Testimony: Tessia Reeves
AUTHOR: Tess Reeves. I’ve loved Our Creator for decades and never grow weary of hearing from Him. I was entrusted with Keith, my husband of 28 yrs. As if that wasn’t enough, he helped me to raise 2 magnificent daughters (Jessica, 25yo and Jalyn, 22yo). I love our nondenominational church in Gainesville, VA and can be found regularly volunteering with our Outreach ministry. Nursing and Caregiving encourages my heart and keeps me connected with precious others.
AUTHOR: Tess Reeves. I’ve loved Our Creator for decades and never grow weary of hearing from Him. I was entrusted with Keith, my husband of 28 yrs. As if that wasn’t enough, he helped me to raise 2 magnificent daughters (Jessica, 25yo and Jalyn, 22yo). I love our nondenominational church in Gainesville, VA and can be found regularly volunteering with our Outreach ministry. Nursing and Caregiving encourages my heart and keeps me connected with precious others.
Matt 6:8 “Do not be like them, for your Father
knows what you need before you ask him.” (ESV)
Lately I’ve felt convicted to get serious about spiritual disciplines. Desperate to hear from God, I sat in solitude for 10 minutes to begin this journey. I cut out all sensory distractions and stared at the bare branched crape myrtle through my window.
Ok God. Show me my heart. You know my worries, my yearnings for peace in my marital relationship and how much I don’t desire bitterness and resentful seeds to grow in my heart. You know that this is where I have been struggling lately. You know when I sit and when I lie down. I stayed there focused, open and fully surrendered. Nothing happened. Or so I thought.
Excited to practice a day of sabbath the next day, I scurried around the house cleaning and finishing up laundry. I’m the “Martha” continually desiring to be more of a “Mary.” (See Luke 10: 38-42.) Historically, I’ve started and stopped taking the sabbath command seriously. No more! As I’m getting all of my boxes checked while working around the house, I hear this from the Lord: “Go to Keith’s event tomorrow.”
Come again, Holy Spirit? You mean that presentation he’s doing in MD to a classroom of aviation wanna-be high school students? (Keith is an airline pilot and mentor for aviation enthusiasts) He’s asked frequently to do presentations about his flying career. I normally opt out of attending, preferring to have some “me time.”
Once Keith got over the shock of me asking to accompany him, we ironed out the details for the day. I put everything aside. Actually, I had nothing to put aside because it was all done the day before. Remember my prepping to have a day of sabbath? This freed me up to be fully present with my husband, helping him tote in the visual aids, taking pictures, and mentally cheering him on. I was mindful to be patient as he gave advice to the eager young men and women. Honestly, I didn’t find it hard to be fully present and at peace. This was the Lord’s doing.
Honest affection rose up in me for him, peace in my soul, and we enjoyed great conversation on the hour-long drive there and back. Keith’s response was one of utter delight and gratitude for my help and genuine presence in what interested him the most.
In my quiet time later that day, I picked up Lynn’s book “Marching Around Jericho”. My bookmark was on Chapter 8. The Spouse Effect. Pg 85-88.
My jaw dropped.
“Abiding with God reduced conflict, irritation, selfishness in me and, surprisingly, also in my husband. My intimacy with God determined the spiritual temperature in our house. Jesus and I became the thermostat, not my husband’s unbelief or worldly viewpoints” pg 86
This revelation of abiding in and listening to Him is a practice I now want to continue to develop. How grateful I am for a God who knows more than I know myself, what I need. Today I am assured beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is as close as my breath, loving my soul and guiding me as the Perfect Counselor and friend. He knows better than me, exactly what I need! I’m so encouraged that following his statutes leads to heart transformation. Thank you, Lynn, for your book and God’s timing in me soaking it in as a way of revealing his love to me.
How is your faith changing the climate of your home and marriage? I’ll see you in the comments. Tessia
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