Prayer for Healing and Strength

Prayer can be tough!

“God, I don’t know how to pray anymore.” 

Those were my words a year or so ago. Saved at 9 years old. I was in third grade and God was stirring in me through a mission conference. Thanks mom for sitting me down and talking me through this. It was a short time later that I was called to full time ministry. I surrendered to that call and after bible college I served in the church for twenty years. Then resignation! Did I resign because I didn’t know how to pray? No, actually it was because I was praying a very specific and personalized prayer: Ephesians 1:16-32 and 3:14-21. I would challenge you to start there as well.

That prayer brought me into healing, freedom, victory, and incredible strength I’ve never known the 43 years prior. What I’ve learned since is that prayer is not asking God for blessings over my plan. Rather, seeking Him and asking to know Him, which reveals His plan for me to step into. Yes we have needs, so we pray. And in our distraught state we must step away from begging Him into trusting Him.

In the past year my prayers have changed from: “God, I need…” to “God, thank You that I have…” 

So, facing life’s difficulties I would have said, “God I need You to intervene. I need your strength to get through this. God, I need your help. God help to heal my body. God change my circumstances.” 

It was always according to ‘His will, purpose, and plan’ of course. But I’ve discovered the power of prayer comes instead when I pray: “God, I thank You that You are my strength, my helper, my healer. In this time of difficulty, I choose to trust You.” 

I thank @RussellBrand for his prayer and I rejoice in what God has done and is doing in his life. I can pick apart his entire prayer over me and recognize the power of declaration. This wasn’t a prayer FOR. This is a prayer FROM. He may not have known that, but it’s in fact exactly what it was. I still have plenty to pray about, and we still pray for, but from a standing position of from!

I praise you, God because: 

• I am blessed. It’s already done. In my life and ministry You’ve proven it over and again. But it’s also who I am in You! 
• I’ve already been given the training (words and language) necessary before I even knew what I was getting (Life Center GR – AMT)
• I’ve already been equipped with more strength in mind and character than I’ve experienced all 45 years of my life. (Personal healing and victory)
• I’ve already been connected with the people who have walked with me and remain a call/text away, namely: Frank Friedmann, Brett Brooks, Steve Pettit, Kyle Winkler, Wayne Jacobsen, Theresa Slabbekorn. 
• If you want to know where I’m at and what I’m doing in equipping others with Life in Christ, follow any one of these people; as well as others I’ve met and follow: John Lynch, Andrew Farley, Jeremy White, Matt Seifert, Mike Q. Daniel and their respective ministries. (There are more)
• And then there are family and friends in my daily life that are too many to name (and not forget someone). 

Yes, grace is messy. Yes, this message cuts against the grain of modern church methodology. Yes, though, it is clearly the very gospel of Jesus Christ.

Know His love. Embrace His love. Receive His love.

“When that love touches you, you will discover there is nothing more powerful in the entire universe. It is more powerful than your failures, your sins, your disappointments, your dreams, and even your fears. God knows that when you tap the depth of His love, your life will forever be changed.” – Wayne Jacobsen, He Loves Me.

Want to learn more?

Reach out to join virtual or in person discipleship book study’s, called Let’s Talk Life. Reach out for virtual or in person counseling through The Exchanged Life Discipleship, called Life Not Lies.