Bible-Based Healing Confessions Over Headaches

We don’t read a great deal in the Word about the headaches specifically, but they are certainly a part of the curse (which, incidentally, His children have been made free from, when we embrace and walk in covenant with our God). One miracle I can call to mind instantly is in II Kings Chapter 4, where Elisha raised the Shunammite woman’s son back from the dead after the child died with terrible pains in his head. Perhaps migraine, aneurism, heat stroke…we don’t know exactly what proved fatal for that boy; but we can surmise from that account that God is well-able to cure not only a headache that feels like it could kill us…but also whatever the root cause behind it might be.

Exodus 34:8 – And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. FATHER, IT’S NO WONDER WHY THE ENEMY WOULD TRY TO RATTLE ME WITH A HEADACHE. YOU PLACE GREAT VALUE ON THE HEAD. IT IS THE SEAT OF OUR SOULS, THE ORIGIN OF OUR THOUGHTS. IT’S OUR SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY. JUST AS THE PRIEST WOULD PLACE HIS HAND ON THE HEAD OF THE ANIMAL TO SACRIFICE FOR SINS OF THE PEOPLE, TO TRANSFER THE SINS TO THE ANIMAL, LORD, I KNOW THAT THE HEAD IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN SIN AND SALVATION FOR ME. IT GOVERNS MY DECISION-MAKING. PLEASE, PLACE YOUR HAND ON MY HEAD, FATHER, AND TRANSFER OUT THE CAUSE OF MY PAIN IN JESUS’ NAME. DRAW IT OUT OF ME, FOR JESUS HAS ALREADY BECOME MY SACRIFICE. I BOW MY HEAD TO YOU AND WORSHIP, EVEN WHILE I WAIT FOR THE PAIN TO SUBSIDE, I BOW THIS SEAT OF MY AUTHORITY TO YOU IN SUBMISSION. I HUMBLE MYSELF BEFORE YOU WHEN I AM WELL, AND ALSO WHEN I AM IN PAIN. THANK YOU FOR HEALING ME OF THIS HEADACHE, O LORD!

Psalms 23:5 – Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. FATHER, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE ENEMY TO WATCH AS YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL AND CAUSE MY CUP TO RUN OVER WITH YOUR BLESSINGS! I WILL FEEL LIKE ENJOYING THE FEAST OF YOUR GOODNESS BECAUSE MY HEAD IS ANOINTED AND ABSORBING YOUR HEALING POWER.

Psalms 140:7 – O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR COVERING MY HEAD IN THE DAY OF BATTLE. TODAY THAT BATTLE WOULD CAUSE DISTRESS IN MY HEAD BY PAIN AND CONFUSION, BUT I RECEIVE STRENGTH FROM YOU AND I ALSO RECEIVE RELIEF FROM PAIN, TOO. THE DEVIL MAY BE TRYING TO WAR AGAINST ME, BUT I AM WARRING RIGHT BACK, IN JESUS’ NAME, AND I’M COVERED!

Psalms 141:5 – Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. THANK YOU LORD, FOR RIGHTEOUS COUNSEL WHICH SPEAKS TRUTH INTO MY LIFE. WHENEVER I SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF GODLY COUNSELORS AND TO YOUR WORD, IT’S AN ANOINTING OIL ON MY HEAD. MY HEAD IS NOT BREAKING, IT’S BEING HEALED, IN JESUS’ NAME!

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. FATHER, ALTHOUGH THIS HEADACHE HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO ROB ME OF MY PEACE, I CLING TO YOUR PEACE, AND I FORBID EVEN SICKNESS TO TAKE IT FROM ME. I RELEASE ANY WORRY, STRESS, TENSION, AND FEAR WHICH MIGHT BE AGGRAVATING THE SYMPTOMS, AND I COMMAND PEACE TO REIGN IN MY MORTAL BODY NOW, IN JESUS’ NAME! PEACE, PERFECT LOVE, DRIVE OUT ALL FEAR AND DOUBT WHICH OPEN THE DOOR TO SICKNESS AND DISEASE. I GIVE THANKS TO YOU, LORD, AS I FEEL THE TENSION RELAXING IN MY BACK, SHOULDERS, NECK AND HEAD. THANK YOU THAT THIS PEACE IS ALSO CALMING MY STOMACH FROM ANY NAUSEA AND MY NERVES FROM FEELING A WRECK. I AM FREE FROM THE CURSE!

