"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6
I raised our four children with great love and care. We were blessed with three daughters and one son. I never neglected their meals they always had their breakfast, lunch, and supper. Every evening I made sure they were given baths and clean pajamas. When my son Tony was a baby I held him in my arms, changed his diapers and made him comfortable when he was fussy. I kept a very close eye on my children. I was very selective of who babysat them when I had to leave my home.
Our son Tony was 16 years old when he left home what a painful experience it was for me. I spent many sleepless nights crying and worried for my son. As parents we can’t understand why something like this happens to us, when we’ve raised our children to the best of our ability. We love them so much. The greatest moment of pain would be when I would go into his room at night and look at his empty bed suddenly realizing that our son was gone.
I was a young Christian Mom, born again in 1975 and later filled with his spirit when this situation occurred. (Jose and I reconciled and remarried after a divorce that lasted 5 years.) The divorce left some wounds on the children. My husband was just coming into the things of the Lord. My children didn’t want anything to do with Jesus. They were raised in a religious setting where you would attend on Sunday, fulfill your duty and live whatever sinful lifestyle you chose. As I shared earlier when my son left I had to cry out to God to help me, the pain I felt was unbearable. I recalled my mother sitting in a chair by the front window waiting for my brothers to drive in. She would sit, worry and wonder about their “whereabouts” as they came in late at night or early morning hours. I just knew that I did not want to experience what I had seen my mother go through in those days. Within the first week of my son leaving I began to get sick. I cried out to the Lord to help me, and Jesus heard my cry and answered me. My call to ministry was just beginning, therefore, He asked me to continue to move on with the prayer ministry of Revival for America. During my devotion time with my husband we would pray for Tony everyday and pray that all our children would come to Jesus. I had my son’s picture leaning up against the wall with a Psalms 91 plaque over it. I would kneel before the Lord and pray for Tony daily. The Holy Spirit said to me, “you aren’t turning him over to the devil, but rather turning him over to me, now go on with the work of the ministry and I will take care of things in due season, I will gather you back with your children.” He lifted the pain from my heart supernaturally so that I could function. If we don’t understand the ways of God, we could misinterpret by thinking that we aren’t caring enough. God loved America and the work that I was assigned was very important to the Lord.
During those years we seldom spoke or heard from our son. I know that if Gods hand had not been on him he could have been killed during that time. My God was very merciful. There were times when his friends would drop him off to us in such a condition that his body would be shaking and his eyes would be rolling back in his head. I was such a naive mom that I didn’t know that my son was on drugs. He was beaten many times waking up in ditches. There were moments that I did not know whether my son lived or died. One day I found out that he was living with a woman that was old enough to be his mother. I was so upset and said, “this is not of God” but the Lord spoke to me sharply, “don’t touch it with prayer or otherwise, my hand is on this” and I obeyed. We don’t often see the whole picture and yes this brought much sorrow to my heart but the Almighty God had him in His Hand. The reason Tony left and moved out was because I corrected him and didn’t allow him to do certain things in our home that were not Christ like, therefore he rebelled. Now, the relationship with this woman was perverted but she was older and had morals to a degree. She didn’t believe in smoking, drugs, and Tony was not going to run around with the rough crowd at night. He would listen and obey her because of his attraction to her. God used the “situation” to keep him from possibly loosing his life and in safety. God was using every thing to keep our son alive and well.
In 1987 our seven years of ministry training in Louisiana were over. I went to my son and told him that we were leaving. We asked to him to come with us and not stay behind. He was upset with me and reminded me that I had uprooted him seven years earlier from Ohio. He told us that he was not going with us because he had friends and a home now and he was staying behind. His dad and I were so sad, I said to God, “you told me that if I would go on with this ministry for you that you would restore my children back to me. Now look, my son is staying back with no family and truly in a strange land.” Oh! was I crying and so disappointed! Well we pulled out with our few belongings and started our move back to Ohio with heavy hearts. By the time we got back to Ohio, our son was waiting on the other end for us.
This is what took place. The hand of God prevailed and God’s promise held true. The night we left Louisiana Tony went home and discovered that the woman that he loved was involved with another man. He was so upset and hurt that he took his clothes, threw them into his car and left for Ohio. It was still a battle for our son, but in a few months he met this wonderful girl who became his wife, he now has five children and is raising them for the Lord. Tony is 43 years old today. He is a great dad and a hard working husband who loves his family and wants to give his best.
Moms, God was faithful, and kept our son and he will keep your children, as you commit them to Jesus. The Lord has a greater plan for our children if we remain faithful, in our prayers, then he will save them. I know as a mom we feel like shaking our children but its not in shaking, It’s in prayer where we shake the forces of darkness that has them bound. Then if we do a little shaking, so to speak, it will accomplish God’s purpose in Jesus Name! Be encouraged that our God will never leave us! His son Jesus will help us all the way.
When Moses left Egypt, Pharaoh said, “Moses you can go, but you will not take your children.” And Moses said, “we will go with our young and with our old, with our flocks, and with our herds will we go; for I must hold a feast unto the Lord.” That’s the same with me when I came out of the world, a type of Egypt through my salvation experience.
I made a declaration, we will go with our sons (Tony) and daughters (Debra, Tammy, Nicole) we refuse to allow them to stay behind In Egypt (the world) without salvation but they are coming out with us. Yes, it was a fight, a real battle, but you have to declare, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord and Today to God’s Glory, all of our four children love and are serving the Lord. You must fight for your children and as you do, the Helper will be there to make sure you get the Victory in Jesus Name!
I Pray That You Were Blessed By This Testimony!
If this testimony has encouraged you and you would like a copy of the Booklet Parents Fight for Your Children! (On Your Knees) please e-mail or call the ministry of United Intercessors with your complete physical address and I will be glad to mail one to you! I pray that this booklet give you Strength and Comfort as you Pray & Meditate on these scriptures (the word of God) that the Lord gave me as I stood in the gap for my own children. To God Be The Glory!
In His love and service, hilda arredondo, UIPWC of Louisiana 253 Blossom Rd. Opelousas, La. 70570 Prayer Line (337) 948-1501 Hilda Arredondo founder of United Intercessors Prayer Watch Center holds the “Spiritual Copyrights” of these Prophetic Messages and Testimonies that were written on earth with God the Father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit holding the patent in heaven. These Prophetic Messages were given to her under the divine inspiration of the “Holy Spirit” as she fasted and prayed. Call a friend and share with them about our web site www.uipwc.com “Answers To Prayer” Link. Everyone Needs Encouragement!
