Daily Archives: December 23, 2015

Over-Abundant Restoration

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11219655_990307447699029_6208048841891378697_n“The devil wants you to believe that justice delayed means justice denied (so that you lose heart and give up asking). But in fact, justice delayed means recompense compounded… Is it possible, beloved elect of God, that God has called you to wait upon Him because He wants to exact as much as a sevenfold return from your enemy for the years he has stolen from you… Could it be that God has not yet avenged you of your adversary because he has more for you in this thing than you’ve ever thought or imagined for yourself?” Bob Sorge

We were moving to Kansas City. My husband quite skillfully drove a large truck with most of our household belongings. What a trip! 32,000 pounds of weight in total (including us), driving along what seemed like an endless highway to two very tired travelers. Partway through the journey we arrived at the hotel where we were to spend our second night. As we settled near dusk into our cozy hotel room, my husband peaked out the window curtain to make sure all was ok with our truck and car.

To his dismay he saw a shady-looking character closely eyeing our truck and car carrier. Our newly purchased car was sitting temptingly on that car carrier. Norm realized that he had not thought about locking the car carrier to the truck. After the man had left, he promptly got his lock and went out and locked the car carrier securely. With shock we realized that the man had been planning to steal our car and car carrier. He could very easily attach it to his car and drive off with ours.

This reminds me of the devil and his vicious plans to steal from our lives. He comes to kill, steal and destroy, but we have God on our side who comes to give us an abundant life (John 10:10). Many Christians have been praying a long time for something that seems impossible to attain. Barely hoping beyond hope, it seems that all has been lost. The devil seems to have stolen what rightfully belongs to them. Perhaps it’s a wayward child, a lost ministry, or ill health. The loss seems to be incredible. In the natural, the devil seems to have gotten his way.

We all want justice. We may feel it would take a miracle to reverse what has been lost. The process may have left a deep wound, a gapping pain. We lose heart – we give up praying – we feel the incredible loss over a long period of time, maybe even years. It seems so hard to wait for God’s justice in our situation. But God wants to give us over-abundant restoration of that which has been stolen or lost. If we are willing to wait in faith and go deeper in God, He will give us so much more.

It’s Worth the Wait

“When you’ve been waiting on God for a long time, one of the things that changes during the waiting season is the nature of what you request of God. Early in the journey you might have been content with a lesser request, but now that you’ve endured all these years of heartsickness and grief, you’re no longer satisfied with what you once desired. Now you want more.” Bob Sorge

It’s worth the wait. Though so seemingly long and endless, it’s worth it! God changes us radically and He gives us so much more when we have passed through this type of endless trial. He is developing us deeply within. Look at Job! Look at Joseph and so many other biblical characters that had to wait for such a long time for justice. The devil wants us to think that justice that is delayed is justice denied, but God wants to give us seven-fold restitution (Proverbs 6:30-31).

Waiting pays off in the long run. I don’t think we realize how God works. His ways are so much higher than ours. He wants to restore our souls and all that has been lost and stolen from us. He has so much more if we are willing to see it through His eyes. He wants to give us not just restoration, but over-abundant restoration. He wants us to pray bigger prayers and with more fervency.

You may have been waiting for years to see answers to your prayers and your dreams fulfilled. Don’t give up. God is preparing you for His best for your life. He has more in His heart to give you than you right now realize. He will bring justice and restoration into your life. Hold on and let Him take you deeper. Let Him purify your desires.

Realize that if your dream has to do with prayer, it may take a longer preparation because prayer is what the devil hates the most. God takes time with His intercessors. Lock your heart into God’s heart and His way of preparation. Keep that lock secure with His heart through the dark nights in your life. God brings you into the sunshine as you see from His perspective with new hope and joy.

I myself have waited for years to see my dreams fulfilled. In this process God has been developing my heart. Now I am seeing God’s over-abundant restoration. He has a greater plan than I ever dreamed possible. He wants me to pray bigger prayers with greater faith. I believe this is true for you as well.

See with the eyes of faith what God is doing right now to prepare you. Agree with His plan and preparation. What the devil has planned for evil, God will turn to your good. Don’t let him steal your joy by making you think there is no hope or purpose in what you have been experiencing. Let God take your pain and turn your mourning into dancing. Believe and hope once again. He will answer your prayers at just the right moment. He wants to give you joy in this journey of faith. He will give you justice and over-abundant restoration. He will bring restoration to your soul.

