From the prodigal to the stander:
There are some things that I need to say to you. When you read this I may not even be at the place in my life where these words can actually come out of my mouth. However, I know that somewhere deep down locked away in my heart these words desperately want to come out. Even though I am sorry, this is more than just an "I'm sorry"; this is a prophetic repentance.
I need to apologize for who I have become. Who I am right now is not the person that you married. The person that you married would never hurt you or do you harm. I am confused, lost, and sick. I don't know who I am. I cannot seem to find my bearings to get home to you. I am so sick that everything that I once held dear I have forfeited and sold so that I could remain sick. Any sane person would have sold everything to find a cure for their illness but I have sold everything so that I could become sicker. The person that you married was strong and secure. They were unafraid to put a ring on the finger and be called yours. But the person that I was on our wedding day was replaced by a deranged individual that wants to hurt you.
I need to apologize for lying to you. I told you that I would love you forever. I told you that I would be there in sickness and in health. I said I would be there for richer or for poorer. I said I would love you for as long as we both lived. Our love was supposed to be the one that made everybody else jealous. We were supposed to be together until death. When you ask me if everything is OK, I lie to you. I'm not OK. I have been struggling for a long time. You have never judged me but I feel as though if I told you how I was struggling, you would. It is my own insecurities that make me this way.
I need to apologize for being extremely selfish. I have not cared for a moment about the consequence of my actions. I have only been interested in the things that made me happy. Actually these things I have been doing and involved in didn't really make me happy. They appeased me for a moment. It feels like I am addicted to doing the wrong thing. My actions give me a temporary buzz but afterwards, when I am alone, I feel completely empty. I don't remember the last time I felt complete. Wait! Yes, I do remember. The last time that I felt whole and complete and truly happy...was with you. I want to come home.
I need to apologize for breaking your heart. I took your most precious gift and tore it all to pieces. I did not think for a moment about what I am doing and how it would affect you. When we became husband and wife, and probably some time before, you gave me all the pieces of your heart. The good, the bad, the ugly. You entrusted me with all those pieces. And I took them and have used them as a weapon against you. I took your heart, broke it, stepped on it, and spat on it. I took the only thing that ever really mattered to me and destroyed it.
I need to apologize for destroying your ability to trust. You trusted me to keep your heart safe. You trusted me to act as though you were physically standing next to me, even when you weren't. You trusted me to make decisions that were in the best of us, not just me. You trusted me to share only with you my most intimate parts; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I took those things and gave them to someone else.
I need to apologize for failing you. You used to lean on me for strength when you were weak. I used to protect you from everyone. I promised to love you. I promised to be there. You trusted me. You loved me. You were always there. And I failed to hold up my side of the covenant.
I need to apologize for turning from and running from God. He is the One that brought us together. He is the One that was going to keep us together. He still is. However, right now I left Him. I don't feel like I can even approach Him. It feels like I can't come back to Him because of everything that I have done.
You know me better than anyone else. You always have. I think that is what makes all of this so difficult for you. Who you see in me now is not who you have always known. But the me you have always known is still here. I am covered in sin, filth, and shame right now. And I don't want you to see me like this. It makes me feel uncomfortable. That's why I always put on a front when we are around or when we talk. I might come off as carefree and uncaring, or mad and unavailable, or cold and calculating. But I have to act that way to push you away because the way that you love me makes me feel unworthy. I know that you want us back together. I do too but I don't know how to get there.
The way that I look on the outside is not how I feel on the inside. I still love you. But I put myself into this extremely dangerous cycle that I don't know how to break. This cycle that I find myself is going to kill me if I don't get out of it. Will you please help me break it? Will you pray for me? Will you pray that God finds my weak spot? Will you pray that in that weak spot God pours His powerful grace though it? Will you pray that His grace breaks me to my very core and allows the person that you married to be made right again? Will you pray that who you know I really am to come back into the foreground? Will you pray that who I have become is destroyed? Because I want to come home.
I know that the road home is going to take a whole lot of hard decisions. I know that getting us back to where we are supposed to be is going to take a whole lot of work. And I am sure that I am going to act as though I don't want to do it. But deep down, I am willing to do anything to get us back. I want to come home.
