Tag Archives: prayer

Agreement

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I’m always gauging agreement. What I mean is this:

‘How willing are people to agree with me in spirit?’

The path to freedom in Christ is not a difficult one, if we can agree. As a prayer minister I usher and declare freedom from personal strongholds, generational sins, and curses from people. It is my job.

Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead establishing the authority of this earth back where it belonged. In the hands of men and women and by the power of the name and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Some months back I was working with a client who was hesitant to release and allow gone a substantial stronghold. I cannot even remember what it was exactly, but what I do remember is her asking me how much time it would take to ‘work’ through it.

My reply, “About 30 seconds.”

Praying deliverance and healing and freedom is easy. It takes no longer than it takes to speak a few sentences. The hard part… agreeing.

As a prayer minister I never lead anyone, or pray over anyone anything, that they have not agreed to and are welcoming and wanting.

The principle of agreement is strong the entire way through scripture. Jesus himself said, “Wherever two of you agree in my name whatever you ask it will be done.”

Simple as that, and as difficult as that.

It’s why I am always gauging the extent to which someone is willing to work with me.

And when I travel and minister in villages and towns to pastors, leadership teams, and congregations, the thing I am always watching for is this ability to agree in the spirit.

Not because I need people to agree with me, but because agreement marks how much work can be done in a place.

In the spring of 2012 I was in Uganda visiting many churches. Each church carried a different focus and expression of God, and each church had its own challenges.

Partway through the trip I was at a church up on a hill overlooking lake Victoria. It was a beautiful location with soft breezes blowing.

The church was primarily children (this was the same in a number of other churches as well – 49% of Ugandans are under the age of 15), with a small smattering of adults.

I was sitting in my usual place at the head of the room, surrounded by about ten other visiting leaders. One of the gentleman I was with suggested that we pray for the sick that afternoon, for we had just the day prior to this one been at a church where various illness’ were healed.

I took the suggestion before the Lord, waiting on the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. But what came to me, what slowly dawned during the morning and the worship, was that something was very wrong in that church.

The worship seemed evil, even though it was the same words and songs as many other places I had been. The children were ‘stupefied’, nearly asleep as I told them a story that morning. I couldn’t get it out of my mind that something was really wrong here.

When we broke for lunch I stepped aside for a bit to inquire of the Lord, to sort out the conflicting messages I was receiving, and to settle on what I was going to do that afternoon.

I really don’t enjoy bringing hard words. And when I am a visiting guest I really don’t like this part of my job. But I knew that we had no freedom for praying healing, for there was, from what I could tell, hidden sin in that church.

The afternoon session began and I, with my translator at my side, simply shared what I was sensing.

“We had been thinking to maybe pray healing this afternoon, but I don’t think we can do that today. Now I am new here, and what I am sensing could be completely wrong, you tell me (as I took in the leadership behind me, asking their input) but it seems that there is hidden sin here.”

A few of the key leaders shook their heads ‘yes’.

I went on to explain the dangers of deception over our hearts and in our journey with the Lord. Much as in a one-on-one prayer ministry session I’ll give some context about what seems to be at hand, always seeking to see if we can enter into agreement.

The people, listening to me, had gone quiet. No one was responding, and I couldn’t quite tell if they were ready to follow my discernment, to enter into confession, and to find healing and freedom.

But, like with any group, we ask for agreement through a physical action. Sometimes we stand, sometimes we kneel, sometimes we raise a hand. It is a simple way for people to say, “Yes what you are saying I agree to and enter into.”

That day, no one was moving. So I just led the way. I explained that for anyone who wanted to join me in prayer confessing this hidden sin, bringing it to the cross, could kneel along with me and my translator.

And because of the severity of the matter, I requested from the leadership at the front of the church that they join the congregation rather than staying at the front. I said, “This is not about leaders and followers today, this is about us all doing business before the Lord.”

There was still no movement from anyone, so I simply turned my back to the congregation and went down on my knees with my eyes closed. My translator did the same.

I couldn’t see what was happening, and I was already beginning to pray, but I heard the whoosh of many people moving and kneeling.

I’m not sure how long I prayed, maybe five minutes at the most. Leading by example and in modelling the process of confession, repentance, renouncing, breaking, cancelling, receiving and sealing that I use with every process of deliverance.

Nearing the end of my prayer I stood and turned back to the crowd and opened my eyes, and every single person, every child, every leader was on their knees. The people had come from the back, the leaders had come from the front.

This agreement allowed a great work of the Lord that day for those people. There was tangible deliverance and new freedoms given in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Agreement determines the amount of work that can be done in any one life, in any one place.