“At the beginning, your prayers have elements of selfishness and carnal desire woven into them. You don’t realize it at the time, but the carnal ambitions of the heart are discoloring your requests. As you wait on God, He refines your passions and purifies your desire, until you are asking for those things that are truly upon His heart. In the persevering, all that is not of God is burned away, and that which remains is that which is impassioned b y the heart of God. And at the end of the day you realize God had more in His heart for you than you had for yourself.” Bob Sorge

Article by Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

The Strategy to Reach Nations

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11264893_967241553338952_496519998745319715_n-2“Of what infinite importance is the place the intercessor holds in the Kingdom of God! Is it not indeed a matter of wonder that God should give men such power? Yet there are so few who know what it is to take hold of His strength and pray down His blessing on the world.” Andrew Murray

If we are to be empowered for the harvest,  we must learn how to pray. Prayer is the strategy to change nations. And as we go to the nations, we must be men and women of prayer. Intercession must be combined with everything we do as we go.

There is a tendency for the enemy to get us too busy in important matters where we actually miss out on the best. Intercession is going to cost us. It is the key strategy in reaching nations and cities. We read in Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful”.

This is not some half-hearted endeavor, but it will cost sleep, time, and energy. We have to devote ourselves to prayer. It’s a personal choice to pray and not give up because prayer is hard work.

We must see with the eyes of faith and vision the potential and power of intercession. Vision determines priorities, and our priorities determine our destinies. It must be a high priority if you want to be used by God. It must be a high priority if we want to maximize our purpose in God’s Kingdom. You and I will never see results without it. Andrew Murray in his book Andrew Murray on Prayer writes about the glory of intercession:

“What a mystery of glory there is in prayer! On the one hand we see God in His holiness, love, and power waiting and longing to bless man. On the other hand there is sinful man, a worm of the dust, bringing down from God by prayer the very life and love of heaven to dwell in his heart. But the glory of intercession is so much greater: when a man is bold and asks from God what he desires for others. He seeks to bring down on one soul, or it may be on hundreds and thousands, the power of the eternal life with all its blessings.”

There are many practical ways that will help you to develop a life of prayer and intercession.  Here are listed some keys, enough for each day of the week.

Why not meditate and pray about one on each day? Ask God to develop these in your life and begin practicing them day-by- day. This will prepare you in the greatest way for reaching your neighborhood, workplace, city, or nation for Christ.   In order to be empowered to go into the harvest, we must lay hold of prayer and intercession with all our heart. God is maturing us for harvest. These keys, if taken seriously and applied, will open a wide door into maximizing your potential in God’s Kingdom:

  • Cultivate praise, worship and thanksgiving – Worship and praise God throughout the day. Worship changes how we see our situation. It is a joyful way to live successfully in the end time. As we ascend to the throne room in worship, then we can descend back into the harvest field here on earth, pray, and war for its release. God can give us keys during our seasons of worship that unlock the path before us and bring glory into our situations here on earth.  Everything in us should give praise to the Lord. David says in Psalm 34:1, “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Practicing praise and worship will lead you into a more fruitful life for God. It will empower you for the harvest.
  • Raise your view of God – He wants to give you a bigger picture of Himself. Raise your expectation level of what God can do in your life supernaturally through prayer. What glasses are you looking through? How do you see God? How does He see you? Whenever God brings us to a new level spiritually, we must adjust how we see God. Warfare is not primarily taking authority over the devil but it is discovering the majesty of God and His supremacy. Our view of God is most important in reaching nations and will bring us into a more powerful life of intercession because we begin to view everything from the greatness and supremacy of Christ.
  • Let God stretch your faith – Believe Him for something bigger than yourself. Faith and prayer move God to work on your behalf. Are you trusting God for something that is bigger than yourself that only He can do? Are you stepping out of your comfort zone and asking Him for things that are God-sized and not man-made?  Let us keep in mind that God will not do anything without believing prayer. We read in Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Exercising faith empowers our prayer life.
  • Practice purpose-driven prayer – Focus on God’s plan rather than your own needs. When we focus on the negatives and our own needs, we are practicing problem-driven prayer. Purpose-driven prayer focuses on God’s overarching plan.  By faith you can pray for his maximum glory to be achieved in any situation. This frees the Lord to replace your problem with His provision. God wants to move us into a much higher realm of His purposes for the nations. As our hearts touch the heart of God, we begin to have His desires and goals.  We see things as he sees them. We are committed to His glory. A powerful life of intercession is a life that practices purpose-driven prayer.
  • Practice God’s Presence – Become a best friend of God. Learn to abide and walk in peace even in the midst of the storms of life. There is a place in the spirit far above all principalities. The enemy wants to get you out of the place of abiding. Learn to take thoughts captive and forgive quickly. Look at everything through the eyes of Christ, and practice meditating on God’s Word. “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. They are con-stantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about them” (Psalm 119:97, 77:12). As you practice God’s presence, the spirit of intercession will permeate your life.
  • Have a Kingdom of God mentality – Practice holiness in your lifestyle. God wants to bring us into a new level of holiness. Kingdom living is living a life of holiness and living out the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 -7. It is letting God be the King in every area of your life. It is submitting to His Authority. It is letting God refine you and teach you to walk in love and forgiveness. This is where the enemy is defeated. There is power in prayer for those who live a holy life. James 5:16 says, “The fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” As you walk in holiness, the Kingdom of God will rule in your life.
  • Learn to wait on God in prayer – It brings forth his maximum purposes. In order to move with God’s direction in the end times, we must learn this secret. The truth is that it is in waiting that we will accomplish the most for God.  It is in waiting that He will give us His secrets to kingdom living. How much time is wasted when we run down the wrong road? It is in waiting that the very highest direction for your life can come forth on a daily basis. What may look like a loss of time is really only time multiplied on your behalf.  God is able to do things with a lot more efficiency than you are.“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him” (Psalm 62:5). As you wait on God, He will give you strategy in reaching nations.

