Last Friday, Dr. Pliske removed my last bit of wisdom in the form of my teeth and I have felt the consequences ever since. My diet has consisted of Spaghettios, apple sauce, and chocolate peanut butter ice cream. Tonight, I thought I'd try something new in the form of an over-priced beverage. I placed my faith in the wrong industry.
After I drank my Chai, took Ibuprofen, and attempted sleeping, my mouth continued to ache. I then asked Brandon to pray for me. He placed his hand on my face and prayed in the name of Jesus that He would give me relief from my pain. I have prayed this prayer all week. Sometimes the Lord saw fit to relieve me of this pain, other times I was thankful to suffer. This night, though, God showed me that I ought not to place my faith in Chai tea. Instantaneously, the Lord relieved the pressure in my mouth. The Holy Spirit is indeed awesome.
Now, I want to say that I do not believe in the "name it, claim it" miracles that frequently pervade 21st century evangelical culture. I do believe, however, in the power of God. I tell you of this work of God to strengthen any person's faith that may read this post.
To the doubter: Trust me, I thought the same things- "it is just a coincidence...you felt better because you tricked your brain to thinking you were better...mind over matter, blah, blah, blah..." I pray that God would give you the faith to believe as He did for me. As I thought those doubtful thoughts, I prayed that God would give me the faith to know that He healed me- not an act of my imagination. Now I just need to pray that God would help me fall asleep. Good Night.
Rev4:11 "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory, and honor, and power; For You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created."
(Memory verse for me and Ashley this week)
(Memory verse for me and Ashley this week)
2 comments:
Lauren,
I also do not adhere to the "name it claim it" philosophy. However, I have seen things like you describe and I am so thankful that God knows just what we need when we need it.
Glen can tell you about the time he was struggling with various issues of faith and concience and asked God to relieve pain in his stomach and it was instantaniously relieved! God knew that that was what he needed at that moment, and at other times, he needs to suffer.
It is also amazing that just this type of thing will make one person love God more dearly and his faith will grow and another person will find yet another occasion to scoff at God and His people.
Love,
Rachel
I'm in the midst of a christian environment which has cross-currents from every wind of doctrine- we're part emergent church, part pentecostal, part catholic, part megachurch, part solid. It's awful to see the church get whipped around by various new teachings on everything and everything, and the whole miraclous healing thing is sometimes taken way out of context and blown up almost to the point of worship. At the same time many believe that God no longer works miraculously in the ways He used to in the New Testament.
That being said, I still believe in the Spirit healing us as he did to you, and I've noticed this about TRUE supernatural effects of the Spirit: Always, always, ALWAYS does he lead us to Christ in what he's doing. There is never a time where the Spirit intervenes and leads us to anything other that Jesus Christ and the Glory of God the Father. This is how i've been able to (hopefully) discern between real movement of the Spirit and deception.
What an encouragement that He blessed you in this way, and through your testimony, blessed me as well! : )
Hope you're well. Get better soon!
-Dan
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