Critical Illness and Corresponding Action
Faith or Foolishness
I love what the Bible teaches about receiving answers to your prayers; in particular, believing you receive what you ask for (according to His word) and it will be given to you.
For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. Mark 11:24 AMPC
The greatest thing I have been believing for in the last couple of years is healing from Cancer. I have learned a lot of lessons; some good, some painful, but God has always been so faithful to show me His word and His way.
If we believe we receive what we are asking for then we should act like it is so, isn’t that right? Sounds so simple but it is anything but, as I have learned. Thank God for the Holy Spirit who guides the bit in my mouth when this over-enthusiastic warrior gets ahead of herself. There is a difference between getting out of bed, going to work and carrying on with your day when you have a cold, and going back to work too soon after a bone marrow transplant. Yes, I really did that and I was very wrong.
In the particular faith group I fellowship with, there is a great emphasis on acting as you believe God’s Word, the truth, and I agree with that. What I do not agree with is ignoring the facts to the point of no common sense. There can be a lot of pressure to ‘have faith’, and many are afraid to say when they are hurting and need help for fear of looking like they do not have faith, fear that they do not measure up to the rest.
My friends, we need to do better than that. Not everyone is a faith giant, and we are all on our unique journey and at our own level. We cannot ever take the standard we hold for ourselves and put it on anyone else. That is just ugly religion.
The ones with greater faith need to pray for, encourage, and help the weaker, not only exhort or challenge them. There is a fine line between encouragement and ridicule if we are not careful with our words. Yes, sometimes we need to be reminded of whose we are and who has already won. Yes, sometimes we need to sound the rallying ‘who-rah’ amongst our fellow warriors, but if we are going to do this, make sure it is out of an attitude of love and support. Make sure we are willing to get in the trenches with them.
There is nothing more disheartening than to have someone casually pass by and spout off some Christianise slogan without even showing an ounce of real caring or even knowing what we are going through. After being on the receiving end of that kind of thing, I examined myself and asked God if I had ever done that. I pray not. What is the Father’s heart? Love, love, love. We must be about our Father’s business.
As I write this today, I have returned home from work to rest and heal. I believe this is the leading of the Holy Spirit. It has been the most amazing time of being in God's presence and learning of Him. Because I can spend so much time in prayer and His word, my faith for healing has grown substantially. My relationship with God is stronger than ever and I am now ready to exercise more corresponding action. This would never have happened if I had continued to push my self-imposed ‘faith’ stance in order to prove something.
Common sense corresponding action while listening to the voice of the Spirit is still an act of faith, however small. For me, I can now skip afternoon naps because I have more energy. I can also do more exercise and that is increasing my strength. The Holy Spirit also led me in adjusting my drugs which made a world of difference. I still believe I am the healed of Christ but I am walking it out step by step, day by day- sensibly.
God has never been concerned about our earning a gold star for performance; He simply loves us and wants a close relationship. That’s what I want too and as for the rest…He will continue to lead me. We are all His and we hear His voice.
Transparently yours, Marion
