Restored by the Power of the Holy Spirit!
What an awe inspiring blessing it has been to witness the amazing work God has been (and continues) doing in the restoration of so many marriages and families in our midst! In just the past few weeks, we’ve seen one husband come home (because he had no other options financially)…so he says; A non-covenant marriage resulting from an adulterous relationship annulled with both parties now standing for the restoration of their covenant marriages; another couple remarried after being separated for two and a half years and divorced for over one year (SUDDENLY after months of no contact!); another husband returning to buy a new dream home and to relocate with his family to another state; another husband inviting his wife out to dinner out of the blue for the first time since he left over two years ago (currently divorced); another husband actively participating in his children’s sports activities and calling “just to talk” after a year of little or no contact and involvement at all; another husband also getting involved in his families lives after months of being very uninvolved (who just told his wife that his relationship with the NCP (non-covenant person) is over, and his brother that he’s coming home); a wife’s heart softening as their family now spends time together just enjoying each other’s company; another wife spending a lot of time with her husband and family and now expressing doubt about her decision to leave home; and countless other couples with vastly improved communications who are now enjoying pleasant times together!
I’m sure I left some of the miraculous situations we’ve witnessed out, but the point is that ALL that we see is being done by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in OUR hearts and lives and then in the hearts and lives of our spouses! But the transformation MUST begin with US, as there’s no denying based on 2 Corinthians 10:6 (and many other passages of scripture), which says And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. And in every situation mentioned above, I can very personally attest that the Lord did a great and mighty work in the standers’ hearts BEFORE any of the changes in their marriages took place. But once they learned to walk out their roles as husbands and wives according to what the Bible teaches, and were willing to submit and surrender their own will and way (including their “rights”) to the power and promise of God’s Word; allowing the Holy Spirit to transform and renew them; the Holy Spirit then VERY QUICKLY went to work on the “other side of the mountain” as we say! What powerful and awesome confirmation that when we persevere in faith and obedience, we WILL receive the promise of God; just as promised in Hebrews 10:36, which says You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Yet there’s no doubt that it definitely gets a bit more challenging when things begin to change so drastically for the better; because just like children eagerly and excitedly awaiting Christmas as it draws nearer, seeing the power of God move so mightily also makes the waiting a bit more difficult! After all, we’ve all heard that old saying “it’s so close I can almost taste it!” But as one of our members shared on the private site this morning after seeking a Word from the Lord when feeling restless and impatient; God wants us to “Be still and wait!” Just as soon as I read what she said the Lord had put on her heart, the following passages of scripture came to mind, which I know is the same message God wants to give to every man and woman standing for marriage restoration and waiting for HIM to work through the power of the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do to restore their marriages and families.
Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Isaiah 64:4 – Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
Isaiah 40:30-31 – Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
We all have to realize that our great and loving God has EVERYTHING in HIS mighty hand and that HIS will and Word will prevail no matter what! But He absolutely does require that we believe that and when we do, we should be able to rest; be still and KNOW that HE IS GOD! But it’s ONLY By the Power of the Spirit, an earlier Seeds Of Faith post, that we can be still and wait as we trust and obey God; and when we do, we will receive His promise and be just as blessed and encouraged as each of the couples mentioned above!
God is amazing and He just keeps doing it over and over again. I thank God with everyone standing for all of the new hearts and open communication we are witnessing. It is in the waiting and resting that we hear God and feel His power in our lives. I pray that everyone standing continues to grow closer to God with each day and learns from those going before them that God is working always, and that nothing is bigger than HIM. Hold tight to His Word and His grace is sufficient to bring you through. The wait is worth it, God will give you His best.