Every believer is on a different level of Christian growth and development!
Why are some Christians a joy to be around? They are full of faith, zeal, joy, inspiration and are always talking about the positive side of life. They are growing. They are a good example of a Bible believing Christian. The Christian life is a growing life. Every grace and blessing of the gospel is in seed form and is implanted in the new child of God to grow. "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18).
A Nutritionist is often consulted to examine the condition of sick people with certain diseases or physical weaknesses. At times, he may make certain recommendations that restore health and prolong life. Sometimes the only thing that is needed is for the sick person to change to a new diet and life style. If an evaluation is made and the sick person begins to make the change, it is amazing how quickly the body will respond and life will be restored again! It began with a check-up.
At times all of us need to take a check-up of our walk with God. Are we spiritually healthy and are we continually growing? Where are we in our daily commitment and obedience? How is your periodic check-up today? Ask yourself the following questions:
1. "Do I expect to meet God when I attend church, or do I attend only out of a sense of duty without any expectations?"
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23) If you attend church expecting to meet God, He will be sure to meet you. Hold fast to your faith. Expect Him to speak into your spirit with His Word. There will be a special Rhema Word just for you in every sermon, but you must be attentive and listening to know when it is spoken for you! Though the message may be a subject you think is not relative, it will actually minister not only to you but to everyone, differently, according to the many situations represented in that service. Why? Because much prayer by your pastor, church staff and prayer group drew the Holy Spirit into your service to meet people and their needs. Go to church expecting God to meet you. He is faithful.
2. "Do I prepare my heart for the preaching of God's Word before I attend the next service or do I at least pray for the service on my way to church?"
Praying for the service on the way to church will make a difference in your life and in the service you attemd!
In Korea, the 800,000 members of the Yoido Full Gospel (Assemblies of God) Church pray for Dr David Yonggi Cho and all 700+ pastors of their church during the week and especially before they enter the sanctuary for the next service. It is no wonder that when Dr Cho preaches, the anointing is so powerful on God's Word that many people are saved, healed or received answers to prayer in each of the seven services on Sunday. The Rhema Word that came forth strengthened many people and gave answers they needed. As they prayed for their pastor, his ministry back to them was with power which caused them to pray for him more, --which continued the anointing upon the Word and ministry! Think of what could happen in your church if everyone prayed during the week for your pastor and then prayed on their way to church too! It would bring the presence of God into the sanctuary for the service. People would be saved. Others would be healed or delivered of bondages and depression. God desires to work but He works only when we pray! If this thought stirs your heart you could be the first to be the example of praying for your pastor during the week or for a ministry that was entrusted to you! YOU can make a difference! Pray for the next service you attend.
3. "Do I take notes of the sermons and meditate on them during the week?"
Pastors spend a lot of time in prayer to know the leading of the Holy Spirit for each service. They spend time, sometimes even hours, in prayerful meditation before the Lord to receive a confirmation or to be sure they have the right sermon for that specific day and know what more God desires to do for His people in that service. The Holy Spirit knows who will be present. He knows every intricate detail and time deadline of needs present in each service. Though people may not share information with anyone, they go to church to hear from God. The Holy Spirit who sees all, knows they will be present so He directs the message for that service to be a special Word for someone. Knowing this, how wonderful it is to know that a special Word from God has come for a person and it is meeting a definite need for him in that service. If you have taken notes, God can use the notes to bless you or someone else who may cross your path that week. That would be a ministry assignment planned by God for you. Take notes of your pastor's sermons.
4. "Do I diligently seek to obey the instructions and commandments given in God's Word as being specific truth for me?"
I feel sad when I hear a lukewarm Christian say she believes God will make an exception for her if she does not obey the Word because God knows her weakness. God's Word is straightforward and true. "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34.)"To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' (James 4:17.)and sin will not enter Heaven. Examine your obedience to all of God's Word. If you are following his Word diligently with no exceptions, God wants to use you to speak a special Word at the right time to the right person in the right place that will convict, bring repentance and guide someone back to the truth again. Continue to be diligent to obey all of God's Word
5. "Have I made a commitment to be faithful to my church?"
Being faithful to worship with other believers is not an option. It is a command: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." (Hebrews 10:25.) The New Testament believers became an example for us to follow. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and prayers." (Acts 2:42.) God led you to the church you are attending and caused you to grow there. He has plans for you to continue to grow there. It happens as you continue to walk steadfastly in doctrine taught by your church, in fellowship with other believers in your church (both strong Christians and weak ones because you were also weak at one time), taking the elements of communion together in your church, and participating in the prayer groups that pray one for another.
At times you may see inconsistencies that trouble you, but because you see them, it means the situation is your personal assignment to pray for them until God solves the problem. He can solve anything when God's people pray. Everyone has a part in the building of God's kingdom. He meant that to include you. Though an issue may appear insignificant, if it disturbs your peace, it usually means God has assigned you to pray for that issue! That is a sign of growing and developing to the next level of God's trust in you!
David said in Psalm 72:13, "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall FLOURISH in the courts of our God." God's design for a church is to minister nourishment to you and for you to minister nourishment to others from the nourishment you received. His desire is for your spiritual man to flourish, --grow spiritually, mature steadily, be an encourager faithfully and be an example of the believer always. A steady diet of spiritual nourishment from the same church will bring more solid, steady growth to a believer than if one moves from church to church where the spiritual nourishment may not be what your soul needs. God looks for faithfulness while He takes care of you. Someday, when we stand in His presence He will know the grade on your report card for the issues in His Word that He desired you to take care of for Him. Make a new commitment to be faithful to your church.
Just as it takes time for a new born infant to grow to manhood, or for the sun to rise in the morning, or for a beautiful rose bud to bloom in all of its beauty, it also takes time for you to experience growth in your Christian walk with God. But it is definitely happening as you are faithful to remain planted in the church where the Holy Spirit led you. There, you will flourish
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To send a comment regarding an article, please feel free to press on the word "comment" at the end of an article, or send an email. I would like to hear from you. (LS)
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Saturday, September 29, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Fasting and Prayer
Faith needs the Word of God AND prayer for its full development and growth!
