Surveys & Opinions Hi standers! It's that time once again. Here's another devotional written by David from Washington. Read on and stay encouraged! ************************* "But when God, who set me apart from birthand called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus." Galatians 1:15-17 (NKJV) When I was called to "stand," like most, I had no clue as to the path the Lord was taking me down. At first waiting for my wife to come to her senses and come home seemed reasonable. As the circumstances kept getting worse, it began to look hopeless. Then there was that day. The day that most of us have. The day the Lord speaks to us in an undeniable way. He reveals His will for our lives and our wayward spouse. He calls us to "stand" in the gap for our spouse and marriage. You, like me, have had people give their opinion. Whether you asked for it or not. Some of these people will even attempt to use some Christian principal. Telling you that you are released. Some of us take surveys. Like Paul we should not confer with flesh and blood immediately. No one can tell us what our call is. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the Lord's perfect will for each of us. We don't need anyone to verify the path the Lord has given us. Paul didn't even go see the apostles. He went off and did as the Lord told him. He went and preached to the Gentiles. For so many of us, this truly is a solo run. We don't have a cheering section. Our family and friends think we are crazy or disillusioned. Even our churches abandon us as the seasons pass or circumstances change. Your children may even abandon you. The Lord is calling each of us to trust Him. To listen only to His voice. In this season we truly get to live by faith, not by sight. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Be mindful that some of the advice we hear to move on comes from people who love us. They truly want us to be happy. But they don't understand our call. People really do think it's a choice we have made. That we can simply opt out or move on. We know that it's not that easy. Especially if you're like me and you have tried to move on. The Lord will bring you back.....just like he is bringing back your spouse.
Road to Damascus Hi Standers! Here's another devotional written by Delon from Georgia. This is a very interesting topic. Read on and stay encouraged! For so long I've heard over and over that everyone has their own "Free Will." Well the Lord told me Free Will was never created so we could be our own "little gods". It was created so God could use it to teach us. We have to be careful to ask ourselves..."Am I the Lord of my life?" or “Is Jesus the Lord of my life?” The definition of "Lord" is a person who has authority, control, or power over. When we confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ, He not only becomes our Savior and saves our soul, but he becomes our Lord as well; Lord and Savior. Well let’s take a look at a situation where Jesus, interrupted someone's "Free Will” in Acts 9. "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” Acts 9:1-12 Let’s take a look at what's going on here. Saul was operating in his "Free Will." He had his mind made up and he had his plans. He was going to persecute everyone that belonged to Jesus Christ. Saul has just had a Divine Encounter with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That needs to be our prayer to the Father; that our prodigals will have a Divine Encounter that will change their lives, forever. Notice Jesus made Saul blind for three days. Remember Jesus is Sovereign and knows exactly what each person needs to come to true repentance. It’s possible if Jesus wouldn't have blinded Saul, his stubbornness would have caused him to continue to rebel. Now notice how Jesus says that Saul is waiting there but he is praying! Notice how, within a matter of events, Saul went from breathing murderous threats to now being a man of PRAYER. That's the power of our King! “'Lord,' Ananias answered, 'I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.' But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel...' Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength." Acts 9:13-15,18-19 Notice the most important thing Jesus says... Saul is a chosen instrument to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ. When God has chosen you for a specific purpose or call, you can only go so far until God pulls you back or until he intervenes. God will stop at nothing for His will to prevail. Then I want you to notice that it says "immediately" something like scales fell from Saul's eyes. We need to ask for the scales to be removed from our prodigal’s spiritual eyes, ears, heart and mind. Saul is eventually converted to Paul, a mighty Apostle of the Lord who wrote a lot of the New Testament of the greatest book ever written. Do not give up praying for your loved one because the world is telling you they have "Free Will." Set an example for your Loved ones and give Jesus his rightful position as Lord of your life. KNOW that He is working on your behalf. Remember, you're not only standing for you and the one you pray for, you are standing for everyone else who will be affected. Satan has seen a glimpse of the big picture and is doing everything in his power to abort it. But if you don't faint you WILL win. Your testimony is coming.
