Healing

I just want everyone to know about my morning.  It's 11:55 a.m. as I begin to write this.  Let me tell you, it has been quite the day!

I was walking to go to the prayer room and have a little quiet time before the Friday morning prayer group started.  On my way there, I saw my friend laying on the ground.  She just fell and broke her ankle.  Some other people and myself got her inside.  I was going to walk back to the apartment to get my car and bring her to the walk-in clinic.  One of the people teased as I left, "Don't you fall out there!"  I replied with, "I'll be careful."

About three steps out the door my right foot slipped and I landed on my tailbone - hard.  I thought I was okay, so I stood up and started to walk slowly towards the apartments.  I began to black out and my ears were ringing.  I became scared and a little disoriented.  A girl saw me and walked me back inside.  I sat down next to my friend with my head between my knees because someone told me that I "looked a little green."  I felt a little better and slowly walked to the prayer room.

In the prayer room, I sobbed and shared what just happened.  Fear of walking outside again overcame me.  I asked for the group to lay hands on me and pray for me.  Everyone gathered around me and took turns praying for healing and rebuking the fear and lies the enemy used to attack me.  I felt peace and rest over come my body.

About an hour and a half later, I was sitting in my biology lecture.  All of a sudden, I felt heat radiating from my tailbone area.  Then, all the pain went away.  

I HAVE BEEN HEALED BY THE POWER OF THE LIVING GOD.

Today, I claim victory over the enemy.  I claim healing over my body and my soul.  I claim that God is alive and wants to heal us, physically and spiritually.  There are many verses in the Bible that talk about this.

He was pierced for our transgressions;

He was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement the brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

The Goodness of God

I am overwhelmed by the love and goodness of God this morning.  I am humbled by the way God used me at the Remedy last night.

Humbled.

During the second round of worship last night, the air in the room suddenly felt light and peaceful.  I knew that in that moment, people had just surrendered themselves and the Lord broke down chains and walls that people built with sin and pride.  There was not a single person who didn't feel that way.

The Lord is good.

Still humbled.

Nights like that make me want to change my daily life.  I want to live in a way that always allows God to break down chains and walls, that always softens my heart.  

After last night, I have a renewed love and passion for people.  I want all to see the glory of God.  I want all to feel His great love.  It is my prayer that more people on campus will know the Lord and that those who do will continue to press in to an intimate relationship with the Lord.

There are no words to express how humble I feel this morning.

Testing and Timing

This last Monday, I was reminded by a friend (one of the most encouraging and challenging friends I have) that in September, I claimed that I had never feel doubt towards God nor had I felt like I had been tested or challenged by God.

This was the reminder that she gave me while I was crying, pouring my heart out, declaring all of the tests that I feel I'm going through in my life right now.

God has really been challenging me to give up control and to trust in His timing and plan.  Reflecting on some recent happenings has really shown me how much God is intentionally present in my life.  

Here are three testimonies of what God has been doing in my life.

• I used to think that I had never been tested in my faith.  Then I remembered that when I was 13 and 14 years old, I used to wonder if God was real and if He was worth putting my hope and trust in.  It was in high school at a Bible study where God showed me His realness and why He was worth more than what I can give.

• I visited some old and cherished friends when I was last home.  One of them talked about his passion for biblical science, connecting the Bible to science that is proven to be true.  I've always believed that events in the Bible account for much more than for what science credits.  In one of the first days of my biology lecture, the professor handed out an article explaining that science and religion are very separate entities that cannot be intertwined.  I thank God for the conversation I had with my friend, reminding me who Created every living and non-living thing in the universe.

• Yesterday (the day that the temperature was -5 and the windchill -30) my car battery died.  It died off campus.  I had to call a tow truck and get a new battery.  It was a stressful and long afternoon.  But, in the midst of what seemed to be chaos, there was the biggest, most beautiful sun dog I had ever seen.  It was a glorious circle of light, wrapping around the sun, shining brightly through the clouds.  It was in that moment that I realized who was in control.  That's right.  The big guy.

