I doubt it’s possible to be very involved in marriage restoration ministry without a great burden and desire to understand what makes the difference between those who experience the fulfillment of their dreams and those who end up quitting and giving up on their marriages…AND God. So I was especially appreciative of Bob Steinkamp’s message in Charlyne Cares yesterday about “spiritual blowouts”, and a thought that kept coming to my mind was “being steadfast”. So today I did a Bible study on being steadfast, and found a very important passage of scripture which seems to offer an answer and explanation for why some remain steadfast and others don’t in 2 Peter 3:14-18 (NKJV), which says Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. So unless we CONTINUE to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are ALL capable of being led away by the error of the wicked, and right into the destruction caused by twisting and misunderstanding God’s word! So we need to make sure that we are found to be living in peace, without spot and blameless, which we can do by diligently studying the scriptures to insure that we’re living in accordance with what the Bible teaches. And the following verses give us an even greater understanding of the blessings and importance of remaining steadfast as we stand for the restoration of our marriages:

2 Chronicles 27:6
Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.

Psalm 112:7
He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 108:1
My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.

Psalm 11:7-8
The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.

There’s an awful lot of wise counsel and incredible assurance in the above verses, so we need to meditate on them often, especially when we’re struggling with remaining consistent and steadfast. And here’s Bob’s message from yesterday about spiritual blowouts.

