Faith that heals...

I think we take prayer too lightly sometimes.

Firstly, we pray, knowing that it is right to pray... but not with the conviction that something is happening in the spiritual realm when we do. If only we knew the victories of such spiritual warfare - we'd be flocking to every prayer meeting and spending alot more time on our knees!

Secondly, we don't pray enough expectant, faith-studded prayers.

I was so convicted when I re-read Mark 5:25-34 today. @_@ Ok, it was not exactly on the subject of prayer...but faith. The unyielding faith and conviction of a woman subject to an incurable, worsening bleeding disorder for the past 12 years (no kidding man - I have enough bleeding problems of my own! It's distressing enough! I cannot imagine HER distress! When I think of her, I can only imagine purpura, petechiae, haematomas, crippling arthropathy, menstrual problems, life-threatening bleeds and a lot of failed treatment regimes....) which brought her to touch Jesus' cloak that fateful day because '...she thought that "If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed." ' And she went forth - not only desperately, I suppose... but expectantly. She had heard of Him indeed (vs. 27). After all, it is said in a few chapters back, (Mark 3:10-11), that '... He had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch Him. Whenever the evil spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, "You are the Son of God!" '

Full of conviction and hope, she too reached forward to touch His clothes - and miracle of miracles! It happened! Her bleeding immediately stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering! (Mark 5:29)

Later when Jesus found her, He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (vs. 34)

Wow.

Well, perhaps, you've been suffering from an illness (emotional, mental, physical, psychological, etc) and have been praying for a long time, but you have not seen results... Do not give up praying in faith. Sometimes, healing doesn't come the way we expect it to. Sometimes, God might need to heal another more important aspect of us, before He can work on the one that causes the most distress. It is also perhaps, the peace He wants to give and the joy in Him that would make us strong! We've just got to keep waiting on Him.

I'm saying this not to appear super-spiritual... but I stand in the shoes of one who has been healed of a very long-standing illness. The many years I waited on God were difficult, but the Lord did exceedingly and abundantly more than I could have ever asked or imagined. During those times when I felt extremely distressed and hopeless, the Lord comforted me through His Word or my loved ones that He was certainly doing something with the massive piles of ruble and rocks in my path even though it remained intangible for that moment in time. Indeed, He has made my path straight!

Keep praying and looking to Him.

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Anywayz....I know this is anti-climax :P But....

... I gave up trying to write my mission-trip reflection paper. Have no idea how to begin. Perhaps, I'll go around asking my seniors in school tomorrow, what I am supposed to do about it.

Btw, thanks for prayers, Sophia!:) And everyone else keeping me in prayer.

As for the piles of work from Discipleship in Youth - I'll try not to think of it for the time being... Hehe.