem and self-respect. You will be ashamed of the outcome of your lies.

 

5) Sincere dating helps your partner to defend you anytime knowing fully that you are who you said you are. If someone comes to gossip about you,  your partner will defend you at all costs.

 

6) Sincere dating helps you to face any challenges in marriage.

If you are sincere during the dating period, if gives you the confidence to face any challenge that occurs in marriage knowing fully that the problem is not coming as a result of insincerity during dating.

In Ruth 1:1-end, the bible tells a story of Naomi and her daughters-in-law. Because sincerity had existed in their relationship, when challenges came upon them, Ruth didn’t abandon her mother-in-law and the bible told us how God rewarded her at last.

 

In conclusion,

Sincerity is the bedrock of any relationship. It builds love, confidence, and originality among partners.  It makes spouses to be happy and proud of each other.

May God help us to be sincere in life and in our relationship. Amen.

To pray for others is to pray for yourself.

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To pray for others is to pray for yourself.

 

To pray for others is to pray for yourself.There is a game my teacher in Sunday School introduced me to when I was younger. The game is called “angel and mortar.” In this game, the names of everyone in the room will be written on different pieces of paper and wrapped in such a way as to conceal the names. Each one of us would then pick up a name of a person already wrapped in a paper. 

 

After this, we would spend a particular period of time praying for the person we picked in our personal time with God. The game was conducted in such a way that the people we were praying for would not even be aware that we picked their names. At the end of the stipulated period, we would each then give our prayer partners special gifts they would appreciate. It was always a surreal experience and it was so much fun.

 

But beyond that, it was always fulfilling because it was a privilege to see someone you had prayed for doing better. The basis for this game as taught by our Sunday school teacher was the story of Job. The Bible says that God instructed Job to “pray for his friends,” after which his fortunes were restored. Now, it’s interesting to know that God did not tell Job to pray for himself before he would be restored. God rather told him to pray for his friends for his (Job’s) restoration (Job 42:7-10).

 

This teaches us that there is power when we pray for others and not just ourselves. Firstly, praying for others rids us of our natural selfishness. You know, there was a time I got so insecure around my younger sister. I was literally jealous of her. However, I was shocked to the bone when the Holy Spirit instructed me to pray for her. In my mind, I was like, “What in the world, God! That’s someone who is literally better than me in everything. How do I pray for someone to increase higher when I am so low?” But then, the Holy Spirit helped me and I did begin to pray for her. And God has come and is still coming through for me in various ways.

 

Intercession is a great thing. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26-27). So does Jesus (Heb. 7:25), and He desires us to imitate and imbibe His nature. Truly, when you pray for others unselfishly and from your heart, God hears and He comes through for them – but not without coming through for you in an even greater way! God is pleased when we pray for each other. 

 

It shows that we are truly walking in love and we are truly concerned about one another’s well-being. It shows God that though we have our own problems, we are setting them aside, so we can bring to Him the problems of others. It shows that we are carrying one another’s burdens (hence fulfilling God’s law of love) (Gal. 6:2). What can make God happier than that? 

 

When God sees a heart that truly loves unselfishly and comes to Him – as a Father that cares – with the burdens of others, He will bless such a heart. 

 

Pray for someone today!

What prayer does to the praying soul

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  1. Prayer fosters intimacy with God: Through prayer, we communicate with God and develop a personal relationship with Him. This intimacy helps us grow in faith and trust in Him.

 

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8)

 

  1. Prayer increases our reliance on God: By bringing our concerns, worries, and thanksgiving to God in prayer, we acknowledge our dependence on Him and strengthen our faith in His provision and guidance.

 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

 

  1. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s will: When we pray consistently, we seek to align our desires and intentions with God’s plans for us. This alignment deepens our faith as we trust in His perfect will for our lives.

 

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14)

 

  1. Prayer brings about spiritual growth: Praying regularly helps us remain connected to God and His Word, leading to spiritual growth and maturity in our faith.

 

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

 

In conclusion, prayer is a powerful tool that strengthens our faith by fostering intimacy with God, increasing our reliance on Him, aligning our hearts with His will, and promoting our spiritual growth in Him.