I was just reading in the book of Matthew and I was asking the Lord some questions about healing.
When I got to this story, I was reminded of something Sandra Kennedy shared with us last year. Do you remember the story of 
Jesus and the centurion? The centurion told Jesus about his servant who was at home — paralyzed — suffering terribly. Jesus asked if He should go to the centurion’s home to heal the servant and this was the centurion’s reply:
Matthew 8:8
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
Guess what? That is EXACTLY what happened!
Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Before I share where I am going with this, I will share another story.
Do you remember the story of the woman with the issue of blood? She decided in her heart HOW she would be healed.
Matthew 9:21
She said to herself, “If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed.”
During her healing — Jesus was actually on His was to a synagogue leader’s house to pray for his daughter who had just died. The leader said …
Matthew 9:18b
But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.
In verse 25, Jesus put the mourners outside and touched the girl — took her by the hand and she got up.
In each of these stories the people decided on the way Jesus would heal. Did you notice that? And in Matthew 8:13 did you notice Jesus told the centurion it would happen the way he BELIEVED it would?
The centurion said, “Say it and it will be done.” The woman thought to herself, “If I could only touch the hem of His garment.” And the leader said, “If you will come touch her … she will live.”
My friend Angie and I were praying for someone the other night. This person began to feel some relief, but then spoke, “I believe it will get better tonight as I sleep.” Well, that did it! She chose to hold onto that pain into the night. Angie and I knew there was nothing else we could do to help her. We just walked away.
Many times when praying for people, if the healing doesn’t happen instantly they begin to make excuses versus pressing through and fighting for that healing.
Have you decided in your heart how things must happen?
It is something we could all ask ourselves.
This is another example of how powerful our thoughts and words are in this life.
Proverbs 18:20-21
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Have you made a covenant in your own mind of how things “must” go in your life? Ask God to show you. I will be asking the same question for myself.
God bless you! Have a great weekend!
Photo credit: Woman with the issue of blood
Ouch. I’m asking myself that now. I’ve been stressed about our upcoming mission trip (imagining how horrible our VBS skits will be, ha). It’s as if I’ve already decided in my mind how it will go. Maybe it will; maybe it won’t. But it’s not MY call to make.
So thanks, Beth, for helping jar me some this morning. More to go pray about about….
Sometimes I’m very specific, other times just ask God to do what He knows to be best for me. What causes me to ask one thing over the other? I don’t know. I do know, since Dave died, it’s been difficult for me…knowing the right thing to do and then doing it. Dave always made the major decisions; of course, we’d discuss things but he had the final vote because he had more intelligence and knowledge in financial matters. I’d pray then give him my opinion and abide by his decision. Now, I pray, worry, pray, worry, pray…you get the drift. My brain is a mess some days -LOL-.