Truth Beats Lies

Paraclete associate, Curt Wolf, coaches under-resourced leaders around the world. He focuses on bringing the “liberating Gospel to the innermost parts of their hearts so they can maximize their contribution to the Kingdom.” He often employs a type of  discipleship prayer called Transformational Prayer Support.

He asks whoever he’s working with to share their story and then to talk about what’s going on in their lives right now. When they describe a particularly strong block, such as anger, hurt, depression, or anxiety, Curt will ask the Lord to help the pastor recall an earlier time in his or her life when they felt that same emotion. The pastor prays, then waits on the Lord. When he hears an answer, he reports back to Curt. Curt prays again, asking the Lord to show the pastor a previous time when he experienced that feeling. The pastor prays again and awaits an answer, which he shares with Curt.

They repeat this process back and forth until they reach the memory of the first time the pastor experienced this same hurt (for example). Then they ask to Lord to reveal any lies the pastor believes, or if any forgiveness is necessary. With the Lord’s help, they clean out the wound by renouncing the lies, speaking forgiveness, and asking the Lord to speak His truth. He or she usually hears and feels this as a specific scripture or a tangible sense of the Lord’s love.

Curt shares one pastor’s experience during a recent Transformational Prayer Support conference in Africa.

Pastor Charles (not his real name) was born into a poor family. His father could never find enough work to provide for them. At age 16, he and the other teens in his village participated in a ritual marking the beginning of manhood. They spent 30 days in the forest where they depended on their families to provide food and fresh clothing every day. But, his parents never came. He was forced to endure the ridicule of his peers, who offered help with mocking attached. When the boys returned home for a celebratory parade at the end of the ritual, an adult leader dragged Charles through streets while the people jeered at him.

Then, as a young adult, Charles could not find decent work, which made it difficult for him to provide for his family. In reality God did provide enough work for him to support his family, but not enough to save for retirement. Charles relied on the African tradition, where children helped provide for their parents in their old age. Unfortunately, Pastor Charles’ son told him that he would not do so. That reinforced the lies Charles believed when he was a younger man. “I am just like my father… I will never be able to provide for my family, nor will they help me.”

During his prayer time with Curt, Charles repented for believing this lie, and God affirmed his love for Charles by speaking words of healing to him. Charles reported, “Curt, I have never felt this kind of peace and freedom in my life!”

Then, God also gave him a bonus! After they finished their prayer session, Charles checked texts on his phone. With wide, astonished eyes  Charles handed his phone to Curt. The text read that Charles’ son had changed his mind. He promised to send him significant amount of money every month after all!