Satan's Mouthpiece

Satan’s objective in taking people captive is to get them to do his will. and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Tim 2:26)

Have you been praying that your spouse comes to their senses and escapes the enemy?  We certainly hope so, because it's the best method!!! There is no sense in battling your spouse, because we aren't in war with them, this is not against flesh and blood. 

“There is nothing that Satan can do for his evil cause that he does not do. We may be halfhearted, but he never is. He is the very image of ceaseless industry and untiring earnestness. He will do all that can be done in the time of his permitted rage. We may be sure that he will never lose a day.” Charles Spurgeon

“Be selfcontrolled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for

someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 Your spouse is NOT the enemy. 

The last few weeks we have received some e-mails from standers who are being attacked by this enemy-the devil.  Why is your spouse speaking lies? The answer is actually simple enough.....we are told in the Bible that we cannot serve two masters.  When your spouse walks away from God they have allowed themselves to be taken captive by the devil.   You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 

When you hear lies don't hang onto them.  Let them go.  Allow God to speak truth into your heart. 

The prodigal said:
     "I never loved you."
The Lord said: 
     "I have loved you with an everlasting love."  Jeremiah 31:3

The prodigal said:
     "You never satisfied me."
The Lord said:
     "You open your hand and satisfy the desireds of every living thing." Psalm 145:16

The prodigal said:
     "I am never coming  back."
The Lord said:
     "He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him."  Psalm 126:6

The prodigal said:
     "I hate you."
The Lord said:
      "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."  John 3:20

The prodigal said: 
     "You act so holy."
The Lord said:
     "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." I Thessalonians 4:7

The prodigal said: 
     "I don't know what to do."
The Lord said:
     "Come, follow me."  Mark 1:17


Fill yourself with the truth of God's word.  Do not listen to the lies coming from your spouse's mouth. Do not be side-tracked by your circumstance. God is working.  The Holy Spirit continues to work behind the scenes, so let's not lose focus.

Josh and Serena

Rose-Colored Glasses

Have you found yourself discouraged?  Does it seem hopeless? Do you wonder if your spouse will EVER be the person you hoped? 

Let's take a step back.....are we perfect? Does God look at us and think we are hopeless causes?  Do you think He wonders at times if we will EVER be the person He hoped we would be?  Okay, yes, I realize that He is God, but how many times have we failed to follow His best?  Are we holding our spouses to a standard we ourselves don't even attain?  Are we REALLY being fair?  Do we want our loving Father to treat us with the same standards we hold for our spouses?  I, for one, don't want Him to be fair.

Don't we actually want Him to deal with us in LOVE AND MERCY? 

Maybe it would help if we gave some verses to show you how your Heavenly Father sees your spouse...and yes, even that spouse who doesn't SEEM to want anything to do with God. God wants ALL of  people to KNOW Him, so start confessing and praying these verses over them, to get in your heart that GOD wants them right with Him, more than even you want it.

Genesis 1:26-27     They are created in God's image.
Matthew 5:13, 14     They are salt and light of the world. Speak it out!
John 1:12     They are a child of God.
Romans 5:1     They are not condemned by God.
I Corinthians 3:9     God's fellow work and His building
I Corinthians 3:16-17     They are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
II Corinthians 5:17     They are a new person in Christ.
II Corinthians 4:16     Confess they are a renewed person daily.
Philemon 6     Pray the Lord fills them with the knowledge of every good thing.
I Peter 2:9-10     Pray that they realize they are a chosen race, a royal priest, and a citizen of a holy nation.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

Learning to act as Christ will be the only way we can truely stand for our marriages in an upright, holy, way....be like Christ--be patient, not wanting "get what they deserve," but to come to repentance.  Some might say this is just lying to yourself, some might say you view life through rose-colored glasses.  I think our Heavenly Father often does this for us....and the view through those glasses can really make all the difference.  Don't you think?

Josh and Serena

Standing On Your Own Two Feet

How was your stance before you started reading this blog?  Did you have the tools you needed?  Or did you find yourself constantly discouraged and frustrated by the state of your marriage?  If we didn't post would you be standing as strong?
We would venture to say you would not be standing as strong.  Not because we are so amazing (cuz we're not) or have some privileged revelation about marriage (cuz we don't) but because we are always stronger when we have support in our corner.  This is not to say that you can't stand without us.  However, we stand stronger together than apart.  By us knowing that you are there reading, it forces us to find something to give to you.  Which in turn forces us to dig deeper for more in our marriage and in Christ.  We also know that you are praying for us.  We, in turn, are praying for you and your marriage.

With all that being said, please do not look to us to be your rock in this time.  We love being here for you but, inevitably, we will fail you.  You HAVE to learn to stand on your own two feet.  You have to find that place that you can go to and receive the strength you need.  Here are a few things that will help you find your own footing so that you can stand through it all.

