I have been a woman of faith for over 30 years and throughout those years I’ve learned to exercise my faith in many areas such as health, financial, family, ministry and much more. I have experienced what it is like to have what Jesus calls “great faith” I’ve even had experiences of the “gift of faith” for healing for one of my children when he was a toddler after being hospitalized for a serious illness and for an infant child while praying for healing after ministering to a group of women in Mexico 13 years ago. By the grace of God I’ve layed hands on the sick and prayed the prayer of faith anointing them in the name of The Lord and seen God restore their health! And then there have been occasions when I’ve prayed for those that have been terminally ill and saw no improvement at all. I know how powerful faith is. There have also been times when it felt I had “little faith” and almost no faith at all.
When I twisted my foot in a mole hole a few weeks ago, I was in great pain at first and the swelling was huge! After going to urgent care for x-rays to see if it was stable (sprained) or unstable (fractured/broken) I was thankful to learn that it was just a sprain (severe mid-foot sprain). When I got home I began to use my faith for healing and within a few days the pain had ceased and the swelling went down. After a week I was able to begin some minor stretching and strengthening exercises (non weight bearing) now it is almost three weeks and I have been able to increase those exercises and have exercised my faith for my foot to heal properly and safely so that when it is time to begin to put weight on it, it will be strong without re-injuring the tendons ( our feet sustain 2-3 x our body weight). For this particular injury I have been exercising Mark chapter 11 faith by speaking strength and healing to my foot. So why have I not (yet) been able to get right up and do a jig?! Good question: The Lord led me to Hebrews chapter 11 and as I read the many levels of “faith” and the things people were able to accomplish by their faith (in God) I saw faith and patience in action some took many years to see Gods promise come to be and then I saw faith that was almost instant. I for one do not understand why this is and I don’t feel I have to try and figure it out, all I know is that I/we are to “live by faith” and know that just as Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.” And that faith in God is real and very powerful. Even the scriptures say that God commanded/spoke the earth and everything into existence but even for God that took 6 days! Because the same scripture says that He “rested on the 7th day”.
My point: when living by faith “learn” to be patient! In fact one of the fruits of the spirit is “patience” and the scriptures also say, “let patience have her perfect work so that you will be perfect and entire lacking nothing”. Whatever it is you are believing God for, be patient. For by faith and patience we inherit the promises.
Thank the Lord!
Amen.
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