Inside The Prayer Closet

Have you ever felt like quitting? Aren't you glad that Jesus never quit? Quitters never win! Winners never quit! 

A mother's prayers are powerful, but oh, the power of a grandmother's prayers! Grandmothers not only spoil their grandchildren; they spoil the enemy's plans for them as well. I saw bloodhounds from Heaven being released to pursue this third generation. I saw grandmothers pleading the blood of Jesus over their grandchildren and these bloodhounds were picking up the scent of that blood as they began to outrun and overtake these young ones at every turn. There was no more hiding place for them.

At age seven I was miraculously healed of a brain tumor in Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. The tumor surgery had to be cancelled. After all these years the Lord recently opened the door to that hospital to pray for people with brain injuries. I am discovering something. Where the devil wants to kill you is often the place where God wants to use you.

'Angelic' doctors and nurses are being released upon the earth this hour...you may want to get a second opinion. The nurse's name was Peggy. She came during many long nights to sing hymns to a dear friend of mine while he was in the hospital in critical condition. Later, he wanted to personally thank her for her encouragement and kindness. Upon asking the hospital staff and the other nurses on that floor, they responded, "Oh, she is that 'traveling' nurse. We don't know where she comes from or where she goes!

A lion roared inside our mothers' wombs. "I have called you to be a prophet to the nations." Think of it. God calls us to be a prophet to the nations. Nothing in me to this day can get a handle on that. This awesome thought puts me into a fetal position from the start. Most of my life has been uneasy with this call. Who am I that a King would bleed and die for and think of me in this way. Revelation like lightning flashes before me at times, but not on most days. And yet on my worst days the call rings true blue. It's who God says I am.

When you know what God has called you to do, nothing can stop you but yourself. I still never quite get used to ministering to people or typing out a message. But the butterflies are fewer. My knees are not so weak. The call of God reminds me: I can do this. This is what I was born for. And the greater One is in me. The roar of an untamed lion is in our call.

For many years I had doubted the call of God on my life. Until the day an apostle spoke over me. "Bill, it's not your fault that you're a prophet. But you have to walk in it." Don't apologize for the call of God on your life either. It's not your fault. Walk in it and let the lion roar!

Blessings,

Bill Yount

http://www.billyount.com

I Live To Hear God Speak

The first time God spoke to me personally I didn't know it was Him. I thought it was my mother. When I was five years old she would tell everybody, "This is my little preacher!" It embarrassed me at the time. But looking back it was God speaking through her. Thirty-six years in ministry I am still preaching. It's humbling but the Lord will often speak to us through the least likely people as part of our training before we can hear His voice for ourselves. The Lord uses unique vessels. Like iron that sharpens iron, they often are the keys that unlock our spiritual ears.

As a new Christian, out of the gate running, hell took its best shot at me to abort the innate desire to ever hear God's voice. A wedge of contention drove deep between my Bible teacher and me the moment he said,"God spoke to me." Those words were alien to me. Immediately, my whole being was flooded with doubts as the enemy unleashed those infamous fatal words: "Indeed, has God said?" Genesis 3:1. Surely this man had a big ego problem thinking God Almighty would take the time to speak to him personally among the billions of people on earth. I left the Bible study in frustration that evening thinking he was certainly out of his mind. That crazy teacher kept me awake. An hour later a question walked into my bedroom, "But what if you could? What if you could actually hear God speak to you"? As I began to faintly consider the possibility of an answer, that question lit a fire within me that has never gone out. I thought to myself, if God could actually speak to me, I would be willing to wait thirty or forty years to hear Him speak one word: not a whole sentence but just one word.

 Two hours later the Lord himself walked into my sleepless night. He said, "Son, I want to speak to you more than you want me to." From that moment my journey began listening for His voice. Now you know what I live for. I live to hear God speak. My worst days have taught me: when God speaks you live! When God speaks you're healed! When God speaks you're delivered! Storm clouds scatter. Dead dreams thunder with life! I'm not talking about man speaking but when God speaks you live! His voice has brought me through hell and back, changing doctors' reports and adding years to my life. The devil's best shot missed me.

 

Blessings,

 

Bill Yount

Whispers In Secret

I talked to mom last night at 88 yrs. old. She said, "Bill, I can't tell everyone this for they wouldn't believe it, but wanted to let you know. I was feeling discouraged and all of a sudden I was in the lap of Jesus. I don't know how I got there. He put His arm around me and I felt the greatest peace I have ever known." This is one more reason why I call mom everyday to see what God is doing in her life. I know the day will come when I call her and the phone will ring with no answer.

 Before I get up to minister lately I have found myself weeping at times, The last meeting I asked my wife if she had any more kleenexes. I've noticed the atmosphere is so different when this happens. God comes in on the wings of brokenness. He is healing our broken wings to fly again.

 Can you keep a secret?

I am learning that when God whispers one of His secrets to us sometimes it is to be kept between us and Him. Not many of us can keep a secret. It is tempting when you are told not to tell anybody, to want to tell everyone.

It's been two months now but it seems like I have been in this fiery furnace of trial forever. It must be the intense heat of seven times hotter that's affecting my vision, for I just saw a man step into my furnace. And this man looks like the Son of God! How can it be, that I now feel so free?

 All I want now is to carry the presence of the Lord, for I hear the cries of a dying world. I can hear billions.

 It's Maple Syrup Season. The sap of the Holy Spirit is flowing in spite of cold weather that refuses to let go of us. Newness of life is now flowing.

 

Blessings,

 

Bill Yount