So I am always gauging levels of agreement. For those unable or unwilling to enter into and receive how the Lord works through me, little happens.

For those who enter into agreement, we just keep doing business and getting stuff right with the Lord. This is the work of inner healing and deliverance.

It began with the love of the Father, was established by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, is empowered by the Holy Spirit and is carried on as we agree.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:19

Great News

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The return on your investments into Capturing Courage International are the best you’ll find anywhere!

Consider this:

your donation equips

With a monthly reach of nearly 3000 pastors, apostles, prophets & evangelists, the people then being impacted are about 150,000.

You can be part of this work with your support.

In fact, this work is built on the support of ordinary people like you.

$50 a month makes a difference, and enables us to do more of the same, impacting even more as we go forward.

Think about sponsoring the work of CCI today.

Capturing God’s Heart – Honest Prayers – Volume 25

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We find intimacy with our Lord through prayer, and yet for many of us we are unsure how to pray. We worry that we are not saying the right words. We may think that the burden of prayer lies with us. We may not understand how conversational prayer works.

While we do not have time for a full study of prayer here, we will look at a primary principle of prayer:   – Come before the Lord with a commitment to honesty –

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” Psalm 51:6

Continue reading →

Pain Upon Pain

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Mbale March 2012 331

Before my first trip to Uganda I inquired of the Lord, “Why me?”

“Why is it so important that I, a simple woman from Surrey, go to Africa?”

While God had been telling me for quite some time about the work to come, I still didn’t completely get it, “Why me?”

Like all queries I held this one open before the Lord and waited on the answer, and within a few weeks time, I had my answer.

I was in conversation with a pastor who had been partnering in Uganda for nine years. And over tea he spoke about his experiences, and in the midst spoke this one sentence, “There is so much pain upon pain.”

Bingo! Then I knew why I was going to Africa and beyond.

Through my own journey I’ve come to learn and carry the authority to speak into pain upon pain, and loose it off of folks. It’s been my own journey and now I give it out to others.

There is a single sentence in Jeremiah 22:3 that says, “Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed.”

This is what we do. You can read more about it HERE>

My first trip to Uganda I met many lovely people. One couple really stood out to me. They were beautiful, alive, and obviously delighted with each other. He helped to get me around on his boda-boda, she gave me her scarf one evening. They were friends I’d simply not yet met.

The next time I was there, some four months later, there was trouble. Violence and disruption had entered the home, and the light was going from her eyes.

Another three months passed and I was there once again. This time, things were really not well. He had taken a second wife. Her world had collapsed. She was the primary caretaker of some 12 children and the second wife was giving no assistance.

Besides that, her heart was broken. She was deeply grieving. And the woman I’d known to be so energetic and delightful was somber and sad. Deeply sad.

The change and the sorrow, and the rage of my own heart, as I watched this play out reminds me of why I am going to these places. It is to ease sorrows.

The Lord gives me pictures you see. And I then simply pray into them.

On my first trip as we went from one elderly home to another, we came to a lovely older woman sitting serenely on her mat in front of her house.

As my companion spoke with her, I saw a picture of many arrows lodged in her body. So I asked my companion to inquire of her, “Was there ever a time when many bad things happened to you all at once?”

She replied a simple, “Yes.”

So right there I prayed away those ‘arrows’. The attacks upon a life can in fact be rendered null and void when the blood and name of Jesus Christ are spoken over that life.

Everywhere I went the most common testimony was, “You’ve just taken us to the next level Cyndy.”

But of course, it wasn’t me, it is the power of Jesus Christ.

You see, it is not the lack of physical things per se that have us in pain. It is not a simple life that bears down upon us. There is something much more going on behind the scenes.

Our hearts that bear too much for too long need healing, releasing, freedom. Quite simply, the touch of Jesus Christ. This is the primary work of Capturing Courage Int’l.

We are praying away that pain upon pain, easing emotions, releasing strongholds.

I’m praying for my friend who no longer has a husband, who has been relegated to the ‘other wife’. I pray for their children. For though their situation is humble, there was order and discipline and amazing peace in their home, before the pain began.

Jesus Christ came to heal pain upon pain, to carry it himself so that we don’t have to. It’s the least we can do, declaring this around the world.

Amen and amen – to God be the glory.

Come and See

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Jesus Christ SavesThis is a reminder to those living in the greater Vancouver area that tomorrow we are having our Capturing Courage Tea, Story & Prayer gathering.

At 2pm – 4pm, Sunday April 21st, we are gathering to share and pray for God’s heart around the world.

It’s been about six months since our last event, and there have been a lot of things going on in that time – Come and get caught up.