Running from God Hi standers! It's encouragement time again. Here's another devotional written by Ben from TX. Stay encouraged! Think about it. Running from God! Strange as it sounds, many people try to run from God. We can run away from our homes, run away from our friends, run from an accident, run away from the army or even from a murder or robbery, but run away from God? There are so many scenarios dealing with running, both physical and emotional. But run away from God? God, our Creator; God, our Heavenly Father; God, our Provider; God, our best friend. God knows all and sees all. Where can we hide? Andy Stanley, in a recent message, made this statement: "You can run from God but you cannot outrun God!" Who do we think we are fooling as we turn our backs on God and our spouse and walk/run away from our marriages? Didn’t we promise before God and our spouse to be faithful to our covenant vows until parted by death? Yet now that sacred vow is broken, that covenant spoken before God on our wedding day. God does not violate this covenant; our spouse does! And so as they break covenant, leaving the marriage, they are running from God and you and I. Little do they realize that in the heat of the moment, they cannot outrun God. When we look to Scripture, the most famous runner was Jonah. He was a prophet who ministered from 800-750 B.C. in the northern kingdom of Israel. "The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish." Jonah 1:1-3 (NLT) Notice the wording..."But Jonah...went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord...hoping to escape from the Lord..." Jonah was obviously not thinking straight, thinking that he could outrun God. After all, in that day and time, Tarshish and Nineveh were basically at the opposite ends of the known world. Perhaps he could get lost in that far away city, dropping out of sight. But remember what is stated above...you can run from God but you cannot outrun God. In Jonah’s fear of the Ninevites, his thinking was scrambled. We know the story of the terrible storm at sea that threatened to sink Jonah’s ship. The sailors questioned Jonah... "This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.) Jonah 1:10 (NIV) Is this not the same thing that happens when our prodigal spouse runs out on our marriage? Here our prodigal spouse runs not only from you and I, but they are also running from God. While we may not know our prodigal’s whereabouts, God does and they cannot hide from Him. In the New Testament, the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 tells a slightly different story in that the son wished to go live his life on his own terms. He was running away from his father's control. Circumstances were such that when his situation deteriorated, he returned home to his father. Here the father figure is God, and the prodigal son is mankind. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you...’” “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” Luke 15:17-18, 20 (NLT) In these two stories we can see our prodigal spouse...running from a relationship, from authority, from a promise...running from God. Yet in the story of the Prodigal Son, we see the redemption that awaits our prodigal spouse as they return home to their covenant vows taken before God and before you and I. And as God offers forgiveness to the prodigal, we likewise must offer forgiveness to our prodigal spouse. We often hear the stories from returned prodigals of the miserable situations they lived under while "on the run." Remember: "You can run from God but you cannot outrun God." He will find the prodigal and, with love, re-direct them home to their loving, standing spouse. So I say...stand firm for your covenant marriage vows! God will honor your stand.
While I'm Waiting Hi Standers! Here's a devotional written by Delon from Georgia. Stay encouraged! For many of us we can be so focused on God restoring our marriages and restoring our homes that we don't say, "Okay Lord, what are You trying to get out of this?" Everything has to pass through the hand of God for it to occur; God has to give his approval. So even in the fire you are walking through right now, even with your heart bleeding and fragmented, God says, "I approve this...because I know the unfathomable Glory that will come out of it." He didn't lure your spouse out of the house; that was the work of the destroyer. But God said, "This was not My "perfect will" for your life, but since we are here, I will use this as an opportunity for my Glory!" So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." John 11:3-7 God could have saved your marriage a while ago, but God has chosen you specifically for such a time as this and He has chosen you to be an instrument of his Glory. Notice Jesus said: This sickness is not onto death, but for the Glory of the son of God. How is he going to get Glory you ask? So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." John 11:14-15 How will He get the Glory? Because everyone that said, "Your marriage is dead, it's over, move on with your life. Don't be a fool anymore, etc etc," will see with their own eyes when God resurrects your marriage. When they see the miracles God is getting ready to do, they will have no choice but to say, "There is a God!!" There is a God in Heaven that still honors the faithful, that still honors obedience and still honors the covenant. God is using your situation to increase the faith of everyone around you . So don't give up, no matter how long you've been praying. No matter what the enemy says. Don't give up. Don't stop praying. Instead pray longer, fast more, and consecrate yourself to the Lord. And while you're waiting for God to put the finishing touches on your miracle allow Him to improve you. "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"John 11:21-26 Your marriage will rise again! He is the resurrection! Believe in His resurrection power as it will be better than you could ever ask. Do you believe this? Start praising him NOW!
