Esther's Progressive Prayer Fast

Mercy Trotman's Encounter with Esther's Progressive Prayer Fast:

My name is Mercy Trotman.

• My Testimony: Isaiah 44:24-26; 2 Chronicles 20:20

• 2012: My year of Progressive Fertility and Productivity

As is the custom in Overcomers' House, Dr. Pauline Walley-Daniels (aka PWD) spends time in the Lord's presence before every new year to receive the theme/declaration for the next year. Each year's theme is like a continuation of the previous years. For instance, last year's (2011) theme and declaration was "The year of progressive fruitfulness and fulfillment." Of course we started the year with a lot of zest and expectation, looking forward to a new or any blessing that was not manifested in the previous year.

For my household and me, the first few months of 2012 surprisingly turned sour and challenging. My husband was going back and forth to the hospital and the nursing home. Both of my sons were also getting sick often. At some point, three of them were hospitalized at the same time in the same hospital for a long period of time (Montefiore Hospital). In view of this situation, when I went to our annual world convention "7th School of Prophetic-Deliverance World Convention," I really needed to experience my fertility and productivity. I needed to come out of the hardship and suffering with which the year started for me.

The presence of the Lord moved greatly in the convention. A lot of miracles and deliverances took place. People sent for their friends and family, and the next sessions were packed. In one of these sessions, Dr. Pauline was ministering corporately to us, and we were making some declarations. Then I fell into a trance, in which I saw a lady's hand with well-manicured fingers. The hand was resting on my left cheek in a comforting gesture. When I got out of the trance, I asked the Lord, "Whose hand was on my cheek?" Then the Lord revealed who it was, and rightly so. Once the Lord gave me the name, I identified the hand. I further asked the Father, "What is this lady's hand doing on my cheek?" He said, "She is highly deceptive." The Lord explained that the lady appears to be sympathetic of my situation, but goes behind to shoot arrows at me. I was also told that this particular lady practices witchcraft. The Lord further told me that He would change my current supervisor with whom I had worked for about five years.

Due to my husband and children's hospitalization, I missed many days of work, for which I provided documentation to my office. Upon returning to work, everything the Lord revealed to me began to unfold in a very theatrical manner. The doctors' notes that I provided at my office were disregarded. It felt like a coup d'état was launched against me with the primary aim to get me fired from the job.

• People had told me in the past that my then supervisor had threatened to get me fired.

• She accused me of absence without leave.

• She lied that I purposely made appointments for clients to come on the days that I would be absent from work.

• Even when she knew that I was encountering difficulties logging into my computer because the passwords were expired, and I needed new passwords, she would not assist me to obtain new passwords, but she was rather using every situation she could against me.

• Then she wrote me up stating that I did not want to input my time in the system.

• I was not completing my job timely, and that I did not account for the times that I was out of the office.

• Furthermore, I received the worst evaluation from her, as she stated that I only had completed 80 percent of my job for the last evaluation period.

In view of these accusations, I enlisted the assistance of a union representative who made sure that the situation was addressed in the light of what it was. He reminded everyone involved that my situation was recognized as a family hardship, and I was able to clarify and assuage all her lies. At this point, she became frustrated and subsequently antagonistic towards me. Then I understood the reason God said He would change my supervisor, so I requested to be transferred out of her unit. This move even got her more incensed, as she could not fathom the fact that I dared request for a transfer to another unit. This was an effrontery to her! Prior to my request, she was practically keeping malice with me. She would not respond to me. She would not discuss cases with me to ascertain the recommendation needed.

Eventually, I was reassigned to another unit. A few days after my transfer, my director summoned one of his deputies and myself to his office and served me with a notice of disciplinary charges, which encompassed criminal charges as well. This time around, I was accused of fraud, stealing, lying, etc. It was a miracle that I was not arrested. Although my accusers were not revealed, it was obvious that this was a case of retaliation and vendetta against me. My initial reaction was to laugh because I knew God would vindicate me. The moment I showed the accusation letter to my union representative, he confirmed that "these were pretty serious charges," which was practically beyond his jurisdiction. I had to take the rest of the day off work and go to my union office.

It was reported to me that after I had left the office to go sort out the accusations with the union representatives, this lady (my ex-supervisor) was dancing gleefully, and boasting that I thought I could get away with anything, and that I also thought I could mess with her. I informed Dr. PWD and Rev. Peace of the new development, they prayed with me and assured me that God would vindicate me, and in fact turn it around for my promotion. Dr PWD stated that God would fight for me as he fought for the biblical Esther and Mordecai. I held unto that promise.

I continued to read and pray with the book, Esther's Progressive Prayer Fast, authored by Dr. PWD, besides the Bible and other books. I started declaring that my name is in the Lamb's Book of Life, so it would not be in the hall of shame. The Lord gave me revelations of Scriptures to stand on. I received a lot of intercessory prayer from Dr. PWD, and all the leaders in...