A Curse Broken by Prayer

In a Muslim-dominated area of Ethiopia, a thriving church of over 100 people started having regular nightly prayer meetings that lasted until morning. They knew that prayer was the only way of breaking through the wall of spiritual darkness surrounding them. Miriam lived close to the church and she heard about the all-night prayer meetings but wanted nothing to do with anything spiritual. Miriam grew up around black magic with parents who submerged themselves in witchcraft. She struggled to find happiness in her adult life, as the witch doctor who influenced her parents cursed her when he discovered she despised her parent’s demonic acts. He made a bold claim that any child she bore would die as an infant. Sure enough, her children all passed away when they were young. Each time she became pregnant fear paralyzed her, as the witch doctor’s curse rang in her ears. During her fourth pregnancy, Miriam resigned herself to the fact that her baby would soon die. When her infant daughter became sick, she grieved deeply knowing that this child would succumb to the curse, just as her other children had. If the child was going to die, she wanted it to happen quickly. Exhausted from her repeated loss, the mother gave up all pretense of hope. One night while lying in bed holding her baby close, wondering if it was the last time she would ever do so, she heard someone shout ​“Hallelujah!” Miriam remembered the all-night prayer meetings and was suddenly filled with a hope that she couldn’t explain. She bundled her sick and dying child and went to the church to ask the Christians to pray. At 6:00 in the morning, after hours of prayer, her young daughter was smiling, happy and fully healed. The curse had been broken. 

In Psalm 103:2 – 5 we read these encouraging verses: Praise the Lord my soul and forget none of His benefits. Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

Miriam has experienced firsthand the redeeming power of God and knows that it is only through Him that a life can be renewed.