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May, 2004

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In 1999 we formed an Alumni group to encourage and promote ongoing healing in reconciled couples. Since that time we have designed a quarterly newsletter especially for our ever-growing list of healed couples. We know that continued support and prayer is needed, and are pleased to add this new page especially for our Covenant Couples. Click on the logo above to go to the Covenant Couples page.

Covenant Maker, Covenant Keeper, Faithful God
By Janeen Herig

Often we read from the Word of God or hear preached from the pulpit, “God is a good God. God is able to heal, to provide all our needs, to deliver us out of all our troubles.” As covenant keepers we need these promises to become reality in our lives.

Like you, I searched God’s Word for His promises to me, and I came across these commonly recognized words in the 23^rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Since that time these verses have come alive in my life. Here is how it reads in the Living Bible: “Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! He lets me rest in meadow grass and leads me beside quiet streams. He restores my failing health. He helps me do what honors Him the most!” It is the last sentence of this passage, “He helps me do what honors Him the most!” that I want to examine further.

One of the first portions of scripture I learned in Sunday School was this passage, and I have read this Psalm since I was a child. Until I took a deeper look a few years ago and studied it more closely, the truth of it never reached my understanding. When the Lord brought it to my attention again more recently, I began to ponder the last sentence quoted above and I asked the Lord, "For me, what can I do that honors you the most?" What I heard in my spirit was this, "The willingness to be obedient." ("If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." Isaiah 1:19 AMP)

When God called me to take a stand to honor my marriage covenant, I knew little or nothing about the strength of this covenant. At the time our marriages are coming apart, as we all have experienced, we hurt because things are happening that we never believed could happen to us. Today, I look back to that time, when everything important to me seemed lost, and know that is the time when my faithful God made His presence known to me.

The Lord stepped in when He heard my cry for help and began to assist me to do what honors Him the most—to keep my marriage covenant alive. One day at a time He revealed His Word to me; His truth opened up to me and the joy of the Lord truly became my strength.

Here is what verse four of the 23^rd Psalm says, "Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding and guiding me all the way." Because of the joy I was learning, I could walk through those dark days. I also learned how faithful God is!

Not one step could I have taken because of my own strength or because of anything of myself; instead, I could walk the walk because my Abba Father promised to guard and guide me. He walks beside me every step of the way—I have not taken one step but that the Lord has been there with me, encouraging me. When the times were extremely difficult, He let me "rest in the meadow grass" and He led me "beside the quiet streams." He gave me time to rest. Many times He did "restore my soul."

Often our minds become too cluttered with the cares of this world and we need to cast all those cares on the Lord. Emotions become tense with so many responsibilities. Things seem overwhelming and our will to obey is truly tested! This is part of walking through our individual dark valleys—we all go through this experience as covenant keepers. This is the time when He is building our character. Patience will do her perfect work and we will be able to endure the hard times with joy.

The place of rest God provides in the midst of difficulty is where we receive refreshing and renewal. I have learned to take time with the Lord; it has become a very special time of fellowship alone with the Lord.

Verse five tells us that the Lord will "provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies…blessings overflow." No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in while we stand for healing for our marriages, our God provides for our every need. The enemy is a defeated foe! Jesus made us overcomers of this world; as we honor Him by honoring our covenant, the blessings of the Lord do overtake us, including the restoration of our marriages.

When David and his men came home to Ziklag (1 Samuel 30) and found all their homes destroyed and everything stolen, including their wives and children, David encouraged himself in the Lord and asked, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? The Lord answered him, 'Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.'" As you read further in this account, you learn that David and his men did recover all that was missing and garnered spoils besides.

Many Christian leaders say that this is the time to recover all. Covenant Keepers slogan for this year is God Will Do More In 2004. We need to keep our spiritual ears open because we live in exciting times. We need to keep saying that this is the time to recover all. We covenant keepers will recover all, including the spoils!

As I prepared this message I looked back over all the Lord has revealed to me through this walk. As I said earlier, I thought I had lost everything that was important to me, but I discovered that I have gained the most precious possession of all: a relationship with my faithful Heavenly Father.

Continuing through Psalm 23 verse six declares, "Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home." To me, that is the most wonderful promise and I want that for my family. So when we stand on the promises of God, we will recover all! He is the faithful Covenant Keeper.