Betty Lara is a distinguished spiritual mentor and prayer warrior with over 20 years of experience leading and advising on intercessory prayer and spiritual warfare. She has a robust background in deliverance ministry, empowering believers towards victorious living, and has authored two transformative books on these subjects. Betty and her husband run Love and Fire Ministry, hosting prayer and healing sessions that foster personal and communal revival. Her life story is one of overcoming immense personal challenges through faith, equipping her to guide others through their spiritual struggles.

Welcome to another spirit-filled episode of Faith with Friends, hosted by Lisa Lorenzo. This week, Lisa engages in an enlightening discussion with Betty, an esteemed prayer warrior and author. They delve into the transformative power of prayer and spiritual warfare, unraveling how these spiritual tools can break strongholds and foster personal and community revival. Betty shares her inspiring journey of overcoming deep-seated struggles, moving from despair to a potent relationship with God, exemplifying how faith and divine guidance can lead to victorious living.

The episode unpacks crucial aspects of spiritual discipline, emphasizing prayer's role as both a personal dialogue with God and a community-driven support system through intercessory prayer. Betty and Lisa shed light on spiritual habits and scripture's central role in combating life's challenges, from depression to familial strife, through faith, obedience, and resilience. Listeners are urged to embrace their divine purpose by cultivating a disciplined prayer life and immersing themselves in scripture to develop sturdy faith foundations, all essential elements in countering the enemy's attempts to destabilize one’s spiritual journey.

• Prayer as a Dialogue: Prayer is a fundamental communication with God, not bound by strict frameworks but a dynamic dialogue that can happen at any moment, fostering a deeper relationship with the divine.
• Intercessory Prayer: Standing in the gap for others through intercessory prayer is pivotal, especially for those burdened by trauma, as it provides them with spiritual fortitude.
• Role of Scripture: Scripture is a critical tool in spiritual warfare, serving as a spiritual weapon to combat life's challenges, providing guidance, and issuing decrees for breaking down strongholds.
• Community and Support: Engaging in spiritual community strengthens one’s faith journey, as communal prayers and mutual support play crucial roles in overcoming spiritual battles.
• Spiritual Discipline: Discipline in prayer and scripture study transforms into desire and then delight, forming the backbone of a resilient spiritual life that can combat adversities and nurture obedience and faithfulness.

• "You really overcome and you have authority that which you have overcome." – Betty
• "The Word of God is a weapon of war… You can actually take the word of God and war with it." – Betty
• "Community is super, super important. That's the power of not being alone." – Betty
• "Lord, help me to be quiet before you and listen." – Betty
• "God is good. He will get you out of the most impossible situation because he is the God of miracles." – Betty

Betty’s Website: bettylaraministries.com

Instagram: @bettylaraministries

Books by Betty:

"$50 at 55: Starting Life All Over Again with Jesus" (Available on Amazon)

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In this powerful episode of Faith with Friends, Lisa Lorenzo draws listeners into the often-overlooked day of Holy Saturday, a pivotal moment between Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection known for its profound silence. The episode immerses listeners in the somber atmosphere faced by Jesus' disciples, highlighting themes of grief, uncertainty, and the ultimate hope tied to Silent Saturday. Lisa guides her audience in understanding the hidden workings of God during this pause, providing a reflective lens that resonates deeply with our spiritual journeys today.

Lisa unpacks the significance of Silent Saturday—known for its tension between the agony of Good Friday and the triumph of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Focusing on Matthew 27:62-66 and Luke 23:56, the episode considers this day of waiting and reflection as a time of crucial spiritual significance, offering a parallel to our personal experiences of uncertainty and divine timing. The episode emphasizes the concept of "already not yet," explaining how it captures the interim space in Christian belief between what has been accomplished and what is anticipated in faith.

• Significance of Silent Saturday: Silent Saturday is a vital part of the Holy Week, symbolizing a period of waiting and reflection amid uncertainty.
• Themes of Waiting and Hope: These themes are woven throughout the episode, highlighting the spiritual importance of patience and trust in God's timing.
• God's Hidden Work: Even in silence, God is at work; this episode reminds us to lean into faith during times of waiting and uncertainty.
• Reflection on 'Already Not Yet': The podcast explores the tension between the already completed work of salvation and the anticipated future fulfillment of God's promises.
• Practical Steps for Faithful Waiting: Listeners are encouraged to engage with Scripture, worship, and prayer as means to navigate their own Silent Saturdays.

• "Even in the darkest of times, God's still at work. He's still with us."
• "In life, there are times where there are periods of waiting, not knowing what the future holds."
• "God is always in control, even when we don't see him or understand what he's doing."
• "Silent Saturday embodies that tension between already and not yet."
• "Trust that God is working even when you don't see it. Especially when you don't see it."