I Believe, Therefore I See
by Marilyn Conrad

I recently heard the story of a young man who desired to attend Oral Roberts University. In fact, ORU was the university he knew God wanted him to attend. But his dream looked overwhelming, if not impossible. Family and friends encouraged him to enroll but he wouldn't because he did not have the finances. Unknown to him, a group of people was already prepared to pay his tuition for college: all four years. But the Holy Spirit told them he had to take the first step and apply. He had to step out in faith. I'm sorry to say that young man never attended ORU, even though God's provision was available.

The world says, "I see, therefore I believe." Faith says, "I believe, therefore I see." By faith we see our needs met before they manifest. By faith we see our marriages and families restored before it actually comes to pass.

According to Luke 1:35 there will be a performance of God's Word in our lives. Jeremiah 1:12 says, "God watches over His Word to perform it - to bring it to pass" Believe it. Obey it. And trust God to bring it to pass! Don't be discouraged. Habakkuk 2:3 says it will come to pass at God's timing. "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; (that's God's time-clock, not ours) it will hasten toward the goal and it will not fail; though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay." God will bring to completion what He has begun. Our responsibility is to trust Him and to allow Him to work in our own lives at the same time He is working in our mates. The "tarrying" time is a season of growth and development in us. The enemy of our souls would have us resist this time and be impatient. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that we need to develop in our lives. (Galatians 5:22) Without patience our faith will grow weak and we will faint. Jesus endured the cross for us so that we would not get weary. Hebrews 12:3 says, "For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart."

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised." Hebrews 10:23

Keep the faith that God has put in your heart. If you have been praying for a miracle, keep declaring God's promises! This is no time to back up, slack off or quit.

"Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." Hebrews 10:35-36 NAS

Webster defines victory as — "the over-coming of an enemy in battle - to be triumphant!" Friends, this is what our stands are all about. God wants us to have the victory. As the old song says, "We've got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative - don't mess with mister-in-between."

Victory is the opposite of defeat and the devil is defeated. This is what Jesus has already done for us, so I encourage you to fight for your husbands, your wives, your children, your friends, and your loved ones. The Red Sea will part!

I would also encourage you to become a member of a covenant group if there is one in your area. There you will find others like yourselves to stand with you, encourage you, and to pray with you.

I am reminded of a scripture in the Amplified Bible, Proverbs 24:3-4: "Through skillful and Godly wisdom is a house, a life, a home, a family built, and by understanding it is established on a sound and good foundation, and by knowledge shall the chambers of its every area be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." What a promise!

Perhaps you are thinking it is too late. "My home is destroyed. The foundation is cracked. There is no hope. It is too late for me." Not so!!! Don't believe the devil's lies. You can rebuild the walls just as Nehemiah did. You can acquire skillful and Godly wisdom by reading the Word and by developing a line of communication with the Father through prayer. You can win! God is on your side and so is every covenant keeper across this land. You are not alone.

BECKY: "When Wes told me he was leaving again, I couldn't believe it! We had remarried eight years earlier, after being divorced, and I didn't think I could go through it again. That morning as I stood in our room and prayed, I sensed that God was getting ready to do something miraculous. The first time, Wes had come home to me but not to God. If I gave up now, I would not receive the miracle I had been praying for all the years of our marriage. The next two years were not easy and I shed many tears, but the work God was doing in me prepared me to walk in unconditional love and forgiveness when Wes was ready to come home again, this time to God."

WES: "When I left home I was in control of my life and on top of the world. I quickly learned that Satan is the master of deception and trickery. When my world crumbled beneath my feet Satan laughed loudly at me. He had stolen my marriage, my family and my soul. The trip from top of the world to rock bottom occurred so quickly that I did not remember any of the points in between. I received a call late one night from Becky's pastor. He prayed with me and helped me see God's plan for my life. I began praying for God to make my life right again, but nothing happened. I became deeply depressed and was searching for a way to make all the pain go away. Becky asked me if I was praying for my will, or God's will for my life. That night I began to pray, 'not my will but Thy will be done.' I prayed throughout the night and at 7:30 the next morning God spoke to me with power that felt like I had been struck between the eyes. He told me to 'GO HOME.' I called Becky and she told me to come home. God had given her the strength and the faith for that moment. Thank God He is a forgiving and loving God."

We recommend Wes and Becky Smith's testimony tape from this year's conference. Becky stood for her marriage two different times. Although difficult, the second stand produced the change in Wes' life for which Becky had prayed. You may order it on the order page by just writing in "Smith's Testimony" the cost includes postage and handling. The cost is $5.00 to US addresses, $5.25 to Canadian addresses and $6.00 to all other International addresses. All funds must be in US dollars.