Open Heaven 4 December 2020 Friday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Don’t Be Desperate For Marriage

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Topic: Don’t Be Desperate For Marriage (Open Heaven 4 December 2020)

Memorise: But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. – Judges 14:3

Read: Genesis 29:20-28, Genesis 31:30-35 (KJV)

Genesis 29:20-28;
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

Genesis 31:30-35;
30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

Bible In One Year: 2 Corinthians 5-9

Open Heaven 4 December 2020 Friday MESSAGE:

So many people are having problems in their marriages today because they were so desperate for marriage that they ended up marrying a devil, Jacob was so desperate to marry Rachel that he did not study her character well enough to see her strong commitment to idols, and more importantly, he did not ask God to choose for him as had been the custom in his family (Genesis 24:12-14). I am writing this today because I don’t want you to fall victim of the same error if you are still single. You need God to enable you to find the right partner. In Proverbs 18:22, the Bible says:

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.”

Also See: Open Heaven 3 December 2020 – Everyone Has Enemies

The Bible verse above implies that not just any woman would make a wife. For every one of our single brothers: may you find a wife – one who would move you forward and be a help meet indeed, in the mighty name of Jesus.

I know a case of two people who were both desperate to get married. They came across each other and soon got married. From the first week of their marriage they became like cats and dogs. I pray for anyone trusting God for a future partner that you will find favour with God and know His will. A sister should not agree to a marriage proposal just because she feels age is no longer on her side. Only a man who is God-fearing and can love her as Christ loves the Church is worthy of a sister’s hand in marriage.

The thing about marriage is that once you are in it, you cannot change your mind as God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Brother/Sister, you need to be very sure that God is leading you into that marriage before you exchange those marital vows. Do not marry someone for the sake of getting married. It is better to wait on God for the right person than to settle for just anyone because of societal pressures. A lot of Christians who committed that error would tell you it is a grievous mistake to make. An error in selecting a life partner could ruin a destiny. The Bible says if the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3). A word is enough for the wise.

Open Heaven 4 December 2020 Friday Prayer Point:

Father, whatever You must do, do it so that I don’t get into the wrong marriage in the mighty name of Jesus.

Open Heaven 4 December 2020 Friday Hymn 20: Nearer, My God To Thee

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
   E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
   Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
   Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
   Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.
3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
   All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
   Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.
4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
   Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
   So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
   Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
   Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
   There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
   Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.