MaryFreeman

(Isa 61:3 KJV) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

I have been through something dear ones.... Something so hard it is rather difficult to put into words.... Yet I will try.... Because I have learned greatly from it....

Recently my husband accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.... And I was so happy.... I thought finally that we had some common ground to build a good solid relationship on.... And yet.... As time went on.... It became clear to me that he had been edging away from his decision....

At least.... That is how I saw it....

And I felt the disappointment and bitterness deep inside my soul.... And.... As usual.... I got mad.... My husband was a target of my anger nearly every day.... And I was a target of my disappointment.... That because of my bitterness and anger.... I did not act the Christian I was supposed to be.... I yelled and hollered.... Put down and shamed.... Which did not help him one bit....

And if I had looked through God's lenses.... I would have seen what He saw.... And would have known exactly what to do....

My husband was being robbed....

And I was helping the thief!

When I finally realized I was acting worse than an infidel.... I was broken.... My heart hurt so bad.... I felt lower than scum.... Unworthy of even coming before my Lord to praise Him.... Knowing I had not only acted in a manner unworthy of my station.... But taught my children to act the same way.... Made me feel like the lowest life form living.... I knew I didn't deserve anything from the Lord I claimed to represent....

Yet when I finally came and confessed.... When I finally repented.... I was washed..... I was cleansed.... I was renewed..... Refreshed.... Restored.... And I saw my husband through Gods eyes.... Saw he was being robbed.... And knew what to do....

I had mourned and lamented my constant failure to represent the Lord.... Constantly ranted how I didn't understand how He could put up with me.... Didn't know how He would want to actually have anything to do with me.... Despaired of ever getting rid of this anger and resentment.... Not to mention the condemnation and shame piled on top of that due to how I acted.... When I came to the Lord in the true spirit of repentance.... When I humbled myself.... Mercy came running.... And Jesus once again did what He has always been anointed to do....

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:

(Isa 61:1 AMP) THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, [Rom. 10:15.]
(Isa 61:2 AMP) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, [Matt. 11:2-6; Luke 4:18, 19; 7:22.]
(Isa 61:3 AMP) To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:

I went to my pastors wife and spoke with her.... I told her all about everything I had done.... How I had acted.... Because in my spirit I was reminded of the passage in James.... I needed and wanted restoration so bad.... I longed for the joy of my salvation to be restored to me.... My husband and marriage restored.... My childrens relationship with their father restored.... And my relationship with my Abba restored.... And James clearly states how this happens....

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:

(Jas 5:16 AMP) Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:

Once I had the prison doors (of spiritual blindness due to my anger and bitterness) blocking my (spiritual) eyes opened.... Once I had unburdened my heart to my pastors wife.... And we prayed.... The healing and restoration started.... She told me "Mary we all miss the mark.... You asked God to forgive you.... Accept that He has.... You asked your husband to forgive you so just start new.... Pray in the Holy Spirit daily and get into the Word.... And God will keep cleansing you and renewing you...." (Obviously paraphrased.... LOL....)....

Praying in the Holy Spirit and immersing yourself in the Word are the tools we need to build ourselves up in our faith.... These things will keep us in the love of God.... Because when we are doers of the Word.... We are acting in Gods love.... Because we are obedient to His Word and keep ourselves plugged in spiritually through prayer....

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:

(Jud 1:20 AMP) But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
(Jud 1:21 AMP) Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)--[which will bring you] unto life eternal.
(Eph 6:18 NLT) Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
(1Th 5:17 KJV) Pray without ceasing.
　
SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:
　
Pray.... Pray pray pray.... And read the word.... And remember that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.... And that when we slip.... If we should stumble and fall.... There is healing and restoration.... All we needs do is confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness....

And remember what Jesus brings us....

Beauty for ashes....

The oil of joy for mourning....

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness....

I had been praying the whole way home from church.... And I began to sing in the Spirit.... At first slowly in the car.... And then a jaunty.... Praise filled tune at home.... And I saw myself dancing and clapping while singing this spritual tune.... So I did.... And then I saw my husband walk in the living room.... And then he did.... And I stayed with my spirit song.... And kept right on dancing and clapping.... And then I saw myself dancing and clapping in a circle around my husband while singing my spirit song.... So I did.... And I believe that that obedience has created a conducive atmosphere and that God placed a hedge of supernatural protection around my husband and new brother.... That the thief can no longer come and rob him of what God has for him....

And just think.... If I had been praying without ceasing.... Immersing myself in Gods Word.... Staying in Gods love.... And building myself up in my Holy Faith.... I would have seen the theft sooner.... And would have known what to do....

This folks is why Peter warns us to be sober and vigilant....

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:

(1Pe 5:8 KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(1Pe 5:9 KJV) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:

Satan comes to steal kill and destroy folks.... But he can't do that if we don't let him....

If you are in the same situation I found myself in.... Take heart.... Be comforted knowing that you can come to the Lord.... You can tell Him anything.... You can unburden your heart.... Confess all.... He is faithful.... He is just.... He will forgive you.... He will cleanse you....

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:

(1Jn 1:9 NLT) But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.