DEALING WITH CHARACTER DEFICIENCIES IN MARRIAGE (PT. 2)

LOVEBIRDS' DEVOTIONAL

Enriching Matrimonies

February 23, 2025

DEALING WITH CHARACTER DEFICIENCIES IN MARRIAGE (PT. 2)

By Anselm Ahman

Scripture:

‘THIS I SAY THEN, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, AND YE SHALL NOT FULFIL THE LUST OF THE FLESH’

(GALATIANS 5: 16)

PEOPLE COME INTO MARRIAGE WITH DIFFERENT character flaws; some so small and negligible and others so horrible and most unexpected. Never be dismayed by yours or those of your Spouse; because they’re not beyond divine remedy.

I remember a law enforcement officer who was caught in the market in the 1960s for stealing an expensive garment called Otógbò or Agbada from the seller’s stall on the market day. He ended up in prison, bringing his wife and children to shame; and embarrassing the entire police community in that town.

I’ve also heard of a housewife in a city who was an incorrigible thief. She was fruitful and bore children for her husband but had a strange penchant for stealing. On one occasion, she was caught right in the thickly crowded and buzzing market.

The two cases cited above are ugly but do you know what? The wife of the thievish Police Officer didn’t divorce him, neither did the husband of the larcenous housewife send her packing. Their Spouses’ loving endurance and fortitude are highly commendable. The amazing thing is that none of these matured minded and benevolent Spouses was born again or even a church goer. Yet they were so understanding with the weakness in the life of their Mate. They didn’t see their marriage as something they should toss away because of the character defects in their Mate that wasn’t life threatening.

If your Mate has an ugly and embarrassingly bad character, see it as Isaac saw the BARRENNESS in life of his beautiful
wife, Rebecca. Love them and EARNESTLY PRAY FOR THEM; just like Isaac prayed for Rebecca relentlessly until she conceived and gave the birth of Esau and Jacob.

As we saw yesterday, God’s Word is one of the principal agents of character transformation.
Today, we shall be looking at four more Agents of character transformation.

(1)REGENERATION OR NEW BIRTH
If you’re not yet a redeemed child of God, this is your starting point if you have character defects.

Note that while some character defects are due to poor upbringing and lack of home training, there are others that are diabolical and due to enchantment or spell. An instance of such is that of a beautiful girl who visited my neighbour many years ago and suddenly some his wife’s panties went missing. When they expressed their suspicion that she was the one responsible, she broke down and cried tears right in my presence; denying vehemently that she wasn’t the one. Because of her serious weeping, we let her be and she left.

However, the news reached one her uncles in her home. He swooped on her bag suddenly, ransacked it and found some ladies’ panties. He took them and brought them to my neighbour’s house. Behold, they were his wife’s panties! It was my first time of seeing a thief using tears to conceal her crime
I later learnt that she was under the influence of “Atúrù”, a diabolical spell that made her a compulsive stealer.

Whether your character defects are natural or diabolically engineered, quickly turn to JESUS CHRIST and receive Him as your Saviour and you’ll be born again. When you’re born again, you’re recreated and consequently have a brand-new life! Here’s what the Bible says:

“THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED WAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
When you receive Christ, all the old devilish powers that held you bound and made you a compulsive Sinner are broken and you’re made FREE by the Spirit of God!

(2) PRAYER, FELLOWSHIP AND INTIMACY WITH GOD
If you want a divine transformation of your character, spending time in fellowship with God is another thing you need to do.

The Bible says he who walks with the wise shall be wise.
(Proverbs 13: 20a)
God is the Wisest. He’s also the Personality with the best character. Fellowship with Him will gradually transform your life.

When Moses spent a long time with God on the mountain, his face shone and the people could not look at him (Exodus 24: 29-35)
Today, our faces may not physically shine like that of Moses, but his experience shows that time with God in fellowship and close intimacy, is life and character transforming.

Spending time with God in personal times of prayer, worship, praises, adoration and fellowship in His Word regularly, will gradually change your character because in doing so, you’re walking with GOD and His holy character will most definitely rub off on you.

(3) MORTIFYING AND THROWING OUT ALL UNGODLINESS IN YOUR LIFE

“5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, INORDINATE AFFECTION, EVIL CONCUPISCENCE, AND COVETOUSNESS, which is idolatry:

8 But now ye also PUT OFF ALL THESE; ANGER, WRATH, MALICE, BLASPHEMY, FILTHY COMMUNICATION OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.” (Colossians 3 5-8)
Two other things you must do to experience divine character transformation are in the two verses immediately above.
(A) Be ruthless to all the SINS that are still hibernating in your life. Stop treating them with kid gloves. Colossians 3: 5 above commands you to KILL all sexual sins, covetousness and inordinate affection.

(B) Verse 8, orders you to do away with anger, etc. Stop pitying any form of unrighteousness. Expel them, throw them out and evict them all from your life!
Any sin you deliberately harbour will twist your character because there are demons that follow every SIN, just flies always follow bad odour or faeces.

(4) BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED AND WALK IN THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16 tells us that when we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the the lust of the flesh that produce bad character. Therefore, willingly
yield yourself to the Holy Spirit. Tune off your entire life systems from the world and the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) and be spiritually minded; and the beautiful fruit of the Spirit will find a conducive atmosphere of growth in your life. The fruit of the Spirit will not just make your character good but complete godly, saintly, pious and holy.

As you give obedience to all you’ve read in this devotional piece, there’ll most certainly be a divine transformation of your character. And God’s Name will be glorified through you. Amen!

FAITH DECREE:
LET THE HUNGER FOR LIVING A CONSISTENT LIFE OF HOLINESS AND GODLINESS, WHICH IS THE BEST CHARACTER, FILL EVERY READER OF TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PIECE, IN JESUS’ MIGHTY NAME!

TAKE-HOME LESSON: GOD’S WORD, THE NEW BIRTH, INTIMACY WITH GOD BY PRAYER, MORTIFYING AND CASTING OFF ALL UNGODLINESS AND WALKING IN THE SPIRIT WILL LEAD TO A DIVINE TRANSFORMATION OF YOUR CHARACTER!