Psalms 149.4 - The Lord delights in his people -- you -- he crowns the humble with victory.Thoughts by me: God truly wants and has the BEST plan for each and every one of us. Period. Many many many times we think we can see the BEST and yet -- that is not what His Word confirmed and it is not our BEST, but our flesh is so lonely or weak, or just blind to what HE his plan.
Ecclesiastes 7.9 - Control your temper; for anger labels you a fool.Thoughts by me: It is ok to be angry -- we must not sin in our anger. I get upset. Not all the time, but as my counselor has said, my Pastor has said, and what I know -- I am passionate. I am passionate to see women set free from years of strongholds and bondage. I am passionate to see prayer working. I am passionate to see ones humble themselves and SEEK God. I am passionate about marriage and families. I am passionate to do the work or be the messenger that the Lord has commanded me to be.
However, with that passion -- I must grace out much patience, mercy and allow God to bring the justice. My dear Pastor friend reminded me yesterday -- Mercy triumphs justice.
It is hard at times....to just sit and put a smile on my face -- and 'fake' my emotions.
God's word: Galatians 5 The Message (MSG) ( I highlighted what the Holy Spirit highlighted in me.)
The Life of Freedom.5 Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.4-6 I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. My thoughts: When we "think" we know God's will and when we really do know God's will.
What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.7-10 You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he/she is, will bear the divine judgment. ( This is me: In the End... God will judge. And if that one or many who hurt me..hurt you...hurt my children....they will see God. I won't be their judge or jury - nor will have I to account for them. But I do have to account for me...Myself...my actions.) 13-15 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. ( This is me: No matter who you sugar coat it -- justify it or explain it away -- there is selfishness in us. Period. ) These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?19-21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: ( As I read this list over and over -- I repent, cry, hurt, and want anyone that reads this or listens to my words...to come before Jesus and seriously look at this list!) repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
True
freedom -- being able to walk in freedom and know that you know God has
you in HIS hands --------------and no matter what -- HE will make
things right.
Prayerfully walking - rather than emotional walking in that freedom.
Seeking help -- Seeking counsel.
Coming under spiritual authority.
These
are ALL phrases and thoughts spinning in my head right now.
I
can only speak of my own situation -- but when the Lord allowed a major
heartache to be revealed, I sat back and got angry and mad. And I had a
few ugly months where I destroyed physical things and if you were close
- you got an earful. I spewed to some that I NEVER should of opened up
to. But I was VERY careful not to spew it out on Face Book or to
ALL...I choose a few close friends. Somehow I just knew...if my
marriage would be restored - there would be much I would have to correct
...and if we did not make it through...no matter what -- that man was
the father to my children. I was NOT going to stand before God and have
God look at me and say, "michelle, why did you NOT do what I asked?".
That was the motivation for showing grace and mercy -- cause THAT is what God clearly had said to me.
God
actually brought me a few new friends -- that knew NOTHING about
me....and that was refreshing, as they always spoke life to me and about
me...and about the person that was hurting me.
I sought godly counsel -- and I listened and DID what they suggested - prayerfully. When I did not want to -- I called them to pray.
I also sought professional help - and I listened to WHAT she stated to do -- we both did. It was hard....it was NOT easy ...it took over a year of counsel.
Insanity
is doing the SAME stuff over and over -- in a marriage that has been
broken...in a marriage that has suffered a loss and in a marriage where
vows were broken.... you can't put a band-aid on it. You can't say 'I
am sorry, and you are forgiven' and expect it to remain perfect. There
is a sweet spirit there -- and the Lord will cover you -- but HE asks us
to change.....
One
piece of advice or thought process our Therapist stated and we quote
often -- "an affair is a symptom" of other problems. Drinking and
taking some drugs or pills to 'numb' the pain is a symptom of other
problems and add that to a marriage....ouch.
When
we prayerfully walk out our healing with counsel - godly and
professional - and we take the time to MAKE the necessary changes of our
own behavior -- I believe we can see and I have seen restoration.
When we allow our emotions to do the healing and the counseling...I have seen changes...but changes that did not last. Changes that hurt.
Humbly
seek counsel....be willing to come under authority of a Pastor
/Counselor and follow their suggestions. And if it is not working...go
back to that Counselor and seek God and that person....many times... it
takes some major surgery to fix a problem..... there is a cost.... we
think nothing of the cost to run to an emergency room to get help....why
not RUN to a therapist that CAN be a new set of eyes.... and allow them
to help - change the habits.
The bottom line is -- I don't think some people WANT change.
I don't believe that some WANT to do the HARD.
People want QUICK fixes... God can do that- but many times ...it takes time.
HIS timing is perfect.
God
is the God of second chances...and God will heal a humbled heart... HE
crowns the humble.... but His word also says -- HE labels one that
can't control their anger -- as a fool.
God is just.
God is love.....and God is good....but HE is just.
Exodus 14.14 - says that HE will fight for you -- God will....we must let God fight our battles...
Love covers a multitude of sins... and we must always forgive.
But we must also do the HARD.
I am not completely convinced that God releases us from a 'bad marriage'. God's Word speaks about adultery, being left and abandoned, and physical abuse...
But this is between God and the party involved. The decision has to be made with God.
Sometimes the decision is made for you. You are divorced because the other person basically 'got it through' the legal system. To me -- that may still not release you. Each and every one of us will stand before God one day -- I don't want to be wrong.
So, I won't argue if one believes ...'they have been released'.... but there is still healing that needs to occur. If you have been abused or had a major rejection -- how can you be 'fine'? Again..... there should be time for healing. Healing can come quickly -- but it has been my experience that it takes some time.
For example, even a person that has dealt with several years of alcohol abuse -- has major problems at first transitioning back into the social scene. So, why would it not take time for some real healing to occur -- to transition back into the dating scene ...or back into the social scene as a single.
But this is between God and the party involved. The decision has to be made with God.
Sometimes the decision is made for you. You are divorced because the other person basically 'got it through' the legal system. To me -- that may still not release you. Each and every one of us will stand before God one day -- I don't want to be wrong.
So, I won't argue if one believes ...'they have been released'.... but there is still healing that needs to occur. If you have been abused or had a major rejection -- how can you be 'fine'? Again..... there should be time for healing. Healing can come quickly -- but it has been my experience that it takes some time.
For example, even a person that has dealt with several years of alcohol abuse -- has major problems at first transitioning back into the social scene. So, why would it not take time for some real healing to occur -- to transition back into the dating scene ...or back into the social scene as a single.
But
if God has NOT released you -- DO what God says... You will stand
before Him one day - and You will have to account for your
actions...what will you say?
Lord....use these words this eve...I pray YOU will be glorified.
In Jesus name...amen.
- Humbled...
Lord, I pray that the one reading this or the many -- read with an open head and heart and ask themselves.... Are they walking in the Spirit ...with You in the lead - or are they emotional walking. Lord, for the marriages that this touches... that they will get the help needed to vent, share ideas and have some prayer warriors to meet with. Lord, use the ones around them to guide and support them. Lord, for the one trying to make sense of the divorce papers..... speak to him or her. Lord, for the one being abused --- show her or him, what to do and give them direction. Lord, for the one that has just been left....abandoned.... move and show her or him....that You are right there -- in support. In Jesus' name,
Amen.
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