BACK TO BASICS #3- WHO CARES? GOD DOES.

So... in my last blog.... I encouraged you to NOT sit back and accept a husband who is less than God intends for him to be. And I encouraged you to pray for Him.  AND I ENCOURAGED YOU TO HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF HEART THAT WANTED HIM TO CHANGE FOR HIS OWN GOOD AND NOT ONLY FOR YOURS. I am convinced God isn't impressed with "hellfire and brimstone on others" prayers. We want Him to discipline that person.. but.. He longs to show mercy.   We want Him to act instantly, but He is patient and continues to pour grace.

And now I want to be lovingly truthful with you, even if you pray every day, you may not see a change in your husband.
WHAT?  You may see no change. None. At.  All.  Because of this, you may decide that prayer is a waste of your time and God's.  And you will stop praying because it seems like prayer isn't working.
That's normal. That's natural. But normal and natural does not result in supernatural.  I pray that YOU will...
  
....be that woman.. that one in a thousand woman.. who perseveres in prayer.  Who seems abnormal for continuing to seek the Lord. For continuing to believe there is power in persistent prayer. 

That's what I pray for you.  If it was EASY to be devoted to prayer.. everyone would do it. It isn't easy. It isn't natural to speak to the ceiling and believe there is Someone listening. In reality, there is no ceiling between you and God.  Jesus tore that veil.  When you speak, God is listening.  And He longs to REVEAL Himself to you.

How will He reveal Himself to you? I can't answer that because I'm not Him.
In my life.. sometimes He speaks through His Word so clearly that it seems like the Book was written just for me.
Sometimes, I hear Him whisper to my heart.
Other times, a sermon.
Other times, a friend.
But He speaks.
And I hear Him.
And His voice is always LOVE. POWER. A SOUND MIND. HOPE. PEACE.

And a reminder that He cares about me.  He. Cares. About. Me.

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD IS THE ROOT OF ALL REAL FAITH

The Lord builds our faith by sending situations in to our lives by which He can prove how faithful He truly is. 

Over time... the foundation of your life becomes Christ.  He is enough. He is more than enough.  Over time you come understand that whether people change or not, whether life is easy or not, whether answers to prayer come quickly or not...

GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU.

He will never let go of you.

He is broken-hearted about your broken heart.

HE LOVES YOU. 

My godly mother always lived a life of devotion to Jesus. I saw it first hand. I know it's true when she said,

 "WHEN YOU HAVE JESUS YOU HAVE EVERYTHING"

ANSWERS to prayer is not evidence that you have faith.

FAITH in the character of God, KNOWING that God loves you no matter what you face.. that is faith.

It's easy to type when things are going well...

But when the storm hits.. that is the FOUNDATION that keeps the house from crumbling.

KNOWING GOD. KNOWING HIS LOVE.

Each time you pray.. don't be so focused on getting answers, seeing solutions, seeing change. "Your Father knows what you need before you even ask" - Jesus reminded us.
You will never need something that He does not provide.  (This is not the same as wanting something He does not allow.)

Give yourself some time to just wait in His presence.
Just. Wait.


In His presence is FULLNESS OF JOY.
Let the Holy Spirit give you the peace you long for, the joy your less-than-wonderful marriage has sapped from your heart, the wisdom to know He is in control.

IF PRAYER IS NOT CHANGING YOU - THEN CHANGE YOUR PRAYERS.  Change them in to seasons of just wanting to become One with Your Eternal Groom.

Seek the Lord.
And not only answers from Him.

 Oh.. and by the way.. if you wait patiently, if you pray continually, your husband will most likely be affected by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Oh. Yes. He will.

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you" 

1 Peter 5:7

XO,

Mrs. Older