• A good dose of sex leaves your man energised to face the day.

• Prayer is the catalyst that speeds up his blessing and also builds an edge around him and all that have been ordained into his destiny, while

• Encouragement helps him overcome every feeling of inadequacy.

Strength for Your Husband by WOSH offers some tips to help wives who before their very eyes their spouses are beaten by the harsh economy and their union threatened by the effect of this. These tips are simple but powerful, please read and share.

http://www.wosharticles..co.uk/2012/12/strength-for-your-husband.html

Leadership is divine and has a divine role in bringing into fulfillment kingdom purposes in the lives of the people, for that reason, God has always been interested in leadership and involved in choosing who should have the responsibility of leading his people.

Seeking and fulfilling God's plan and purpose for the people can only flow from a heart that has been tested and is sincere, that is why the qualities of the heart of whoever ascends leadership position over his people is of utmost importance to God.

Still on the life of David, when God instructed Samuel in 1 Sam 16 to go and anoint for Him a king from the house of Jesse, even the Prophet was fooled when he saw Eliab, a young noble and sturdy man, he was impressed by his qualifications and almost got carried away by what he saw, with this he concluded he was the right man for the job but God quickly made it clear from the passage that the things that impress us men aren't necessarily impressive to Him. There is a clear cut difference between how God calls people and how the world system elevates people into positions of leadership.

He calls people on the basis of their inward character, He looks at the qualities of the heart than individuals abilities but man looks at the outward appearance, the qualifications and degrees as is common in this part of the world where we place more value on qualifications over character. Even when he's an ex-convict so long as he is educated, with the right connections and power he can govern a state. That is why the more qualified they are the more sophisticated their strategies in stealing from the people.

Skills, intelligence, experience, competence and hard work are all part of the package, but God is saying that, in the final analysis, one thing would make the difference and that is, the heart, as would be reflected in the works done because what you do fundamentally with your position is an outflow of who you are. Your disposition at any point in time is a reflection of the state of your heart therefore who you are is more important than what you do.

The heart is more important than the skills and experiences required for leadership. It is one of our treasured possessions and for this reason we're admonished in Proverbs 4:23 to "Guard our heart with all diligence...".
It is the core of our being, housing all our dreams and aspirations, thoughts and desires. It is that part of us that connects us with the supernatural, the very essence of our spiritual being. Our thoughts, words and actions all derive their source from the heart.

For us therefore as christians, Leadership should be an on going process of the outflow of the life of Christ through us to others no matter what level or sphere of life we're called to lead. When we understand that leadership is divine then we'll appreciate the privilege of co-working with God to fulfill His plans in the lives of the people. Guarding our hearts with all diligence so that the resources, power and all at our disposal should not make us into a reservoir but a river through which these resources flow to the people.

To Be Continued.....

David's anointing did not exempt him from battles instead it attracted battles to him, the anointing brought him into situations that did put to test the power of God in him, both spiritual and physical confrontations. These battles increased him as they set the stage for greater victories that were to come.

Growth is important to God, we ourselves desire growth but where the problem lies is how it ocurs, we are never in agreement with God over the growth process. In life we are promoted through test, examinations and appraisal of our past performances. It is no different in our walk with God, He uses the various battles we are confronted with to build our confidence and promote us. From thermal illnesses to calamities; from loss of job to lawsuit; from intimidation to threatened marriages. These battles are deep, intense and threatening to our very existence, yet He expects us to become better and stronger by them.

The christian life is a life of glory as much as it is a life full of battles. We are always the target of satan's attacks, hence, we can't afford to take the presence of God in our lives for granted. 1Cor.10:4 says that "the weapons of our warfare are not canal but mighty in GOD for pulling down strongholds." Whatever weapon we have for war, it is only made powerful and effective by God and not our righteousness therefore the God factor that assures our victory cannot be compromised. Saul lost this God factor when he lost his anointing and became susceptible to intimidation.