Prayer needs fasting to gain power to bring deliverance to people and circumstances that are difficult! Fasting has produced wonders when prayer and faith came together! They are MIRACLES and they are happening in this century today! They will still happen when people fast and pray because fasting with prayer will break the power of evil! Isaiah 58:6 says, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness!"
In Korea, Christians go often to "Prayer Mountain," owned and operated by the Yoido Full Gospel (Assemblies of God) Church in Seoul, Korea. I have heard many testimonies of diseases totally healed and/or circumstances completely reversed. Are the Korean people the only people who experience these phenominal answers to prayer? No! People from many countries who heard of Prayer Mountain made application to rent a room at Prayer Mountain and traveled to Korea to spend quaility time in prayer with other believers who are also fasting and praying. On any given day, as many as 2,000 people from all over Korea and/or other countries will have visited Prayer Mountain to spend quality time in prayer.
One outstanding incident that happened while I was still a missionary in Korea, concerned a businessman. He had just returned from the bank with the payroll for his employees when the entire money bag disappeared. Stunned and frightened as to what he should do, he called his Christian associates who worked with him and told them he was going to Prayer Mountain to fast and pray. He would return when he had an answer. This is a common decision among believers in Korea when there seems to be no other recourse. It was the middle of the week. He fasted and prayed asking God to supernaturally intervene and cause the person who took the payroll to return it. By that weekend he received a call. The person on the other end of the line confessed he was the one who stole the money and asked his boss, "If I return the entire amount will you forgive me and not turn me over to the police?" When he was assured he would be forgiven, the thief drove the 30 miles to Prayer Mountain and surrendered the payroll, still in the same bag, in the same amount of bills and change as the owner had received it from the bank. "Why didn't you spend it?" the owner asked. "Every time I put my hand in the bag," the thief said, "my hand began to tremble uncontrolably and I knew this was something different....maybe God was telling me to return it." The boss forgave the thief and led him to the Lord and today the would-be thief is a born again spirit-filled believer and one of the elders of the church! What a lesson! But the greater lesson was that fasting and earnest prayer brought the answer! Today, miracles are still happening when people are desperate and serious enough to fast and pray for their answer.
"ALL things are possible to him that believeth!" Mark 9:23.
Fasting is not abstaining from meats except fish. It is not drinking only juices but continuing with a heavy daily schedule, or abstaining from some pleasures but not others. It is coming away from the cares of life to pray, especially during the time you would normally have your meals. It is making a sacrifice of your time for God Who alone can bring a supernatural answer! It was said of the Israelites, "When you fast, you still do the things you enjoy. There is no self-denial. You fill up your day with things, business or pleasure. In other words, you set your own plans how you will fast!" It is best to follow the plan God directed Isaiah to give us. The question is "To see our family born again and have healing in our life, are we serious enough to fast and pray for it?"
In Isaiah 58:6, we read of God's purposes in fasting and praying:
1. To loose the bands of wickedness, perhaps over your family, city or from witchcraft.
2. To undo heavy burdens such as your need for finances to pay bills, to find a job that will last or family squabbles and bickering.
3. To let the oppressed go free. Today many people suffer from depression, being overcome with grief, working with ungodly work partners and experiencing defiance with children.
4. To break every yoke such as drugs, alcohol, perversion, unfaithfulness, sickness, a spreading disease or weakness, continual poverty and/or bad habits.
Isaiah 58:7-8 adds, Before you begin a fast "Hide not thyself from thy own flesh." Don't pretend all is well if you know it is not. Take care to confess, repent and mend family disputes first and then when you fast and pray, your prayers will not be hindered.
God has given us solutions in His Word to every situation: how to live in divine health, see our family return to the Lord, make us strong in the calling He placed in us, give direction when we don't know what to do and to break every bondage. The answers lie within our reach. The answer is to fast and pray!
Prayer needs fasting to gain power to bring deliverance to people and circumstances that are difficult! Fasting has produced wonders when prayer and faith came together! They are MIRACLES and they are happening in this century today! They will still happen when people fast and pray because fasting with prayer will break the power of evil! Isaiah 58:6 says, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness!"
In Korea, Christians go often to "Prayer Mountain," owned and operated by the Yoido Full Gospel (Assemblies of God) Church in Seoul, Korea. I have heard many testimonies of diseases totally healed and/or circumstances completely reversed. Are the Korean people the only people who experience these phenominal answers to prayer? No! People from many countries who heard of Prayer Mountain made application to rent a room at Prayer Mountain and traveled to Korea to spend quaility time in prayer with other believers who are also fasting and praying. On any given day, as many as 2,000 people from all over Korea and/or other countries will have visited Prayer Mountain to spend quality time in prayer.
One outstanding incident that happened while I was still a missionary in Korea, concerned a businessman. He had just returned from the bank with the payroll for his employees when the entire money bag disappeared. Stunned and frightened as to what he should do, he called his Christian associates who worked with him and told them he was going to Prayer Mountain to fast and pray. He would return when he had an answer. This is a common decision among believers in Korea when there seems to be no other recourse. It was the middle of the week. He fasted and prayed asking God to supernaturally intervene and cause the person who took the payroll to return it. By that weekend he received a call. The person on the other end of the line confessed he was the one who stole the money and asked his boss, "If I return the entire amount will you forgive me and not turn me over to the police?" When he was assured he would be forgiven, the thief drove the 30 miles to Prayer Mountain and surrendered the payroll, still in the same bag, in the same amount of bills and change as the owner had received it from the bank. "Why didn't you spend it?" the owner asked. "Every time I put my hand in the bag," the thief said, "my hand began to tremble uncontrolably and I knew this was something different....maybe God was telling me to return it." The boss forgave the thief and led him to the Lord and today the would-be thief is a born again spirit-filled believer and one of the elders of the church! What a lesson! But the greater lesson was that fasting and earnest prayer brought the answer! Today, miracles are still happening when people are desperate and serious enough to fast and pray for their answer.
"ALL things are possible to him that believeth!" Mark 9:23.
