Prevailing To Have Children

He gives children to the woman who has none and makes her a happy mother. Praise the Lord! —Psalm 113:9 NCV 

“Stand up! Do you want to have children?” The words of the prophet rang out across the auditorium as he looked straight at ME!

Before a boxing match starts, someone (usually a pretty woman) holds up a sign and walks across the ring, signaling the fight is about to commence. Well, those words, and the prayer that ensued from this same man of God, were a sign to me that a rumble was about to begin. 

Think about this, ladies and gentlemen…if I am leading a war, ultimately, I have one job: to minimize (e.g., REDUCE THE SIZE OF, diminish) and annihilate my opponent, right? So, I cannot—no, WILL NOT—allow my adversary to multiply. I am going to do that by any means necessary! When it comes to having children, our enemy, the devil, does not want you to reproduce another YOU! So if he can stop, block, discourage, or turn you away from it, well, I think that’s exactly what he’s going to do.

Of all the challenges you may face in life, this issue of having children could be the toughest. It is certainly a hard one emotionally. You may feel crushed and hopeless. You may want to give up, quit, drown yourself in work, constant activities, run away from your marriage partner - anything to escape the pain and frustration of barrenness.

If you have the promise of God or a great desire regarding children, you MUST ask the Lord to make you steadfast and unmovable in your heart.

Whenever you feel defeated while waiting for your children, and if you can hold on no longer, open your mouth and out loud, confess the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8,9 I am pressed on every side, but I am not crushed.  I am perplexed, but I am not driven to despair. I am hunted down, but I am NOT abandoned by God!

You may have heard of a woman named Hannah in I Samuel chapters 1 & 2. Hannah was a faithful woman, and she was a worshipper. She was married to Elkanah, but she had no children. It was a very sad situation because in those days, this was a reproach that could lead to divorce. Well, Elkanah also had another wife, Penniah, and she gave him children. She tortured Hannah regularly with the fact that she was childless. Now, there are some very interesting things to note in Hannah’s story. For one, GOD was the reason Hannah could not have a child. He had closed her womb.(I Samuel 1:5-6)

It was a very difficult situation for Hannah. But she knew how to prevail in prayer! One day, the priest, Eli, observed her praying and thought she was drunk. I cannot imagine being misunderstood in this manner. That was just adding insult to injury! But somehow Hannah managed to keep her composure without losing her temper with Eli. This proved to be a wise decision because, guess what? Eli then turned around and spoke a blessing over her and declared her petition would be granted! At that point, Hannah had the breakthrough!  When she heard this, it was over. She went on her way in faith that it was going to happen! She believed completely that she would have the male child she had petitioned God for. Over the course of time, God answered her and she had a son, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the service of the Lord.  When we put a petition before the Lord, it is a good thing to tie it to the purpose of God.  Hannah had determined beforehand that she would give the child back to God for his service, and she made good on her vow. (I Samuel 1:11)

Consider this in your desire for children. The Omniscient God withheld Samuel’s birth until the timing was exactly right for him to enter into history. He had a plan for Samuel’s life, which required Samuel to be on the scene at a particular time. He could not come any earlier or any later.  According to I Samuel 3, Samuel came forth at a time when the word of the Lord was rare. God interrupted a season of no revelation from heaven with the ministry of Samuel.  Similarly, YOUR child must enter history at exactly the right time. That is on God’s time and not on yours.

Back to me and this war that I unknowingly discovered regarding the birth of our children.  There was an interesting twist in my story.  My husband and I conceived our first child and had a pregnancy, carried to full term without complications. However, the ones to come were contested.  Years passed with repeated miscarriages; a total of three. Each time was completely devastating to us. The devil tried to convince me there would be no more. I almost believed him, but my spirit bore witness that there were more and that we would have to FIGHT for them. I recall that specific day in prayer, as I warred in worship, that I KNEW it was done! We had prevailed, and more children were coming.  I got up, having received that breakthrough. I entered into total faith. Soon afterwards, the God of Hannah answered our prayers. We have been blessed with three exceptional children who were all dedicated to God and for His glory!

There’s a key thing that happens in a war, and it’s called RESISTANCE. Ephesians 4:27 instructs that we are to give no place to the devil.

The devil is very crafty and cunning, but he is also very predictable. He is going to lie! (John 8:44) You must SHUT HIM DOWN with truth!

You are MORE THAN A CONQUEROR through Jesus Christ! (Romans 8:37)  God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

I did not want to get to heaven and discover children that were for me, but that I never had because I did not persevere. You must FIGHT with everything in you and through the power of the Holy Spirit!  He will reveal his plan to you.  By His grace, you will come out with your child, increasing the Kingdom of God.  One who, like you, will CRUSH the head of Satan!   

Points To Prevail:

• Look for your signpost. What has God said to you?

• Do not give in to emotions of despair or weariness.

• Shut the devil down! Confess the word of God.

• Petition God until, like Hannah, you receive an answer

• Don’t give up!

If this is the battle you find yourself in, as Hannah did, as I once did, then get out your knee pads! Lift up your voice! Determine that you’re going to PREVAIL TO BREAKTHROUGH!

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The Prayer

Father, you said I could call unto you and you will answer me and show me great and difficult things that I do not even know.  Like Hannah and others who have desperately desired a child, I lift up my voice to you, Lord. You are the giver of all life. I have this desire in my heart for a child so that your righteousness can continue on the earth. I thank you for every promise you have given in your word regarding having children. Your Word says that children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from you, and blessed is the one whose quiver is full of them. I believe your word and apply this promise to my life. You also said that the desire of the righteous shall be granted. So, I believe that as long as I am obedient to your commands and ask in accordance with your Word and will for my life, you will bring it to pass. You said that for the righteous man (or woman), their descendants will be mighty in the earth. Father, perform what is appointed for me. I trust you, and I trust your perfect timing.

I will keep on praying and never give up! Help me prevail to victory.

In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.