Be Made Well

 Be Made Well

“Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years approached from behind and touched the end of his robe, for she said to herself, “If I can touch his robe, I’ll be made well.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter, he said. “Your faith has saved you.” And the woman was made well from that moment.” Matthew 9: 20-22

Studying the healings Jesus did shows me different ways that he healed. Some were healed by a touch but this one was done by her touch. The most remarkable part I found was that Jesus felt it as the crowd was pushing in. He knew her touch. And she knew one touch of his robe she could be made well. 

I heard the words that prayer is a matter of survival. Praying like we know that prayer is the only way we will make it. Like that desperation of that woman with unending bleeding that had been cast aside, her touching Jesus led to healing. Immediately it stopped. I can’t imagine what all the enemy would say to her before she made that bold move. The negative thoughts she must have heard in her mind before pressing in. But she knew Jesus was capable of healing her. She knew if she could just reach out and touch his robe, “ I’ll be made well.” 

She reached out for Jesus. I can almost picture Jesus looking at her as the crowd probably stood with mouths open wide in astonishment at what had just occurred. She was not only considered unclean but unworthy by all who witnessed that and then Jesus called her daughter and let her know she had been made well. She had extra ordinary faith. Her faith made her well.

We can too. I attended a teaching on healing and praying that has led me to learn more about how Jesus did this as he walked on earth. The teacher who taught us said, “Go back to the gospels to see where this occurred so I have been doing that lately. Even more than that it has had me taking a look at my prayers. Examining how I pray and approaching prayer more boldly. Not just for me but others around me, my community, my world. Healing can occur anywhere and with anyone. And as I sat in a packed auditorium with over 1,000 people this past Monday it was that reminder of how people do want more. Because sometimes I think I get caught up in the, “Can you really do that?” type of mindset when Jesus clearly tells me, “Let it be done according to your faith.” And that switches gears within my heart and mind to know that what He says He will do He will accomplish.

So what if I started approaching prayer more ferociously? What if I was more bold like that woman and went for it believing that Jesus will do what he says? 

Can you imagine her story after that? Not just hers but everyone around her. They saw the physical and spiritual transformation in one touch. 

I haven’t been healed physically yet. At least fully that is because I have received the touch of a prayer warrior during this journey that healed something occurring that was beyond the MS. Out of nowhere one morning I woke up with this unexplainable pain in my face. I went into work that morning and it would come in waves. I had people pray as I had for this weird symptom that wasn’t like all the others I have become accustomed to. I went to the dentist thinking it might have had something to do with something that was going on in my mouth to have them do an xray and find no answer to the pain. I hesitated to call the neurologist because I didn’t want to face what that meant. Any time you show new symptoms with MS that can mean more disease progression. I called and the nurse immediately called back and she wanted to see me the next day. But that day those prayer warriors just prayed as the pain continued. They were thinking it might be Trigeminal nerve and that meant a whole new regimen of medicine and lots of future pain. As I prayed I was very clear with the Lord that I did not want this but in the same prayer I knew that whatever it was He was with me. That I trusted Him. The pain kept occurring in waves and it was some of the worst pain I have ever felt. I went to bed that night and woke up the next day and there was no more pain. I could feel it in my face when I had been having it the day before but not the same stabbing and piercing pain.  The pain had left and I knew I had been healed. The MRI I had to have two weeks later showed no more disease progression and that meant no flare and no new medicine. God had healed me.

At the recent prayer service he was talking about his bold prayers as he studied how Jesus went about healing. For seven years he studied the gospels and kept praying not healing anyone. And then he felt the Lord prompt him once again and that led to his first healing.  Healing for a man with MS. As I sat in that crowd even before the word MS came out of his mouth it was like God was dropping it deep within my mind. All the healings Jesus had done through him and MS was his first. He argued with the Lord to let it be someone else but the Lord was clear that man was who God was leading him to pray for healing.  But even more than that it was how he prayed for that man. Just like my friend had prayed and touched me for the symptom I was having. Immediately could come but waiting on the full healing has grown my dependence upon the Lord. The full physical hasn’t come yet but I know the spiritual is so much better. My faith has made me well.

Father,

I don’t even know how to end this writing but there is no dismissing our ability to pray bold prayers. I know the practice of prayer builds our faith and connection with you Jesus. So what if we began to write down what is in our hearts and started praying with the Authority we have been given because of you Jesus? I have to believe that would change things around us and it would change us. Help us to pray in a way that would grow our faith. Praying that we know you changes things. You are the God who sees it all. We trust in you alone. We are made well because of you.

Amen