Keep Standing pt. 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gs3fg_WsEg&list=RD_Gs3fg_WsEg&start_radio=1

Dancing in the Minefields ~ Andrew Peterson

 

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” ~ Matthew 15:25 NKJV

 

I am equally blessed and amazed that God has walked us through 18 years of marriage. I remember when I wasn’t sure that we’d survive the first 5 years. Neither the world nor our church set us up for success. Though our church wasn’t purposefully setting us up for failure, our premarital counseling went something like this, “You want to get married? Great!” There was no talk about covenant or roles or anything. We were left to figure it out on our own, which caused us both to fail, a lot! Thankfully, God walked us through many seasons—both painful valleys and refreshing mountain-top victories. It’s been in the hard seasons, especially, that we’ve had to rely on Jesus and the covenant promise we made with Him.

 

We really struggled in the infant/toddler years of our marriage. One day, as I was walking and praying, I literally cried out to God, “I will have nothing less than Your very best for me and this marriage!” Was I bold in saying it? Yes! Was I off-base in expecting it from God? No!

 

Matthew 15:22-28 tells the story of a woman who did the same thing. At first, Jesus didn’t respond to the woman’s request to heal her daughter. He even called the woman a dog, (v.26). But even that didn’t cause her to quit. In fact, it was her faith and perseverance that caused Jesus to respond to her. The woman refused to quit! She refused to accept anything less than healing for her daughter and she knew that Jesus could do it. Because of her perseverance Jesus said, “’Woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was cured from that moment,” (v.28). Even now, I am encouraged and humbled to pray with the woman’s boldness.

 

Sadly, over the past 15 years, the divorce rate has remained at about 50%, with most divorces happening either within the first 10 years, or years later, when the adults become empty-nesters. Remember, it’s not the length of our marriage or having children living at home that determines the success of our marriage. It’s our determination to stand, and keep standing, on our vows.

 

Whether your marriage is in a good, solid season, or has hit some dips and valleys, I encourage you to pray for your marriage and refuse to quit until Jesus answers you. Lord, protect our marriages. Keep us bold in praying for our marriages and families. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2022

Keep Standing pt.1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXbRa5Nm6mM

I Speak Jesus ~ Passion

 

When the sun had gone down and a [thick] darkness had come on, behold, a smoking oven and a flaming torch passed between those pieces. ~ Genesis 15:17 AMPC

 

My dad’s parents were married for over 60 years and my mom’s parents were married for over 50 years before either of the grandmothers passed away. Not many marriages last that long. Why? Did “their generation” do it better? No. It’s not about their age, as people from their generation have also gotten divorced. The difference-maker is God.

 

Alistair Begg, pastor and voice behind the Truth for Life radio program, taught in his sermon series, “I Take You,” that taking seriously your covenant promise is the platform upon which your marriage will stand, because it’s a promise with God. He briefly shared the purpose and weight of the covenant, as described in Genesis 15:9-19. He said the purpose behind cutting the animals in half, setting them apart, and having all parties walk between the pieces is to show what will happen if you break the vows:

“May I be torn in half if I don’t fulfill my covenantal obligation to you. That’s why the Hebrew doesn’t speak about making a covenant. It speaks about cutting a covenant,” (https://www.truthforlife.org/broadcasts/2022/07/01/i-take-you-part-2-of-2--/).

In Genesis 15, we see that God made this vow with Abram. God put His own reputation on the line knowing that He would never—could never—break this covenant.

 

Cutting a covenant sounds bleak and dark, not light and happy. But cutting a covenant—standing on your vows, fulfilling your promises—is serious business. While some seasons in life and marriage are easier and more joyful, others are hard and painful. When push comes to shove and life is hard and harder still, on what will your marriage stand? It won’t be the 200+ likes of your wedding pictures, or the memories of the honeymoon. It’ll stand on the covenant promise and the vows you made.

 

If your marriage is in a light and happy season, I am glad for you! But if you find yourself in a battle for your marriage, just remember to keep standing. God never promised that life would be easy, but He promised to be with us.

 

When the day is long and the battle is hard,

                Keep standing.

When the fight is painful and your energy’s depleted,

                Keep standing.

When you’ve spent everything and there’s nothing left,

                Keep standing.

Keep standing!

Keep standing!

Keep standing!

 

I don’t know how things will look when the dust settles, but I do know the God who promised to be faithful. Keep standing on God’s promises, on the covenant, and on the vows you made and see how God will move.

Keep standing.

©Heather Potts 2022