(Note from Linda: Here’s another powerful message posted by Mark on the private website, which I know will bless and encourage everyone standing for marriage restoration; because WHEN WE JOYFULLY PERSEVERE AND PRAISE GOD, we will receive the blessings of the restored marriages we are standing on the power and promise of God’s Word for! God HATES divorce (Malachi 2:10-17) and HE wil do WHATEVER IT TAKES to insure that His Word NEVER returns empty and without accomplishing what HE desires and the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 46:10-11 and Isaiah 55:10-11)! So be blessed and encouraged and JOYFULLY PERSEVERE AND PRAISE GOD!!! and GET READY to see the GOODNESS of God as He FAITHFULLY AND SUPERNATURALLY restores your marriage and family!!!)

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Standing for marriage is not an easy journey, especially when Satan is doing all he can to tear marriages apart. Yet God has been very clear that He hates divorce. If you are here on this site, then you have probably heard that “still, small voice” calling you to stand and to persevere. Standing for our marriage is definitely not something we would come up with on our own; yet it is something that God has placed on our hearts to do. But it is not just about the restoration of our marriages; it is a lot more about the restoration of our relationship with God.

As Billy Graham states, “The bible says that we have been separated and alienated from God because we have willfully turned our backs on Him. Sin is choosing our way instead of God’s way and not giving Him His rightful place in our lives”
So God has called us to stand for our marriages and to walk away from our ways and to seek His ways. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry if reconciliation:

Therefore, Christ has given us this ministry and He is using this time in our lives to change us from the inside out. We are a new creation, but the transformation does not take place overnight, and the journey will be filled with many blessings and trials. So I write this to encourage everyone standing for marriage restoration; Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

The Bible actually warns that these trials will come, and we should have no doubt that the closer we get to restoration, the more they will come against us. 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 says We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. We were destined for trials, so let us not get down or focus on the trials; instead let us be joyful as God is fulfilling His promise to us. As James 1:2-3 instructs, Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. So we need to rejoice and praise God as it says in 1 Peter 1:6-7…In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

In the past few months, I have been faced with more trials than ever; faith issues, work issues, numerous car problems, home repairs, roof torn off by tornado, unexpected bills, a sick mother, issues with friends, having to put down our sixteen year old lab, children’s illness, family crisis’ and the list goes on. At any other time in my life, I would have felt very defeated by all of these trials and focused on them and not on God. The great liar knows his back is against the wall and he is firing away at me. But my God has it all under control!!! Therefore, I will stand strong in God and shout my praises to HIM for His word tells me that it is all under control. The trials and blessings just keep coming at me, so I just keep singing His praises!

We have a choice, and that choice is to believe, to press on, to persevere. Revelation 2:3 tells us You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. And James 1:12 says Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
So please join me in joyfully persevering and in praising our God! As Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) With God we will gain victory and he will trample down our enemies. (Psalm 60:12) There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. (Proverbs 21:30)

I praise God for a wonderful Christmas week and that despite the trials, I am full of hope and joy. May each of you know and feel the victory that is ours in Christ!

Posted Monday, January 5th, 2009 at 3:31 pm in Seeds Of Faith.