Jonah 4:8 – And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. FATHER, THANK YOU FOR HEALING ME OF HEADACHES CAUSED BY BRIGHT LIGHTS, HEAT, AND BAROMETRIC PRESSURE CHANGES. THANK YOU AS WELL FOR HELPING ME TO RELEASE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS THAT OPEN ME UP TO SUFFERING. IF I AM HARBORING UNFORGIVENESS, A GRUDGE, HURT FEELINGS, HATRED, PREJUDICE, OR ANY OTHER EMOTION THAT DISPLEASES YOU, I RELEASE IT NOW AND ASK YOUR FORGIVENESS. I DON’T WANT TO GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT—THAT’S EVEN WORSE TO ME THAN HAVING THE HEADACHE. PLEASE, REVEAL TO ME WHEN MY ACTIONS WARRANT REPENTANCE AND TRUE CHANGE!

1 Samuel 28:2 – And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. FATHER, I PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF MY HEAD TODAY. MAY YOU BE THE “KEEPER OF MY HEAD” FOREVER, BECAUSE IT IS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE WHEN YOU ARE KEEPING WATCH OVER ME. THE HEADACHE DOESN’T HAVE PERMISSION TO REIGN OVER MY HEAD AND MY THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS, BECAUSE YOU ARE IN CHARGE!

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. LORD, I ASK YOU FOR WISDOM TO REVEAL ANY FOODS, DRINK, CHEMICALS, PRESERVATIVES, ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES, EYESTRAIN, OR OTHER FACTORS TO ME NOW. I EMBRACE YOUR WISDOM, AND I WILL USE WHATEVER WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE YOU SEND INTO MY LIFE TO EQUIP MYSELF FOR PREVENTION OF FUTURE HEADACHES! I AM NOT THE VICTIM ANY LONGER OF MY ENVIRONMENT, BUT I AM PROACTIVE TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES. I THANK YOU FOR HONORING MY HEALTHY CHOICES, AND FOR SURPASSING EVEN MY DILIGENT EFFORTS WITH YOUR HEALING POWER.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; THANK YOU, GOD, FOR PROVING OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT I CAN TRUST YOU EVEN WHEN I DON’T HAVE A GRIP ON WHAT’S GOING ON. I DON’T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT OPENS THE DOOR TO SICKNESS, AND I DON’T ALWAYS FORESEE AN ATTACK OF THE ENEMY—BUT OH, FATHER, YOU DO! I TRUST YOU TO BRING THE MANIFESTATION OF THE HEALING ALREADY MADE AVAILABLE TO ME BY THE ATONEMENT.

Jonah 2:5 – The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. THANK YOU FATHER, FOR HEALING ME FROM HEADACHES WHICH FEEL LIKE A TIGHT BAND AROUND MY HEAD. YOU ARE PROTECTING ME FROM ANY LONG-TERM DAMAGE. IF MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS HIGH, OR IF FLUID RETENTION OR OTHER HEALTH FACTORS ARE CAUSING MY HEAD TO HURT, I THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF THOSE OTHER CONDITIONS AS WELL, WHETHER THEY BE KNOWN OR HIDDEN.

Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. FATHER, I COMMIT MY HEALTH, MY PLANS, MY HABITS, MY AFFECTIONS, AND ALL I HAVE TO YOU. I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO REARRANGE WHATEVER IN MY LIFE IS CAUSING ME TO HAVE SICKNESS OR COMPROMISED HEALTH. THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF ME AND FOR CAUSING HEALING TO BE EVIDENT, AS I REMAIN COMMITTED ONLY TO YOU.

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. JESUS, I CAN BELIEVE! YOU’VE SHOWN ME TIME AND AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE WORD THAT MY GOD CAN BE TRUSTED! ALL THINGS REALLY ARE POSSIBLE TO ME BECAUSE I CHOOSE NOT TO BE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE ENDURING POWER OF MY HEAVENLY FATHER!

