Testimony & Holy Spirit led prayer by Steve Kelly Oeck

Testimony & Holy Spirit led prayer

By

Steve Kelly Oeck

Steve circa 1999

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Back in early 1999 I was suffering my way through and praying for a way out of the deepest and darkest pit I had ever found myself in.  I was 33 years old and had just lost everything I loved and had ever worked for.

Despite having been raised in a secular household. The Lord revealed Himself to me one night and  I became radically saved at age 15.

My high school experience transformed from that point forward, and I quickly gained a christian girlfriend and was welcomed by her very warm and godly family. We went to church together and her family helped me to learn and progress in the Word. I can honestly say I had a wonderful high school experience.

I turned 18 in U.S. Army infantry boot camp, ft. Benning Georgia, just one month after graduation in 1984. My time in the Infantry had been absolutely critical to building courage, strength and endurance, but turned out to be  less than an ideal as a moral compass.

(Forward to 1998)

I had been an immature and alcoholic wretch of a man since I got out of the Army at age 21. I had been living in the way of the world and now carried the world's pains to show for it.

My then wife of 9 years and the mother of my three children had left me (and immediately became pregnant and had a child with another man). A restraining order against me appeared seemingly overnight and my then wife's new boyfriend moved into my house the moment I was gone. And my own children were rapidly turned against me.

I had bought the house less than two years earlier with a $60,000 down payment I had borrowed from my dad. The house was soon in foreclosure as my wife and her boyfriend didn't trouble themselves to make any payments on the mortgage. And I was borderline suicidal for at least a few months during that time. (It is very worth noting that on the very day I learned of my wife's infidelity.)

I had, earlier that day, heard an audible voice while standing under a huge cedar tree in my front yard. The audible voice seemed to both surround me and come from nowhere and everywhere at once, it simply said "I AM always faithful!"

The next several months were periods of agony and anguish, interrupted only by bouts of guilt, shame, and remorse for the way I had let my life become.

But God was not about to let me stew in self pity forever. He was true to His word and faithfully led me forward through all of what seemed to be non-ending fiery trials (that in truth were only the earned consequences of years of very poor decision making).

By early 1999 I was living in my dad’s basement. I had been led to a home church that I would attend for the next 20 plus years of my life. One night at home (in the basement) The spirit of the Lord came over me and I wrote out this following prayer.

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Lord God of the heavens and the Earth, Author and Creator of every good thing. I come to you in reverence and awe.

I know that you alone are God and I am not. I know that you are the Lord exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness on the earth; for you delight in these.

Lord I come to you with a broken spirit and contrite heart. I am as naked and poor, wretched and blind before you. Yet you receive me as a son, and heal me under your wings.

Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not for a man who walks to direct his own steps. Oh Lord, correct me, but with Justice and mercy, not in your anger lest you bring me to nothing.

Master, I desire to speak with you in wisdom, but I am wholly lacking in understanding. I ask for direction as I stand in faith that the sum of your word is truth. I ask this day, in Jesus’ name, for increased wisdom and understanding.

Lord God, help me to set my heart to obey your voice in all things. Increase my discernment that I may know your still small voice. Quiet my soul, that I may hear your Holy Spirit. Yes Lord, I pray that you would quiet my soul with your peace, and teach me to receive that peace.

I pray, Mighty God, that you would daily teach me to recognize and abhor, even as you do, all forms of pride or haughtiness of spirit in myself, and all forms of judgment against others. Teach me to walk in true humility with compassion and mercy towards others at all times.

I know to whom much is given much is required, and that I would not be alive to see this day but for your grace and mercy towards me.

Help me to extend this grace and mercy to others as you did to me. I want to be like you Jesus. Teach me to walk as you did.

The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the Earth neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak; and to those who have no might he increases strength.

Even the youth shall faint, and shall be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall Mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Father God, I know the call you have placed on my life, and even now feel your pull on my heart.

I ask you now, in Jesus’ name to prepare me for the journey ahead in the way that you will; and to fill and empower me with your Holy Spirit to the end, that I become in Jesus all that he intended and paid for me to be.

I ask also that you set my house in order, that my life would in all respects glorify you Lord God.

I ask for restoration of my family according to your will, and for the fullness of life that you provided in your son.

Teach me to receive all these things.

I ask for you to lead me to the place of employment of your choosing.

I know that it is you who meets all my needs, and it is you on whom I depend.

I cry out this day, father, for finances, that I may meet all my obligations, and even the arrearages Father.

I pray in Jesus name for a miraculous abundance of finances, and for a job Lord God, which will abundantly meet my financial needs.

I ask for all these things in Jesus' name.       

- amen

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I had printed this prayer out and it has been neatly folded in the front of my bible for 26 years now. And I can honestly say that Jesus has been Absolutely FAITHFUL in answering every single word of this prayer over the years. Things began small at first, then unfolded and expanded over the years to more than what I could have ever imagined during the humble and broken times this prayer was written.

I felt led in the last few days to share both this prayer as well as the earliest part of my 40 year testimony to God's love and faithfulness to perform His Word.

I have included here only the very beginnings of my walk with Him.

I have said so many times over the years; were I to stand up most anywhere in today's traditional church and give my full testimony of what I personally experienced of God's Love, His Faithfulness, His discipline, His mercy, His miracles, and the super natural experiences I personally walked out with Him over the years— virtually no one would believe it.

Most are taught that Jesus raised the dead so we don't have to. Most skip over Philip being physically translated over 60 miles to speak with the Ethiopian eunuch. I have experienced this in my own walk, having experienced being translated instantly to over 100 miles distance more than once; not to mention having been translated in time as well!  (And truly I say unto you "even greater things than this shall you do.")

I have had stolen items translated back into my possession as well. I have experienced worship so intense that the entire group (I have witnesses! Lol) was frozen in place with arms outstretched from 12:00 midnight until 12:00 noon the next day; not to mention the many interactions with both visible and invisible angels, beings, and supernatural creatures!  I say these things not to brag about myself, because without Him I am nothing! But to brag about Him and what He is waiting to do for even His children currently in a desperate state.

Luke 15:20 “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

And if God should choose to reveal Himself in such a magnificent way to an utterly broken and defeated nobody such as I was. Imagine how badly He wants to reveal Himself and His purpose for You and Your loved ones! 

Act 10:34“So Peter opened his mouth and said: Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,”

and Deuteronomy 10:17 – “...God is no respecter of persons…”

This is part one of my testimony. If there seems to be any interest (and with the Lord’s further leading) I will write part two (The church years).

I would highly, highly, recommend this prayer to anyone despairing of life, even from the deepest pit. Who is TRULY ready to humble themselves and make JESUS the Lord and KING of their life.

Remember - HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL!

~ Steve Kelly Oeck