Never, Never, Never Give Up! Hi Standers! Here's a devotional written by Charlyne Steinkamp, the author of Charlyne Cares of Rejoice Ministries. Stay encouraged! "The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." Lamentations 3:25-26 Are you discouraged because of your circumstances? May I suggest you go worship and praise your Lord this Lord's Day. Do you feel that you cannot keep standing because it is too hard? Go get your Bible and start reading the Psalms out loud. Yes, read the Psalms until the Holy Spirit starts touching and healing your wounded, rejected and abandoned heart. Never, never stop believing in what your Lord can do for you! "The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit--a wife you married young, only to be rejected," says your God. "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back." Isaiah 54:6-7 "Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults." Isaiah 51:7 I know personally, years ago when I was going through our marriage problems and divorce, I would have said, "You do not understand! You do not understand how I hurt! You do not understand about all of my circumstances, my unpaid bills and my children!" Yes, I do understand. But even greater your Lord God understands about everything that you are going through at this very difficult time in your life. He knows about your marriage, your spouse, your children and all about the decisions that you have to make alone. "I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: 'Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.' You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear.'" Lamentations 3:55-57 My prayer was for Bob to repent and turn back to his Lord. May that be your prayer this Sunday for your husband or wife. Are you facing court issues and many legal matters? I know even if you are divorced, there still may be court battles or strife regarding finances or other issues. "Lord, remove the strife now in the Mighty Name of Jesus and may You give Your supernatural peace within this dear stander's heart and in their beloved husband's or wife's heart. Lord, resurrect this dead marriage suddenly in the Name of Jesus. Amen." Never forget to turn to your Lord for His guidance and direction and for Him to be your Advocate and Defender. Expect your lawyer and judge to think and do things that they never planned as your Lord will touch their hearts and minds, giving them wisdom, knowledge and understanding from on High. "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me." Psalm 35:1 (KJV) You may be going through difficult times for other reasons in addition to your many different marriage problems, such as physical problems or your children may be rebelling in different ways. Often the enemy stirs up dissensions and problems all around you. Do you feel like you are in the middle of the Book of Job? I learned that if I continued to have bitterness, anger and unforgiveness in my heart, I was only hurting and destroying myself and the ones around me. (Could that be your children or your parents who are trying to help you?) My husband and the other person really did not know or care. Let your Lord God be the One that you turn to for help. "O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life. You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause! You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me. O LORD, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me- what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long." Lamentations 3:58-62 "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." Romans 12:19 Let me share an illustration that I could use every day. May I remind you of Winston Churchill who showed such perseverance during World War II. After the war, Oxford University invited Mr. Churchill to give a commencement address. He stood up, gazed intensely at his audience, and began; "I have only three truths to impart to you today on the subject of that virtue which makes a man. Let me begin by saying: Never give up. Let me continue by saying: Never, never give up! And in conclusion, I say to you: Never, never, never give up!" Then he sat down. If I had room in each devotional, I would have this quote at the bottom or at the top. It is such a powerful statement and truth for you as a stander. That is my prayer for you today; that you will never, never, never give up on your spouse or your Lord God. Yes, the world, your friends, your pastor or counselor and even your family are going to say "Get on with your life. What are you waiting for? You are too young. The Lord has someone else that will be better for you." Yes, you are getting on with your life by you praying for your Lord God to touch and transform your own husband's or wife's heart to become a new creature in Christ. May you show them your patience and perseverance in waiting for the Lord's perfect time in restoring your marriage. May you never give up on God or on your spouse who is blinded and deceived by the evil one at this moment. Let the Lord turn your circumstances around like He has done throughout the Bible. May we pray for all the men of God to speak and teach the Word of God boldly every Lord's Day. Let us pray for a mighty harvest of souls today, every day and every week thru Resurrection Sunday which will include your spouse and thousands of other prodigals around the world. Ask the Lord to give you the perseverance, courage and faith that you need for this new week. Now start reading the Psalms today. Start with four of my favorites: Psalm 34, Psalm 37, Psalm 51 and Psalm 91 as they will strengthen your faith in your mighty awesome God. I personally have been living in the Psalms for the past three months and they will minister healing to you. Just imagine if I had given up on Bob where would I be? I am praising the Lord for the eternal results and blessings that the Lord has given our family because I chose to follow my Lord forever for His will and way. Will you? PS: Friday evening I had finished this devotional. I went to check the email for the final time and we had received the testimony below. I felt this explains what I have been trying to say. Thank You, Lord for sending it in Your perfect timing. "I have been a stander for several years now. Although by mortal eyes it would seem that things are still the same if not maybe worse with my prodigal, God has shown me in many ways that He is in control and has provided for me and my children abundantly. Yesterday I survived another company downsizing. He gave me Jeremiah 29:11. He has been my Husband for this season, and I have lacked nothing. For Christmas He gave me the opportunity to purchase my first new car. I will wait on His perfect timing even if it takes all my mortal years. I will be faithful to my God!" (Florida)
