Reading: Matthew 8:14-17
I was coming home from out of town on Mother's Day when I received one of those phone calls that made your heart sink from the immediate drop of a heavy burden. It was my mother who was telling me that one of the members of the Ladies for Jesus Leadership Team was rushed to the hospital. There were complications in regards to her aortic aneurysm and she was in critical condition. My heart cried out to the Lord. This dear member of the group was such an inspiration to us all. I just couldn't bear the thought of her not being with us.Updates on her condition continued to flood in throughout that day and into the next. The outcome wasn't looking good. The news came that she had been life flighted to Shands in Gainesville and they were going to perform the delicate surgery to remove the aneurysm. That night was our Ladies for Jesus meeting and throughout the day I had thoughts of canceling the meeting. However, I felt the Lord leading me to not cancel and so I didn't. Prayers were already going up everywhere from our individual hearts and from our individual churches. We knew that the throne of God was being flooded with prayers for our dear sister. However, the feeling was great to pray for our sister collectively. Therefore, in lieu of a devotional time we all held hands to offer collective prayers to the Lord on her behalf.
I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit drawing close during this time. Afterwards, others in the group expressed they felt the same. A peace came over my own heart and I know that others felt that same peace. Our own needs were being placed aside and, collectively, our hearts were joined agreeing that we wanted healing for our sister. During the time we were praying, she was in surgery. The doctors were doing their part of using their skills and we were doing our part of praying for them to have wisdom. After the prayer time, we all started visualizing her back with us joining us once again at a Ladies for Jesus retreat. The positive aspect drew the peace that passeth all understanding into our hearts. The Lord was confirming to us that He knows our hearts and He was pleased with us turning to Him to request a miracle. The news of the miracle came at midnight that night. She came through the surgery beautifully and the doctors even commented that it was a miracle. Our hearts sang with praises to our Lord. Great is His faithfulness and greatly to be praised.
How is your own prayer life? Are you taking your burdens to the Lord individually and collectively? Are you visualizing the answer to that prayer - visualizing the positive? Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that the Lord has great plans for our lives. He doesn't want to harm us only to give us a future and a hope. Visualize His great plan for your life and others and don't forget about His miracles. Even when it seems like there is no hope, remember that our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above. He will heal our infirmities.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to remember to flood Your throne with prayers. Prayers asking for Your healing touch. Help me to remember that You still heal through Your touch - just as Jesus touched and healed Peter's mother-in-law. Give me a heart to visualize that healing and to expect a miracle. Amen.
