God’s healing power, says author and evangelist Marilyn Hickey, includes physical and emotional healing as well as the power to cast out demons. When she visited Russia just after the Iron Curtain fell, she says, some students from Oral Roberts University met her at the plane and said, “Would you come with us to pray for this girl? She’s demon-possessed.”

The young woman was practicing witchcraft, Hickey says on “The Marilyn and Sarah Show” on the Charisma Podcast Network. “17 years old, and these demons would bite her and cut her skin though she couldn’t see them. … And these voices would say to her, ‘We’re going to kill you.’ So we went … and we got these students, and we cast those demons out of her and led her to Christ.

“I went back eight months later; she met me at the airport. She said, ‘I’m Natasha … and I love Jesus.’ And she won all of her family [to Christ], and all of her family knew that.”

One of the ways we access this kind of healing power, Hickey says, “is through the names of God, because He reveals who He is all through the Old Testament. … This is profitable, because it’s Jehovah revealing Himself, and whatever your need may be: Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Jireh—it’s just exciting.

“Your thinking can be sick. You can have a broken heart. You can be physically sick. You can have generational weaknesses from your parents, grandparents, whatever,” Marilyn adds. “But whatever the condition, He heals. He is the Lord Jehovah Rophe … He doesn’t just tell you that, He heals you. …From Genesis to Revelation, there are wonderful demonstrations, manifestations of healing.”

Marilyn shares the powerful story of when God first revealed Himself as Jehovah Rophe in Exodus 15. “The Israelites are going through the wilderness, and it’s a hard time for them. … So they come to this water … But when they get down to taste the water, it is bitter. There’s something bad, probably poisonous water. And so Moses prays. Instead of murmuring, Moses prays, and God gives him a revelation. … And God says to him, ‘Cut this tree and throw the branch in the water, and it will heal the water.’

“So what did [Moses] do? He cut the tree, threw it into the water, and the water was made sweet, and he calls the Lord: ‘You have revealed Yourself to me as a healer. You can heal.'”

Hickey says one of her favorite parts of this story is the way Moses listened to God. “And when He cut the tree down, I believe that represents the cross. And it says Jesus Himself took our infirmities and our diseases, and ‘by His stripes, we are healed.’ This happened on the cross. So the cross is wood. And when we take the provision of the cross into our needs, there is healing power.”

To hear more stories of Jehovah Rophe’s healing power, listen to this podcast. {eoa}

For more miraculous stories of God as healer, check out the Charisma e-book, Power to Heal, available for just $ at this link.

Some say a weed is just a plant flourishing where you don’t want it to grow. The plant I gazed at certainly fit that description. Its tender green leaves and slim stem contrasted with the smoky-blue Florida sky as it grew in the gutter on my roof. Definitely a place I did not want it to flourish!

I had watched the foot-tall plant growing for several weeks. Inch by inch and day by day, I kept expecting the weed to wilt and die as it reached a point of no return. It didn’t belong there. Yet there it was, tenaciously rooted in a most inappropriate place. A logical conclusion was that the gutter was filled with decaying leaves and dirt. The combination would naturally provide a welcoming environment for seeds carried by birds or the wind.

A kind neighbor offered to clean out the gutter and remove the weed. But when he climbed the ladder, he made an interesting discovery. The plant was not rooted in dirt. It was rooted in a single, decomposing piece of palm bark. The rest of the gutter was clean.

The lessons taught by this weed were not lost on me.

Importance of Perseverance

First, I was reminded of the adage, “An oak tree is just an acorn that held its ground.” This plant flourished because a lone seed tenaciously clung to the only opportunity it had.

How often do I give up when life becomes difficult? It’s so easy to blame less than ideal circumstances for my failures. The characteristic of perseverance is much like a muscle: It needs exercise to grow in strength. James 1:12 (NIV) says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.” Galatians 6:9 (ESV) reminds us to “not grow weary of doing good” and Romans 5:3-4 tells us suffering produces perseverance.

Danger of Passivity

On the other hand, the second lesson I learned sprang from an observation by a friend. After viewing the photo, she noted, “Interesting how little it takes for a weed to take root.”

Hmmm … what about the weeds in my own life? Little sins easily grow into deep-rooted and destructive habits. And they do it with little to no conscious encouragement from me. Sort of how the weed sprouted and flourished while I passively watched it grow on my roof for weeks.

I love how Elisabeth Elliot addressed this warning:

“Spiritual strongholds begin with a thought. One thought becomes a consideration. A consideration develops into an attitude, which leads then to action. Action repeated becomes a habit, and a habit establishes a ‘power base for the enemy,’ that is, a stronghold.”

