|
‘Just pray NO!’—the 27th annual worldwide weekend of
prayer for those battling addiction
|
|
|
|
Article By Kay Dobbs // Prayer
|
|
Posted February 24, 2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Photo: GETTY/SKYNESER
|
|
|
|
Marian of Annapolis was heartbroken over her 27-year-old son Colton, who had been addicted to
drugs and alcohol since 2007.
“It was ripping our family apart,” says Marian.
She felt backed against a wall and fresh out of options after a 2012 family intervention failed to
produce any positive results in the life of Colton who began smoking marijuana and cigarettes as
a youth. Seeking to upgrade his high, Marian said the former junior football player who had been
class valedictorian began partying hard in college. There, he was introduced to a more free-
spirited crowd that experimented indiscriminately with harder drugs.
“All his ways seemed to change overnight. He lost interest in the things he once enjoyed and
began hanging out all night, and isolating himself from family,” Marian said.
After his first hit of heroin, Colton was hooked and Marian felt doomed to face the reality that
many families have to deal with: losing a loved one to overdose.
“I have heard numerous stories of mothers just like me having to bury their kids after they OD’d
and I don’t want to live through that nightmare,” said Marian.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the total number deaths from heroin overdose
increased by six times from 2001 to 2014.
After years spent in and out of rehab, it looked hopeless for Marian's son, but she didn't stop
praying. Colton has been clean since 2016 and is getting his life back on track with the help of
God and a loving community of faith.
Don't underestimate the power of activating your faith and praying sincerely to God. There is
power in prayer—something Steven Sherman knows well. He launched the first Just Pray NO! to
drugs Worldwide Weekend of Prayer and Fasting on April 7, 1991. It was a time set aside to
unite Christians worldwide in intercessory prayer on behalf of the addicted and their families.
Just Pray NO! is now in its 27th year and will take place on April 22 – 23 of this year.
Initially when Steven began this movement of prayer warriors gathering, he told Charisma, "I
wanted Christians to unite in spiritual warfare to battle addiction. The task was ambitious. I had a
vision for a worldwide day of prayer and concern. I believed that God would honor my simple
prayer asked in faith. I prayed that the message of 'Just Pray NO!' to drugs would be heard
around the world."
God heard his cry and lives are being changed.
"Deliverance from spiritual bondage can only be achieved by spiritual weapons such as prayer
and fasting," Steven says. "True victory is only found in the finished work of Christ on the cross
and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The saving and transforming message of the gospel
is what keeps me going."
Steven holds fast to the scripture in Ephesians 6:12: "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."
He is now asking you and others who are willing, to make a formal commitment to join with
believers in Christ from around the globe this coming April. Millions of prayer warriors worldwide
are being sought to join the battle.
Prayers are not limited to only breaking the shackles and strongholds of drugs and alcohol
abuse. The focus is also on individuals addicted to pornography, gambling and food.
If you believe that God is calling you to intercede for the addicted please you can contact Steven.
To find help for addiction through prayer and Christian ministries log on to the ministry’s website.
To learn how groups can participate in our annual prayer event, click on "Information on the
Annual Worldwide Weekend of Prayer" or email: justprayno@aol.com.
Are you or someone you know battling addiction and failing to break free? We believe God is
able to break the chains of addiction! Let Empowering Everyday Women's prayer team intercede
for you. Submit your request here.
|
|
|
|
|