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? FATHER, YOU ARE EVEN GOD OF MY FLESH. YOU AREN’T JUST TAKING RESIDENCE IN MY SPIRIT MAN; YOU ARE ALSO IN EVERY CELL OF MY BODY, EVERY ORGAN, EVERY BREATH, EVERY DROP OF BLOOD. NOTHING IS HIDDEN INSIDE MY BODY—NOT EVEN DISEASE—THAT YOU CANNOT DISCOVER AND ANNIHILATE IF NECESSARY. I TRUST YOU TO HEAL THIS HEADACHE AND WHATEVER IS CAUSING IT. YOU ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN ANY ASPIRIN, ANY PAIN PILL, ANY THERAPY. I TAKE THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND APPLY IT TO THE PORTALS OF MY MIND. I APPLY IT TO SINUS CAVITY, MY BRAIN, MY BRAIN STEM, MY CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, AND ALL THE VERTEBRAE THAT MAKE UP MY SPINAL COLUMN. I RECEIVE HEALING AND ALIGNMENT IN ALL THE AFFECTED AREAS. IN JESUS’ NAME, I DECLARE THAT THERE IS NO ABNORMAL CONSTRICTION OR DILATION OF BLOOD VESSELS, NO TUMORS OR GROWTHS, NO BLOCKAGES, NO PINCHED NERVES, NO IMPINGEMENTS OR CRIMPING, OR BULGED DISKS, AND THERE IS NO MORE TENSION IN MY NECK MUSCLES. THANK YOU FOR OPENING UP MY SINUSES AND HEALING ME OF ALLERGIES. THANK YOU FOR DISSOLVING THE CAUSE OF THIS HEADACHE LIKE A SNOWBALL ON TOP OF A STOVE! IN JESUS’ NAME, I SEE THAT HEADACHE BEGIN TO MELT AND EVAPORATE. THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR YOU, O GOD!

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” FATHER, AS YOUR CHILD I’M NOT EXEMPT FROM ATTACKS BY THE ENEMY, BUT I AM SAFE IN YOU! THIS HEADACHE IS AN ATTACK ON MY WELL-BEING AND MY HAPPINESS; BUT I WILL NOT DESPAIR. JESUS, YOU OVERCAME THE WORLD, AND I AM IN YOU. I REAP THE BENEFITS OF YOUR TAKING THE KEYS OF DEATH, HELL, AND THE GRAVE! THANK YOU THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE AN OUTLET FROM THE TORMENTS OF THE WICKED ONE. THIS HEADACHE TOO SHALL PASS!

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. THANKS, PAPA GOD, FOR PERFECT PEACE AS I RELEASE THE FRUSTRATIONS OF THE DAY INTO YOUR HANDS. MY HEAD MAY HAVE BEEN HURTING, BUT MY MIND IS FIXED FIRMLY ON YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF MY HEALING! I TRUST YOU AND I WAIT CONFIDENTLY FOR THE HEALING TO MANIFEST, IN JESUS’ NAME.

Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. JESUS, WE HAVE THE PROMISE THAT IF WE SHARE IN YOUR SUFFERINGS, WE MAY ALSO SHARE IN YOUR GLORY! I DON’T KNOW THIS FOR A FACT, BUT I IMAGINE THAT NOT ONE PART OF YOUR BODY WASN’T HURTING TERRIBLY ON THE CROSS—INCLUDING YOUR HEAD. YOU SUFFERED ALL THINGS THAT WE HAVE, YET WITHOUT SIN. YOU ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE A BAD HEADACHE! YOU LOVE ME ENOUGH TO SHARE YOUR HEIRSHIP WITH ME…AND THE HEALING THAT COMES FROM BEING IN COVENANT WITH OUR FATHER. THANK YOU!

2 Corinthians 1:5-6 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. THANK YOU FATHER, THAT YOU ARE LIBERAL IN YOUR BLESSINGS TOWARD ME. I MAY SUFFER IN THE FLESH FROM TIME TO TIME, AND I MAY HAVE PAIN IN MY BODY, BUT YOU ARE DOLING OUT MORE THAN ENOUGH COMFORT TO CONSOLE ME AS I WAIT FOR THE PAIN TO SUBSIDE. THANK YOU THAT YOU CARE FOR MY NEEDS, AND THAT YOU REWARD ME FOR PATIENTLY LOOKING TO YOU FOR MY HELP.

Psalm 71:20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. LORD, THANK YOU FOR RESTORING ME FROM EVEN MY WORST SICKNESSES AND PAIN. I WILL NOT ALWAYS S BE HURTING LIKE I AM IN THIS MOMENT…THERE IS A REST IF I WILL CONTINUE TO CONFESS YOUR WORD AND BELIEVE. I TRUST YOU TO WORK ALL THINGS FOR MY GOOD! THIS HEADACHE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO PASS.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. FATHER, I CAST THE BURDEN OF THIS PAIN, AS WELL AS ANY WORRIES I MAY HAVE, UPON YOU. I CLIMB INTO MY PAPA GOD’S LAP AND ALLOW YOU TO CRADLE ME AND COMFORT ME WHILE I AM IN PAIN. YOU WILL NEVER ALLOW SICKNESS AND PAIN TO PLUCK ME OUT OF YOUR HAND! THEY CANNOT SHAKE ME OUT OF YOUR PRESENCE.