Fasting is not abstaining from meats except fish. It is not drinking only juices but continuing with a heavy daily schedule, or abstaining from some pleasures but not others. It is coming away from the cares of life to pray, especially during the time you would normally have your meals. It is making a sacrifice of your time for God Who alone can bring a supernatural answer! It was said of the Israelites, "When you fast, you still do the things you enjoy. There is no self-denial. You fill up your day with things, business or pleasure. In other words, you set your own plans how you will fast!" It is best to follow the plan God directed Isaiah to give us. The question is "To see our family born again and have healing in our life, are we serious enough to fast and pray for it?"
In Isaiah 58:6, we read of God's purposes in fasting and praying:
1. To loose the bands of wickedness, perhaps over your family, city or from witchcraft.
2. To undo heavy burdens such as your need for finances to pay bills, to find a job that will last or family squabbles and bickering.
3. To let the oppressed go free. Today many people suffer from depression, being overcome with grief, working with ungodly work partners and experiencing defiance with children.
4. To break every yoke such as drugs, alcohol, perversion, unfaithfulness, sickness, a spreading disease or weakness, continual poverty and/or bad habits.
Isaiah 58:7-8 adds, Before you begin a fast "Hide not thyself from thy own flesh." Don't pretend all is well if you know it is not. Take care to confess, repent and mend family disputes first and then when you fast and pray, your prayers will not be hindered.
God has given us solutions in His Word to every situation: how to live in divine health, see our family return to the Lord, make us strong in the calling He placed in us, give direction when we don't know what to do and to break every bondage. The answers lie within our reach. The answer is to fast and pray!
Friday, September 21, 2007
When God is Silent
It's interesting to note that there were times when God was silent to the very people whom He chose to use for special assignments.
Hezekiah was a great King who did all that was right in God's sight but he experienced God's silence when God's word to him may have changed the course of history in his day. God wanted to know if he would always consult Him in all of his decisions. "And God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart." (II Chronicles 32:31). When the Caldean astronomers came to inquire about the God who could turn the sun backward, instead of giving praise to God for the miracle,Hezekiah unwisely showed them all of his treasures. Later, Judah was invaded and all the rich treasures were taken to Assyria.
Though Hannah prayed to God earnestly for a child, she experienced grief and sorrow and God's silence. Careful reading of her life, we can conclude God had to prepare a Hannah before He could prepare a Samuel. Though not recorded in scripture, I perceive her strong intercessory prayer included her promise to pray for Samuel all the days of his life if God granted her request. She may have forseen his leadership role as a prophet and she may have vowed a promise to never take him away from his calling. Samuel became the second most outstanding prophet of his day. This is the power of a praying Mother!
Job was a man of great wealth and influence. He was blameless and a man of outstanding character. He suffered with unimaginable pain and loss yet God was silent during this period. He lost his family and wealth and his wife even told him to curse God and die. His life style of serving God and praying for each of his children tell us he was a righteous man. Through it all he maintained his integrity and said, "Though He slay me yet will I trust Him!" Job did not know that God had given permission to Satan to severely test him. He steadfastly confirmed that God does not forsake His children. When the testing time was over, God graciously restored twice as much as Job had before, but the great contest between Satan and God proved that Job loved God through all of his severe testing.
Can you say that?
Every believer will meet a time in his life when God will be silent but the silence should bring a time of soul searching to find out the reason. One comforting scripture for everyone who is being tested today, is God's promise: "There hath no temptation (or test) taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God's silence in our lives causes us to search for Him until we reach Him in prayer. Sometimes the silent period is the most important tool God uses to draw us unto Himself. If you are passing through a period when God is silent to you, don't be discouraged. It's testing time! When God is silent is the time to pray and ask Him to reveal the reason, if any, for His silence.
Hezekiah was a great King who did all that was right in God's sight but he experienced God's silence when God's word to him may have changed the course of history in his day. God wanted to know if he would always consult Him in all of his decisions. "And God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart." (II Chronicles 32:31). When the Caldean astronomers came to inquire about the God who could turn the sun backward, instead of giving praise to God for the miracle,Hezekiah unwisely showed them all of his treasures. Later, Judah was invaded and all the rich treasures were taken to Assyria.
Though Hannah prayed to God earnestly for a child, she experienced grief and sorrow and God's silence. Careful reading of her life, we can conclude God had to prepare a Hannah before He could prepare a Samuel. Though not recorded in scripture, I perceive her strong intercessory prayer included her promise to pray for Samuel all the days of his life if God granted her request. She may have forseen his leadership role as a prophet and she may have vowed a promise to never take him away from his calling. Samuel became the second most outstanding prophet of his day. This is the power of a praying Mother!
Job was a man of great wealth and influence. He was blameless and a man of outstanding character. He suffered with unimaginable pain and loss yet God was silent during this period. He lost his family and wealth and his wife even told him to curse God and die. His life style of serving God and praying for each of his children tell us he was a righteous man. Through it all he maintained his integrity and said, "Though He slay me yet will I trust Him!" Job did not know that God had given permission to Satan to severely test him. He steadfastly confirmed that God does not forsake His children. When the testing time was over, God graciously restored twice as much as Job had before, but the great contest between Satan and God proved that Job loved God through all of his severe testing.
Can you say that?
Every believer will meet a time in his life when God will be silent but the silence should bring a time of soul searching to find out the reason. One comforting scripture for everyone who is being tested today, is God's promise: "There hath no temptation (or test) taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God's silence in our lives causes us to search for Him until we reach Him in prayer. Sometimes the silent period is the most important tool God uses to draw us unto Himself. If you are passing through a period when God is silent to you, don't be discouraged. It's testing time! When God is silent is the time to pray and ask Him to reveal the reason, if any, for His silence.
Friday, September 14, 2007
The Designated Driver
Do you have a Designated Driver?
Traffic in a foreign country can be a challenge! Sometimes signs are printed only in the local language or there are no signs at all. Sometimes a major artery through the city can change to a "One Way" street for a short distance during construction and it becomes necessry to follow temporary signs through narrow winding detour roads to a destination. While we were serving as missionaries in Korea and Thailand, we had a part time driver. He knew the city well and the legitimate parking areas. He knew where we needed to go and he knew many short cuts that enabled us to arrive at our appointments on time. We could relax with confidence in heavy traffic because he knew the city very well. When I returned to Korea alone after my husband went on to be with the Lord, I had a driver also.We enjoyed close friendships with both of these drivers and their families. They became our designated drivers.