Taking a cue from David, he knew he was no where near victory over the battles in his life without the presence of God, no wonder he sang "cast me not away from your presence". He knew that loosing God's presence meant loosing power and authority and also loosing ones position in destiny. He has said, "I will go before you (talking of His presence) to make the crooked path straight. Let His presence go ahead of you in every of your plans and actions and consume every obstacle on your way.

Also, in developing courage to overcome intimidation, David knew the power of testimony. When he encountered Goliath, he testified of how God had delivered him from the lion and the bear and became strengthened. In Rev. 12:11, "they overcame by the word of their testimony." Encourage somebody today with your testimony of God's faithfulness. Talk about it, keep magnifying His past deeds in your life until your present problems become smaller in your eyes.

Trust was another factor in David's courageous acts. He had total trust in God. He didn't carry out a risk analysis on his plan when he went against Goliath to weigh the consequence of failing but totally rested his faith on God. Many times, our failures in life occur before they happen in the physical because already on our minds, we have conceived how everything will go wrong with our plans and strategy even before we make the move. David's confidence and trust had no room for doubts, he knew with God there was nothing like a contingency plan because He never fails. Trust is putting everything in God's hands and going to sleep on your problems. Can we trust the Father to this point without being anxious to know if He's actually working on our case or not?

Don't be intimidated if you're walking uprightly because these battles are training ground for greater victories to come.

Dear Virtuous Woman, clothed with Strength and Honour, I challenge you this new week to arise and shine for your glory has come.

There's a place of glory prepared just for you but you can't experience it remaining where you are now, you need to move, change location, pull yourself up from that which has kept you in obscurity, you need to tell yourself enough is enough, I'm now ready for a turn around. No one is going to do it for you, it's your responsibility to shake off those feelings of hurt and despair, pain and rejection and let a new you emerge dazzling, sparkling and radiating the Father's glory because that is who you're meant to be so,

Arise from obscurity
Arise from your limitations
Arise from adversity
Arise from life's challenges
Arise from that abusive relationship
Arise from the reproach of men
Arise from the hurt of betrayal
Arise from that depressed state
Arise from the deception of men
Arise from the raging storms of life and shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Have a glory field week.

There are battles against us on daily basis and the devil through fear intimidates us with these battles making them appear bigger than they really are. But there is a bigger power in us that makes us mighty in spirit despite our physical sizes and that gives us capacity as spiritual giants to take on anything the enemy throws at us.

David understood the power at work in him and with courage he challenged Goliath for defiling the name of the Lord. He was not intimidated by his size neither did he fret at his boasting but with confidence in the name of the Lord he slew him who had brought so much terror upon the children of Israel.

That mountainous situation before you isn't as dreadful as it appears, you only need to see it through God's eyes and in His eyes it is only a speck. David saw through God's eyes that Goliath wasn't different from the bear and the lion he had killed with his bare hands and was certain God who had delivered him before would yet deliver him again. And deliverance came truly for the children of Israel because one man refused to be intimidated.

Your deliverance is close by if you can dispel every fear, look the situation in the eye and declare like David, "I come against you in the name of the Lord." The battle is the Lord's he knows what strategy would bring about victory, but when you're filled with fear and terror, you can't receive inspiration on what to do instead you begin to guess the solution. David received a divine idea that sounded foolish but it was key to their victory, be encouraged today, be strong and let divine ideas flow through you.

Another key to David's victory was the anointing. David understood that a man does not carry God's anointing and remain ordinary, something supernatural had taken place in his life when that oil came down upon his head and he wasn't going to sleep with it. He had seen the power at work in chasing out evil spirits that tormented Saul, he also saw its manifestation in his encounter with the two wild animals and came to a conclusion that the anointing was for daring the impossible. You have been anointed, you're a carrier of God's presence and it is the anointing in a man's life that makes the difference. Go out and make a difference, people may have called you common, ordinary or worthless but you must realize you're none of those. In you resides all it would take to pull down every Goliath in your life. Go on in this might dare the impossible and burdens shall be lifted and yokes destroyed by reason of the anointing.

