Overjoyed FALL 2024

OVERJOYED Fall 2024

Finding Purpose After Loss: an Interview with Lisa Peek

the prayer issue.

Contents pg 1 Building a Prayer Life- Lori Stevens pg 3 Turn the Battle to the Gate- Linda Duvall pg 6 The Dream of Prayer- Rebecca Cooper pg 10 Marriage Takes Three- Debbie Young pg 13 Finding Purpose After Loss: an Interview with Lisa Peek pg 18 Overcoming Through Prayer- Janice Duvall pg 21 Taste and See- Debbie Barnhouse pg 23 Restored through Grace- Annita Tilley pg 26 Praying and Prophecy- Shannon Yarbrough pg 28 Prayer and Patience- Kim Hon pg 31 The Miracle of Graham- Toni Douthit pg 33 My Forever Home- Marylou Forrest pg 34 A Pure Heart for Pure Health- Pam Perry pg 38 The Heart of Prayer- Barbara Ritter pg 42 The Prayer Tutor- Rhonda Woody pg 44 Overcoming Oppression- Tracie Cantaloupe

From the Editor This issue of Overjoyed is special because it holds precious testimony of prayer. Prayer is our personal relationship with Jesus expressed through words, thoughts, and spirit. Jesus gave us prayer so we could be a part of what He is doing on the earth. Our conversations with Him guide our hands and feet, help us become overcomers, get sent out over the ones we love, are bottled up in the throne room, and bring peace to our souls. Your words matter.

The women in this issue have years worth of experience talking to God and it is my hope you find joy in what you read, but also you find Jesus and His love for you.

Lisa Peek knows what it is to depend on God. As you dig into this issue, you will find her and her family’s story. Their testimony of holding on to faith during the unthinkable will strengthen you as you read. The Peeks lost their daughter Kayla and grandson Landry in 2021 in a car accident. Since then, Lisa has clung to the gospel and the beautiful witness Kayla and Landry had while here on earth. She looks forward to seeing them again in heaven, but knows until then, there is work to be done for the Lord. As Lisa says, “everyone who puts their trust in Jesus has a story worth telling.”

Prayer changes the outcome. Keep praying- your sisters-in-Christ are believing with you for your miracle.

Ashley Ennis EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Luke 11:9

Building a Prayer Life Lori Stevens We all know that prayer is important.

Prayer is how we communicate with God. It is how we express to him our needs and praise. It should also be how we listen. Prayer should be a conversation with speaking and listening. I Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray without ceasing. This implies that we are to be in a constant state of conversation with God. How can we accomplish this?

I know we all have a lot to do throughout our day. At least, I know I do. But God is not asking us to constantly be on our knees before him.

There are times for that. But, as we go about our day, our spirit should ever be in contact with Him. Ready to hear, ready to speak to him. His Spirit is dwelling in us and ever present with us.

He is ready to hear and ready to speak.

We can always communicate with him if we are always aware of his presence. I know I can call on him at a moment’s notice. He can speak to me at any time. If I listen to him, I will hear him. We need to become aware of his presence ever with us. He will not leave us or forsake us. He is ready to hear and respond.

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1 Peter 5:7 says Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Prayer is key for a personal relationship. Prayer is a conversation with God. I cannot go about my life without communicating with my husband, children and others. I must talk to them and listen to them. Communication can be an art at times. Knowing what to say to someone, how to say it, when to say it. But with God, it doesn’t have to be so complicated. He loves us and already knows our hearts. He will not get hurt by how we talk to him, etc. He just wants to hear from us. We can pour out our heart, pour out our praise, and just openly communicate with God. He wants to hear it. How beautiful is that? He loves us so much, he wants to hear our complaints, our praise, our hurt, our concerns, and our joys! Song of Solomon 2:14 says My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. He thinks our voice is sweet and he longs to hear us.

He is ready to hear and ready to speak. We can always communicate with him if we are always aware of his presence

God wants to speak to us. He gave us the inspired Word for us to read and learn. He encourages us to hide it in our hearts, to study it, to know it. His Word reveals the truth of who He is and how he loves us. His word should be familiar to us so when we hear the voice of God, we recognize it and know it is Him. John 10:27 says, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. When we know his voice, we can respond to him, follow him and trust him. Our conversation is not one sided. We don’t or shouldn’t do all the talking. Listening is maybe even more important.

We can hear God speak to us and tell us what he wants us to know, and what he wants us to do. He may just want to say He loves us or give a direction to follow.

We must be attuned to hearing the voice of God. His people know his voice, that comes only by knowing him through his Word and through spending time in prayer. Build that constant communication into your life. Practice talking with him about all things. Practice taking time to just listen to him. Make it a purposeful, daily habit and expand this into your daily lifestyle. It will become easier and become second nature to call out to God and talk to him about everything throughout your day. You will also find he will speak to you throughout your day as well. May we all become so familiar with God in prayer that we are aware of his presence in every moment of our day.

Turn the Battle to the Gate I see the warning to those out of Linda Duvall

covenant relationship with God that the next wave of shaking will be pronounced judgment upon them unless they turn their hearts to Him.

“In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And, for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.” Isaiah 28:5-6 I have found myself drawn to this passage of scripture revealed in me as both encouragement and a warning.

I am encouraged by the truth that Jesus has made us the righteousness of God and He will keep those that bear His Name in the next wave of shaking that is coming, both of which will be felt in the Church and in the Nation.

The current shaking is not to destroy the Church nor the Country, but it comes to expose strategies of the devil that have been imposed upon both the Church and the Nation while we took our “ease in Zion” over the past decades and have failed by neglecting to pray for our pastors and the elected government officials to be repentant and choose the guidance of the Word of God in making decisions for both the Church and the Nation. You see, “as the Family goes, so goes this Nation.”

The word “gate” in the above scripture is a governmental term used in biblical time for all “COURT” related matter that was dealt with at the city gates.

Anyone that was adjudged to be in error in any matter was not allowed in the city until restitution was made.

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A dear friend, that is a scholar in the Hebrew language, reminded me that during the time Isaiah penned this scripture the Judeans had yet to see the judgment upon the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians. God warned them prophetically and they did not understand until that judgment came to pass about 100 years after this was written. It was the Levitical priesthood Yahweh held responsible. And today, we are the modern day Levitical priests that are to offer fervent, effectual intercessory prayer for our Government officials and our congregations and we have the authority of Jesus Christ and He has given us the keys to the kingdom.

We are responsible for taking the gospel into all the world and also to stand in the gap and make up the hedge for government officials to act in accordance with God’s ordinances and statutes. Now, I know we can’t MAKE THEM LINE UP, but fervent prayer avails much! And God sets up kingdoms and He can pull them down as well, but He wants to partner with us in getting things done.

“Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.” Deuteronomy 16:18 Gates are also seats of authority and places of decisions. A place to hear and receive wisdom and justice. The place judgment is rendered and mercy and salvation are given.

“And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.” 2 Chronicles 18:9

Gates are also a place prophets gather to speak truths to kings and tell of God’s plans for righteous rule and receive from God the strategies for overcoming the principalities and rulers of darkness. And we are to partner with God and speak the truth of the Word to all that will hear and turn the battle to the gate so that His righteousness and truth will prevail in the lives of the people and bring down strongholds of darkness in the home, in the family, in the church and in the nation.

