Dear Wives,
Our Heavenly Father says: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness”, 2 Corinthians12:9 (NLT). The definition of grace is the unmerited favor of God. It is God giving us more than we deserve. We can’t earn favour and we are never entitled to it - it’s available to all. That is good news! If God’s grace is all we need and we do not have to put in a day’s or year's work to access it, then it means we just need to step into it. We need to reach out and take hold of it. We do not have to be strong and at our best to access God's grace - His power works best in our weaknesses. Hallelujah!
What aspect of your marriage is causing you to feel weak and helpless?
I found myself at a place where I thought the best option for all parties involved, (husband, children, and myself), was separation. My husband and I constantly disagreed. We grew apart. The relationship felt strained, and we were both worn out. After many attempts to improve our relationship and with no positive results, I eventually decided that to save my children and my sanity, we must separate. I was scared and frightened, but I convinced myself that I was doing the right thing. Without consulting my Heavenly Father in that time of confusion and difficulty, I started making plans to navigate my way through separation.
I made an appointment to search for an apartment to relocate, unaware that the plans I made, were not aligned with the plans God had for me. It had to be divine purpose, that the topic of the sermon the same Sunday I decided to search for an apartment was: "Favor said no, I'm not letting you go". That Sunday morning in 2018 was seemingly a normal Sunday morning worship. Though my husband and I were in emotional pain, we were present in the house of the Lord. After all, what better place to find ourselves when we're broken and bruised than in the presence of the Lord? I found the topic of the sermon compelling. Throughout the message, it was as though the preacher was speaking directly to me. It was even more pointed when he uttered the words: "Though you've always considered the events of your life divine favor from God, you now want to go ahead and do your own thing, but favour says no, I will not let you go". That morning, I was overcome with amazement. The Holy Spirit led His manservant, in the person of Pastor Dale Fisher, from the rostrum to the pew, to pick Ivor & I out from the gathering of approximately three hundred (300) people. We were not sitting in the same row, but under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Pastor reached over and hauled me, then grabbed Ivor and vigorously placed us together. I knew at that moment separation was not my portion.
I still chuckle today when I remember the image of us sitting at the altar for the remainder of the service praying together and recommitting, not even cognizant that perhaps we were now the centre of attraction for the congregation and online viewers. Unmerited Favor was served to us that day, and today that experience remains one of the most memorable moments of God's grace in my life. According to 2 Corinthians 5:7 (JNT), “We live by trust and not by what we see." It is important then, for us as godly women, to aspire to live a life that is surrendered to God. In doing so, our decisions will not be based on what we see or don't see happening in our lives. Instead, we will trust God to make all decisions for us, confident that He will guide us on the path He has chosen for us. We will experience God's goodness and unmerited favor when we come to the end of our strength. Wait patiently for the Lord and be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently on the Lord - Psalm 27:14 (NLT). You will find new strength, you will soar on wings like eagles, you will not grow weary, you will not faint - Isaiah 40:31(NLT).
Walking by faith and not by sight sounds like an inspiring motto, but what does it mean for us as godly wives? Is it easier said than done? For us to practice that prescription, we must cultivate a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. Having the mind of God is also equally important. The mind of Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of man. The mind of Christ cannot be understood by those without the Spirit of God. We, therefore, should aspire to allow the Holy Spirit living inside of us to transform and renew our minds. Subsequently, He will lead us into all truth, and the lies the enemy told us will become obvious. Godly wives, we are not defeated. "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT).
Join me in series no. 5 where we’ll discuss how living the crucified life can lead to fulfilling God's call to become godly wives.
If you're suffering silently in your marriage, please know that you're not alone. The Sisters of Women Powered by Purpose Praise and Prayer stand with you in prayer for healing. Questions or comments? Please email us at womenpoweredbyppp@gmail.com
コメント