God knows the tomorrows of our life and knows Who can help us make the connections that will bring us to every appointment He assigned to us. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, warn us, keep us safe, and often to change our route in order to prevent us from missing a directional signal or experience something He saw ahead. The ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life is to guide you into all truth, and perfect all things that concern you. "When He the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth." (John 16;13). "He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6).
The Holy Spirit will even show us things to come. When we were finalizing plans to go to Korea as new missionaries, we were to travel by ship so that we could take many supplies with us. Days before we were to board the S.S.Nancy Lykes in Galveston, Texas, I felt troubled that something might happen. As usual, I spent a lot of time praying and asking the Lord to show me what this meant. Because we had last minute dental appointments, we needed to take our last shots, and had the last farewell dinners with family and friends, I felt there was not enough time to pray as we needed to.
On the day we were to board the ship, during my prayer time early in the morning, I had a vision of a great storn or typhoon on the ocean. The Holy Spirit made me to know, yes, we would go through a typhoon but "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27.) Our ship did go through that typhoon and what would have normally taken 10 days to travel to Korea, turned out to be 35 days on the water! The turbulent waves were 40 feet high! Our ship was tossed about like a tiny cork! The wind insruments blew away after registering 100 m.p.h! It was a frightening experience to say the least. Arriving in Seoul, I noticed the heavy one-inch stainless steel steps that led onto the ship had been ripped apart on one side and hung like wet spaghetti, but we arrived in Korea safely! Though I would not want to go through that typhoon again, the experience gave me a deeper appreciation and gratitude for the power and reassurance of God's Word: "Underneath are the everlasting arms!"
Though it was a painful experience while passing through it, the experience was what I needed in the years ahead to accomplish all God did in Korea and Thailand. God is faithful! I often thanked Him for showing me the typhoon to come and giving me a specific Word of reassurance that He was with us in the typhoon. I realized again and again how powerfully the Holy Spirit directed all the affairs of our lives to bring us to the land of our calling! He had shown me many things to come.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit also allows us to see how well He can protect us IN the middle of what could be a tragedy! Sometime ago, while on the expressway in Baton Rouge, a piece of 2x4 fell off a truck four vehicles ahead of us, landing in the middle of the expressway. It was during the rush hour. The driver of the car immediately behind the truck slammed on his brakes, swerved to miss the 2x4 and missed traffic in the next lane. Watching what was happening, drivers of the next three cars (and ours was the fourth) tried to avoid the 2x4 also. Everyone behind him hit his brakes suddenly , leaving a trail of black smoke and back tire marks. My daughter cried out aloud, "Jesus, Jesus!" and began to decide what she should do. To swerve to the right could have caused a possible collision with the next lane traffic. To swerve to the left, we were approaching the soft, uneven grassy shoulder that began to slope downward to traffic on a busy road under that area of the expressway. Suddenly each of the four drivers turned onto the soft shoulder hoping to miss the slope and not turn over on to the traffic below. Instantly there was a four car pile up. But as each driver got out quickly and checked on each other, only one car had touched the bumper of the car ahead of him and no one was injured! Two police cars were on the scene in minutes, followed by two ambulances. Miraculously it was uneventful! Everyone was shook up except the truck driver. He was probably lost somewhere in the traffic ahead. Driving home, I recognized the peace of God was very present in our car as if nothing had happened. Since we had prayed that morning and asked for divine protection, the Holy Spirit Himself had been our Protector, providing quick insight, directing our car supernaturally to a stop, and preventing what might have been a tragedy.
When we traveled in Korea and Thailand, we always asked the angel of the Lord to travel in front of our car, in back of our car, on both sides, over and under it and be in it with us! Our two children and their families still pray that simple prayer before taking an extended trip. In the Psalms David said, "For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalm 91:11) His Word proved to be true again that day!
We need a Guide everyday, one we can depend on to lead us when we are in uncharted areas of life, in decision making, in choices and to guide us back into the Way with Christ if we begin to falter or take a detour away from Him. We need a Guide who knows the unmarked paths in the new areas we are moving into. Jesus said He would send One who could fill all those needs. His name is the Holy Spirit! (John 15). He will become all you need for all the happenings in your life! He will be like a Designated Driver because He knows the way Home! Let Him be yours!
Traffic in a foreign country can be a challenge! Sometimes signs are printed only in the local language or there are no signs at all. Sometimes a major artery through the city can change to a "One Way" street for a short distance during construction and it becomes necessry to follow temporary signs through narrow winding detour roads to a destination. While we were serving as missionaries in Korea and Thailand, we had a part time driver. He knew the city well and the legitimate parking areas. He knew where we needed to go and he knew many short cuts that enabled us to arrive at our appointments on time. We could relax with confidence in heavy traffic because he knew the city very well. When I returned to Korea alone after my husband went on to be with the Lord, I had a driver also.We enjoyed close friendships with both of these drivers and their families. They became our designated drivers.
God knows the tomorrows of our life and knows Who can help us make the connections that will bring us to every appointment He assigned to us. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, warn us, keep us safe, and often to change our route in order to prevent us from missing a directional signal or experience something He saw ahead. The ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life is to guide you into all truth, and perfect all things that concern you. "When He the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth." (John 16;13). "He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6).
The Holy Spirit will even show us things to come. When we were finalizing plans to go to Korea as new missionaries, we were to travel by ship so that we could take many supplies with us. Days before we were to board the S.S.Nancy Lykes in Galveston, Texas, I felt troubled that something might happen. As usual, I spent a lot of time praying and asking the Lord to show me what this meant. Because we had last minute dental appointments, we needed to take our last shots, and had the last farewell dinners with family and friends, I felt there was not enough time to pray as we needed to.
On the day we were to board the ship, during my prayer time early in the morning, I had a vision of a great storn or typhoon on the ocean. The Holy Spirit made me to know, yes, we would go through a typhoon but "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27.) Our ship did go through that typhoon and what would have normally taken 10 days to travel to Korea, turned out to be 35 days on the water! The turbulent waves were 40 feet high! Our ship was tossed about like a tiny cork! The wind insruments blew away after registering 100 m.p.h! It was a frightening experience to say the least. Arriving in Seoul, I noticed the heavy one-inch stainless steel steps that led onto the ship had been ripped apart on one side and hung like wet spaghetti, but we arrived in Korea safely! Though I would not want to go through that typhoon again, the experience gave me a deeper appreciation and gratitude for the power and reassurance of God's Word: "Underneath are the everlasting arms!"
