Standing Firm

January 18, 2009

Welcome to Standing Firm, a free weekly devotional from Rejoice Marriage Ministries. If these messages no longer meet your needs, please use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this devotional and you will be removed immediately. Here is this week's message... Struggles - "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered...we were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." 2 Corinthians 1:8 Having walked victoriously through the valley of separation and divorce, I do not want to deceive you into thinking that it was without struggle. Divorce is painful. It hurt beyond anything else I have experienced in my life. Nevertheless, God used this situation to draw me closer to Him. God wanted me to rely on Him totally for my every need. God broke me of my self-reliance. I had to trust God "who raises the dead." Yes, God can bring new life to your marriage that essentially appears dead to the world. "Fear not, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 God promises not only to "help us" and "uphold us," but also to "strengthen us" so that we live out the life of Christ in our lives. He will equip you with everything that you need. You are being transformed into His image. God is cleansing you of all unrighteousness; He will restore you to your rightful place. God has treasures in store for you in the darkness of divorce. Trust in His mercy to help you in this trial. "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:3 The dark place you are experiencing in your life is actually a treasure from God. There are treasures stored in the secret places. The pain of separation and divorce blinds you to the treasures that God has in store for you. God wants you to seek Him with all your heart; "so that you may know that I am the Lord who summons you by name." God is calling you to a closer relationship with Him. Use this time apart from you spouse to build your relationship with God. God has a treasure you in the midst of the pain; He wants you to know His love, as you have never experienced it before. Unless you are completely at the mercy of God for deliverance, you will never experience His faithfulness. God wants you to know Him personally. He wants a close personal relationship with you. God wants you to know that He can be trusted to meet the deepest needs in your life. God wants you to know that He "calls you by name." God wants to show you that His love has no bounds. He is using this dark period to demonstrate it to you. "Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18 Everything worthwhile in life takes effort, patience and diligence. Use this time to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is patient, always seeking the lost, drawing those in need ever closer to Him. God will finish what He has started. Sit in the silent places of your heart and experience the saving grace of our Lord. Take a 'fast' today from the chatter of the world. Clear your head of all distractions and lift up all of your concerns to the Lord. Ask God to meet you in the silence with His Spirit of peace and hope. God loves you and desires to meet your every need. Seek Him with all your heart. "For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him." Psalm 62:5 My prayer is that you may find comfort in knowing that the Lord is here for you. He wants to bless you and meet your every need. He wants an intimate relationship with you. You are His chosen one and His will not forsake you. May you grow in knowledge of His unending grace and faithfulness. May the Lord bless you, O precious Brother in Christ. Dennis L. Wingfield Rejoice Marriage Ministries http://www.rejoiceministries.org "God heals hurting marriages!" Please add us to your address book to ensure that our mail is not blocked by your internet provider's spam filters! To Subscribe, Unsubscribe or Change Your E-Mail Address, visit... http://standingfirm.net/ Rejoice Marriage Ministries is supported by the faithful contributions of those standing in agreement with us for the healing of marriages. If you have been helped by this ministry, please consider making a contribution to support us in this work... Rejoice Marriage Ministries P.O. Box

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10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 Rejoice Prayer Chapel: If you would like to pray for special needs of others, along with entering your own prayer requests, go to the Rejoice Prayer Chapel... http://www.rejoiceministries.org/chapel.html Visit the Rejoice Ministries Bookstore for my book, "Standing for God's Best - Hope and Healing for Troubled Marriages" and other books and tapes to encourage you in your stand: http://www.stopdivorce.org Devotional Copyright 2011 Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Printed from http://rejoiceministries.org/sf/view.php?id=473 Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org

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