The audio for this devotional is not available for now, but you can have your device read it to you.
Reading options
Verse:For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. —Ephesians 6:12, NKJV
Before moving to our new pastorate, certain ladies approached me who had previously resided in the pastorate to which we were relocating. “Tell your husband he should object to moving to that pastorate,” they said. “It is located in an area where the occult is practiced. Wizardry runs rampant! Under those conditions, you would experience much trouble from people who practice magic.” I reflected that those who do not have a personal relationship with the living God have cause to fear witchcraft while those who walk with God need not fear.
Most certainly, I had to inform my husband about the women’s concerns for us. When I told him of the women’s suggestion that he reconsider making the transfer, he adamantly replied, “The Lord, whom I believe in and serve, has a divine power that far surpasses any kind of occult practice. He will protect us from any magical powers!”
During our second year in the new pastorate, a man (reputed to be chief of the wizards) asked my husband a question: “Pastor, if you underwent severe suffering, wouldn’t you look for help from those who practice magic?”
My husband replied, “Should I, or one of my family members, experience great suffering—even to the point of death—I would neither seek help from magic nor abandon my dependence upon the Lord.” That man laughed and asked my husband to confirm his words.
A few days later, our firstborn son, nearly four years old, was suddenly taken ill with a strange sickness. We rushed him to our mission’s hospital that night. For three days, he was treated for chronic malaria, but without any change. On the evening of the third day, our crying child appeared to be suffering to the point of death. My husband prayed, “Lord, You have the power to heal this child. Please heal him if it is Your will.” Immediately our son fell asleep. When our child awoke the next morning, he was completely healed. Today our son is married with a two-year-old son of his own.
Jesus promised that with faith, nothing would be impossible (see Matthew 17:20)!
Naomi N. Otore .