David also knew His right and authority in God. He understood that there had been a shift spiritually after he was anointed, therefore whether he was physically in the palace or not, that was inconsequential, what was important was that he had been called and empowered. His authority was not a function of his presence in the palace but a function of what God had spoken through the mouth of his prophet halleluyah! My dear, your blessing and authority today are non-negotiable, its not dependent on who you are today but on what you have done with what was said about you by the mouth of God. And whatever He has said concerning you is settled whether it has manifested physically or not. Arise from that trembling state and begin to live and walk in the reality of the word and not in the reality of your present circumstances.

Refuse to be intimidated, dare the impossible situations in your life this week "for God has not given you the spirit of fear but of power, and of love and of a sound mind." - 2Tim.1:7

You shall succeed!

Have you been blessed please leave a comment and help share the word so others too can be lifted. Do you have a story, a question or a concern, I'll be waiting with listening ears, flogun29@gmail.com.

Have you ever been in a state of hopelessness and extreme despair and then suddenly the holy spirit whispers to you to give Him praise and your flesh says, "no way, I can't do that, I don't even have the courage or faith to do it." Maybe your fiancé had just walked out of your 2 years relationship; or for you, your baby lies critically ill in the hospital with little hope she will pull through; your husband needs a huge amount of money to undergo a surgery; you've not enjoyed sound health for a while as you've been in and out of one sickness or the other; your children' school fees is over due and after many reminders, the school authority is threatening to send them home if their fees is not paid and you haven't the slightest clue where the money is going to come from; you have a pending issue with the law you know nothing about; and in the midst of all these you sense a leading to praise God, but how do you find strength to praise Him in the midst of all these adversity? How can you stare death, failure, frustration and shame in the face praise God?

My dear sister, I believe these are such moments when God wants us to be 'foolishly foolish' (excuse my English) about His adoration and forget all hang-ups about who we are and just praise Him. In moments like this, you need to turn your attention away from your problems and focus it on His faithfulness, when you do this, though your circumstance will not change but something inside you definitely will, you will sense a supernatural strength touch you and feel life return back into you. Just open your mouth and let a song out, as you continue to praise Him faith, hope and assurance of His love and presence rises in you as you find courage to pull through.

You can praise your way through any situation. Even when unfulfilled expectations and failures have become your closest friends - I understand what that feels like, there's tremendous strength in praise, because it helps you focus on God's faithfulness thereby building your faith for whatever situation you're in. Hab.3:17-19 says that the only thing that can keep you going in famine or barren situation is an attitude of praise and a lifestyle of rejoicing in God's presence. I encourage you my lovely sister to cultivate this same lifestyle in response to the desperate situations of your life as strength and courage is always available for you...H~A~L~L~E~L~U~Y~A~H~

Did anyone ever say something that motivated you to bring out the very best in you?

Have you ever experienced the wonderful fuzzy feeling inside that positive words can produce?

Get motivated today to become the best!

http://flourish.blog.co.uk/2012/11/03/words-are-powerful-15162070/

There were times I used to feel stagnated because I couldn't see much progress around me, I had promises to hold unto but they were not forth coming until God taught me some great lessons from waiting on Him. Maybe you too have found yourself in one of those moments when you asked why the Father makes us wait for so long for the answers and manifestation of our dreams. As I share with you what the He taught me, may you be encouraged to wait patiently and not grow weary because you will surely receive the promise! Please read on: http://www.woshdailyencouragement..com/2012/10/waiting-on-lord-how-and-why_30.html

Hello Myne White, thanks for the offer, I wouldn't mind writing for your blog. How do we go about it?

• I am awesome

• I have great understanding in school

• I am a positive influence over my peers

• I am innovative

• I am accurate with mathematics

• I have a healthy relationship with my parents

• My self esteem is intact

• I am the best despite my shortcomings

These are affirmations we never heard while growing up, rather abuses, wrong beliefs and negative influences were the things that shaped our limiting thought patterns in life, but as we try to realign, we can help our children build confidence to develop thought patterns synonymous with positive lives through affirmations. Positive affirmations can help them overcome self doubts and develop positive attitude to life especially at a time like this when these young minds are being bombarded with all sorts of lies; corrupt and negative information.

