#Unveiling the Devil’s Strategy. #Things look worse after prayer.
One weekend, our child got sick. Two nights went by, and she wasn’t getting better. Her mom and I were stressed because we had to stay up all night with her.
Then Sunday came, and we couldn’t go to church. So we joined the service live, with the kids. When it ended, I was about to watch something else, or just turn off the TV.
But something pulled at me. It was a YouTube picture for Apostle Joshua Selman’s live healing service. I felt strongly drawn to it, so I joined.
He’d barely started to minister when he began speaking to me. Me! In person. Then he spoke right to my child’s situation. I’m telling you, it felt so personal. I felt so seen by God. We agreed with the words, and we received healing for our child.
When Things Look Worse After Prayer
And then, right in the middle of the prayer, she started to feel worse.
She had to go to the bedroom. She was crying because of how she felt, and the thought of the emergency room showed up. After all our prayers, and after the prayers of the man of God, disappointment wanted to set in.
Has that ever happened to you? You pray, and then things look worse? That’s right where I was.
Then God interrupted.
Something within me said, “This is the enemy’s tactic. He wants you to cancel all the prayers, the confession, and the healing and health you just received by faith for your child.”
I woke up from within, and I spoke out to the enemy. I said, “You came too late. The situation may look worse, but I know God heard us. Nothing can change what God has done.” I rebuked him. Then I spoke over my child to strengthen her faith.
That same evening, I did some research, and I was led to buy an over the counter medicine. She took it, and not even 5 minutes later, she recovered. The wisdom of God took over, and the symptoms started to leave. By the third day after that, she was fully well.
What the Word Says About Your Hope
Now, I want you to see something in the Word. Remember how disappointment wanted to set in? Look at what Proverbs 23:18 says: “You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.” (NLT) The Amplified Version says it this way: “Surely there is a future [and a reward], And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.”
But here’s the thing. Believing is a choice, and we will always have it. Isaiah 53:1 asks, “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Her situation looked worse, but God had already spoken. Look at this word from the Lord: “For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’” (2 Kings 3:17, NKJV)
Hold On Like Abraham
So what do we do? We act like Abraham. We decide that nothing will change our faith in God. We never cooperate with the enemy to invalidate what God has already done, in our thoughts, in our words, or in our actions. “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24, NKJV)
Friend, I see you. God’s got you, and God is for you. Don’t give up on your faith, because your victory is now. Don’t cooperate with the devil to invalidate your own expectations and faith.
Further Reading
Please read and meditate on Romans 4:18 to 25 (NLT).
18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping, believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”
19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead, and so was Sarah’s womb.
20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.
23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded
24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
This is Unveiling the Devil’s Strategy Part 1: When Things Look Worse After Prayer: Don’t Lose Your Faith.
#How to hold on to what God has already done, even when your situation looks worse.
