Modern
Day Samaritan Woman
Update:
Interceding for My Broken Marriage
Walking
on Water –
Waiting
in the mundane “Middle”
And oh how WE do like to be in control…
You can only pray and
trust. Nothing less and nothing more… This can be quite a test in itself
because while we pray and watch and hope, we cannot know or even perceive whether
anything is happening.
The unknown spreads before us like an endless
valley with peaks and dips into which we cannot see, and this is the time where
our faith is sorely tested and stretched. Well-meaning relatives question your
motivation, reasoning and even your sanity.
As the lonely (and in some cases) emotionally
painful days turn to weeks to months and sometimes years, we begin to question…allow
doubt to creep in and sometimes give up altogether.
This is the time to “trust God from the bottom of
your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s
voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you
on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 – The Message)
When we made the decision to stand in for our
prodigals we were all fired up, determined and ready to take this on!!! The
beginning of new ventures (even the
painful standing in the gaps for prodigals) is always exciting and we are motivated
by adrenaline and the desire to see something happen / change …Many
proclamations, promises and plans are made at this stage…
After all we have a
vision, a mission…
Even a Holy Commission
if you will...
But the real test comes when all this drive and
passion and excitement fades into the hum drum of one more day…one more prayer…one
more disappointment when change doesn’t happen quite when and even how we
expected it to.
This is the middle …”the mundane middle”… This
mission is our own…people who initially
were excited with us eventually fade away to get on with their own lives, and
we are left alone to continue praying, forgotten, unnoticed…and from somewhere
deep within we have to find the motivation to do what we said we were going to
do.
How do we remain strong and keep our purpose during
these mundane times? How do we hang onto our faith when it appears as if our
prodigals will never return? When it appears as if they have moved on and are “living
quite well without you, Thank You”.
It’s a difficult thing to do and only someone who
is actually in this position will truly understand the resolve required to
continue when it really would be easier to pick up the broken pieces and
restart a life elsewhere…
Yet, this is only the middle….
The in-between…the springboard from the
“PROMISE”…..TO THE “VICTORY”
Everyone in scripture had to endure this unknown
period.
Hebrews 11:1 -2 “Now
faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely
guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen (the conviction of reality – faith comprehends as fact what cannot be
experienced by the physical senses)” AMP. (Emphasis my own)
Abraham had to wait for Isaac,
Joseph had to endure hardship and imprisonment,
Jacob had to work “Double Time” for his beloved
bride.
Moses – Red Sea
Rahab – Prostitute saved by faith
Joshua – Jericho Walls
Yes! There are many examples of people who had to
remain true to their word, while spending “years” in the mundane “in-between”
awaiting the fulfilment of their promises. I’m certain they, like us, had their
doubts and fears. I’m sure their well –meaning relatives tried to steer them in
what they perceived to be best for them…Yet scripture teaches that they held
onto their promises. They called things into being as if they were…They stood
on the Word and promise…They spoke life instead of death…
Perhaps we should take their example.
1. Speak life into our prodigal’s
lives.
Luke 6:28 “Bless and show kindness to those who curse you, pray
for those who mistreat you” (AMP)
2. Be patient while God
works.
Lamentations 3:25 “The Lord is good to those who wait (confidently) for Him, to those who
seek Him (on authority of God’s word). (AMP)
3. Surround yourself
with godly people.
Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no (wise, intelligent) guidance, the people fall (and
go off course like a ship without a helm), but
in the abundance of (wise and godly) counselors there is victory”.
(AMP) (Emphasis my own)
Hold on dear friends, those standing in the gap for
others…They don’t know that they need you but they do. Father has given you a
noble vision. He has entrusted you to stand in the gap for a loved one…Don’t
give up on Him and don’t give up on your loved one…
For if you do not
stand in the gap for them “Who will?”
Have you received an instruction from our Father to
stand in the gap for someone?
Decide today to be obedient. He does not
disappoint. There is no telling what your prayers will mean to your loved one.
Join us on face book – Come encourage and find
encouragement in a group of like-minded people with similar struggles and
hopes.
*Hugs* till next time.
Ariéte
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