It was about 5pm on Friday, August 8th. We were visiting a small village outside of Ongole, praying for the people there, when we came to the house of a petite woman of faith whose back story we were told a few hours earlier. She had been the dedicated Sunday school teacher at the Covenant Church there, sharing Jesus with the village children. As the Word was spread throughout the area, miracles were performed and demons were cast out, and more and more people came to faith. She suddenly fell ill, becoming afflicted by a sickness that would cause seizures and complete blindness, as well as an inability to eat or walk. The pastor of the village believes she is demon possessed, that the evil one is hard at work because faith in Christ is flourishing.
When my team stepped into her family's yard, she was lying on a bed, wearing a long cotton nightgown and a blanket shawl. Her mother helped her stand up and we began to lay hands on her. My eyes welled up with tears as I saw this woman, as I looked into her blind eyes. We pleaded before the Lord for her healing, and as we said "Amen," she reached out and grabbed my hands and kissed them. She then desperately threw her arms around my waist and began to weep and shake. I wrapped my arms around her and held her, tears streaming down my cheeks and snot running down my nose. John put his arms around both of us and began to weep, too. We prayed for healing according to the Lord's will, crying out, "Lord! This is your daughter! She is crying out to you! PLEASE RESCUE HER!" and "Satan, you have no place here, leave this body in the name of Jesus!" After about 20 minutes in prayer and in song, her frail body went limp. I helped her lay down, and I held her hand. It seemed as though she had passed away, which totally freaked me out, but then her chest began to rise and fall. I sat there for about another 15 minutes pouring love into her and her family before walking away wrecked. There was no apparent change in her physical condition, and I had nothing left to give to ministry.
God spoke into my heart after that ministry moment, and though I might not articulate it perfectly, this is what He said:
"This, THIS is why you are here! This is your purpose! Daughter, that woman's faith is great! It is not you that she clung to, but My Spirit inside you. After all, she could not see you! She was desperately reaching for the Light that you behold, the Light I've given you, that if only she could touch Me she might be healed. And you, daughter, your faith was unwavering. You know I am capable of such miracles, but at times, your heart has been unsure. Not this time! THIS time, you pleaded with such belief and certainty that I would move. Your tears were not your own, but My tears pouring out over the suffering this dear daughter of mine is now facing. Know this, My dear child, that My will is perfect, and though there was no evident healing within her, I am always at work. Some might be healed immediately, some might be healed with time, and some might never see healing in their earthly bodies. What you can be sure of, and what is most important, is that through true faith in ME as Lord and Savior, there is healing from the shame and death of sin; there is pain-free LIFE eternal. Continue to share My Light, sweet girl, that all would know My love and be set free!"
That evening, after a special church service, we were praying blessings over the people, when I heard John call my name. As I walked towards him, I saw HER. She was WALKING up to me (with the help of her mama) and I got to pray over her once more. After I said "Amen! " she held my hands and kissed my cheeks, and then turned away. I'll never know if God heals her completely, and that's ok. I don't need to. I know that she has been ultimately healed by salvation through Jesus! AND, I now know that I have no doubt of the capabilities of my Father through the Spirit inside me! My faith is more alive than ever before! I have come to a better understanding of what it means to "Be the Light" and to be BOLD as I love the people I meet. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." – Colossians 2:20
May He strengthen your faith today and always, bringing you to a greater awareness of WHO He is, and may you live and love with the Light inside you.
"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, LET IT SHINE!"
