For a woman to be chosen as God's partner in procreation is wonderful, beautiful and great. Have you ever asked yourself the question; why did God choose women for this great task? Why not men? I sincerely believe that this is so because a woman is God's pt! God has a soft spot for women. The woman is the last born (she was made after the creation of man!) And you tend to give extra attention to your last child naturally. So, woman, count it a joy to be a part of God's divine program in sustaining and preserving His creation.

The Matter of the Matter:
The time of pregnancy is one of the best times you must endeavour to be very close to God. Every natural occurrence has a spiritual foundation. This is true in every area of a woman's life including pregnancy. Your spiritual life at this time is the matter of the matter. Let your spiritual life be dynamic. Let God and His things matter much to you at this time. There is the tendency to naturally want to feel weak or down sometimes, but don't give in to weakness and depression. God is the strength of your life. Acknowledge His sustaining power, and claim it for your use. Don't take chances at all. Don't give room to the devil. Take authority over his tricks and claim victory in Jesus name.

HINTS

1. Praise and Worship
Take time to appreciate God and His work. Look at yourself in the mirror and see God's sovereignty. Give Him thanks. Give Him worship. Give Him praise. Thank Him for the privilege of being fruitful. Many are living in the agony and reproach of barrenness (and God will surely visit them). You are not better off. It is a great privilege. Learn to thank Jehovah God for His mercy towards you. If many years after your marriage you did not conceive, what could you do? Can you charge God to court? Of course no! So why complain and murmur about how to get baby things and all that stuff. Give God praise for what you have. Appreciate Him so that your life can appreciate. It is not by your power or your making that you are pregnant. It is purely by God's mercy. He definitely deserves your thanks.

2. The Word
If there is a time when you need the word of God it is now. Read it. Study it. Mediate on it. Stop roaming from house to house paying unnecessary "courtesy calls". Give yourself to the reading of the word. Drink it. Read it out to your baby. Who tells you that unborn babies don't hear? Read the scriptures to your baby, he hears and understands. Even science has proved it. Sing songs to him. Read to him and sow seeds of God's word into his life. You will be surprised at the positive effect this can have on a baby. It's so beautiful to build a spiritually conducive atmosphere around your baby.

3. Prayer
Don't ever agree with weakness when it comes to prayer. The enemy knows what power is embedded in prayers; he will therefore try to hinder you. Rise up in God's strength. Pray. Tell God all you want, no one can pray for you as much as, yourself because you know what your deepest feeling is. Express it to God in prayers. Don't be lazy. Claim victory. Break the enemy's power. Release God's glory, upon your life and baby. You will be surprise at the results you will have.

Some of the Points to pray on:
* The normal development of the foetus.
* Neutralise every power of the devil to cause miscarriage, still birth, premature delivery, complications etc.
* Safe and easy delivery. The day of delivery no error.
* Positive virtues and qualities you'll like your child to posses and exhibit, e. g. wisdom, intelligence, moral excellence, fear of God, etc.
* The unfolding and fulfillment of God's plan for his life.
* The future of your child, school, career, friendship, marriage etc. it is never too early.
* That his life will be patterned after the image of Christ.
* Plead the blood of Jesus over the (1) Placenta (ii) Uterus
(iii) Umbilical cord (iv) Baby
* Baby should come headfirst, face down, and rotate well.
* For your home; your husband, yourself (others if any).
The list cannot be exhausted, add to your list and believe God for victory.

4. Your Mouth
What you say is what you have. "Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth..." Proverb 6:2. Watch what you say! “Oh, it is not possible to avoid pains even terrible ones during delivery" "Oh! I hope I won't die..." "Ehe, will the midwife not make a mistake.." are statements that should be far from you. Believe and confess only what God says.

*Use scriptures like:
“I shall not die but live... Ps.118:17. “
”Notwithstanding she shall be save in child bearing..." (1 Timothy 2:15).

"There shall nothing cast their young... the number of thy days I will fulfill" (Exodus 23:26)

Remember that the devil will take as much as you give him. So watch it. You are made to defeat not to be defeated. Your pregnancy is a blessing not a curse.

5. Your Tent
Don't pitch your tent in the company of negative talkers. It affects you much more than you feel. Don't stay where people talk about how Mrs. XYZ died during childbirth or how Mrs. ABC had a deformed baby, such things create fear. Flee from such companies. I am a living witness of what God can do with a woman that will dare to trust Him for safe deliveries. My last baby came in my 8th minute in the labour room. The matron was still trying to

give gloves to my daring husband who was present to witness the delivery when she sighted the baby's head. It was a beautiful experience. God has not changed. What He did for a woman like me, He can do for you. Dare to believe Him. Avoid relationships that do not edify and lift you. You are a creature of beauty and excellence.

6. Service
As much as possible be active in your church, as far as God's strength can carry you. Pregnancy is not an excuse for laziness and bench warning. You can still serve God as a pregnant woman. God takes care of you and the baby as you give Him your time and talent. Even though 1 know that there are quite some hectic things you might not be able to do, but the few lighter ones like singing, counseling, writing, hospitality etc. can and should be done with love and anointing. Your heavenly Father will equally reward your labour of love. Stop giving excuses why you cannot attend church services; pregnancy should be a joy not a curse.

