That’s Amazing Grace

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Grace is not just a word; grace is not just a noun; grace is God’s supernatural enabling power and His favor that gives you the strength to be an over-comer of your circumstances. The Lord gives grace to the humble. He will give you more grace. Just ask him. (by Yvonne and Sarah Jane Svitlik from Thirty Days with Jesus in the Secret Place )

In 2019, my wife and I attended a Global Awakening conference. After the first day’s session, we were encouraged to pray for the person standing next to us. The man beside me, whom I will call John, offered to pray for me first. When it was my turn, I asked John what he needed prayer for. He shared that his eyesight was severely impaired; leaving him with mostly blurry vision. Despite this, he could still perceive shapes and movement which allowed him to navigate his surroundings. However, due to time constraints and the need to vacate the auditorium, I suggested we reconnect the following day, and John agreed.

That night, at 4:20 a.m., overcome with emotion, I found myself weeping into my pillow for him. Embarrassed, I turned away from my wife so she wouldn’t see or hear me in such a vulnerable moment. Then I distinctly heard in my spirit God tell me to take my flute to the convention hall and play “Amazing Grace” for John.  It all made sense as I was reminded of the line in the song, “was blind, but now I see.” God wanted me to bring healing through my flute and pray for the restoration of John’s eyesight, using my music to convey His heart of love and compassion for healing. This request didn’t come as a surprise; God had already been preparing my heart for it. To provide some context for this request, let me share a little background.

It was October 2017 when a pastor prophesied over me and shared her vision of me playing with the anointing of Almighty God. She described a fiery wall of protection surrounding me, along with a shield of Goodwill, Pleasure, and Favor. She saw that when I played, the heavens would open and saw the smile of Jesus with tears in the corner of His eyes. Demons would flee at the sound of my playing, and people would be delivered, healed, and slain in the Spirit. God was beginning to use me in this powerful way.

In January of 2019, I also received another prophetic word instructing me to take my flute with me everywhere. In obedience, I brought it to the convention.

.. The next day at the convention center, the hallways were filled with people sharing their spiritual gifts and praying in the Holy Spirit for one another. One group was so deeply touched by the Spirit that they would fall to the floor, laughing uncontrollably as the Spirit ministered to each one.

Meanwhile, I needed to find John. My wife had set up a folding step ladder in the midst of the crowd which served as a podium for sharing prophetic words, making announcements, and for me to play my flute.  Peggy encouraged me to climb the ladder, but feeling uncomfortable, I at once climbed back down. So, Peggy decidedly climbed the ladder, and called out John’s name to get his attention, inviting him to meet us there.

When John found his way, I suggested we head downstairs where it would be quieter. At first, we talked to get to know each other, singing songs and worshipping together. Eventually, I asked him about the cause of his blindness or low vision. He shared that it wasn’t something he was born with, rather, he believed it was because of a macumba curse, a form of black magic like Voodoo, placed on him several years earlier during a mission trip to Brazil. He explained that Macumba, an Afro-Brazilian religion known for its strong connection to dark spiritual practices, was the source of his affliction.

I wanted to see God’s power to heal and restore, but first, I needed to get a baseline of what John could or couldn’t see. I held up two fingers in my right hand and then five fingers in my left hand. In both instances, John could not see how many fingers I was holding up. This was new territory for me. I had prayed for small things in the past, but this was huge—I had never prayed for someone who was blind before.

I began by telling John how God had awakened me in the night and instructed me to play “Amazing Grace” for him. He eagerly welcomed the idea. As I yielded to God’s leading and began to play the melody on my flute, I felt the Holy Spirit’s presence sweep over me, empowering me to play with confidence. As I played, John received God’s amazing grace, and then, standing in the authority I was given in Christ, I boldly commanded healing for John’s eyesight in the Name of Jesus. It was a powerful reminder that when we step out in faith, even in our vulnerability, God’s power moves through us, enabling us to fulfill His purpose and bring restoration where it’s needed.

Afterward, I tested his vision again by holding up the same number of fingers as before. This time, he was able to identify them correctly. He also mentioned that he was able to make out my facial features, which had been blurry before. Although his healing wasn’t fully complete, he believed that God had started the process and was confident that his sight would be fully restored.

“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22).

While John hadn’t experienced complete healing yet, it was a significant beginning. Though I had hoped for complete restoration, we both needed to keep trusting in God’s goodness for his vision. When we rely solely on our own strength, often the healing process doesn’t make sense. This is because God’s faith goes beyond our own; His faith operates supernaturally, beyond the limitations of our natural understanding. To have such faith is truly Amazing Grace.

CONCLUSIVE THOUGHTS:

“That’s Amazing Grace” is one of those miracle stories that continues to inspire me. It serves as a testament to God’s healing power today and encourages others to believe that miracles still happen. It offers hope to everyone, that they too can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. So, be encouraged. There’s no reason to doubt your ability to pray for others—you absolutely can. Amazing Grace is God’s supernatural enabling power and favor, providing you with the strength to act. Just ask Him.

Copyright 2023

CREDITS

That’s Amazing Grace was written by Bill Hutzel.

Voice over by Eleven Labs io

Flute arrangement and solo flute by Bill Hutzel

Produced, arranged, and recorded by John D’Elia, Such Clay Productions