Though it was a painful experience while passing through it, the experience was what I needed in the years ahead to accomplish all God did in Korea and Thailand. God is faithful! I often thanked Him for showing me the typhoon to come and giving me a specific Word of reassurance that He was with us in the typhoon. I realized again and again how powerfully the Holy Spirit directed all the affairs of our lives to bring us to the land of our calling! He had shown me many things to come.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit also allows us to see how well He can protect us IN the middle of what could be a tragedy! Sometime ago, while on the expressway in Baton Rouge, a piece of 2x4 fell off a truck four vehicles ahead of us, landing in the middle of the expressway. It was during the rush hour. The driver of the car immediately behind the truck slammed on his brakes, swerved to miss the 2x4 and missed traffic in the next lane. Watching what was happening, drivers of the next three cars (and ours was the fourth) tried to avoid the 2x4 also. Everyone behind him hit his brakes suddenly , leaving a trail of black smoke and back tire marks. My daughter cried out aloud, "Jesus, Jesus!" and began to decide what she should do. To swerve to the right could have caused a possible collision with the next lane traffic. To swerve to the left, we were approaching the soft, uneven grassy shoulder that began to slope downward to traffic on a busy road under that area of the expressway. Suddenly each of the four drivers turned onto the soft shoulder hoping to miss the slope and not turn over on to the traffic below. Instantly there was a four car pile up. But as each driver got out quickly and checked on each other, only one car had touched the bumper of the car ahead of him and no one was injured! Two police cars were on the scene in minutes, followed by two ambulances. Miraculously it was uneventful! Everyone was shook up except the truck driver. He was probably lost somewhere in the traffic ahead. Driving home, I recognized the peace of God was very present in our car as if nothing had happened. Since we had prayed that morning and asked for divine protection, the Holy Spirit Himself had been our Protector, providing quick insight, directing our car supernaturally to a stop, and preventing what might have been a tragedy.
When we traveled in Korea and Thailand, we always asked the angel of the Lord to travel in front of our car, in back of our car, on both sides, over and under it and be in it with us! Our two children and their families still pray that simple prayer before taking an extended trip. In the Psalms David said, "For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalm 91:11) His Word proved to be true again that day!
We need a Guide everyday, one we can depend on to lead us when we are in uncharted areas of life, in decision making, in choices and to guide us back into the Way with Christ if we begin to falter or take a detour away from Him. We need a Guide who knows the unmarked paths in the new areas we are moving into. Jesus said He would send One who could fill all those needs. His name is the Holy Spirit! (John 15). He will become all you need for all the happenings in your life! He will be like a Designated Driver because He knows the way Home! Let Him be yours!
Friday, September 7, 2007
The "Prayer of Authority"
Do you have authority over the happenings in your life?
While talking with His disciples one day, Jesus said, "Behold, I give unto you power.....over all the power of the enemy." (Luke 10:19). But in Greek, it reads "I give unto you AUTHORITY over all the power of the enemy!" There is a great difference between power and authority. Power is the ability to do something. Authority is power delegated to someone to act and take command in the place of another. When we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, He shared His authority with us just as He did with His disciples, to command the power of the enemy to depart in His name. All is ALL. There is nothing more than ALL and nothing less than ALL! Did you know Jesus shared His authority with you? Did you know you can take command over the enemy's onslaughts against you? Satan knows you have this authority. Do you?
Satan does have power! We cannot deny it. We see evidence of ruined lives. He has been responsible for evil and he has often been the author of accidents, sickness and many kinds of devastation around us. But Jesus reminds you in His Word that He defeated Satan at the cross for you. His part is finished. Now that He returned to His heavenly Father, you are His representative to continue to do the same work He did; and to do this He empowered you with His authority to take command over the works of the enemy just as He did. Your results will happen according to the power of Christ that works within you which comes and develops through a daily consistent prayer life!
How can you know this is true? First, because you are a born again believer, He said in Luke 10:19 "I give unto you power (translated "authority" in Greek)over ALL the power of the enemy." Second, He said His word will not return unto Him void. "So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11. He knew every believer would need supernatural power to be effective to preach, witness, pray for various needs in the lives of people, and over difficult personal situations that demand more than human effort. Why do some people reach out to specific people to pray for them? It's because they know who can pray the prayer of faith with authority for desperate situations. Every believer today needs this kind of power and it is available to you too, if you take time to allow the Holy Spirit to develop it in you, through your prayer life!
If we stood in the middle of a busy intersection and raised our hand to stop traffic, we would be mashed all over the street because we don't have enough power to stop traffic. But, if we had a badge of authority, stood in the same place and raised one hand to stop traffic, every vehicle would stop. They would see our badge and would know it represented approval from a higher authority to take command of the traffic! Satan knows you have authority. But do you know it? Have you used it and do you speak with that authority? You and I are living in the enemy's heavy traffic wherever we work, study or mingle with people who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but we also have divine help every day! Use it!
We work, pray, share our testimony and live a life of victory because we not only have authority to represent Jesus and His power but we have His authority to use it to do His Work! You can take command of the enemy's work against you or your family, or over those who concern you who once lived for God but drifted away!
The enemy may strike at you with defeatism, physical weakness, low self esteem, bad habits, anger, sharpness, every kind of sickness and bondage, lawlessness, sadness, problems in your marriage or relationships, hopelessness or negative speaking but don't get discouraged. Strike back at him with the Word of God! Remember that you have authority to take command and cancel his assignment! So speak the Word, "No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper....," then command him to depart in Jesus' name and he will depart!
Though every believer in Christ has received this authority, it must be used to see it in operation. A person can not receive it until it is given and one will not have to "take it by faith" after it is given. It was given to do the works of Christ: to witness, share the gospel, pray for the sick and bondages of many kinds, and live in victory. If you have never prayed with authority over your needs, you can begin today. Factors you need to know are these:
1. Repair your altar.... and prayerfully search your heart. Go again to the fountain filled with blood that Jesus shed for your sins. Confess any sins, repent, turn away from that which you know is not pleasing to God and renew your vows/commitment to Him.
