Do you have a heart to pray for people who have been traumatized sexually?

There is such a great need to provide healing for the effects of sexual trauma like incest, abuse, fornication, adultery, abortion and sexual addictions. Its not enough to say, "The church steeple is up; people know where to go to find forgiveness."  We need assistant leaders who can identify with people who have been struggling alone but need supportive healing prayer.

Would you like to be trained to pray for people through the use of healing groups?

LifeShapers is going to provide training to teach people how to care for the wounded in safe HEALING GROUPS.  People will be sharing and praying with other people who have similar issues and understand the torment they feel.  They feel hopeless because their identity today is damaged because of someone's sexual sin "yesterday."

God wants to give gifts of restoration where the joy of sex was lost due to violations of covenant relationships.

God wants us to give gifts of healing to those who were "imprinted" with traumatic understandings of sexuality because their first sexual experience was incest, molestation or a violent rape.  Many women have never told anyone, but they want to be released from the shame and fear that has isolated them for years. 

God wants us to give gifts of deliverance to people who are tormented by impulses to escape with sexual addictions.  When we confess to one another, take responsibility and become accountable to others, we gain freedom from bondages that interfere with the deep satisfaction that only real intimate relationships can provide.

God wants us to give gifts of forgiveness and to those who have hidden guilt from sexual sin or unspeakable regrets from abortion. Many are tormented by memories, dreams, reactions, depression, flashbacks or depression.  He wants to cleanse the past, replacing the guilt and shame with honor and His gift of righteousness. 

God wants to heal relationships where the woman has traded sex for "being taken care of."  Men need healing of resentment because "she sold herself to me" and women need forgiveness and hope that when they confess, that God will bless with a covenant relationship of true love and appreciation.

When we are wounded by relationships, we will also be healed in relationships.

God wants us to demonstrate faith that will give others hope that their slate can be wiped clean, thoughts can be untwisted, defilement can be cleansed and marriage beds can infused with holy passion and purity.  He want to visit homes and give each one a new identity of wholeness, as God makes the "weak places strong." 

The very areas where God heals us, become testimonies of the supernatural power of God to bring hope and healing.  God will take the shame and impart an ability to comfort others as He comforted us.  I believe that the enemy attacks us in the very area that he knows we will be called to minister.  

What we give God, He will take.  What He takes, He will cleanse.  What He cleanses, He will use.

NOW GOD IS HEALING OTHERS THROUGH ME!

I had the excellent opportunity to enroll in a two semester class on Restoration Prayer Ministry.  Initially, I thought it was a good idea because of my involvement as a volunteer at a juvenile correctional facility.

As I took the class it became more and more clear that I wasn't there for the knowledge I would gain for use at the correctional facility but for what I would learn about myself.  Over and over again I was struck by the simplicity of concepts that could radically change my life.  In July, I was able to go through the Ministry  process for myself.  While I had already experienced some transformation, I was excited for the possibility of a renewed relationship with my father from whom I'd been estranged for nearly 10 years.  Long story short; ten years ago, I had confronted him with the immediate family present, about his sexual abuse of me as a child and he couldn't handle it.

Then, I had the chance this month to assist in the healing process of another individual.  As we went through, I essentially got a refresher course in my personal situation.  I found myself excited all over again, because I was planning a trip "back home" and knew I was finally going to see the fruit of my labor.

Well, here I am, back home where I grew up and it is better than I ever expected.  First, my father was at the airport to greet me upon arrival.  Then, he spent the entire afternoon visiting with me at my sister's.  Then, he called me to ask me to dinner so we could talk one on one.  At dinner, he eventually brought up our "issue" and it was immediately clear to me that he didn't remember things the way I did and yet I was totally able to accept him where he was without any need to "set him straight".  I am finally and truly past the hurt!  How awesome is that?  

We talked for two hours at dinner and three more hours after that about anything and everything.  In the end he told me he was glad that we'd gotten together.  He felt like he understood me better and he knows that I do love him.  Praise be to God, it is only because of His love for me that we could come to this point. 

I thank God for all that he has done for me through Carlotta and I look forward to being able to share the same wonderful blessings with others.