Don't let COVID-19 to sift away the relationship with your spouse!

 

Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3.   Sing a song to praise God (you are welcome to use "Father, I adore you" which I have been singing every morning for the past 20 years or your own choice to praise God)

          Father, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

          Jesus, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

          Spirit, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

      

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

    

    The link to today's Time with Abba passages:   http://api.pastoralcareschool.org/twa/

    Time with Abba passages: (Psalm 59:6-13, Judges 2:10-3:31; Luke 22:14-34; Proverbs 14:1-2)

    Today's key passage: 

    

        31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

      Luke 22:31-34

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him. 

   

     My Listening

    The topic I received today from Jesus is:  Don't let COVID-19 to sift away the relationship with your spouse!

I have seen quite a number of couples have lots of problems the past two years in this pandemic, their relationship is being sifted away by COVID-19!

    They have less co-operation, more confrontation; less holding hands together, more distancing; less loving words, more bitter words; less appreciation, more criticism; less love, more hate!

    How can relationship become like this?

    Well, it's all because of Satan cunning scheme, but Jesus knew it in advance so that he warned Peter in today's passage and warn us now not to take it for granted that the relationship of you and your spouse will not be taken away.

    Satan's plan is first to sift away the relationship of you and Jesus, then sift away the relationship of you and your spouse, and then sift away relationship with more people!

    May we turn back to Jesus if we have been away from Him because of COVID-19 or other stress and worries. May you take this opportunity to run to Jesus and then the relationship of you and your spouse will be reignited and Satan's cunning scheme completely destroyed!

    

    

    Dear Lord Jesus,  

Help more husbands and wives to take this opportunity to turn back to you so that their relationship can be reignited and Satan's cunning scheme completely destroyed. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

   

     

      Reflect on these questions:

     1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?

      

      2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus?

    

      Family Corner:

     Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 

     

Please click this link for the video version of this blog:   https://youtu.be/NTq6fVpcqKU 

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org