With every new day in marriage restoration ministry comes greater insight and understanding of God’s Word, His character and nature, and how He works. And something God’s really impressed upon me lately is just how much effectively standing for the restoration of our marriages and families is a matter of choice. That’s right; it’s a choice, and the choice is ours to make. We choose either to focus on the problem or the promise, and we’re probably called on to make that choice at least a thousand times a day! And the more consistently we focus on the promise, the closer we get to the full and complete restoration of our marriages and families. But the more we focus on the problem, the less likely we are to experience what is in fact already ours!

That’s right. If I give you a million dollars, it isn’t really yours until you TAKE it. And even if you take it, it won’t do you a bit of good and can’t make a bit of difference in your life unless you USE it by spending it. Well, we all know what the problems are, and we certainly SHOULD know what the promises are, because the Word of God holds all of the power and promise we need to realize our hearts’ desires and the miracle of marriage restoration. But just like that million dollars, even though God has already given it to us, it won’t do us one bit of good or change anything in our lives unless we take it and use it by putting it into practice as we stand in faith and obedience for our marriages, the salvation of our spouses and the full and complete restoration of our families.

Make no mistake about it; it IS a choice, because we can NOT do both! James 1:5-8 tells us If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. So every moment we spend focusing on our problems and the negatives related to our circumstances means we are in fact doubting the power and promises of God, making us double-minded and unstable in all our ways! And repeatedly going from the heights of joy and excitement, singing God’s praises, to the depths of doubt and despair, feeling desperately in need of prayer, because something unexpected or unpleasant happened (or because something we wanted or expected DIDN’T happen) is EXACTLY what the above passage means when it says he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. But what we tend to forget is that God’s plan for us and the restoration of our marriages and families are exactly the SAME on the days Satan is able to distract us and get us to focus on HIS power and plan instead of God’s, as on the days we praise and glorify His Holy name!. So, in reality, NOTHING has changed but our attitude and the level of our gratitude and appreciation for the power of God’s Word and plan! So we have to choose whether we want to live our lives according to the level of confidence we have in either the power and plan of the devil, which is always to kill, steal and destroy; or God’s, which is for life, and life overflowing with abundance! We know that, because in John 10:10 (AMP), Jesus tells us 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 in Jeremiah 29:11-13, God assures us 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.

When we see something happen over and over again, we can learn from it, and one thing we see so clearly and consistently on the private pages of the FAM Fellowship is that focusing on the promise cancels out the problem and focusing on the problem cancels out the promise! Understanding that should make the choice pretty easy to make, so the question is HOW to focus on the promise instead of the problem, which the following verses of scripture teach us to do:

Psalm 55:22 – Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Philippians 4:4-9 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

2 Corinthians 10:5 – 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.

Colossians 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful

So the choice is ours to make. We can focus on and magnify the pain and disappointment associated with our problems and be miserable and we’ll probably stay that way. Or we can focus on the power and promise of God’s Word and actually enjoy and make the most of our daily lives as we await and prepare for the restoration of our marriages! So let’s take EVERY thought captive and make them obedient to Christ and the Word! Be blessed and encouraged, which you will indeed be if you keep your focus on the promise instead of the problem!

Posted Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 at 11:57 pm in Seeds Of Faith.