Sandy taught, continuing the bondage to freedom theme. I was out of town, so this is her report to me in an email.
Yum-Yum came in seriously dejected and in a very dark spot in her mind. She had lodged a complaint against a particular CO (Correction Officer) because this CO had thrown all of her commissaries (items she bought like shampoo, etc.) into the garbage while Yum-Yum was in another Bible study. Because of the complaint, this CO has determined to make life hard on Yum-Yum (who has lupus), by not allowing the other girls to help her get her meals. Yum-Yum cannot carry the trays and use the walker. She hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch for days because of this. She talked to Medical…and we prayed that there would be a proper response.
This was a situation very much like we had with MJ. We did a deliverance sending evil packing with all the gals laying hands on her and then I asked Yum-Yum to pray. She asked for the Lord’s forgiveness and direction. THEN she and MJ prayed for each other, asking forgiveness from the Lord and each other and asking that their relationship be restored. They hugged, cried, and then LAUGHED. (Theresa too)
The Holy Spirit’s relief from the oppression was enormous: joy replacing the dejection. We then also prayed for this particular CO.
As you would expect; the lesson didn’t quite go as planned…but I saw the things the Lord had given me this week so totally fit in with the need. In a very real way, it was good that Betsy was not there, as this could not have taken place. After that, the group spontaneously erupted into LAUGHTER. The Joy of the Lord replaced the oppressiveness they had been under. God is so good…this is the power He has provided so that we can be set FREE. (A humorous side note- we had been declaring evil to be under our feet- then as the giggles erupted, they decided they would metaphorically put on their boots to really stomp out evil!)
We looked at the differences in King Saul’s and King David’s reactions to sin in their lives and then studied a bit about how King David humbly sought the Lord, recognizing that his sin was against the Lord. Psalm 38 is about David’s abject sense of sinfulness and depression. The ladies readily agreed that it totally reflected what they had been experiencing. We went on to Psalm 51, where David confesses his sin and the righteousness of God. We then went to Psalm 139 as direction for the ladies as they move forward. God knows us inside and out…everything about us. Then we must humbly ask Him to “Search us and try us to see if there is any grievous way in us and lead us to life everlasting!”
Pray for these women as each day they face many trials that we on the outside cannot imagine. Pray that they reflect Christ’s beauty and love.
Hope for Complete Healing 