*A SILENT SPOUSE "MAY" NOT BE A BLESSING* After my session with a dear one, he went home and began to make adjustments in his mindset to certain things in their marriage. Some days later, the wife told him that when he saw that he maintained a grandstand on some of the issues they had, she stopped raising it or arguing about it. The interesting part was when the wife said that she still goes ahead to do the things he keeps resisting behind his back, even if it means enjoying all alone by herself. I had a good laugh. A young husband returned home one day and saw that his "silent" wife had packed her bags and left him to himself. He was in shock. There are homes with silent disagreements but who keep patching things up for the "sake of peace". Married folks, know this today: A silent spouse is not always a blessing- your family may be on the verge of a breakdown. He or she may just have withdrawn into his or her shell. It takes some degree of blindness for you to think that you can actually control anyone. If their hearts are not with you, it is just a matter of time before they withdraw their hands. Have you heard someone say before that, "I withdraw my hands from your matter"? Before the hands were withdrawn, the heart must have been withdrawn. There are silent husbands- they feel 'manipulated' by the wife's attitude, but they are quiet. Danger! Danger! There are silent wives- they feel intimidated by the husband's assertiveness, but they keep shut. Danger! "My wife is so quiet" may be self-deceit. "My man does not complain" may be an illusion. They just have built coping mechanisms. The day you discover, it may be too late. Silence does not always mean consent. Silence must not be mistaken for agreement. Fight for oneness. It is hearts before hands! *II Kings 10:15 NKJV* *“Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart?” And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” So, he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot.* How do you attain this? Do not shut down your spouse's opinion. Do not make him or her feel stupid. Affirm their contributions as you negotiate the waters of decision-making. Do not bury issues. Find the appropriate time to raise it in meekness. If you keep burying issues, you may soon bury the entire marriage. Listen to what your spouse is saying and what they are not saying, also. Silence is heavy communication without words spoken. Break the silence before it breaks your marriage. *temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa* - *Thank you for receiving God’s Word. Be the first to get daily updates. Join the WhatsApp Channel👇🏽👇🏽* whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va5… - *Begin every day this month with a head start. Get your FREE copy of the Compass Daily Devotional here👇🏽👇🏽* temiloluwaola.com/compass/ - *To partner with ATOM in spreading the good news, support the monthly publication and FREE distribution of hard copies of the compass devotional; please visit >>>* temiloluwaola.com/partner/ - *You can also read today’s devotional at >>>* temiloluwaola.com/a-silent-s…

THE TESTS IN THE CALLING (4) When we had our building project sometime in 2021, during the foundation stage of the work, the filling was taking more truckloads of sand than we envisaged. Upon completion, the bill rose more than we had budgeted. God always showed up, but I had to pass a simple test. We needed about seven thousand naira to make up the balance for the purchase. I was out of town and had instructed that payment be made by noon. I felt it was not a big deal when I was informed of the seven thousand naira. I had about ten thousand naira in my account. I picked up my phone and wanted to transfer it to make up for the balance. Then I heard the voice of my Lord, "Is it your project?" I said, "No, Lord". He asked, "Would you transfer it and take over the project from now?" I froze and repented. I waited for the Lord. I told the office to hold on till noon. About three minutes before noon, two alerts hit the account. It was just too amazing. It was an alert of four thousand naira and three thousand naira tagged, "Building Project.” That day, I learnt that there is the "Test of Carrying Things That is none of my business.” Everyone who is called will feel the pressure of doing something to help God. He is God. He does not need your help. Do only what He has commanded you to do. This is the freedom you need: Can a bricklayer borrow cements on behalf of the owner of the building? No! That would be absurd. He does not get worried that cement has finished on site. He calls the owner and just informs the owner. It is not his building. He is a labourer on site. The work is not your own. You are a labourer on site. Let the owner carry the burden of the work. Have a drive, but do not touch the ark. Do not help God. He is God all by himself. 1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are (the church is) God's building. Do not borrow on God's behalf. Trust the one who owns the work. Can the God of all the earth owe any man? No! Borrowing can be proof that you are not patient enough for the one who owns the work. A bricklayer cannot decide on his own to build three extra rooms and then turn around to bill the owner. It is laughable. God will not sponsor what He did not commission. Faith is effective when the will of the sender is established. Faith for personal pride is a suicide mission. This is your access to rest: Let the one who owns the work do His work on his terms. This is your work: Find out what He wants to do. This is your ease: Do what He is doing This is your joy: You will only be doing what He has done. Do you get it? © temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa - Get cutting-edge training on how to make your life and ministry a success at ATOM SCHOOL OF MINISTRY 2025! Your life and ministry will never remain the same again! 💻 Register Now 👉🏼👉🏼 11.temiloluwaola.com - Thank you for receiving God’s Word. Get daily updates via the WhatsApp Channel >>> whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va5… - Download your FREE Compass Daily Devotional for January 2025 👇🏽👇🏽 temiloluwaola.com/sdc_downlo…