The harvest is ripe, and you have a great destiny and purpose in God’s Kingdom. May you be passionate and prayerful as you go forth to do great works for Him. You are living in days of harvest, and it’s time to fly. God wants you to soar on wings like eagles. You may get tired like youth but your strength is renewed as you hope in Him. He empowers you for the harvest.

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31).

My Prayer to God

 As I go forth into the harvest fields, give me Your vision and make me passionate for what You are passionate about (Proverbs 29:18). Fill me with a passion for my purpose in Your Kingdom. Make me fervent in prayer (Isaiah 64:7, 62:6-7). Teach me to praise You even in the midst of difficulty. Raise my expectation level, and help me to view everything through Your greatness and supremacy. Help me to focus on Your over-arching plans and not my problems. Empower me in my call. Empower me in my character, my relation ships, in purity, and in spiritual warfare. Give me a vision for Your Kingdom. You have empower me to go forth into Your harvest. I thank You for Your presence with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Strongholds Hinder Prayer

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11224466_964162943646813_1382111211571273721_n“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does” (James 1:5-8).

When we pray, it’s important to believe the truth of what we are praying. Strongholds hinder our prayer life? When we believe a lie of the enemy, it’s hard to pray with faith. It’s hard to pray confident prayers when we believing thoughts like:

  • God doesn’t love me.
  • I can’t do anything right.
  • I’m rejected by everyone, including God.

Strongholds strike at our identity in Christ. Satan will always try to defeat us in this area. If we believe that God doesn’t love us or care, how can we believe that He will answer our prayers? If we believe that we are rejected and a failure, how can we pray in faith about our destiny? Too many negative beliefs will cloud our prayer life.

When we believe a lie, we become double-minded in our prayer life. We become doubtful.

The Bible speaks about being double-minded in James 1:8 and 4:8. This is a theme throughout the entire book of James. The Greek word for “double-minded” is dipsuchos with dis meaning “twice” and psuche meaning “mind”. This describes a person who is divided in his loyalties, wavering, half-hearted and uncertain. Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines double-minded as having different minds at different times, being unsettled.

Are we the only ones who struggle between faith and doubt? Even biblical godly characters fell into double-mindedness. In Luke 7:19-20, John the Baptist was in prison and sent men to ask Jesus, “Are you the coming one, or do we look for another?” Imagine the struggle in your own mind if you were John in prison ready to be beheaded! John was human and the enemy’s strongholds and fiery darts assailed his mind just as they do ours. He began to sink into doubt in the crisis of the hour. But even in spite of this, Christ described him as greater than any prophet born before him (Luke 7:28).

Our strongholds hinder our prayers because we become double-minded—unsettled, wavering, half-hearted and uncertain in prayer when we believe a lie.

Double-mindedness in Prayer

“Faith gives birth to prayer. It grows stronger, strikes deeper, and rises higher in the struggle and wrestling of mighty petitioning. Faith is the substance of things hoped for (see Hebrews 11:1), the confidence and reality of the inheritance of the saints. Faith, too, is humble and persistent. It can wait and pray. It can stay on its knees or lie in the dust. It is the one great condition of prayer. The lack of it lies at the root of all poor, feeble, little, unanswered praying.”

When we are double-minded and unstable, we are indecisive and without faith in our prayers. Our motives can become self-centered instead of God-centered (James 4:3). We lose our confidence in prayer and in God. We may think, “Is God really for me? Can I really trust Him?”

