Intercessory Praise Reports

by Joy Lamb
Fall 1997

I am amazed at the answers to prayer being brought to my attention on a national level. We have prayed specifically for so many of these issues, and I am constantly reminded of God's promise ... if you pray, I WILL HEAL. I really don't think He means just the 550 intercessors here at CHM, but all people who pray. I would like to share with you some recent answers to prayer.

The week of July 21st in The Florida Times Union: " ... Debates raged–across the country, but in the end, every state decided to apply for federal money to promote abstinence — and only abstinence — to cut teen pregnancy." Every state in the nation! As we fast and pray on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for our nation and the issues with which our nation struggles listed on pages 26, 2 7 and 28 of Sword of the Spirit, we pray: 'Thank you, Lord, that our nation will abstain from sexual immortality (I Thessalonians 4:3), for it is Your will for our sanctification, in the name of Jesus Christ." Please take this little verse and plant it in your heart. Pray it each day for our nation, or better still, join us as we pray all the Scriptures for our nation. Prayer does change things.

If our country practiced abstinence, can you imagine what impact it would have on marriages, the family, health issues both mentally and physically, crime, greed etc,etc,etc.! Think for a moment how much sexual promiscuity costs not only in dollars, but lives as well. I know this sounds far–fetched to some of you, but who in their wildest dreams ever thought every state in the nation would agree to promote abstinence?
Another national praise: I have mentioned the reduction of crime across the nation in the past, but a recent USA Today article seemed to have special significance, especially since some of us have felt led to pray and fast specifically for New York City for several months now. We pray the deliverance prayer and deliverance scriptures for New York.

The July 2 article, entitled "New York City Keeps Getting Safer," stated that a 13 percent drop in the serious crime rate over the past six months exceeds expectations: "Experts who said that crime here wouldn't maintain its rate of decline were proven right: Crime fell even faster in the past six months ... A city that once epitomized urban lawlessness is now safer than San Diego and the 23 other largest U.S. cities." The article goes on to state that nationally, serious crime declined three percent last year. Praise God!!!

This news article seemed to have a connection to a letter I received from a young woman in prison, who wrote: "I am in prison, and there is so much evil and anger surrounding this place. Recently someone gave me a copy of the book Sword of the Spirit. I started praying the deliverance prayers, and everything seemed to calm down. I pray it often now and things are changing. Thank you for this book."

We are seeing it over and over again. God· s Word does world Remember — it is not Sword of the Spirit. This book is only a tool to aid you in learning how to pray the Scriptures. It is the Scriptures themselves, God's pure Word, that make a difference!

Then the Lord said," Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all you people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations: and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you." (Exodus 34: 10) And His Word is true!

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!

More Praise Reports:

"Thank you for praying for my six–year–old friend who needed a liver transplant. I must tell you that soon after you started praying, they found a perfect match for her, and the transplant was done. The doctors said they didn't know how she could be alive after looking at her diseased liver. She has made remarkable progress and will come out of the hospital a month sooner than expected. Thank you for praying and, especially, thanks to our God for His infinite mercy."

"My sister–in–law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was given three weeks to live. You prayed for her. I would like to report that she is well now. Thank you so much for your prayers."

"I called for prayer for a young woman who had cancer and is mother to six children. She is totally healed now! Thank you so much for praying."

Joy Lamb is the Director of Intercessors at CHM.