GODLY SORROW!
Yet not I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
We are praying for many prodigal spouses and prodigal children to turn their hearts toward home this month of November for Thanksgiving. Will you pray for your prodigal husband, wife or child to have "godly sorrow" for their sins?
We are praying that the Lord will speak to prodigals many times a day for them to turn from their sinful lifestyle or blatantly doing things that are wrong in God's eyes such as lying or living in sin. How many men and women fall into Satan’s trap by starting to lie about little things which turn into lying about big things regarding secrets or unfaithfulness? Often the enemy will start attacking even a Christian by them telling "white lies." Do your children hear you telling lies to others? What are you teaching them to do?
The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. Proverbs 12:12
Do you know how many marriages start falling apart by one or both spouses lying to each other about money, friendships, people at work or they may lie to family members and friends? You need to be careful that you do not fall into Satan’s trap and become blinded or deceived and start exaggerating circumstances about your spouse. May you examine your own speech and what you say to others or even to your beloved spouse. Do not lie. You are opening the door to the enemy.
But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. James 3:8-10
An unrepentant person can be sorry for the consequences of their sin, yet they are not sorry enough to change their actions, regardless of how many people that they may be hurting. The repentant person has a genuine "godly sorrow" for the sins they have done or are doing and seeks to have a transformation of their heart by the power of the Holy Spirit who causes conviction to turn them from their sins to God. That is what we are going to be praying for specifically the next six weeks for all the prodigal husbands, wives and prodigal children of all ages.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekiel 36:26-27
In the Nelson's Three-In-One Bible Reference companion, "repentance" means: turning away from sin and changing one's behavior. Repentance is a process of transformation of character and attitudes. Oh, may that be your prayer every day for your beloved spouse, to repent from their sinful behavior and lifestyle.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
"...Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!" Ezekiel 18:30-32
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10
Every prodigal spouse who is on the road to marriage restoration must learn to seek the Lord and pray through many different issues, learning how to react as the Lord wants them to react. Just pray for your husband or wife and lay them at the Lord's feet daily.
The first step in having a restored marriage is to ask Jesus Christ into your life and into the mess of your marriage. You need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior of your life. God, the Creator of the universe, is wanting a personal relationship with you and to have intimate conversations with you daily. Have you received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of your life? When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will save you and become your Comforter, Counselor, Defender, Advocate and Friend in the days ahead, regardless of your circumstances.
Here is a prayer you can pray:
"Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and that You rose again on the third day. I confess to You that I am a sinner and that I need Your love and forgiveness. Come into my life, forgive me for my sins, and give me eternal life. I confess to You now that You are my Savior and I want you to be Lord of my life. I surrender every part of my life to You, Lord. Thank You for my salvation. Lord, show me Your will and way for my marriage to be resurrected and restored. Mold me and make me to be the spouse I need to be for my husband or wife. Thank You for rebuilding my marriage on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. I pray this in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen."
You may not have the assurance of your salvation but go to church regularly. If that describes you, then sincerely pray the above prayer. Then know for certain that you are a child of the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here is a personalized prayer for you to pray for your husband or wife for their salvation and their repentance:
"Lord, I pray for the salvation and marriage restoration of every prodigal spouse who is away from You. I am praying for my husband or wife to have godly sorrow, bringing them to repentance. Lord, open their spiritual eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of their sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in You. Lord, go touch, rescue and deliver them from Satan's trap and prison. Bring my beloved spouse home quickly. Lord, bring all the other prodigal children home to their waiting spouses. I know nothing is too hard for You to do. I pray this in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen."
I am certain that every prodigal spouse who has returned home, (and there are many), are so very thankful that their husband or wife did not give up on them. Don't give up on your God or on your spouse during the holidays this year.
Have a blessed day,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Yet not I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
We are praying for many prodigal spouses and prodigal children to turn their hearts toward home this month of November for Thanksgiving. Will you pray for your prodigal husband, wife or child to have "godly sorrow" for their sins?
We are praying that the Lord will speak to prodigals many times a day for them to turn from their sinful lifestyle or blatantly doing things that are wrong in God's eyes such as lying or living in sin. How many men and women fall into Satan’s trap by starting to lie about little things which turn into lying about big things regarding secrets or unfaithfulness? Often the enemy will start attacking even a Christian by them telling "white lies." Do your children hear you telling lies to others? What are you teaching them to do?
The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. Proverbs 12:12
Do you know how many marriages start falling apart by one or both spouses lying to each other about money, friendships, people at work or they may lie to family members and friends? You need to be careful that you do not fall into Satan’s trap and become blinded or deceived and start exaggerating circumstances about your spouse. May you examine your own speech and what you say to others or even to your beloved spouse. Do not lie. You are opening the door to the enemy.
But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. James 3:8-10
An unrepentant person can be sorry for the consequences of their sin, yet they are not sorry enough to change their actions, regardless of how many people that they may be hurting. The repentant person has a genuine "godly sorrow" for the sins they have done or are doing and seeks to have a transformation of their heart by the power of the Holy Spirit who causes conviction to turn them from their sins to God. That is what we are going to be praying for specifically the next six weeks for all the prodigal husbands, wives and prodigal children of all ages.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekiel 36:26-27
In the Nelson's Three-In-One Bible Reference companion, "repentance" means: turning away from sin and changing one's behavior. Repentance is a process of transformation of character and attitudes. Oh, may that be your prayer every day for your beloved spouse, to repent from their sinful behavior and lifestyle.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
"...Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!" Ezekiel 18:30-32
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10
Every prodigal spouse who is on the road to marriage restoration must learn to seek the Lord and pray through many different issues, learning how to react as the Lord wants them to react. Just pray for your husband or wife and lay them at the Lord's feet daily.
The first step in having a restored marriage is to ask Jesus Christ into your life and into the mess of your marriage. You need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior of your life. God, the Creator of the universe, is wanting a personal relationship with you and to have intimate conversations with you daily. Have you received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of your life? When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will save you and become your Comforter, Counselor, Defender, Advocate and Friend in the days ahead, regardless of your circumstances.
Here is a prayer you can pray:
"Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and that You rose again on the third day. I confess to You that I am a sinner and that I need Your love and forgiveness. Come into my life, forgive me for my sins, and give me eternal life. I confess to You now that You are my Savior and I want you to be Lord of my life. I surrender every part of my life to You, Lord. Thank You for my salvation. Lord, show me Your will and way for my marriage to be resurrected and restored. Mold me and make me to be the spouse I need to be for my husband or wife. Thank You for rebuilding my marriage on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. I pray this in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen."
You may not have the assurance of your salvation but go to church regularly. If that describes you, then sincerely pray the above prayer. Then know for certain that you are a child of the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here is a personalized prayer for you to pray for your husband or wife for their salvation and their repentance:
"Lord, I pray for the salvation and marriage restoration of every prodigal spouse who is away from You. I am praying for my husband or wife to have godly sorrow, bringing them to repentance. Lord, open their spiritual eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of their sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in You. Lord, go touch, rescue and deliver them from Satan's trap and prison. Bring my beloved spouse home quickly. Lord, bring all the other prodigal children home to their waiting spouses. I know nothing is too hard for You to do. I pray this in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen."
I am certain that every prodigal spouse who has returned home, (and there are many), are so very thankful that their husband or wife did not give up on them. Don't give up on your God or on your spouse during the holidays this year.
Have a blessed day,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
