10/16/2024
True story over 20 years ago:
Calling for prayer over and over!
There was a period in my life (starting 30 years ago) when I was watching a lot of ministers on TV every day and I was gobbling up everything they were saying, writing things down, and hearing so many different things about victorious Christian living. I was hearing about how to walk by faith so I could experience in my everyday life the victory Jesus paid for and gave me. I began to get a lot of head knowledge about this new way of living and about me being a Jesus follower, but I was only experiencing it at a minimum, and then it was only hit and miss at best.
The TV ministries that I watched all offered a prayer line for people to call in and receive prayer. Regularly I would call at least one of them and each time I would ask for the same prayers and miracles to happen.
One day I was getting ready to call a specific ministers prayer line (who’s teachings I listened to every day) and I stopped to ask the Lord to cause the right person to answer the phone and pray for me. I was wanting the prayer minister for that day to be the one who was specifically anointed with power to change my circumstances. A real prayer warrior! A laborer just for me. I wanted the one who would go after the devil on my behalf and speak so powerfully that by the time I hung up the phone my hard situation would be completely over! That’s what I was expecting and I was super excited about it. (Remember though how I asked God for the right person to answer the phone to pray with me?) But then, without even realizing it, I began to tell the Lord how it all should go down. How this person would speak so anointed and powerful that all of the works of the devil would immediately be broken off of me and my hard situations. How today I would finally receive the miracle I needed to be free from the heartache and pain of the things happening in my life. Today would be my breakthrough day!
“That’s the one to hook me up with, God! Send “that” person to answer the phone! I thank You in advance!”
Ha! It’s so funny now when I think about how I was telling God what I needed Him to do for me.
Well here’s what actually happened after the introduction and the man on the prayer line gathered my partner information for their records. I told him why I called in that day and what I was needing prayer for. (This is not word for word what he said to me, but this is pretty close to the conversation and what I received out of it)
“Dana, I see this is the 6th time you have called in for prayer and agreement for the same thing. You said you listen to the broadcast every day, right? (Yes)
We have prayed with you in agreement several times and declared God’s Word over this situation several times, right?
(Yes)
Dana, when are you going to take hold of the things you’re hearing each day on these broadcasts and apply them to your situation? You have the same authority and ability to speak God’s Word to this situation and declare His promises as we do. You are equipped just like we are. I’m going to pray and speak God’s Word with you today and agree with you that what we are praying and asking for will come to pass, based on Scripture promises and what all Jesus did for you. You must believe it and stand firm until it does come—Not wavering when it doesn’t change immediately and especially when your emotions are beginning to rage about it. I’m not coming out of agreement and hopefully you won’t either. You can always call in, but I think God and Brother…………would much rather have you begin to put into practice everything you have heard for years from this broadcast. At some point you need to be living these truths yourself and then helping other people. “
Well, my emotions were hurt at first because he didn’t pamper me and feel sorry for me. I was shocked for a moment. I mean, he said himself that he saw I had called in 6 times so far!! Does he not see that it’s serious and I seriously need help!? Does he not care that I’m still dealing with these same things!?
I bet as you’re reading this you are thinking it’s kinda funny—which now it is—or you’re thinking of how you have done the same thing I’ve done to some degree.
Before the phone call ended, I humbly changed my heart and became thankful for the prayer minister who was bold enough and cared for me enough to be honest with me. I changed that day. I think I needed a jumpstart. Permission, so to speak. Permission to stop calling in and relying on other people’s prayers. I needed permission to use the authority given to me by Jesus—the same way I saw these ministers using it on TV. It was time for me to grow up some more.
Friends, God is giving you permission to use the authority that Jesus gave you.
If you ask Him, God will bring to your remembrance things you have heard from others or seen in His Word. He will always give you the answer to turn your situation. You won’t always be needing to call the prayer chain or think you need to have the local prayer warrior be the one who prays for you.
Remember, if you are born again, you have the mind of Christ, His power, His love, and a sound mind. You have God’s Spirit in you—Who is able to lead you and guide you into all truth about your situation. You are totally equipped!
Before calling on the prayer line, call on God! He has the answer!
Dana🥰
