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Be joyful in hope; patient in affliction; constant in prayer Rm12 It began with a fantastic day of prayer on Palm Sunday. Yet by Tuesday night I couldn’t walk and I live on the second floor, not very promising, for sure. I hadn’t taken any sick time for illness in five years, but this week I called out Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with a commitment to work Saturday. With this in mind, let me share my experience. First of all I enjoyed my time off. Be joyful in hope. I got down to business. Like Abraham years after he received his child, I was put to the test. Like Abraham, rather than waver, I was determined to grow my faith. I spoke to my knee to give it strength. Being in the word, from Hebrews 12:12, I discovered that it says to strengthen your weak knees: that the lame would not be disabled, but healed and so I spoke to my knee. I also learned from Hebrews four that the word penetrates the joints and marrow. As a result I read the word to penetrate my knee: a scripture for healing of all sorts of illnesses like Lupus, osteoporosis, arthritis, and others. My faith was getting stronger. Like Abraham, I did not let circumstances dictate my attitude. I became patient in affliction, enduring hardness as discipline. The reward for this was a confirmation that God was my Father and I was his son and I was going to share in his holiness, produce a harvest of righteousness and peace (Heb12): prayer became a forgone conclusion. I became constant in prayer. Similar to Thessalonians five: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, my time was fruitful as hours passed in deep communion with the Son who is acquainted with our weaknesses (Heb4) as well as the Holy Spirit who due to our weaknesses and infirmities groans for us that words cannot express. I also took steps to act in faith. My landlord got a knee brace to help me walk. By Saturday I gave it a go. It was difficult but with pain I managed. Monday with the brace I went to the basement three times to do my wash. Today, I woke up pain free and went to four stores without my brace. Tomorrow I go back to work. It has been a marvelous holy week and I am not the same person I was a week ago. God is awesome and I rejoice in my salvation. Amen |