** I have
the privilege of being a part of a vibrant prayer chain in the service of our
Lord and Savior. The following was
written as an outpouring to that body:
Sometimes it seems as though everything, including the kitchen sink (and
far worse) is being thrown out upon the body of believers by that liar of all
liars, as he endeavors to ‘act’ like a roaring lion seeking whom he may
destroy. I refuse to even mention his
name for he is not worthy of having one.
Rather, I submit for our remembrance, especially during the trials of
life, that we serve Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH
Why doesn’t God heal every born again believer of
every disease or infliction? My answer
of course is “I don’t know.” Many years
ago, the Lord spoke to my heart these words as I was about to enter my home:
“If you were to loose this house and every thing within in it, God will still
be God.” I said to Him: “OK Lord, I
don’t understand or know why you are telling me this, but I recognize that it
is you speaking to me.” Over the years,
I was reminded of that statement time and time again. He revealed, at least in part, what He had
wanted me to know: “God is neither limited to nor defined by what happens to us
in life. Knowing this should help us to
understand that it is not what happens to us in life that is important, but
rather our response to God in the midst of whatever is taking place. Over time, I began to understand that God is
always in control, no matter how chaotic the world or our lives may appear. In addition, as the trials, tribulations, or
afflictions came upon me, I learned that how to deal with situations was not
best understood through the question “Why me Lord?” but rather “Alright Lord,
what is it you want me to learn in and through this?” Then more recently, through one of my writing
adventures, He revealed more of His meaning of the words which He had
originally spoken to me: “When you suffered through asthma, was I not still
God? When you had three early
miscarriages, was I not still God? When
you began to hemorrhage in the seventh month of pregnancy, and lost a baby girl
due to multiple birth defects was I still not God? When doctors advised you not to get pregnant
again, and yet you chose to put your trust in Me, and you were delivered of
your third child, a beautiful healthy baby boy, was I not still God?” I could go on and on, but I think I was
beginning to understand more, little by little.
Does God still heal miraculously and instantly? Yes,
without a doubt. When He walked the
earth, could He have healed and delivered every one around Him instantly by the
power of His word or the touch of His hand? Yes, He could have, but He did not.
Doubt and unbelief often had much to do with who was or was not healed. Other times, they had nothing to do with it,
but rather sometimes prayers for healing or deliverance were met with the
answer, “My grace is sufficient for Thee.”
On the surface, that may look as though God was playing favorites; but
not so. You and I must remember that God
sees the beginning, the end, and all that is in between, while we see only in
part. As you and I may be crying out to
God, “Lord, I beg you to take me out of the fire NOW!” His answer may be, “No,
but I’ll go through the fire with you, and you will come out stronger on the
other side.”
I can just hear the skepticism that initially comes to our
thoughts: “Ha, stronger you say? Look at
Joni Erickson Tada, doomed to a life as a quadriplegic; how is that strength
for her?” Because we are yet mortals, we
look at the present as if life in this world were of supreme importance. Again, our view and insight is finite, but
God’s is infinite. Her body may be weak,
yet she is made stronger and stronger in the spirit. In addition, her life has been an inspiration
and drawn many to faith in the Lord. Though her body is withered, yet the
strength of the Lord shines out with such a mighty force that it not only makes
her able to stand against the fiery darts of the enemy, but also inspires
others to seek the God that she serves.
Loved ones in the Lord let us encourage one another in the
midst of the stormy seas of life. Though
afflictions may occur, and the battle may seem endless at times, let us take
heart in the knowledge that we have the victory through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Yes, we celebrate with gratitude
unto the Lord for the gift of life that God has granted unto us. We are to fight the good fight while we have
our being, and to serve the Lord with gladness.
