Scriptural confession for women believing God for the fruit of the womb

by Nomthi Odukoya

Heavenly Father, I thank You because Your word is settled in heaven, and Your faithfulness endures to all generations (Psalms 119:89). You have blessed me and commanded that I be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). Your word assures me that You bless the fruit of my womb and that neither myself nor my husband shall be barren (Deuteronomy 7:13-14). You have said Lord that all sicknesses will be taken away from me (Deuteronomy 7:15).

I thank you Father God Almighty that I am a joyful mother of children (Psalms 113:9), that I am indeed a fruitful vine by the sides of my husband’s house. I rejoice because my children will surround my table like the olive plants (Psalms 128:3). Creator of Heaven and Earth, I praise You because my body is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). You are not a man, O God that You should lie, nor the son of man that You should repent. You have said it and You will do it. You have spoken and You will make it good (Numbers 23:19).

You have said Lord that whatever things I ask in prayers, believing I receive (Matthew 21:22). And like Hannah, Lord, I know I can declare that for this child I prayed and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him (1 Samuel 1:27). I thank You Lord, because like Rachel I can say with joy that God has taken away my reproach (Genesis 30:23).

I know Lord that without faith; it is impossible to please You (Hebrews 11:6). Even as Sarah by faith, received strength to conceive seed. I also receive that strength by faith in Jesus name, and I judge You faithful who has promised (Hebrews 11:11)

Heavenly Father, even as Abraham did not waiver at Your promise through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith giving glory to You, being fully convinced that what You have promised You are also able to perform, so shall I not waiver Lord, and by Your grace it will be accounted to me for righteousness (Romans 4:20-22).

I will not cast away my confidence which has great reward and I will be patient Lord because Your word says that after I have done Your will, I will receive the promise (Hebrews 10:35-36).

I thank You for all the advances in medicine and the sciences regarding infertility but I am not moved by my doctor’s negative report because my faith is not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).

I thank you Lord that the weapons of my warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). I come against Satan, all his cohorts and all manner of oppression in Jesus name. I pull down all strongholds of the enemy in Jesus name. I nullify curses and covenants in Jesus name. I plead the blood of Jesus over my womb,

Body, I speak to you in Jesus name, you will come in line and agreement with the word of God. Every organ and tissue in my body and my husband’s body will function in the perfection to which God has created them to function and I forbid any malfunction in the name of Jesus ( Galatians 3:13, Romans 8:11).

I bless your holy name Lord for You have promised that they shall not be ashamed that wait for You (Isaiah 49:23) so I will hold fast the confession of my hope without wavering, for I know that He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

I give You all the glory and all the praise Lord, in Jesus name. Amen

Who is responsible for the pregnancy?

by Nomthi Odukoya

“And who is responsible for your pregnancy?” he quizzed with a serious look on his face.

“You” she stutters, not because she is not sure, but the audacity of his question rocked her. He knows he is her only boyfriend.

I am sure you can figure out the end of the story. The girl is left with two options: either have an abortion or raise a fatherless child by herself. God admonishes that sex should be within the confinement of marriage. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honorable by all and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge“ and 1Cor 6:18 says, “Flee sexual immorality”.

Let’s replay that same scenario in a marriage setting, and here is what you hear.

“Honey, we are pregnant”. She squeals

“I am going to be a Father?You are not working for now; I don’t want anything to happen to my daughter”, he exclaims excitedly while rubbing her stomach

“No, it’s a boy” she responds

“It’s a girl”, he insists as he places his ears to her stomach and the joy goes on…

The above reactions are not cast in stone, as situations vary. But the disparity in the two responses is common in the different scenarios. Our world is rapidly evolving in such a way that being a virgin is seen as an embarrassing social status, whilst being sexually active at a young age is being normalized.With television shows, such as MTV‘s ‘16 and pregnant’, seemingly celebrating the decisions of teenagers to engage in pre-marital sex, chastity is increasingly becoming a tough decision to uphold. But regardless of what the world accepts and approves of, the standard of God will not be compromised.

Chastity before marriage is the key.

How is it possible?

ABSTINENCE!!

Is this the only way?? Yes. It is the only guaranteed guide against unwanted pregnancy. Don’t be deceived by condoms, both male and female condoms can break even if you both wear more than one. The Bible instructs against sex before marriage- 1 Thess 4:3-5 says “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour, not in passion or lust like the Gentiles who do not know God”.

Guard your access. Not just access to your body, but access to your mind- don’t watch erotic movies or videos or read pornographic magazines and expect your mind to be pure.

Don’t stay alone in an enclosed place with the opposite sex. Let your boyfriend know when you need to go outside to be in the company of others. Don’t assume your strength against sexual desires.

Don’t use sex to sustain a relationship. If a man loves you, he will protect you even from himself. Sex does not keep a man neither does it guarantee a good home.

What are the possible consequences?

