Day 1 - When Cancer Calls, Uninvited…
There are just some days when news or situations come unexpectedly, unannounced, or uninvited. We might find ourselves looking at a life now placed on pause, or worse, have been turned entirely upside down. A cancer diagnosis can do that to us. Whether the news was for us or a dear loved one, it can shake us to our core.
And yet, our Heavenly Father holds us ever so tightly in His Almighty Hands.
If we have had the wind knocked out of our soul because of a physician’s pronouncement, the Lord Jesus is in the midst of our questioning, confusion, alarm, and dismay. He is here. Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer. Our God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever never leaves our side. He is never swayed by our anxiety, pain, unbelief, uncertainty, or the magnitude of a diagnosis. He still heals today.
I know this firsthand.
Just a few years ago, the Lord healed me of stage 4 non-functioning adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare, incurable, and deadly cancer with a less than 5% survival rate to five years from the first diagnosis. I went into my third surgery told that I was winding down. Yet, I came out of the operating room with no cancer found anywhere by the attending surgeons and the verifying pathology department at a major hospital. Nevertheless, the greater miracle was the power of His presence to bring joy, peace, and strength every step of the way.
Today, let’s open God’s Living Word and be loved, comforted, encouraged, and healed, beckoning us to greater surrender and a more significant release of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Let’s hone our ability to hear God’s voice, review some possibilities of what might hinder our healing, and discuss the power of spiritual warfare prayer. Most of all, let’s find ourselves in greater intimacy with the Most High, and like the apostle Paul, learn that His grace is more than enough in any situation, even a cancer diagnosis.
Take time each day – slowly if possible – to let the referenced and accompanying Bible verses speak deeply into your heart by asking:
For the Holy Spirit’s felt presence.
What phrase or section of the verse(s) stand out to me?
What might God be saying to me through this phrase, and how do I apply it to my life?
Let’s begin…
___________
Carefully consider what spoke to you most from what you just read. Bring it to mind or reread this portion of encouragement again throughout your day.
Further Bible References:
Exodus 15:26 He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.”
Isaiah 41:10-13 10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 11 “See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing. 12 You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing. 13 For I hold you by your right hand— I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
Matthew 8:16-17 16 That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. 17 This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”
Mark 1:32-34 32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.
Hebrews 13:8 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
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