<P>[This message has been edited by Power in Prayer (edited May 31, 2000).]<p>[This message has been edited by Power in Prayer (edited May 31, 2000).]

Sometimes we want God to work faster than He needs to. He knows what He is doing. I was at the same place you are. I saw no changes and nothing going my way. Once I sat and really thought about it, I realized that I had been missing things. My H is in an adulterous relationship. In Provers 5,6 and 7 we are taught about the consequences of getting involved with an immoral or adulterous woman. My H has no money, he is losing his relationship with his kids, he lost 2 jobs in 4 months, etc... I truly believe these are the consequences of his affair. He will reap what he sows. <P>Don't give up now! When you're discourged turn to the Lord. He will never leave you, He will always comfort you.<P>Prayers,<BR>Mitzi

Dear Power in Prayer,<P>I too know exactly how you feel. I've been having the same thoughts for a month now. I was reading back in my journal to something someone told me in the first few months of my H's affair. They said:<P>"Seek God, not His hand."<P>What this means is, we don't seek God for what he will do for us (by His hand), we seek Him for who He is. We will never understand the predestinal knowledge that God has about past and future events. And while God can do anything, there is one thing God cannot do...<P>He gave us free will and He cannot (by His own word) take that away from us. <P>While God does have a plan for us, think of it more like a stream. God is way up there in the trees, looking down on the stream (our lives). He knows where the stream goes, each turn, each boulder, and that is ends up exactly where He planned it should. We are a boat on the stream. We come around the bend and see a huge, seemingly-impassable boulder and at the same time our H jumps out of the boat and runs into the forest. We panic, we cry out to God to move the boulder and to bring our H back. We get discouraged when it doesn't move or when he (our H) doesn't come back. Our boat seems to get stuck. We see no way out of the mess. We think God failed us.<P>God didn't fail us. Yes, God could move the boulder by his hand. Yes, God could have put the "desire" back into our H's heart to return to the boat. However, God knows that the boulder really doesn't matter! Whether it's there or not, He just wants to know that we are still in the stream and still relying on Him totally to get down the stream. His heart's desire is that our H come back to the boat, but He has allowed our H to make that choice. He wants people to "choose" Him, not be forced to love Him. <P>Same with our marriage. I want my H to choose to come back, not be forced to. Don't you think for one minute, that God isn't working in your H's heart....HE IS! But because God desires willing hearts, He will not force your H to do anything. He wants a willing love....for Him and for you.<P>I hope that helps. It helped me just in writing it! I still don't "feel" God in my situation. I just have to go my faith on these things....it's tuff. My prayers are with you.<P>Much love,<BR>Mrs. O

Power in Prayer,<BR>When I read the following, I though of you. <P>"Lord, as I face whatever my challenge for today is, help me to remember that I am not<BR>alone and if it seems to overwhelm me let me not forget that it is then that You will carry me." Daily Inspiration from eprayer.com<P>FROM TERRI MAIN'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL (about how God speaks to us)<P>Sometimes, there will be a scripture that we never really noticed before or didn't really have any meaning and suddenly as we are reading the word, it's like it shows up highlighted and we see it almost for the first time. It answers our questions and gives us a direction. <P>The second way God will guide you is through circumstances. You may have been asking God for direction in his will for your ministry. Suddenly, "out of the blue", a door opens up in exactly the type of ministry you feel God leading you into. If you have a witness of the spirit, then you know that God has lead you to get involved in that ministry.<P>The third way God will give you his wisdom is by direct revelation. Sometimes he will speak to you through another person, but most often he will speak directly to your heart, and you will know what is right. Of course, any revelation, must line up with the word of God in written form or it is not from God. He will not contradict himself.<P><B>But whether through the word, circumstances, or direct revelation, God will still reveal himself to us today. All we have to do is listen. </B><P>Lord, Thank You for hearing our prayers. We praise You, and worship You. Lord, help us learn to make You our hearts desire. Show us the path you wish for us, guide us every step of the way. Help us Father to discern when it is You speaking. Father, I pray that you will comfort Power in Prayer, giving her peace in her heart and the ability to wait upon You. I ask in Jesus name for restoration in this marriage, and that You would send the Holy Spirit to her husband, placing conviction upon his soul for his sins. Thank You father for loving us so. IJN I pray, AMEN