The Big Splash Will Come Hello faithful and obedient Cov. Standers! Here's another devotional which I hope will encourage you today as you wait for our Lord's perfect timing. This was written by Nancy from TX. "So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.'" Mark 11:22-26 (NKJV) "But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.'" Mark 10:27 (NKJV) Charlyne has recently taught on "The 18 Hindrances Of Prayer", and she teaches consistently about the Lord's appointed time. If you know you are not on a detour road but healing doesn't come, do not despair. Remember that time is not the enemy as Charlyne reminds us and God's Word teaches, and God is working even if you cannot see the mountain of separation, divorce, another person, circumstance, etc. move yet. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) The Saturday Testimonies bless and encourage standers so much, but remember that not all marriages are healed and restored the same way. Many are quickly and suddenly, praise the Lord, but others are slow and a long time coming. In the last year of my own stand with the Lord for the miracle of restoration, I have been blessed to be able to see and hear the mountain trembling. I am so grateful to the Lord for those blessings but I also began to get discouraged as the rumbles continue but the mountain has yet to throw itself in the sea. Then last week, in the Lord's infinite love and mercy, He sent me this passage of scripture. "They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." Mark 8:22-25 (NIV) The blind man, after being touched by Jesus the first time, went from blindness to blurry vision. He was better, but not healed. The very nature of God and Jesus, being God's son, could not possibly mean that Jesus had failed to heal the man the first time. So what happened? Why the second touch to restore the blind man's sight where he saw clearly? The scripture is silent as to why but I believe that Jesus knew the blind man and his heart, needs, and mind the same way the Lord knows and loves each of us. I trust that Jesus knew what was best for the blind man and his healing and therefore must trust that the Lord knows what is best for my marriage and the process of healing and restoration. As the mountain continues to rumble without seeming to move, or moving at a glacier pace, do not lose heart. Even if you have yet to see anything happening, trust that it is. The Lord knows what He is doing, and right now our marriages are being healed, in the Lord's time and His way, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. For some of us, this miracle will manifest quickly and suddenly in that Damascus road experience. For others our prodigals may spend a season with blurry vision first. Either way, we can trust that God is doing what is best for His glory, our marriages, our beloved prodigals and for us. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV) "Dear Lord, forgive us when we doubt Your will and Your timing. For the stander who has yet to hear or see their mountain of circumstance rumble, strengthen them to believe in faith that nothing is impossible with You. Thank You for those whose mountains are in the sea, who share from their heart to encourage us and give You all the glory God. Let our prayers for salvation and healing be manifested for Your glory God, and let our praise to You be constant even while we wait. Amen."
The Will Of God vs. The Will Of Man As you read along the devotional below written by a fellow stander, Teri, from Minnesota; I'm sure you'll find a very familiar line. And maybe you've been told that too not just once, but countless times already. May you be encouraged and may your faith grow stronger as you stand firm on God's promises for your marriage. Soon after my husband left me, God turned my heart to Him. Through reading His Word, my hope and faith increased. God began to show me that all things are possible through Him. I started praying for my husband and my marriage. Before I ever heard the terms "stand in the gap" and "stand for your marriage", God was calling me to do just that. I truly believed that God was able to heal my marriage. However, the enemy delighted in placing stumbling blocks in my way. They came through things I read or through well-intentioned comments from friends and family. The one most frequently used was, "Your husband has his own free will and even if you pray, he ultimately will choose what he wants to do." How cunning the enemy is! Satan tells us that it doesn't matter what you pray because man can choose what he wants. But God tells us to have faith and believe and to pray without ceasing. What freedom I felt when I finally realized that yes, man does have his free will, but God will stop at nothing to bring it into alignment with His will. "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9 "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21 "How can we understand the road we travel? It is the Lord who directs our steps." Proverbs 20:24 "I know, Lord, that a person's life is not his own. No one is able to plan his own course." Jeremiah 10:23 Praise God for His faithfulness. He showed me in His Word that He has many ways of changing the hearts of men and redirecting their paths. Yes, man can choose, but God is sovereign in His perfect plan. If He calls us to pray, then believe that He is the God of the impossible and can change the heart of even the hardest of men. Throughout Scripture you will find many examples of God turning the hearts of kings and men to Him to fulfill His purpose. How is this done? Through the work of the Holy Spirit. "And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God." Ezekiel 11:19 "I will give them hearts that will recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly." Jeremiah 24:7 "And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command." Ezekiel 36:26-27 Whenever the enemy comes against you with lies and tries to convince you that your prayers don't matter because your spouse is choosing to go his/her own way, remember the Word of God. God has called us to stand and pray for our spouse. He is faithful and His Word is true. He is the one who will change their hearts and place His Spirit in them. He will call them to obedience and repentance. Continue to stand and pray because even though man might make his plans, God directs his steps. With God all things are possible.
