Highlights of Chapter 7
My Wonderful Counselor
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
—Isaiah 9:6
I hope that this chapter will help you to find our Wonderful Counselor who is free, knows what is really going on, and will guide and advise you just as He did for me.
Who has known the mind of the Lord? “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?” (Rom. 11:33–34). Speak to the Lord about what concerns you. Then sit quietly and hear from Him about each and everything that is coming against you so He can lead you to what you should do.
“. . . Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength.” Trusting in others to help or protect you will result in your heart turning “away from the LORD” (Read Jer. 17:5) and His protection, which is the only true protection anyone can ever have.
Ask God for ways that you may bless your husband, or your wayward son or daughter. This is not foolishness, but it is God’s way of blessing you!
Yet when you seek first, and only, His kingdom and His righteousness for your situation, all these things, will be added to you!
A defeat for you. “Actually, then it is already a defeat for you, that you should have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” (1 Cor. 6:7). This is your answer: if you go into court with your husband or in regard to your children, it is already a defeat for you. You may get the money or the possessions or custody, but you will lose what God intended to bless you with— you will lose the inherited blessings of the Lord!
No one will see the Lord. “Pursue peace with all men, and sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14–15). If you wish to act as Christ acted (Jesus was totally innocent) remember that He “opened not His mouth in defense,” (1 Pet. 2:23). God can begin to work in every life that is around you because you are planting seeds of life by your trust and obedience, and no longer giving the enemy fuel for destruction.
Put away. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away with all malice” (Eph. 4:31).
You have His promise: “When a man’s ways [your ways] are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov. 16:7).
“Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs” (Isa. 61:7).
“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
Do you see that it clearly says “my God” shall supply all your needs, not “my husband” or even “my job” so keep your mind fixed on this promise and keep it hidden in your heart because, my dear, it is true!!
Whenever things begin to come against you, read this verse to build your faith in the Lord, “Lord, there is no one besides Thee to help us in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in Thee, and in Thy name have come against this, O Lord. Thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee” (2 Chron. 14:11).
Then I could bear it. If you wonder if you are all alone, trust me, God does understand what you are going through. Read some of Psalm 55—He’s speaking directly to you. Beginning in verse 6, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. I would hasten to my place of refuge, from the stormy wind and tempest.” Verses 12–14: “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend, we who had sweet fellowship together . . .”
Steal, and kill, and destroy. And for those of you have “flown away” (as it says in the verse above) go back home. The enemy is in his glory because he has again managed to divide and conquer. Remember, he is a thief and will use our fear or even anger to get us to do what we “thought” was right. “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Give God the victory and the testimony by turning this around for His glory! Instead of throwing away “your cross” (your troubled marriage or your wayward son or daughter), pick it up again and follow Him!
Take up his cross daily. “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me’” (Luke 9:23).
The flesh will wear you out and break you down. Let go of all the problems you are facing, pursue the Lord and let God restore your family to Him. Use this time to fall in love with the Lord with a passion! If your cross feels too heavy to bear, there are burdens on your cross that you have put there. He does not lie and He has promised that He wouldn’t give us more than we could bear! “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your soul. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:29–30).
There is no one besides Thee. Now let us together pray as Asa prayed in 2 Chronicles 14:11: “Lord, there is no one besides Thee to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in Thee, and in Thy name have come against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee.”
Don’t follow the world’s way; trust only in Him. Fall in love with Him. And I promise you that the Lord will never let you down and will provide for all of your needs: financial, physical and emotional.
Still, it often takes going through the fire of endurance (with Him) to reach the victory He has waiting for you.