Just as I am

I dare to believe that God loves me just as I am, and not as I should be. Jesus knows me the best, and yet he loves me the most. I am not going to let my weaknesses discourage me from believing that he actually wants to use me to bring his love and healing into people’s lives.

Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence. Hebrews 4:16.

Knowing God’s heart

I think the best way to get to know God is to spend quality time alone with him. We can come into his loving presence through repentance and the forgiveness of Jesus, and this is a wonderfully powerful place where He shows us his heart for healing. Nothing can withstand the Christian who prays what is on God’s heart.

If God is for us, who can stand against us? Romans 8:31.

Our personal calling

When you feel deep compassion for someone, you are the one to touch God’s throne:

I would love to see that person healed, God, and I am available to pray if you want to show me how.

This personal calling leads to a powerful attachment to their cause, and I love the moment of declaring my commitment:

Your battle has become my battle.

We find true fulfilment in our Christian life when we live out what Jesus said:

Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8.

Jesus Christ, the name above every name

We spend a lot of time telling God how big our mountains are, but we should spend more time telling our mountains how big our God is. This is a really engaging way to intercede for others. The Bible says the name of Jesus Christ is above every name, no matter how serious the illness, and that he is the same today as in Bible times! Jesus said:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18.

He has delegated his authority and power to us, as ambassadors of the King, and we carry his powerful presence.

Whoever believes in me will do what I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these. John 14:12.

When I pray with someone, I worship God as I listen to him and try to convey what he wants to do:

Father, thank you for (name), and for loving us and forgiving us through Jesus. We need you God, we love you. Thank you that you want to flow your love and healing from heaven. What a privilege it is that you want to use even me, and that you want to move in (name’s) life. Give me healing hands God, your healing through my hands. Flow your love and healing into (name’s) body. Come Holy Spirit, thank you God….

The powerful Bible

Praying through the full meaning of God-given Bible verses in our intercessory prayers gives us the authority to establish his truth and get to the root of the problem.

The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates. Hebrews 4:12.

Colliding with the problem

One meaning of the word Prayer in the original Greek is Paga which means ‘to collide with, to oppose’. This is often how God wants us to pray, to stand against an illness and defeat it. Praying from the victory that Jesus won through his death and resurrection, we pray for God’s will to be done and his kingdom to come in someone’s situation.

The weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4.

When I pray against an illness, here are some of the truths that I pray through and believe:

I am a Christian, so you cannot ignore me. God has called me to bring about your defeat and destruction. Through his death and resurrection Jesus has destroyed your foundations and undermined your rights. You are completely disarmed and exposed to my righteous attack. I hate you and what you are doing, and in the name of Jesus I collide with you.

Then I listen to God’s leading for the next steps. Jesus revealed sound principles about praying against illness:

A strongman guards his possessions, but when someone more powerful than he comes, he ties up the strongman and robs him of his possessions, then divides up the spoils. Luke 11:21-22.

The illness is a strongman, difficult to defeat. As a Christian I carry the powerful presence of Jesus, and I tie up the illness so tightly that it is fatally bound, defenceless and submissive to my prayers. I rob it of its right to reside in and harm the person, and then I rob its name. When an illness has its identity taken from it, it becomes totally ineffective and useless.

Living at a higher level

God has privileged us in Jesus Christ to live above the ordinary human plane of life. Here’s how we can do this:

Make plenty of time for just me and him to connect. Increase my faith by hearing from him through reading the Bible. Live in his enabling grace during the day. Be willing to let him use me when I see a need for healing.

I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:1-8.

Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God.

Fasting and praying

Being willing to fast and pray when God prompts leads to some very exciting prayer times. Fasting shows us how much we need his love and forgiveness, and it brings us wonderfully into his presence. I consider fasting when I feel a sense of injustice that something needs to be resolved. God makes this powerful promise to us:

This is the fast I choose, to break their chains of sin, to bring freedom for the oppressed, and to take away their heavy burdens. Isaiah 58:6.

Try missing a meal and find 20 minutes to pray. Drink plenty of water. Pour out your heart to God. Enjoy his anointing.

The law of sowing and reaping

When we sow seeds, we reap a harvest. This is a law of nature as well as of prayer, so God promises to move when we sow prayer into people’s lives.

Whoever sows generously will also reap generously. God will supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:6-10.

Prayer brings victory

Be hungry to see God move as you pray. Know that the Lord Almighty has prompted you to start praying for someone, so he has a plan to develop it and needs you to keep listening and believing. It’s a real pleasure to work with him, because for God and us this precious time growing together is just as important as the fruit we see in our prayers.

God is happiest with us when we are happiest with him. Be open with him about any frustrations and disappointments, because a truly honest relationship enables you to receive his peace and encouragement.

Before the shepherd boy David faced the giant Goliath, he had already killed a lion and a bear, which increased his faith and confidence. Keep a prayer journal to build the story of how God develops and advances each prayer battle.

Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised. Romans 4:20-21.

John Ford: www.prayerbringsvictory.org