When Warriors Fight

Recently my mom had a stroke, and I witnessed the powerful hand of God.

This year, I have been teaching a monthly Bible study inside a small church in the northern part of St. Louis. The way I became a teacher is all God. The host church where the Bible study is offered is part of a network of approximately seven or eight small churches. Together they meet monthly for teaching, sharing resources, and fellowship. Apparently, the previous Bible study teacher moved on, and the host pastor thought of me as someone who could teach the group.

As an outsider—not affiliated with this denomination or church network—I was honored to be asked. Each month, the ladies and I explore different names of God so we can better understand His character and personality.

I always begin by saying that we study the names of God because each name reveals something about who He is. God is like a diamond with countless facets. In one season we may see Him as thoughtful, gracious, kind, and compassionate. In another season of life, we may witness His mighty, wonder-working power and strength.

Recently, I experienced the arm of God.

Not just any arm.

The mighty, powerful, earth-shaking arm of God.

My husband, mother, and I traveled to Texas to attend my granddaughter's high school graduation. Because of rain, the ceremony had been postponed until 8:00 p.m. Just as we were preparing to leave, my mother mentioned she had a headache. I prayed for her as we headed toward the door.

Then I noticed something.

Instead of walking through the doorway, she stumbled into the doorframe.

Immediately I said, "Let's go to the hospital."

You may wonder why those words came out of my mouth so quickly.

The night before, my mother had mentioned unexplained nausea. Six years ago, my husband suffered a stroke and experienced dizziness, intense nausea, and difficulty walking straight. Nine years ago, my mother also suffered a stroke and had trouble walking.

But more than that, I believe the Holy Spirit spoke through me.

Unfortunately, my mother did not want to go to the hospital, so we continued on to the graduation.

When we arrived and helped her out of the car, she collapsed.

Still determined not to go to the hospital, she took a few more steps before finally relenting.

An ambulance arrived, and while the rest of the family—after much coaxing—went on to support my granddaughter, I rode in the ambulance with my mother. I told the paramedics I believed she was having a stroke.

Once we arrived at the emergency room, my mother could no longer communicate.

The stroke had affected both her memory and her speech.

She tried desperately to communicate her thoughts, but only gibberish came out.

A woman who graduated from a university that specialized in journalism, a woman gifted in writing and communication, could no longer say her name. She could not tell the doctors who I was. She did not know she was in a hospital or even in the state of Texas.

Friends, I was horrified.

I was scared.

I was confused.

I was shattered.

My mother couldn't read.

She couldn't communicate.

She couldn't follow simple commands.

Her eyes were unfocused and distant.

The doctors administered a medication designed to dissolve the clot. I called my brother, who lived 45 minutes away, and warned him that she likely would not recognize him.

The pain in his eyes was evident when she could not identify him or call him by name.

We arrived at the emergency room around 8:30 p.m., and the doctors explained that they did not know how much cognitive function my mother would recover. Some patients responded quickly to the medication. Others improved slowly. Some never fully recovered.

Friends, my brother and I prayed.

We prayed individually. 

And I prayed some more.

I contacted intercessors. I cried out to God.

But from my perspective, nothing seemed to be changing.

Physically, my mother was there.

Cognitively, she was not.

She struggled to form words. Sentences would not come. Only nonsensical sounds emerged.

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt scared and confused?

Scared because you don't know what tomorrow will look like.

Confused because life can change in a matter of moments.

Just hours earlier, my mother had been witty, charming, and fully engaged in conversation.

Now she could not communicate.

"God, what is happening, and what do You have to say about this?"

As part of our Bible study, the women and I had learned about Elohim, God our Creator.

Not only did He create heaven and earth, but He still creates. He creates opportunities, solutions, pathways, and miracles.

Well, I needed God to create.

I needed Him to create healing.

I needed Him to create new pathways in my mother's brain.

I needed Him to create the words she was trying so desperately to say.

We had also studied Jehovah Shammah, "The Lord Is There."

I love this name because it reminds me that before we ever arrive at a crisis, God is already there.

Before my brother and I walked into that hospital, God was already there.

Before the doctors knew what was happening, God was already there.

Before the stroke occurred, God was already there.

The Lord was present in that room.

Later that evening, my mother was admitted to the ICU.

While there, she experienced a severe seizure.

Her entire body began seizing.

My brother and I were alarmed.

The nurse was alarmed.

My mother was afraid.

Moments earlier, I had prayed that anything in that room that was not of God would leave.

Then suddenly, her body began seizing violently.

The nurses did not know what to do.

They stood there watching.

My mother repeatedly said, "I don't know if I'm going to make it."

The seizure made it difficult for her to breathe.

I began to pray.

This time, loudly.

I called on the name of Jesus.

Between prayers, I told my mother how much I loved her and what a wonderful mother she had been.

The moment was so traumatic that I honestly did not know if I was about to watch my mother take her last breath.

Finally, the doctor arrived and administered medication that sedated her. The seizure stopped.

As she drifted off to sleep, I felt as though I had just witnessed the enemy attempt to take my mother's life.

But God blocked it.

I believe a spirit of death tried to take her life, and God said, "No."

There is another name of God I want to introduce you to:

Yahweh Sabaoth — The Lord of Hosts.

This name means that God is Commander over the armies of heaven.

Just as the United States has different military branches, heaven has armies under the authority of God. The angels of heaven respond to His commands.

While my mother lay in that hospital bed, prayers were rising everywhere.

My husband was praying.

Family members were praying.

Intercessors in St. Louis were praying.

Friends in other states were praying.

Even prayer warriors in Uganda were praying.

And I believe heaven responded.

I saw the hand of God block death.

When the sedation wore off, my mother's memory slowly began to return.

Her speech began returning too.

She remembered my name.

Then my brother's.

She remembered her birth date.

She understood she was in a hospital.

She remembered she was in Texas.

Hour by hour, her memory improved.

Her speech improved.

Her cognition improved.

My mother spent six days in the hospital.

Although we traveled to Texas for a graduation, God ended up giving our entire family a different kind of promotion.

My granddaughter Kennedi received her high school diploma.

And our family received a certificate in spiritual warfare.

We learned firsthand that warriors must  engage in battle.

But we also learned that victory belongs to the Lord.

We watched the spirit of death bow before the authority of God.

Today, my mother is back in St. Louis recovering. The miracle is that she can dress herself, walk, communicate, remember, and function independently. Her speech has returned. Her memory has returned. Her cognitive abilities have returned. While she still has areas where she must continue strengthening her mobility and carefully managing her health, God has done a remarkable work.

My mother suffered strokes on both sides of her brain.

Yet God showed Himself faithful.

Hi, my name is Kacie Starr Long. I am an author, and speaker and I love to use my voice to point people to Jesus. When I'm not writing, I'm either hanging out with my husband or sewing. God delivered me from food addiction and I have a sewing ministry, called the Sew Hope . I am the proud wife of Alfred T. Long, Sr and together we lead a non-profit that provides services for those battling substance abuse and those impacted by incarceration. Connect with me at www.InspiredOverflow.com and via my YouTube page for Christian teachings and encouragement.

PS Friends: I've recently published a NEW book called War On the Floor. This book is for those with a loved one who is deep in addiction. It's a collection of prayers to help you remain focused and strengthened as you believe God for breakthrough. There is truly power in prayer! Order your copy today.