India
Man time flies. As I am writing this, we are almost at the halfway point on our trip. Halfway through month Month 5: Half the race is behind you, half in front, physically and hygienically you are exhausted.
Last month in India we worked with Covenant School of Worship, a Christian music school in Hyderabad, India. In a country where Hinduism is the majority, this music school is a very bright light for God’s work. Every person who is on staff has an incredible testimony. For more about their testimonies, including these testimonies visit: Covenant School of Worship Website
Madhu, one of our ministry hosts
Mark and Kirb helping with worship
Our work with Covenant Worship varied: prayer walks, home visits, slum ministry, prayer for covenant worship, worshiping (singing Christian songs) with the staff, and Bible studies.
Everyday looked a little different, and I loved it. Schedules changed almost hourly, we never knew exactly what we were getting into, or for how long, it was great.
About a year ago I read a book called ‘ Misreading Scripture Through Western Eyes’. Part of this book discusses our North American concept of schedules; if there is something I have learned in Asia it is that schedules don’t really exist. But that’s okay, because God does. Without a schedule, you end up doing things when it is the right time to do it. When we sought God through prayer to help us with our schedules, even better things happened. I am not going to lie, schedule wise parts of last month were a stretch, but it made us rely heavily on prayer and the Holy Spirit.
Therefore biggest thing I am taking from last month is the importance of prayer, and it’s power when intentional time (like actual hours) are spent in it daily.
What I Prayed for in India – My Health Struggle
Many of my friends at home know that I struggle with a minor health condition which doesn’t have a cure, but is ‘treatable’. This means there are medications I can take to help with the symptoms. However after trying these medications, I decided I did not like the side effects they were having on my body. I started seeing a naturopath, went on a bunch of supplements, cleaned up my diet, and received acupuncture every week with no improvements. I prayed, but not with full confidence that the Lord could heal my condition. In all honesty, I had more confidence that if I took the right supplements my naturopath told me to take, and micro-managed everything I put in my body I could heal myself naturally.
For 9 months before the race my condition consumed my life. Month after month I saw little to no results, my naturopath bills pilled up too.
Before I knew it, it was time to leave for the race. I had one final appointment with my doctor (not my naturopath) about my condition, she prescribed me the same medications with the unwanted side effects. Since trying to heal myself naturally had not been working, I decided I would take these medications on the race.
However, when it came time to pick up my prescription, there was a complication at the pharmacy and they would not have my medication until after my departure date for the race.
Yes, I could have went to another pharmacy.
In my pre-race stress, I stopped to have a conversation with the Lord. He reminded me that in the countries I would be visiting on the race we would be praying for healings in people we meet throughout Asia.
Unlike Canada, for many of the people in Asia, health care is not an option. But prayer is. Prayer is their doctor, and they will ask us to pray for them. Assuming we have no doubt that they can be healed through prayer.
“Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all.” Matthew 4:23-24
This hit me pretty hard. In that moment, with days until launch for the race, I decided to go supplement and medication free.
My friends, the power of prayer is incredible. I can say with extreme joy that my condition continues to get better with every month that passes.
I am not going to lie it has not been easy. There have been weeks on the race where I was seeing no results, my symptoms were bad, but I have learnt from these times. Something I have learnt in my walk with the Lord is that if something is hard, something great, or a big ‘Ah ha’ moment is waiting for us on the other side.
India, A New Turn In My Health
Recently India challenged me in this. My symptoms were super bad, I had not seen results in a long time, and the Lord again told me: “you are excited to see my work through healings in others, why have you stopped praying for yourself?”
This is when I dug deep. Like God made a covenant (promise) with Israel, and the new covenant through Jesus Christ, I made my own covenant with God.
My 3 part covenant:
1. To pray daily for healing by asking the Lord what He is telling me about my condition.
2. To dig into scripture daily, letting the Lord guide me in what He wants to teach me.
3. To dive into perseverance in faithful waiting healing, and truly FEEL what it is to be patient with the Lord. My desire was/is to understand perseverance come alongside others in prayer who are patiently waiting for similar struggles.
So what happened?
My prayer life exploded. The words of my Bible like 3D brail letters, my prayers like conversations. Hebrews chapter 11 my friends, the faith chapter got my heart
“Now faith is the confidence we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1
Back in Bible times, scribes/authors could not underline, bold, or italicize words when they wanted to let you know they were important. Instead, they used repetition. Hebrews chapter 11 uses the word ‘faith’ 25 times.
Three times in the week following this we were at home visits where I prayed for healing for woman with similar health struggles as myself. The following Friday God provides an opportunity to give a 10 minute message to a small house church on these prayers.
Me giving my message at the house church
The day after I gave my message, my prayers were answered:
My body showed one of the best signs of healing the next morning, I praised/praise the Lord. My friends, without a naturopath, supplements, acupuncture, medicine, and healthy food I am seeing better healing on the World Race through prayer than I have seen in my body in the last two years at home.
Praise the Lord.
