Storming Heaven with Prayer

1. God is hampered in His Work when we stand in the way. Surrender means just that, surrender. The minute we take the problem or challenge into our own hands we force God to step back. When we ask Him to fix something we then must allow it. If you've ever intersected with the US health care system you know it can be both time consuming and overwhelming. Thrown in among insurance, government, doctors, test facilities and hospitals one can be easily confused, frustrated, derailed or discouraged. Because I was a nurse, I even know the jargon, and have no fear of the "medical or insurance authorities." Even so, it was daunting and profoundly frustrating just to get the necessary approvals, locate a treating physician and schedule within an approved network. In two and a half days of trying to set up my husband's care I actually spent fourteen hours on hold! I was literally at my wit's end. It was then, in tears of frustration, I wept before the Lord. It was all clearly beyond my capability and control. My husband had cancer. He was dying before my eyes and I couldn't fix it. After three days of my best effort I seemed completely unable to find anyone who could help me find the care he needed. One hospital, specializing in cancer, said they would under no circumstance deal with our insurance plan and hung up on me. I told God I was at the end of my ability and asked Him to take care of my husband. He graciously saw my desperation and picked him and me off the floor and went to work on our behalf. It was not a, “let’s see what you can do God,” kind of surrender. I said, “Whatever You want to do God, Doug belongs to You. This is beyond my ability.” I was fully aware I had just given God permission to end Doug’s life, if that was what He decided to do. In fact it was permission for Him to take complete control. If I was going to put my trust in God’s abilities, promises and plan then I had to end the practice of trying to second guess any part of what God had in store for us. Within a few hours of turning it over to God I received a call informing me the best doctor in New York City for Doug's diagnosis was available and would take his case. Furthermore, the "no, not covered by this insurance policy," I received from the doctor and hospital was completely reversed. They said "We didn't know we had a contract with your insurer and we don't remember having one, but it seems we do and you are covered." It was the first of many miracles. 2. If You want God to focus on your request, you must focus on Him. Worship Him. Praise Him. Thank Him. You can't fix it, remember, so you have plenty of time to spend in His presence. As a wife and friend to my husband I knew both Doug and I would need prayer support. I couldn’t serve as his minister or his health care provider. Those things I’d given to God. But I did solicit help from reliable prayer partners and asked them to pray each day for us. I knew I was too close to the situation and would try to micromanage God as well as the doctors and nurses. When I surrendered to God's plan for Doug and me I no longer needed to manage the medical staff or schedule. His care was off limits for me and rightly so. My God Who has no limits was managing everything. He was delivering Doug in a way that was far beyond our wildest dreams. All I had to do was "Stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 20:17) 3. There is power in praying in agreement with others. God designed it that way. Build a prayer team now, before the storm. For years I prayed often and with mixed results. It was never a matter of faith, I believed God would heal, but I did want my desired result. I now believe God wants us to trust in His desired result. His plan will be for our good, not our harm. Because He lives outside of time, He already knows exactly what needs to happen in any situation. 4. God wants You to see Him and His great love for you. Guilt is a barrier between you and God. Don't blame the sick person and don't blame yourself. I knew a long time before Doug's diagnosis he had something really wrong with him. He'd lost 50 pounds and looked like a ghost. He fell asleep whenever he sat down for two minutes. I didn't push him hard enough to get him to the doctor. I had plenty to feel guilty about and so did he. But guilt interferes with the task at hand. It holds us back and hampers our prayer life and our growth. Set it aside. You are completely forgiven. When He had accomplished our forgiveness of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down.” (Hebrews 1:3) 5. Your personal peace is a direct measurement of your trust in God. When you fully trust Him you can rest, assured He is taking care of everything, so worry is unnecessary. Surrender does not mean you stop praying, speaking God's Word over your situation, or fighting for yourself or your loved one. It does, however, turn off the worry and fear. The devil doesn't retire when you surrender to God. In many cases he'll step up his game in order to get you to take your concerns back on your own shoulders. True surrender results in true peace. God is the complete answer. Whether He heals, cures, or takes a loved one home to be with Him, He knows your story and how to work everything together for your good. 6. Remember God will use your trials and challenges for His glory. The day Doug came home from the hospital following his surgery the Lord told me to begin a prayer assignment for someone else. God was changing the subject! This was shocking to me but I immediately agreed to take the job. Doug's miracle gave me the faith to believe ALL the promises of God.