Can I come home? Will you help me find my way?
Your prodigal
This may not seem true to life for you right now but it is the truth. You may never hear this from your spouse but this is what is going on inside of them. These are things that you need to know. This is a prophetic repentance from a former prodigal (Josh) that is now a stander.
Do not lose heart in your stance. Your prayers do not fall on the ears of a deaf god. Our Heavenly Father hears every one of your prayers. Stand strong, friends.
Josh and Serena
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
More on Intercession
Our topic from yesterday is large enough that we need to talk about it little bit more. Other than God doing the impossible, intercession is quite possibly the most important part of standing for your marriage and your spouse.
Prayers for yourself, for strength, for removing doubt, for revelation, for spiritual gifts, for guidance, or any personal matter, or anything having to do with yourself are NOT intercessory prayer. Intercession is not just praying for someone else's needs. Intercession is praying with the real hope, intent, and passion that God would step in and act on behalf another person. It is trusting God to act, even if it's not in the manner or timing we seek. God wants us to ask, even urgently. It is casting our weakness before God's strength, and having a bit of God's passion burn in us. It's the PASSION that makes intercession so different.
Some verses about prayers and intercession...Matthew 7:7,8; James 5:16-18; Luke 11:5-13. Pull out your Bible and read them!
The place where intercessory prayer must start is with you. It's great to know that others may be stepping up for someone before God, but God wants you to put something of yourself on the line. Josh's sister, Daja, is gifted in intercession. She has been gifted in this area for a definite purpose, which has unfolded as the years go by. We have watched her put many things on the line for the prayers of others. When Josh was gone she even cut her hair off, as the Lord had told her that she needed to bear her brother's shame. She cried as her husband watched her cut her hair; it cost her something.
Has anyone given you something at a discount price that you feel it really should be worth more? Like it's just too cheap to be real? Your private devotions are not just for your own benefit. If God's love is at work in you, you will care about others, and your love for them will lead you to take it to the ultimate Source of strength, healing, and love. Don't be fearful; be persistent and stubborn. God doesn't mind; God likes to see divine love at work in you. God honors your part in the relationship. Real intercession is deep; it needs to cost you something. This does not mean it's the same thing every time, but the Lord will tell you what it needs to be--just ask Him to guide you. And remember you are not praying alone. The Holy Spirit prays with you!!
King David found himself in a place where he was able to offer God a sacrifice that was given to him. He refused the gift because he would not offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing (2Samuel 24:24). He knew the importance of giving God a true sacrfice.
Intercessory prayer is not something that may come easy to you but it can be learned. From experience, I (Serena) believe that God will definitely grant you a heart for people as you ask Him to help you intercede for your spouse. Practice!! And the more you practice...the better you will get. This isn't about getting the exact prayer right or the right words. You might find yourself praying for something that isn't exactly what you expected. We are to pray listening for the Spirit, and pray that God's Will would be done. Don't be surprised if the Spirit starts tugging on your heart about a matter you're praying about. God may want to use you in that person's life, but He also might just want you to be a bystander. You MUST be open to KEEP quiet or to also TAKE ACTION.
Anyone can pray for others and step in with God on their behalf. But some people are more gifted at intercession. This is not an excuse to not intercede. Believe me; I have tried it. They have an ear and a passion for the needs of others, and take them before God even when those other people reject God. An intercessor's heart is touched for those in need, chososing to NOT be on their side (not condoning sin) but an intercessor is BY their side and praying on their behalf. They have a burden for that person. They persevere. They let the Spirit give them comfort about it, instead of worrying. And when the outcome is positive, they celebrate and are happy about it. An intercessor has to remain soft to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In talking with married couples in the last few months we have found that when they pray and ask God for an answer...they get it and proceed to pass immediate judgement on the answer. If God has given you a heart to pray and intercede for your spouse, TRUE INTERCESSORS are going to rejoice in the outcome, not cast judgement.
