Fully Convinced

 

 

    

Matt 9:20-22

 

20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.  (NKJV)

 

Have you ever been desperate? The kind of desperation that does not care that you are making a fool out of yourself,  crying in the altar?  The lady in this passage had experienced 12 years of failure, sickness, weakness, social isolation and medical treatment. She had nothing left.  Nothing but her faith.

I am amazed that she was able to hold on to her faith for so long after so many attempts and failing results.  But in this passage we see an inspiring glimpse into her mind. She does not say, "I might as well touch Jesus, I have tried everything else."  No!  She said if I can just touch the very tip of his garment, I SHALL BE WELL!  Not possibly.  Not a 20% chance of success.  This woman was fully convinced.

I cannot prove it by Scripture, but it is my opinion, that the Holy Spirit had given this woman the gift of faith- a supernatural impartation of belief.  It seems improbable that she would have the courage to believe after so much disappointment without it. But regardless of whether or not she was operating in a gift of the Spirit, or old-fashioned, garden variety faith, ahe knew who Jesus was and what He could do for her.

No matter how long you have prayed. No matter how disappointed you have been in the past, make up your mind to believe in the healing power of Jesus.  Believe in His miracle working power.  What have you got to lose?!

 

Dear Lord, increase my faith.  Help me to be fully convinced of your faithfulness and ability.  Forgive me for any mixture of doubt.

In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Spiritual Dehydration

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”  Psalm 42:1

Is there anything more miserable than being truly thirsty?  True thirst causes us to feel desperate. I remember years ago when we were on vacation in August.  The day was reaching record temperatures.  After sight-seeing outside for several hours, we went into a restaurant to rest and cool off.  We all ordered water and the cashier informed us (rather rudely) that we would have to pay for the cup.  I remember a family member telling her, “I don’t care if it’s ten dollars!  I need a cup of water!”  She mistook our thirst for thrift.

This passage talks about the deer panting for streams of water.  How desperate it is for animals when we go through seasons of drought, through times when creeks and streams dry up.  This type of drought leads to desperation for wild-life.  The psalmist was saying that just as the deer gets desperate for water, he was desperate for more of God. 

When was the last time you noticed true spiritual hunger or thirst in your life?  Tragically, many of us snack just enough on spiritual tidbits and a thimbleful  of water, until we think we are satisfied.  We have become so accustomed to having so little, our stomachs and appetites shrink to a fraction of the size they ought to be.

Pray for the Lord to help you cultivate a deep hunger and thirst for the things of God.  Just as a gravely ill person loses a desire to eat or drink as the body shuts down, the spiritually dying do not realize their need.  Are you as passionate about the things of God as you once were?  If not, begin to cry out with the psalmist, “My soul pants for you, O God.”

Dear Lord, help me to recognize my need of you.  Stir up spiritual hunger and thirst in my soul.  I need you Lord, more than my body needs water.  Fill me, O God I pray!  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Sherri