2. Believe Jesus'words that He shared His authority with all believers (Luke 10:19) and He included you.
3. Read God's Word again and again until the Holy Spirit makes this truth real. Read again, "Behold, I give unto you....power (authority) over all the power of the enemy!" Remember that means you. Also read Matthew 16:19, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Keys are a symbol of authority. They mean power and authority to do the works of Christ wherever there are needs on your job, at the supermarket, hospital, home, among those with addictions and/or your personal weaknesses. It is His authority, not yours, but He freely shared it with you because you are His representative today. Praying with His authority will make the difference in your answers to prayer.
4. If you desire to experience the power of this truth, when you pray begin to take authority over personal issues in your own life first. Renewing the mind is a good place to start. If thoughts arise, "My family will never get back to God..." Stop! Renew your mind by taking authority over the negative words. Renounce them. Quote another scripture: "The weapons of our warfare (my warfare) are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (including my stronghold of negative speaking); casting down imaginations (doubts, my negative words about my family) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (because the enemy is trying to make those thoughts seem more powerful than God's promises) and bringing into captivity EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ." There is power in the Word of God! Speak the Word!
5. Then pray, "Father, I thank you for sharing your authority with me over ALL the works of the enemy (Luke 10:19). I stand on your Word now. I take authority over the negative thoughts and words that I have spoken, now. I cancel them now, in Jesus' Name! I choose to renew my mind by taking authority over other issues too, (and name them here one by one). I command them to depart in Jesus' Name. Thank you for victory now! Thank you Father for answering my prayer, in Jesus' Name!"
If you need healing in any area of your life, healing in your family problems, perhaps a stronghold of bitterness from one member of your family, finances, unknown factors in relationships in the work place and/or physical body healing, you can pray for these things to come under the authority Jesus shared with you. Speak to them one at a time naming the specific need (example): "I take authority over the "arthritis in my feet" or "poor circulation in my hands" etc., and standing on Jesus' declaration that He shared His authority with me, --I bind you arthritis in Jesus' Name according to Luke 10:19. I speak to you arthritis to develop no further. I command this condition to be reversed, in Jesus' Name! I command every cell in the area of my need to respond to the living Word of God, in Jesus' Name. I speak wholeness, wellness and supernatural strength for it is written, 'By His stripes ye WERE HEALED.' and 'No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper....' therefore, no weapon that is formed against me, shall prosper in Jesus Name!' Thank you Father for honoring your Word as I stood on it firmly, in Jesus' Name!" Following your prayer, it is important that you follow up with time to sit in God's presence to worship and thank Him for hearing and answering prayer.
As you take authority over areas of your life first that need to be changed, your faith to pray for other issues with authority, will grow. One day during prayer, you will notice your faith developed to a higher level and the prayer of authority finally became natural in your prayer life. One day, you will be able to command a hurricane to return to the ocean and dissolve without reaching land and also stop undercover plans at work.
God is faithful! His Word is true! You can live in victory with all He said He provided for you, and He will do all He promised He would do. His Word will not return unto Him void!
_______________________________________________________________
Email: Lydiahenryswain@aol.com
Blog: www.lifechangingprayer.blogspot.com/
To add a comment following any entry, just click on "o comment," wait,and type in your comment on the screen that will appear.
While talking with His disciples one day, Jesus said, "Behold, I give unto you power.....over all the power of the enemy." (Luke 10:19). But in Greek, it reads "I give unto you AUTHORITY over all the power of the enemy!" There is a great difference between power and authority. Power is the ability to do something. Authority is power delegated to someone to act and take command in the place of another. When we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, He shared His authority with us just as He did with His disciples, to command the power of the enemy to depart in His name. All is ALL. There is nothing more than ALL and nothing less than ALL! Did you know Jesus shared His authority with you? Did you know you can take command over the enemy's onslaughts against you? Satan knows you have this authority. Do you?
Satan does have power! We cannot deny it. We see evidence of ruined lives. He has been responsible for evil and he has often been the author of accidents, sickness and many kinds of devastation around us. But Jesus reminds you in His Word that He defeated Satan at the cross for you. His part is finished. Now that He returned to His heavenly Father, you are His representative to continue to do the same work He did; and to do this He empowered you with His authority to take command over the works of the enemy just as He did. Your results will happen according to the power of Christ that works within you which comes and develops through a daily consistent prayer life!
How can you know this is true? First, because you are a born again believer, He said in Luke 10:19 "I give unto you power (translated "authority" in Greek)over ALL the power of the enemy." Second, He said His word will not return unto Him void. "So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11. He knew every believer would need supernatural power to be effective to preach, witness, pray for various needs in the lives of people, and over difficult personal situations that demand more than human effort. Why do some people reach out to specific people to pray for them? It's because they know who can pray the prayer of faith with authority for desperate situations. Every believer today needs this kind of power and it is available to you too, if you take time to allow the Holy Spirit to develop it in you, through your prayer life!
If we stood in the middle of a busy intersection and raised our hand to stop traffic, we would be mashed all over the street because we don't have enough power to stop traffic. But, if we had a badge of authority, stood in the same place and raised one hand to stop traffic, every vehicle would stop. They would see our badge and would know it represented approval from a higher authority to take command of the traffic! Satan knows you have authority. But do you know it? Have you used it and do you speak with that authority? You and I are living in the enemy's heavy traffic wherever we work, study or mingle with people who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but we also have divine help every day! Use it!
We work, pray, share our testimony and live a life of victory because we not only have authority to represent Jesus and His power but we have His authority to use it to do His Work! You can take command of the enemy's work against you or your family, or over those who concern you who once lived for God but drifted away!
The enemy may strike at you with defeatism, physical weakness, low self esteem, bad habits, anger, sharpness, every kind of sickness and bondage, lawlessness, sadness, problems in your marriage or relationships, hopelessness or negative speaking but don't get discouraged. Strike back at him with the Word of God! Remember that you have authority to take command and cancel his assignment! So speak the Word, "No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper....," then command him to depart in Jesus' name and he will depart!
