From the desk of Steve Shultz:
I'm sure many of you already have been in prayer and even fasting this month. It's a great way to start off the New Year and in seeking God. Tiffany Ann Lewis shares a word about prayer and belief that will encourage you in all you are believing God for.
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NEW!
What Is God Saying for 2013?
by Chuck Pierce, Dutch Sheets, Garris Elkins, Bobby Haaby, and Denny Cline
Entire 2013 Elijah List Conference Set
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Tiffany Ann Lewis:
A New Year of Prayer - Connecting With God
Do you believe in miracles? I have to be honest and tell you that I haven't always believed in them. I was a Believer that didn't believe! I wanted to; I fully understood the principle of believing before receiving. Nevertheless, there was a disconnect between my head and my heart that I didn't know how to change, but God did! You see, it is possible to believe God in areas A, B and C and not believe in areas D, E and F, and God knows just what to do. Let me explain.
"Help My Unbelief!"
In Mark 9:14-29 we see a father who brought Jesus his son who was possessed with some sort of an evil spirit that tortured him through symptoms of epilepsy. The fact that the father brought his son to Jesus reveals that he had a measure of faith. However, after the disciples failed at setting his son free, we see something else: we see the father's faltering faith. This uncertainty is revealed in his words to Jesus, "If You can do anything, have compassion on us..." (verse 22).
My heart goes out to this father; there is nothing more painful to a parent than to watch their child suffer. I can only imagine his grief when he saw that the disciples failed at setting his son free. I believe that as Jesus talked to the father, His heart went out to him too. However, I also believe that Jesus saw a greater issue than the boy being thrown into the fire and water – he saw the father's faith and his internal struggle. Therefore He said to the father, "If you can believe, all things are possible..." (verse 23). Immediately, the father broke down in tears and confesses from the depth of his being, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (verse 24).
It seems almost cruel to turn the issue around on a desperate dad like that. Jesus could have just healed the son and saved the father from all this anguish, but He wanted help the father too. Before healing his son, Jesus brought the father to the place of prayer, and that single prayer changed his life...help my unbelief! Come to my rescue Lord Jesus. Bring aid to the areas of weak faith in my heart.
Beloved, God loves us too much to leave us in our unbelief. One of the Hebrew names for Him is Yahovah Yireh. You may have heard it translated Jehovah-Jireh. This name is typically translated as "Provider," however, the literal meaning of this name is, "Yehovah Sees." In the name Yehovah-Yireh, God reveals Himself as the God who sees the need and provides for it. It carries with it the idea that God will make provision when He sees the need, even if it's an area of unbelief or lack of trust, as we've just learned.
Connecting With God
In closing, I want to turn our attention to the disciples and the powerful lesson Scripture has given us through their experience in all this. After all was said and done, the boy was healed, and everybody went home, Scripture picks up and says, "And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?'" (Mark 9:28).
That is a great question; after all, Jesus had given them power to cast out demons: "Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons" (Mark 3:14-15), and they had done so successfully before: "And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them" (Mark 6:13). However, this time, they were unsuccessful.
Jesus' answer alluded to their prayer life and their connection with God. "So He said to them, 'This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting'" (Mark 9:29). When we look at the life of Jesus, we see that He was constantly connecting with the Father through prayer. Jesus lived a life dependent on God, and in return, God provided everything He needed all the way to the Cross.
Prayer is simply dialogue between God and man. It's communication between Heaven and earth. It's a time to be honest with God about some of the things we are feeling. It's a time to hear His heart on a matter. It is a time to connect with God and receive what we need from Him and Him alone.
I'm not sure of all the difficulties we all will face in 2013, but I know that as we connect to God through prayer, even in our failings, and confess our utter dependence on Him, that He will provide what we need. Amen and Amen.
Tiffany Ann Lewis
Dancing with the Flame of the Lord Ministries
Email: tiffanyann@tiffanyannlewis.com
Tiffany Ann Lewis is a prophetic worship leader and Bible teacher with a unique focus on Biblical Hebrew, and whose heart has been passionately awakened by a God who sees us in our shortcomings, loves us in spite of it all, and calls out to us so we can live (Ezekiel 16). Her vision is to create an atmosphere in worship where we can meet with God face to face, where the Spirit of God moves freely, releasing emotional, spiritual and physical healing, and igniting a passion for our Heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus. Tiffany Ann has been ministering for over 10 years in prophetic worship throughout the Body of Christ. She worships with her family at Northway Church in Malta, New York, where she serves on the worship team.
