As incredible as it is, though something we all totally expected, this morning I was very blessed to post another huge praise testimony with an update on another one of the FAM Fellowship members whose husband certainly appears to be on his way home! He’s the only thing missing, because ALL of his “stuff” is now back where it belongs! And that’s the husband who had a visitation from the Lord, as shared in a previous Seeds Of Faith post last week, God CAN and WILL use ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to Accomplish His Purpose! And just in case you missed it, I shared what God is doing with the other husband in the above post two days ago in Victory is CERTAIN When we Overcome Fear and doubt and Walk by Faith!

This time, SNO (Spouse Name Omitted) was unjustly fired from his current job, and he and the NCP were told to pack up and leave and since this same scenario has played out repeatedly for them in the past few months, they are probably out of places to go. So SNO asked if he could “store” his “stuff” at his wife’s apartment, which she agreed to. But instead of just putting everything into the storage room, where there was plenty of room; he put his clothes in the closet and drawer space his wife had kept ready for his return! And instead of being angry and stressed out as he usually was when this happened in the past, especially under these circumstances, he seemed to be in a very good mood and was actually flirting with his wife! So there’s little doubt that his heart (and now his stuff) is where it should be, and in God’s perfect timing and way, there’s NO doubt that he will soon be home as well!

I feel as though I learn something new with each and every restoration I’m blessed to witness, and the Lord has really impressed upon me lately that if there is no change in the one standing for restoration, there isn’t going to be a change in their marital status either! Without exception, those situations I’ve seen the Lord moving in the most miraculously are also those of the people I’ve seen change quite drastically just in the time I’ve known them. And there never seems to be any meaningful change in the circumstances for those who aren’t obviously changed. Of course, that doesn’t mean that our marriages aren’t yet restored because we haven’t changed, but it is something we all should consider in our own hearts, minds and spirits. As I often say, we can fool others and even ourselves most of the time; but we can’t ever fool God.

I don’t remember just who said it to me, but I was really struck with the truth of the observation that we can do the right thing ninety-nine times out of a hundred; but when we mess up that one time, it can totally undo all the good we did the other times. Unfortunately, that is so true. And that’s exactly what happens when the change doesn’t take place on the inside and when we truly are not the same person and our attitudes of judgment, self righteousness and criticism are replaced with the love, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. If we don’t really have a genuine heart of compassion toward our spouse; we’re probably not ready for restoration. So let’s focus on asking the Lord to make the changes He desires in us and leave the changes needed in our spouses up to Him and them. He knows our hearts and if we don’t have heart changes, we probably aren’t going to have marital changes.

Psalm 139:23-24 is a very powerful passage of scripture, and when we consider it as we SINCERELY ask the Lord to reveal anything in US that is displeasing to Him and ask Him to change US, as HE desires, we WILL never be the same again because God is often quite painfully faithful and quick to respond and answer this prayer! BUT if we sincerely praySearch me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting., we WILL BE blessed and encouraged beyond belief!

Posted Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 1:39 pm in Seeds Of Faith.