When Believing and Confessing the Word of God Isn’t Enough

At the end of two years of focused prayer, my friend’s marriage and family were restored. Her husband is now free from addiction and pursues God with all of his heart, soul, mind and strength. We cannot stop praising the Lord for this miracle.

In Jeremiah 1:9-10, we read how God has empowered us to tear down the work of the enemy:

“Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, ‘Now, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.’ Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, ‘Look, I have put my words in your mouth!'”

We are to be about tearing down and destroying the things that set themselves against God’s kingdom. And notice how we are to be doing this tearing down. “Look, I have put My words in your mouth!” God says. His Word is sharper than a double-edged sword, capable of defeating every foe. His word created heaven and earth with just a syllable, and is capable of creating exactly what you need in your life.

If you are reading this, it might be because you need to tear something down in your life. If you ask Him, you are going to hear from Him about what you need to do next in your life.

Now I must warn you, if the work He wants you to do is to tear down, then use some elements of my story with my friend, but use the right ones. Since the time we prayed around and around that motel, we have told that story many times. A number of people have indicated to us that they are going to “pull a Jericho” and drive or walk around something in their own life. I would be careful about that.

First of all, I would never recommend putting yourself in a dangerous situation in an effort to emulate me. Second, the reason that event was effective was because it was a response in obedience. If you attempt a “Jericho” when God has not asked that of you, it will not work. Third, becoming focused on that method might distract you from what God is really asking you to do, the thing that will work for you.

If you are facing a high wall of adversity, there is a lot of good work you can do while you wait for God to move on your behalf. Ask Him how you should pray. Look for Scriptures that specifically address the problems in your way. Whatever He asks you to do, do it! He will be faithful to accomplish everything He puts on your heart.

Most importantly, He will change your heart to look more like His.

Nika Maples is the author of Hunting Hope and Twelve Clean Pages, the memoir of her survival of lupus and a massive brainstem stroke that left her quadriplegic at age 20. She could not speak, swallow or blink, but her faith sustained her and a year later she walked back onto her college campus on her own two feet. She writes and speaks full time, sharing messages of hope and endurance with education, business and church groups across the country. When not traveling, she lives, writes and laughs as much as possible in Fort Worth, Texas.

Keep up with Nika Maples and Hunting Hope by visiting nikamaples.com or following her on Facebook (nikamaples) or Twitter (@nikamaples).