One of my favorite Scriptures is
Matthew 18:20:
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
The Message version is pretty cool too:
"......When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there."So now I'd like to share a little testimony with y'all regarding the power of prayer with others;
One of the things I struggle with is that I tend to be a worrier. It's just part of my nature, I guess. I am sure that part of it is due to control freak tendencies that I have such a hard time "letting go/letting God". The stress and worry have been causing me to have sleep issues over the past few weeks. I haven't slept more than an hour or two at a time and my brain would not shut off with worry/fear. Sleep deprivation can also start to affect your way of thinking and before you know it....you become consumed with worry and then the irrational thoughts start creeping in.
The bondage of worry and fear is an emotional disease that will eventually affect your physical health as well. Stress also causes anxiety which then brings about physical ailments......which then turns into more stress/panic attacks.....you see.....it's the vicious circle. I have felt physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted. My weary/tired mind was running rampart with distraught and illogical fears. I have left myself open to the enemy who is always waiting in the shadows for this perfect opportunity, when you are most vulnerable to start believing his lies. He then slips in and takes over. This is his playing field....getting control over you with fear and worry. Reminding you of your past failures, torturing you with guilt and leaving you feeling hopeless for the future.
When I get into these "dark places" I find it difficult to focus. Then I tend to do the worst thing possible, I distance myself as I feel I am a prisoner of my own mind and do not want to be around anyone. The longer you are in these valleys......the more you tailspin. This downward spiral was going on a couple weeks and I was losing hope.
Well a few days ago, I had popped on
Facebook and saw that someone had posted a link to
Michael Perkins blog. I haven't been visiting my faith-filled friends lately, but I just happened to click on over and check it out. It was one of his signature hand written posts, and although it was just a few words.....they were powerful and had the most amazing effect on me. It was titled
Rush Over Me and it was inspired by Ezekiel 37. (def. check it out!).
I had goosebumps as I read one part in particular, "
as you rushed over me, worry spilled to the floor....fear shattered as it hit the ground....." .as if it had been written just for me. You see.....one of my coping defenses is taking long showers to escape as I try to visualize being "cleansed/healed".
Now I knew the basis of Ezekiel 37 was about God giving Ezekiel a vision, setting him a valley and speaking to the dry bones. But I needed to grab my Bible and read it again.....I read it slowly making sure each word was absorbed in my tired brain and more importantly.....my heart.
That's when it happened. I immediately knew this was my time to speak to *my* dry bones within. Declaring this self-destructive CRAP was over! And I kid you not.....I started to feel something within was being transformed immediately.....the pressure behind my eyes from my never-ending headaches started to lesson before I set the Bible down.
I
texted and talked to a few close friends and just asked them to join me in prayer. I knew that my lack of sleep was largely responsible for the weaken state of mind I was in. I knew that I needed proper rest to launch myself out of this mess so the only thing I asked for them to pray for, was one night of uninterrupted sleep.
Then I started to prayed feverishly....I prayed for healing of my mind. I reminded myself that when Jesus lived here on earth, he healed thousands of people during His time of ministry. He healed people debilitated in body
and mind. I prayed for
Jesus's peace to come over me. I prayed to know and accept that there are some things I cannot change (my past mistakes, things out of my control, etc)......and to have a clear mind to move ahead to be the person that God wants me to be.
I jumped in my car and cranked some awesome music for a few hours and screamed/sang my lungs out as my way of speaking to my dry bones.
Then I came home, took a hot bath....a couple of Tylenol PMs.....I said my final prayer for peace.
So guess what happened?!?
I slept until 12:15 the next day! (I have not done that in over 19 years......thankfully my husband was praying right along with me and just let me sleep in!) I cannot explain the renewed feeling in my mind and body that I experienced...it was just amazing!
So I declare this today.
God answered prayers
INSANELY.
I know that many of you all have offered up prayers in my name as well over the past few weeks......and I cannot thank you enough. Know that God is listening to each and every one of you...as I have, once again.....been the recipient of answered prayers.
I still have a way to go with my restoration......but I cannot explain how great it feels to be back on track!
So thanks again.....and if I can pray for you in anyway, it would be a privilege to be part of the army of Believers carrying out your requests/needs...
.......please let me know.
Peace be with you.....
*~Michelle~*
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