And Jesus said, ‘Who touched Me?’ When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, ‘Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, Who touched Me?’ But Jesus said, ‘Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.’ – Luke 8:45-46
Throngs crowded the Lord, but she was the only one who touched Him. Amid the multitude, she only had eyes for Him, a single purpose in her heart and an unshakable faith. Twelve years of suffering caused her to pursue Jesus, her only hope for her healing.
As the woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd to touch the hem of the Lord’s garment, she told herself that she would be healed the very moment she touched it. His hem, with the tassels, represented all that Jesus was and could do. She was reaching to submit to His authority, His healing Word, His Lordship.
Impossible, desperate situations lead us to pursue our Lord Jesus in total surrender, great faith and with our whole heart. Our desperation awakens perseverance. A persevering faith stands regardless of the circumstances, pressing through the unbelief of others, and keeping our focus on our God.
Let’s believe and seek the Lord with all our hearts. We believe His Word is true and trust the manifestation of His glory. We touch Him as we worship and commune with Him, from glory to glory!
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. – Rom. 8:14
To be led by the Holy Spirit, we receive peace, the Word of God, circumstances, conviction, and direction, while also paying attention to red flags. These checkmarks are like checkpoints along our paths calling for our attention. We must guard against busyness, distractions, and subtle interferences that try to stop us from taking the time to check on what we sense in our spirit.
Whenever we detect that something is amiss, not moving in the right direction, or we are hesitant without explanation, or when we cannot find peace and our hearts and minds are unsettled, we should pause, take heed to our lack of peace, and through prayer, seek the leading of the Holy Spirit. These signs don’t mean a no, but prompt us to investigate further, until we have surety in our steps.
We check our hearts by humbly submitting our will to His; desiring His plans more than our own. At His feet, we seek the removal of any flesh that could might alter our motivation, our mission or our methods. We check our hearing, willing to hear what He has to say and go to the Word of God for instructions and confirmation. Above all, we pray for Him to fill us with His Spirit, from glory to glory!
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’- John 11:25-26.
Do we believe this? Let us ponder on the validity of our Lord’s resurrection and reflect on our faith so we can rejoice with our whole heart. Jesus’ crucifixion symbolizes the payment of our sins, and His resurrection, the receipt of that payment. It proves His victory. Resurrection results from eternal redemption. Our Savior conquered sin and death.
Because Christ is risen, our faith is not in vain, and our witnessing is true. Jesus’ resurrection also guaranteed our future resurrection. Hallelujah! We are on our way to an upgrade. God will raise our body from corruption to incorruption, from weakness to power, and from a natural body to a glorious body. (1 Cor. 15:42-22)
We can also have faith in the power of His resurrection to work in our lives today, regardless of our hardships and difficult circumstances. His victory guarantees ours. Hallelujah!
Do we believe this? Yes, Lord, we do and give you praise, honor and glory! We love You, worship You, and surrender all to You, trusting You take us, from glory to glory!
I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word. – Ps. 119:107
When dealing with sharp pains in my body, fever and extreme tiredness, a prayer I recalled from previous battles arose in my spirit: “Lord, quicken me, according to your Word; your healing Word.” As I pressed through to the kitchen, I sensed the power of the Holy Spirit. While I waited for the full manifestation of His healing, I rested with thanksgiving, worshiping Him.
The word quicken means to give life, to preserve life, to revitalize. When we battle weakness, depression, worries, fears, sicknesses or going through any trials, we can pray and count on Him to revive us. Nothing is more powerful than the Word and the Spirit of God. It never fails! The life it carries fills, heals, and anoints all it touches.
In our storms, our adversary tries to do the opposite of quickening, destroying… but to no avail. Even when we don’t pray for the Lord to quicken us, the Lord still does, by His Spirit, because He watches over us, showering us with His loving care, from glory to glory!
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. – Phil. 3:14
We cannot persevere in our pursuit if we are not patient with the process. When we do not see our progress, we question the process. Did we miss a step? Is this opposition because we are not going the right direction or because we are? Doubts try to creep in and add to our frustrations. That is when we need to press through: taking the next step, pushing every obstacle out of our way.
Perseverance is the quality of continuing with something, even though it is difficult. Patience provides the endurance to remain faithful. Perseverance enables us to press through any problems. Quitting is never an option. It takes perseverance and patience to finish our course. Our drive is fueled by our love for the Lord and by our pursuit of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We pray against all that is not of God and press through the obstacles, yielding to the power of God. We wait patiently upon the Lord and trust Him. When we submit to His will, our strength to persist increases. Voices of faith replace voices of fear. Our eyes are on the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We press toward the goal, from glory to glory!
For years, my chosen foods were unhealthy: meat, potatoes, pasta, fried foods, sweets, and sodas. Rarely water, fruits or vegetables. When I thought of changing my habits, I believed the lie that I couldn’t afford to eat healthy. It kept me bound until the day I learned that my body was the temple of the Holy Spirit. Was it too late?
I sought the Lord’s wisdom, and He instructed me to look at food as medicine, to add the right ingredients to nourish my body. It changed my perspective and my process towards healthy choices began. Similarly, and above all, He led me to look at the Bible as food like medicine: vital for my healing and spiritual growth. It became a daily must, a hunger for His daily bread.
Our journeys do not look exactly alike, but God’s process is always the same: He leads us to walk in the new creation we are in Him, free from any hindrances. His desire is for us to walk in divine health and use our temples for His glory. With patience, grace, and His continual presence and power, He helps us when we breakdown and gives us breakthroughs, from glory to glory!