Our last few weeks at Capturing Courage have carried some sorrow and loss – Come and honor with us.

The investments are increasing, relationships are expanding, growth is slowly yet steadily taking hold – Come and celebrate with us.

A trip is in the wings, we are praying and planning – come and look ahead with us.

  • Sunday, April 21
  • 2-4 pm
  • 10082 160St
  • Surrey

“Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life could be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.” Mark 6:12-13 The Message – And the task we are about

Capturing Courage Stories & Prayer from around the World

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You are Invited - April 21st

Pray Around the World

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We keep in mind today those on the front-lines of the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

Pastor Edward whose wife just had surgery – pray for health and healing and the funds to pay for the operation.

Pastor Michael as he heads up ministry to disabled children – pray for funding and direction, clarity, peace and great joy for all.

Evangelist Nicholas who has a team ready for evangelism – pray for a way to coordinate their heart and efforts with a van and sound equipment.

Pastor Daniel whose heart is for all the surrounding villages to know Christ – pray for relationships that bear fruit.

Evangelist Patrick who is investing in the lives of children in a remote village with a school and now an orphanage – pray for solid encouragement and provision over all the work of his hands.

Pastor Ravindra who is investing in the lives of orphans – pray for provision as well as others who will invest in the work.

Pastor Timothy who travels to outlying villages weekly, bringing the gospel and helping the people with letter writing and other tangible helps – pray for continued strength for himself and his family and for breakthrough in the hearts of the people.

Pastor Philip who is with his family trekking into the back villages bringing the love of God – pray that they are protected from malaria and that the good news settles into peoples hearts.

Pastor Michael who oversees many churches and holds the task of training and development – pray that the good things happening there continue and multiply.

Pastor Daniel who ministers to congregations thirsty for the word of God – pray that Bibles get to him and the people there, that he and fellow pastors would be encouraged today.

School director Geoffrey who selflessly serves over 200 children with education and food daily – pray for funding and for sponsors and for wisdom as they carry on.

Pastor Elizabeth and her husband John as their hearts pour into their community, supporting orphans and establishing a school in an area still struggling with Aids – pray for their hearts and the work of their hands, that continual steady progress and forward movement is attained.

Evangelist Caliph who pours his life out for his people – pray for continued strengthening and vision for he and his wife.

Pastor Irene as she declares freedoms over her own congregation and the many who seek out the Lord through her – pray for her church building to be finished and for the plans for an orphanage and school to take hold and come into being.

Evangelist Innocent as he travels and shares the gospel – pray for the anointing on him to increase and for many to come to Jesus Christ.

Pastor Steven and his wife as they lead both a church and a school – pray that their influence would grow and that the mentor-ship that they provide would bless many.

Lay-leader Joshua as he grows and develops both people and the gospel through business – pray the Lord’s blessing over him and continued expansion of the Lord through his heart and service.

Pastor Charagh as he ministers in hard circumstances – pray for the church to grow and prosper and to be covered by the blood of Christ, hidden in him.

These leaders (and more that I have not listed here) are literally giving their lives away for the gospel of Jesus Christ, in service to hearts and lives around them.

They come from Uganda, India, Mozambique, Myanmar, Kenya, Pakistan, Burundi, Rwanda, Ghana, and Tanzania.

Choose one today, to hold before the Lord on a continual basis in prayer and fasting.

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7 The Message

Forced Sabbaticals

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283 compressedThere is incredible power in sabbaticals. Those times and spaces where the doing is lessened and the being is increased always reaps grand rewards.

This week I’ve been on a forced sabbatical in a sense. I’ve been sick and just not up to snuff and so certainly haven’t accomplished most of what I was hoping to get to.

While I’ve been frustrated and sad through it, playing in the back of my mind is the knowledge of the power of fasting and of Sabbaths. And in an odd way I am glad for this lack of ability, for I know it is setting 2013 up with an investment of less, which always leads to more.

Let me explain, (for I am sure that sounds like gobble-gook).

It is really the power of fasting that is in play. That up-side down law of life that when we are weak God is strong, when we pause and rest in him he shows up, and when we invest in constraint the whole world opens up to us.

Under the tangible of fasting lies the intangible of faith and trust.

Fasting brings us to our knees. Literally speaking fasting is hard work. We find out loud and clear the nature of our humanity and the limitations of our spirit when we fast.

In fasting we are brought low and God is exalted.

In fasting we admit our limitation and acknowledge God’s omnipotence.

Fasting harnesses our less and coupled with God’s most, amazing things abound.