The time is growing short, for Jesus may come at any time, and none of
us is guaranteed a tomorrow. Let us live
each day with urgency and a sense of purpose, as it may be our last chance to
praise the Lord on this side of life. It may be our last chance to pray for
someone, or to touch the life another that they too might believe. Perhaps another may choose to believe in and follow God the Father, God the Son- Jesus,
the one and only risen Lord, and God the Holy Spirit, who lives within us.
Oh how our hearts do burn within us, when we take the time
to commune with the Holy Spirit whom He sent to LIVE within every
believer. Oh the joy of being in His
presence every time we turn our hearts to Him, to be with Him through His word
by the power of the Holy Spirit. Oh Lord
Jesus, let us have ears to hear as we draw near to Thee, to bask in the light
of your word and revel in the power of your love as you pour it into our lives
till we are filled to overflowing. Help
us to yearn daily to seek you that we may “be being filled” daily with the
peace of Thy Holy Spirit who guides and leads us into all truth.
I know it seems sometimes as if everything that can be
thrown at us, it being thrown at us to try to keep us down and destroy us. At times, there are even those that look at
the circumstances of our lives and say “Ha!
And just where is your mighty God now?”
They are the ones to be most pitied, for they have be deceived into
thinking and living as though this present and temporary life on earth is all
there is, and more important than anything else. We have the mystery and secrets of the Lord
written on the tablets of our hearts.
Let us arise and shout with the joy of the Lord! From outward appearances, it may look as if
we have been defeated in more than one battle.
But that is only because they have not the eyes to see the spiritual
battles that have been won within us. Nor
are they able to know that the War has already been won through
faith in Jesus Christ.
What is it that I pray to impart which each of us may carry
within us this day? First, live this day
as unto the Lord, but live it not as though this is all there is to life. Our life on earth is but a moment in time,
and its purpose is that we may glorify the Lord in all our ways. Far more important is our eternal life to
come. Keep our eyes not on the things of
this world, but on God and the things that He has prepared for us: our life to
come with Him, in His eternal kingdom, where there will be no more suffering,
but only the joy of the Lord forever and ever.
Every day that goes by means that we are another day closer to going to
be with Him. Live life with a
purpose! That’s why the word tells us:
“TODAY IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE; REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!” and
“TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!”
Loved ones let not your hearts be troubled, for our hope is
not in the things of this world, but in our Lord and all that He has done and
provided for us. Remember, no matter
what is happening, we are living in a win/win situation. Afflictions are but for a moment, but victory
over pain, sorrow, disease, sin and death is ours in the name of Jesus. We know
the end of the story, and it says “World without End Forever and Ever.” There is no sorrow that Heaven can not
heal. “Let God Arise and His Enemies Be
Scattered.” LIVE TODAY FOR THE LORD
THAT YOU MAY LIVE ALL YOUR TOMORROWS WITH THE LORD!!!
The word of the Lord is powerful and a two edged
sword. “He sent his word and healed
them.” If we have not it is because we
ask not, or because we ask amiss. I
never refrain from asking for the miraculous to be worked by the Lord. But whether the miraculous comes instantly or
is delivered through other avenues of His choosing over a period of time, all
is done in and through Him; therefore, the one is just as miraculous as the
other. “Let the meditations of our hearts
and the words of our mouths be pleasing in His sight.” “His word does not go forth and return void,
but accomplishes that which it was sent to do.”
Trust and depend upon
the Lord and the truth of His Word through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 34:17-19 When
the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their
troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in
spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him
out of them all.
Psalm
55:22 Cast your burden on the
Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Isaiah 41:10 fear
not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen
you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 40:31 but
they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not
faint.
Isaiah 42:16 And
I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have
not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them
into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do,
and I do not forsake them.
Jeremiah 29:11 For
I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not
for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans
8:28 And we know that for
those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called
according to his purpose.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only
one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not
driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not
destroyed;
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will
reap, if we do not give up.
Philippians 4:1-9 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his
riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary,
you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your
faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be
found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see
him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled
with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
II Cor. 4: 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward
man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
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