MORE THAN A CONQUEROR

"You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to
attain." Psalm 139:5-6

Let's admit it. Sometimes there are moments or hours or even days
in our stand when we feel like we are being dragged, kicking and
screaming, into something we don't really want to do. It was so much
easier when we did not have this knowledge wasn't it? We didn't
have to worry about all that turn the other cheek stuff and that
unconditional love and that going the extra mile. We didn't have to
worry about zipping the lips or covering nakedness. But our lack of
knowledge is what brought our house down in the first place. God
tells us this in Hosea 4:5 - "My people are destroyed from lack of
knowledge."

Further in Psalm 139, verses 7-10, it says, "Where can I go from
your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the
heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are
there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far
side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand
will hold me fast."

Much as we would like to ignore it, there is no escaping and no
denying what God has called us to do. Even if we think we want to
go back to the way things were, He won't let us. We cannot flee from
His presence. We cannot turn our back on His calling. He has
placed a knowledge and a desire deep in our hearts and it holds us
fast, no matter how hard we kick and scream. Even if we feel this
knowledge is too lofty for us to attain, it is knowledge that He has
given us and we cannot turn away. It is a scary thing, but He
doesn't call us to be perfect; He just calls us to believe.

The next two verses read, "If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide
me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not
be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is
as light to you." Psalm 139:11-12

This verse speaks of God's omnipresence. He is watching over us no
matter where we are - whether in the despair of a lonely night or
the dawn of a new day. To some people this omnipresence might be a
scary thing, to know that God searches our heart. But not to us who
have been called. God's eternal presence in our lives is a
comforting thing. No matter where we go we can never be far from His
presence. And this is something to sing about!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your
works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

Have your ever felt afraid of what God has called you to do? Have
you ever been fearful that you cannot do what He has asked? How can
I forgive someone who has hurt our family so badly? How can I
continue to turn the other cheek when they just keep taking a bite
out of the other one? How can I zip my lips when someone has to
tell them where they have gone wrong!

This is probably one of the hardest things God calls us to do as we
stand for our marriages - to show love to the unlovable; to give up
the cloak and then offer the tunic as well; to walk the extra mile.
Sometimes we just have to say, "Not possible!" And in our own
strength, it would be impossible. But God gives us the strength we
need to forgive as He has forgiven and to love as He loves -
unconditionally.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so
that you can stand up under it." I Corinthians 10:13

The word tempted in this passage also means tested. God will not
give you a trial that you cannot, with His strength, bear. Every
thing that happens is filtered through His hands and He has promised
that it will all work together for good. Our human nature is such
that we long to be vindicated when lies are told about us. We want
to return evil for the evil done to us. We long to say, "Sic 'em,
God!" But it is not our job to judge others. Hard as it may be
sometimes, the Bible tells us we must turn the other cheek.

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right
in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends
on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my
friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is
mine to avenge; I will repay," "says the Lord. On the contrary: "If
your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on
his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good." Romans 12:17-21

Returning good for the evil done is a difficult task for anyone and
often one of the most difficult tasks for a stander, especially when
the evil involves our family. But with God's strength, we can do
it. Knowing that God is in control, we can turn all of it over to
Him, knowing we will be vindicated; knowing He will not let us go,
no matter how hard we kick and scream.

This is a journey none of us really wanted to take. I'm sure that
there is not one stander who has said, "God give me a marriage
trial!" Yet it is a journey we have been called to embark on. We
have been given an awesome assignment - to stand in the gap for our
loved ones. We have a choice - to turn away from the assignment,
saying, "It's too hard!" - or to embrace the task knowing that we
have someone in our corner who is greater than any trial we face.

"The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet
of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:19

God bless