See the link for more on the Power of Affirmation on our Children including 35 powerful affirmations for children and teens.
http://flourish.blog.co.uk/2012/10/12/the-power-of-affirmation-on-children-15033659/

Hi ichidodo, I wouldn't answer a yes or no to your question as it is not always right to pick a trait in somebody and conclude he/she is an abuser, its more than that. More so, if you say she did those things to test you then its possible those were not her true nature except that she might have gone overboard with it. We need to look at how you felt in the relationship, did you feel trapped, were there occasions you felt you were loosing it because of her? Did she also make you loose your respect before others? Did you talk it over with her, what was her response? Aside from just testing you, if in her bid to control you, she resorted to emotional intimidation and verbal threats to get you to do what she wanted then it might be okay to say she is an abuser but then a lot of other factors still need to be considered. I hope your new girlfriend isn't like her.

‎​Do you feel pressured to act violently towards your partner? Do you believe issues can only be resolved through aggression? Do you derive satisfaction from being mean to the one you claim to love? Do you believe your girlfriend or women generally always need a slap to put them back in their right senses when going off track? Have you discovered yourself manifesting any other traits of an abuser in a relationship? Then you need to seek help before its too late. There's nothing normal in any of the above behaviours, don't be deceived. Confide in someone, speak with a Counsellor and work yourself into becoming that great person you're meant to be.

.....flogun29@gmail.com, 21134157

Help a friend who is an abuser or a victim today. No one should live in fear of the person they love, perfect love casts out fear.

The start of every relationship is always filled with the thrills of being in love and deep show of affection. This progresses in a healthy relationship drawing both parties closer and tightening the bond, but for an unhealthy one, this show of affection and attention soon becomes excessive and obsessive which are signs of abuse.

Usually, the abuser in an unhealthy relationship comes on very strong and loving to their partner, showing all the attention and acceptance that their partner desires. They typically would use the good part of the relationship to gain the trust and confidence of the victim before the abuse begins. Abusive partners are controlling, critical, aggressive, domineering, manipulative and always requesting that you do things against your will.

The warning signs are always there to tell when one is in the wrong relationship but some just choose to ignore these signs for obvious reasons, one of which is the fear of loosing their partner. If you find yourself in any of the following then the chances are you are in an abusive relationship:

• When you are constantly belittled

• Excessive jealousy by your partner

• When your partner becomes unnecessarily worried about what you're doing every moment of the day

• When you fear your partner to the point you have to watch what you say or talk about in order not to cause a fight

• When you find yourself giving in to your partner's demands to please him/her

• When you feel you are being used as a intimacy gadget

• When your partner blames his abusive behaviour on you, saying you always provoke him to that point where he hits you

• When you are physically abused

It is understandable that some people would do as much as to keep their relationship intact but a line needs to be drawn between what is acceptable and what constitutes an abuse. Love is a beautiful thing but when your sincere feelings are reciprocated with behaviours that leave you emotionally battered, torn apart, depressed and your self-worth destroyed, then this leaves much to be desired.

It is important to note here that, though this is common with women, they are not the only victims of relationship abuse, men also get abused especially verbally and emotionally. Abusive behavior is never acceptable no matter who it is coming from. No one should live in fear of the person they love. The Holy Book says "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear". Where there is a healthy relationship, there must be respect, trust, and consideration for the other person.

When you remain in an abusive relationship over a time, it affects your self-esteem to the extent that you begin to feel you are not good enough for your partner or any other person, you then start to see your abusive partner as the best choice for you since he/she is the only one who can tolerate you because you have come to accept the lie that you are the one with the problem. As long as you're not married, you have no business staying in a relationship where you are not valued or impacted positively. You have to snap back into reality that no one has any right over you hence cannot control your life. Whoever feels he can't be respected in a relationship except by controlling the other person is insecure in himself and is not yet mature for a relationship.

