Mountain Moving Prayer

Pastor Ron's Blog
 
Matthew 17:20 (NLT) 20 Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

Good Morning Dear Ones!

You won’t believe it … my PSA went down for the fourth month in a row!  It’s down from 2.40 to 2.21!  Thank you, Jesus!

As most of you know, I’ve been fighting prostate cancer for the past six years.  After hormone therapy, chemo, radical surgery, and radiation, my PSA was undetectable for eighteen months.  Then it began to rise, and at 0.3 they said the cancer had reoccurred.  It’s been going up slowly ever since and the plan was that when it got to 5.0 I would go back on hormone therapy to bring it down “artificially” as a control measure … the “last bullet in our gun” as one doctor said.  For a man in my condition, the PSA is not supposed to go down on its own.

As I said last month, the head of oncology at UCSF said, “It won’t go down, but I’ve seen stranger things.”  My wife Cathi smiled and said with confidence, “Well, we’re going to pray for stranger things!”  Praise God we’re seeing them!

Last week, I went in for my regular bladder scope (always fun!) and it was clear of any cancer… more good news!  Dr. K said, “So you PSA is going down.  Have you been in touch with UCSF and are you on any other therapy?”  I said, “No.”  To which he replied, “Just prayers, huh?”  I said, “Yes.” (I’m never very conversational during a bladder scope)  That was a few days before this fourth drop in my PSA.  I’ll be anxious to hear what he says.  His assistant smiled and said, “This just doesn’t happen.”  She’s a believer, attends New Life, and is praying for me.

This certainly is a result of prayer, and I want to thank you all again for your continuing prayers for me and my family.

But of course it’s not “just prayer,” … just any kind of prayer.  It is faith-filled, Scripture-claiming, continually contending, mountain moving prayer!  More than, “Whatever.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen” prayers, I’ve been, and continue to be covered with powerful prayer support. You’re praying prayers that are “in the Spirit, filled with faith, against my cancer, claiming God’s Word, and always for His glory and purpose to be fulfilled.  Thank you for not praying wimpy prayers!  It’s fervent prayers that are effective! (James 5:16)

We all need to pray and be prayed for!  Now, more than ever, we need God’s power in our lives!  Next month, I will be introducing a prayer campaign for New Life called, “Blessing and Breakthrough – 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting.”  From October 13th to November 21st, we will have many expressions of and experiences in prayer together.  It will be powerful.  You’ll hear more next month.

I don’t know why things happen as they do in life.  I know friends that prayed harder than me who died of their cancer.  Someday, we’ll know why.  But, there is one thing I do know now.  God is a God of love and power.  His love sustains us in the suffering and works good out of it (Romans 5:3-5; 8:28; James 1:2-4).  And, His power is released through believing prayer (Matthew 6:6, 18:18-20; Philippians 4:6-7).

So dear ones, thank you for your prayers, and keep on praying!  You have kingdom authority!  Be encouraged that when we pray and bring any need or difficult situation under the kingdom reign of Jesus, nothing will ever stay the same!  We may not see the way that God is working, but be assured He is!  What are the “mountains” in your life that need to move?  Maybe it’s time for some mountain moving prayer.

Amazingly Graced,

Pastor Ron Salsbury