As God grants the requests of an intercessors's heart it is a skill that will amaze you EVERY time. We have friends that are gifted intercessors that sometimes get a strong sense of coming danger about whom they're praying for. These friends have been driven to their knees to pray about something they can't otherwise have known was happening. Sounds weird, but it's true. This has happened to me (Serena) only on a small scale, as God will bring a friend's name to mind....later I will find out that it was minutes from something that was potentially life-threatening. God is amazing but you have to trust that regardless of knowing what is going on. You have to be obedient. If God asks you to pray for someone--do it--it doesn't matter if nothing drastic or amazing happens. We can all use the time to pray for someone, and the person you are praying for will benefit. Learn to be quick to pray! God wants a willing person.
Is everything we pray for answered OUR way? It's understandable for us to think that way; Jesus promised that our prayers would cause things to happen, especially when we keep at it. But look at the Biblical intercessors again: Abraham, Moses, David, and the apostles. Their success was very real, but, at times, far from complete. David's son still died even though he prayed for him. The apostles still had the poor with them even though they interceded for the poor. So, don't assume that because you pray that you KNOW what will happen...it may not look like what you think. Prayers do work, but you need to realize YOU are not God. You are responsible to pray; God is responsible for the outcome.
Intercessory prayer does not work by our own power as if we were God. Prayers are answered but they are answered in God's way. Are you open to the victory the way GOD sees it? Are you willing to accept your spouse to come home filthy, dirty, and stinky....you did PRAY him home, right? Or are you only claiming victory if he comes home clean, shaved, and perfect? It may not be at all like the 'victory' you are 'claiming'. Much of the time, the Spirit's main work is to change us, make us care more, and to cause us to focus on what others are going through. Your heart cannot possibly be hard if you are interceding and getting the heart of God. The heart of God is NOT hard, so if we follow His example in praying for God's will in our lives....the result...a SOFT heart!
Josh and Serena
Prayers for yourself, for strength, for removing doubt, for revelation, for spiritual gifts, for guidance, or any personal matter, or anything having to do with yourself are NOT intercessory prayer. Intercession is not just praying for someone else's needs. Intercession is praying with the real hope, intent, and passion that God would step in and act on behalf another person. It is trusting God to act, even if it's not in the manner or timing we seek. God wants us to ask, even urgently. It is casting our weakness before God's strength, and having a bit of God's passion burn in us. It's the PASSION that makes intercession so different.
Some verses about prayers and intercession...Matthew 7:7,8; James 5:16-18; Luke 11:5-13. Pull out your Bible and read them!
There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anywhere. Possibly somebody would be killed, but the majority of the enemy would be missed. --Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Has anyone given you something at a discount price that you feel it really should be worth more? Like it's just too cheap to be real? Your private devotions are not just for your own benefit. If God's love is at work in you, you will care about others, and your love for them will lead you to take it to the ultimate Source of strength, healing, and love. Don't be fearful; be persistent and stubborn. God doesn't mind; God likes to see divine love at work in you. God honors your part in the relationship. Real intercession is deep; it needs to cost you something. This does not mean it's the same thing every time, but the Lord will tell you what it needs to be--just ask Him to guide you. And remember you are not praying alone. The Holy Spirit prays with you!!
King David found himself in a place where he was able to offer God a sacrifice that was given to him. He refused the gift because he would not offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing (2Samuel 24:24). He knew the importance of giving God a true sacrfice.
Intercessory prayer is not something that may come easy to you but it can be learned. From experience, I (Serena) believe that God will definitely grant you a heart for people as you ask Him to help you intercede for your spouse. Practice!! And the more you practice...the better you will get. This isn't about getting the exact prayer right or the right words. You might find yourself praying for something that isn't exactly what you expected. We are to pray listening for the Spirit, and pray that God's Will would be done. Don't be surprised if the Spirit starts tugging on your heart about a matter you're praying about. God may want to use you in that person's life, but He also might just want you to be a bystander. You MUST be open to KEEP quiet or to also TAKE ACTION.