What thoughts am I tolerating today that will become strongholds tomorrow?

The final lesson reminds me of yet another adage:

Bloom Where You’re Planted

There were many better places in my yard for that weed to grow, but it grew where it was planted.

Am I content in where God has planted me? Am I listening for the prompts of the Holy Spirit to share Jesus where I am and to be a blessing to those God has placed in my life? Or am I looking longingly at other people’s lives, wishing I had been planted in their circumstances instead?

One little weed. Three big lessons.

What are your thoughts? {eoa}

Ava Pennington is a writer, speaker and Bible teacher. She writes for nationally circulated magazines and is published in 32 anthologies, including 25 Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She also authored Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, endorsed by Kay Arthur. Learn more at .

This article originally appeared at .

God still heals, and yesterday morning, I received this wonderful testimony from Paul and Jane in Europe that shows God still heals. And in this case, God heals lung cancer.

Dear Becky, I’m Paul from Europe. I wrote to you this year . and . about my wife, Jane’s, illness. She had lung cancer. Your prayers, Becky, have been answered! Jane is healed. Doctors gave her a biological treatment. During the treatment she had special examinations of the whole body in June and again in October. The cancer is gone! Doctors will investigate it again in February 2020. My wife, Jane, and I thank Jesus Christ every day for healing. Your prayers for my wife and reading the prayers on your website gave my wife strength. Thank you very much. Thank you very much for your prayers and your ministry. Paul and Jane from Europe.

Perhaps you have received a hopeless report from your doctor. What should you do?

1. First of all, choose life. God’s Word tells us in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (AMP), “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore, you shall choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding closely to Him; for He is your life [your good life, your abundant life, your fulfillment] and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord promised (swore) to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

2. Trust God. Proverbs 3:5-6 explains to us how we are to trust, and what God will do for us when we put our trust in Him. “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].” And again in Mark 9:23b, Jesus says, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!”

3. Renounce the spirit of death, and the disease. We discover that we have power in our words in Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.”

4. Speak life. Even if the report is filled with death and gloom, speak life! Romans 4:17 (KJV) instructs us this way: “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”

5. And finally, act out your faith-filled words. James 2:18 (NKJV) explains the importance of putting action behind your words: “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” {eoa}

Becky Dvorak is a prophetic healing evangelist and the author of DARE to Believe, Greater Than Magic, The Healing Creed and Conquering the Spirit of Death. Visit her at .

This article originally appeared at .

For more about God’s healing power over cancer, check out the Charisma e-book Spiritual Strength Through the Valley of Cancer, available here for just $.

“I heard an explosion, and the explosion that I heard was that I stepped on an IED, an improvised explosive device. When I stepped on it … I didn’t know what happened at all. I knew that there was an explosion. And when I saw my Marines, and my corpsmen, my medic all surrounding me, and they’re trying to keep me alert. That’s when I noticed, ‘Oh, something happened to me.'”

On that Afghanistan battlefield, former Marine Sergeant Carlos Evans says on the “Hope for Your Marriage” series on Charisma News, he lost both of his legs above his knee, as well as part of his left arm. At that moment, he says, “I was dying.”

But his real wounds went much deeper. Airlifted out of the war zone, Evans received months of care in a military hospital in Washington, D.C. In the process, he became addicted to painkillers and, as he looked at his future, he says, “I was suicidal.”

As they share in their book, Standing Together, Carlos’ wife, Rosemarie, a registered nurse, became a key part of his recovery—but not only because of her medical training. After the couple returned to their home and their two young daughters, Carlos’ attitude didn’t improve. One day, things reached a crisis point.

“That day, I was ready to give up. I go to Rosemarie, and I tell her, ‘You continue with your life, and I’ll continue with mine,’ because I just didn’t think it was fair.

“And Rosemarie looks at me. She gets on her knees, and she stares at me, right in my eyes. And she says, ‘I love you for the man you were yesterday. I love you for the man you are today, and I love you for the man you’re going to be tomorrow.’

“And I kept telling her, ‘You can’t love me. Look at all my wounds.’

“And she told me, ‘That’s the difference between you and me. I don’t see your wounds. I only see your scars.'”

After Carlos asked what she meant, Rosemarie explained, “Well, when a patient goes inside a hospital room with an open wound, he sees the doctor. The doctor cleans the wound, stitches the wound. And as time goes by, it heals, and it becomes a scar. When I see you, I only see the scars, because I know who healed your wounds. And that is Jesus.

“I wake up with a miracle and go to sleep with a miracle every day,” Rosemarie told her husband. “Your daughters are not orphans, and I’m not a widow. And if Jesus is the center of our lives, we’re gonna make it through.”

