Pray, Pray, Pray!

A storm that had been brewing in our lives, became full blown just after Christmas 2012.  The devil had been wrecking havoc behind the scenes, and although we felt it, we didn't know what it was until that fateful day when it was revealed to us by a close friend.

I knew in my spirit man that something was awry, something was just not quite right.  I was troubled, but didn't know what it was.  I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I knew the devil was working against me and my family.  He was coming against us, but I wasn't sure how.

In the fall of 2012, a friend of mine invited me to go to a church service in a neighboring town.  I really didn't want to go, but decided I would.  After the message that night, the speaker invited everyone with a need to come up for prayer.  They had several prayer lines and I happened to get in the one where the Pastor was praying with people.  He laid his hands on my forehead and prayed.  Then he stepped up and whispered in my ear and said, "Sister, I see the devil standing just behind you and he's done more damage than you realize."  Needless to say, this was a very disturbing word to me from the man of God.  I came home and shared it with my husband.  Neither one of us knew what it meant, but we were soon to find out.

I received a call from my husband on that fateful day and it was concerning a very, very close member of our family.  Yes, the devil had been working behind the scenes and just like the Pastor told me that night, the devil had done more damage than I realized.

That was at least 6 months ago and we are still trying to pick up the pieces that the devil has strewn everywhere.  Many, many lives have been hurt and broken because of one person's decision to sin.  Sin has consequences.  Sin destroys lives.  Sin separates.  Sin is ugly.  Sin is poison.  Sin is sickening.  Sin is ugly.  Sin affects those around it.  When the seeds of sin are sown, it will reap a harvest and it's not pretty.  It's really pitiful how the devil is destroying lives today.

The devil is in the business of separating us from God.  He hates God and he wants to separate us from Him.  In the garden of Eden, he separated Adam and Eve from God by tempting them to disobey God's command, which they did.  Then they were ashamed and full of guilt, so they hid themselves.  That's what the devil wants.  He came to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life and not only life, but abundant life!

The only thing that will restore what the devil has stolen is prayer.  Prayer changes things.  That's what we are praying.  That God will restore back to us everything the devil has stolen.  He did that for Job.  God gave back to Job double everything he had lost.  For example, if he has 200 sheep, He gave him back 400.   If he had 300 camels, He gave him back 600.

God is good!  He can deliver, restore, and renew.  What looks hopeless, is not with the God of hope.  So if you too are facing something that looks like a lost cause, don't lose hope.  Pray and intercede to the God of all hope to restore back to you what the devil has stolen.