The seeds have been sown, now I must wait until God's appointed time for the harvest. In the meantime, I will still seek to please Him. I will still read the Dares daily and seek guidance and creativity from God to be obedient to him while respecting her wishes and not circumventing her blocking my texts, unless prompted by God.
I heard in a message the other night that if you preach about something, expect ot be tested on it. This is a great opportunity for me to please God by adherring to Day 13. I will not react out of anger or desperation to the block on my text. I will not find other ways to communicate with her. I will trust completely in God in that He knows exactly what He is doing. I will continue to love and honor Melanie in whatever way that is pleasing to God first. I will continue to pray for her heart to be touched in a way that she will accept Christ as her savior so that she can have a personal relationship with Him. I will also pray for restoration of our marriage, not to what it was, but to the way God intended it to be.... a way that glorifies God to the world! I will lift her up daily so that she will be filled with peace and joy and strength. I will pray for her kids salvation as well.
A co-worker, a very attractive co-worker that I am guitly of flirting with both before and after the sepation, asked my about wearing my wedding ring. I told her that I will honor my wife and marriage. I've made many decisions in the past that I find it difficult to live with now. I want to make decisions that I know that I can live with years from now.
Honoring Melanie as my wife, regardless of the circumstance, honors Christ. I know without doubt that that's a decision I can live with in the years to come.
That also humbles you in many ways... Now these woman that you used to flirt with know what is going on and you are still wearing your ring....
That can be humbling as well as a testimony! But be careful, it would also be easy to step over that line.
I've been so concerned about opportunities to be a testimony that I didn't realize until last night, and now emphasized by your reply, that I have been a testimony to many people. God has used my walk to touch more people than I realized.
I often pray, asking for encouragement to continue, and He always gives me that encouragement. But knowing that God has used my bad decisions and actions to touch other people's lives, to encourage them in their walk, whatever that may be, glorifies HIM! What other encouragement do I need!
Short answer: NONE!
Remember you story is important... It is what got you here. It shows how Christ can bless your life.
The past was nothing other than a blessing in Gods plan for you. Your experiences were what He needed you to go through to be that testimony He needs you to be.