For more of the Evanses’ inspiring story, listen to this podcast. {eoa}

You may or may not have heard my own story of starting a family. The thing is—my husband and I got pregnant on our honeymoon. Surprised? Yes, we were!

The two of us had no experience with babies. We didn’t have baby brothers or sisters, we’d never babysat anyone under the age of 3, and if someone asked us, “Do you want to hold the baby?” we’d put our hands behind us and back away, stammering, “Uh … no thanks!”

So there was no one really less prepared to start a family than we were.

I suppose that’s why I read everything there was to read about parenting—especially the Bible. And do you know what I found out?

Even if you’re surprised by parenthood, or even if you can’t see right now how it’s all going to turn out, God has a vision and a plan for your family.

Here’s how I know:

—There is a plan, and He knows what it is! Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” No matter what’s happening in your family right now, God’s not surprised or freaked out about it. He’s also not worried about raising kids in this day and age. He knows you, and He knows your kids—He’s put you together in the same family on purpose, and He’s working His plan. Believe it!

—Your children are a blessing. Psalm 127:3-5 says that children are a gift from the Lord, that the fruit of the womb is a reward—that you’re blessed if you have a quiver full of them! If you’ve been a parent for a while, you know that isn’t obvious every single day. But it will help you if you determine to think as God does about your children. They are a gift to you—they are your reward. I can tell you, now that my children are in their late 20s, serving God with all their hearts, that it’s true. If you raise them the way God says to, they’ll be nothing but blessings to you. And it turns out that if you raise great kids, people think you’re great! Just a part of the reward.

—His Word is your guide. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The path of your family’s life (you and your kids’) isn’t clear to you right now, but you have something that lights the way: God’s Word. The future is a mystery to us, but God’s Word guides us through it. Kids do come with an instruction manual; it’s the Word of God. He’s been raising children a long time. He knows how to do it. When you keep your eyes on the Word and live by it, you’ll know the way. He always has your answer.

—You’re anointed to be the parent. In Luke 4:18a, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me.” Let me ask you—where is the Spirit of the Lord today? He’s in you! That means He has anointed you. And if you’re a parent, He’s anointed you to be the parent! He put your family together, and anointed and equipped you for each other. It really helped me to realize—and it wouldn’t hurt you to repeat it to yourself daily—”I’m anointed to be the parent!” Aren’t you glad we’re not doing this job all alone? God is helping us! {eoa}

Karen Jensen Salisbury has been in ministry over 30 years. Formerly a lead pastor, then an instructor at Rhema Bible College, she is currently an itinerant minister and author of several books. Connect with her on her website, , and on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

This article originally appeared at .

For more parenting wisdom, check out Your Sons and Daughters Shall Prophesy, a Charisma e-book, available at this link for just $.

Country music legend Dolly Parton infuses her faith into everything she touches, including her upcoming Netflix series, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings.

“I have a lot of faith, and that’s what gets me through my life; it always has,” Parton told Movieguide® at the red-carpet premiere of the show.

“I grew up here in these mountains in a very spiritual family. My grandpa was a preacher. I believe that through God, all things are possible, and that included my creativity and my dreams. It’s just really a fun night to be here seeing another dream come true, and I just thank God for all of it,” Parton said.

Heartstrings will stream on Netflix beginning Nov. 22.

According to the Netflix synopsis, Heartstrings features eight stories celebrating family, faith, love and forgiveness coming to life. The series is inspired by Dolly Parton’s iconic country music catalog.

Movieguide® spoke with the cast and crew at the premiere, learning more about the heart of the series.

Read the rest of this article at Movieguide®. Find out what God is doing in Hollywood! {eoa}

Before I share the telltale signs that a spirit of death is attacking you, let’s discuss how it gains access into our lives.

The spirit of death is sly and cunning, and it works in the realm of spiritual darkness. It first enters into the mind and the emotions when we least expect it—especially when we lack time in the Word, our faith level dwindles and our spiritual defenses are easy for the enemy to breach. Or when we fall ill, we tend to let our spiritual guard down, and the enemy takes advantage of this spiritual weakness. The spirit of death also has a vicious appetite for the vulnerable and unsuspecting people of this world. These are some common inroads where it gains access to do its evil.

Telltale Signs a Spirit of Death May Be Attacking You

The following is a list to help you discern whether or not you are being attacked by a spirit of death.

—You are diagnosed with a rare and/or incurable disease.

—There is an onslaught of sickness and disease reoccurring in your body.

—You are battling with discouraging thoughts to give up the fight and die.

—You are dealing with a barrage of accidents and strange events that can lead to death.

