After a week at training camp, I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing can truly prepare you for it, but I’m starting to think that’s just the way it should be.
But if you'd like to start mentally preparing yourself for not getting much sleep, go right on ahead. Some nights look like this…
Anyways, back to the story which inspired this post.
It was day 3. Ron Walborn was teaching a session about praying for healing. I was thinking we’d take notes, he’d close us out with prayer, and we’d be on our way to lunch.
Wrong.
I should have known. These aren’t the “I’ll pray for you later” or “Let’s learn about it now, but wait to apply it” type people.
These people stop what they're doing to pray for you and see great value in getting your hands dirty.
So….after he ended the lesson he said, “I need anyone who needs prayer for healing, whether physically or emotionally, to stand up…the rest of you, go and pray for your brothers and sisters.”
Marielle, one of my squad mates, stood up…along with 20 or so others. A few of us went to her and she simply asked if we’d be willing to pray for her knee and both ankles. They’d been causing her quite a bit of pain earlier that week, especially during our early morning hikes/exercises. The pain had continually gotten worse with each day.
We each placed our hands over the areas that needed healing. We began to pray. After a minute or two, we asked if she felt any different. She stood up and said the pain in her ankles was gone! I’m thinking “holy cow, this really just happened.” She said her knee was still bothering her. We all put our hands on her knee and continued praying. After a few moments, we stopped. She got up and began to jump around – completely pain free! Are you kidding me?? Ten minutes ago, this girl was suffering from a strained knee and sore ankles. Now she’s jumping around and putting weight on both legs…WITH NO PAIN.
But the Holy Spirit wasn’t finished just yet. Marielle had one more request, and the Holy Spirit was only too eager to answer.
Because she had been favoring her one leg for the past couple weeks, her legs were now somewhat out of line and uneven. She sat back in her chair and raised her legs, revealing that her right leg was indeed shorter than the other. She had complete faith that God would straighten her leg if we asked.
I looked at Carrie, who had prayed prayers of healing like this before. I was waiting for her to step in and I was eager to witness this miracle.
But Carrie didn’t move. She looked at me and said, “Come here, you’re gonna do this.”
Wait…Did you really just say that? You must be joking. Me? But I’m not spiritual enough. I don’t have any experience with this sort of thing. I don’t hear the Holy Spirit like you do!
But I went to Marielle, and did as Carrie instructed. I placed my hands on top of her ankles – again noticing that they were slightly uneven. I paused, frozen. Carrie broke the moment of silence…“Ask.”
Before I had time to think up some prayer, something that flowed smoothly with big Christian words, I blurted out, “Holy Spirit, straigh – (before I could even finish, her leg grew an inch!!) – ten Marielle’s leg!”
No. way.
I couldn’t believe it!
No words could sum up what I felt in that moment.
I just stepped back and started laughing.
And that was just the beginning.
The beautiful Marielle herself. A visual reminder of a miracle witnessed at camp.
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22