Psalm 103:2-3 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases. I BLESS YOU, FATHER, FOR WHO YOU ARE AND ALL YOU’VE DONE FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO LOVE ME AND HEAR MY CRIES FOR HELP. THANK YOU FOR FORGIVING MY WORST SINS, EVEN THE ONES I HAVE COMMITTED MORE THAN ONCE. THANK YOU FOR HEALING ALL MY DISEASES. EVEN THIS HEADACHE HAS TO GO AWAY BECAUSE YOU HEAL ALL MY DISEASE.

Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. FATHER, I MAY DEAL WITH MY SHARE OF AFFLICTIONS, BUT I AM NOT CHAINED TO THEM! YOU DELIVER ME OUT OF EVERY SNARE, TRAP, ATTACK, AMBUSH; EVERY ACCIDENT, ILLNESS, ATTACK ON MY FAMILY, ATTACK ON MY CHARACTER, ATTACK ON MY FAITH. NOTHING ESCAPES YOUR WATCH OVER ME! IF THE ENEMY DARES TRY TO SLIP ONE PAST YOU, HE WILL HAVE TO WATCH IN VAIN AS YOU RESCUE ME. THANK YOU THAT NOT EVEN PHYSICAL PAIN IS BEYOND YOUR CAPABILITY TO DELIVER.

Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO MY CRIES FOR HELP! YOU DON’T DESPISE ME FOR BEING WEAK AND NEEDY, BUT YOU HAVE GREAT COMPASSION ON ME WHEN I AM HURTING. THANK YOU FOR RESTORING MY HEALTH AND FOR HOLDING MY HAND AS I WAIT FOR THE PAIN TO SUBSIDE.

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. THANK YOU FATHER, THAT YOUR WORD GIVES ME LIFE. I AM NOT ONLY COMFORTED AS I BATTLE THIS HEADACHE, I HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT IT IS ALREADY HEALED BY THE VICIOUS STRIPES JESUS BORE ON THE WAY TO CALVARY’S HILL. HE GAVE HIS LIFE, I NOW HAVE LIFE. THANK YOU FOR HEALING THIS HEADACHE AND ALL MY AFFLICTIONS!

Prayer Confession Over Anxiety

I am sitting down in Your presence, Papa God, spending the night with my Most High God. I am pressing in close to You–close as I can possibly get. I’m Your little shadow–right under Your wing! I say to You, “Abba, You’re my refuge. I trust in You and I’m safe!”

That’s right…and even now, I thank You for rescuing me from hidden traps, shielding me from deadly hazards. Your huge outstretched arms are protecting me— under them I AM perfectly safe; Your arms fend off all harm. YOU LOVE ME AND I’M CERTAIN OF IT!

I will fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows (or bad news, or big bills, or negative doctors’ reports, or money worries, or even family drama) in the daytime. None of these things will cause me to lose my peace and not one ounce of sleep!

I’m not affected by fear of disease that prowls through the darkness, nor of disaster that erupts at high noon. When the enemy does his worst, YOU WILL DO YOUR BEST! When he tries to flood me with despair, YOU are my floodwall of protection and YOU ARE SHUTTING THE FLOODGATE ON DESPAIR! I am safe until the torrent subsides.

Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze me. I am standing untouched, watching it all from a distance, I watch the wicked turn into corpses, watching it on tv news, yet not being a part of it. I DON’T FEAR THAT THOSE SAME THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO ME!

Yes, Papa, because You are my refuge, the High God my very own home, evil can’t get close to me, harm can’t get through the door. You’ve ordered Your angels to guard me wherever I go…and that’s just what they’re doing! Even if I would stumble, they’ll catch me; their job is to keep me from falling. Thank you, Papa God, for having my back (and all the rest of me) covered!

There may be feisty young lions and cunning serpents lying in wait on my pathway, but You’re keeping me safe. I walk safely along just as though they’re not even there…and if they try to attack, You’re empowering me to just kick them out of my path. I will treat them as the nuisance that they are and nothing more. They will not break my spirit and they will not break my stride.

Abba, You’ve said, “If you’ll hold on to Me for dear life, I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call Me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!”