God is NOT Our Co-Pilot How's your stand so far? Do you feel weak? Let me tell you that what you're feeling is normal. As long as we are in this flesh, feeling weak is as normal as breathing. We are not in any way super humans that we will no longer feel weakness at all, especially in our stand. But we have to continue holding on to God's promises knowing that He is not like a man that He should lie. What He promises will come to pass for sure. Heaven and Earth will pass away but His Word will never pass away. His Word, His promise is as certain as breathing is to us while we are still alive. What we chose to do, as standers, is not usual to a lot of people. This makes it even harder. But what God tells us to do, He will give us the grace to obey. Here's another devotion written by David, a fellow stander from NC. I hope this encourages you as you continue to stand for your marriage. I'm guessing that we've all seen the bumper sticker that says God is my co-pilot. It may seem kind of catchy, but the fact of the matter is that God needs to be the pilot of our lives. We need to realize that the only way our lives, our pursuit of marriage restoration, and our desire to fulfill all His plans for our lives will come about if God is in charge. We cannot call Jesus Savior, but not Lord. As the saying goes, either He is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all! "'For my thought are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD." Isaiah 55:8 I know it is scary to release control, as this has been my biggest struggle during this journey, but we can take comfort in God's Word. In the Bible we see many instances of where people surely did not understand at the time why God worked the way He did, but we also get to see how the story finished. Our struggle is with the fact that we are still in the midst of our story, but God's Word tells us that we can trust whatever it is that He wants to do because: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 Just think of some of the examples of Gods amazing work in situations that made no sense at the time. Think of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt in Exodus, Chapter 14. The LORD purposefully lead the Israelites to where they were seemingly trapped, with the Red Sea before them and the Egyptians closing in on them. The Israelites questioned God ability to be in control, but God knew exactly what He was planning. "And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant." Exodus 14:31 Think of Joseph (see Genesis 37-50). He was sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned, did not see his family for years, and yet we see how God used it in a way we never would have guessed to save his family. Joseph himself declared, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20 Think of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead (John 11). When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, Jesus purposefully waited two more days until Lazarus died. Many of you have sick or dead marriages and can identify with Mary (and Martha) who could not help questioning Jesus: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." John 11:32 Like Mary, I've been guilty of crying out, "O Lord, if You would have done something earlier, my marriage would not have died!" But remember, God's ways are not our ways. In this instance, Jesus needed a death because He planned a resurrection. (And yes, Jesus does weep with us in our pain, even knowing what He has planned, just as He wept for Lazarus.) And of course, our Lord and Savior Jesus went to the cross, suffering and dying for our sins. In doing so, His disciples (those who knew Him best) did not understand at the time because they were humans, but this was done so that we might have new life in Him. So, we need to praise our Lord in all things, because what does not make sense now is being orchestrated or allowed by God because He sees what He is doing in all this. Please don't take this to mean we should just sit by passively, because God will do all the work. Yes, He does all the work and does not need our help, but part of what He wills for us (and what pleases Him) is that we join with Him and pray as Jesus taught us to-- boldly, fervently, unceasingly--because this develops our faith and usefulness for His purposes. No, God's ways are not like my ways, but my ways have led to a mess, so I say let's surrender to His ways for the deliverance of our prodigal spouses, the healing of our sick or dead marriages, and the direction of our lives every day. "He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake". Psalm 23:3 "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are god my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4-5
The Wilderness Road Walk Hi fellow standers! Here's another devotional which I hope will encourage you today. This was written by Ben from Texas. Be strong and courageous! Stay in obedience and walk in faith! Take a moment and reflect upon your stand...your stand with Jesus Christ for the resurrection and healing of your marriage relationship. For many of us, it can be a time of great pain and unhappiness, a time filled with anger, distrust, betrayal, you name it. Yet for the Christian, it is a time when we are not in fellowship with our spouse, our one flesh mate. And as we stand with our Lord and Savior, we need to reflect and understand the impact of this time apart from our spouse. "...and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him." Mark 1:13 We know from the Gospels that following Jesus Christ's baptism by John the Baptist, Christ was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit for a time of reflection and maturing by His Father. And it was here that Christ showed His strength and wisdom in throwing off the temptations of Satan. In like manner, God led the Israelites on a forty year sojourn in the wilderness to purify and strengthen His people for their destiny in the Promised Land. They had failed the first time under Moses and God sent them into the desert for this time of wandering and His purification. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 I often look at my own stand as a time in the desert, a walk down the wilderness road. It was a time when I came face to face with my own eternity. It became a time when I began to deeply study God's Word, to reflect, to pray, and to hear what God wished to reveal to me. Unencumbered by the day to day distractions of conflict with my wife, it has been a time when I have come close to my Lord and Savior and my Heavenly Father. I have found great beauty and peace in my wanderings along that wilderness road. In days gone by and even today, there are retreats or long sojourns to quiet places that allow each of us to come in touch with our maker. In times of reflection, we hope to understand what has gone on before that has brought us to this present time in our lives. It is a time for setting realistic goals of spiritual and emotional growth; a time for making resolutions concerning our marriage relationships. Wilderness road time is not wasted time for as each day goes by, you and I are one day closer to victory, victory in our personal walk with Christ, and victory in the resurrection and healing of our marriage relationships. Wilderness road time allows us time to take baby steps, one step and one day at a time. While we may wish to shorten our wilderness road time, understand this...our marriages did not fall apart overnight and they will not be healed overnight. Time is necessary for our personal growth with Christ and time for the Holy Spirit to work on our spouse's heart. That frequently occurs on the other side of the mountain where we cannot see. Here is where great restraint is needed; here is where trust and faith in God's promises of healing of our marriages is paramount. It is in our wilderness road walk with God that He gives us the strength and wisdom to survive our stand. Use your time on your wilderness road walk to find out who you are in Christ. You will never be disappointed. I know personally that my stand with my Lord and Savior is time that I would not trade for anything. It is here that I found God. And you can also. Many of us who profess to being Christian question our faith as our marriages disintegrate. We find ourselves wondering where is God in all of this? The wilderness road is the path to wholeness and freedom in Christ. Take it, find out who you are in Christ, and you will never, never be sorry! "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! ...And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:12, 13b "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) Your challenge is: Walk the Wilderness Road. Be quiet, listen, and you will find God's grace.
