Believing IS Receiving
According to the Bible, believing REALLY IS receiving, so that should make anyone standing for marriage restoration extremely interested in finding out exactly what it takes to insure that we believe what we want to receive. Of course, we know the Bible provides the answer in Romans 10:17, which says Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. so it’s very important to know what the word of Christ tells us about believing and receiving what we’re standing and praying for, which is the salvation and restoration of our husbands and marriages.
First, even though there are a lot of other verses that confirm it, the above verse clearly says that faith is based on what we hear in the word of God, which means we have no reason to expect God to answer prayers that are not in accordance with the principles found in His word. While that’s not the focus of this particular article, it’s something we MUST always keep in mind so we aren’t misguided into believing things that are contrary to the word and promises of God.
One of my favorite “faith” verses is one not thought of a lot in terms of faith, which is Colossians 4:2, because it says Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Not only does the Lord expect us to believe we will receive what we’re praying for, but He expects us to be watching for it’s manifestation and to give thanks for it even before we see it. And that’s verified in the most quoted faith verse of all, Hebrews 11:1, which says Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And it’s definitely confirmed in Mark 11:24, which says Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Believe that you HAVE received it and it WILL be yours. This takes faith to a whole new dimension when we realize that the Lord wants us to believe that we have ALREADY received it, even (and most especially) when everything our lying eyes and ears tells us is the EXACT opposite! We see how answers to our prayers can be delayed in the spiritual realm in the following verses from Daniel 10:
12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
So, even when we can’t see the evidence that God is answering our prayers, we have to believe that He is, and be on the watch for it, and give thanks BEFORE there’s any earthly reason to believe it.. And finally, Matthew 21:22 leaves no doubt about God’s promise concerning believing and receiving, because it says If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
So when we’re standing for the restoration of our marriages against what everyone else considers impossible odds, we need to make sure the devil can’t steal or destroy the seeds of faith the Lord planted in our spirits, as we are taught in the following verses from Luke 8:
12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
So don’t let Satan steal or destroy your seeds of faith, and prevent your life and testimony from producing a crop for the praise and glory of our Lord and Savior! Never let the Lord say of us what He said in Hosea 4:6, which is my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. None of us can afford to do that, so let’s do whatever it takes to increase our understanding of God’s word, so we can claim and confess the promise of 1 Thessalonians 2:13, which says And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.