Hearts CAN be Softened

When you realized that your marriage was on the brink of failure, after you dealt with the disbelief that it could happen to you, I hope you began to pray. For me, I began praying that God would just stop this nonsense and put us back together. At this time I still harbored bitterness and anger that my wife was not relenting. It was then that I was lead to pray differently.

I learned that I needed to pray for God to begin to change me. I took inventory of my feelings and found that I needed to get rid of alot of unnecessary feelings. I prayed for patience, kindness, release of anger, and many other things. Over time, my heart softened. I was able to forgive. I was able to stop looking at the negative circumstances. I was able to see the many blessings that Our Lord was showering down on me, my wife, my marriage, and my kids. My heart had softened.

Over time, my dealings with my wife began to improve. We were not arguing, we were both starting to give in more, we even began to laugh about things when we would see eachother and talk. Her heart had softened.

This happened through prayer. Our God is more powerful than any problem, any circumstance, any lie the evil one can throw our way. Our God can soften hearts, for it is written:

“‘ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws....Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.’” Ezekiel 36:25-27, 36

Pray for God to soften your heart first. Then pray that He will soften your wife's heart.

Going to Jesus with Your Fears

Much of Jesus' message to mankind is "don't be afraid, for I am always with you."  Fears, anxieties, doubts are all things that I have had to deal with in my initial decision to listen to God's call to stand, as well as the everyday management of remaining in that stand.  But Jesus does not want us to fear.  He wants us to take it all to Him.

I would like to share an email devotional that I received that speaks to this issue.  It strengthened me today and I hope it will help you too.

Anxious Honesty
Jesus was inside the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The followers went to him and woke him. They said, "Teacher, do you care about us? We will drown!"   Mark 4:38 (ERV)

KEY THOUGHT:
I am so thankful about the honest portrayal of Jesus' disciples. I can see myself in them and know that God uses people like me. Maybe you're not like most of us who sometimes panic when we feel overwhelmed.  Fortunately for us, the early followers of Jesus did have bouts with panic and fear just like we do. In their fear, they don't pretend to have everything under control. They don't puff out their chest with false bravado and act like they can handle the situation. Even though their honesty leads to a rebuke, it also leads to a miracle! Why?  Because they are willing to go honestly to their Savior with their fears. They have much to learn ... and he will teach them. They also have much to lose ... and he will protect them. What are you holding back in your conversation with the Savior? What has you panicked, afraid, or anxious that you have not fully shared with the Lord? Storms come and go, but only the Lord stands the test of time. Be real about your fears and anxieties and let Him care for you. Yes, He will challenge you to greater faith. But that's the point isn't it? That in our weakness he calls us to Himself and offers us grace.

TODAY'S PRAYER:
Father, I confess to you now the burdens of my heart, knowing that you
will hear them and do what is best for me. In Jesus name. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/


As husbands standing for their marriage, for their wives to open their hearts to Jesus, it is so important that we take the fears we have directly to Jesus.  We can not do this alone.  And only our God can help us.  Let Him.

When the Tidal Wave Comes, Turn to Our Lord to Keep You Afloat

Since my last entry, I have gone through another one of those rollercoaster rides that seem to regularly occur in the lives of us standing for the restoration of our marriage.  I described it as a “tidal wave” which put out the flame in my heart that was fueling my call to stand for my marriage.  I gave up.  I quit.  I’d had “enough”. And I was just going to “move on” with my life.

Yeah, right.  Not so fast.  Our Lord quickly intervened and put me back on track.  The very next day I received an email devotional that was titled:  “Have You Decided to Give Up on your Marriage?”  The email went into detail about how quitting should not even be an option for husbands.

My prayer friends lifted me up and gave me encouragement.  This is a testimony that husbands, though we like to do it all by ourselves, cannot do THIS alone.  We need to humble ourselves and ask for help.  Don’t try to go it alone.  First ask God for help.  He will lead you to your answers and to others who can assist you.  There are many others out there who have experienced the very same circumstances and emotions that you are going through right now.  Look around, pray, and ask for help.  You will be blessed.

Continue to immerse yourself, mind and spirit, in God’s Word, for those Words will heal you, give you knowledge, wisdom, patience, strength, and perseverance.  These are all necessities for the standing husband.

When the tidal wave came in on me, a dear friend offered me the following scripture:

“They will fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His shining-greatness from the rising of the sun. When the one who hates us comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a wall against him.” Isaiah 59:19

Yes, satan comes in like a flood (tidal wave?) and tries everything possible to deceive us into thinking that we would be better off and much happier if we just quit on our wives.  It is just another worn-out trick that the evil one uses on husbands to make the restoration look meaningless in our eyes.  But let's not forget about the One whose eyes see all - Our Lord.  He will help us. 

Let us call on the Holy Spirit to lift us up when the waters rise.  Stay afloat, for victory has already been attained.