BamHop Devotionals

Major Keys to Successful Marriage (Study Guide by Michael Todd) - Marriage is a paradox. Marriage is the most appealing relationship on earth, but it requires hard work and sacrifice.  - The great paradox of all time is how Jesus, our Lord and Savior, died a gruesome death on the cross to show His love for people who may not even accept Him. Paradox. But because of this paradox, we have the opportunity to experience forgiveness, to extend forgiveness to others, to heal from our past, and to win in relationships.  Key 1: Understanding Each Other’s needs - A want is a desire for something or is something wished for. A need is a requirement that is absolutely necessary. In marriage, it is crucial to know the difference between what your spouse needs. The sad truth is that the lack of understanding in this area leads to so much turmoil and unnecessary pain. If you do not know the needs of your spouse, neglect is inevitable.  - Does a flower want water or need water?  - Me

The Triangle (Study Guide by Michael Todd) - The equation for marriage is this: 1 + 1 + 1 = 1  - One whole man plus one whole woman plus God in their midst creates one healthy marriage.  - “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Ephesians 4:3 - A godly marriage is like a triangle. The husband and wife are connected at the bottom of the triangle. God is at the top, with each of the marriage partners spiritually connected to Him.  - God in the middle of the marriage is the key to getting the relationship win.  - Marriage reflects the relationship God has with the church.  - God’s purpose for your marriage is that you as a couple win in relationship.  - When you are committed to each other for life, you will discover a fuller kind of love.  - You will never see real love until there is real sacrifice of giving. The real mark of love is giving and giving takes sacrifice.  Love is patient and kind. Love

All Tied Up (Study Guide by Michael Todd) - The soul is made up of three distinct parts: the mind, the will, and the emotions. Your mind is how you think, your will is what you desire, and your emotions display how you feel.  - Soul ties happen when someone allows his soul to become attached to someone or something that has the power to affect him.  - Marriage is a godly soul tie . If you are married, God wants you and your husband or you and your wife to be connected on a soul level, satisfying each other spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, and working to fulfill each other’s desires for as long as you both shall live.  - Sexual partners outside of marriage is one of the greatest means the Enemy has of blocking purpose and destroying lives.  - Every time you get out of bed belonging that a person you are not married to, it is not over when you leave the room. You are joined physically, and by default, your thoughts, emotions, and desires have become intertwined.

Surrender Your Sexuality (Study Guide by Michael Todd) - Sex was never meant as a leisure pastime for single people; it is a pleasure and purpose connection for married couples.  - “Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So, use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” Romans 6:13 - Your Creator gave your body to you, give it back to Him.  - Surrender your sexuality to God.  - It is not about what others think. It is not even about what you think. Get yourself to the point where you can surrender your sexuality to God. Because if you trust Him, He will show you the truth about sex and help you “use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” And that is a beautiful thing. - The Enemy’s trick is to arouse a secretive sexual lifestyle at a young age, because then it is hidden, and b

Does It Need to End? (Study Guide by Michael Todd) - Put a ring on it or call it quits.  - Can we be honest? How many of us have wasted time in relationships before? The answer is practically all of us. We have spent a lot of unnecessary time in relationships that will not benefit us in the end.  - Dating > God is always a dangerous equation because we are left with feelings as our guide as opposed to getting direction and wisdom from God.  - Some relationships may be more liabilities than assets.  - You might have people in your life who are always negative, people who are always creating drama, people who tell you the truth, but it always has a bend toward what is wrong in life. They are sucking and they are taking making it harder for you to be who you were made to be.  - It is God’s plan that the relationships in our lives are supposed to be helping us and moving us toward fulfillment. You cannot win in relationship if the person close to you is blocking your pro

Intentional Dating (Study Guide by Michael Todd) - Whatever you relationship goals are, you are not going to reach them by doing the kind of dating most single people do – recreational dating . Recreational dating is the opposite of aiming at a goal; it is like shooting at everything.  - “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6 - Intentional dating is purposeful. It is driven be a clear goal: to determine whether the person you are dating is right for you to marry. Intentional dating is all about moving toward the covenant of marriage. - Open your heart to the wrong person and you let her discourage your dream.  - The modern way of dating – recreational dating with a vague hope that maybe one relationship will finally go somewhere – does not deliver what it promises.  - Stop sinning. Just stop. Please, I am begging you: stop. Why? Because if you are making decisions in a sinful state, your flesh will always lie to you. So, let that door close. Repen