Well, that’s just what I’m doing! Thank You for getting me out of trouble, for giving me the best of care as I strive to know and trust You more. Thank You for always answering when I call, for staying right with me through thick and thin. Thank You for rescuing me and then making me feel celebrated and special…because I’m Your child and I know You love me! Thank You for quality of life, a satisfied life, and a perfect salvation which will last me all of eternity.

I am taking a deep breath now and breathing in LIFE. I receive Your Holy Spirit with every breath! I am exhaling and pushing out every negative thought. I expel any thoughts that would crowd my mind from the knowledge that YOU are in control. I clear my soul of any problem that tries to look as tall and strong as my Lord Jesus! Any idea that violates my peace, any thought that would cause me to doubt that YOU are Sovereign, I arrest, handcuff, bind, toss into jail and throw away the key!
In Jesus’ name, anxiety has no more control over my life!

(Adapted into a prayer from Psalm 91:1-16 Message and KJV translations; and also from Isaiah 59:19, John 20:22 and 2 Corinthians 10:5)

Healing: Miracle for All Ages

“ As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, both to go out and to come in.” (Caleb, at age 85 – as recorded in the book of Joshua, Chapter 14)

As many of you wait for healing to manifest in your bodies, let me dispel a myth that the enemy may be trying to circulate in your reasoning. God doesn’t grant healing based on age; healing was purchased in the Atonement, and manifests in our bodies as we exercise faith to receive it. Period. God is not like our modern healthcare system–not even a government-run healthcare system! “The system” would say that you don’t deserve a new liver because you were an alcoholic. They would say that based on your age, it’s not feasible to do heart surgery or give you a transplant. At your age, cancer treatment is beyond the acceptable practice; or dementia and clogged arteries and failing kidneys are to be accepted. You need to just accept that you are approaching end-of-life and that you aren’t as worth saving as, say, a 20-year old.

Don’t be upset with them…they’re mere humans. They are working with limited know-how, resources, and only so much money. They also have some among them who are also motivated by greed; maybe even a few who would like to play God…but not all. They operate in the carnal, natural realm. They’re good; they do a whole lot of good in their element, but their scope is limited.

But! When you approach God’s throne of grace to obtain help (and health) in your time of need, God is under no such restrictions. He will hear and answer prayer whether you have 50 more years to live or 50 more hours. When you have been satisfied with your number of days, you can transition out of a healed body into eternity instead of allowing the enemy to chisel you away to nothing. Wouldn’t it be something to pass from a healthy body whose organs were viable enough to donate to the next recipient? Think about that!

If no one’s ever reinforced that with you, then hear it now! It’s a real game-changer! God will continue to invest in you when you’re 95 just like He did when you were 15, because it’s impossible to waste what comes from an infinite supply. There’s not “only so much” healing to go around. And you–yes, YOU–have the same grace to walk in it as someone younger, more productive, more socially upright, and better-insured! Don’t bow your head in shame and say, “I don’t feel right asking for healing when others are so much worse off than I am.” Ask for yourself AND for them too!

When as an “old man” receiving the commission to lead the children of Israel out of bondage, Moses presented his terrible stuttering (and the self-conscious shyness resulting from it) to God as the reason why he wasn’t an ideal candidate. The Lord cooled his jets really quick by asking, “Did I not make men’s mouths?” The same God Who makes men’s mouths just so happens to also unclog arteries, restore sight and hearing, quicken damaged limbs, dry up cancers, and repair a diabetes-ravaged pancreas! He’s perfected making something out of nothing, and He doesn’t have to wait for someone to die to give you a transplant…wait, Jesus already did that!

Don’t listen to wicked spirits who would taunt you and say, as Job’s wife did, “Why don’t you just curse God, die, and accept it!” Rather, why not approach God’s presence today, having cleared your heart of doubt, unforgiveness, secret sins, and all hindrances…and present a claim ticket for that healing which is already been provided for you. God will not make you fill out any forms, put you on a waiting list, or ask you any health-related questions. He will not grant your request based on a limited pool of resources. Your answer is only restricted by how much you are willing to ask and believe for–so do exactly what the Word says you can do. Approach His throne boldly! Walk in your full potential, in Jesus’ name!

