Innermost Being Blog

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

by Innermost Being, posted in Testify to the Truth

On Sunday, in lieu of preaching a sermon, my pastor invited a member of the congregation to share his testimony. Pete’s story was that of a man enslaved to sin. If anyone needed redemption, it was Pete, a drug addict and convicted thief.

Since hearing his testimony, a song has been on my heart, and these words have been on my mind:

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…

Psalm 107:2 KJV

Pete described his life as that of a cartoon character with good and bad voices in his ear. He chose to listen to the voice of the devil because alcohol, drugs, and “fast money” were too tempting.

The world had such a powerful grip on Pete that he resisted God for years. God continued to make His presence known through all his struggles. Pete recalled watching the movie The Passion of Christ the last time he got high. When he finally had enough, he surrendered his life to God.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

I found Jesus in a Sunday school class when I was just a child, about nine or ten years old. I don’t remember the details of the gospel lesson that day, just the feeling of joy and peace.

The hardest years of my life followed my decision to give my heart to Jesus. My parents divorced. We were on welfare. We moved several times. Those years would have been much more difficult without the presence of my Savior and friend. God knew I needed Him.

As a young adult, I didn’t follow God faithfully. I yielded to the temptations of my flesh. I didn’t go to church for many years. Just as God pursued Pete for years, He didn’t let me go. He used a community tragedy to bring me back to Him.

I am redeemed. Jesus set me free.

****

Redeemed, Big Daddy Weave:

All my life I have been
Called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame
And regret

But when I hear You whisper
Child lift up your head
I remember oh God
You’re not done with me yet

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I’ll shake off these heavy chains
And wipe away every stain
Cause I’m not who I used to be

Setting Expectations for Healing Prayers

by Innermost Being, posted in Prayer

This summer, a mile and a half into a trail race, I suddenly fell forward and landed on my right shoulder, dislocating it. Another runner made a sling out of her jacket and walked me back to the trail head. She then drove me to the nearest ER, 45 miles away.

The ER doctors had to put me under twice to get my shoulder back in place. When I followed up with an orthopedic doctor, I learned that I fractured the bone. The doctor didn’t think surgery would be successful at my age, so he had me wear a sling for a couple of weeks to see if the bone would stay in the right position. If the bones were displaced, I would have to have surgery, possibly even a shoulder replacement.

I rarely ask anyone to pray for me, but I added my name to my church’s weekly prayer list.

Two weeks later, x-rays showed that my bone fragment had moved. The physician’s assistant recommended that I have surgery two days later. The physician was out of town, so the PA referred me to a doctor at a different practice. That doctor had no concerns about my age. Post surgery, I am well on my way to recovery.

Although God didn’t intervene by keeping my bone from moving, I still believe He worked things out for my good, putting me in the hands of a well-respected surgeon.

In my experience, the overwhelming majority of prayer requests are related to physical health issues. Philip Yancey made a similar observation in his book, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?

Do prayers for healing make any difference? I believe they do, but I believe we should keep our expectations realistic.

Yancey has heard from many people who question why God did not answer prayers for healing. He wrote that although there have been accounts of miracles, miracles are rare.

Natural laws make our world predictable. For miracles to happen, natural laws must be reversed or suspended. God rarely intervenes in the physical world that way. We learn to adapt to natural laws like gravity, and if we don’t also adapt our prayers, we will surely be disappointed.

Prayer doesn’t stop the aging process. It doesn’t eliminate death, and it doesn’t reverse genetic defects. (In my case, it also didn’t keep bone fragments from moving.)

Prayer can help you deal with stress. It can give you comfort, hope, and peace. These positive feelings can impact your physical health “because the mind regulates the body’s natural healing systems.”

God created our bodies with amazing self-healing powers. He gave humans the intelligence to discover treatments for physical ailments. He gave doctors, nurses, and other professionals the skills to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate us.

How can we pray for people with health issues?

  • Praise God for the healing agents of the human body.
  • Pray for wisdom and guidance for medical professionals.
  • Pray for other caregivers.
  • Pray that the person will fully use the resources of their body, mind, and spirit.
  • Pray for relief from pain.
  • Pray for peace for those near the end of life and for their loved ones.

My heart goes out to those who suffer from chronic health issues. God loves you and hears your prayers. He will be with you in your suffering.

Boldly bringing good news

by Innermost Being, posted in Testify to the Truth

Faith comes from hearing the good news. But how can they hear if no one speaks?

Lord, may I be strong and courageous in sharing the good news, knowing that You are with me. Fill me with your Spirit and give me the words to speak.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

Lord Jesus, enable your humble servant to speak your word with great boldness. May I fearlessly proclaim the truths You whisper in my ear. What you tell me in the dark, may I speak with confidence in the daylight.

Lord, may I not be concerned about what others think of me. I know who I am. I am your beloved. You redeemed me. Your truth has set me free.

Lord God Almighty, in all my ways and with all my words, may I acknowledge you before others. You are good. You are God. You are worthy of all my praise.

Just as I am

by Innermost Being, posted in Prayer

Based on my notes on Philip Yancey’s book, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?

I am never 100% the real me around other people. I am afraid of being judged, so I hide my true thoughts and feelings. I do reveal more of myself to the people I trust. But even with close friends, I have secrets I’m too ashamed to share. I have hopes and fears I keep to myself.

Philip Yancey wrote that each of us has three selves. There’s the me I let others see, the me I share with the people I trust, and the me I never reveal to anyone.

I can’t hide any part of myself from God. He knows every corner of my mind and heart. When I am honest with God about my thoughts and feelings, I establish an intimate relationship with him. What do I have to lose? He already knows everything about me. He loves me just as I am.

How do I let down my defenses with God and establish an intimate relationship with him?

  1. I confess my sins. I come clean with God about my sins – sins of my body and of my heart. When I confess, I acknowledge the truth about where I stand relative to his holiness.
  2. I admit my helplessness. Although I try to be independent and self-reliant, the truth is I am not. I can’t do everything by myself. I can’t control everything. I am dependent on God for my safety and emotional well-being.
  3. I approach God with humility and gratefulness. God deserves the credit for my gifts and abilities. I have little control over who I am. I cannot take credit for my genetics, my personality, or for the circumstances of my birth.
  4. I admit my doubts. God understands. The Bible is full of stories of people who expressed doubts.
  5. I admit my vulnerabilities. God knows my weaknesses. He knows where it hurts.
  6. I expose myself fully to God. I bring my whole life into God’s presence. I trust God with all of me.

I know that I can approach God in prayer just as I am because God knows me inside and out. I can let down my usual defenses and be my true self.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.

Psalm 139:1-6

Be Still

by Innermost Being, posted in Spiritual Growth 

Be still and know that I am God.
Quiet your anxious mind and 
know that I am with you.
Let go of your worries.
Let me carry your burdens.

Close your eyes,
take a deep breath,
exhale and feel my presence.
My Spirit is with you.
My Spirit is in you.

Be still and let me be God.
Find refuge under my wings.
I will make your paths straight.
I will lead you beside quiet waters.
I will refresh your soul.

Be still and know that
when you put your trust in me,
you will soar on wings like eagles,
you will run and not grow weary,
you will walk and not be faint.

Be still and know that
I am good - omnibenevolent;
I am everywhere - omnipresent;
I am all-knowing - omniscient;
I am all-powerful - omnipotent.

I AM.