When I say turn the battle to the gate, I simply mean we as believers and ambassadors for Christ are to simply make the decision to stay in the fight for souls, for restoration of the family, for the redemption of the nation through a great awakening that will be ushered in by intercessory prayer, travailing prayer, in speaking the Word over each individual God places on your heart or in your path.

Prayers of declaration of truth over the country and its elected officials. Decrees of the Word in each situation to bring light into dark circumstances. The Courts of heaven have rendered verdicts and his angels stand ready to move at OUR word.

Strength needed in this hour is the military virtue of God in power and victory He exudes in each of us that is willing to “armor-up” and stand for Him.

I would like to release to you the word given to me by Holy Spirit while sitting at my dining room table writing out my lesson for Sunday school at church that week. As I had pen in hand, already writing out points for the lesson, He suddenly began to cause me to write these words: “Notable miracles will now confirm the Bride’s authority in the earth realm. She must open up her mouth in righteousness and declare kingdom initiatives to be completed in the earth realm. The verdict in the Court of Heaven regarding these initiatives will now be released with overwhelming evidence of prevailing truth that presides in the mouth of the Bride.

Those hindered and held captive by dark deception and false accusations have now been acquitted and they shall go free! False doctrines will now be exposed and those bound by them will be set free!

Those held in darkness with no vision will now receive sight and I will place eye salve on their eyes and restore the vision of the kingdom to them. I AM the King of Glory and I will now again step into the earth realm and shake loose from My Bride all residue of traditions of men that have placed justice on hold. The Bride will now speak and move from the position of victory and with the force of authority that will bring My will to be done in earth as it is in heaven. Yet in the days to come when gross darkness will be seen then truth will suddenly prevail in every house and restoration and reformation will envelope the people.”

You are needed in the Kingdom and The LORD has called you for such a time as this! Be bold, be courageous and open up your mouth and decree and declare His Word in this generation! You can do this, because it will not be YOU speaking, but The Spirit will bear witness with your spirit that you are called and anointed to reclaim enemy held territory. Take your position beside your Savior King and watch Him win.

Notable miracles will now confirm the Bride’s authority in the earth realm. She must open up her mouth in righteousness and declare kingdom initiatives to be completed in the earth realm

The Dream of Prayer Rebecca Cooper I consider it an honor that the Lord chooses to speak to me often in my dreams. More times than not, those dreams are messages of correction for my life; they show me where I’m falling short or even where I need to back away from something that I may be pursuing. There have been a few occasions that the Lord has given me warnings about a challenge that I will face in the near future, and those dreams are opened with what I call a “time marker”. There will be something that happens at the beginning of the dream, and at some point in reality, there will be something so similar taking place that it sparks my memory of that dream. And I have grown to realize that He does that so I will know that it is time for me to apply the lesson of that dream to my life. I cannot help but be in awe of how He leads me through my night visions.

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I was asked to possibly write a piece about how I pray to interpret my dreams that the Lord gives me, but after contemplating on this and several of the dreams that I have had, I do not think that I can narrow that down enough to write solely on that topic. I do not have a one size fits all way to interpret the dreams that I am given. But, however, the Lord did give me a dream about prayer; and I feel like it would be appropriate to write about this dream and the meaning of it. I had this dream several months after the Lord had given me directive to pray for a friend of mine that is a great witness for the kingdom of God. I heard the Lord tell me to keep him covered in prayer, but I did not feel released to let him know that I was praying for him. I woke up from the dream the morning of April 8, 2024, which was the day of the total solar eclipse that fell over our region of the United States. I was off work that day and the next since they predicted that the traffic in our area would be too heavy for normal commuting through town.

In this dream, it was the middle of the night, and I was standing next to my car with my sister Jamie. I was holding a good-sized box of extremely nice, thick, heavy-duty work gloves. I told Jamie that I knew that my friend could use these gloves, but I didn’t want him to know that they were from me, so I was going to take them to his house and put them in his car so he could find them in the morning. I got out of my car with the box of gloves in hand, and as soon as I approached his car, he came out of his house with a lady that he had just recently been witnessing to. And he asked me, “What are you doing?”. And I proceeded to tell him that I had a box of gloves that I knew he could really use, but I didn’t want him to know they were from me, so I was just going to leave them there for him to find later. And his response was simply, “Gloves?” And then he ignored the gloves and said (speaking about the young lady that was standing with him), “Someone paid her bill. This isn’t you, is it?” He then showed me a piece of paper that at the top of it was written, “A portion of this bill was paid for by Rebecca Cooper.” I was a little confused because I didn’t remember paying anything for her, and I said, “Well, that’s my name, but I don’t remember paying that.” And he very curtly said, “Yeah, I didn’t think it was you. We’re going to church.” By the end of the dream, I felt extremely stupid for being there; and my good deed left me feeling rejected and unappreciated.

When I woke up from the dream, I was more focused on the negative emotions of it, and I had no idea what the box of gloves could possibly represent. But then the next morning I got in my prayer closet. I still had that dream on my mind, and since I was thinking about my friend, I decided to pray for him. And as I began to pray, in my mind’s eye, I saw that box of gloves in front of my face; and as I heard the prayers coming out of my mouth, the interpretation instantly became clear.

Since I usually do not know specific things about his life that he needs prayer for, I often begin praying for him the same way: “Lord, bless the works of his hands so that everything he lays his hands on will prosper…” I then knew that the box of gloves was the accumulation of those prayers that I had sent up for him over the past several months. And I realized that he was so indifferent to me in this dream because he was completely unaware that he was receiving those prayers from me. Intercession is a thankless gift that we give others. They may receive the gifts but be completely in the dark about us praying for them, but it doesn’t lessen the effectiveness of those prayers.

And then the Lord showed me that by interceding for my friend, when he leads someone to Christ, I receive credit for a portion of that salvation. Since he is covered in my prayers, he is more equipped to lead people to the Lord even though he doesn’t know that those prayers are backing him. And I may never know some of the people that he reaches, but I still receive partial credit for every salvation that he initiates.

I have sometimes felt a burden to pray for people that I do not know, and I know that I will never meet. I often felt crazy wondering who am I to pray for some of these people. But this dream opened my understanding of how intercession works, and why it is important to pray for people that the Lord leads me to pray for. It doesn’t matter if that person ever knows about those prayers (I did finally get released to let my friend know that he has been receiving prayers for a while now); they still receive the gift of them anyway.

And even if I don’t have many opportunities to lead someone to Christ, if I am partnered with someone in prayer who leads many to Christ, then I still reap part of that reward. How amazing is that!

I pray that this dream inspires you to intercede for those you know that are in ministry or may just simply need prayer.

You are never wasting your time to call out to the Lord on someone else’s behalf.

You may never understand the magnitude of the gift that you are giving them, but you both will reap the benefits of prayer.

And then the Lord showed me that by interceding for my friend, when he leads someone to Christ, I receive credit for a portion of that salvation. Since he is covered in my prayers, he is more equipped to lead people to the Lord even though he doesn’t know that those prayers are backing him.

And I may never know some of the people that he reaches, but I still receive partial credit for every salvation that he initiates.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Marriage Takes Three Debbie Young “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV) God had a great idea when He came up with the institution of marriage! It was His idea for a man and a woman to fall in love, join together in a marriage covenant, raise Godly children, and support each other in prayer throughout their lives; in both the good times and the bad.

