From the Edges – Morning Devotions Experiencing Healing

From the Edges – Morning Devotional

Pastor Calvin Cook

Push Out Into the Deep – April 29, 2024

DAY 7 – HEALING RECEIVED

Scripture focus Luke 5:12-14 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 13Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing, “he said. “Be clean! ”And immediately the leprosy left him. 14Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

After the miraculous catch of fish on the Lake after the Disciples were willing to listen and follow Jesus the attention turned back to the community around them. Luke 5 tells us of a a man with leprosy seeking the healing of Jesus. This man submits to Jesus will and cries out for a healing. The man acknowledges Jesus as Lord, acknowledges his power and authority over this dreaded disease. The man ask “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus responds “I am willing” he said. “Be clean and immediately the leprosy left him.”

As I read these words this morning, I am realizing the need of changes to my prayer life. I and you pray very intently for certain things, hoping the answer comes in the exact way we want it. I’m being honest here, something we all need to embrace in our relationship with Jesus. That the relationship with Jesus with God, is not a one-way relationship. We need to be present in this relationship expecting the answer to prayer is not always our way, but it is a submission to “thy will be done.”

I remember well back to the summer of 1990 when my Mother experienced a quick onset of cancer. I remember August 1990 as being a blur. As hard as I prayed, my Mother did not receive physical healing. I became very angry with God, turned away, wondered off, ventured down the wrong path. Always with the thoughts why did this happen, my mother was a good person, why did God not hear my prayers.

It was sometime later through some deep dives into scripture and focusing on the power of God that I through the Holy Spirit speaking, that I began to understand. Submission to the will of God needs to be about God and glorifying God. We cannot ever recover emotionally from these life changes, I will always miss my Mom, I think about her every day. However, my soul is magnified by what the Lord is doing today and what God will continue to do even when I doubt or become angry.

I don’t remember much when I get caught up in my own agendas, ideas, or thoughts, but just as the man with leprosy did, we to must believe the will of God to be at God’s control. All that we can do is accept that will, as hard sometimes as it seems, and move into a closer personal relationship as we journey through life.

One of my favorite things to say, when hard times comes is “God didn’t bring us this far to drop us off alongside the road.” Greater things are in store for all of us who trust and believe and show patience to all that God will do. But it will take surrender to the will and guidance of our Lord and Savior.

My prayer for us today is to realize the presence of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in all that we are.