Anyone can pray for others and step in with God on their behalf. But some people are more gifted at intercession. This is not an excuse to not intercede. Believe me; I have tried it. They have an ear and a passion for the needs of others, and take them before God even when those other people reject God. An intercessor's heart is touched for those in need, chososing to NOT be on their side (not condoning sin) but an intercessor is BY their side and praying on their behalf. They have a burden for that person. They persevere. They let the Spirit give them comfort about it, instead of worrying. And when the outcome is positive, they celebrate and are happy about it. An intercessor has to remain soft to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In talking with married couples in the last few months we have found that when they pray and ask God for an answer...they get it and proceed to pass immediate judgement on the answer. If God has given you a heart to pray and intercede for your spouse, TRUE INTERCESSORS are going to rejoice in the outcome, not cast judgement.
God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede. -- Oswald Chambers
Is everything we pray for answered OUR way? It's understandable for us to think that way; Jesus promised that our prayers would cause things to happen, especially when we keep at it. But look at the Biblical intercessors again: Abraham, Moses, David, and the apostles. Their success was very real, but, at times, far from complete. David's son still died even though he prayed for him. The apostles still had the poor with them even though they interceded for the poor. So, don't assume that because you pray that you KNOW what will happen...it may not look like what you think. Prayers do work, but you need to realize YOU are not God. You are responsible to pray; God is responsible for the outcome.
Our place is to follow the example of Jesus, who prayed "Not my will, but Thine". It's okay to ask for what you want from the situation; that's a part of being honest with God. God may have other plans and your part is to trust Him. God sides with covenant, so regardless of the circumstances you see around you--an intercessor has to continue persevering and pray according to the Spirit's leading.
Intercessory prayer does not work by our own power as if we were God. Prayers are answered but they are answered in God's way. Are you open to the victory the way GOD sees it? Are you willing to accept your spouse to come home filthy, dirty, and stinky....you did PRAY him home, right? Or are you only claiming victory if he comes home clean, shaved, and perfect? It may not be at all like the 'victory' you are 'claiming'. Much of the time, the Spirit's main work is to change us, make us care more, and to cause us to focus on what others are going through. Your heart cannot possibly be hard if you are interceding and getting the heart of God. The heart of God is NOT hard, so if we follow His example in praying for God's will in our lives....the result...a SOFT heart!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Intercession
As we look at spiritual warfare for one more day, let's learn about intercession. One of the most prominent intercessors we see in the Word is Daniel. Go and read the book of Daniel (ch. 10) and you will find a man of prayer that did not stop his times of prayer and intercession for anything. Also, our Savior, Jesus, when He was enduring the stress and pressure of sin before He took the cross, was sweating blood because of His intense intercession for us.
Intercession is more than just simple prayer. It is a type of prayer that goes to depths that you didn't know existed. It is place where you may be calm on the surface and yet fighting hard on the inside. Sometimes, it's not even about the words. It may come out in moans and groans or even the crying of and crying out of your heart.
What does that mean to you? Has your heart cried out? Do you know the feeling where you can spend time even sitting in silence and yet your heart WEEPS? Oh, to be honest, I am not sure I really understood this until Josh was gone. I was at peace with how things were working out; I knew God was in control. BUT my heart CRIED....my husband's soul was LOST. I mean...was he going to heaven or hell if he died? It's not my place to say, but has your heart felt that desperation to pray for your spouse--knowing it's life or death? This is an ETERNAL question!!! If Josh had died and gone to hell, that is FOREVER. Does your heart cry out? Are you desperate? Desperate for your MARRIAGE or your spouse's SOUL?? Praying for your marriage is good, but praying and interceding for your spouse's soul--THIS is what will bring about lasting change.
Has your spouse turned away from so many things? (not just your marriage) This described my husband when he was serving the Lord and then he chose to give up his faith and moral values and instead choose a lifestyle contrary to a believer. It is going to be a downward spiral unless you fast and pray for the Holy Spirit to speak loudly to their hardened heart. They are denying their Lord God in so many different ways and it is up to you to intercede on their behalf.