Glen and I will be celebrating our 50th anniversary next summer and we are a testimony to the importance of prayer in a marriage. Praying together and for each other has made all the difference!

I remember holding hands with Glen and praying together in his car, when we were dating. We frequently went to the altar to pray for one another and to ask God to bless our upcoming marriage. And I will never forget the prayer of blessings our Pastor prayed over us as we said our vows.

I guess we started things off right.

But if your marriage didn’t begin that way, it’s never too late to start making a habit of praying with your spouse. We wear out old cliches and stop paying attention to their meanings after we have heard them so many times, but the saying, “The family that prays together stays together”, is one we need to pay attention to and apply to our lives.

I don’t think we would have had the happy marriage that we have experienced had it not been for the fact that we have prayed and depended on God, every step of the way.

His Word says in Matthew 18:20 (NKJV) “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them.”

So a marriage built on prayer cannot help but thrive!

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A husband and wife have countless opportunities to pray together: At the start of each new day, before every meal, just before bed, when a problem arises, when the bills are due, when the kids are sick, when you need a prayer of encouragement and every time in-between, God is just a whisper away!

What a blessing and a privilege it is to be able to grasp the hand of the one you love and go to God together for the issues you are facing. And what an indescribable joy, to worship and praise God together and experience His overwhelming Presence and Love.

Some of my favorite times of prayer that Glen and I have are; When we are about to take a trip. Before backing out of our driveway, we hold hands and pray for protection on the road and for God to bless our home while we are gone.

When we buy something big, like a car or a house, we dedicate it to the Lord.

We love to pray for our children and grandchildren together and we go to war for them.

Sometimes we take communion together, which not only brings us closer to God but closer to each other too.

Whenever I am invited to preach or teach, I usually ask Glen to stand and pray a blessing over what I am about to say, because he is my covering.

I pray for my husband each day in my personal time with God and I know he is praying for me. I take great comfort in that!

This has always been one of my favorite poems: Marriage takes Three I once thought marriage took just two to make a go.

But now I am convinced, it takes the Lord also.

And not one marriage fails where Christ is asked to enter Where lovers come together with Jesus at the center.

But marriage seldom thrives, and homes are incomplete Till He is welcomed there to help avoid defeat.

In homes where God is first, it’s obvious to see Those unions really work, for marriage still takes Three.

Author unknown If you are reading this and you have a spouse who is not a follower of Christ, take heart! Your prayers are powerful! God’s Word says that your marriage is sanctified through your belief.

And we serve a God who gives us the desires of our hearts when we delight ourselves in Him. So don’t give up praying for that spouse and believing for their salvation!

I’m thankful Glen and I learned long ago, Marriage really does take THREE!

...it’s never too late to start making a habit of praying with your spouse. We wear out old cliches and stop paying attention to their meanings after we have heard them so many times, but the saying, “The family that prays together stays together”, is one we need to pay attention to and apply to our lives.

Finding Purpose After Loss: an Interview with Lisa Peek

by Ashley Ennis

Sitting across the kitchen table from Lisa Peek on a sunny Tuesday morning, one could never imagine the hidden depths of her faith. It is a faith that has been tried through tragedy and won through experience. On March 1, 2021, shortly after spending the afternoon with her daughter Kayla and grandson Landry, Lisa received a phone call that the two had been in a car accident. On that day, Lisa and her husband Scott, would learn their daughter and grandson passed away upon impact and that their lives and their family would be forever changed.

Many of us could not imagine such a tragedy in our own family, but Lisa has learned that even in the middle of devastation, the light of Jesus shines brighter than loss.

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Above: A Christmas photo of Kayla and Landry. To the right is a picture of Kayla and Lisa.

While walking through Kayla’s bathroom to choose a dress for her daughter’s funeral, Lisa says she noticed a scripture taped to Kayla’s bathroom mirror, not believing in coincidence, she says it has been an anchor for her faith since that day. God had Kayla place Romans 8:18 just for her mom and she doesn’t take that lightly. It reads, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Lisa says, “One day, He will reveal to me why I suffer because I am putting my hope and trust in Him. Jesus is still using Kayla through me so that I can tell others about Him just like she was doing. I can tell people how much she loved the Lord and how much Landry loved the Lord.”

Lisa says, “This was not my plan, but it was His plan. Things in life are going to happen that are out of our control. The Lord puts us in places we don’t expect to see ourselves, but we can still find joy in our suffering.”

Two days after the wreck, Lisa said she was praying, asking God, “How am I going to get through this?” when she heard His still small voice say, “There is a lot of work to be done, Lisa. Get with it.” Jesus wanted to turn her loss into a ministry. He wanted to give her something to do to help others. Lisa says before the wreck she had always struggled with sharing the gospel, “I didn’t think I was smart enough or knew enough scripture, but I realize now that I have a story to share.

Everyone who puts their trust in Jesus has a story worth telling.”

The love her daughter had for Jesus made its way into Lisa’s own life and impacts how she shares the truth of who Jesus is, “What made Kayla so special was her kind heart and sweet spirit. Kayla had a ministry of kindness.

She knew how to make people feel loved.

People remember Kayla as joyful and I want people to remember me with joy. Ephesians 4:32 was Kayla’s favorite verse, ‘And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.’ After three years I am still hearing stories about how Kayla made people feel loved. She showed people that they meant something. We will never know how many people were saved because of her witness. Her walk lined up with her beliefs.”

Talking about Landry, her grandson, Lisa, sweetly recounts, “Landry at such a young age loved people. He had a friend named David that was going to be moving. Landry was concerned that if he didn’t tell David about the Lord he would never find Jesus. Kayla and Landry always prayed for David. Landry invited him to church and one Wednesday night, he gave his life to Jesus. Landry was kind and concerned for others.

People tell me ‘There should be more Kaylas and Landrys in the world. The world would be so much better.’ Kids can make a difference at a young age. Their lives have made me more bold and made me want to witness. Things can change in an instant. What we say and do could win others to the Lord. That is our commission, to win others for the Lord.”

“This was not my plan, but it was His plan. Things in life are going to happen that are out of our control.

The Lord puts us in places we don’t expect to see ourselves, but we can still find joy in our suffering.”

How did Lisa keep from getting angry about such a loss? She says the gospel helped her choose how to handle the suffering, “Jesus dying on the cross for me makes me thankful. I am saved, I have a relationship with the Lord, and I know where I am going after this world. I have a home in heaven where my kids are. What joy to know He loves me. Are we going to suffer in this world? Yes, that’s a given, but it’s how we choose to turn our suffering into joy. When we leave this world, our testimony will be if we won others to Christ. We should want to see how many people we can get to go with us. I’m grateful for the cross.

Studying the Word of God brings me comfort. It’s all about Jesus.”

Lisa says the Lord is still using Kayla through her as she points people to the Jesus her daughter so faithfully followed.

Watching with my own eyes how Lisa clings to her Bible for hope as tears of sweet remembrance and painful loss fill her eyes, I see for myself the importance of this Gospel we believe in. The testimony of Jesus has saved Lisa more than once, giving her a future, albeit one different than she imagined, but richer because He has been there in the middle of her best moments and worst fears.

