Something that Bishop Owens taught me is resonating in my thoughts today. He said God does not give you a message to share only once. I shared this message three years ago about God’s healing hand on me. I am still healed! With so many people experiencing physical health issues, I am sharing it again today. I hope it blesses somebody!
“Make known His deeds among the peoples!” (Ps. 105:1b)
Eight Words!
Eight words uttered in the middle of a sermon by the guest preacher, Elder Marissa Farrow, during the March Gladness revival at GMCHC on March 2, 2022, helped set me on a trajectory toward healing from severe spinal stenosis and a painful slipped disc.
In mid-January, I began experiencing groin, back, and upper leg pain that was so severe, I could barely stand or take more than a few steps. Automatic negative thoughts began to surface as the pain persisted for weeks. Thoughts of death from the enemy found their way into my mind. Doctors at Walter Reed told me it would likely be months before an MRI could be completed, but I was able to get one quickly. The results showed various issues in my L spine, but to narrow it down, I had severe spinal stenosis in a part of my spine and a displaced disc pressing a nerve in another part. Surgery was recommended as my best option. However, the doctor said there was no guarantee that it would be successful, and things could go awry.
For some weeks, I found myself walking slowly with the help of a walking stick! The subject of my weekly focus message to you on Thursday, March 3rd [2022] was, “It’s Me, It’s Me, O LORD!” [Standing in the Need of Prayer!] Referencing the question Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus, I wrote the following:“What do you want me to do for you” (Mk. 10:51)?
I do not know what your response is to Jesus’s question, but mine is, Lord, I want you to heal me of this spinal stenosis! Ministry colleague, I am asking you to pray with and for me as well! I know what prayer can do, especially the prayers of the righteous! And I am also confident that He will!
When I shared with Bishop Owens that I wanted healing without surgery, he wrote back to me, “You know what prayer can do!” I have not had surgery! But thank God, I was able to stand in the pulpit of my nephew’s church in North Carolina last Sunday and sing, “Living He Loved Me,” preach, “A Mission of Perfect Love,” and conduct an altar service without any pain! I can run up and down stairs, do pushups, and sit-ups, and walk over five miles each day! I am so grateful to all of you who prayed for me. Now I know what prayer has done for me! Thank God, I am healed!
But wait, what were the eight words uttered in the middle of her sermon by Elder Marissa Farrow? She said, “You have an obligation to get over it!” An obligation??? [I was shocked and excited at the same time! God was speaking directly to me!] My obligation to get over spinal stenosis was so that I could make known His deeds among the people! When I shared it via social media, the response was rather overwhelming and there were several reports of similar conditions. I am now sharing it with you via this week’s S & S Weekly Focus because I want you to know that God is no respecter of persons. If He did it for me, He will do it for you! [That was April 2022. Yes, I am still healed! And He can do it for you too!]
Focus Quote:“Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!” (Psalm 105:2b-3 NKJV).
COMING SOON! The new book by Alton Sumner, Standing on the Promises!