We would encourage you to learn two things; prayer and fasting.  The kind of prayer that we are talking about is not simple prayers that we pray before a meal or before bed.  We mean deep intercession for your spouse and your marital situation.  Not only selfish prayers about bringing your spouse back to you, physically or emotionally, but prayers for God Almighty to arrest them in their spirits.  That may mean you have to pray some very scary prayers (i.e. "Lord, WHATEVER it takes, bring him/her back to you...").  You need to learn to allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you.  Stop now and go read Romans 8:26, 27.  We cannot stress this enough; LEARN HOW TO PRAY!!  This will be the most effective tool in your arsenal.

The second part of that is that you need to combine your prayers with fasting.  Fasting most of the time indicates a forsaking of culinary pleasures for the sake of spiritual discipline.  However, in our technological age that we live in, I think it also applies to social media, Internet, TV, or any other pleasures that bring comfort to our flesh.  We give up those things that keep us from the face of God and earnestly seek His face.  That might mean that you stop reading here and commit to a season of fasting.  Your readership will be missed but knowing that you are seeking God's face will be an accepted reason for not reading!

A website that you might helpful in learning to stand on your own is biblegateway.com.  They have search features and different Bible translations that you can access FOR FREE.  Search for Scriptures about husbands and wives, about truth and virtue, about spiritual warfare, about seeking the face of God, or anything else the Lord lays on your heart...such as prayer and fasting.  Once you have found some Scriptures that encourage you read them in different translations (New Living, King James, The Message, etc.) and learn a deeper meaning of what you are reading.  Many times a different version will make all the difference in the world and suddenly you have a Scripture that will be like bedrock for you.

Study the Scriptures!  Don't rely on what you hear from us or what your bff said or what your own pastor has said from the pulpit.  Find out what God's Word says for yourself.  When you learn something for yourself, you then OWN that knowledge and revelation.  Once you have been persuaded by the Truth nothing else will be able to lie to you and bring you condemnation or guilt.

Learn to use a concordance.  In case you don't know, a concordance is a bible study tool that helps you learn the meanings of words in their original language.  You don't have to know Hebrew or Greek to use one.  A Strong's Concordance is highly regarded as the best but it is based on the King James version of the Bible.  There are other ones out there; check your local Christian book store for more information.  But, in the age of the Internet, there is a Strong's Concordance online FOR FREE!!  Don't you just love it?  Find your Scripture or word within the verse, learn its meaning and how it is used in context, what tense it is in, and where else it occurs in Scripture.  Soak in the deeper meanings of the Scripture.

We thank you for your readership and your allowing us to speak to you.  We are humbled that we have the opportunity to share in your restoration process and honored to fight alongside of you.  Keep standing!!

Josh and Serena

Remembering

If we repeat ourselves or the stories sound similar, it's only because of passion. I know, without a doubt, that hearing the same things over actually helped me in the waiting times.  I needed to know I was not alone, and I was NOT the only one who hurt or felt a certain way. 

Being pregnant right now has caused lots of reflection as these last few months would have been the same time-frame as when Josh was gone while I was pregnant with Levi.  Having less sleep, less energy seems like something I would never survive at this moment, but God gives us what we need when we need it.  I spent many late nights praying, crying, and getting no sleep.  At this point I am so exhausted I can't get enough energy or sleep right now.  God is so gracious.  During the most stressful time in my life I had great health--God kept me.

A sermon at church last weekend talked about admitting that we are finite opens us up to the infinite God.  Without a doubt I could NOT do this alone I needed LOTS of help, and I thrived because of the infinite God and His strength. It was NOT about me or my strength; it was Him.  If I found that I was overly discouraged or upset I would just go back to God's Word.  I tell you...it was the ONLY way.  Relying on ourselves will only make the stander feel discouraged as it really does seem endless. We completely understand, and we understand the need for encouragement.

For encouragement:• God hates divorce – Malachi 2:15-16
• No weapon formed against you shall prosper – Isaiah 54:17
• The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. – 2 Cor. 10:4
• Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. – Ephesians 6:11
• For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places – Ephesians 6:12
• If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31
• It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1


Other verses to read for yourself and for encouragement:
• Colossians 1:9-14
• Colossians 3:5-14
• Romans 8:28
• Galatians 5

Praying Scripture Over Your Spouse

For months, I had these Scriptures posted all over my mirrors in my bathroom.......I still have index cards of them, and MANY more that God has put on my heart for Josh and our family. As your heart for your spouse softens, and you search for more things in God's word your list of Scriptures will increase.