“When we leave this world, our testimony will be if we won others to Christ. We should want to see how many people we can get to go with us.”

Lisa knows the God she serves because she has become dependent on His mercy and His grace. She holds on to Philippians 1:6 as her promise, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Family photographs are one way Lisa keeps the memories of Kayla, Landry, and their family close. She says she talking about them comforts her and she loves to share their memories so they are close to everyone’s heart.

The gospel is real to her in ways most could only imagine, but through this walk, she has found her hope for the future and the treasure she is sure to find in heaven, the same treasure her daughter and grandson have already won.

Three things Lisa says she has learned from the past few years are this: First, Jesus is all you need. When it comes down to it, He really is enough to see you through anything.

Next, you cannot say “I love you” too much.

Always say it. Don’t just assume your kids know, keep telling them in as many ways as possible.

Finally, there are things that happen in this world that nothing can prepare you for. It can happen to you, but it will make Jesus’ work on the cross more valuable and more real than you could ever imagine.

The Lord has blessed Lisa and Scott with a beautiful family. They have kids and grandkids who remind them every day of the beauty that can be found in carrying on with life after loss. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been fruitful and inspiring. Only God knows the reasons we go through such pain here on earth, but as we look at the lives of His faithful followers, we see He is worthy of it all.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:5-8

Overcoming Through Prayer Janice Duvall What is Prayer?

Man may have the opinion that there are many ways to pray, many avenues to consider but the main thing is that it is a conversation with God. The Bible tells us that in Ps. 50:15 “And call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

The definition of prayer is to petition or communion, an entreaty to God or an object of worship. Before we get into the objective of this article, I want to establish that there is no other god or object of worship that will answer your prayers, that wants a relationship other than the Lord God Jehovah. “In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.1 John 4:19 And He states in Lev. 26:12 “I will walk among you and be your God and you shall be my people.” All other avenues will leave you hopeless and struggling to meet the demands of trying to please a god that does nothing in return for your efforts. No other way that can meet the needs of a person except that of a relationship with the One True God. 18

The very first thing that we must learn to do is pray.

Talking to God is a privilege is very underutilized. For many years before Christ was crucified, and the veil of the temple was rent we didn’t have access to be able to enter the presence of God. We didn’t have the ability to talk to Him one on one as we do now. Now, we can come boldly into the throne room and make our petitions to Him at a moment’s notice. (Hebrew 4:16) We can call upon Him at every moment of every day. So, we must learn that when we are going through difficulties, trials, sickness, no matter what we are facing that we need to talk to God. We must learn that He is concerned with every aspect of our being, our lives and He really understands when we are facing hard things. The Bible tells us that He is aware of a sparrow that falls, (Matt.10:29) that every hair on our heads is numbered (Matt 12:7), and that our very beings are engraved on the palms of His hands (Is 49:16-17). That tells me that He loves and cares for us so much that we are continually on His mind. When we come to Him with our needs, our desires, weaknesses, I believe He is like our earthly father’s waiting with outstretched arms wanting to hear what we have to say.

The Bible says in Ps. 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice. And throughout Psalms it tells us that He inclines His ear to hear us whenever we call upon His name.

The next thing that we need to do is learn the Word of God, the Bible.

To me this is one of the most important, if not the most important step in overcoming through prayer. It is vital in our Christian walk. While it isn’t necessary to have a thorough knowledge of the Bible to start to pray it is essential to our success in our daily walk. As we learn or as we gain an understanding of what the Word of God has to say we ascertain the character of God, we become familiar with the promises of God, and we learn the weapons that we wield in the warfare of the Spirit. It will cause our prayers to have the faith necessary because we have learned and understand how God works and just how exactly He choses to move. Through His Word I learn the power of His Name. As we grow in prayer we learn to implement the Word of God into our daily prayer life. It is on that Word that we stand to obtain the promises of God. As we pray the Word, it comes alive in our spirit man.

It builds our faith because we learn that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So, it becomes a two-fold weapon in our arsenal. It is the thing that we are standing on for the prayer we are praying, and it also begins to build a greater faith within ourselves because we are hearing it out of our mouths and it takes hold in our spirit man. It is the Word of God that declares that His Word will not return void but it shall accomplish that it was sent to do.(Is. 55:11) It also states that this is the confidence that we have in him, that is we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the pedions that we desired of him.(1John5:14) So, in knowing that it helps us to overcome and to stay steadfast in our confidence of overcoming.

The next step to prayer is overcoming through the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells us that Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Ro 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Many times, in our lives we are faced with decisions, difficulties and or hardships that we don’t have the answers to.

We don’t know what steps to take, what prayers to pray, or direction we should go. When faced with this type of circumstances we can rely on the Holy Spirit to pray through us because we know that He prays the perfect will of God. What a comfort to know that when we are faced with issues out of our control, we can pray the will of God directly into our lives. It is a weapon that when we unitize it brings about the solutions we so desperately need.

Whether you are a novice or a great prayer warrior never forget that God knows our every need before we even ask but God wants us to ask. In James it tells us that we have not because we ask not and in 1 John it tells us that if we ask according to His will He hears us, and gives us the petitions asked for. And after we have prayed, we patiently endure, until we receive the promise, thus overcoming whatever obstacle that has been placed in our lives.

We have been given great and precious avenues that we are able to put into practice in our every day lives that brings the abundance of God into what every situation that we are facing.

Whatever the questions are God has the answers and we can find those answers through the simple practice of prayer.

Taste and See Debbie Barnhouse So many times in my life, I have walked by faith. I have trusted God. I have claimed His promises for me and those around me.

It is so easy to claim the strength, love, and mercy of my Father for those around me.

I have seen their job loss turn to great job victory. Where not only do they love the work they are doing, but they grow to love those around them and then become intercessors for their co-workers in many amazing and mighty ways (as if this wasn't God's great plan in all they went through to get there). Lives are changed. People then believe that there is a mighty God who truly does love them. He truly does care. He is right there and will guide them if only they will ask.

I have seen the Father miraculously heal.

He has healed cancer, heart disease, burns and scars, broken bones, regrown arteries around blockages, and lengthened legs as we watch. Truly amazing and it never grows old. It's like something you are drawn to that you could watch for days and never grow tired of it.

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I have seen Him heal marriages and those grow to love Him and each other so much that they turn to the ministry for Him, and are now His servants.

Right now, I am going through a very rough time. I know without a doubt that My GOD heals and restores and performs miracles. I also know that My GOD has His timing and His ways. And His ways are the very best. They always work! He never fails! He is never late! And His love flows and flows for us, His children.

The hardest part to me is in the wait. The longer the wait for God's greatness to occur, the more often the enemy comes to steal, lie, and kill us and our trust in God in this wait.

In these times, I turn to Him to show me and to guide me, to pull me through and I pray that I won't let my mind and thoughts get so deeply embroiled in my problem, that I miss the opportunities that He brings my way to help those around me.

This week, in the third year of my wait, twice, he has brought His word to me through His other children.

What they said blessed me, and I hope it will you, also: First, we should be praying BEFORE the problem or illness comes along. We stay close to Him no matter if it's cloudy or sunshine. He does this for us! He's always here! If we stay close to Him in the "every day,” we find it easier to walk with Him in the "wow" or "oh no" days.