Don't Give Up the Fight Fellow Standers, stand strong and courageous! Here's a devotional written by Anne, a fellow stander from Colorado "When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews...'What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? ...Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble--burned as they are?" (Nehemiah 4:1-3) A remnant of Jews had returned to Jerusalem, and Nehemiah had returned to oversee the rebuilding of the city walls. Sanballat, who is like the satan of our story, was in violent opposition! He was not a Jew, not a worshiper of God and he did NOT want that city rebuilt! Isn't that so like our enemy, the devil, who hates our God and all that our God loves, including us and our marriages? He will oppose your stand for your marriage at every turn. He will ridicule your attempt to bring the dead stones of your marriage back to life, and he will accuse you of feebleness which, indeed, we often feel. We often face discouragement as the world mocks what we're doing or puts all the obstacles before us and says, "What they are building--if even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!" (Nehemiah 4:3b) But the people responded to their enemy with prayer: "Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads..." (Nehemiah 4:4) Like them, we need to cry out to our God in prayer. "Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer." (Psalm 4:1) It is so important for us to remember that when difficulties arise, when things seem dark and impossible, these events are not our cue to become discouraged; they are our cue to pray! Let's encourage each other so that the attacks of the enemy don't drive us away from our stand, but drive us to our knees. "So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart." (Nehemiah 4:6) Are we working wholeheartedly? It's hard, I know. We feel discouraged. Sometimes bad things seem to keep happening and sometimes nothing is happening at all! It's hard to persevere. We can't tell on this side of the mountain whether the wall has reached "half its height," but we can trust that as we persevere in prayer and obedience, God is working in many unseen ways. And the enemy doesn't like it! "But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites...heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it." (Nehemiah 4:7-8) Is the enemy trying to "stir up trouble" for you? Maybe he is making finances hard, or causing difficulty with your children or in-laws. Maybe he is trying to tempt you to despair or various other sins. What should you do? "But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat." (Nehemiah 4:9) What did the Israelites do? They prayed to their God, and they set up additional defenses. We need to pray and we may need additional defenses. Is there a spiritually-minded friend who will pray with you for your marriage? Are you in the Word of God, setting aside specific times for prayer and listening to His Spirit? Are you defending yourself and your family from things that are not of Him, closing up those gaps in the wall? Nehemiah 4:13 talks about Nehemiah putting people at some of "the exposed places" on the wall to further defend those weak areas. We can ask God to show us weaknesses in our faith, lifestyle, or family life where the enemy might try to enter in. Most of all, we must remember who is fighting for us, and keep our eyes on Christ! "...Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." (Nehemiah 4:14) This is our battle cry! We are to remember our Lord who is great and awesome and fight for our families. No looking to the right or to the left. No turning back. Eyes on our commander and King, our dear Savior and Lord, fighting for His kingdom and glory!
The Lord Will Restore Written again by David, a fellow stander from NC. "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten." Joel 2:25 Do not fear, for the Lord is on your side, the Lord sees your pain, the Lord knows what the enemy has stolen from you, and the Lord will repay in His perfect timing if we do not give up. He promises this to those who follow His ways. "Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours." Psalm 128:1-2 I know your pain is great, and the pain for the absence of your one-flesh spouse is especially deep at times. Please know that God is on your side, and He will not fail you. Just cry out to Jesus and tell Him of your pain. Surrender all things to Him and this will release power into your heart, and His peace will guard your heart and guard your mind in this spiritual battle (see Philippians 4:6-7). Have hope today that the God of the universe holds you in His hands and the enemy cannot snatch you away from His hands. It is only the enemy's lies that will try to convince you that you must give up, or that God does not care. Listen to the Word of God alone, and you will be greatly encouraged. "But now, this is what the LORD says--he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.'" Isaiah 43:1-2 One other encouragement I feel the Lord wants us to hear today is that when he repays, restores, replants, or revives, He does so in abundance. In fact, in many places we find the Lord speaks of restoring double what was taken or destroyed. "Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope, even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you." Zechariah 9:12 "Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours." Isaiah 61:7 Read also the story of Job, which you may already know. I had never paid attention before, but in the last chapter of Job you may know that it describes how God blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part of His life (Job 42:12). It also lists the amount of different types of animals that Job had in this latter blessing (the animals being a sign of his blessing and prosperity). Sure enough, compare the numbers to those in chapter 1, and God gave Job exactly twice as many of each kind of animal as he had before. A double restoration was given to Job in these areas. "The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, 'This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden'...I the Lord have spoken and I will do it." Ezekiel 36:34,35,36 God has much to restore in your life and mine. Many marriages have been taken as plunder by the enemy, but God will restore and repay back all the enemy has stolen. Trust in Him and let Him be Lord of all in your life and He will not let you down. Let us pray in agreement with standers everywhere that many marriages would be delivered from the enemy's camp as we turn our eyes to Jesus. "No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" Isaiah 43:13