In Jesus’ name, I pull down and destroy every stronghold, imagination, argument and high thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God’s word in Josh’s heart. I pull down the strongholds of pride, arrogance, sexual addiction, and ANGER.  I take Josh’s thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ and bind his/her heart to God’s word of truth. When he walks about, it will guide him. When he sleeps, it will watch over him, and when Josh awakens, it will talk to him. (2 Cor. 10:4-5; Pro. 6:21)

In Jesus’ name and by the power of His blood, I bind the strong man of hatred, anger, and un-forgiveness, pride, and arrogance and I forbid it from operating in Josh's heart. I declare it inoperable against him. I loose the spirit of love, peace, forgiveness, and humility into his heart according to

Matthew 18:18 that says, “Whatever I bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatever I loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.”

Lord, I thank You that You will deliver the one for whom I intercede that is not innocent. Yes, Josh will be delivered through the cleanness of my hands. Job 22:30

Many are the plans in Josh’s mind, but it is Your purpose that will stand for them. Pr 19:21 AMP

You said in Isaiah 49:24 that even though Josh has become prey to the mighty or has been taken captive lawfully, he shall be delivered. For You will contend with those that contend with me, and You will save my children.

You have promised to pour Your Spirit upon my seed and Your blessings upon my offspring. Is 44:3 You will pour water upon them and floods upon the dry ground of their hearts because he is spiritually thirsty. 

I thank You that Your covenant with them is that Your Spirit which is upon me and Your words which You have put in my mouth shall not depart from them or their mouth, or from their offspring’s mouth. Is 59:21

My children shall dwell safely and continue, and their descendents shall be established before You. Ps 102:28

The seed of the righteous shall be delivered. Pr 11:21 Deliver Josh from the snare of the trapper. Ps 91:31

I pray that Josh will come to his senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Tim 2:26

I pray that the spirit of truth would penetrate Josh’s heart. John 16:13

I forbid the god of this world from blinding Josh and I declare that he is crucified to this world and this world is crucified to him. Josh has been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Col 1:13

Father, I lay hold of Your covenant for Josh. You said that You have made an everlasting covenant with Josh, that You will not turn away from him, to do them good; but You will put Your fear in his heart so they will not depart from You. Jer 32:40 PUT YOUR FEAR IN JOSH!

Father, You have promised to circumcise my heart and the hearts of my children, which means to open it to the gospel and take away all hindrances in obeying the truth. You will do this so that they will love You with all of their hearts and all of their souls, and live. Deut 30:6

Thank you for giving Josh a new heart and for putting a new spirit in him. Your word says that You will remove from him a heart of stone and give him a heart of flesh. Ezek 36:26

No one is able to snatch Josh out of Your hand. John 10:29

Let Your Spirit of Truth come and... convict Josh of sin and righteousness and judgment in his life. John 16:8

May Josh hear Your voice calling him to return to You and receive Your promise to heal his backslidings. Jer 3:22 Soften his heart.

Open Josh's eyes and turn him from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that he may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ. Acts 26:18

Please grant Josh repentance so that he would confess his sins, for I know You will be faithful and just to forgive Josh's sins, and to cleanse him from all unrighteousness. I Jn 1:9

Bring Josh to the place where he will confess his faults one to another, and pray one for another, that Josh may be healed. James 5:16

Alert Josh to know the time, that now it is high time for him to awake out of sleep: for now is his salvation nearer than when he believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: I pray that Josh will walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness (pleasure mindedness), not in strife and envying. But I pray that Josh will put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Rom 13:11-14

Lord, deliver Josh from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who delight in doing evil, and rejoice in the perversity of evil; Whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. Prov 2:12-15

Lord, please remove the rebellion and worldliness from Josh's heart. Have mercy upon him, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out his transgressions.  Wash Josh thoroughly from his iniquity, and cleanse him from his sin.  Bring Josh to acknowledge his transgressions: and the sin that is ever before him. Against thee, thee only, has Josh sinned, and done this evil in Your sight. Ps 51:1-4

Purge Josh with hyssop, and he shall be whiter than snow.  Hide Your face from Josh's sins, and blot out all his iniquities. Create in Josh a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within him. Cast Josh not away from Your presence; and take not Your Holy Spirit from him.  Restore unto Josh the joy of Your salvation; and uphold him with Your free spirit.  Then will Josh teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto You. Ps 51:7-13

I pray that Josh will come out from (the world), and be separate and touch not the unclean thing so that You will receive him back. 2 Cor 6:17

Thank you for Your Word that says, "Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, That your children shall come back to their own border." Jer 31:16,17

Father, I pull down the strongholds of pride, unbelief, rebellion, fear, deception, false theologies and sexual addictions. I take Josh’s heart captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 10:4-5

I apply the blood of Jesus over Josh, for I overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. Rev 12:11 Where the blood of Jesus is applied the destroyer cannot come in.

Spending hours focusing on God's promises to my family and me helped me continue in my stand....YES, everyday I would read EVERY one of these declarations.  AND the list continued over time....Because I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, I can declare that I and my household are saved! Acts 16:31