Personal Testimony

(Job 3:25 NLT)  What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.

This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life,” by wrapping up our teaching on “The Fear Factor.”  This will be our last message on fear and tomorrow we will get back to teaching on prayer in a more direct way.

Before I left this topic I wanted to share a testimony.  About a week ago I taught you about Job and I told you that Job got up early in the morning to intercede and offer sacrifices for his children, but he was doing so because he was afraid that if he didn’t something bad would happen to his children.  While the ritual and routine seemed innocent enough, it was not done in faith.  Actually, Job was doing this out of fear and we all know what happened to his children.  I believe Job’s fear watered-down his sacrifices and prayers and what he feared eventually came true in his life.

About six weeks ago my wife and I were in the middle of a faith-fight concerning something that is very important to us.  We had been in prayer for weeks about it, but had not yet received the breakthrough.  I felt like I needed to take my prayers to another level, so I went on a three day fast.  During and after the fast the situation actually got worse.  A few days after the fast, while my wife and I were still in prayer and believing God for our breakthrough, on a drive to Maryland I was listening to an audio book by Dr. Creflo Dollar (Winning in Troubled Times).  Dr. Dollar made the point about Job and I had heard it and actually taught it before.  However, while I was driving the Holy Spirit convicted me.  The Father exposed to me that I was doing the same thing Job did.  Even while I was fasting, I was worrying.  The Lord replayed several instances for me (in my mind) where I would be in a meeting at work, attempting to do what I am supposed to do, all-the-while concerned about the situation.  Even though I was fasting and praying, I was allowing fear to strip my prayers of any power.  I basically wasted a three-day fast because of fear.

When the Lord exposed this to me I felt terrible, but I quickly repented.  I then called my wife and she agreed that she had been doing the same thing.  So she repented.  Afterward, we both went on a fast together, this time in faith, and since then we have received our breakthrough.  Glory to God!

I share this with you because I want you to know that this can happen to anyone.  It’s not like I am some super-believer or anything like that, but I do know better and it still happened to me.  If it happened to me, then it can happen to you and I want you to be aware of it.  Just like I was convicted of praying fear-based prayers when I heard the audio book, I pray many of you (my readers) get convicted of the same thing this morning, if that is what you are doing.  I don’t want fear to rob your prayer life of the power it is supposed to have.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).

2.  Faith-based prayers get results.  Fear-based prayers get stripped of all power.

3.  If you allow worry and fear to grip your heart while you are waiting on the manifestation of your prayers, then you will be waiting a long time.

4.  When you pray in faith, without any fear, doubt, unbelief, or worry, and without malice, hatred, bitterness, or unforgiveness in your heart, then the Father is free to answer your prayers.

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for exposing to me everything that is hindering my prayer life.  I want to be able to pray and get results.  I know it is Your will that I pray with faith, confidence, and power.  However, I also know that You expect me to do what Your Word teaches.  Therefore, I declare by faith, that I release all worry, fear, doubt, and unbelief.  I also release all malice, bitterness, hatred, and unforgiveness.  I don’t want anything in my heart to hinder my prayers.  As I release all these things I am able to pray IN FAITH, free of all blessing-blockers, and You Father answer my prayers!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!