And The Sick Shall Recover (Part 2)
Ethel looked over at Marty's mom and said,
"Shirley, why don't you let Jimmie pray for your legs." Now, Shirley
was currently holding down a job as a waitress at a local truck stop but her
legs had begun to swell due to standing on her feet on a hard surface for long
periods of time.
I knew I was on the spot, but I also knew I
had to make my promise good, so I reluctantly got up from my chair and slowly
walked over to where Shirley was sitting. By the time I reached Shirley, She
also informed me she had high blood pressure and would like for me to prayer
for that, too.
I have to admit I was a little nervous but I
was determined to face this situation and trust in God to show up and do what
only He could do. I placed my hand on Shirley's shoulder and began to pray.
I suddenly began to feel a tingling settle
on my shoulders and travel down my arms, much like mild waves of electricity.
It was the same feeling I felt at Brother Glen's the night I met the
evangelists, right after I got saved.
Since then, I have come to understand this
sensation to be the presence of God's Spirit. (Days later Shirley would inform
me that all the swelling had gone down in her legs and her blood pressure was
now normal).
When I finished my prayer, I was relieved to
have made it through this minor test of my faith and was preparing to take my
seat and settle back into a casual conversation with everybody. But the evening
was still young and God had yet more spiritual lessons in store for this young
convert.
Shirley suddenly spoke up and said,
"Jimmie, would you pray for this lump on my neck, too?" Now, some
problems, like high blood pressure, can be a little easier to pray for because
you can't become intimidated by what you don't see.
But when Shirley reached behind her head and
pulled her hair to one side, I could clearly see a lump on her neck about the
size of a walnut just beneath the skin. This time my faith was being stretched
and I confess I was somewhat worried. Would she get the results she was hoping
for or had I gotten in over my head this time?
Once again I was on the spot and I had no
choice but to step out in faith, hoping for a miracle. I gently placed my hand
on the lump and began to pray. As I stood there I suddenly felt her neck grow
warm under my palm and much to my astonishment, and great relief I might add,
the lump began to shrink.
By the time I lifted my hand off her neck
the lump was gone and I tried my best not to look surprised, though I might
have been the most surprised person in the room. The Bible speaks of a mustard
seed of faith and I think that was about the size of my faith before I
prayed.
Once again I felt I had dodged the bullet
and surely I could now sit down and relax, but not so fast. God had one more
person in the room He wanted to touch before the night was over.
*************************************************************
(Join me next week for the remarkable Conclusion of this
true story)
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