“It is not so true that “prayer changes things” as that prayer changes me and I change things. God has so constituted things that prayer on the basis of Redemption alters the way in which a man looks at things. Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man’s disposition.” Quote By~Oswald Chambers
Paradox: A Constant Is Change
In a military family, you can be assured that not much remains the same. There are always fluctuations a foot and some of these change shakes your foundation to the roots as you hurry up to wait. In my not so distant memory, I can remember a surprise, unplanned deployment to Afghanistan that shook us up as a family and it felt more than what we could handle. As a military family, how do you view change? Do you dread it? Do you anticipate it? Do you micromanage it? Does it make you feel weary? Change is inevitable within a military family and it will either cause you to power through it, or it will increase your faith as you grow through it by the strength of God in you.
There are times when “human will power” is just not enough. I can think of many times my human will was just not good enough to power through some of our military family life scenarios. I remember falling from the platform of a strong will that could not hold the burden of my weariness and how bitterly defeated my emotions were as I crashed willessly to a place of failure. Our human nature tends to press through things with a strong will, struggling in private, worn on the inside, yet putting up a façade of “military strong” on the outside. We “will through” difficult deployments and it “fleshes us out” of all human strength and emotional fortitude. Then, we usually end up emotionally crashing and burning in frustration and anger that ends up being thrown up all over our family life.
Jesus replied, “Where is your faith? Can’t you see how wayward and wrong this generation is? How much longer do I stay with you and put up with your doubts? Bring your son to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him and the boy was instantly healed! Later the disciples came to him privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we cast out the demon?” He told them, “It was because of your lack of faith. I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do! But this kind of demon is cast out only through prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17: 17-20 The Passion Translation
“Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.” Quote By~Warren Wiersbe
Will-Power Up Or Faith Up?
Strife in military family life is manifested most, in times of change, as you transition from base to base and deployment to deployment. Moving can change the atmosphere in a military family, as the strife grows more tense when you are depending upon your own self strength and it continues to fail you. Change is inevitable, yes, but how you “grow through” the change is not. You decide. Strong arm through it, or depend upon Jesus, and be infused with His strength, which transpires a frail stretch into a strong time. Are you going to power up your will or faith up your right living? The path to the right choice is paved with heartfelt surrender, bowed in heart before God, and it is in this position God lifts us up with His power. Depend on God and Faith Up!
Growing Through Change
Nothing is impossible for us when we set aside our doubts, dreads, and discouragement and wholly-holy believe in Jesus. Letting go of what we “think” through our worldly viewpoint is key. We must have the mind of Christ, we must live out of a Kingdom Perspective, this will increase our faith. Fasting and prayer increases our faith, because it decreases the strength of our flesh, it fleshes us out. When we “flesh out”, God’s truth floods in and increases the territory of His Kingdom in us, by raising a standard of righteousness higher than our human condition. We have less anger outbursts in times of family change, because stress is trumped by our genuine faith, which is not will powered but God powered. There is no power higher more powerful than that of Jesus and we need to tap into it. Jesus is more than enough for our military family in times of change. Dig your life roots deeply in Jesus and Faith Up!
This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness—a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith. This is what the Scripture means when it says: “We are right with God through life-giving faith!” Romans 1:17 The Passion Translation
“From morning to night keep Jesus in thy heart, long for nothing, desire nothing, hope for nothing but to have all that is within thee changed into the spirit and temper of the holy Jesus.” Quote By~William Law
A Military Family is in a unique place of it’s own and pretty much are the best of us. So many sacrifices are made for the freedom and liberty of others to be served and protected by Military Families. I have been in a military family most of my life and have a lot of passion for them. Operation Prayer Encouragement is just what it sounds like, intentionally loving, praying for and encouraging military family members. I hope this post blesses you, please pass it on to other Military Families. I also encourage you to purchase, The Bridegroom’s Voice, it is a book like no other, that will increase your faith as you listen up to God’s Word and hear His incredible voice. It is one of the best God Adventures you can take as you Journey with Jesus through many areas of growth. Faith Up! God bless you, Much… KimberlyMac