Complications during pregnancy like weak pelvic bones, obstetric fistula. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that stillbirth and newborn death are 50% higher among infants born to adolescent mothers.
The mother might have to dropout from school and the possibility of giving the child a good life and education is lowered.
Shame and ridicule from family and friends.
Abortion if the man refuses paternity of the child.WHO estimates that 3million unsafe abortions occur globally every year amongst teens. Adolescent pregnancy is a major contributor to maternal and child mortality, and to the vicious cycle of ill-health and poverty.

Aside from the physical aspects of pre-marital sex, there is also the spiritual damage caused by it.Sex outside of marriage leads to an emotional imbalance, as every person you have sex with takes a piece of you and you also take a piece of them. Sex is a spiritual exchange;the Bible says “two will become one flesh” (Mark 10:8). It is not just an exchange of emotions or body fluids, it involves your spirit, that why some people are bonded with someone they have had sex with, and he seem to also have a reign over them.

If you are already pregnant, understand that you are not alone. It can be scary and lonely and you should talk to your parent, counsellor or Pastor. Don’t opt for an abortion; you have a human being developing within you (21days after conception, the child’s heart is already beating).You are valuable to God regardless of where you have been or what you have done. Make a decision to live for Him going forward and watch him decorate your life.

PRAY DURING PREGNANCY

by Nomthi Odukoya

Ever heard the saying “Don’t leave your future to chance”? I believe that this saying cannot be truer than when pregnant. According to Sociologists, every child is born a clean slate upon which words and experience write.

During pregnancy, this clean slate can be written upon with our words of prayers. It has been medically proven that from the age of 16 weeks, babies in the womb begin to respond to voices, words, moods, thoughts etc of the mother. This gives the mother the rare opportunity of being the sole influence on the baby. This is how and when we begin to write on this clean slate.

Prayer, as we know it, is communicating with God and, at the same time, instructing creation to align to meet our needs. You will declare a thing, and it will be established for you (Job 22:28). So we cannot overemphasize the power of an expectant mother’s prayer.

From the time of Moses till this very day, some of our most influential heroes became history makers because of their mothers’ prayers.

The late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, in a number of her sermons, spoke of how she prayed her first child Toluwani into the singing ministry while she was pregnant. Today, if you hear Tolu’s voice, you will immediately understand the importance of the prayers of an expectant mother, no matter how trivial or insignificant they may seem.

Abraham Lincoln, unarguably one of America’s most influential presidents, said: “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me, they have clinged to me all my life.” He attributed all his great feats to his mother’s prayers.

Another name worthy of mention is George Washington whom his mother prayed for, just few hours before his delivery. Upon achieving many successes in life, he attributed all his successes to the prayers of his mother and honoured her with the words: “All that I am, I owe to my mother.”

So, you do not have to leave your future to chance like most mothers do inadvertently. Pray constantly (that is without ceasing) for your unborn child.

Prayers aid divine perception and so many gain prophetic insight into the future during prayers. God can reveal certain aspects of the child’s future to the mother. Examples in the Bible include the mothers of Moses, John the Baptist, Samson, Jesus, to mention a few.

Also, you can sometimes influence your unborn child with certain God-like attributes (probably the ones you lack but which you wish you had). For example gentleness, self-control, kindness etc.

Rise up, Expectant Mother! God is depending on you.

WAITING TIPS

by Nomthi Odukoya

“He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children….” Psalm 113:9 (NKJV)

Considering the microwave generation that we live in, the word “wait” seems an opposition to the ideal. However, it is sometimes the Master’s way of getting us prepared for the miracle he is about to bestow on us.

The waiting period is actually the preparation period, so do not waste it. When making a pot of soup, for example, there is need to wait for the soup to cook. While waiting, other ingredients to make the soup delicious are being prepared.

What will be discussed here includes various tips that make waiting time pleasurable. Classic Bible examples of people that waited include Sarah having to wait for Isaac, Hannah waiting for Samuel, Rachael waiting for Joseph, Elizabeth waiting for John, the list is endless.

Remember, whenever it seems like God is coming late, He is coming big. He will come through for you. Acts 10:34 says that God shows no partiality. This is the time to grow and develop faith. The first among the many tips we will be considering is LISTENING.

Listening?

Yes, listening to Fruitful Vine testimonies; the stories of how God came through for people that have been in similar situations. According to Roman 10:17, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. This is to help people in this situation cultivate the habits of listening to God’s Word and not the world’s report. Usually the world has a way of defining situations in a way that contradicts the Word of God. One classic example is the fact that the world would want to grab, to accumulate, but the Word of God says give to increase.

The Bible thus seems a paradox, yet all of life’s blessings and successes can be obtained by meditating on the Word. Only Jehovah has the final say and our help can come from Him alone. Listen and be encouraged by the testimonies of others, knowing that the same God that came through for them will do the same for you. This does not negate medical treatments, but understand that the Chief Physician, the Almighty God, is in your boat and you cannot sink, neither will you be put to shame (Romans 5:3-5).

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