Be Still, Let God Work Written by David in NC. Be Encouraged everyone! "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 This is a well-known verse, particularly the first eight words. It was only a few weeks ago that a friend told me that the Hebrew word used for "still" in this verse is not what we might think. Strong's Concordance indicates that the Hebrew word used here can mean "cease" (my friend remembered it could be translated as "enough"). So, the idea here is really that God is telling us "that's enough" or "stop" and understand that He is God, and we are not. How often we forget this. If I had things my way I would try to control how everything works out in God restoring my marriage, but God wants me to realize that I will just get in the way of Him doing His work in my prodigal's heart. I felt that God was telling me today "Back off, and let me be God here" (that's an unofficial translation for sure, but you get the idea). Here's what God told Moses to say to the Israelites when they were pinned up against the Red Sea with the Egyptians nearing them. "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:13-14 Again, God is commanding His people to let Him do His work as God. He had already promised to bring them up out of Egypt, and He was setting the stage for one of the greatest displays of deliverance and power ever--the crossing of the Red Sea. Let's not limit what God can do. The Israelites had no idea (nor did Moses) that God was going to open up the Red Sea until this final moment when God told Moses to stretch out his hand and divide the waters. How awesome is our God! And all the while, the angel of God moved in between the Israelites and the Egyptians so that the Egyptians only saw darkness, yet the Israelites only saw light on their side of the pillar of cloud (see Exodus 14:19-20). "Oh Lord, send Your angel to stand behind my covenant spouse _____ so that your deliverance will open up before him/her like the Red Sea did for the Israelites, but the enemy will be blocked off behind him/her. Let me let You be God, and I humbly ask that You build up a wall of fire that the enemy cannot penetrate and bring Your deliverance to _____. I pray this in agreement for all prodigal spouses, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen." God will do whatever it takes to accomplish what He has planned, so let's just get out of the way (or, as Charlyne often says, 'Let go and let God'). Yes, we are in a battle for our marriages, but when the Lord has spoken to you that He will deliver your spouse from the enemy and restore your marriage, stand firm in His promises. He will never fail you...the honor of His name is at stake! "...This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's....You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you...'" 2 Chronicles 20:15,17 "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;..." Psalm 37:7 So as we wait patiently for Him to do what only He can do, be thankful and joyful that the Holy Spirit is continually speaking to your spouse in many ways. Take this time of waiting and standing firm in His promises as a time to praise Him every day. Praising the Lord pleases the heart of God in ways we will never fully understand on earth. "May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him." Psalm 67:5-7 This wonderful Psalm is telling us that the land will not yield its harvest until the people praise Him. God may be waiting for your heart to fully surrender to Him in trust, thanksgiving, and praise before He will release His work in your marriage. "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:3-4 What is your heart's desire today? The Lord stands waiting to open His storehouse of blessings for those seek who His way as their heart's greatest desire.
God Alone Opens Eyes Here's another letter written by David, a fellow stander from North Carolina. "Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown." Numbers 22:31 When I was younger I knew the story because of the talking donkey, but it means so much more to me now. I encourage you to read the whole story of Balaam’s donkey, which starts in Numbers Chapter 22, verse 21. The angel of the LORD blocks the path of Balaam three times in this story. The first time (verse 22) caused the donkey to veer off the path to avoid the angel of the LORD. The second time (verse 25) there was not as much room and the donkey crushed Balaam’s foot against a wall. The third time (verse 26) there was no room to even attempt getting out of the way of the angel of the LORD, and so the donkey simply fell down causing Balaam’s already burning anger to boil over. You see what God is doing here? As Balaam kept pursuing the rebellion (he went with princes of Moab, though God said not to in verse 12), God kept tightening the screws on him. Finally, God said enough is enough and opened Balaam’s eyes! Let us never forget that God alone is the one who opens eyes at the right time, and He will do that for our prodigals. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9 All prodigals who walk away from the Lord’s path do so because they are chasing after the world. It does not need to be obvious stuff like riches or fame, but it can be selfish ambitions that put our own desires before God’s—many of these things are encouraged by the world. But, chasing after lovers of any sort, either sinful relationships or less apparent "lovers" like independence and prideful ambitions will only go on as long as God allows it...not a day longer. Let’s make a point to all to pray Hosea 2:6-7 over our own spouse as well as over prodigals continuously. "Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, 'I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now'" Hosea 2:6-7 Recall Saul, who was on the road to Damascus in Acts chapter 9. He was viciously pursuing Christians and had paperwork in hand so that he could imprison Christians if he found them there. God had other plans. He brought light into the darkness that had held Saul for so long. In fact, I