Taking The Lord’s Name In Vain
Sometimes the Lord’s faithful, never ending power of confirmation just boggles my mind! And this is certainly such a time! For the first time last night, it occurred to me that when we “talk” Christianity and don’t walk it out in the day-to-day reality of our lives, we’re literally taking the Lord’s name in vain. I gave that quite a bit of thought and consideration as I went to sleep last night, particularly how those of us who are standing for marriage restoration often tell others that we’re standing for our marriages because that’s what God told us to do. And we tend to invoke the Lord’s name and quote scripture to justify or explain just about everything we do or don’t do. So what kind of message do we send about our faith and confidence in the Lord when we freak out because something didn’t go the way we wanted or expected, or worse yet, when we give up and decide not to stand anymore? And what kind of message do we send about our faith in God to restore our marriages when we’re always miserable and there’s no evidence of peace or joy in our attitudes or in the way we live our lives? Do we act like victors or do we act a lot more like victims? Have we allowed our marital status to become our whole identity or do we understand and acknowledge that our relationship and the promise we have in Christ is the purpose of our existence? Are we leading people to the Lord or are we leading them away from Him because there’s such a disconnect between the words of faith we speak and the way we live?
I was debating whether or not to write about this today, because of concern that it could be misconstrued as being judgmental or critical of those with less faith and confidence in the Lord than I’m blessed (only by the grace of God) to have. Naturally, I’d never want to do that, but I hadn’t really made up my mind about it when I got up this morning. Then I received the following message in an email from a FAM member who said she felt led to share this with all “standers” and not just the FAM Fellowship members! And I couldn’t possibly express what I was thinking any better than sharing what the Lord put on this woman’s heart, because the ONLY way to walk out the faith we profess to have in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior in a way that glorifies HIM is to stay in the word DAILY and to SERIOUSLY devote ourselves to prayer. Just as she said and has experienced personally, when we don’t, we open the door for Satan, and we can be CERTAIN he will NOT miss any opportunities we give him to kill, steal and destroy us, our husbands and our children! So we all need to take inventory of the words we speak and make sure they are reflected in our actions and attitudes, because ACTIONS DO SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. And if we don’t BELIEVE the words we hear and read from the Bible, then we shouldn’t take the Lord’s name in vain by repeating them. Instead, we need to devote whatever time it takes in prayer and Bible study to make the words we speak REAL and ALIVE in our hearts. And that’s when we’ll start seeing the awesome supernatural power of the Lord moving in our lives, and the hearts of our husbands changed! Though I’m not revealing the author’s identity here, I can assure you that she REALLY knows what it means to be humble (way beyond what most of us could endure)…AND IT’S WORKING!
Dear Standers,
I feel spirit led to share some issues that are very heavy on my heart today. I know that each one of us have different situations and different circumstances, and the past 4 months have been very much a struggle for me, almost on a daily basis. But, at the same time, I have been able to humble myself and allow God to take control. No it’s not easy. But it’s the only way. I have learned that if I try to take control of things like I did in the past, it’s not going to work. Obviously it didn’t work in the past, because look where it got me; standing for my marriage and family restoration. I know now that I’m not going to be fulfilled or blessed if I try and do things my way. The only way is to allow God to be first in my life and allow him to guide me and my prodigal home to him. God has a plan, even in the toughest circumstances and when we feel the need to take the “reins” then we hinder our blessing. Yes, there are times I feel like I just want to lay every thing on the line in front of my spouse and the non covenant woman. But if I allow that to happen; ONE, I am letting Satan have control of my thoughts and my actions and that could wind up causing more trouble than what’s already happening. TWO, that just means I am harboring anger and unforgiveness issues in my heart, which is another hindrance to answered prayers.
There are Two things that definitely helped me avoid the above pitfalls of Satan.
ONE is Prayer and TWO is being in the word daily. I know there are people who can quote scriptures right off the top of their heads, but not me, because I’m not there yet. But if we are not reading and applying the word daily, it’s giving false testimony to others. Especially when it comes to our spouses and children. We cannot quote scriptures and then turn around and blaspheme them. It doesn’t work that way. Others can see right through that.
I’ve also learned a lot about the importance of the personal time we spend with our Almighty Father. For the past 2 weeks, I have been sick with a really bad cold, and I’ve been trying to get as much sleep as possible. But getting more sleep interfered with my prayer and time in the word. And in the past 4 days, I have definitely sensed and heard things in the back of my mind that are not of GOD. It’s Satan trying to get at me, because he knows I have been weak in prayer and bible time. THANK GOD, that I am strong enough spiritually now to recognize it, but that still doesn’t make it easier. So I know that if we lack time in Prayer and reading Scripture, then we are just cracking open a door for Satan to rush right back in and attack us. I don’t know about you, but Satan can go back where he came from. I don’t want him in my life or my family’s life anymore. He has caused us enough pain and agony. I am sure every stander is in agreement with me on that.
Fellow Standers, I pray that each of you will stand strong. Please stay in your DAILY Prayer time and continue to read the scriptures every day….EVERY DAY….It WILL make a difference. Just like me, if you backslide due to illness or situations that come up to hinder your intimate time with OUR FATHER, you will begin to notice the difference, so I pray that you will see how important it is to make GOD our NUMBER ONE priority.
Thank you for allowing me to share with you. I really believe GOD has placed each and every one of us in this ministry for a reason; to help support and encourage
each other, which includes reminding one another not to rely on earthly things, but to rely on the promises of GOD.
Along with such a powerful testimony, we can all benefit by meditating on the following verses as we contemplate the importance of making sure our words and actions ALL line up with the word of God and how absolutely imperative it is to make private prayer and Bible study a priority in our lives as we stand for marriage restoration:
Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Matthew 12:36 (NKJV)
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Psalm 63:11
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God’s name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Psalm 69:30
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Psalm 17:1
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips.
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ “
Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hi Linda,
I couldn’t agree with this stander more. We are all in spiritual warfare, and we need to keep our armor on all the time, one critical piece being the word of God. In my own stand, it’s absolutely essential that I immerse myself in the Lord to stay joyful and peaceful.
One scripture that has been on my mind a good deal the past week, and has been helpful when my own mind starts to wanders to thoughts it shouldn’t is Phillipians 4: 4-9:
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, 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. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I think praise during these challenging times is so very important – a powerful weapon against the enemy. I recently read a book called “Power in Praise” by Merlin Carothers, which I would recommend to anyone experiencing difficulties. You are so right – we need to walk and talk in victory (NOT in defeat), because victory in Christ Jesus is ours!!!
Love,
Jennifer
Jennifer, you are SO right! I can’t tell you how many times I refer women to that particular passage of scripture! I don’t know of anywhere else in the Bible where so much of what we need to do in order to live victorious lives filled with peace, joy and contentment in ALL circumstances is stated in so few verses. Also, I’ve had you and your decision making process in my thoughts and prayers this week, so I’ll be expecting a good report! Love Ya, Linda