WHEN YOU SEE A GREAT COUPLE IN A FIFTY YEARS OLD AND SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE, don’t think it’s riches and luxury that sustained them.
The truth is that great and long lasting Marriages are sustained by godly character. A good example of a couple that was rich in godly character is Joseph and Mary.

Upon arrival in Bethlehem for the census exercise for which they came, the first rude surprise they met was that there was no place to lodge. That’s the kind surprise that would get some “born again” Sisters to cast off their “Bornagainism” and show “a little bit” of their true colour:
“You mean you have no relatives, friends or acquaintances we could put up with and you brought me all the way from Nazareth without considering my present state? What kind of insensitive human being are you? You mean, you have not made enough money from your Carpentry job all these years to even build a plank house, no matter how small? Sincerely, if you had told me that there’s no lodging place, nothing would have made me accept to come with you. And now you’ve brought me to lodge in a cattle shed! Who or what do you take me for?” But not Mary! She saw no fault in Joseph. She had been taught by God over the years to ADAPT to whatever circumstances she found herself in. The cattle shed was okay. After all, that’s where Shepherds stay with their sheep. She was just unruffled, calm and collected.

And then suddenly the most unexpected began. Labour pains gradually began to manifest. Joseph probably had to run around to quickly get a Midwife who would accept to do the midwife’s work in a cattle shed. Thankfully, the duration of her labour was extraordinarily brief and forth came a bouncing baby boy. The midwife was soon done and on her way; leaving Joseph, his wife and the newborn baby behind. At this point some women would break down and shed tears in self-pity; and even go on to murmur against God: “Lord, why, why? Why didn’t you forewarn me not to embark on this journey since you knew that my date of delivery was just a few days ahead?” But not Mary. Even though she wasn’t at that time conscious of the old prophecy that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, she was contented with what God allowed. With a thankful heart she rejoiced that her baby was born safely, regardless of the rather odd place of his birth.

Spouses, there’s much to learn from Mary’s calm disposition in the face of the rather odd circumstances that confronted her in Bethlehem.

(1) FIRST LESSON:
There’s no record that any In-laws showed up to spend time with them before and after the birth of her baby. But none of those things moved Mary. She was content with Joseph. She probably had long decided in her heart that whether In-laws are warm and friendly or not, that would not affect her devotion and commitment to her husband, her marriage and her home.

Madam, are you the type that’s expecting In-laws to be all favourable, sweet and friendly? You may end up badly disappointed. Love your husband, love your family and love your home. And of course, love your In-laws too; but don’t be moved if they do not reciprocate your love, hospitality and kindness.

Mary wasn’t disappointed with Bethlehem. So also should you not be disappointed or discouraged because of In-laws. After all, you didn’t marry them along with your husband; did you?

(2) SECOND LESSON:
To Mary and Joseph, their having to lodge in a cattle shed was a chance happening, but it wasn’t so to God. Unknown to them, God had planned that His Son would be born in a lowly place. The point here is that God ordered their footsteps to that lowly cattle shed.
Similarly, your steps are ordered by God if indeed you’re His child.
The path to your glorious destiny runs through some places that, humanly speaking, are not really desirable nor dignifying but you must pass through them to reach your high throne; just as Joseph passed through the grim tunnel of slavery and imprisonment to reach his destined position of Prime Minister of Egypt.

(3) LESSON THREE:
Even though no relatives of Joseph came to cheer himself and his wife up in the lonely cattle house, God soon mobilized His angels to send Shepherds to visit the new parents.

Not long after, God also miraculously brought The Three Wise Men from the East to visit Mary and Joseph!
They didn’t just visit, they bowed down and worshipped the Baby Jesus.
Not done yet, they each opened their treasure box and gave the Baby precious gifts!

The lesson here is, when people that you naturally expect to come around and encourage you choose to instead distance themselves from you and your Spouse, don’t worry.
God will in His own inimitable way mobilize helpers to do for you ALL you need done.

🔥🔥🔥 CREATIVE DECREES:
🔥 LET THE POWER OF GOD FORCEFULLY DRAW TO YOUR LIFE “THE SHEPHERDS” THAT WILL JOYFULLY COME TO MINISTER TO YOU!⚡

🔥LET THE POWER OF GOD COMPELL “THE WISE MEN” THAT HAVE THE TREASURES THAT YOU REQUIRE TO BECOME WHO GOD WANTS TO BE, BECOME RESTLESS WHERE EVER THEY ARE UNTIL THEY GET ON THEIR WAY IN SEARCH OF YOU, FIND YOU AND GIVE INTO YOUR BOSOM THE TREASURES GOD HAS ORDAINED THAT THEY GIVE TO YOU!!!⚡

🍷🍗 TAKE-HOME LESSON: LEARN NOT TO MURMUR WHEN YOU SEEM TO BE IN AN ODD PLACE OR CIRCUMSTANCE IN LIFE.
YOU MIGHT BE THERE BY STRICT DIVINE ORDERING OF YOUR STEPS.
YOU’RE NEVER IN ANY PLACE BY CHANCE AS A CHILD OF GOD.

💕❤️ TONIGHT’S ONE FLESH ASSIGNMENT IN THE BEDROOM
Reread today’s devotional and share your understanding of with each other.

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ANOINTED MUSIC SECTION