For those of you who don't know, my family is rather close. And when I say close, I mean we all grew up in the same neighborhood, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and we have all at one time or another taken up shelter at my grandparents house for an extended stay. After nearly 60 years of marriage I am still not sure they have fully experienced an empty nest.
We celebrate everything together, take vacations together, support each other at sporting events, school plays, and graduations. You can usually find the Evans Clan together even if for no reason at all, just for the sake of being together. And we like it that way. I have only one sibling, my older brother Chris, but usually when people ask I am sure to add in, " and I have cousins who might as well be siblings to me, too."
One of these cousins is Melanie. She may seem tough on the outside, but she is one of the most tender-hearted people I know. She definitely filled the big sister role for me growing up and I might just be a little tougher and a little more tender because of it.
In October of 2008, Mel and her husband, Austan, welcomed their first son, Witt, into the world. Before Witt was born, doctors had warned them that things didn't seem right with his health, but they were unable to fully diagnose anything before birth. After he was born, doctors gave him hours, maybe days to live and gave diagnosis after diagnosis of what they thought might be wrong with Witt's health. They finally diagnosed him with trisomy one, meaning he has an extra partial chromosome on the #1chromosome. I won't go into all the details now, but you may read more of his story here .
I know you are wondering what all of this has to with my journey around the world to eleven countries in eleven months, eating new foods, bringing the Gospel to the nations, stepping out of my comfort zone… But it has a lot more to do with it than you realize- than I ever realized.
Through praying for people around the world, people I just met, I realized that I don't pray nearly enough for those that matter most to me, my family. My team and I have been fasting every Tuesday for the past month and plan to continue this for the duration of the race. We each have our own aims, including unsaved family members and family who have recently experienced great loss. We also pray for our ministries, our team, and where God has us next.
I have decided to dedicate my weekly fast to the healing of Witt Harris Lupher. Every time the doctors give him a time frame, he surpasses it. They gave him hours, he lived for days. They gave him weeks and he lived for months. They gave him months and he will be celebrating his third birthday this fall.
I believe that he can and will be healed by the blood of Christ and the powerful hand of our Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. Each time the pains of hunger stir within me, I think of Witt, who doesn't even get to enjoy the sweet and savory tastes of food because he is fed through a tube. I am reminded of last Thanksgiving and the smile on his face when he licked pumpkin pie from Mel's fingertips and tasted its goodness for the first time.
When those minute pains hit, I think of all the pain he has gone through, the countless surgeries and hospital visits. When I feel inconvenienced by the fast I think of how much time Mel and Austan spend to get Witt ready to go somewhere, between his wheelchair and machines and medicines. I think of how Mel knows exactly what Witt needs and when and is never too far from his reach. I am reminded of the sleepless nights on ends of both parent and child. I am reminded of the many lives that have been changed through blog posts and casual waiting room talks.
I am reminded of the unswerving faith that is being developed in my family through this child. I love the way he laughs and kicks his heel against his chair. I love the way his face lights up at the sound of his mama's voice. I love knowing that no matter how hard or confusing or frustrating this situation may be that God is in control, He is sovereign and works all things for the good of those who love Him. He is a God of peace, not worry.
So here are some of my prayers for Witt, and I encourage you to pray for him, for Mel and Austan, and my whole family as all of our hearts have been stolen by this blue-eyed boy. And don't let the prayers stop there- pray EXPECTANTLY and BELIEVE God's promises, not as wishes, but as fact. And maybe you, too, will discover that the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective (James 5:16).
Abba, I declare full restoration and physical healing over Witt. Jesus, in your name I call out sickness, disorder, deformities, and weaknesses in his body. They have no place there. I ask that where sickness once ruled that it be replaced with the goodness of you and your love, that Witt is filled with the fruit of your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Strengthen his entire body, Lord, may your spirit rush over him like a mighty wind, like the sun rising with healing in its wings. Bring new life to his body. Wake up his sleeping organs and bones. He is healed in your name! From his head to his toes, he is your child, and only you can heal him. Anoint him, restore to him the joy of your salvation. And I pray for that salvation, that his parents would live in such a way, raise him up in such a way, that He knows you full well. God, I believe that Witt will live to an age and have both brain and heart comprehension to acknowledge you as His Lord and Savior. Alleluia!
Restore strength to Mel and Austan, physically, emotionally and spiritually. May your peace rule their hearts as they trust in you. May they face each day wearing your armor, not waging war as the world does, but ready to fight the powers of darkness. May they take great comfort in knowing that the battle is yours, Lord, and victory has been won! Praise God, victory is yours!
Witt has a special story that has touched lives from its beginning, but it isn't over. The story doesn't stop here. Just as the story of Christ didn't end with His death on the cross, but continued with His resurrection and continues today as we await His glorious return, so it is with Witt.
Sickness isn't the end of his story.
Statistics and doctors have no say. Surgeries and tubes and medicines will not write his conclusion. No, you, God, are the author of Witt's story and the creator of his very life. And you have plans, plans we wouldn't believe even if we were told (Hab. 1:5). So we eagerly await the day of Witt's healing and earnestly pray for your hand to move. Jesus, it is by your blood that Witt is healed, it is by your power that Witt is healed, it is by your unfailing love that Witt is healed. And it is by your perfect faithfulness that we will never be the same.
Thank you, God, for knowing the desires of our hearts and for hearing the cries of the broken hearted. Hear our cries, Lord, hear our cries. I love you, Lord, may you manifest yourself through this child's miraculous life. AMEN.
"And the prayer offered in FAITH will make the sick person WELL; the Lord will raise him up." James 5:15