Confidence—in HIM

“But this beautiful treasure is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 VOICE)

One of the cruelest vampires leeching the life right out of you is lack of confidence. When I think of how many years I had let the approval of people imprison me and hold me back, it just sickens me…so I try even harder NOT to think of it! Seriously, it is paralyzing when you need affirmation. The devil will use that longing as a tool against you–always putting satisfaction just beyond your reach, always keeping you self-deprecating and in a state of the fear of not being good enough. Yes, that was me. And my imagination was in overdrive…thinking people didn’t really like me, didn’t think I was good enough, thinking I was going to mess up. So I approached everything timidly. What a setup for failure and more bruising to my fragile ego! I would watch other people do things so easily (especially public speaking and singing) and think, “why can’t I be like them?” You know what this does? It makes us avoid situations where we might be asked to shine!

How funny it is, that it’s taken me hitting my mid-late forties to shake that stronghold. Sure, we tend to chill out a little more as we settle into getting older; but may I tell you that the REAL act of liberation came when I stopped keeping my eyes on others and started focusing on Jesus. When I surrendered that need for approval to Him, and learned that His was truly the only approval I needed, something changed. I began even to cast down imaginations and subdue everything to the knowledge of WHO JESUS is, and I realized that I don’t have to please anyone but Him. I also learned that when we keep our eyes on Him, He does the rest THROUGH us. I can’t rely on my own strength and ability to be there every single time…but you know what? I can always expect HIS to be!

If you are struggling with confidence issues, talk to your Papa God about it. He can heal fears, emotional/physical abuse, wounded egos, and bitter disappointment…and can free you to step out and grasp that thing He’s created you to do. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (ask Him to fill you if you’ve not experienced this) will unleash boldness.

I love the Apostle Paul. He had an education and life experience that any man would be proud to flaunt, yet he kept it to himself. Why? Nothing to prove! He came into Christianity fully aware that he would be distrusted, rejected by many for the years prior when he’d made it his life’s work to persecute followers of Jesus. He knew some might never accept him as good enough. Did it slow him down? No! Why? Nothing to prove!

My lifelong friend Jimmy Copley, a bold carrier of the Good News, made a FB post today which really cemented this point I’m making. He likened us to pizza boxes. The box isn’t what has worth–the pizza inside is. Be filled today with the Holy Spirit. People will smell the aroma and become hungry for what’s inside. The writing on the outside of the box, the fancy construction OR LACK THEREOF…irrelevant. You ARE a fragile vessel, capable of failing, messing up, falling short…yet THE GOD has chosen to use your frail container in which to place His Spirit! He does this so that when He works through you, people will know that it’s Him and not your own ability to perform which has brought forth good things.

Today when you are about your daily routine, you will be called upon to do something greater than your ability and experience can offer. If you are relying on merely those two factors, you may set yourself up for failure. Ask God to take your container, imperfect and incomplete though you may be, and work things through you that exceed your capabilities. As He does, give Him the glory. No more fixating on the judges’ scorecards! GOD Himself endorses you! With your confidence in His ability (the One Who cannot fail) instead of your own (which may or may not succeed), you walk into your situation with the full assurance that you really CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Like Paul…nothing to prove, so you can afford to be all in. Go forth empowered today, in Jesus’ name!

Prayer Against Metastatic Cancer

I feel strongly impressed this morning to pray for those suffering with cancer. The Lord is moving me to pray specifically against metastatic cancer in any form. Nothing strikes fear in the heart of someone already afflicted with this dreadful disease like the word “metastasize.” You may ask, “well, why not just pray against cancer, period?” I can’t answer that question! I keep seeing little fragments floating around in the bloodstream when I pray, and I believe the Lord means for me to pray specifically against cancer which spreads and infects the whole body. Would you bless someone suffering with this disease by sharing this prayer with him or her? Please join with me in declaring health and healing over yourself or a loved one:

“Heavenly Father, we come before You today in the strong, all-powerful name of Jesus on behalf of those whom the enemy would afflict not once, but multiple times through cancer which grows and spreads to other organs and body parts. Father, we declare in agreement that cancer is an intruder not welcome in the body of Your children. For those who have already been diagnosed with cancer, we speak Your Word over that mass and contain it now in the Jesus’ name. We surround that diseased tissue with the sinless blood of Jesus, in which there is no death element. Disease cannot pass that sacred blood barrier. We speak to antibodies and white blood cells to attack and destroy whatever is not native to this body which was created in perfection by God Himself. We declare that cancer CANNOT hide, hibernate, or disguise itself from the blood of Jesus! We speak to our blood and command it to become an inhospitable environment where disease cannot remain. We command our blood to become alkaline to its original normal levels, rather than imbalanced and acidic, because God’s Word says that LIFE is in the blood! We declare that the very breath of God sends oxygen coursing through our bloodstream to nourish healthy cells. Our lymph nodes are not relay stations for cancer to bounce from place to place. We call to the abnormal cells in the body and say, “you must die and not multiply.” We speak a supernatural “Teflon” effect to manifest in the bones, blood, tissue, and organs which makes them impervious to metastasizing cells. Those cells have no choice but to die without finding a host to feed on. They cannot attach, they cannot feed, they cannot multiply, they cannot destroy. We activate by the words of our mouths YOUR WORD into our situation. Your Word is alive, and active, and sharper than a two-edged sword! Take Your two-edged sword deep inside of bodies, souls, and spirits; and, like a scalpel, do surgery to remove what has no right to contradict Your will for our lives! Pierce through what does not belong and root it out, we ask by the authority of Your Word! As we free Your Word to perform this operation, we release to You any attitudes, fears, unforgiveness, or unbelief which might be lurking within us. We reject them now so that disease has no legal ground to operate in our bodies!

We make some Scriptural declarations now and apply them to this situation: Proverbs 26:2 says that the curse without cause shall not come. We bind any activities set in motion through idle, undeserved, or maliciously delivered words in Jesus’ name. Jesus delivered us from the curse of the law according to Galatians 3:13. He became the cursed so that we might be freed from it. The law of the spirit of life IN HIM therefore frees us from the law of sin and death. (Rom 8:2) We, as children of the Most High, rest in the shadow of His wings. Any attack against us to vex Him will be dealt with by His strong and mighty right hand, because when the enemy attacks God’s children, it is an indirect attack against God Himself! Our Father is a protective and nurturing Father and He will defend us! We claim Nahum 1:9-10 over ourselves, and say that, though the enemy may have stricken once, he gets no further opportunity to afflict a second time. We know that unless we stake a claim with the Word of God, the enemy can run rampant…BUT WE HAVE JUST CALLED HIS HAND! We file a grievance against Satan and his minions now. We declare that GOD’S WORD says that Satan’s devices against us are like tangled thorns, a drunk consumed by his drink, and stubble completely withered. Satan’s devices have no hope of a successful end because we are ENFORCING what God’s Word has already declared on our behalf!

Thank You, Father, not because the demons are subject to us, but because our names are written in Your Book of Life! Yes, LIFE! Thank You, our shield and protector, our Jehovah Rapha Who heals us. Thank You that You have empowered us to call a halt to rogue activity in our bodies. We treat these temples of the Holy Spirit with respect and we steward our gift of health. As You reveal what we need to do to care better for our bodies, we WILL obey Your revelations! We receive Your healing now, and we thank You for withering, tangling, incapacitating, and killing out any disease (known or unbeknownst to us) which may try to afflict Your children. In Jesus’ name, we deactivate cancer’s power to grow and spread. Amen and Amen!”

Something Outta Nothing

If you’ve never heard a variation of this old fable, I’m going to treat you to the “Lisa” version of it.

A stranger wandered into town one afternoon, tired, hungry, and needing to rest before he continued on his journey. His inquiries about food and lodging were met with inhospitable responses from the townspeople. “I have no food for you,” he heard over and over again.

“That’s ok, and thank you,” he replied. “Since none of you have any food to share, I’m just going to make homemade soup. Enough to feed us all…and all I need is (reaching into his pocket) this old nail!”

“Hogwash!” said someone; and to prove him wrong, the skeptic dragged a big kettle to the town square. “Let’s see you do it!”

The stranger quietly filled the pot with water from the community well, gathered some sticks, and built a fire. A faint “klink” was heard as the nail came to rest in the bottom of the kettle. As the water began to boil, he leaned in to sniff an imaginary aroma. Curious onlookers began to move in closer, their inquisitiveness overriding their cynicism over the man’s outrageous claim. He blew on a spoonful of the broth before tasting. “It’s fine just like it is, but a little salt and pepper would be divine!”

“I have no food for you,” spoke a woman from the crowd, “but I do have some salt and pepper in my pantry.” With that, she disappears from the crowd, reappearing with the seasonings. The stranger thanks her, tosses some salt and pepper into the pot, and continues stirring.

“Last time I made this, I decided to experiment a little. I threw in some onions and potatoes, and you know, it was actually pretty good,” he said calmly, almost as if he were talking to himself.

“I don’t have any food to give you,” a man spoke out, “but I may be able to wrangle up some old onions and potatoes in my cellar.” And with that, he produced his contribution. After stirring the onions and potatoes into the mix, suddenly an appetizing smell began to waft into the crowd.