You need to break free from every form of abuse whether physical or emotional before you become psychologically affected. The first step is recognising you're in an abusive situation. Many victims normally would mistake the abuse for intense feelings of love or concern and this can be flattering knowing your partner is jealously guarding what he has in you but the truth is when jealousy becomes excessive and controlling, then it is no longer a show of affection. Some would even make excuses for their partner's abusive nature for fear of loosing him but the truth from the scripture is "None shall want her mate", that is what God is saying to you this moment. You are too precious to become a captive to the psychological problem of another person. You are fearfully and wonderfully made for someone out there who would recognise and appreciate the true worth in you.

You also need to recognise the place of choice in being free from the relationship. It was your choice that brought you into it and it is still your choice that would get you out of it. You have the power to make that choice. Take responsibility today for your life and your choices and become empowered. Never believe you don't have a choice because you do, and you deserve to be in the best of relationships.

In some extreme cases of abuse, where you have become entrapped due to threats, you need to work out your safe exit from such relationship, this is where the need to speak with a Counsellor, a Pastor or any other person you can confide in comes in. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Stop covering things up so you don't get destroyed; reach out to somebody and be guided into taking the right decision concerning your relationship.
(Bible ref. 1Jn 4:18 & Isa 34:16)

Are you a woman? Do you have burdens you would like to share, like they say, a problem shared is a problem half solved. This is the place to relieve your heart of every burden and let's bear one another's burden.

Every woman is beautiful. You must everyday look in the mirror and appreciate what you see. It doesn't matter what other people think of you. What truly matters is what you think of yourself. Being aware of your identity in Christ as a chosen vessel made for honour and dignity and the feeling of contentment that follows should fill your heart with the spark that ignites your confidence knowing you are special. Believe in yourself, accept yourself for who you are; wishing you were like someone else is missing out on the glorious destiny ahead of you. Your beauty is not a function of the cost of the wig/weave-on you have on or the brand of your make-up or how trendy you appear adorned with the latest parade on the runway but the richness of God in you, the beauty of His presence that radiates love through you, your peaceful and reassuring presence and your calm view to life, all these exudes an inner beauty that without effort reflects on the outside, touching and affecting others around you and causing people to want to pattern their lives after you, not just because they desire what you have, no, no but because they desire the air around you that speaks strength, confidence, assurance and authority. Woman, you are beautiful, say it to yourself, "I am beautiful."

If you are feeling low and would like a listening ear, someone to pour out your feelings to and share your pains and burdens with, Christ is the one who gives rest but He has also raised some to help bear one another's burden. I'm waiting to hear you out: flogun29@gmail.com

Nice one, never gave it a thought that we repeat words

When confronted with unfavourable situations there's always the tendency for our weaknesses to want to respond with fear, disappointment, regret, lamentations, self-pity and withdrawal. But when your inner strength is developed, you are well able to confront unexpected life's challenges with confidence.

What is inner strength?

Your inner strength is that human spirit that sustains you throughout life, helping you cope with the stressful situations it throws at you.

Have you ever observed with admiration how some individuals through resilience have overcome difficulties, surmounting obstacles and pushing beyond limits to reach their goals while others just head on the path of frustration and self pity without looking back?

Inner strength gives you that ability to rise up and put the pieces of your life back together after falling.

It is that which gives you courage to look at your vision so big and so mighty and declare, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

It is that boost of energy that floods your inner man anytime you work on your natural gifts, inspiring you to fulfil your life's goals.

This inner power comes naturally in some people while for others it has to be developed like any other skill.

To build inner strength you have to:

• Affirm your unique abilities. Look at those qualities that make you unique and different from others and begin to affirm them. It may be your sense of humour, your assertiveness, your administrative power, your creative thinking, your great interpersonal abilities, relationship skills, your beauty prowess, your generosity, whatever it is affirm it to yourself over and over again. Make an affirmation dose of it repeating it morning, afternoon and evening.

• Accept and appreciate yourself through your moments of weaknesses. You are not perfect that is why you can't always get it right. Seize the opportunity to learn and become better through the circumstances that you find yourself. Never crucify yourself for missing it, don't give up on becoming better at a skill, keep giving yourself a push towards perfection and watch your life get better by the day.

