Many years ago, when my body was so riddled with pain that even getting dressed or showered seemed to take all day (and on some days, not at all). I was in a constant place of defeat and lack because I didn’t understand how to receive God’s grace.
The Bible tells us to choose life, I didn’t know how to; the horror of my situation seemed greater than the power of grace.
Are you the same? Are you so overcome by the symptoms in your body, you’re in a constant state of struggle?
Read More…
The movie Soul Surfer tells the true story of 13 year old professional surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm to a shark bite.
It looked as though she would never surf again and certainly not be able to partake in professional competitions. Bethany refused to allow her situation hinder her.
She pushed pass the stares and the disbelief of others when she relearnt to surf with just one arm. Bethany kept on training, believing she was well able to win professional competitions once again.
She continued moving forwards towards her goal. What an amazing and inspirational woman of God.
Read More…
Are you struggling to believe for the impossible because you’ve been ill for many many years? The story of admiral Jim Stockdale will help you to expect miracles in the midst of long term suffering.
Jim Collins’ book ‘Good to Great’ tells of something called the Stockdale paradox.
Admiral Jim Stockdale was in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He was shot down and held captive for 8 years in the Hanoi Hilton, the infamous POW prison where he was tortured over 20 times.
In a public interview after his release he was asked why he survived and others didn’t.
Read More…
The leper in who approached Jesus in Matt 8, fell on his knees and chose to worship Jesus, he knew the benefits of praise.
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. Matt 8:1-2
Despite the extremeness of his suffering, he still humbled himself and praised God. Wow! That’s powerful!
Read More…
I once knew a women who had a long term cancer. She’d had it for several decades. Often I would think “If God hasn’t healed her, what chance do I have?” I didn’t realise at the time but I was feeling unworthy of God’s love and his desire to heal me.
I had a false belief system that healing and spiritual maturity were linked. She had a very close walk with the Lord, proficient in numerous spiritual gifts. I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t healed.
Unconsciously I was feeling too unworthy of God’s love to approach Him.
Do you think you’re not good enough to receive a healing? Maybe you too think your relationship with God needs to be at a certain level? This is exactly what I thought.
Read More…
Are you a huggy touchy-feely Christian? Or do you prefer your ‘personal space?’ I definitely fall into the latter group.
I remember going to New Year’s Eve parties and conveniently going to the bathroom at midnight to avoid those awkward New Year hugs with everyone.
Therapists and doctors claim that hugs are good for our health. We see the healing touch of Jesus in the way He heals the leper. It is not by accident that Jesus chooses to heal him in this way.
Read More…
When the doctor says ‘there’s nothing more we can do for you’, the distress and disappointment is heartbreaking.
I have clients who are in this place, it’s scary, it’s feels soul destroying. I’ve been in this place too. Few things are worse than knowing you’ll be suffering for the rest of your life or that you’re dying.
Is this where you are right now? I pray that this short series of how Jesus cleanses the leper will give you hope and an expectation of how healing is possible.
When Jesus cleanses the leper, He says ‘I am willing’. Thankfully no matter how impossible an illness, the Lord Jesus will never say those words to us.
Read More…
The Tree of Life speaks of Jesus; the more we take from this tree, we increase our capacity to receive healing. Unfortunately it’s so easy to end up taking from the tree of knowledge of good and evil instead causing us to have a religious spirit.
This will hinder our receiving.
Healing is right the way through the Bible, beginning in the garden of Eden. I hope today’s insights will give revelation and cause you to ponder on any areas which may be keeping you stuck.
Have you ever told your body parts how amazing they are? If you have a diseased part of your body then Learning to speak life over yourself could be just the medicine you need.
Japenese scientist Masaru Emoto proved the power of our words by conducting a water experiment where he took samples of tap water and spoke to them.
One sample he spoke words of life such as ‘you’re beautiful, I’m grateful for you, you’re amazing….’ and another sample he spoke words like ‘you disgust me, I hate you…’
He then photographed the samples and guess what happened?
Read More…
Loss and grief have to be the most painful experiences I have ever had; you know that deep hole you feel when someone or something so incredibly priceless is missing from life?
Thankfully as Christians, there is a beautiful and comforting benefit in store for us whenever we feel we’ve been robbed.
For me, coping with illness was only part of the problem. Underneath the physical was the torment of going through life alone with no family, the loss of career, finances, holidays, ability to walk and even sit…I felt like loss was my cruel companion.
The life that was once ahead of me no longer existed.
Today I wanted to share with you, the one thing that has kept me going throughout all these years of pain: God’s promises of double restoration.
Read More…