Second, a lot of people (even Christians), pray until they get a diagnosis. Then they stop and accept the words of man or the tests of man. They completely forget how sovereign our Father is. The lady with the issue of blood. The man with the child with demons. Lazarus. All of which were cured in the middle of the illness.

Remember, God is not man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19).

But finish this verse. It goes on to say "...neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

His word says He is there for us and He is. TRUST GOD! Don't let your mind dwell on the enemy or on the what-ifs! Rise up brothers and sisters, keep the faith, and keep on the walk. Your day IS COMING!!!

The hardest part to me is in the wait. The longer the wait for God's greatness to occur, the more often the enemy comes to steal, lie, and kill us and our trust in God in this wait.

In these times, I turn to Him to show me and to guide me, to pull me through and I pray that I won't let my mind and thoughts get so deeply embroiled in my problem, that I miss the opportunities that He brings my way to help those around me.

Restored through Grace Anita Tilley

This morning I scrolled across a familiar Facebook post where someone had posted “Sometimes as an adult you have to decide: this is the last time these people are going to make me feel this way whether it be family, a relationship or a friendship.” I was surprised how many people commented underneath the post saying YES! AMEN! You got that right! This caused me to grab my pen and start to write. You see, while I still struggle with offense and forgiveness, the Lord taught me a very dear to my heart lesson about offense, forgiveness, offering, and prayer. I want to share it with you.

The worst, most painful offenses usually come from those close to your heart or about an issue you feel passionate about and it usually carries misunderstanding in his back pocket. It is often clothed in pride and self righteousness because you understand your position very clearly, correct?

There ought to be a warning label that the offense is always way smaller than the price of the death of the relationship.

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And you can build walls around that offense as if it was your favorite toy that brought you security as a child.

For need of an example I am going to share my circumstances with you so you will understand the lesson the father showed me.

I had a very turmoil filled relationship with my mom. We were very much alike in a lot of ways. Stubborn and self willed. We both thought we knew what was best for my life. I must say I made a lot of bad mistakes I probably would not have made had I listened to her.

Communication between she and I was best described as a tug of war, with each battle, we built a hard shells around our hearts that very much resembled a clinched fist. It was really a tug of war for power fueled by extreme love.

At one point I was beyond frustrated and shouted through her closed door, “ I am done, you don’t have the right to do me this way!” I walked away free but so alone.

Years later I received a call in the early morning hours from the Conway regional hospital. They said I should come quickly my mom was dying. I didn’t even know she had gone to the hospital.

I ran to her side, grasped her hand and started to tell her how much I loved her and how sorry I was. None of the words were enough. By this time my mom couldn’t speak but her eyes told her regret and each tear screamed “ I’ve got so much to say but can’t!” The war ended that night but it took me years to let God bring healing and restoration to me.

I asked him one night, why didn’t you answer my prayer to restore my relationship with my mom? He said, anita I tried many times but you had the request grasped so tightly you wouldn’t give it to me. I said, I loved her so much and now she is gone!

He said “Do you trust me?” I said “with all my heart” he said “ then give me the relationship as an offering. I said, but it was broken, ugly, a failure.

Offerings do not have to be wrapped in pretty paper. Offerings can be anything, even what we struggle with.

So in my prayers, I opened my fingers and released my precious mom in faith, that God wasn’t finished with our story.

I still have times in deep prayer and worship that I watch me open and clinch fists to release my struggle and receive his mercy and grace.

You may be sick and tired, but you can let your clinched fists open to His GRACE. Give it to God and be healed and restored.

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17

Praying and Prophecy Shannon Yarbrough

I have to admit this is one area I am constantly growing in. Constantly seeking the Fathers voice. Kinda like a little girl that has been playing in her room but realizes she hasn’t checked in with her parents for a little while. For a brief moment the search is on and that little girl will not be satisfied until she finds her mom and dad. She can be in another room but the sound of her parent’s voice will lead her to them!

It is the same being the Lords child as well.

Walking in the prophetic comes from your daily walk with the Lord. The no thrills, daily conversations with him. For me, I talk to him all day long. And a majority of the time our conversations don’t really have anything to do with anything spiritual. It is just the everyday moments in life that I am talking to him about and listening for his answers.

It is the everyday moments in life where you learn his voice and his character. So when moments come and the Lord is speaking to you about something going on in the spiritual realm, your ear is tuned into him because you have been listening to him speak through out your day.

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This seems so simple of an explanation about prayer and the prophetic but there is no other way to walk in the prophetic without being with the Father, in the every day. It is the everyday conversations they keep you grounded and rooted in Him. That connection between the two of you that has built trust. Like the hymn, ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus’. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh, for grace to trust Him.

And as your relationship grows with your Heavenly Father and his voice is one you are tuned into, you’ll start noticing he opens your eyes to see what He sees. You will start to hear what he hears. You will start to understand his heart. He will start sharing his needs with you!

He will make himself known to you. He will share his desires and when he does, it isn’t a far stretch to pray in the prophetic.

I want to encourage you to read His Word DAILY. Spend time with Him DAILY. Talk and listen to Him DAILY. Because it is out of the “daily communion” with him that will flow rivers of life to others!

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:19-20

Prayer and Patience

In fact, the Oxford Dictionary defines human nature as the general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioral traits of humankind, regarded as shared by all humans. In his amazing process of creating us as humans, God gave us feelings, as well as the freewill to act upon those feelings, even though it might not necessarily be the best choice for us.

Truth is that most of the time when we take it upon ourselves to take care of things that we had given to God to begin with, it doesn’t usually end up like we would like. In most cases, it ends up worse.

Kim Hon

How many times have each of us prayed our hearts out to God and given him something that we needed an answer to, or that we desperately needed to happen? In that moment in time, we fully poured our hearts out to him, knowing that he, in his infinite wisdom, knew so much more than me about how to take care of the situation that we had set before him.

We went about our days and trusted that he would take care of everything for us, until some time had passed, and what we had prayed about was still not taken care This is where patience comes in. The of or answered.

Greek word for patience is makrothymia. Macros (long) and When this happens, many of us, me Thumos (soul, heart). So,to be patient is included, tend to take that problem or to be long-suffering and have the request back thinking that he has just not endurance to stay calm and keep doing heard us, and we just might as well take what you’re supposed to, even when we care of the situation ourselves. You see are tempted to become frustrated and we, in our infinite wisdom that we have as give up. The Oxford Dictionary defines humans, are by design, impatient people. patience as the power or capacity to We all have a hard time being patient and endure without complaint something waiting for the Lord because our own difficult or disagreeable; longhuman nature takes over, and we feel that suffering. We can develop patience by if he is not going to take care of the seeking to do God’s will daily, and situation in our timeframe, that we take accepting His timing, trusting that he control back over and take care of it will fulfill all his promises to us. ourselves.

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There are some wonderful examples of people in the Bible of prayer and patience.

Job lost all his property, his children all passed away, and he suffered great physical pain, but he never stopped praying and trusting in God. In the end, God restored to him more property and health. This shows us that we should trust that he cares for us, and that he knows exactly what he’s doing.

Abraham and Sarah were childless for years. In fact, they were of old age and had given up on ever having children.

However, when Sarah was 90 years old...think about that, 90 YEARS OLD, God bestowed upon them a child. Isaac was born. We all know the story of Abraham and Isaac, but in the end, it all boiled down to the fact that God answered their prayers, only in his time, when he knew what was best for everyone involved.

