GODLY PRINCIPLES FOR MARITAL BONDING (3)

Irewamiri got a Word from the Lord about a particular situation. It was about our family and ministry journey. The Lord would not permit her to tell me, but only pray for me. Guess what, it took four solid years for me to make that same decision. She waited on God for those four trying years. It was a huge test. You need to see how joyful she was the day I eventually made the decision. 

Dear woman, God has given you a great opportunity- To choose the man to whom you will submit. If you made that choice, then you should be willing to trust him. If you trust him enough to commit your all to him, trust him enough to also take the lead. 

Dear man, settle it early that you will provide leadership. You must not make decisions rashly. You are no longer just driving yourself. You have your wife and children in this vehicle called life. You must be patient enough to listen and purposeful enough to make bold moves. 

Do you know the story of Mary and Joseph? Who did the Lord appear to at first? Who got the revelation about the birth of Christ first? It was Mary! Why? She needed to know what she was getting into. She needed a personal revelation about it. 

Right after she accepted, who did the Lord begin to communicate with about Jesus Christ that Mary would birth and even after his birth? It was Joseph! 

It was Joseph who was instructed to still go ahead and take Mary as his wife.  It was Joseph who was told to carry the baby and his mother to Egypt. It was Joseph who was instructed when it was time to return. 

Did you see or hear Mary say, “Joseph, hold on. Angel Gabriel will talk to me too about it”? Not once. She trusted his leadership. She respected his decisions. What if they hesitated while Mary was waiting to hear and see an angel? Jesus Christ would have been killed by Herod, too. 

Who took the lead to “japa”? Joseph!

Who took the lead to “japada”? Joseph!!

Beloved, God is the God of Order. Do not let pressure make you hijack leadership in your marriage. Pray your husband into the light of what God has revealed that he is not seeing. 

On different occasions, I would communicate a thing to Irewamiri, and she would smile, saying, “Thank you, Lord. I was just praying about it. I knew the Lord would prompt you”. It includes decisions on bringing someone in to stay with us, giving to the Lord and major decisions in our marriage. 

When Eve took the lead, they lost the garden.

When Sarah took the lead, they bore an Ishmael.

When Rebecca wanted to help God, she elongated the journey and sowed hatred, bitterness and pain in her home.

Be patient. Patience travels with faith.

If you marry a man or woman who is not yielded to the Lord, you will be under a lot of pressure. Issues will be on the boiling point all over your marriage, but even then, you must understand that godly character is non-negotiable- you must be wise, peaceable and patient. God can use you too.