After a year and a half, I am back at the same story that began a stirring in me to pray for someone. And once again this morning, the same story has stirred me. I have learned some things since that initial stirring . . . and this morning, the things I have learned have been reinforced.
The story is about a boy who had seizures. He had had them all his life. Naturally, the boy’s dad was encouraged when he heard about the healings that were taking place. He did what any dad would do; he brought his boy out to those who were responsible in hopes of seeing his own son healed.
Well, they tried but no healing took place. Isn’t that the way it often is? Good things happen to others but not to us. We hear of stories and would like to have one of our own but we don’t.
Fortunately this dad didn’t give up. He appealed to One who had more authority. And again fortunately, this One with the more authority got this man and his son there own story.
This One with more authority was a little perturbed at the others; His exact words to them . . . “How long shall I put up with you?”
I’m not sure what the others did exactly – or didn’t do exactly – but maybe they do a little like we do today. In our churches, when people come who need healing, we pray right then and there for God to heal them. Now I know we’re told to pray for the sick, and even in this story that Mark tells, this One with authority said, “This kind can only come out by prayer”.
But notice that this One with authority didn’t come up like we do and start praying to God; He came up, having already prayed – having already secured this authority by praying – and commanded the evil spirit that was causing the boy to have seizures, to come out.
I am a builder. I know how to build because I have done it. I don’t hope I can build; I know I can build. I have faith that I can build. Spiritually, when we refer to having faith, we can think of it more in terms of hoping. It would be like me 20 years ago, before I had ever built my first house, hoping that I could build one. It would be like me saying, ‘If you just hope enough, you’ll be able to do it’.
Faith is more a knowing which comes with time as we learn. This One with authority had learned in His praying time that He had authority. He didn’t approach it hoping; He approached it knowing.
And so this morning, my knowing – my faith – has been moved a little further along. And with this knowing – this faith – I approached the enemy and commanded. Afterwards, I asked God to restore.
Hunger and Thirst 
I agree. Prayers of healing work best if you have been in the Presence of the Healer and know His hand is upon you when you pray.
I am convinced that I am on the right track. The church needs to see more evidence of God.
Well, you have me crying here. And learning. Thank you for listening to Him and that stirring, and for encouraging me to do the same. Recently, she has been undergoing more fear than usually. I started wondering if I should see about some kind of med for her, for this. I asked a couple of people He has in my life, a cousin nurse and a friend who has been on such medications. It was a weak moment for me, but He guided me through it to know that medicine is not going to help with this. He is. It helped me see that sometimes in my impatience, I want to stop her from going through things instead of letting Him do His work through them. Now I am further encouraged that He is at work! He is building a story for His glory. 🙂 God bless you, Mike, for your prayers and for your faith and for being His!
I feel I need to say this . . . if for no other reason that to clear my mind about it; hopefully it doesn’t add confusion on your end. In no way am I suggesting that you do not continue with the medication that doctors have prescribed. I don’t want you to think that God is withholding healing until you quit trusting in medication. I believe when God heals, doctors will then confirm it and then the medication will no longer be necessary. There were times when Jesus healed people that He told them to go and see the priest for confirmation, so I don’t think it is out of line to think that. I’m not in the day to day with her like you are. When God heals, whether in whole or in part, I believe it will be noticeable. The pressure is not on us to do every little thing just right to get Him to do; we make our appeal to Him to see if He will grant our request . . . to see if He will back us when we command our enemy. If and when He does, it will be known. Until then, we do what we do.
This is my opinion. I hope it doesn’t conflict with what you believe.
I agree with you, Mike . . .no worries! I believe we will know when to take her off of the meds for seizures. It will have to be a gradual weaning to get her off of them and something that there will need to be a clear reason to do so. At least , that is how I see it. 🙂 She was taken off of them before, at 9, when she had gone without having seizures for 3 years on her medication. Unfortunately, she began having them again. She is not on any kind of medication for anything other than her seizures. It’s not always easy, but I just never felt like it was the right thing to do , in her case, in order to try to control her behavior. God blessed me with a consultant right at the start, who helped me understand some of why she does what she does. And He gave me the opportunity to take her out of public school, so there wasn’t the constant conflict and pressure to have her be on medication for behavior from there. This is what I was being tempted to try and medicate her for recently . . .but came to see that it wasn’t something that He was wanting me to do, and wouldn’t have a good outcome for her.
Thank you so much for caring and praying! God bless you and Aubrey says “hi” back to you! And she wonders if you’d like to watch her ride horses sometime. haha! 🙂
Though I knew you surely had a good grip on all that, still it eased my mind to get to let some thoughts out. It is eased even more to see how God has surrounded you with help. And as far as being able to see Aubrey ride . . . ‘it could happen’.
As you can see, I’ve now met your sister. Not on here much anymore. I pop in when I can.
Hopefully WordPress will inform you of this comment. I am in the process of studying Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The other day I saw in the first chapter where he mentions ‘the hope’, ‘the riches’ and ‘the power’ that we have through Him. (If I were a preacher, that would make a good 3 point sermon wouldn’t it?) But this morning in a little closer look, I noticed what he said right after that – the reason that we have the hope, riches and power. Jesus was raised and seated ‘far above all rule and authority, power and dominion’.
When I read it, Aubrey came to mind. It was like He was wanting me, in light of this recent information, to pray for her again. So I did and I wanted to let you know. I know we are told to pray in secret, but I really don’t think it is a violation of that instruction to let you know she was prayed for.
While I’ve got you, ‘if’ I’ve got you, (if WordPress informed you) I wanted to let you know that I will have my new book, ‘A New Set of Cravings’ by Tuesday. If you will send me your address I wan’t to send you a copy. This one is on me. I hope you enjoy it.
I hope all is well.
I got your comment, Mike! Thank you for your prayers! And I am blessed about the book! Just knowing you got another book written blesses me. I’m gone mostly right now . . but when I get all done house sitting, I’ll contact you, okay! I might want to get some for gifts! 🙂 Your last book was a huge blessing! Take care!
Wow, this is excellent. (I came here by way of my sis Debbie.) Thank you so much for this spiritual insight, that we must come from a position of Knowing, rather than just hoping. God bless you abundantly today, and always. sis Caddo