think Saul had lived in darkness for so long that this is why the light blinded him (have you ever walked out into bright light after a significant time in a dark room or just had bright lights turned on early in the morning?) Don’t give up on your prodigal, because God has not given up on him/her. I know how painful it is to see the hope that God has for your marriage, and yet your spouse’s eyes have not yet been opened (I’m there with you). "But God" will touch your spouse’s heart. It is the enemy who wants to convince you that it is hopeless. Jesus said "Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Mark 10:9) God knows that to be rejoined, hearts must be changed. God knows that a marriage does not work when husband and wife are pursuing different paths. God knows all things. "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" Amos 3:3 (NKJV) God knows what must be done to bring you together again with your covenant spouse. We must simply surrender our hearts for our part, and then pray continuously. God tells us to pray boldly and continuously (Luke 11:1-11) and persistently (Luke 18:1-8). I don’t believe that Jesus Himself instructed us to pray this way for no good reason. I believe that Jesus is telling us that prayers definitely matter! I think prayers please God in ways we will never know, but if He tells us to pray and believe, then let’s do it! Trust God to do the rest. "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27 "I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them." Jeremiah 32:39 Notice, God says He will do the work, so let’s praise Him in advance for His work in bringing our spouses back to Him and healing our broken marriage. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:13
God Rests When You Work I woke up quite early than my usual this morning. I hurriedly did what I had put off for days that should've already been done days ago. A friend called me this morning asking if I wanted to watch a movie with her later in the afternoon. Of course I'd love to, but I was a bit hesitant because of how much I've already spent the past few days. Quite alarming. And I was in doubt if I could finish the work I kept putting off today.
Written by Ben from TX. I hope this will somehow speak to you and encourage you even if you're not going through marriage problems. Marital discord. It is so common these days. As we face these problems in our family, we seek ways to try to fix the problem. We want the associated pain to go away. It is just human nature. A light bulb in our residence burns out and we exchange it for one that is functional. Our car breaks down and we take it to the mechanic. The yard needs mowing so we just go and do it. Just think of all the things that you fixed today and you get the picture. But when it comes to fixing the things dealing with relationships, spiritual things, etc., we usually fail. We try to fix things in the "flesh" and forget that we have One who walks alongside us, each and every day, to whom we can look and depend on...Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Some of you may already be acquainted with the various 12-step programs that deal with drugs and alcohol. What I remember about such programs was a cliche..."Let go and let God." I know that early in my stand for my marriage, a wise friend who had walked this path before me, told me that I needed to get out of God's way so that He could do the work necessary in my wife's life. As so many of us do, I just wanted a certain person to talk to my wife, to straighten her out. I feel that many of you understand this. God is content to stand aside while you and I are frantically trying to "fix" our marriages using the world's way. We humans are just that stubborn. We are reluctant to admit that a problem is beyond our skills to fix. So God, in His infinite wisdom, is willing to let us struggle and fail until such time when we admit to Him that we are powerless without Him and we finally turn to Him. Last week, a visiting pastor was sharing his perspective of our relationship with God when we have problems. How often have you said..."when all else fails, let's pray about it?" Wrong!!! Going to God in prayer should be our first line of attack when we have a problem. Prayer should be used whether it is a little problem or a huge problem; go to God first! "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 God knows our deepest thoughts and desires. When you seek His face (counsel, help, etc.), He will always be there for you. Sometimes God may answer "no" or "not now," but be assured that God has your best interests on His heart and mind as He deals with your problem. No problem is too big for God... "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26b Back to the title of this devotional..."God rests when you work." You probably figured out the second part of this statement..."God works when you rest." When we are in God's way, trying to fix the problem in the flesh (the world's way), God steps aside to allow us time to realize that we are powerless without Him. God sees the big picture. He can fix our messes if we will just get out of His way. We need to rest. It sounds so simple, but it is "oh so hard." We need to eat some "humble pie" as we look to God for His solution. So remember this simple thing: God loves to solve our messes but we need to step aside as He performs one of those modern day miracles of marriage reconciliation and restoration. As you pray for your marriage, your part in this process is to align yourself with God and leave your spouse totally to God. When the timing is right, God will bring you and your spouse together again, showing you what each of you need to do under God's guidance to bring about reconciliation and restoration. It will take time to clean up the mess. But know this, leaning on God, He will never fail you if you put Him first; first in your marriage and first in your relationship with your spouse. Our God is a jealous God, not wanting to share "top billing" in your marriage with anyone or anything. He wants to be "number 1" in your life and your marriage. Never forget that. Put Him first and your life will always be on the right track. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 God rests when you work. God works when you rest.
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