May 14, 2025

Make It Serve You

I have shared posts on the subject of forgiveness for the previous two days [May 12 & May 13]. Today’s post reveals, to some extent, the sense of humor God has.

A couple of years after insisting that I forgive a man I blamed for so much pain in my family, and giving me the grace to do so (read about it here), the Lord led me to Christ For the Nations Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas. Shortly after arriving, to my complete surprise, I ran into the son of this man, who was also there as a student. Tom (not his real name) happened to be in the cluster of 15 or 20 students who became my inner circle. He was a few years younger than me and had no idea of the hatred I once held for his dad. I’m sure he was completely unaware of what had even taken place a few years prior to this. Tom had gotten into drugs and alcohol while in high school and became horribly addicted. He had come to Christ and was attending the Bible institute to help firm up his walk with the Lord. I found it very encouraging that I could relate to him with no feelings of awkwardness or resentment.

About six months into my time there, Tom had a bit of a relapse and used some recreational drugs, which was obviously against the strict policy of the Bible College. The school was not a rehabilitation center equipped to deal with drug addiction and rehabilitation, so they were very firm in their stance. To violate the policy meant dismissal, along with suggestions for finding a place more suited to helping them. Of course, if Holy Spirit led otherwise, they made exceptions.

The Dean of Men, who would be making this decision and doling out the consequences, called me to his office. I knew him somewhat from some on-campus prayer meetings I had attended. He was quite strict regarding the school’s policies, He was also very prophetic. He prayed regarding situations of this nature, asking Holy Spirit to give him wisdom and guidance. I had no idea why he was summoning me to his office.

He explained what happened with Tom, and spelled out the normal consequences for the offense. “I feel I am to give him another chance, however,” he stated. “I believe his heart is pure and repentant. He is a friend of yours, isn’t he?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, “he is a friend.” I felt truly spiritual being able to say that. Not that I was proud, you understand. My assumption was that the Dean was about to ask me if I thought it was a good idea to give Tom another chance.

NOT!

“I’ve seen you spending time in the prayer room,” he began. I was, indeed, attempting to become an intercessor. I certainly wasn’t an expert, but was passionate. “I am willing to give Tom a second chance,” he said, “if you are willing to take him on as a personal assignment. You must accompany him to the prayer room every day and pray with him, teaching him to pray, and helping him get free from his addictions.”

Did I mention that this Dean was very prophetic?! He knew nothing about my past with this young man’s father. Nothing! But had he ever heard from God! I said yes, and left the room dumbfounded. I’m not sure what my exact words to the Lord were when I left the dean’s office, but they were something like this: “Well, God, You sure do have a sense of humor.”

“I do,” He answered. “But I’m doing more than being humorous. I’m finishing the job. Drive the nail into the coffin of your past. Make satan pay. Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). You are free in your heart; now seal it with your actions.”

I was able to do this assignment. I led this young man to the prayer room every day - actually, he had no choice - and prayed over him, as well as making him pray, for an hour or so. Surprise, surprise! It worked…for both of us. We chased off his demons and buried my past pain. Only God. Tom became free and, as far as I know, was able to remain free.

The word “overcome” in the verse above (Romans 12:21) is the Greek word nikao.(1) It means “to conquer, prevail, overcome; even legally - to win in a court of law.” It’s a wonderful word describing our God-infused ability to be overcomers in life. There is one place, however, where Holy Spirit evidently decided this word was not strong enough to describe the overcoming nature He has given us.

Romans 8:37 tells us: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us,” (NASB). The KJV says we are more than conquerors. As this revelation was breathed into Paul by Holy Spirit, so he could pass it on to us, Paul was overcome by the strength of what he was seeing. As he searched his mind for the correct word, he came up empty and finally had to take two words and make them one: hupernikao, translated above as “overwhelmingly conquer.” This Greek word is used nowhere else in the New Testament.

The prefix huper means “overwhelmingly, over, beyond, exceedingly, excessively, more than.” Our English word, hyper, comes from this Greek word. Paul, overwhelmed with emotion and excitement, shouts with his pen, “We are hyperconquerors! We overwhelmingly conquer! Our ability to conquer is excessive, over the top!” Holy Spirit wants us to overwhelmingly conquer our past and anything else satan throws our way. 

“Through Him who loved us,” Paul goes on to say (Romans 8:37b). Everything God does is motivated by His heart of love. He’s a Giver, a Blesser, a Healer, a Destiny-provider. When He asks us to release, let go of past offenses, He is actually saying, “Here’s how I can get rid of your pain. Let me have it.” Forgiveness, releasing the person who hurt you, is one of the ways God erases the negative side of the ledger. He moves your pain into the asset column, working it for your good, making it serve you!

You can do this. Let it go!

Pray with me:

Father, we thank You for Your determination to heal, equip, and strengthen us for success. You have a plan for each of us and You are determined to accomplish it. We pray the prayer of the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24). (“Hurtful way” could be translated “way of pain.”) Reveal any pain in us that could hinder our destiny.

We want clean hands and pure hearts. We pray now for our brothers and sisters who struggle with the pain of past experiences. Help them let go. Pour Your grace into them, enabling them to release it all to You. You are such a good Father, and You will release and heal them completely.

And we pray that in the coming revival, we will be healing agents. We ask You that through our wholeness, we will produce wholeness. We can be the generation that heals our land of racism, division, and strife. Start in us, Your people, then anoint us to release Your healing. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.

Our decree:

We declare that we will walk in the wholeness of Christ and minister His wholeness to those in need.

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1. “Strong’s Hebrew: 3528. (nikaó) -- To conquer, to overcome, to prevail, to gain victory.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/greek/3528.htm. May 12, 2025.