Standing Basics

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Standing Firm

January 6, 2011

Welcome to Standing Firm, a free weekly devotional from Rejoice Marriage Ministries. If these messages nolonger meet your needs, please use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this devotional and you will beremoved immediately. Here is this week's message...

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Standing Basics -

The key principles for standing for the healing of your marriage can be summed up in the following scriptureverses...

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." 1 Corinthians16:13-14

1) Be on Your Guard

Do you know the enemy you are fighting? The key in fighting any battle begins with understanding your enemy.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powersof this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

Satan is your enemy. Your spouse has been taken captive by Satan to do his evil will. Satan is defeated by theblood of Jesus Christ sacrificed for all sinners when he was nailed to a rough-hewn cross on Calvary. Jesus diedfor your sins and for the sins of your spouse. Your first line of defense against Satan is praying the Word of Godover your wife and marriage.

"He too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—thatis, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is notangels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way,in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might makeatonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help

those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:14-18

Since Jesus became man, he was tempted by Satan just as we are tempted. Pray that Jesus will help yourspouse see the error of her ways, softening and turning her heart towards home.

2) Stand Firm in the Faith

Faith is based on two beliefs; first that God is who He says He is, and second that God will do what He says Hewill do. When you believe that God will fulfill His promises, even when you do not see a physical manifestation of

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these promises, you are operating in faith.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And without faith it is impossibleto please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those whoearnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:1, 6

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to thefig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and it will be done. If you

believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.'" Matthew 21:21-22

"We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Prayer is the physical demonstration of our faith that God exists, that He hears our prayers and that He willdeliver on His promises. Faith means resting in what Christ has done for us in the past, but also means trustingHim for what He will do for us in the future.

3) Be Men of Courage

In takes courage to stand for a broken marriage. The world bombards us with quick solutions and admonitions to

"get on with your life." It takes real guts to be obedient to God by standing for your marriage vows. God is onyour side. He will never leave you. Be strengthened in your faith, knowing that Jesus is with you every step of theway through the trial of separation or divorce.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you;he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

"But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.'" Matthew 14:27

I pray that you may find encouragement in knowing that the loving Father, in union with His Son and by thepower of the Holy Spirit, is waging war against Satan and his minions for the salvation of your home and family.

4) Be Strong

An important part of standing for the healing of your marriage is realizing that you are powerless to change yourspouse. Only God can change a hardened heart. Your strength is not in your own efforts but through humblysubmitting your life and family to God's loving care.

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, myfather's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." 2 Samuel 22:33

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. Forwhen I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Trust God to strengthen you for the battle. Depend on Him for your every need. Believe in the power of the crossand the blood shed by Christ for the forgiveness of sins. God does not want any of His children to perish. Be

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strengthened in your faith to stand firm with Jesus Christ for the healing of your marriage.

5) Do Everything in Love

The hardest part of standing for the healing of your marriage is giving up the right to be angry and bitter towardsthe spouse that has left you. God commands us to do everything in love. Everything? Always? Who can live upto such a demand? Many standers use anger and guilt to manipulate their spouses into feeling the pain that theyare feeling. If you have been guilty of acting in unloving ways towards your mate, repent and ask God to give you

a heart that can love even when it hurts. God gives generously to anyone who asks according to His will. Youare able to love because God has first loved you.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear...we love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:18-19

Christ is your model of perfect love, giving His life as a sacrifice for all of humanity. Can you love your wife withthe love of Christ? Are you willing to die for her? You can love your spouse in this way because Christ first lovedyou. Your wife will be saved through your unconditional love for her.

"All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving tooverflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet

inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternalglory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:15-17

Your decision today to love your spouse unconditionally will echo through all eternity. Future generations will bespared the pain of divorce. Stand firm in the faith. Be strong in the Lord. Do not give up. The future of yourchildren and your children's children depend on your decision to love without counting the cost. God will blessyour obedience now and forever more.

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to athousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." Deuteronomy 7:9

Reread the two simple verses at the beginning of this devotional. It contains five keys to successfully standing forthe healing of your marriage. I pray that you may stand firm in your faith, with strength and courage through ourLord Jesus Christ, loving your spouse no matter the cost, while guarding your heart against the attacks of Satanthrough Scripture reading and prayer. I am standing in agreement with you for the healing of your marriage.

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Today my wife and I are flying to Florida to attend the funeral of Bob Steinkamp, co-founder of Rejoice MarriageMinistries. Thank you for your prayers for Bob's wife, Charlyne, their children, spouses and grandchildren duringthis difficult time.

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Dennis L. WingfieldRejoice Marriage Ministrieshttp://www.rejoiceministries.org "God heals hurting marriages!"

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Rejoice Marriage MinistriesP.O. Box 10548Pompano Beach, FL 33061

Rejoice Prayer Chapel:If you would like to pray for special needs of others, along withentering 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 forGod's Best - Hope and Healing for Troubled Marriages" and otherbooks and tapes to encourage you in your stand:http://www.stopdivorce.org

Devotional Copyright© 2011 Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.

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Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.Post Office Box 10548

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