Though every believer in Christ has received this authority, it must be used to see it in operation. A person can not receive it until it is given and one will not have to "take it by faith" after it is given. It was given to do the works of Christ: to witness, share the gospel, pray for the sick and bondages of many kinds, and live in victory. If you have never prayed with authority over your needs, you can begin today. Factors you need to know are these:
1. Repair your altar.... and prayerfully search your heart. Go again to the fountain filled with blood that Jesus shed for your sins. Confess any sins, repent, turn away from that which you know is not pleasing to God and renew your vows/commitment to Him.
2. Believe Jesus'words that He shared His authority with all believers (Luke 10:19) and He included you.
3. Read God's Word again and again until the Holy Spirit makes this truth real. Read again, "Behold, I give unto you....power (authority) over all the power of the enemy!" Remember that means you. Also read Matthew 16:19, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Keys are a symbol of authority. They mean power and authority to do the works of Christ wherever there are needs on your job, at the supermarket, hospital, home, among those with addictions and/or your personal weaknesses. It is His authority, not yours, but He freely shared it with you because you are His representative today. Praying with His authority will make the difference in your answers to prayer.
4. If you desire to experience the power of this truth, when you pray begin to take authority over personal issues in your own life first. Renewing the mind is a good place to start. If thoughts arise, "My family will never get back to God..." Stop! Renew your mind by taking authority over the negative words. Renounce them. Quote another scripture: "The weapons of our warfare (my warfare) are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (including my stronghold of negative speaking); casting down imaginations (doubts, my negative words about my family) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (because the enemy is trying to make those thoughts seem more powerful than God's promises) and bringing into captivity EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ." There is power in the Word of God! Speak the Word!
5. Then pray, "Father, I thank you for sharing your authority with me over ALL the works of the enemy (Luke 10:19). I stand on your Word now. I take authority over the negative thoughts and words that I have spoken, now. I cancel them now, in Jesus' Name! I choose to renew my mind by taking authority over other issues too, (and name them here one by one). I command them to depart in Jesus' Name. Thank you for victory now! Thank you Father for answering my prayer, in Jesus' Name!"
If you need healing in any area of your life, healing in your family problems, perhaps a stronghold of bitterness from one member of your family, finances, unknown factors in relationships in the work place and/or physical body healing, you can pray for these things to come under the authority Jesus shared with you. Speak to them one at a time naming the specific need (example): "I take authority over the "arthritis in my feet" or "poor circulation in my hands" etc., and standing on Jesus' declaration that He shared His authority with me, --I bind you arthritis in Jesus' Name according to Luke 10:19. I speak to you arthritis to develop no further. I command this condition to be reversed, in Jesus' Name! I command every cell in the area of my need to respond to the living Word of God, in Jesus' Name. I speak wholeness, wellness and supernatural strength for it is written, 'By His stripes ye WERE HEALED.' and 'No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper....' therefore, no weapon that is formed against me, shall prosper in Jesus Name!' Thank you Father for honoring your Word as I stood on it firmly, in Jesus' Name!" Following your prayer, it is important that you follow up with time to sit in God's presence to worship and thank Him for hearing and answering prayer.
As you take authority over areas of your life first that need to be changed, your faith to pray for other issues with authority, will grow. One day during prayer, you will notice your faith developed to a higher level and the prayer of authority finally became natural in your prayer life. One day, you will be able to command a hurricane to return to the ocean and dissolve without reaching land and also stop undercover plans at work.
God is faithful! His Word is true! You can live in victory with all He said He provided for you, and He will do all He promised He would do. His Word will not return unto Him void!
_______________________________________________________________
Email: Lydiahenryswain@aol.com
Blog: www.lifechangingprayer.blogspot.com/
To add a comment following any entry, just click on "o comment," wait,and type in your comment on the screen that will appear.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
The "Prevailing Prayer"
When there is a life or death matter whether in sickness, danger or a seemingly impossible situation, it is time to pray without ceasing until you know your prayer touched God and the answer is on the way to you.
In Acts 12:1-11 is an account of a life or death matter that concerned Peter, the disciple of Jesus. King Herod had put him in prison and planned to execute him after the days of Unleavened Bread. The account reads that Peter slept between two soldiers bound with a chain to each of them and two more soldiers kept the door of his cell. All doors and the gate leading out to the city were securely locked. Every precaution had been taken to be sure Peter did not escape. But then the scene changes with the words, "....but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him." (Acts 12:5.)
The emphasis in this story was that there definitely was an urgent need to pray that Peter's life would be spared whether anyone could hear the urgent cry of his need or not. Peter still had a destiny to be filled. Peter did not have a fax or a cell phone to talk with the believers who met to pray. He was depending on the the Holy Spirit to keep them informed. The Holy Spirit has the best system of communication known and available to man today and He shares it with those who have a life or death matter facing them or with those who are willing to pray.
In spite of every known precaution being taken to secure Peter, when the Church prayed, the Holy Spirit worked and God moved. No precaution was strong enough to hold back the answers to their prayer. The prayer group probably prayed in shifts. Some probably prayed throughout the night while others slept. Others may have prayed throughout the day while the first shift slept. We really do not know how they prayed except it was without ceasing until Satan's plan was broken and defeated, until they touched God and an angel was dispatched to bring Peter's deliverance. The key word is "until."
At times, praying until you hear from God as the prayer group prayed for Peter, will make the difference whether you receive an answer or not. At other times you will be able to pray only once and have the assurance your prayer was heard immediately. One is a spirit of intercession sent by the Holy Spirit to hold back or break the power of evil for a given situation. The other is the prayer of faith that reaches out in faith and returns with the answer.
With God all things are possible. All is ALL! There's nothing more than ALL but God chooses to make all things possible when we accept an assignment to pray and stay with it until we have a witness in our heart that we have prevailed. Prayer will always open a way to bring the answer to every part of any of our conflicts, desires or needs, too.
Several years ago while I was still serving as a missionary in Korea, I began to feel troubled about my daughter during one February. When I called the family from Korea she always said everyone was well. Her three babies were a joy to listen to on the long distance call. But somehow my troubled feeling would not leave no matter how much I prayed. Usually I was able to pray through anything and know that God had answered but this time seemed to be different. March came and nothing changed. April, May, June and July came and the need seemed to grow stronger with a feeling of foreboding, a strong inner certainity of danger. By December there still was no change but now my times of prayer went into intercession. I refused to be comforted until the heaviness lifted.