- - - - -
On Tuesdays Bob shares from the prodigal’s perspective 19 years after
remarriage to Charlyne. His entire message can also be read at this link.
AVOIDING SPIRITUAL BLOWOUTS -
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning
its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that
you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3
A few weeks ago, just prior to an out of state trip, I took our van
to be serviced. You might know the feeling when the service manager
seeks you out and shares those dreaded words, “You need tires.” When
he explained that we “might” be able to get a few thousand more miles
out of the old ones without any problem, I envisioned sitting
alongside an Interstate highway, cars whizzing by, while Charlyne and
I waited for someone to change the tire on a one ton van.
While I waited for new tires to be mounted, I thought that sitting by
the roadside was not the worse thing that could happen. A front tire
could have blown out, causing us to leave the road or roll over.
Either or both of us could be killed, because I pushed the old tires
to the limit.
It breaks our hearts that Christian men and women are having
spiritual blowouts every day, simply because they neglected the
things which their journey with Jesus Christ rides upon.
Our Nation is abuzz with the news that another major church leader
has suffered a spiritual blowout, disabling him by the road of life.
Please allow me to remind you that your soul is just as valuable to
God as is that man’s. He does not want either of you to have a
spiritual blowout.
The world we are now living in has values all confused. A religious
leader falls, and the media is interviewing everyone who ever knew
that person. We have yet to hear the first stern face anchorperson
reporting, “Jill Smith, a stander, went out on a date with another
man Saturday night and did not come home until Sunday morning. We
have reporters looking for answers, but we are able to confirm that
Jill did not attend church on Sunday. Stay tuned here for breaking
news on this story of another fallen stander.”
Even though it is not reported, we can assure you that standers have
spiritual blowouts much more often than politicians and preachers.
Anyone who falls into sin breaks the heart of God.
“It’s different, because they are so important,” someone is
thinking. How do you know what God has planned for you and your
spouse five years or fifty years from now? You might become the
parents of someone like Billy Graham or Fanny Crosby, the author of
thousands of the hymns we sing. It might be the will of God to give
you a future pulpit to the world, if you can avoid spiritual
blowouts. In addition, your circle of influence today is certain to
extend far beyond what you can see. People are watching to see how
you handle your marriage crisis. Please do not disappoint them by
having a spiritual blowout.
How can spiritual blowouts be avoided. Just as I did with the van’s
tires, maintenance is needed before a blowout takes place.
Tire experts tell us that to keep our tires in the best possible
condition, we need to keep them inflated to the proper pressure, as
over time tires tend to lose a small amount of air. The same can be
said of the Christian life. A one-time salvation experience, where
you confessed your sin and asked Jesus to forgive them, will not
maintain your spiritual walk.
We need to consider church worship as the time when we allow God to
put His pressure gauge on us, as we hear biblical preaching, and
apply it to our lives, to determine how we are measuring up. If not
done, someone will be going spiritually flat or suffering a spiritual
blowout.
The garage where our auto work is done will check tire pressure any
time a customer stops by. If a tire is low, they will air it up.
Sadly, few customers take advantage of the offer until they have a
flat. It is also sad that not all Christians show up to have God
check their spiritual tires.
Just as a garage uses a hose to get tires inflated correctly, God
uses our prayer time, (time spent in His presence), and time spent in
the Bible to keep our spiritual walk inflated.
I suspect that every parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, have had the
experience of attempting to blow up a child’s ball or toy by mouth.
It looks so easy, but we can blow until the face turns purple and we
are out of breath, and little progress has been made. A trip to an
air pump blows up the toy in a few seconds. Time spent in God’s
presence is like a trip to His spiritual air pump.
Good tires also require proper balance. If not, the vehicle can
shudder and shake. Likewise, every Christian (and every stander)
also needs to be properly balanced. We have known standers to become
so fixated on one issue that they ignore the rest of their spiritual
journey. Sadly, some men and women allow their stand for marriage
restoration to become their focus. They keep their eyes on their
spouse and not of Jesus. All the talk is about what their spouse has
done, not about what Jesus is doing.
Good alignment is also critical to maintaining good tires. Have you
ever followed a car that was so far out of alignment that it almost
seemed to be going down the road sideways? In living the Christian
life successfully, it is important that we each personally be aligned
with the Word of God, living every moment by God’s direction.
Alignment also helps to avoid spiritual blowouts.
When tires are purchased, the store might offer a road hazard
warranty. In the event you damage a tire because of some obstacle
you struck, the warranty will replace the tire. God also offers us a
warranty against damage to our soul, caused by sin. Regardless of
what you have done, during your marriage or during your stand, when
you confess and repent, He is ready to forgive you.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24
If we go on a 2,000 mile trip, and everything is fine until we have a
blowout a mile from home, our tires failed us. Our goal was to
finish well by arriving home safely.
Many a religious leader, and many a stander, have run the spiritual
race with excellence, but they had a blowout before arriving at their
eternal home, Heaven. If Jill had been standing for Jack for ten
years, and then had a blowout, God’s will is not accomplished in that
marriage. We know of some many man and women who ran well, but
allowed the Enemy to come in, by some small way, causing a blowout
before they reached home. A race not finished well has not been run.
There’s one more thing about tires. Unless you are riding a
unicycle, tires function in multiples. I could have bought one tire,
but left the other three in danger of a blowout. That would not have
helped much. Nevertheless, there are people who attempt to walk
through the Christian Life alone. They are not active in a church,
nor do they have a personal prayer partner in whom they can confide;
someone who will agree with them for the Lord to meet their needs.
These Lone Ranger Christians are setting themselves up for a
spiritual blowout.
One week ago, I introduced myself to a new woman at Rejoice Pompano.
I asked what city she was from, thinking she would name some place
here in South Florida. Instead, she replied, “Houston, Texas.” This
serious stander was so hungry for what was happening here on Monday
nights that she had flown in Monday afternoon, reserved a hotel room
at The Forum, where we meet, and was flying home Tuesday morning. On
the other extreme, there are standers living only a few miles from
The Forum who have a different excuse every week why they cannot come
to Bible Study. Which stander do you suspect will finish well and
which is at risk of a blowout?
Please understand there is nothing spectacular about Rejoice
Pompano. It is simply a small group of men and women getting
together to worship God together and to hear Charlyne teach from
God’s Word, to pray together for marriages, and to fellowship
together. Charlyne and I are “airing up the tires” for those who
attend so that they can stand strong with Jesus, and avoid a
spiritual blowout.
Charlyne’s recent audio teaching, “18 Hindrances To Your Prayers,”
could have been named “18 Ways To Avoid A Spiritual Blowout.” The
same things that hinder our prayers, when ignored, can also can cause
a stander’s spiritual blowout.
Religious leaders who are headed for spiritual blowouts are the first
to know of their own approaching problems. The do not suddenly wake
up one day and say, “Good morning, Lord. Think I will sin today.”
Satan has planted a seed of sin in their unprotected head. Given
time, that seed will be fertilized by a lack of attention to the
things of God. It will go from head to heart to hand, where they act
upon it, and have a spiritual blowout.
Standers who are destined for spiritual blowouts also are the first
to recognize what is happening. They become too busy for time alone
with God. Hours at the computer, or on the phone, chatting with
others, becomes their spiritual time. Their values start to slide
ever so slightly. Maybe coffee with the opposite sex isn’t so bad,
or the wedding band comes off. They go from reading the Bible to
reading of worldly magazines with no thought. Secular television
replaces the praise music that once filled their home. They have a
stack of unopened mail from Ministries. Left unchecked, casual dating
with a male friend starts. Eventually, thoughts of their stand are
only a memory. Their former spouse, for whom they once prayed so
fervently, can literally go to Hell.
We praise God that He is the AAA service for spiritual blowouts.
Regardless of how spiritually disabled you may feel today, once you
call on Him and repent, (change your ways), He will soon have you
traveling the Christian highway, the road to restoration, once again.
Our goal is to see you traveling the highway of life, arm in arm with
Jesus, moving every day toward a marriage restored by Him. It must
be healed in His way, and in His time so that it will last. Charlyne
and I are thankful that He has called us to help you to keep your
spiritual tires in good shape, so that you will see victory, not end
up in a ditch with a spiritual blowout.
“For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a
shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course
of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
Proverbs 2:6-8
Making the journey with you,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.®
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061 USA
Ministry
Bookstore
You can find Books and tapes for standers in the Stop Divorce
Christian Bookstore -
- - - - -
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quoted by permission and are from
the Holy Bible; New International Version® Copyright© 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan
Publishing House. All rights reserved.
- - - - -
Copyright© 2006 Rejoice Marriage Ministries Inc®.
For reprint permission please see this link.
and this link to contact us.

