Most of us would like to pray with precision. It is our desire to help those in need, but the fact is that prayer can hurt people. It is not what we say to God that matters, it is what we say to others that can affect someone and cause pain.

That is why, the ministry of accurate prayer is so needed in the body of Christ. I have seen people at the altar praying for others, looking for a sin or a negative element or a curse to address. The danger here is that prayer becomes an exercise without direction. It is not that we do not have good hearts and good intentions, it is the fact that prayer is not a shooting match. Prayer is a procedure that needs the direction of the Holy Spirit.

I have seen conversation that takes 30 minutes. What is the reason why most prayer are not answered? It is because you pray not led of the spirit, you pray what you heard from the one receiving prayer. When that takes place you are ANSWERING THEIR HURTS BY WHAT THEY (THOSE RECEIVING PRAYER) UNDERSTAND OF THEIR HURTS.

IF that is the way you pray, you are praying for God to solve a problem without having other key persons involved. Example:  A man is praying for a wife who is angry. The prayer request is to quiet her down and “heal her.” The information you do not have is that this man is deeply hurting this woman and abusing her. That is the reason she is angry. BUT YOU DID NOT HEAR THE OTHER SIDE!!

Prayer that is led of the Holy Spirit begins with revelation. God leads you into prayer. You do not lead yourself into prayer. If you need to hear someone to know their needs, you have a deficiency in your prayer life. If you need to ask questions, you should not be praying. You should be prayed for by someone else.

When Jesus saw the woman at the well and asked for water, he asked for water, because he already knew her deepest need. That is the basis for accurate prayer. Doctors ask questions, psychologists deal with emotions and feelings. The Holy Spirit speaks truth that heals instantly.

When you pray, if all you see is demons plaguing someone’s mind, you are harming this person more than you are helping.  Not every problem is the result of a demon. As a matter of fact, the person and their emotional needs plays a greater part of the hurt and the pain they feel. When the time comes to deal with demonic influence, you will know and there will be no confusion.

Look positively at the person you are praying for. Expect a miracle to change their lives. Stay away from words that can hurt and mark their sub-concious mind.  Think positively, say a blessing, call into to being a miracle and smile a lot. God will show up and do wonderful things for your prayer life!  By the way, do you believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? If not, try to pray for others once a year.

Rick Bonfim

I always prayed that God would fill my mouth, not necessarily to preach but to pray. This last Monday, the 23rd of February, I stayed at the church library praying with a person every twenty minutes. From nine in the morning to five in the afternoon, I met someone in prayer.

Whoa! What a glorious time I had in Iowa. The procedure began as men and women alike would come into the room for prayer. Without any word said by them, the Lord began to minister deeply into their hearts, never dealing with consequences but the root of the most private need in a human being.

It amazes me when God brings life into someone who has been struggling in a matter of seconds. I heard the year when it happened, the moment and described the situation, the emotions of the moment, the pain produced by the event. God began to heal and to call and to settle all disturbed hearts, by affirming, uplifting and strengthening the saints.

The Holy Spirit only deals with areas in our lives that sustain life. Never frivolous, never uncaring, never performing, never egostic, never manipulative, never superficial, never tormented. Only truth, only Word, only discovering and revealing that which affects life and brings death. It does not necessarily begin in the past. The Holy Spirit begins where He wants to begin and finishes where He wants to finish. 

Prophetic prayer is God communicating. Prophetic prayer is God healing and restoring the heart of a broken person. If you had seen person after person, you would have seen one thing: restoration, healing, rejoicing, and receiving hope.

About five and half hours had passed and my body and mind did not feel pain or tiredness. The presence of the Lord filled many, healed many in this  private fashion. The Holy Spirit loves at times to be private, quiet, gentle and considerate.  He certainly was this past Monday.

What a wonderful experience to pray for others without receiving information from anyone but God. What a wonderful experience to hear from the Lord about a need, and see healing before your eyes!

Thank God for Iowa in Jesus Name,

Rick Bonfim

I know that we have a tendency to only believe things we can see.  But the Kingdom of God is filled with things we cannot see. There are times when I feel that the person in front of me is someone who God is talking to through me and I can see 20 or 30 years, or even a lifetime, back through the years.

I might feel a bit awkward sharing this next story with you since some of you may doubt it. But at age 65, I honestly do not bother much any more about what someone thinks of me. I belong to God and He is my God, so I serve Him without shame.

In Iowa, a man came through the prayer line. There were about 200 people receiving prayer. The praise music was playing with anointing and power. When a tall man with glasses came to me, I simply said to him what was in my heart:  “You must answer the call. Answer what God is saying to you. It is time to join the Kingdom of God and answer God.”

After he left the sanctuary of this anointed Methodist church in Grimes, Iowa, he was driving home in his car. Suddenly he heard a voice, as though coming from the radio saying, “Answer this call or I will hang up on you.” The problem was that he had no telephone in the car, and no “On-Star” or any other communication device. He tried to turn off the radio, but it was not on. The voice repeated, “Answer the call.”

When he got home, he called his pastor. The pastor went to him and gave him this word, “Just say ‘yes’ to Jesus.”

You may very well question whether something of this nature really happened.  Remember the story of Samuel? He heard the voice of God in the middle of the night, calling his name. He thought it was Eli the priest, but it was God, asking him to answer the call.

When a prophecy is spoken over someone God fulfills it with power.  This man is under conviction for his life. He has now said, “Yes” to Jesus. God might call YOU one of these days. Are you ready? Will you say, “Yes” to Jesus?

Rick Bonfim