Weekly Devotional
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL: Fear Is Not Your Friend As You Stand For Marriage Restoration
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) Today, I want to address a verse that speaks directly to one of the biggest weapons the enemy throws at standers. More importantly, I want you to see exactly what God wants to give you in exchange for it. What is this major weapon of the enemy? It’s good old-fashioned fear! It’s so common to see fear completely overwhelm someone standing for their marriage, destroying their outlook on what God wants to do. It’s important to recognize that fear can manifest in various ways. The fear of the future, the fear of rejection and the fear of the unknown are among some of the most common areas of attack for the stander. But please remember that our Heavenly Father never causes fear and does not intend for it to be a part of your stand for restoration. The promise of 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind,” assures us that God has not given us a spirit of fear but has equipped you and I with three amazing gifts: power, love and a sound mind. The enemy knows that fear has the potential to cripple our faith, destroy our hope and create doubt in our hearts. It’s a tool he uses to paralyze us, making us question our efforts and causing us to hesitate in the face of adversity. When we partner with fear, this disconnects us from the promises of God, convincing us that restoration is beyond reach. However, we stand armed with the truth that fear’s origin is not of our Heavenly Father. His Word equips us with the power, love and sound mind needed to triumph over fear’s influence. Be encouraged; this power does not come from your own abilities but from the Holy Spirit infusing divine strength. Let’s take a brief look at each one. Power: The power of God is what you undoubtedly need and are calling on while standing for your marriage. Know that this supernatural force will come alongside you as you stand supernaturally for the restoration of your marriages. This power will enable you to face the storms of doubt, endure the trials of waiting and confront the uncertainties surrounding you and your marriage. The Holy Spirit will empower you to rise above the great challenges fear is throwing at you as you declare God’s truth even in the face of what appears hopeless. As you stand in the gap for your marriage, tap into this divine power that surpasses human limitations. With God’s power, you will find the courage to resist fear’s grip and the confidence to trust that He who began a good work in you will complete it. (Philippians 1:6) Love: We’ll talk more about the power of love in an upcoming day but today, I want you to know that love is the absolute demolisher of fear! 1 John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” This profound truth that perfect love drives out fear holds incredible significance as we stand for the restoration of our marriages. Fear often lurks in the shadows of doubt, attempting to weaken your faith and undermine your resolve. However, the perfect love that flows from God’s heart to yours is a powerful antidote to fear’s grip. When you immerse yourselves in this supernatural love, you find the courage to confront the fear that is all around you and the strength to face this challenge head-on. So today, allow God’s perfect love to destroy all aspects of fear flooding your heart and mind. Perfect love also enables you to extend forgiveness for something you once thought was unforgivable. Love bridges gaps, heals wounds and binds hearts together. As you stand for your marriage, allow this power of love to become a beacon, guiding you through moments of great pain and empowering you to persevere, no matter the challenges that come your way and even the fears you are facing. Sound Mind: Lastly, when standing for your marriage, fear is working overtime to cloud your thoughts and make it hard to operate in the mind of Christ, so to combat this tactic God gives us what He calls a sound mind. He desires you to approach your marriage with supernatural clarity, supernatural wisdom and supernatural discernment. Allow the sound mind of Heaven to direct your steps with a mind liberated from the chains of fear. Replace fear-driven thoughts with the unwavering truth found in God’s Word. Seek Spirit-led counsel from those who have been where you are now and trust that God is supernaturally moving in your marriage. So today, as you stand for your marriage to be restored, know that fear is not your friend and it is not from God! It is not a tool God uses, but it is a weapon of the enemy. Know that God equips you with everything you need to stand supernaturally in faith. His power is your foundation, His love is your driving force and His sound mind is your guiding compass. Today is the day to let go of fear and all of its lies and embrace the amazing truth that God is restoring your marriage!