Today’s post is a little different, because of all the things I might think of to write about today, the only thing on my mind is just how awesome our God REALLY is! And I just want to give praise to His holy name!

First, my day started with one of the FAM members posting an AWESOME, God glorifying testimony about the healing and restoration the Lord has been working in her marriage and family! And for those of us standing for marriage restoration, hearing such a miraculous testimony and praise report is just about the most encouraging and uplifting news of all! And that’s because we have God’s word that what He did for her, He will do for us, based on Acts 10:34, which says Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. And Romans 2:11 says For there is no respect of persons with God. But one reason this particular testimony means so much to me personally is because I know all too well just how faithfully and consistently this woman has walked out the principles of marriage restoration in accordance with what the Bible teaches, which is just TOTAL confirmation of what the word tells us, especially concerning how important it is for us to know and understand God’s word and then to be DOERS, and not just hearers only.

And then this afternoon, one of our members had a final divorce hearing scheduled, and according to the world’s expectations, the odds of it going through were pretty good, since it had already been postponed for over a year for one reason or another…BUT WE NEVER GAVE UP! We said one last prayer together just before she left to meet her husband in the parking lot at the courthouse and the next call I got from her was very difficult to understand, because all I could hear in my ear was a lot of squealing! Praise the Lord, the hearing was put off until February, because her lawyer, who hadn’t returned her calls for two days was VERY sick and her husband agreed to and even suggested the postponement! Then after walking her to her car, much to her surprise and delight, he told her that he’d meet her at home…saying that she owed him!!! What an awesome God we serve!

Well, now we know why we can always rely on God’s promise in Romans 8:28-39, which the NIV Bible so appropriately titles More Than Conquerors, because it says:

28 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.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, no matter what lies or weapons Satan brings against us and the restoration of our marriages, we just have to remember to tell that wicked devil what Proverbs 16:1 says, which is To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. And we know what God says goes, because Isaiah 55:10-11 says As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. And we know nothing Satan does against us will prosper, according to Isaiah 54:16-17, which says “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.

And Mark 9:23 makes it very clear why it is vitally important for us to believe that God CAN and WILL restore our marriages, even in the face of what in the natural realm looks totally impossible and hopeless, because it says ” ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” And When we have a hard time believing, that means we’re NOT spending enough time reading and studying the Bible, because Romans 10:17 says So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. And that’s because it’s not possible to read the Bible and get to know the Lord without realizing what a MIGHTY God we serve!

Over the past few days the Lord has really burdened my heart about one of the most disappointing experiences for me personally when ministering to women standing for marriage restoration, which is the inability to help them understand what it takes to actually walk through this difficult time of our lives with the awesome peace, joy and victory Jesus died to give us. But any time we refuse to do what it takes to get control of our thoughts, we give Satan control and the power to do exactly what Jesus told us he came to do in John 10:10, when He said The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. And this is a decision every one of us has to make for ourselves, because no one else has the power to take control of our thoughts and words to make them obedient to Christ and every word and promise found in the Bible.

So it’s up to us to make the choices and decisions to do (or not to do) what the Bible tells us it takes to be victorious and experience all of the blessings, protection and provisions Jesus came to give us. Look what Matthew 3:1-2 (AMP) says, IN THOSE days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the Wilderness (Desert) of Judea And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Romans 14:17-18 tells us For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. And 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” So it’s very clear that this is something all of us have to make INTENTIONAL and DELIBERATE decisions to DO, and until we do, there isn’t anything anyone else can do to help us, even the Lord. He tells us how to do what we have to do to win the battle, but it’s up to us to DO it, and when we choose not to trust Him with all of our hearts and not to delight in Him and commit ourselves to HIS way or acknowledge Him in everything we do, we can not count on Him to make our paths straight or to give us the desires of our hearts. I know we don’t like to hear it, but other than His love, everything else from God is conditional, and that’s why James 1:22-25 says Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. And we must remember that we CAN do ALL things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13), and when we feel we can’t, it’s because we’re not trusting Him and relying on Him for our strength. Instead we’re trying to do things based on our own understanding, strength, and ability and not His. That’s why John 15:5 says “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. So these are decisions each of us have to make and I pray that everyone struggling with these decisions will make them sooner rather than later, because when we give in to thoughts and speak words contrary to the instruction and counsel from the word, we’re working against our own best interest and the restoration of our marriages and families. And we can’t EVER let Satan convince us that we don’t have the grace and strength to do what the word teaches, because he’s a liar and deception and doubt are HIS game and when we play into that, we will always lose. But Jesus came to give us victory over the devil and every weapon and thought he brings against us, but it’s up to us to make a decision about whether or not we will accept the victory and blessings Jesus died to give us.

