I am a visual learner and like most people I learn through experience. Almost everything I write about comes from personal experiences and today is no different. God is using occurrences in my life to teach me how to live for Him and I believe He desires for me to convey them to you. So here goes....
After waking up this morning to prepare to write for the MP blog, I realized that I left my Bible and my journal at school where I work. On Fridays I attend FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and I take my Bible and journal with me. Sometimes as the students worship, I write down thoughts and Scripture verses that God gives me. Leaving work, I failed to pick up my bag that contained both resources. As I sat down with my computer today, after discovering I left those things at school, I felt completely lost for a moment. “What do I do now, God?” I asked. Thank goodness I have several Bibles and grabbing one, I opened it in the middle and began praying. Gazing down at my Bible, I began reading where it lay open - Psalm 20 (NKJV).
May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.
We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.
Save, LORD!
May the King answer us when we call.
Why do I doubt God’s faithfulness? He cares for us no matter how small the circumstance. Thanking Him for coming to my rescue, I remembered bigger situations in my life that He’s already handled. As I share them with you, be mindful of God’s working in your life and give Him praise.
In 1994, God healed me after experiencing an extremely serious physical condition. Suffering two days of severe pain in my back and shoulders, doctors finally discovered clots in my lungs and immediately hospitialized me for 10 days with a heparin drip to dissolve the clots. My husband shared with me how critical the situation could have been and how close I came to having a stroke or dying. Meanwhile, God prepared two willing people to share His word with me, one through a phone call and one with a get-well card. They announced these words to me:
For I will restore health to you
And heal you of your wounds,’ says the LORD. Jeremiah 30:17 (NKJV)
And heal you of your wounds,’ says the LORD. Jeremiah 30:17 (NKJV)
And He did - God healed me over time! Praise God!
This past week my mother shared her good news with me. She recently had another surgery to scrape out the cancer in her ureter. Since 2006 she’s probably had no less than 20 procedures to get rid of the cancer. She went back for a follow-up this past week and after 5 years of battling bladder, kidney, and ureter cancer, her doctor told her that her organs look clean. Thank you, Jesus, for answering our prayers!
Not only does God heal physical infirmities, He heals spiritual deficiencies and broken hearts. He loves His people so much that He goes in search of the lost. His forgiveness sets the captives free! Some of us MPs have already experienced that freedom and we pray for others as they continue to faithfully believe His promise for their family and friends. Over time He also heals those who have lost a loved one in death. We serve the God who came to earth to heal so give Him thanks and praise.
Below is the passage that Jesus read in a Nazareth synagogue and after reading it, He declared the fulfillment of that Scripture passage in their presence. (Luke 4:16-21)
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV)
After three years of fulfilling His mission, Jesus completed His earthly assignment by shedding His blood on the cross so that we might be healed (in many ways).
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)
...who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV)
Reflect on the many ways God has healed you or someone you know. Thank Him for miracles and bless Him for His benefits. Allow Him to fill you with His strength and peace as you wait for His promises to be accomplished.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV)
Thank you, God, for your miracles and increase our faith in Your promises!
Happy Birthday to my youngest sister. I’m praying that you and your husband will receive God’s miracle. Hold on to His promises.