There are many other areas that God works in my life.  I often fail to recognize His work, but I know that He is always working.  There are many things that I allow to cause worry and frustration.  I keep praying for strength and a longing to lean on the Everlasting Father, the One in control.

Prayer

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

This is one are of life that I struggle the most in.  It is also the area of life that God has called me to be very strong in.  Ironic?  I don't think so.

This last week, the Lord has really convicted me of how little I pray.  I'll admit to praying short one-sentence requests or praises throughout my days.  But God wants more of me.  He wants me to be open and vulnerable to Him in my prayers.  Prayer and worship are the best ways to communicate feelings, emotions, stories, etc. to God.  (At least, that's what my experience shows me.)

I love the idea of spending hours in solitude and prayer each day.  However, the life of a college student doesn't always allow for that.  I often find myself fighting between sleep and prayer.  If I spend two hours praying every day, then I believe that I will lose two hours of sleep every night.

"But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3

When I fear that I will lose sleep or not be productive because I spent time with the Lord, I allow for the enemy to tell me lies that I so easily believe.  Thankfully, God strengthens us and guards us from the enemy.

I must turn away from this old, old habit.

Today is the day that I will start relying more on God and rebuking and turning away the enemy.  The Bible gives me the authority and strength to do this, especially the above verse from 2 Thessalonians.  The next question is this: How do I know what to pray for?

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.  As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks.  Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.  This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.  For there is only one God and on Mediator who can reconcile God and people.  He is the man Christ Jesus.  He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.  This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time." 1 Timothy 2:1-6

If you're like me, this passage will most likely be helpful.  It tells us who to pray for and why.  I also believe that if we ask God who to pray for, He will place people on our heart.  This has been my experience many times and I later find out that the person was going through something during the time that they were on my heart to pray.  God is just so cool, isn't He?

Resolutions

I can recall only two years that I did something with friends for New Year's Eve.  One was in 5th grade and the other was my senior year of high school.  Other years I was either baby sitting or hanging out with my parents at home.  I never thought it was lame with the exception of one year.  That year, a bunch of friends told me their plans for the night and did not invite me, knowing the plans I had were to sit at home with Mom and Dad...again.

This year was different.  My plans had not changed from past years.  I watched "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve" with Mom and Dad.  "What's the difference?" you ask.  "My 'resolution,'" I answer.

Each year, people set these goals to try achieving in the new year.  Most of them are about improving health by dieting, exercise, and brushing teeth.  During the month of December, I thought about what my resolution might be.  I seriously considered making my resolution something like this: "I'm going to do pilates at least 4 days every week and run/jog at least 3 days every week."  Knowing my past experience with exercising, I knew that this would be very challenging goal to achieve.  Even so, I thought it was a good resolution and that I could keep it if I maintained motivation and determination.

God's plan was different. {This tends to be a theme in my life.}

During this break from school, I have not spent time with the Lord as I initially wanted and intended.  This is a recurrence in my life that I'm not so proud of and that I don't like.  As a Christian, I should long to seek the Lord in all times, not just at school.   I opened my journal on Saturday to find that I have not written anything since break began.  This is when God slapped me in the face.

*SLAP*

My resolution is still about being healthy.  Though this resolution is not about exercise, dieting, or brushing teeth, (I do so faithfully every day.  I didn't want you to think that I didn't.), it is about being healthy in a way that matters more.  God has challenged me to make a resolution to seek Him even more than what I have previously.  Today I realized that I don't love God near as much as He loves me.  If I did, I would be spending so much more time with Him.  (I know that my human heart can not physically love God as much as He loves me, but I wish I could.)  

New Resolution

This year, I will spend more time with God.  I will be diligent and intentional with my time.  I will be more intentional in how I spend time with people.  This will require sacrifices, but, as the Bible says, all that we suffer on Earth can not begin to compare to the joy we will experience in Heaven.  That's what life is about.

{{I apologize for the extremely long post.  I think this might become a habit.}}