God directed me to this verse after I, again, began to grow tired and angry toward something that was promised to us. Authority over illness.
Don’t worry! No one is dying! God was just wanting me to understand that there are factors I can’t understand. He is God and I’m not.
I can’t solely blame my lack of faith, or lack of relationship, or commitment to reading His Word for a healing that wasn’t immediate. Perhaps, our response should be simple, even when the answer isn’t.
But regardless of what happens, whether I see healing or not in this life. God is still good. And my love for Him shouldn’t depend on what I go through or what I feel in the moment, or even by what He does for me.
At the end of the day, we must all evaluate why we follow Jesus and why we love God. Let me put it this way…if God never did another thing for you—would you still love Him?
I’ve learned a lot recently about my own contribution to answered prayer. That my faith is key to allowing the Holy Spirit to move through me in authority.
A friend of mine said it best by quoting someone (comment below if you know!) during a sermon on faith:
He said, “Don’t tell God about your circumstances, tell your circumstances about God!”
This isn’t saying we shouldn’t pray, but that a lot of our prayers would find their resolution through us. If we were to discover what Christ paid for and to take up that authority—we could essentially become the answer to many prayers (through the release of the Holy Spirit power within us).
Or have we forgotten that Christ (God) is in us? That we are now His temple and dwelling place?
Healing is ours… and even the raising of the dead! But there is a reason that such miracles aren’t common place and aren’t always successful.
Perhaps, aside from our lack of faith…the verse at the top is one other answer as to why?
When I read it, I instantly thought of another verse:
“To live is Christ, to die is gain.” -Philippians 1:21
I began to think about what that means in a deeper way. In order to understand the verse we have to understand who Christ was. He was the Son of God yes, but He was also a servant who came to sacrifice.
To live is to sacrifice (lay down our life) like Christ, to die is to (pick up our life or gain it).
Give vs. Receive.
We aren’t here to just take, take, take. This life isn’t about me or you or even your kids. It’s about living as Christ. It’s about sacrifice and service. Fulfilling God’s call and purpose for your life…until He calls you home and gives you the mantel (crown) equivalent to your life’s surrendered-ness to Him.
If we are to take, it is to take back the territory satan has held captive. Healing and other miracles aren’t something we take but something we already have. Gifts. Just as salvation is a gift we can either receive or cast aside.
I’m not sure if this is a word for you today, but if it is, I pray that you too will realize that you have power, that your job isn’t to have all the answers or to get it right every time when it comes to miracles and works. It’s all about Him and living in the moment with Him. Offering our lives as a sacrifice just as Jesus laid down His life daily for us.
Press in, let go, and perhaps, more miracles will happen on accident than they ever did on purpose.
And should life breath it’s last…God’s hand of protection is on those who are asleep, and they have been given their promised inheritance and crowned with victory.
hopesongblog 