We all have different circumstances, but the issue is that Satan wants to do whatever he can to steal your marriage. He wants to creep in and harden your heart AND your spouses. Is it YOUR heart that will be hardened more easily? Be ready!! Don't let it take you by surprise. Satan is trying to get two birds with one stone. Satan doesn't care if it's your heart or your spouses. Our fleshly desires can lead us into sin and take us further than we want to go, but it's the hardness of our hearts that leads to death. Is this describing YOU or your spouse?
Believe it or not this was eye-opening to me just now, but we have listened in the last few months about the struggle with not wanting to stand, not wanting to fight, etc., etc. The road isn't easy, but it's worthwhile. AND the biggest warning we can give is not to allow hardness to creep in. We get e-mails asking HOW did I allow Josh to be a part of our lives? I did it by keeping my heart soft. It's something you HAVE to ask God for, and He will do it. God knows a heart of flesh is necessary. So, in praying and interceding for your spouse it's not just their soul that needs to be transformed; it's yours, too!
I (Josh) need to pop in here real quick with an example from our life. After I was caught and refused to break it off, I got really bold with my actions. So, Serena got more bold with her prayers. As I was getting ready to leave for the evening, Serena would kneel down in front of the couch and started praying in tongues....REALLY LOUDLY!!! For one, I had never heard her pray like that. And it is very hard to make preparations for an evening of sin-filled activities and know that your wife is getting it done in the spiritual realm!! OK...I'm done, Babe....back to you...
Then, may I add....that was NOT easy to do. In the flesh, I really just wanted to grab you, shake you, and make you listen to me. I wanted you to see what horrible choices and decisions you were making. BUT I knew it would do no good and only make you more determined. I didn't know WHAT to pray, THIS was why I had to pray in tongues. When my heart knew no words...I allowed the Holy Spirit do the talking.
Never give up on your deceived spouse. There are consequences to their disobedience and the sins of unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, or adultery. I can reassure you that even if there was only strife in your marriage, God was trying to get at least one spouse to start praying and interceding to remove the strife and sin that had started to creep into your marriage relationship. Even if you believe your marriage is stronger than ever....it's never so strong that prayer won't benefit you.
Josh and Serena
Intercession is more than just simple prayer. It is a type of prayer that goes to depths that you didn't know existed. It is place where you may be calm on the surface and yet fighting hard on the inside. Sometimes, it's not even about the words. It may come out in moans and groans or even the crying of and crying out of your heart.
Romans 8:26,27
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.
But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying,
What does that mean to you? Has your heart cried out? Do you know the feeling where you can spend time even sitting in silence and yet your heart WEEPS? Oh, to be honest, I am not sure I really understood this until Josh was gone. I was at peace with how things were working out; I knew God was in control. BUT my heart CRIED....my husband's soul was LOST. I mean...was he going to heaven or hell if he died? It's not my place to say, but has your heart felt that desperation to pray for your spouse--knowing it's life or death? This is an ETERNAL question!!! If Josh had died and gone to hell, that is FOREVER. Does your heart cry out? Are you desperate? Desperate for your MARRIAGE or your spouse's SOUL?? Praying for your marriage is good, but praying and interceding for your spouse's soul--THIS is what will bring about lasting change.
Jude 20-25 "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear— hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
Has your spouse turned away from so many things? (not just your marriage) This described my husband when he was serving the Lord and then he chose to give up his faith and moral values and instead choose a lifestyle contrary to a believer. It is going to be a downward spiral unless you fast and pray for the Holy Spirit to speak loudly to their hardened heart. They are denying their Lord God in so many different ways and it is up to you to intercede on their behalf.
We all have different circumstances, but the issue is that Satan wants to do whatever he can to steal your marriage. He wants to creep in and harden your heart AND your spouses. Is it YOUR heart that will be hardened more easily? Be ready!! Don't let it take you by surprise. Satan is trying to get two birds with one stone. Satan doesn't care if it's your heart or your spouses. Our fleshly desires can lead us into sin and take us further than we want to go, but it's the hardness of our hearts that leads to death. Is this describing YOU or your spouse?