It is the same habit as that of taking a Sabbath. In pausing to rest for one day a week we state in word and deed that we are trusting our livelihood to God. That though the work never ends, though there is always something that must be attended to, we will pause for one day and worship, and trust, and rest.

A Sabbath is simply the power of fasting brought into our work week and our responsibilities.

Sabbaticals are extensions of the same.

Twice through my own last dozen years I had two (complete and separate from each other) years in which I did no ministry, was on no boards, and contributed to community in no way whatsoever.

They were very hard years. They felt like vacuums in my existence. In the midst of such things we wonder if we will ever be useful again.

And yet in the midst we find ourselves. We make friends with self. Being takes the upper hand. Our doing is transformed. Rather than a constant bid to fill the holes in our hearts, doing comes from a much cleaner and purer place once we need not do.

I am convinced that unless we are free to ‘not do’ to ‘not be involved’ to ‘not minister’ that we aren’t really free to minister.

It is far too easy growing up in church and community life to think who we are revolves around ministering. What if it doesn’t? What if who you are revolves around a much deeper relationship based on God’s simple masterpiece of you?

Fasting gets us in touch with this. Fasting, be it from food or tv or makeup or jewelry or chocolate or caffeine or ministry or hobbies (all of which I have fasted as led), brings us back to us and God.

It’s a scary place. And a profoundly powerful place.

It’s why though I’m sick and sick of it, I understand that in my weakness there are powerful things afoot. I trust the bigger picture to a much bigger plan and my life is simply one small piece.

Somehow sickness and sabbaticals and Sabbaths and fasting sets all this back in proper order.

It is simply the place from which all life springs.

Prayer Ministry

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renewal pic tovel!Over a dozen years ago I began my own deliberate journey of inner healing. At the time I wouldn’t have named it this, as I really could not foresee what or who I might be going forward. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

But life at the time was falling apart around me. I was stuck and needed help, and so began a six-month commitment of prayer ministry. That six months turned into about six years of deliberate healing – a journey I would forever more be grateful.

What I didn’t know at the time was that I would one day be blessed to stand alongside others in specific inner journey’s. That’s where I am today and have been for some years now.

Trained in a number of methodologies the basic premise and work is simply coming alongside another as we together seek the Lord’s wisdom and clarity and healing.

Where there have been lies we break them. Where there are strongholds from years gone by we say ‘No More!’ And where chains of compromise have become thick and heavy we simply declare them smashed.

All of this is done in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, for after all it is only because of his work on the cross by which we claim any freedom whatsoever. In and of ourselves we are stuck. But in God, everything opens up. Everything becomes fresh and new.

We simply are new creatures in Christ. Free to shine. Equipped unto strengths. Friends of God.

Today we do this work one-on-one in the Vancouver area in addition to this being the foundation of inner healing and deliverance that we take to the nations.

In agreement and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we are breaking strongholds, restoring emotional strengths, and bringing deep spiritual refreshment everywhere we go.

“And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
    the restorer of streets to dwell in.” Isaiah 58:12

Laid Bare

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P1320286 compressedEvery so often there are moments in our lives where there are intersections of sorts. We cannot see them coming, often don’t realize the occurrence when in the midst, and can barely put words to them on the back end.

I had one of these intersection ‘moments’ my last trip to Uganda. The whole trip was an intersection moment, and I’ve been pondering it ever since, and I’ll try to put some words to it today.

We go through life with a buffer system of sorts, ways of coping with our days and managing all that comes to us. It is a system that we rarely think of except in those times when it isn’t there.

For instance, have you ever been very ill, with not only your physical defenses down, but your emotional ones as well. Where everything is heightened and responses are that much more intense and critical, where sadness is that much deeper and comfort harder to come by.

This was my experience on my last trip. While you can read about the work of that trip HERE, the experience of being laid over with weakness was its own thing entirely.

While in that weakness came a deep work for the Lord for others, and in that weakness God had the most space to work, that same weakness facilitated a deep work in my own being.

So many things have shifted since that trip, I look back and will be forever grateful and thankful. With weakness laid over, I cried and cried on that trip, prayed and prayed, and with my innards stripped bare, laid every part of my life at the feet of the Lord.

I sat in sorrow, rested in silence, and walked in the moments. There was nothing else to do. I was simply there, and in that time and space some sort of earthquake deep within my being took place.

I can’t give all the particulars, but my kids lives are different after that trip, my own days are changed, and the outflow from deep inside has a different tenor.

And I think about how we so avoid these deep works. It obviously took me going to Uganda, allowing a weak space in service of others, with a stripping of all regular coping mechanisms, for the Lord to break through some deeply held constructs within my own being.