As I said, this is something that’s been heavy on my heart for several days now, and I fully intended to write about it last Friday, but problems with my internet service prevented me from doing that. And like the Lord often works, I found out why that REALLY happened this morning when I listened to Dr. Creflo Dollar’s TV broadcast message, because it so perfectly ties into this post! So I hope anyone who still struggles with experiencing the peace, joy and victory we should have in Jesus Christ will make a commitment to spending more time in the word in order to draw the strength and wisdom we all need from it and listen very carefully to the following messages from Dr. Dollar from today and tomorrow.

Working the Kingdom of God System (Part 1)

Working the Kingdom of God System (Part 2)

And the following passages of scripture are a few we would do well to read and study until we’re able to fully understand them and PUT them into PRACTICE:

1 Peter 2:13-25

1 Peter 3:1-6

Ephesians 5:22-23

Ephesians 5:33
Proverbs 31:10-31

Philippians 4

What a blessing it is when we understand that we don’t have to fight the battle for the restoration of our marriages, because the battle really does belong to the Lord, just as we see in 2 Chronicles 20:15, which says He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! 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. And nothing beats the peace and confidence we experience when we REALLY believe that, because we KNOW there’s no reason for fear or discouragement and that we CAN count on the Lord to deliver us just as He promised in 2 Chronicles 20:17, which says i>You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’” And it doesn’t matter who is against us or how prepared they may be for the battle, because just like Proverbs 21:31 says, The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. And in Hosea 1:7, the Lord tells us Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the LORD their God.” That means that our battle for marriage restoration and ultimate victory are in the hands of our Lord and Savior who loves us, and based on Proverbs 21:30, we know that There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

So as we learn to rely on God for the restoration of our marriages, Isaiah 40 is a very encouraging and comforting passage of scripture, especially verses 28-31, which say Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. It is God, and God alone, who has the strength and power to do all that it takes to bring healing and restoration to our marriages and when we put our hope in HIM, He will renew our strength and enable us to stand for our marriages without stumbling or falling, and without growing weary or tired.

Joyce Meyer’s TV broadcast message today is an excellent message for everyone standing for marriage restoration, so I strongly encourage watching Dealing with the Devil - Part II, and putting what she teaches into practice. While there’s very little or nothing we can do to win the battle for our marriages, when we honor the Lord by being obedient to the things His word teaches and acknowledge Him in all our ways, there’s nothing He won’t do for us, and we will have the strength, power and victory we want and need in Jesus!

It’s not possible to overstate the importance of identifying and using the weapons we have to overcome our REAL enemy as we stand for the restoration of our marriages, because it is NOT our husbands or even another woman. Ephesians 6:12 makes that very clear, because it says For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So our enemy is Satan, and the sooner we realize and understand that and start acting accordingly, the sooner the Lord can and will work to restore our marriages.

Unfortunately, Satan is currently holding our husbands captive to sin, just as Paul revealed about himself in Romans 7:22-23, where he said For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. So we’re ALL susceptible to the wiles of the devil, which is why Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV) tells us Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. But the awesome good news is that Jesus came to set the captives free through faith in Jesus Christ, as confirmed in Galatians 3:22-23, which says But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. And we need not think we are above being deceived and lured into sin ourselves by the devil, because 1 Peter 5:8-11 warns Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. Then the same passage in The Amplified Bible says Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it). That means the devil is ALWAYS actively and aggressively watching for ANY opportunity we give him to pounce on us, but we CAN withstand him through our faith in Jesus Christ, and the Lord will ALWAYS deliver us in time.

As so often happens, I couldn’t believe how perfectly timed Joyce Meyer’s TV broadcast message this morning was after my SOF posts for the past two days, because the reason we need to understand the importance of faith and the power of God’s word is so we’re properly equipped to overcome the warfare Satan is now waging against us, our husbands, marriages and families. And we have Jesus’ assurance in John 10:10 (AMP) that He came to give us victory over every one of the devil’s wicked intentions, because He said The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). And Luke 10:18-20, even says He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” So Jesus came to give us victory over every weapon Satan is now using to destroy our husbands, marriages and families, but it’s only through our faith in the promise we have in the word of God and our willingness to live in accordance with it, that we can realize all that Jesus came to give us. So please listen to this very important message from Joyce Meyer about Dealing with the Devil - Part I, and then put it into practice.