Then there is the story of David, who slew the giant with a rock and a slingshot and was brought into the world of King Saul. David and Saul were fast friends, and David learned much from Saul. About the time that God was to turn over the kingship to David, since Saul was getting on in age, Saul became enraged and crazy with envy and decided to kill David to keep this from happening, believing that David was trying to usurp him. He hunted David all over the country< with David resorting to live in caves to stay alive. The whole time David prayed and prayed for God to save him. Saul kept pursuing him, and David had many chances to kill Saul, but he chose the way of God and let him live. Saul ended up falling on his own sword during a war with the Philistines, and David took his rightful place as the anointed king placed by God. God restored all he had lost and more.

Matthew 17:20 says: He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” This means all we must do is to trust in him and quit taking things that we have given him back thinking that we can do a better job. I will end this story with a prime example of prayer and patience.

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The Miracle of Graham Toni Douthit When my first grandson was born, he was premature. We sat in the waiting room; waiting on word from my son. When that word came, we were all overjoyed. Praises went up as fast as our prayers did. Then they whisked him by us in an incubator that looked way too much like a glass coffin.

Off to the NICU they went.

I could barely breathe. I began praying and hoping the doctors were wrong. I prayed Psalms 91 over him. I wanted his whole, to be protected by God's covering. I had to tell myself to believe what I knew in my heart not what I saw go past me in the hall.

The negativity was another battle. His mother and I were not on very good terms.

I prayed so hard for her. The harder I prayed, the harder things got. I wasn't allowed to see him. I finally stopped trying to communicate with either one of them. I still prayed over them and over that little miracle.

Fast forward to 2019. There was a diagnosis and autism was all I heard: "He will never speak."

"He will be profoundly disabled."

By this point, his mom and I were completely estranged. I didn't get to see him again until 2022.

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Two scriptures sustained me: Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:6, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

I firmly believe these words with all my heart for all my children, grandchildren, and future grandchildren.

Graham is breathtaking! When God answered my prayers and I saw him again, he crawled in my lap and I whispered the whole chapter of Psalms 91. His busy little body relaxed as I prayed in his ear. I prayed over him, his parents, and all our family. As I prayed, I was seeking God to save them all. In that moment, right then, I watched those beautiful blue eyes and dark curls, resting in my arms. He soaked up every word! Thank you, God, for your blessings on me.

The words that were spoken over him of "non verbal" and "profoundly disabled" are going to be null and void in Jesus Name!

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I had a friend who had been married for quite some time. During this time, her husband began drinking and becoming mentally and occasionally physically abusive. This lady was a lady of God and trusted him in everything. She would pray day after day, wondering if God really heard her prayers. She would give it all to God, but after much time would pass and no change would happen, she would always take it back and try to deal with the situation herself. Things just got worse and worse until, after realizing that she could not fix the problem herself, she hit her knees, got real with God, and completely and fully gave the problem to him, this time leaving it at his feet. Then one day, after over twenty years of total and complete alcoholism, God changed this man's heart, and he put the bottle down and never picked it up again. It has been almost 7 years now, and this couple are the happiest they have ever been. So, in God’s time, and when the time was right, her prayers were answered. She just had to have a little patience and a lot of faith.

This child can speak! He can sing! He can dance! He sings praises to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He does struggle, but he is perfect in God's eyes.

I truly think, our family will see Jesus in him and come to know Him because of it. This experience taught me to pray specifically and to trust God without boundaries. There isn't anything that God can't do. He replaced heartbreak with joy. He replaced worry with confidence and trust. He replaced the impossible with hope and miracle after miracle.

So today, whatever problem that you are facing, when you give it to God, leave it with him. He loves you, and his answers are always “Yes” and “Amen.” His timing is always perfect, and trust me, he can take care of situations so much better than we ever could on our own.

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Rom 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

I firmly believe that this scripture fits this child's life. He will continue to grow in the Lord. He will speak the name of Jesus. He will be a light for the Kingdom of God.

My Forever Home Marylou Forrest

Somewhere past the universe Lies my forever home Where Angel stopped their singing To hear the saints in song I'm told the sun is shining In this land beyond the stars I long to see my loved ones Who have traveled there so far I'm told we'll worship Jesus As around His throne we bow Forever in His presence singing Holy sacrificial lamb forever then and now Don't miss this precious moment When to the Earth He shall return To take His chosen people To the mansions they have earned Through works we are not worthy Of the glories we will share But only through His saving Grace And continued love and prayer 33

APure Heart for Pure Health Pam Perry How would you rate your energy level and health on a scale of one to ten? Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Sister, God has saved you to serve. Do you have the energy to do the good works He has called you to do?

Although purely anecdotal, my PCP once told me that 90% of the ailments she treated were self-induced, caused by poor nutrition choices and little to no exercise. If this is you, sister, could it be you've allowed your relationship with food to supersede your relationship with God? Are you willing to open yourself to God and pray this prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:2324).

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” God can know it. Ask Him to shine a light into the dark regions of your heart and reveal His findings to you. Are you as close to Him as you should be, or are you trying to hide from Him? Do you have faith that God can help you reach your goals? Are you willing to give up some of the pleasures of this world to serve God more fully? Are you willing to go "all in?" Do you believe God loves you above all you could ever think or imagine?

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Your answers to these questions are vital. I know because there was a time when I had all the wrong answers. I was faithful to church and even taught a Sunday school class. I read my Bible most days, but my relationship with God grew cold. I was trying to earn His approval through my service and became consumed with busyness.

My heart was a mess, and, as a result, my health was becoming a mess as well. Instead of resting, I snacked. Before I knew it, I had gained sixty pounds and developed a nagging, persistent cough. I had always been active but could no longer enjoy the pastimes I once loved. In time, I learned God didn't desire my works as much as He desired me…all of me.

Sister, God wants all of you, too, especially your heart. He invites you to pour out your heart to Him (Psalm 62:8). He is waiting to heal your broken heart (Psalm 34:18) and calm your fears (Isaiah 41:10). He offers to carry your heavy load and walk by your side (Matthew 11:28 – 30). He desires your gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and your praise (Psalm 150). He’d love to be your best friend (John 15:15), and He’s waiting for you to pray one-on-one to Him in open, honest communication every day. He wants to fill every crevice of your being and offers you a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). In this peace, your mind will clear, your energy levels will rise, and your food cravings will begin to disappear. You will find strength and healing.

Then, your prayer deepens. “Try me and know my thoughts.” In Corinthians 10:31, Paul admonishes us,” Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Ask God to show you if you bring Him glory when you think about food. Do you think of food as fuel to be enjoyed or as a salve to ease your stress, anxiety, fears, or loneliness? Are you envious of people who seem to eat anything and everything without visible consequences? What comes to mind when you consider replacing processed foods with whole, nutritious foods?

Ask God to show you any rebellious thoughts you have. Then, ask Him to teach you to love the foods He made that are good for you. Ask God to help you crave Him instead of craving food.

Ask Him to help you be satisfied when you've had enough. You can even ask God to lead you to sources of information that will help you learn to prepare meals that are both delicious and nutritious.