THE TESTS IN THE CALLING (1) One of my dear ones does such amazing work leading teams that have to do with logistics, transport and outreach for the ministry. He would always say to me, "Sir, my bags are packed if we have to go anywhere.” He has such a great heart. He is giving his all to the work of the ministry. One day, one of his family members called him and an app brought out his name as "Church Driver.” The person told him. When he was narrating it to me he said thoughts began to bombard him. How on earth can he be such? He rebuked the devil. He shut down the thought. Interestingly, it happened as he was coming from the office to pick me up at a meeting somewhere in town. One of the tests that the called will face is the "test of naming.” For everything you do as the called, there will be three names for it: First, what God calls it. That task that you engage in as a form of service to the Lord. What did God call it? Second, what you call it. What do you call that assignment that you have received in the Lord? What you call it is very critical. It must align with what God has called it. Third, what people call it, there will be a name that people will give to it. Most times, what people call it is derogatory. They can call you a slave of your pastor. They can call you stupid. They can tell you that you are just gullible and used. They can tell you that you are not thinking straight. The test is always in what people call it. The trap is many-sided. You can get angry at the people and be offended. Offence is still not permitted in the calling. You can begin to see the calling as a punishment or even madness. You may get overwhelmed and abandon the calling. You can also get offended at anyone you have been called alongside with or to help or serve in the calling. You will indeed start feeling used. When Jesse sent David to take care of sheep, the three dimensions unfolded: What did God call it? A training ground for kingship. Psalms 78:70-71 NKJV [70] He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; [71] From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. What did David call it? This is my father's sheep. I Samuel 17:34 NKJV [34] But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, What did people call it? Eliab called it "few sheep" to spite what David does serving the father. He called David proud. I Samuel 17:28 NKJV [28] Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” Will you pass this test? © temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa

BAD ATTITUDE AND DIVINE FAVOUR DO NOT MIX I had a very important meeting to attend, and I also needed to get some other things done. There was no way I would miss the meeting. It was way more important to me. So, I wanted to delegate the things I needed to fix to another person. Someone said to me, “Sir, even if you call them, they are always busy. They will not leave their workshop to come to you”. The moment he made that statement, my spirit got charged up, and I told myself, “I enjoy the favour of the Lord, and I will get my request.” I took the phone from him and spoke to their boss. In less than thirty seconds, he agreed to what I said. I was overjoyed. Things got done. I was also able to attend the meeting. If you are not conscious of the favour of God upon your life, you will settle for things lesser than what the Lord has ordained for you. The favour of the Lord is a sure mark upon a believer. God decorates you with favour. You are a favour-carrier and a favour-transmitter. Some things would cease because favour is speaking for you. Favour will decorate you, put you on the platform and allow you to get all the accolades. If you want to enjoy divine favour, you must ensure you do not joke with having the right attitude. Combining favour and bad attitude is like spraying perfume on a stinking body. What you need is first a clean bath that transforms you. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Esther 2:17 KJV You cannot be fighting an invisible enemy when you are coloured with pride. You are your own enemy and God himself will resist you. A man who knows how favour works does not strife with men. Abraham did not strife with Lot. Isaac did not strife with the Philistines. A man who is conscious of favour gives no room to strife. Strife strangulates the flow of favour. Where there is strife, good works will cease. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:16 KJV Strife opens the door for every evil work and closes the door against favour. When you savour the presence of God, He will decorate you with favour. As you grow in wisdom, you will know that you do not just need favour with God, you also need favour with men. On earth, it matters who likes you. Do not say “I do not need anyone”. Even Jesus needed the favour of God and that of men. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Luke 2:52 KJV Love God. Value His Presence. Be conscious of the favour of God upon your life. Do not despise men. Build the right attitude always. May you enjoy favour!