• Appraise yourself. Not for the purpose of self condemnation but to celebrate your wins and improve on areas of deficiency.

"We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed! What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired?" - Seneca
Self appraisal helps you work on areas of your life that need improvement.

• Discipline yourself to do the things you find yourself resisting but are useful and important to your life's goals and refuse unnecessary desires that rob you of your time. Disciplining yourself also involves challenging those habits that would not lead to success.

• Do what makes you happy and brings you joy. Your sense of fulfilment is activated when your natural strengths are freely expressed. Give expression to your natural talents and let a whole new door of opportunity open to you.

• Expect the best and look out for the best in life. Why should you always expect that things would not turn out fine for you? Do away with that pessimism and focus on the positive side of life. Disappointments will happen but look out for the blessing in it. Adopt a positive attitude to the challenges of life so that instead of lamenting you're able to make meaning of the lessons offered by these challenges to move your life forward.

• Seize the opportunity prayer offers to be energized by exchanging your weaknesses for God's strength. You cannot neglect the place of supernatural help through grace in accomplishing your goals, prayer presents that chance, so spend time in prayer and let God's grace rub off on you.

Build inner strength, flourish within and then without.

ACTIVITY:
• How has your inner strength helped you through life to this point?

• What new thing(s) have you discovered about yourself that you would like to build on?

Your thoughts are welcome here or by e-mail to flogun29@gmail.com

Young ones, daily the pressure mounts from enticements and influences from friends, colleagues, the media, the web, and the world at large. You find yourself fighting with the impulse to succumb just because you don't want to be labeled. You must know that you were not called to blend with the crowd but to stand out in the crowd. Until you become different you can't make a difference. The urge to compromise and live the life you so desire may be so strong upon you but you can resolve to stand by what you believe and uphold the banner of morality.

The world says you are vulnerable, you accept it, the devil calls you weak and you agree but I ask, are you really weak and vulnerable, are you really without a say when it comes to the choices open to you in life? As long as you believe you're weak, you will never develop the strength to overcome temptations. Joseph was a youth when he refused the advances from Portiphar's wife, Daniel too was a youth when he refused to defile himself with the portion of the king's meat. The temptations that lure men can be grouped into the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, these two guys overcame them all, and there are yet many in our time who are also overcoming by the Spirit of God. You may be young but you can also live a victorious life, you can stand your ground and hold your head when others are loosing theirs.

You can live above the decadence and perversity in the world around you. You can be an example of a true believer in words, action, appearance, attitude and association. Through your life style you can begin to point others in your school, church and society to the truth. Don't be tricked by the devil into believing all hope is lost for the younger generation. Through this deception, he keeps young ones bound by the spirit of this age, never wanting to be free. He tells you the government don't care about you as evident in their policies; he says to you, educational institutions too are only after the money they make from your parents so what you turn out to be in life is none of their concern; he makes you believe the church has been taken over by the world and convinces you your parents are the most guilty as they are so consumed by the desire to be materially and financially successful that you don't come near their top most priorities. He sows these seeds inside you to make you tag along the world's system believing you can't beat it.

The truth is, there's a shift in the spirit realm and God is raising an army who will establish His kingdom goals here on earth, you can be one of them, all you need do is plug into the grace available for as many as would stand different and not be swayed by the world's mockery because the world and even people you look up to will mock at you but you must hold your head up high and refuse to be intimidated. Let the consciousness of who you are build confidence in you and refuse to bow to life's pressure.

You have a choice each time you are confronted with temptation, but how well you know yourself and what you want in life will determine your choice. For every choice you make, there are consequences whether good or bad and you must know its your responsibility to take, not your parent's, teachers', pastor's, guardian's, not anybody's but yours.

Let no one despise your youth, refuse to be taken advantage of, but be a perfect example of a youth with a vision who is purpose driven and dares to be different in this dark and perverse world. Grace and power is available, as you stand out, God's light will shine on you and through you to your world.

www.wosharticles..com