—You are struggling with suicidal thoughts.

—You are fighting with murderous and terroristic thoughts against others.

—You desire to abort your baby.

—You continuously engage in behaviors and activities that invite death, such as reckless driving, life-threatening sports, drug and alcohol abuse, and other negative habits that display a death wish.

As you read through this list of telltale signs, are you under attack from a spirit of death? Are you or a loved one struggling with any of these telltale signs from this list above? Did you know that you are created to overcome this attack? God created you to be more than a conqueror over every attack from the enemy—including an attack from a spirit of death. {eoa}

Becky Dvorak is a prophetic healing evangelist and the author of DARE to Believe, Greater Than Magic, The Healing Creed and Conquering the Spirit of Death. Visit her at .

This article was excerpted from Conquering the Spirit of Death, Chapter 1, pp. 13-14, and originally appeared at .

“Every couple is close to doing really well,” says pastor, speaker and bestselling author Bill Farrel in an interview with his wife, Pam, on the “Hope for Your Marriage” series on Charisma News. “Because marriage is a matter of the heart. And in that way, it reflects the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is also a matter of the heart. But in the gospel, if your heart turns, it turns quickly, and you go from being at odds with God to being God’s friend and part of His family.

“And the same thing happens in marriage, that if you get your hearts reconnected .. suddenly marriage comes alive, and you can begin to work on all the stuff that’s been standing in your way,” Bill tells host Marti Pieper. “Every couple is just one breakthrough away from doing really well.”

And with these words of hope, the Farrels, founders of LoveWise, have some practical advice for couples who may be struggling: “Pull together, don’t pull apart,” says Pam, also a popular speaker and bestselling author. “And so what that means is, ‘Hey, it’s time to get serious. It’s time to say, ‘Let’s pray.’ Even if it’s just a sentence. ‘Let’s read the Bible together,’ even if it’s a simple devotional. … It can be something simple, but it gives you a place, a touchstone place together,” she adds.

“My encouragement would be that if you need to pay for a counselor, go get one, so you can pull together,” Pam explains. “If you need to meet with a mentor couple who has overcome in your area of crisis or stress, meet with a mentor couple. If you need to get in a small-group Bible study and surround yourself with couples who believe in long-term love so you can have a long-term love, [do it]. If you need to meet with a pastor to get some spiritual direction and pull together, then that’s what you should do.”

Bill offers his own words of wisdom for couples who are struggling: “Do something positive that’s different than what you’re used to doing. … What happens when couples get under stress and pain is they get locked into habits that are self-defeating. And if you just go do something different, that’s positive. … It has the potential to unlock that breakthrough.”

For more of the Farrels’ hope-filled wisdom for your marriage relationship, listen to this podcast.

It’s been a long, hot summer! Here in California, it was followed by heavy winds and wildfires, which are thankfully now contained through the efforts of heroic firefighters and the grace of God. Rain would have been so welcome!

We’re entering the holiday season, and many people are suffering the loss of homes and even livelihoods. While other parts of the country are experiencing winter weather, we live in what appears to be paradise except for the devastation left behind. My prayer as we watched and waited what was happening around us was, “Lord, send the wind and fire of your Spirit to spark revival in this state and across our nation. And send rain; please send rain.”

Having migrated from New York to Florida where I lived most of my life, I am used to a hot, muggy climate from June through August, along with the recurring afternoon thunderstorms and rain greeting us during the evening rush hours. The storms would bring occasional power outages, so the kitchen was closed and we’d settle for take-out or delivery. The aftermath was the sweet, fresh smell of the grass, a calming breeze and slight reduction in temperature. However, we weren’t saying, “Oh, goody, another thunderstorm!”

In Miami, I remember hanging my laundered sheets on the clothes line so they would get that fresh, airy smell. They didn’t take long to dry, but many an afternoon, I would race to the clothes line trying to beat out the ensuing rain which would then soak my almost-dry items. When the sun returned and the summer breeze with it, they would quickly dry again. But at the time, I found it most inconvenient.

Rain came every afternoon like clockwork. And when it rained, it poured buckets. It was not gentle. It brought wind, lightning and thunder. It was loud and scary, but it only lasted a few minutes. Then came the sunshine giving an almost technicolor appearance to the surroundings. Everything seemed cleaner and brighter. Florida is beautiful! Hot and humid, but beautiful.

In contrast, when I recap my childhood memories, it seemed as though we had rainy days in New York. It would be a steady, gentle rain that brought refreshing to our surroundings in the spring and summer and drew you indoors to enjoy the comfort of tea or cocoa in the winter. The rain was comforting, and we were prepared for it. We had rain gear—boots, galoshes, raincoats and umbrellas.