Believe it or not this was eye-opening to me just now, but we have listened in the last few months about the struggle with not wanting to stand, not wanting to fight, etc., etc. The road isn't easy, but it's worthwhile. AND the biggest warning we can give is not to allow hardness to creep in. We get e-mails asking HOW did I allow Josh to be a part of our lives? I did it by keeping my heart soft. It's something you HAVE to ask God for, and He will do it. God knows a heart of flesh is necessary. So, in praying and interceding for your spouse it's not just their soul that needs to be transformed; it's yours, too!
I (Josh) need to pop in here real quick with an example from our life. After I was caught and refused to break it off, I got really bold with my actions. So, Serena got more bold with her prayers. As I was getting ready to leave for the evening, Serena would kneel down in front of the couch and started praying in tongues....REALLY LOUDLY!!! For one, I had never heard her pray like that. And it is very hard to make preparations for an evening of sin-filled activities and know that your wife is getting it done in the spiritual realm!! OK...I'm done, Babe....back to you...
Then, may I add....that was NOT easy to do. In the flesh, I really just wanted to grab you, shake you, and make you listen to me. I wanted you to see what horrible choices and decisions you were making. BUT I knew it would do no good and only make you more determined. I didn't know WHAT to pray, THIS was why I had to pray in tongues. When my heart knew no words...I allowed the Holy Spirit do the talking.
Hebrews 3:12-15 "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."
Never give up on your deceived spouse. There are consequences to their disobedience and the sins of unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, or adultery. I can reassure you that even if there was only strife in your marriage, God was trying to get at least one spouse to start praying and interceding to remove the strife and sin that had started to creep into your marriage relationship. Even if you believe your marriage is stronger than ever....it's never so strong that prayer won't benefit you.
Josh and Serena
Monday, July 25, 2011
Prayer
Many times as we share our story, one on one or through this blog, we are asked what changed Josh's heart or what brought the whole ordeal to an end. The answer always is...PRAYER!
Not good thoughts or staying positive but PRAYER! Not positive confessions or counseling but PRAYER! Not making any major changes or ultimatums but PRAYER! Not meditation or finding yourself but PRAYER!
The only thing that changed the outcome of our marriage was prayer. The only thing that broke through the cold and calloused heart that Josh had developed was prayer. The only thing that caused Serena to hold on in spite of what was going on was her time in prayer.
We realize that we are sharing this blog with many other people around the world that may not believe like we do or may not understand our faith. So, let it be known that when we speak of prayer we are speaking about conversing with the Triune God, the King of kings, the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost. We believe that only He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think. Only He is able to do the impossible. Any other god does not have power to save. We place our faith and trust and hope in the only God able to save, Jesus Christ.
Many of you may have never prayed in your life. We mean, REALLY prayed!! Don't let it scare you or cause you turmoil. Prayer is simply having a conversation with God, sharing with Him your concerns and your heart and Him sharing with you His truth and His heart. So, often we think that prayer is telling God all about our problems and then leaving that place of prayer before He has a chance to respond to the outpouring of your heart. But, we need to learn to wait for His answer. He will ALWAYS respond to His child's cry for help.
When our marriage began to fall to pieces, Serena found a place of prayer that she could be real with God. It was a place where she lived her life daily. Her prayer time became her life, not only something that she did when times got rough. She had always knew how to pray but never had the load laid upon her that required her to dig deep into that place of prayer. Through her times of prayer her ears became tuned to the frequency of God's heart and she learned to hear His still and calm voice clearly through the screaming of lies from the enemy.
We would encourage you to learn the language of prayer. Learn to bring the cries of your heart before the Master. Discipline your life and carve out time where you will be able to hear from the heart of God as He responds to you. Pray for your spouse. However, don't pray selfish prayers that would make you feel better. Pray prayers that would call the perfect and divine will of God to come down, infiltrate, and affect change in their life...but not for your own peace of mind but for the glorification of the Father God. If you will ask God to glorify Himself through you, your spouse, and your marriage He will come to you and your aid in such a mighty way that you will have to hold on for what is about happen.