Ask God to help you crave Him instead of craving food. Ask Him to help you be satisfied when you've had enough. You can even ask God to lead you to sources of information that will help you learn to prepare meals that are both delicious and nutritious.

Then pray, “And see if there be any wicked way in me.” In other words, pray, “God, help me see through all my excuses and see my sin as You see it.” It's so hard for us to admit our hearts are wicked. Our illusion of selfrighteousness also makes our hearts deceitful. Philippians 3:19 speaks of people whose "God is their belly." This means food has become an idol for these people, and worshipping an idol is wicked. God tells us in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Sister, when God shows you the wickedness in your heart, confess it, turn from it, and walk away rejoicing! Jesus Christ forgives and forgets. He expects us to do the same. He's already searched your heart and He knows you’re trying. Trust Him to forgive you, and let Him teach you to forgive yourself.

With your heart clean and full of praise and your mind stayed on God’s blessings, ask Him to lead you in the way everlasting, His way. Ask Him to show you the potential He placed within you. What will you do when you have more energy? How will you impact God’s kingdom and the people you love? How will your life be different?

It seems like such a simple prayer: Search me, O God. However, when you dare to commit to regularly praying this prayer and trusting God with the results, you will find abundant life. God will set you free from the strongholds that are binding you.

He will propel you to the life He has in store for you, enjoying all the delicious goodness waiting there for you as you serve Him with renewed joy and vitality. Will you pray today?

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

The Heart of Prayer Barbara Ritter

Most people believe in the power of prayer. As a preacher of the gospel since 1988, I have concluded that most people want and appreciate prayer for things they are in need of. As a Christian how do we go from praying the sinner’s prayer, to having a prayer time, then prayer life and ultimately becoming a “prayer warrior”? I will show you how to accomplish this through the Word.

Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6:10 (Gnosis Bible): Finally, {from henceforth, now} my brethren, {fellow Christians} be {live} strong {empowered, enabled, strengthened, steadfast, determined, influential, powerful, stable, reliable} in {because of, for, having, affected by} the Lord, {Supreme in authority, God} and {along with this, also} in {because of, for, having, affected by} the power {dominion, supreme authority, influence, control, ability} of {from, resulting from, caused by, through, having} his might. {God's great or superior strength, power or force}.

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We become strong in the Lord through a relationship with Him. We build that relationship like any other. We must first have a desire to know Christ for ourselves. Relationship moves us from acquaintance to connection by his blood. Relationship to Jesus is to be involved with him more than on Sunday mornings. The relationship we have with Christ is a bond that involves communication (prayer).

Sadly, too many people get saved, baptized, join a church and maybe get involved with some of the programs offered there, but never move beyond acquaintance to relationship. They only know the Jesus preached about, sung about or taught, but fail to have a relationship with him.

Scripture teaches us in Matthew 6:33, (Gnosis Bible) But seek {to search for, to endeavor to obtain or reach, aim} ye first {before any other person or thing, most important, the one positioned before any other in achievement, rank, quality, or time, used to indicate a preference, main} the kingdom {rule= control, authority, realm, dominion= power, jurisdiction, throne= symbol of power] of [through, with, from} God, {the creator and ruler of the universe, regarded as eternal, infinite, allpowerful, and all-knowing; Supreme Being; Almighty} and {also} his righteousness; {Christian justification}

and {as a result, along with that} all {daily whatsoever} these things shall {will} be {continue, exist} added {increase, proceed further, change the total effect, run over} unto {to} you.

I love that according to this scripture when we choose to put and keep Christ first, it will change the total effect of our life. It is easy to keep Jesus first when we have a relationship with him. God said to come near to him and he will come near us. We come together with God because of our relationship with him.

Prayer is not something we have to do because of a church doctrine, or what a preacher or teacher says we should do.

Prayer is what we get to do. When we get caught up in prayer, time passes so quickly. A prayer time will cause you to watch the clock and try to make sure you have prayed enough to get by. Those of us who have a relationship with the Lord don’t watch the clock because we have a prayer life. The fact is, a prayer life stays in sync with God at all times. There is a place in God to where the Lord will talk to us when we aren’t even praying. The Lord has much to say, we must make sure we are always listening. He will reveal himself to us and show us changes we need to make as well as show us things in the Spirit realm.

Prayer is so much more than telling the Lord what all we need and want, though there isn’t anything wrong with that.

However, communicate with the Lord but make sure that he gets a chance to talk to you. No relationship will survive let alone thrive if there is always a one sided conversation. Listen to the Lord speak.

There are great lessons to be learned from the Canaanite (Gentile) woman who came to Jesus asking for his help to deliver her daughter from a spirit of uncleanness. (Mark 7:24-30, Matt 15:2128) This mother’s name isn’t mentioned because she is symbolic of so many women in her situation. Biblical history teaches that she was from a wealthy country, yet money had no power to free her daughter from demon possession.

She had a spirit of uncleanness. In Greek uncleanness is akathartos meaning whatever is opposite of purity including sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, pederasty, bestiality, and other forms of sexual perversion. No doubt this mother’s heart was broken yet stirred to action in coming to Christ for help. He was her only hope, yet when she prayed no answer came. She refused to give up on her daughter’s miracle of deliverance. Though faith is tried, it is always honored by God and pleases him well.

When Jesus was silent to the prayer of the Canaanite woman she did something extraordinary; she fell down and worshipped him. Jesus then spoke that it wasn’t right to give food that belonged to the Jews and give it to Gentiles at that moment in time. She responded in great faith these words of reason, “yes Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs”. Jesus then said, “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt”. Her daughter was made whole that same hour. Praise God! The apostles said in Acts 6:4 we will give ourselves continually to prayer. They recognized the power of a prayer life.

Because of it miracles, signs and wonders followed their ministries. They knew that the ears of God was not only open to their prayers but it is his delight. Proverbs 15:8 James 5:16 (Gnosis Bible) …The effectual {knowledgeable, commanding, authoritative, prevailing, dominant} fervent {wholehearted, passionate, devoted, dedicated, faithful} prayer {an expression of thoughst, hopes, or needs directed to God, an earnest appeal, request or plea} of a righteous man {Christian} availeth {to have force} much. {great in quantity, degree or extent, something remarkable or important}.

Matthew 14:23 Jesus was alone with God in prayer and when the disciples were on the sea being tossed with the waves; Jesus left his place of prayer and walked in his “prayer power” and went to them walking on the water. \0/ What took place in private prayer enabled him to do uncommon things in the natural.

Since Christ is our example in all things, when we have a life of praying in the Spirit, (Jude 1:20) we will have the faith of God knowing if we will believe, we will receive. A life of prayer and fasting should be the heart of every believer. It enables us to do the works that Jesus did and so much more because of the Spirit enabling us to believe for the impossible being made possible.

Prayer is to directly address God in conversation. The relationship we have with God causes us to come boldly to the throne of grace for help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 Prayer doesn’t need a physical position to be in, or even be verbal, but it does require sincerity of the heart and trust that God will come through any given situation. We can pray from the heart and never move our lips and God will hear our hearts cry. I know this fact very well. When I woke up while still on the vent from having Covid-19 so bad, I couldn’t talk because of the vent tube in my mouth, so I started praying from my heart and my answer came within ten minutes.