“I wonder if carrots and celery would make it better?” said another lady. “I might have some put back for a rainy day.” Suddenly, it was a domino effect. An ear of corn here, a handful of peas there. A cabbage. And lo and behold, one ornery old cuss even brought a soup bone. After all, they had to prove this crazy stranger wrong!

Before long, town square smelled heavenly; and folks disappeared long enough to return with bowls and spoons. And they all shared a hearty feast together that evening…laughing and talking and singing the praises of the man who made this magnificent concoction “out of just one old nail!”

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In the spiritual sense, how many times have we come to God with our needs, only to have Him require something on our part first? He isn’t trying to insult our intelligence; He’s trying to expand our understanding to a heavenly principle that defies our earthly paradigms. We can look at Elijah’s audacious request to a widow who was preparing one final meal for her young son and herself, and say, “Man, you have absolutely lost your mind! You foolish, selfish thing…leave that woman alone in her need, and go find your own food!” However, desperate times often spark some pretty radical faith! This woman was just ripe for a boom-or-bust miracle; and so, she responded to Elijah’s claim of continual provision if she were to make the first move. Sure enough, God honored the prophet’s declaration, and the woman and her son never again had to fear hunger…even in the middle of a famine!

This outrageous God we serve has a track record for “something outta nothing.” We’re not even going to rewind back to the times of Creation when entire galaxies were formed at His command. We’re just going to go forward to a huge crowd of hungry people, too far out of town to grab a bite in the drive-thru. Here they have followed Jesus, not paying attention to the time or the distance, or to their lack of preparation for a journey. Surveying the problem, all the disciples are able to come up with is a little tike whose momma had thrown together a child’s portion bread-and-fish lunch. Tuna fish and crackers for us, if you will, only the Happy Meal version. They didn’t have to pry it out of his hands. With a child’s faith, I’m guessing he probably thought, “If it’s Jesus I’m giving it to, it’ll be alright.” We adults would probably be tempted to hide our little stash! Or, we’d reason that our contribution was just a drop in the bucket; justifiable alibi for not revealing that we had it. Survival of the fittest, you know. Interesting. That child’s drop in the bucket, blessed and broken by the Master, had 12 baskets of leftovers afterwards.

And if that weren’t enough to perplex our carnal minds, enter a man with what the Bible describes as a “withered hand.” He could’ve crushed it while working in the field or managing his livestock. He could’ve had a stroke. He may have been born with a body part that failed to fully develop. We don’t know that part, but we can reason that he was tired of walking around with a dead hand that didn’t work. And how does Jesus respond to the man’s request for healing? He asks the man to stretch that hand toward Him! Nowadays, people would be threatening to sue for discrimination against the disabled. I wonder how many spectators in the crowd were whispering among themselves, “Jesus, get a clue! If he could stretch it out, he wouldn’t be asking You to heal it!” How we, in all our “intelligence,” miss the point! The man didn’t miss the point, however. I don’t know how much effort it took to get that hand aimed toward Jesus, but he had nothing to lose. It may have been a little humiliating, even, putting the object of his shame right there in the open for everyone to gawk at. Nevertheless, the man gives his best effort to reach the useless hand toward the Savior. Only…by the time the hand reaches Jesus, the fingers are long and limber. The grip is strong. There is movement, flexibility, and feeling! Something outta nothing, yes. Faith trumps reason! Always!

As you stand before God today with your own list of needs, don’t be surprised if He requires you to produce your nothingness as a gift to Him. Don’t be insulted. He already knows what you have and what you don’t have. He will ask you to produce the very source of your pain, your shame, your deficiency. Don’t hide it behind your back and pretend it doesn’t exist! With the faith of that widow, that boy, and that man, present to Him what you have…even if it’s an empty bowl, a drained bank account, a ruined reputation, a used-up body. We are all just empty containers. We all are lacking in some area. Give God your container—YOU—and He will fill you to overflowing with His goodness. If you perceive yourself to be too old, wasted, uneducated, tainted, broken, or useless, know that He’s just looking for your willingness to give Him your pitiful little offering! He’s not going to laugh at you and say, “WHAT? You expect Me to make something good out of YOU???!” No, He will work with what you give Him. He may even toss your inadequacy into His kettle with other people’s inadequacies…and produce something of quality that blesses everyone around you, emitting a pleasing savor as it simmers to perfection.

Impossible, you say? Nope. It’s as easy as making soup with just one old nail.