You asked me a good question a few posts back when you said that you felt God had called you to stand and that since you had made your decision to end your M you saw signs showing you that you should not. Or something like that ... I am paraphrasing and too lazy now to do the quotey thing.
It is a really heavy question and one I have thought about many times.
The signs could be a reminder from Him. Or you could be second guessing yourself which is human and normal. Your decision could be prefectly right for you and only you and God will know that. What we say or think is really not important.What are your own thoughts on the signs?
RE: BEING CALLED TO DO ANYTHING BY GOD:
My final analysis of it is that if God calls me to do something then I have to do it. This is in general and not just related to M. I also know that if He calls me to do something , He will provide me with the tools, no matter how hard the task may be. I have to lean on Him and ask Him for the support when I feel that I absolutely cannot do it. I have to remind myself to lean not on my own understanding because I don't see or know everything. I have to give up my need to control the situation and just fully trust Him. To try to do it my way would not be to trust Him. Yes, this is the brilliant thesis I have developed after many hours of soul searching
Being human, when the road gets dark and rocky , you can ask yourself "Did He really ask me to do this? Hmmm...things don't look so great, so maybe He didn't. This is too hard, this is taking too long so He definitely couldn't have called me". And so on and so forth. The mind is a battlefield . At the end of the day I believe that if He brings you to it, He will bring you through it. And God cannot lie.
I reference myself although I am well aware that you asked the question re yourself because a relationship with God is so personal that I can only speak for what my stance is. Each of us has to know for ourselves what we have heard as He may say different things to us and at different times. We don't know what He has told another person.
"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." And while many translate this to mean don't make such an obvious spectacle of praying in public, For me, the "inner room" is deep within. In deep, silent communion.
And it is timeless and universal:
"Be still and know I am God" - Ps. 46:10 (my favorite: those seven words speak volumes. Each word a prayer in itself that builds, changes, and becomes a new and different prayer with the addition of each successive word)
"The Kingdom of Heaven is within you." - Jesus
"Look within; thou are the Buddha." - Buddha
"Atman (then inner essence of the individual) and Brahman (the ultimate Truth) are one." - Hindu Tradition
"He who knows himself knows The Lord." - Muhammad
Can you tell it's getting late for me? Time to go to my room, go to my "inner room" for awhile and then to sleep!
Good night and God Bless all of you out there.
Gardener
"My soul, be satisfied with flowers, With fruit, with weeds even; but gather them In the one garden you may call your own." Cyrano deBergerac
Excellent thought provoking answer...No need to quote, I know what you ment - The divorce - Filing would be so easy - Done. Finito. Finished. Hmmm - Where have I seen that before?
Every single time I get to that place, a voice inside says "Wait"...One little word, one quiet whisper...I have been to the lawyer on more then one occasion...The voice speaks...I line all my ducks up in a row...The voice still speaks...I tell my MIL my plans...The voice is still speaking...I resign myself to the fact that I failed at my M (not just me however this is my life we are talking about) and the voice is still there...
My Pastor has been used time and time again for His message and I can't ignore that...I get to that place and I don't have peace with that decision...I have turmoil and guilt and heartache and I still have that little voice whispering to me...
I have the paperwork and looking at it makes me ill...I made the decision and I didn't get the calmness I was seeking...I can't do anything until I have that calmness - I don't like limbo living so I move forward with the tools I have - Basically living as if I am not married, though staying true to my vows and myself...
Honoring myself and seeking Gods' will for me...
The signs are to hard to ignore...They come at me from almost anywhere at any given time...Can I ignore them? Well of course but is that what He wants me to do? I think not...To ignore them would be to ignore Him and where would that get me? I don't want to find out.
I begin each day in prayer, I end each day in prayer - I am thankful for my situation...I just wish sometimes the signs were a little more clearer in what road He wants me to take.
May All Who Seek To Take My Life Be Put To Shame And Confusion; May All Who Desire My Ruin Be Turned Back In Disgrace. ~Psalm 40:14~
(((Serenity))) An inspirational post of - and from - strength. Good for you. Thank you for sharing, as always. You touch my ife.
Originally Posted By: Serenity13
When all this started, I asked God for a sign - a red cardinal to cross my path - To let me know He was there, to show me everything would be ok & He was hearing my prayers...Took a week however the cardinal was indeed there...This morning I went outside...It was 18 degrees and sitting in my backyard was the reddest cardinal I have ever seen - Just waiting...It never flew away, it just sat there watching me the whole time I was outside...
Beautiful. Powerful.
I sent you A Bright Morning Star ("I walked outside and every bird was singing") but I had no idea it was a Bright Morning Cardinal you were waiting for!
And. It. Came.
Gardener
"My soul, be satisfied with flowers, With fruit, with weeds even; but gather them In the one garden you may call your own." Cyrano deBergerac
My best friend who hangs around my home is a red cardinal.
The little guy came here in the spring when I was really starting to enter my depression. I was trimming hedges and I cut down the nest. Realized it and put the nest back up quickly with gloves on. And the red cardinal still came back to take care of the chicks.
So I went out and purchased a bird bath for them and my neighbours purchased food for them.
Then when everything went down.
I stopped noticing them.
But on New Years Day. When I was really down. I looked out the window. My little friend was there. Waiting for me to see him.
Thats interesting. Thanks for sharing that.
Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. unconditional love is awesome!
The reason I asked about standing was because I am one also. From the very beginning of my problems, even though I didn't know what it was. It's a narrow path taken by those obedient souls to trust in God for the healing of marraiges.
If you feel you have been called, follow it. Others will tell you to move on and you will doubt yourself at times. I read somewhere that most people don't wait long enough for it and give up after some time.
Check out Rejoice Marriage Ministries and cadz.net. Inspirational testimonies of restored marriages. Although some of DB relates to it, in other ways the advice is contrary to what we read here.
Sorry, I'm typing on Ambien and it's time to hit the hay. Have a great night!
I hope the signs continue to manifest. It would be a wonderful testimony on these boards.
I still have a copy of that song you sent me... I put it in my journal and I read it when I am having a down day... I write a lot of quotes, songs, words of wisdom, prayers in there - Pretty much anything that catches my eye. I thank you for your kind words my friend - You touch my life as well.
May All Who Seek To Take My Life Be Put To Shame And Confusion; May All Who Desire My Ruin Be Turned Back In Disgrace. ~Psalm 40:14~
