Sometimes I Write

We interrupt this book week for another miracle story. My mom called today to share an amazing story which I now have the privilege to share with you here.

Last Tuesday my Mom went in for her yearly mammogram. Having a vice grip on your breasts is no fun. Add to that the fear of the tech finding something, having to do further invasive testing, and everything else that a woman feels during that time. She was nervous, to say the least. Last year’s test had revealed a small ½ inch mass, so she was curious to see what had happened with that and what was going to show up this time. On Wednesday morning she got a call saying she needed to come back in right away for another one because her test had shown the mass had grown to 1 ½ inches. She was unable to do so because she had my niece and nephew at her house for the week. So she was rescheduled for today.

When she arrived they did a mammogram, then the tech came in and said she needed to have an ultrasound. My mom was getting more and more nervous and she began to pray for healing. She asked God to forgive the selfish prayer – we’ll have to talk about that one – but she wanted the mass to be gone. She asked God to take away the mass, and when the doctor and tech walked back in the room, she told them not to worry, that she had prayed it away, and they both chuckled. Meanwhile Virgil (my step-dad) was in the waiting room getting worried because things were taking so long. He started praying hard as well.

The ultrasound usually takes five minutes or so, but this one lasted almost a half hour. The doctor looked puzzled and ordered that a 3 view mammogram be done. Ouch! When all was said and done, the doctor showed Mom the results of all the tests. The test she had done last year showing the ½ in. mass. The test from last week showing the 1 ½ in. mass. The 1^st test from today showing the 1 ½ in. mass, and the last test showing NOTHING. The mass disappeared sometime between the two tests today. The doctor said he didn’t understand it and that it must have just been breast tissue. Yeah…uh huh…I choose to believe in the power of prayer. There isn’t always proof for others to see, but this time there was and I thank God that Mom got to see it with her own eyes. I’m thankful for the doctor and tech seeing it as well. And I thank God for bringing healing to my Mom’s body.

Now about this “selfish prayer” business. God loves us and wants us to bring our requests to Him in prayer. He says we do not receive because we do not ask in faith. He says what parent would give their child a stone when they ask for bread? Does all of this sound familiar? Friends, we need to remember that because of the work of Christ we can come boldly before the throne. God is our Father and He wants to give us good things. He wants to heal and He wants us to have faith. I know this poses lots of questions. One of my uncles doesn’t believe in prayer. He thinks that every time someone prays for my aunt (who has had multiple health issues), something bad happens. That sounds spiritual in nature to me. Sometimes healing happens instantly, and sometimes it happens over time. We are told time and again in scripture to be persistent in our prayers. When we ask for healing for ourselves, it is not selfish. We need to ask in faith, hoping (which means confident expectation) to hear or see His response. This is not a lecture, it is a reminder. Come to the Father and present your requests. Thank Him for all that He has done and focus on that, not on what you see He hasn’t done yet. He’s waiting for you…

And by all means SHARE YOUR STORIES OF FAITH with others. What a wonderful way to grow, challenge, and encourage each other.