One of the first and most important steps of marriage restoration is knowing that God wants us to stand for our marriages, and how to know that is one of the most common questions from new FAM Fellowship members. And even though I have very strong opinions about that, my opinions won’t help anyone but me when it comes time to do the hard work of standing for marriage restoration. That’s why we all have to find the answer to that for ourselves by studying the Bible, along with praying and fasting. There’s no way to adequately express or explain what happens in our spirits when we’re reading the Word of God and something we read REALLY speaks to us through the power of the Holy Spirit, and we receive supernaturally revealed knowledge and understanding of truth as only the Word of God provides.

So it’s important to KNOW that we’ve heard from God before embarking on the long and difficult journey to marriage restoration. The only way to have the grace, confidence and strength to endure through to victory is to have NO doubt that we can stand and rely on the promises found in God’s Word and that HE will complete the good work HE began in us when HE called us to stand against the world and the forces of hell for the restoration of our marriages and families. Once we’ve received that “word of knowledge’ and understanding through the revealed Word of God, NOTHING AND NO ONE can take it away from us, and NOTHING AND NO ONE can keep it from coming to pass, as long as we are faithful and obedient…and even many times when we’re not! God always has a way of bringing us back to His will and plan, even when we try to walk away from it. Remember, the grace God gives us to do His will and to be obedient to His Word only comes when we receive and understand the word He gives us, and the ONLY way that is done is through reading and STUDYING His Word. Then once we’ve heard from Him, we have to realize that it is GOD who will make it happen, and NOT us! In fact, the more we try to make things happen, the longer God takes to make them happen. If we have the ability to repair and restore our marriages, then we don’t need God and there’s no praise, honor, and glory in that for Him. So when Satan comes along, as he inevitably will, and tries to steal the seed of promise the Lord sowed into our spirit, or convince us that God can’t do it without a “little” help from us, or convince us that we must not have heard from God, because it’s taking SO long; proclaim and confess the following verses and tell Satan that he’s the father of lies! AND TRUST GOD…HE WILL DO IT!!!

Psalm 18:32 – It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 – The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Hebrews 11:11 – By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.

2 Corinthians 1:9 – Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

Hebrews 11:3 – By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Philippians 2:13 – for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Jeremiah 1:12 – The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

Psalm 57:2 – I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me.

Ezekiel 12:25 – But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ “

These verses are very encouraging when we’re tired and want to give up or when Satan is trying to steal our victory. So memorize them and use the authority of God’s Word the next time the devil comes calling! I REALLY wish the Lord would just give me the ability and power to instantly help someone understand Him and how HE works, especially when I speak to men and women struggling so much with understanding the awesome power and faithfulness of God. But if we TRULY understood and believed everything the Lord promises, we’d start seeing the circumstances and state of our marriages from a totally different perspective and save ourselves so much heartache and distress! Yet, the truth is that the best lessons learned are the ones we learn the hard way, so I CONTINUALLY ask the Lord for the grace and wisdom to keep that in mind and that the refiner’s fire is necessary to transform all of us to the pure gold God desires. And the ONLY way that will ever be fully accomplished is through the power of His Word and the power behind it, which is God ALMIGHTY Himself. And what a wonderful and glorious reminder of that promise we have in 1. Isaiah 55:10-11, which 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. In fact, the WHOLE chapter of Isaiah 55 is an awesome blessing and a great source of encouragement! So read it and memorize the above verses and be blessed and encouraged, because the ONLY power we have is that found in the Word of God and the power behind it; God, our Heavenly Father!

(Note from Linda: Be sure to read the response I posted the first thing in the morning after posting this!)

Posted Monday, March 17th, 2008 at 11:38 pm in Seeds Of Faith.