IHOP Atlanta Testimonies May 2010
Freedom from the Shame of Sexual Abuse, 5/23/10
I have been experiencing the shame of sexual abuse for the past 2 1/2 years. During an altar call for the shame of being abused, I wanted prayer but I didn’t want to raise my hand because I didn’t think I could be healed because I thought the abuse that happened to me was all my fault. I raised my hand very lightly, kind of hoping that no one would notice and that no one would come over and pray for me. Within seconds, I was surrounded by people praying for me and I started weeping. They kept praying over me and singing in the Spirit over me. I went to go sit down and more people came and prayed for me. I was hearing so many accusations so I told the Lord that He had to come for me and show me His heart. I closed my eyes and saw a vision of Jesus riding towards me on a huge horse. He had a sword at His side and His eyes were burning. He was shouting. I knew He was a conquering warrior and that He was coming for me. I knew that no one could stand against Him. I went to a ministry room and received more prayer and counsel. I felt the shame of the sexual abuse lose its power and I knew that the abuse was not my fault. I felt so free and so full of joy! I am so so happy about this work of the Lord in my life. –Anna
Delivered from Depression, 5/23/10
I have struggled with a depression for as long as I can remember. I have been prescribed anti-depressants by two different doctors and neither worked. For months, I have been singing, “There ain’t no chains that can hinder me” but I felt like a hypocrite because I knew I was still bound by depression. I came to the Awakening Services here in a couple of months ago. During that time I was healed of severe acid reflux, but I really needed deliverance for the dark cloud of depression that during certain seasons would latch on to me and make it virtually impossible to live my everyday life. I have gotten significant freedom as I have continued to attend the Awakening Services, but it still seemed I had a cloud of mourning that hung over me. Tonight I heard the Lord speak to me and say that I was to be a “prophet of joy.” I then felt the oppression lift and I suddenly felt different–lighter and more free than ever before! –Steven
Freedom from Shame and Blaming Myself for Being Date Raped, 5/23/10
For the past two years, I have experienced shame and have blamed myself for being date raped. Tonight when they had an altar call for all people who felt like “damaged goods,” I raised my hand and started crying. I felt all the pain that I had previously pushed down. At the service, I found someone to talk about it with and was able to forgive the person who raped me. I was also able to forgive myself. I confessed to believing lies that it was my fault that I was raped and that I am now less worthy of love because of it. After I prayed, I was so happy! I danced and shared my testimony and then danced some more!
Delivered from Depression, 5/23/10
I have dealt with depression on and off for many years. Tonight was the first night I have visited IHOP Atlanta. I came in very depressed and overwhelmed. I had received some very bad news that my son was going to have to have a spinal fusion surgery. As I came into the Awakening Service, the joy of the Lord came upon me and I began to laugh until my stomach hurt. The Lord spoke to me and told me to rejoice because everything was going to be alright. I am free! Glory to God! I can’t wait to come back to the Awakening Services! –Veronica
Freedom from Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Hatred, 5/23/10
On February 16, I tried to commit suicide. I have been telling God to kill me or set me free. Tonight I can declare that I have been set free! He has given me beauty for ashes!
