“Whose Report are you Gonna Believe!”
It’s interesting how we can look back at our lives and see how the Lord has always been preparing us for the work He eventually calls us to; though I only recently realized to what extent that is true in my own life. For instance, it was in no way just a coincidence that one of my neighbors at the villa I moved to when my husband and I were legally separated was a very strong Christian and also separated from her husband, or that we became very good friends and I ended up joining her church. And as would happen again later when I had to move from there (read my ”apartment testimony”), I’d had a very difficult time finding a place to live when I had to move. But no matter what the obstacles appeared to be; God ALWAYS had it all worked out and had a much better place and a much bigger plan for me and my life, and all of the obstacles were really just His way of getting me where He wanted and needed me to be in order to bring it all to pass! And it was by no means a coincidence that two other women in our church (which was a very small church) were also separated from their husbands and facing divorce! So we formed a prayer and Bible study group that met at least once a week; though we all became very good friends and ended up spending a lot more time than that together. I sort of ended up being the “leader” of the group, but I didn’t have a clue what the Bible teaches about marriage or our roles as husbands and wives at that time. Yet, even then and throughout the years that followed, I had a heart for marriage restoration and always tried to encourage my friends in their marriages. But one thing I did know even then was that we have to believe God NO MATTER WHAT WE HEAR OR SEE! And that’s when I first heard and started using the phrase “Whose report are you gonna believe!” And that’s something we all have to decide for ourselves, because it will probably determine our futures more than anything else we do as we stand on the power and authority of God’s Word for the restoration of our marriages and families.
Yes, as men and women standing for marriage restoration, we all know all about getting tired and discouraged, and wanting to give up; and some of us even have to confess to the times when we DID give up. But no matter how we feel, no matter what we think, no matter how much it hurts, and no matter how hopeless and discouraging our situations seem, the Lord ALWAYS manages to bring us back to the conclusion that there’s nothing else to do other than stand for the restoration of our marriages. So, after going through that process so many times, which we ALL do, wouldn’t it be so much better if we could figure out how to stop doing that? Sadly, it took me way too long to get there, which is why it now means so much to encourage other men and women standing for their marriages to find the indescribable place of truly resting in the love and power of our Lord and Savior, with CERTAIN knowledge that He has EVERYTHING under control, and that NOTHING is too difficult or impossible for God! But even when we think we’ve gotten there, we can be absolutely sure that God will test us; often just to show us that we’re not really quite there yet! So when things seem to be going wrong and you really feel like the Lord has abandoned you; when it looks like God is letting His Word be mocked and others are “getting away” with things they shouldn’t be getting away with; when the world seems to be turned upside-down…that’s when you have to ask yourself whose report are you gonna believe! And I can personally testify that every single member who has already been blessed to post a restoration testimony on the private FAM sites chose to believe the report of the Lord and that they faithfully proclaimed that in their words and deeds BEFORE their marriages were restored! So I hope and pray that we all will choose to believe the report of the Lord as written in His Word and NEVER listen to anything that comes from the devil, who is the father of lies and who just comes to steal, kill and destroy! And I praise our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that HE came to give us life, and life more abundant!!
Yesterday, one of the FAM Fellowship members received very disappointing and distressing news concerning a court decision; and the court’s ruling and order truly defies reason and understanding. But when I tried to encourage the member to trust God; that in the end He’s the ONLY one we can count on and that He really was the only one who could protect the member’s children; that no court order can do that (as proven by the fact that this was concerning a Contempt of Court hearing in which the Court Order was even found to be violated); the member became angry at me and God. Naturally, that’s troubling, because that’s just the wrong way to go and it will only make the situation a lot worse and not better. But that’s a powerful example of faith requiring someone to take risks, even though it’s a lot easier to take those risks when they don’t involve the safety and well being of our children. Yet, what other choice do we have? That’s really when we have to decide whose report we’re going to believe; when the situation looks utterly impossible; that’s when we HAVE to give it to God and trust Him to do what His Word promises. Yet, being ever so faithful, the Lord immediately began working to speak encouragement into that member’s heart, mind spirit and situation through yesterday’s message from John Walker and then again today in Lorraine Ezell’s Coffee Break devotional this morning. Just as with this member in such a troubling and frustrating situation, it’s when things look their worst that we will find out whose report we REALLY believe. But when we CHOOSE to believe the report of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior; when we decide to put all of our hope and confidence in God’s faithfulness to fulfill every word in the Bible and trust Him with ALL of our hearts, we will truly understand and be blessed by His amazing promise in Ephesians 20-21, which says Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. And when we choose to ignore the circumstances of gloom and doom around us and decide to believe the report of the Lord instead, as we rely on His power that is at work within us, we won’t be anything but blessed and encouraged!
“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.” Mark 4:35
I’m sure you’re familiar with the story of Jesus and His disciples getting into the boat and a storm came up that threatened to destroy them. Jesus was asleep in the boat during the storm but the disciples were bailing water in fear of drowning. The storm was so bad and they were so afraid that they woke Jesus and accused Him of not caring that they were going to die. The truth of the matter is– they were never in fear of drowning although they thought they were because of the circumstances around them.
Jesus had already told them that they were going to the other side. That did not mean that they would drown, that they would turn back, that they wouldn’t make it. They had Jesus’ word on the matter, so what He said was what the outcome was going to be. The situation that they were facing made them fearful- it also made them forget what Jesus had said. If we aren’t careful the situation that we are in will cause us to forget what the Lord has said to us because of what we see happening around us. The disciples “saw” the storm. They “felt” the water splashing upon them. They “heard” the winds howling. What they “saw”, “felt” and “heard” governed their belief– therefore, they believed that they would drown.
What they were experiencing said one thing, but Jesus had said something else. If they had held on to what Jesus had said they would have known that there was no possible way they were going to drown. If the Lord has spoken to you concerning a situation, listen to Him, don’t let the circumstances that are around you tell you what to believe. Let Jesus’ word be what governs your belief.
Have a great day. Circumstances say one thing.. Jesus says another.. which one will you listen to?
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell, and available online and sent by email free of charge for the asking from About the Master’s Business Ministry, Inc.
So please feel free to call Lorraine at (601) 833-5278 or E-mail her at mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
And you can visit her on the web at MastersBusiness.org.
It’s so wonderful when God uses something that we always see, hear, or read, such as the Coffee Break, to speak to us in a new way. I am thankful that the Lord has shown this member of FAMM to rely on Him and His promise, which is what we all must do! Just yesterday as I was praying, I told God that I was not going to be worried over my circumstances because I know what He has promised, and I KNOW He isn’t a liar! I pray that we all stay confident and rely on His word and His promises to us all! God bless you all!