One day in December I determined I would pray until I heard from God no matter how long it would take and sometime during that night peace came at last. The foreboding was still there but I knew whatever would happen, my daughter would live through it. The following February she and her husband went on a skiing trip and you can believe I followed them in my thoughts all the way to Colorado and all the way back home as I reminded the Lord that He promised she would live through the unknown that was ahead of her.
On the flight home, my daughter and her husband said they felt uneasy but agreed they needed to remain seated. About fifteen minutes before landing, suddenly a passenger got up, went to the emergency door on the side of the plane and to the horror of everyone,he swung the large handle until it opened the emergency door. Fortunately, two pilots were sitting nearby who grabbed him quickly. The plane began to descend and the oxygen masks came down as the plane lost pressure! Amazingly the plane landed safely minutes later without one problem! Later, when they called me in Korea, my daughter said, "Oh Mom, you won't believe what happened on our trip!" I said, "I probably will, tell me." While she was recounting the incident, I had a vision of her walking to the restroom and at the moment the door swung open, she would have been sucked out of the plane, falling head down then sideways, with her blonde hair flying in all directions. BUT... God had intervened because I chose to pray UNTIL I prayed through. For many months, I felt again and again that God gave her back to me only because of prayer! To God be all the glory!
As for Peter, an angel was dispatched to bring deliverance. Though guards were placed at the door of his cell, they did not awaken when the angel walked through the locked doors. As the chains fell off Peter they still did not awaken. As the angel and Peter left the prison, every door and the gate to the city opened to them. When the angel had filled his assignment, Peter was free because the Church had prayed "without ceasing" until their assignment was finished.
God has not changed! All things are still possible to Him that believeth, to those who will prevail in prayer until they have the answer! May God move on us until we develop a greater prayer life to meet the challenges that face us today!
In Acts 12:1-11 is an account of a life or death matter that concerned Peter, the disciple of Jesus. King Herod had put him in prison and planned to execute him after the days of Unleavened Bread. The account reads that Peter slept between two soldiers bound with a chain to each of them and two more soldiers kept the door of his cell. All doors and the gate leading out to the city were securely locked. Every precaution had been taken to be sure Peter did not escape. But then the scene changes with the words, "....but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him." (Acts 12:5.)
The emphasis in this story was that there definitely was an urgent need to pray that Peter's life would be spared whether anyone could hear the urgent cry of his need or not. Peter still had a destiny to be filled. Peter did not have a fax or a cell phone to talk with the believers who met to pray. He was depending on the the Holy Spirit to keep them informed. The Holy Spirit has the best system of communication known and available to man today and He shares it with those who have a life or death matter facing them or with those who are willing to pray.
In spite of every known precaution being taken to secure Peter, when the Church prayed, the Holy Spirit worked and God moved. No precaution was strong enough to hold back the answers to their prayer. The prayer group probably prayed in shifts. Some probably prayed throughout the night while others slept. Others may have prayed throughout the day while the first shift slept. We really do not know how they prayed except it was without ceasing until Satan's plan was broken and defeated, until they touched God and an angel was dispatched to bring Peter's deliverance. The key word is "until."
At times, praying until you hear from God as the prayer group prayed for Peter, will make the difference whether you receive an answer or not. At other times you will be able to pray only once and have the assurance your prayer was heard immediately. One is a spirit of intercession sent by the Holy Spirit to hold back or break the power of evil for a given situation. The other is the prayer of faith that reaches out in faith and returns with the answer.
With God all things are possible. All is ALL! There's nothing more than ALL but God chooses to make all things possible when we accept an assignment to pray and stay with it until we have a witness in our heart that we have prevailed. Prayer will always open a way to bring the answer to every part of any of our conflicts, desires or needs, too.
Several years ago while I was still serving as a missionary in Korea, I began to feel troubled about my daughter during one February. When I called the family from Korea she always said everyone was well. Her three babies were a joy to listen to on the long distance call. But somehow my troubled feeling would not leave no matter how much I prayed. Usually I was able to pray through anything and know that God had answered but this time seemed to be different. March came and nothing changed. April, May, June and July came and the need seemed to grow stronger with a feeling of foreboding, a strong inner certainity of danger. By December there still was no change but now my times of prayer went into intercession. I refused to be comforted until the heaviness lifted.
One day in December I determined I would pray until I heard from God no matter how long it would take and sometime during that night peace came at last. The foreboding was still there but I knew whatever would happen, my daughter would live through it. The following February she and her husband went on a skiing trip and you can believe I followed them in my thoughts all the way to Colorado and all the way back home as I reminded the Lord that He promised she would live through the unknown that was ahead of her.
On the flight home, my daughter and her husband said they felt uneasy but agreed they needed to remain seated. About fifteen minutes before landing, suddenly a passenger got up, went to the emergency door on the side of the plane and to the horror of everyone,he swung the large handle until it opened the emergency door. Fortunately, two pilots were sitting nearby who grabbed him quickly. The plane began to descend and the oxygen masks came down as the plane lost pressure! Amazingly the plane landed safely minutes later without one problem! Later, when they called me in Korea, my daughter said, "Oh Mom, you won't believe what happened on our trip!" I said, "I probably will, tell me." While she was recounting the incident, I had a vision of her walking to the restroom and at the moment the door swung open, she would have been sucked out of the plane, falling head down then sideways, with her blonde hair flying in all directions. BUT... God had intervened because I chose to pray UNTIL I prayed through. For many months, I felt again and again that God gave her back to me only because of prayer! To God be all the glory!
As for Peter, an angel was dispatched to bring deliverance. Though guards were placed at the door of his cell, they did not awaken when the angel walked through the locked doors. As the chains fell off Peter they still did not awaken. As the angel and Peter left the prison, every door and the gate to the city opened to them. When the angel had filled his assignment, Peter was free because the Church had prayed "without ceasing" until their assignment was finished.
God has not changed! All things are still possible to Him that believeth, to those who will prevail in prayer until they have the answer! May God move on us until we develop a greater prayer life to meet the challenges that face us today!
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