In the fall of 2011, my husband and I were at a revival service when the evangelist who was preaching stopped in mid-sentence and said that the Lord had given her a word for someone sitting in the part of the sanctuary where we happen to be sitting. She pointed directly at us and said that the Lord had a message for us and that He was going to bless us with a “mind blowing financial blessing”. She quickly resumed preaching as if it had never happened. We both knew that the word she was sharing from the Lord was for us. We were beyond excited at the time for many reasons. I was in a job situation where I was being persecuted for being a Christian but felt I could not quit because of financial obligation to my family. My husband was overjoyed, too, because he has congestive cardiomyopathy or unexplained heart failure which enables him to work. We were also thrilled because we have an outreach ministry for caregivers and knew that with a large financial blessing we could impact the lives of many for the Lord. What a joy we felt driving home that night! We decided to write down all the things we would do for when this “mind-blowing financial blessing” came to our family. We had so much fun basking in the promise of the Lord.
Well, it is now August of 2012 and we are waiting on the Lord for this promise that we still whole-heartedly believe is ours. Now don’t get me wrong. God has provided and done amazing things for our family ever since that night. I was delivered from my terrible working situation and He has provided for our financial needs ever since. In fact, I now have a job at my daughter’s school, Wayne Christian, where they don’t persecute me for being a Christian! Brian is doing much better with his health. His heart function is up and his doctors cannot medically find a reason as to why. We love Brian’s mysterious healing because it gives us a great opportunity to share the healing power of the Lord with them. We have been able to do some great things for others and it has been so much fun being used by the Lord to bless others. At the same time, though, we become impatient sometimes and wonder why God is taking so long to bless us with the promise that He gave us so many months ago.
Jessica and Brian Daly
Do you ever do that? Has God given you a promise and then you felt like He forgot about it? The problem is that we compare God to man. People forget their promises and go back on their word to us daily, so in turn we have become conditioned by the world to think that God may be doing the same. I have to remind myself daily that God is not human and He does not think or act as we do. God never forgets His promises.
Yesterday, I had an experience that has only happened a few times during my spiritual journey as a Christian. I could sense spiritual warfare happening around me. The enemy was raging an all-out attack on me. I felt sad and discouraged for no apparent reason. I then began to doubt and worry. Before I knew it I was so discouraged that I headed home where I longed to be alone with my Savior. I know that in Hebrews 4:16 the Bible tells me, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. “ It doesn’t say meekly or shyly. It says boldly and that is exactly what this woman of God did!
I first sat in my recliner and thought I needed to read my Bible but I was drawn to the middle of the living room where I began to weep uncontrollably. I don’t mean a few tears running down my face. I mean tears bursting from my eyes and me screaming out to the Lord to help me. I was crying and screaming all at the same time. I was compelled to get up and go to the mantle where our lists sat behind a picture frame. These were the same lists of all that my husband and I were going to do when this “mind-blowing financial blessing” came from the Lord. It is 95% all for others and about 5 % things for our own family. I opened these lists and began to read them aloud to God through my tears, or I should say I cried them out to Him. I wanted Jesus to hear me! I told Him that I knew He was going to make a way to answer all of the needs on our lists. I needed Him to comfort me during my time of doubt and worry. I also realized as I read these lists, which I had not looked at in a while, many of our desires on the list had already been answered! That is why it is important to write your requests and desires for the Lord on paper. Seeing the answered prayers increased my praise for Him as I sat alone with Jesus that afternoon. Once I shared my cares and needs with my Lord I then cried out my passionate love for Him. I poured out my heart and soul to Jesus on my knees in the middle of the floor. I could feel God’s presence falling on me as if He were wrapping me in a warm blanket. I ended my time with Him by telling Him that I could not do any of the things on my lists but that I knew He could do them all. I told Him how much I needed His love, mercy, grace and strength. I found a verse which embodied all of what happened to me that afternoon. It is 2 Corinthians 18-19 “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.” That verse was written for me and you too!
When I got up off the floor, I had no make-up left on my face and was physically exhausted but at the same time I felt wonderful. I had a sweet peace encompassing me. I had Jesus’ sweet peace around and inside of me. All my bad feelings were gone. As I cried out to Jesus, do you know what had happened? The enemy had to flee! He could not remain on my back and in my thoughts while I was crying out Jesus’ name. God tells you and me in Proverbs 3:26 “For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” God is our constant protector and defender.
I didn’t really grasp what had taken place until later in the evening when I was sharing my awesome experience with my husband. One thing he and I agreed on was that our promise must be very close otherwise the enemy would not have attacked me in such a powerful way. We find that when God is about to do something amazing in our lives, it is the exact time when the enemy forges an all-out attack on our hearts, minds and souls. We will continue to trust in “our” promise and in all of God’s promises for us in His word. If God has placed a promise or a dream in your heart, don’t ever underestimate His power or His plan for your life. Keep trusting and keep close to Him. The closer our relationship becomes with our Lord, the closer we are to seeing the fruits of His promises become realities! Just look what He shared with me in Proverbs 3:16, “Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.” Wow, it is a “mind-blowing” blessing just to know that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wants to communicate with me in such an intimate way. We know our promise is yet to come!
By Jessica Daly | Published author and founder of My Daly Outreach Ministries | www.mydalyoutreach.com
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