Since moving across the country to the desert I find myself reminiscing about rain. The temperatures have soared from 90 degrees to 115-plus degrees in this desert … and no rain. My husband and I diligently watch the forecasts and there is the “hope of rain,” but day after day, month after month, there had been no rain.

Finally, after five months, it rained. I didn’t see it. It happened while we slept, but it was the topic of conversation the next morning. Everyone was excited. It lowered the temperature down into the 90s.

Rain is a blessing in so many ways. Not only does it refresh the earth so that it can yield its fruit and provide nourishment for us and the rest of creation, but it’s symbolic of God’s blessings on us (Ezek. 34:26). Jesus said that it falls on “the just and the unjust” (Matt. 5:45b).

Before I lived in the desert, I took rain for granted. Sometimes I was annoyed by it. I found it inconvenient to my plans. I look back now with much more appreciation. I recognize it as the blessing God intended.

But it means even more than that to me now. When you are in a dry land, you thirst for water. You crave water. You recognize that your very existence depends on water. As the psalmist said, “As the deer pants after the water brooks, so my soul pants after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and appear before God?” (Ps. 42:1-2).

Living in a dry land reminds me of my need for water for my very physical well-being and existence. But it also reminds me that my soul needs refreshing—from the water only the Lord can provide (see John 4:13,14). His promise of the Holy Spirit guarantees that we will have everlasting water: “‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ By this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him would receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:38-39).

God’s Word rains on us (see Deut. 32:2). It tells us to break up the fallow ground of our hearts and “seek the Lord until He comes and rains righteousness” (Hosea 10:12b).

Comparing physical rain and spiritual rain is not difficult. One refreshes our physical surroundings and brings life to the earth. A cold glass of water on a hot day is a godsend. But it cannot quench spiritual thirst. Only God can do that.

Are you ready to bring your parched soul before Him and allow Him to rain righteousness upon you? Can you sit in His presence and let Him saturate you with His refreshing? Take a moment to lift your hands in surrender and receive His showers of blessing. Then say, “Holy Spirit rain, rain … don’t go away.”

Prayer Power for the Week of Nov. 10, 2019

This week, follow Paul’s admonition to give thanks in all things—even the weather conditions. Give God praise and glory that you are safe and secure in Him no matter what you face. Continue to pray for the president and all working with him to ensure he’s making the best decisions for the nation. Pray that righteousness would prevail in all areas of our government. Remember those who have suffered loss through wildfires, other natural disasters or crime. Pray for worldwide revival, more laborers for the harvest field, the peace of Jerusalem, our military, allies and unity in the body of Christ. Read: 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 42:1; Hosea 10:12; John 4:14, 7:38. {eoa}

“All of us have some sandbox, so to speak, that God has invited us to play or work in. And you want to identify your mountain of opportunity in reference to the seven mountains of society.” The “seven mountains,” a principle developed by Bill Bright, founder of Cru, and Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM, are as follows: religion, family, education, government, media, arts and entertainment and business. Business coach Linda Fields has a unique way to help you access divine revelation to maximize that impact, and she shares it on this episode of “The Linda Fields” show on the Charisma Podcast Network using the acronym “7MPACT.”

Of course, “7M” refers to the seven mountains, but Fields also uses the M to designate an important principle. “This is where this all begins, and it’s meeting with your Master. That’s what we do in prayer; we meet with the Master,” she says. “And so the M is where we come and say, ‘O Lord, You made me. You gave me certain gifts. You’ve wired me a certain way; You have a plan for my life. And today, oh Lord, I want to meet with my Master. I want to talk to You.”

The P, Fields explains, “stands for ‘Present the Opportunity.’ So this is where you want to tell the Lord, ‘Lord, here’s an opportunity I have right now to consider.’ Or you might need to say, ‘Lord, here’s a problem I’m running up against right now. Maybe it’s manpower; maybe it’s finance; maybe it’s a stalemate you’ve reached in coming up with a creative idea,” Fields says, offering additional practical steps for making that presentation to God.

Fields continues through the acronym, sharing that A stands for “Agreeing for God’s very best solution. Often if you are stopped, it’s easy to only rehearse your problems in prayer,” she says. But “God already knows the problem. So rather than spending a large amount of energy on describing the pain and the problem and the shortage and the lack and the this and the that, let’s just say, ‘God, we already gave you the opportunity. Right now, we want to agree with You for Your very best solution, whatever that might be.'”

If you’re ready to access God’s best and learn more about receiving God’s revelation for your profession, listen to this podcast. {eoa}