So why do we doggedly avoid the laid-bare places?

I recall a conversation I had with a fellow some years ago. He was intentionally not entering into an area of giftedness and a specific ministry because he knew he would come face to face with his pride. So instead of going forward and dealing with his inner stuff, he held back, refused the gifted ministry places, and consequently, hung onto his pride quite effectively.

The logic is off. But I think his candid decision marks a lot of us at times. We hold back from the gifted places and the intense ministries of heart and mind, because we do not want to confront our inner demons. We don’t want to find out what is lurking behind the shadows. Mediocrity and less-than serve us very well, thank-you very much.

It is no secret that giving of ourselves is the best way to personally grow. We cannot help but mature when we make our life about others and not ourselves. The fellow who avoided ministry and advocated self protection, personifies selfish living to the extreme. It might feel nicer, but nothing changes, growth isn’t given a chance, and no one is blessed. No one.

And the intersections whereby the Lord moves us, and where transformations take place, are ultimately rejected.

Rather than this sad scenario, go for the ministry, go for the gifted places, make space for intersections and deep movements. It won’t be nice, but it will be good. For as the writer of Proverbs says, “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” 11:25

The weakness by which I was brought low, completely lifted off of me at Amsterdam airport. Halfway home I ‘was back’. Feeling strong and normal, but never the same. Thank-You God

Surrender

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journeying in UgandaIt was one of my first days in Madudu. I was with Pastor Kakuba and we were making our way down the road, stopping at different homes to encourage and pray for folks and to bring some medicines to those in need.

There was something lovely about stopping at a home where I had on an earlier trip prayed for a Mamma and unborn baby, and to this time stop and meet that new little one.

Something lovely about stopping at the home of a woman whom loves me and whom I love. Sitting with her on her mat, enjoying a short visit of simply being in each others company, communicating by heart and through our eyes and smiles.

From home to home we went.

I cannot adequately describe the beauty and joy on the faces of the elderly as we pulled up to their homes and entered to visit and pray for a time. By now a number of these elderly faces are familiar, but even more familiar are the individual spirits of each person.

I recognize the light in those eyes, and the broad smile of that one, the gracious heart of yet another. And into these spaces that they hold for me, I enter, am welcomed, settle in and rest. It is deep communion with one another.

One dear old woman, before we left, skittered away for a moment to return with money to press into my hand. And with my heart in my throat, and my inside voice screaming ‘No! you keep the money’, I simply accepted it and gave a heartfelt thank-you.

A widow with little to live on, managing day to day… there are no words.

Farther down the road we stopped at a home in the ‘center’ of many others. As we would travel the calls of greeting, “Mazungu” would echo along and often it seemed that people were aware of our coming before we actually arrived.

Regardless of how, at this ‘center’ home it was the same. Within minutes of our feet touching the ground, there was a crowd of young and old alike.

A large mat was spread on the ground and onto this mat the people began kneeling that I might pray over them. Not everyone of course, but simply those who wanted.

(Note: Lately I’ve been dissatisfied with our word ‘prayer’. For it does not capture near well enough, the act of blessing and of pouring on of love and of declaring peace over another.)

Many came and went, and as I remained, kneeling on the mat while Pastor Kakuba spoke with others, and while the doctor gave out the medicines to still more, a little one knelt.

She was about eight years old. Was wrapped in a shawl around her head and over her shoulders. Covered, but not covered enough to hide all the mud markings over her entire body and head and face.

Those markings indicate a sort of satan worship, and one can only imagine all the evil and horrors she has seen and witnessed, as accompanied with that.

But there she knelt. Quietly yet simply stating by action, ‘Please pray for me’.

The motion of her kneeling and waiting, held a regal strength and a firmness of conviction and a dignity that spoke, ‘You have something I need.’

I really don’t have the words to describe that moment, but I do know I will never forget her.

For in her there was the full symbolic struggle between the things of this earth that are only about destruction and horror, and within the heart a plea for things of heaven that are of life and bounty and peace.

She knew this struggle. She knew what she was asking for, most likely more than all the others. Her body language was marked by humility and simple request and a surrender.

It was simply an honor to pray over her. And I will keep praying over her. She has a long battle ahead of her. Being so young, and with influence unto destruction in the adults around her, it won’t be easy by any means.

But I’ll see her in heaven one day. For she asked, and received. For at the core of accepting Christ is surrender. Pure simple surrender.

(postscript: To explain the context and the magnitude of this child’s actions, it is important for me to explain that children in Uganda do not come forward for anything on their own. There is not this initiative or boldness or clarity to ask for anything. Even now, years after the encounter with this girl moves me deeply).