After coming off the vent I was immediately put on a non-rebreather to keep my oxygen level up. I had some really great, anointed music on my phone and I played it as high as the volume would go and played it that way the entire time I was in the hospital. I sang, prayed and praised from my heart. After a couple days I was put on just oxygen and then I was able to talk and witness for the Lord and even pray with people. God has a way of turning things around for those who have a heart to pray. What we do in private prayer sets us up for public manifestations of the power of the finished work of Christ.

Matt 17:21 teaches that prayer and fasting causes us to be warriors of the cross and demons have to flee when someone knows how to use the Name of Jesus.

Jesus never prayed for people in public. He had a life of prayer and while in prayer he became so anointed that while in public he just spoke the Word or give commands to people and miracles happened. We can do the same thing by having a life of prayer and using the name of Jesus.

Though faith is tried, it is always honored by God and pleases him well.

The Prayer Tutor Rhonda Woody The twelve disciples knew Jesus the best. They ministered together, shared all their meals together, slept side by side, and suffered the hardships of traveling together. Jesus taught them publicly and privately. They heard and saw Jesus preaching the gospel on a daily basis. Yet they felt the need to have to ask to be taught to pray.

I personally have journal after journal of prayers that I have written down over the years. I buy books on prayers that intrigue me about the heart and purpose of praying. They may recommend topics to pray about that I haven't even thought of. Some motivate me to pray more and some help me organize my prayers. But of course, the Bible is the best prayer tutor, it has helped me form my own prayer life and it has taught me to pray after God’s own heart. When I am facing a trial or hardship and someone prays for me, not only do I appreciate that they take my need to our Heavenly Father but it also shows the love and kindness they have toward me. And what an honor it is to take someone to the Throne Room, asking God to meet their every need and watching Him move in their lives.

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Most of the time, when I pray it is like I am laying my head on the shoulder of my Father. I am safe and secure and I am comfortable knowing that we have a relationship. That relationship brings freedom! And when my prayer ends I am at peace and I am reassured and I am regenerated. I am confident that my Lord has heard my petitions so I stand on His word in faith. Then there are those times that I struggle in prayer to find words or even put a sentence together. I seem to ramble on and on, and at the end I feel like my point has not been made clear. My problems still seem huge and I am overwhelmed with a feeling of inadequacy . At this point, I wonder if God heard me at all.

When it comes to prayer as with so many other things, Satan wants to overwhelm us with feelings of inadequacy and doubt. If we allow it, he will make us question God’s willingness to listen to us at all. He will tell us that God doesn’t care and that our prayers will not make a difference. His goal is to keep God’s people from praying.

Why? Because he knows that prayer is a mighty spiritual weapon that will take down strongholds, change lives and provide deliverance. The Apostle Paul said “Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans 12:12

It doesn’t matter how eloquently skilled you are at prayer, how beautifully you construct a sentence or how long you pray and it certainly does not matter how loud you pray (because God is not deaf). There are times when we come to the Lord and we just don’t have any words. The hardships of life, the pain of too many sorrows and yes even fear has taken our breath. We can't form a word less long to pour out the heartaches of our life. Prayer may even seem impossible when we feel we are drowning in despair.

Sometimes the mess we call life silences us. Psalm 77:4 “I am so troubled I can not speak”. David was weary in his moanings and he flooded his bed with tears. I have been in this state, where I would think “what do I have to offer God?” All I have is my brokenness, who wants that! Then I am reminded why I desire to run to the Throne of Grace, it is because that is where my Father is and ultimately where He is, is where I want to be. And God sees that and takes my sad little prayer as a humble offering.

As I am at the Throne the only words I may have is “Lord, I need you”! And immediately the Spirit intercedes for me with groanings and God sees me, hears my heart, knows my thoughts and intentions even through my brokenness.

The Holy Spirit knows how to intercede perfectly for me and He knows how to pray for exactly the right thing, just for me. And God begins to move on my behalf.

When life tramples over us as it so frequently does, Satan starts to think he has shut us up. His intention is to separate us from our Father. So if you are ever going to prove satan wrong about anything, let it be about prayer.

When satan tells you that you don’t know how to pray, or that God is not listening to you, I want you to remember that it's not the beauty of our prayers that matters…what matters is that we pray. So be encouraged because the Spirit never stops groaning to our Master on our behalf. And our Master never turns a deaf ear to you. There is nothing God the Father wants more than to hear your voice. So pray without ceasing!

...if you are ever going to prove satan wrong about anything, let it be about prayer. When satan tells you that you don’t know how to pray, or that God is not listening to you, I want you to remember that it's not the beauty of our prayers that matters…what matters is that we pray.

Overcoming Oppression Tracie Cantaloupe As a child who grew up in a Christian home and was in church about every time the doors were open, I had plenty of opportunities to hear the lesson on the armor of God. Even in my early teen life when I would think about the armor of God, I would think back to Sunday school class and the coloring page with the cute soldier in his armor. I had no real understanding of why we needed the armor of God and no understanding that we are fighting a spiritual battle. I started battling depression and anxiety as a preteen and it continued into my adulthood. I also, had started to drift away from God and doing what I wanted and not being obedient to God. Not once during this time did, I realize that I was fighting a spiritual battle. One thing I have learned in my Christian Walk is that if Satan can keep you from understanding the truth, then he can keep you in bondage.1 Peter 5:8 KJV says, Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Satan is looking for any weakness that you are going through so he can use that to his advantage and try to destroy your walk with God.

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At 19, I rededicated my life to the Lord, and I began to crave the word of God and to have a close relationship with Jesus. Although I had made a change in my life and chose to serve the Lord with my whole heart, the depression and anxiety would still plague me. Medicine would mask some of the symptoms but not actually get rid of it and I became even more depressed and anxiety stricken.

My prayers would start off asking God to heal me but would end with “Why me Lord?” When I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, I had a boldness for Christ like I had never had before, I had a whole new feeling that I could not even begin to explain, but no healing. I just felt like there was something I was missing. One day as I was reading the Bible and Ephesians 6:10-12 KJV stood out to me like I had been missing the truth all these years. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. Against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wait a minute! You mean to tell me that there is a spiritual war going on.

How many times have I read this verse, but the truth had never stood out to me like it did then? I wanted to understand more of the spiritual battle going on. I started to dig into the word of God even more and to ask God to give me a better understanding of demonic oppression. I knew that this depression and anxiety did not come from God because in 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV it says, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I also knew that God is my deliverer, Psalm 18 1-2 KJV says I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

My prayers changed as I began to seek deliverance. I want to emphasize that I am not saying a Christian can be possessed by a demon, but I am saying that they can be under demonic oppression and in need of deliverance. I came across a video on Pastor Greg Locke preaching on deliverance and I knew that it was by no accident that I had seen that video.

I decided if this were demonic oppression, I would get rid of it through deliverance.

Pastor Greg Locke live streamed his deliverance conference, and I got on it just as Isaiah Saldivar had started to preach.

When it came time for the prayer, Isaiah said to repeat after me, so I began to repeat the prayer aloud. As I am repeating after him, I had this weird feeling come over me, something I have never experienced before. To this day my anxiety and depression have not returned. Does this mean that I do not get sad or anxious over something? Absolutely not! What it does mean is that I am no longer bound by the demonic power of depression and anxiety, that my chains have been broken, and there is power in the name of Jesus! Psalm 50:15 KJV And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

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