It’s hard to believe the Bible and believe a lie of the enemy at the same time. We try to follow God’s plan for our lives, but at the same time we believe the enemy. We want to follow God’s Plan A, but we also have a Plan B that includes human reasoning and the enemy’s lies. This weakens our faith and our resolve. We can no longer pray in faith for Plan A when strongholds are pulling us down. The lies of the enemy are holding us captive. We become unstable. Then we often make decisions that are contrary to God’s plan.

When this happens it’s easy to fall back on our human reasoning, especially when things are hard. We doubt God’s Word. We doubt what He has told us about our lives.

The apostle Peter had a revelation that Jesus was the Christ, but when Jesus foretold how He would have to suffer crucifixion as a part of God’s will, Peter rebuked Him and said: “Never, Lord! This shall not happen to you!” But Jesus said:

“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:22-23).

Peter had Plan B in mind rather than God’s Plan A that involved Jesus’ death. With Plan B, we would never have known salvation!

So often we say we believe God’s Word, but we don’t live it out in daily life experience. We know it in our head, but our heart hasn’t taken hold of it. I’ve often heard it said that the greatest distance is between our head and our heart! If we don’t wholeheartedly believe what God says, it is hard to fully obey. Double-mindedness can creep into the way we hear God’s Word and obey it (James 1:22-25). We become unstable in our faith.

This affects our prayers. When we ask God for wisdom to know His will as in James 1:6-8, we must not doubt and become like the waves of the seas, blown and tossed by the wind. Then we shouldn’t think that we will receive anything from God, because we are double-minded, unstable in all that we do. Strongholds affect our actions in doing the will of God. Double-minded faith believes in God but not when it comes to action (James 2:14-17).

James says that faith without works is dead (James 2:18, 20). Belief is not enough. We can’t hear without doing what the Bible says. We become double-minded in our speech, in our prayers and in our actions (James 3:9-11). Out of the abundance of our heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).

I know what it’s like to feel driven and tossed by the wind.

I lived on the sea for many years as a young missionary. Actually the captain kept things pretty well under control, but I remember some rough seas. At times I would be filled with faith as I read God’s Word, but at other times I would look at the seas, and my faith would waver. I was double-minded. Fear and faith were fighting for my mind. I remember how uncomfortable it was to be double-minded. Doubt in God’s Word would try to take over, and sometimes I would depend on my own reasoning and listen to the lies of the enemy.

One of my strongholds was “Life isn’t safe!” It would try to overcome what I knew in God’s Word. There was an internal struggle going on. I would wrestle with trying to believe God’s Word and then with listening to my own human reasoning and the enemy’s fiery darts. I would say to myself:

  • This ship was built in 1914.
  • It’s too old to make it through these treacherous seas.
  • Land is miles away, and I don’t even know how to swim!
  • What if we start sinking?

But God’s Word says in Psalm 91:1-2, 9:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”… If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the Lord, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.”

My faith was wavering because I was listening to the stronghold that the enemy had erected very early in my life. I had believed a lie, and my lack of trust in God was sin. In the center of that situation, I should have confessed the lie as sin, opened my Bible, and begun proclaiming and praying God’s Word out loud. This would have changed the fearful moments I encountered in turbulent weather into peaceful trust in God’s care and protection. I wish I knew then what I know now about breaking strongholds!

So many times I had the victory during very rough seas when I would simply put on my earphones, go out on deck, look straight at that ocean, and praise and worship God. This was some of my most memorable occasions. Fear would flee. Truth would invade my thoughts, and I would even feel better physically.

We have to be diligent and recognize these strongholds in our lives.

The walls of false beliefs and lies in our life must come down just like the walls of Jericho. God wants us to walk in His victory. We must pray God’s purposes for our lives and the lives of others. We must be diligent in praying God’s truth. Through prayer we will see strongholds demolished in our lives. God destroys them by His divine power, but we need to cooperate with Him. We must be very persistent in dealing with strongholds, because it takes a lifetime to enforce these lies. Therefore, it will take time to demolish them. Strongholds are stubborn. They’ve become a part of our lives; it’s hard to let them go. We must continue hearing God’s Word because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). We must continue speaking God’s Word. We must continue to obey in faith what we pray and speak. As we persist, we will have victory.

“We should pray without doubting, read God’s Word with great care, fellowship without bias, have faith while consistently keeping God’s law, and speak edifying words that inspire our friends to honor God. With single-minded attention to God’s will as shown in His Word, we can draw near to God and He will draw near to us.”

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC