Today was a great day. We started the day off with evangelism in some of the neighboring areas and spoke with a few families that God had set out for us. As we were walking the streets I noticed a family with a ton of children running around and felt the need to go talk to them. Luckily, our group ended up in that direction and at their front gate. God is funny sometimes, huh? 🙂
This family was such a joyous and beautiful group of humans. There was something about their spirits that were so peaceful and uplifting. We started talking with one of the mothers in the family, Jacklyn, about her family. Soon we found out that 5 years of generations live in this house. I asked Jackie where her children were and she started to tell us of their whereabouts. As she started talking about her son Emmanuel, she shared with us that he had been sick for some time. When she said he was sick, she was referring to him having horrible night terrors basically involving demonic spirits. God quickly laid the urgency in my heart to pray for him. As I started interceding for him, I laid hands on this child and I welcomed the Holy Spirit into our presence. I prayed that the negative spirits would be cast out, and right when I prayed that, Emmanuel’s hand grabbed mine. I looked up and at his face and could feel a spirit of peace and freedom. It was super cool to see how God worked in that moment.
Shortly after, God told me to ask Jackie if there was anything we could pray for her about, so I did. I thought we were only there to pray for her son but I was very wrong. Seconds after I asked that question she hesitated and said no. Moments after that I could tell there was something she needed to say but she didn’t want to fully express that she needed prayer. I encouraged her to share what she was feeling and she then told us that she had buried her husband on Tuesday, three days prior to our visit. My heart broke as I watched her told back tears. I don’t really know how to put the rest of what happened, into words..
In this instance the Holy spirit completely took over my words and actions and I laid hands on her and started speaking what God was sharing with me. He had me share with her that in my own personal relationship with The Lord, I’m learning to express emotions and break the hard exteriors I’ve held inside for so long. As God spoke those words through me, I encouraged her to cry the beautiful tears that God has given her, and The Lord allowed me to feel her heart, and I started crying with her. God kept telling me that she was beautiful, worthy, joyous, precious, and fully able to grieve this horrible family tragedy.
I was overcome with the Spirit and honestly can’t remember what I told her. All I know is that God was there and is always there. His spirit was all over that property and His people and when we allowed him there, He was the one who did all the speaking and moving in her heart. He was the one who allowed her to cry and me to pray over her. I couldn’t help but smile at the end because I felt the freedom that she had experienced after having that encounter with The Lord. God was talking to her so loudly! Through me?! How amazing is it, and humbling, that he uses us as vessels to share his love and truths with others.
Pictures are of Jackie and her grandmother, Martha.
.jpeg&maxwidth=640)