Pregnancy Tit-Bits
The period of pregnancy is a phase in a woman's life. A time and an age comes when, if you are pregnant, people will look at you twice and probably think on various reasons why you should be. It is interesting to note therefore that you must endeavour to be your best during these periods.

Smartness
Sluggish movement of the body and especially the feet can be annoying and irritating. Try to be smart, though pregnant. It is not until you push your tummy to the front, with your hands on your back wearing a long face that you will win the sympathy of your husband or people around you (I wonder what you need the sympathy for). I realize the fact that sometimes you feel like pushing your tummy all around with an air of excitement but do it with decency. Be smart. Be decent. No man wants an ugly old woman around him. You are beautiful. Don't reduce yourself. Be appealing to your husband any day any time. Don't just tie your scarf or head tier anyhow. Look great every time.

Cleanliness
You must give extra attention to yourself, your home and surroundings. Go for neatness. Dirty atmosphere breeds bacteria. Clean up properly when you go to the ladies. Change your pants as often as possible. You tend to secret much more than when you were not pregnant. So give extra attention to cleaning up.

Wash the toilet you use, as you tend to urinate more regularly now. With much privacy however, clean your breast regularly, especially the nipples. Not with soap of course but with clean water and cotton wool. Massage your breast regularly with baby oil towards the nipples and always pull out the nipples for easy sucking. Powder your face.

Meals
Let your meals be balanced, eat more fish, vegetables, milk, beans etc, as directed by your Medical Doctor. Take the doctor's prescriptions regularly and believe God for sound health throughout.

Rest Don't over-labour yourself. God has blessed us with wisdom. Knowing your ability, take time to rest. It helps you and your baby a lot. Don't lift heavy things. Be comfortable as much as possible. The Lord is your portion.

Sex
Pregnancy should not be a license to starve and deny your husband of his marital right. Educate yourself on various comfortable methods of sex during pregnancy. Seek counsel. Sex has no negative effect on your baby. Let your husband have his right, educate yourself on the comfortable positions.

Shared blessings
You are not the only owner of the baby. Somebody else has equal right over him. Therefore you must get your husband involved in your experiences as much as possible. Relate with him as closely as you should. Put his hands on your tummy when the baby is kicking. Let him feel the movements. He should lay his hands on you and pray for the baby at least every morning. Let him prophesy to the baby. He is the spiritual head of the home. He is the king of your Ii family domain. Let him be involved in the development of the baby. Share with him. Tell him your experiences.

When I was to have my third baby, the doctor told me that he was a transverse breach. I was a bit upset, but my husband encouraged me. He told me to lie down. He laid hands on my tummy and commanded the baby to turn in the name of Jesus. I remember my husband said "son, hear the voice of your father, turn in Jesus name". The boy heard and turned and behold I had him normally, my husband witnessed the delivery. It was beautiful.

Develop a relationship with your husband that makes for closeness even in pregnancy. Let him be involved. Let him know what goes on in your life. Pregnancy is meant to be a shared responsibility. If it is possible, convince your Doctor to allow your husband to witness the delivery of your baby. I recommend that every man should have this beautiful life-touching experience. To witness the delivery of his baby should be a thing of joy to a man. Pregnancy is a shared blessing; the i) responsibilities should be shared too.

Childbirth: God's Way
As your day of delivery approaches endeavour to educate yourself by reading good books on pregnancy and delivery. Listen to the advice your doctor gives you during the ante-natal clinics. It is important for you to know that faith and wisdom must go hand-to-hand with you at this time. Reject negative thoughts and advises. Apply wisdom where required.

If for instance your Doctor senses a negative symptom and advises you to rest some more, use your faith to reject the symptoms but equally apply wisdom by resting. God has raised medical helps to enhance our healthy living. You must have been told of the signs to watch out for when delivery is imminent. Sometimes it can be blood, mucus or water, whichever comes, get your things ready and leave as soon as you know the contractions are getting more frequent especially if this is your first baby. At first the contraction may be slow, unnoticed and probably irregular. As soon as you sense that you are in labour, do the following:

* Give thanks to God for bringing you so far.

* Commit the delivery and the processes to His able and unfailing hands.
* Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself, the baby and the medical personnel that will be involved. Bind every error and mistakes.

Claim victory in Jesus name. (if your husband is around let him agree with you in prayers). Childbirth does not have to be traumatic. You don't have to go through hell on earth. The Lord Jesus has delivered you from the curse of the law, 1Timothy2:15 is for you.

"...she shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. "  

Believe it. Claim it. Go in faith. Be bold. Be strong. Don't be afraid. Childbirth is beautiful. God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are with you. The angels are in attendance. Don't shout. Don't scream. Keep your calm. Pray in tongues. Give praises. As you go through the stages of delivery be conscious of God's presence.

It will soon be over. Victory is ahead. Begin to picture the arrival of your baby. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it. Victory is yours. Beauty is your portion. Go in faith and bring back the fruit of the land.

What is your comment on this story?

• Please come into agreement with me in prayers.