You see, God is all about bringing the most glory to Himself. And if you will get on board with that and make that your prayer, He will answer. These are the prayers that God will answer every time. It may not be the way that you think it should be but it will be the maximum glory for Him. And if He is glorified, His child will be at peace.
As our situation progressed from bad to worse, Serena's prayers were not for me to come home. Yes, she wanted me home but she would rather have had me right with God if that would be the lasting change that was needed. She was willing to sacrifice the temporary joy of having me before the fulfillment of the work was complete for the lasting sactisfaction of knowing that my heart was in right standing before God. A hard to prayer to pray but one that caused her to trust God more the more she prayed it.
Find your place of prayer. It might be a physical place that you have to go....an empty closet, your garage, your lunch break even. One lady used to make her place of prayer by pulling her apron over her head. or it might be a place you go within yourself. Anything you have to do in order to find alone time with God where you and He can speak freely.
Prayer will change...everything! It will change your situation. It will change your spouse! But, most importantly it will change you.
Josh and Serena
Not good thoughts or staying positive but PRAYER! Not positive confessions or counseling but PRAYER! Not making any major changes or ultimatums but PRAYER! Not meditation or finding yourself but PRAYER!
The only thing that changed the outcome of our marriage was prayer. The only thing that broke through the cold and calloused heart that Josh had developed was prayer. The only thing that caused Serena to hold on in spite of what was going on was her time in prayer.
We realize that we are sharing this blog with many other people around the world that may not believe like we do or may not understand our faith. So, let it be known that when we speak of prayer we are speaking about conversing with the Triune God, the King of kings, the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost. We believe that only He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think. Only He is able to do the impossible. Any other god does not have power to save. We place our faith and trust and hope in the only God able to save, Jesus Christ.
Many of you may have never prayed in your life. We mean, REALLY prayed!! Don't let it scare you or cause you turmoil. Prayer is simply having a conversation with God, sharing with Him your concerns and your heart and Him sharing with you His truth and His heart. So, often we think that prayer is telling God all about our problems and then leaving that place of prayer before He has a chance to respond to the outpouring of your heart. But, we need to learn to wait for His answer. He will ALWAYS respond to His child's cry for help.
When our marriage began to fall to pieces, Serena found a place of prayer that she could be real with God. It was a place where she lived her life daily. Her prayer time became her life, not only something that she did when times got rough. She had always knew how to pray but never had the load laid upon her that required her to dig deep into that place of prayer. Through her times of prayer her ears became tuned to the frequency of God's heart and she learned to hear His still and calm voice clearly through the screaming of lies from the enemy.
We would encourage you to learn the language of prayer. Learn to bring the cries of your heart before the Master. Discipline your life and carve out time where you will be able to hear from the heart of God as He responds to you. Pray for your spouse. However, don't pray selfish prayers that would make you feel better. Pray prayers that would call the perfect and divine will of God to come down, infiltrate, and affect change in their life...but not for your own peace of mind but for the glorification of the Father God. If you will ask God to glorify Himself through you, your spouse, and your marriage He will come to you and your aid in such a mighty way that you will have to hold on for what is about happen.
You see, God is all about bringing the most glory to Himself. And if you will get on board with that and make that your prayer, He will answer. These are the prayers that God will answer every time. It may not be the way that you think it should be but it will be the maximum glory for Him. And if He is glorified, His child will be at peace.
As our situation progressed from bad to worse, Serena's prayers were not for me to come home. Yes, she wanted me home but she would rather have had me right with God if that would be the lasting change that was needed. She was willing to sacrifice the temporary joy of having me before the fulfillment of the work was complete for the lasting sactisfaction of knowing that my heart was in right standing before God. A hard to prayer to pray but one that caused her to trust God more the more she prayed it.
Find your place of prayer. It might be a physical place that you have to go....an empty closet, your garage, your lunch break even. One lady used to make her place of prayer by pulling her apron over her head. or it might be a place you go within yourself. Anything you have to do in order to find alone time with God where you and He can speak freely.
Prayer will change...everything! It will change your situation. It will change your spouse! But, most importantly it will change you.
Josh and Serena
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