Freedom from the Fear and Boldness to Pray for Healing, 5/23/10
During the Awakening Services, I have been experiencing a lot of joy and have been liberated by the Lord’s delight over me. At the beginning of the Awakening, I didn’t want to pray for healing for people because I didn’t think they could get healed if I prayed for them because I felt so un-anointed. During the services, I have been continually encouraged and started believing that the Holy Spirit works in all believers to release healing. I was set free from fear and began to walk in boldness. I was in nursing school during the time of the Awakening Services and was taking care of sick patients constantly. I started praying for my patients while caring for them as I grew in belief that the Lord could heal them. I saw many of them actually receive healing! One patient was in critical care after having a stroke. The doctor told his family that he would probably never wake up. I prayed for him all day and within one week he was awake and breathing on his own. Another patient had frequent seizures, as I prayed in tongues for her, she came out of a seizure and said “He loved us when He didn’t have to.” I asked if she was referring to Jesus and she nodded. I started declaring the love of Christ over her and praying for her. Her condition improved the next day and she was released from the hospital a week later. Jesus is the Healer! –Anna
Physical Healing: Back, 5/22/10
I have had stiffness and pain in my back for two years. This past week I could not stand up straight or bend backwards. During the Awakening, I received prayer. As people prayed for me, I was able to stand up straight without feeling any pain, but I still could not lean backwards at all. As they continued to pray, I was able to extend my back backwards. I continued to receive prayer and I know that God is completely healing and restoring my back. –Patrice
Physical Healing: Slipped Disc in Back, 5/22/10
On Tuesday, 5/17/10, I slipped a disc in my back while working. I was in severe pain. I have had people pray for me all week, but Friday night during the Awakening Service, as I was praying for someone else with back problems, all the pain left my back. Saturday, just four days after my injury, I was able to help a friend load furniture into a moving truck and then helped unload the truck. This should be physically impossible, but I know the Lord put His healing hand on my back. My back does not hurt at all! –Gyl
Freedom from the Shame of Sexual Immorality, 5/22/10
I have been ashamed for many years that I fell into sexual immorality. Even though I have been free from sexual immorality for a few years, I still carried the shame. I didn’t want anyone to know of my failures in this area. I felt like damaged goods. During the service tonight, God broke off the shame and told me that I am “clean.” I am not embarrassed of my past anymore and I can testify of all that God has freed me from. –Jaime
Physical Healing: Scoliosis, 5/22/10
I have had Scoliosis for six years. While sharing a testimony of other healings I have experienced since the Awakening started, I mentioned that I had Scoliosis. When I was done sharing my testimony, people prayed for me. While they were praying and laying hands on my back, a couple of people said they actually felt my spine shifting. I left the room and had a friend, who has seen my back and witnessed the Scoliosis numerous times, look at my back. She said that it looked different and that it appeared to be more even. We prayed again and my back looks a lot straighter than it ever has before! –Erin
Physical Healing: Right Ear, 5/21/10
I have had pain, pressure and ringing in my right ear for about a year. During the Awakening Service, a word of knowledge was given for the right ear. I was actually a part of the worship team that night, playing the drums. Normally, I wouldn’t have raised my hand for prayer since I was playing at the time. However, no one else came forward for prayer so I knew the word was specifically for me. I raised my hand and they started praying for me. All the ringing and pain left my ear! Praise Jesus! –Peter
Physical Healing: Neck, 5/21/10
I have had discomfort in the base of my skull and pain in my neck from a previous fracture that I received over four years ago as the result of a car accident. A word of knowledge was given about pain at the base of the skull, particularly the right side. I was amazed because that was the exact location I’d been experiencing pain. After receiving prayer, I could move my neck all around and it didn’t hurt at all. Normally, this type of movement would cause my neck to ache. All the pain is gone! –Melissa
Physical Healing: Shoulder and Back, 5/21/10
I have had shoulder and back pain for the past week. After a word of knowledge was given regarding this, I received prayer. My symptoms improved slightly. I got more prayer and as I did all of the pain and stiffness left my shoulder and back! –Sara
Set Free From Past Wounds to Experience More of God’s Spirit, 5/21/10
I grew up in a charismatic church and was saved during the Toronto Outpouring. When I was 19 I attended a ministry school at a charismatic church and was deeply wounded through a few specific relationships. The pain from that caused bitterness to well up within my heart and I became closed to experience the tangible presence of God in my life. During the Awakening Service, the Lord tenderly touched my heart and told me I needed to repent for wanting to hold on the pain more than I wanted to be close to Him. The instant I repented a wave of glory hit me and the weight of His presence stayed with me for the rest of the night. I haven’t felt that close to the Lord in a long time! He is softening my heart. –Laura
IHOP ATLANTA HISTORY
In October of 2004, we started IHOP Atlanta with trembling in our hearts, yet hopeful that the Lord would indeed build His house of prayer. We started with 40 hours a week of worship and prayer and as God added new people, we added more prayer. In a short period of time, we expanded our weekly prayer meetings to cover 75 hours and later, 120 hours a week.
We were amazed as God continued to bring people who, in spite of their own human weakness, were committed to giving themselves to the vision of night and day prayer. On February 12, 2006 what was previously only a dream became a reality, as the IHOP Atlanta prayer room was expanded to cover 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The prayer meeting that started on February 12, 2006 continues to this day, without ceasing. God has continued to gather people from around the nation to see that the fire on the altar never goes out. It’s astounding to think that there has never been a worship-led prayer meeting that continued unabated for this length of time in our city, until now! Prayer and worship never cease to arise from our city to our great God.
Community Transformation, Healed, Lame Walk, Signs and Wonders