Your Prayer is Heard
Most of all this is a story about prayer. It is not any work of my own doing, but the work of our Heavenly Father. All the credit and glory goes to God.
So, here we go -
It was getting bad folks. The day I received the blood work results, Xrays, and consultation at my Arthritis Clinic . . .I had to make some quick decisions. I was told about treatment options and given the aggressiveness that Psoriatic Arthritis was showing, it seemed liked going straight to a biologic treatment was needed. Either by infusion or injection. So what in the world is a biologic? Before I could even ask I was told what it would cover with the disease and then that next lovely part - "let's talk about the risks and side effects".
At that moment I had to believe that God had lead me to the right place to get the right diagnosis to get the right treatment. So many unanswered issues with my health may have just been resolved. The process began with insurance, and of course insurance takes time because it is a very expensive drug. I am on pins and needles (no pun intended my shot and injection friends) waiting for approval and if my symptoms meet the criteria. In my case it was immediately approved.
So what happened from the time we decided to use the biologic and the time the shot arrived is some more research. Y'all - this stuff was scary - the awful side effects I read about, the possibilities of it causing other conditions. The fact that some patients were using it and it did not help, so you have to change to another biologic. The fact that you may be on this medication for life. Of course every biologic commercial that came on television I would stop in my tracks and listen to all the warnings of side effects. Praying to our Heavenly Father through the name of Jesus on the main line all the time.
All of my life I have had Jesus. Came to my faith as a little girl by accepting Jesus into my heart. Grew up in the church, have served in the church, even held roles in the church as elder, teacher, educator. I know right - sometimes God really can use ANYBODY and ANY BODY!
So what do good Christian folk do when they face a crisis? Have mercy - y'all got to put that on the prayer chain. You have got to tell the church to send it out on the bulletin, you call your prayer warriors and post it on social media. I have certainly done those things in many situations in my life and there is so much good in having believers join you in prayer.
So what do good Christian folk do when they face a crisis? Have mercy - y'all got to put that on the prayer chain. You have got to tell the church to send it out on the bulletin, you call your prayer warriors and post it on social media. I have certainly done those things in many situations in my life and there is so much good in having believers join you in prayer.
So here comes the hard part for me that I did not understand. In hearing God speak to me in my quiet time with Him, I did not ask anyone to pray for me. Well maybe I asked my family - just my husband and children. But I had an overwhelming feeling to not ask for prayer anywhere else. Y'all this goes against everything I have ever been taught. But I felt like God was just asking me very loudly and clearly . . . God said - talk to me.
Injection day, I'm nervous, but hey - I had two babies with no pain medications at all - I can do two shots - right? The shot did not scare me. What I was afraid of is that it might not work, or a severe reaction. If it did not work, I had already been told that the progression of the disease could be very fast. What if it worked but caused other complications? Whirlwind of emotions.
The nurse showed me how to do the injection and she did the first one. It was quick and not so bad. Then it hit me! Oh my, I did not pray over that shot! During this entire four weeks of waiting for this medicine I had been preparing myself to pause and pray over that shot. . .but she moved so fast. So it was my turn.
I asked her could I pause for a moment and I held the injection in my hand - before pressing the trigger, I released a prayer:
"Dear Heavenly Father, please let this medicine be effective, with no side effects, that I may continue to serve you, in Jesus name I ask this, Amen" and pressed the trigger.
Folks, by the end of the day I had a bruise at the injection area where the nurse did the shot. However, you could barely see the small dot where I did the injection on the other side and there was no bruise. Are you following this right now? I had prayed over that injection and there was no pain, no bruise - at that moment I placed my hand over the area and I thanked God. He dropped into my spirit - I just really needed for you to see my power. Your prayer is heard. WOW.
You may be a little bit like me. Let's be real - when you need for God to show up - do you doubt that He will be there for you - that your prayer is not good enough, not strong enough. That you need a whole lot of "JESUS like people" that are walking in the walk and in the talk on "higher" level than you? Are you thinking - Yep - that's it - the Pastor, God will hear him. Your prayer chain - let's go ask them - God will hear them. Deep down, are you thinking maybe your prayer does not get there fast enough, good enough, did I word it right?
You see in that moment that day, God showed me that my request is heard and His power is sufficient. That day He spoke to me - Seek me first. That was four months ago. I have had success with my treatment with very little side effects. God answered my prayer.
Suddenly, that compelling notion to not request prayer made me realize it really was a way of me drawing close to God, creating more trust, more awareness and more faith than I have ever had before. I was developing relationships with others when I went to them first. God wants me to go to Him first and develop our relationship.
Let's be honest how many times have we asked for a concern to be on the prayer list before we even uttered a prayer to our Father? I'm guilty. Called your best prayer warrior and asked them to pray, before you prayed over it yourself. I'm guilty. Will I go back to asking others to pray for me - I sure will. But God took this opportunity to show me that He wants me to always go to Him first. Oh how He loves us!
Do I have prayers that have not been answered - I sure do. However, I am bold enough now to tell you that I will pray for you and truly mean it. He really does hear us and can answer - sometimes right off the trigger.
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
Mark 5:34
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
Love and hugs! Y'all keep praying!!!
©lisacarol99@gmail.com
The nurse showed me how to do the injection and she did the first one. It was quick and not so bad. Then it hit me! Oh my, I did not pray over that shot! During this entire four weeks of waiting for this medicine I had been preparing myself to pause and pray over that shot. . .but she moved so fast. So it was my turn.
I asked her could I pause for a moment and I held the injection in my hand - before pressing the trigger, I released a prayer:
"Dear Heavenly Father, please let this medicine be effective, with no side effects, that I may continue to serve you, in Jesus name I ask this, Amen" and pressed the trigger.
Folks, by the end of the day I had a bruise at the injection area where the nurse did the shot. However, you could barely see the small dot where I did the injection on the other side and there was no bruise. Are you following this right now? I had prayed over that injection and there was no pain, no bruise - at that moment I placed my hand over the area and I thanked God. He dropped into my spirit - I just really needed for you to see my power. Your prayer is heard. WOW.
You may be a little bit like me. Let's be real - when you need for God to show up - do you doubt that He will be there for you - that your prayer is not good enough, not strong enough. That you need a whole lot of "JESUS like people" that are walking in the walk and in the talk on "higher" level than you? Are you thinking - Yep - that's it - the Pastor, God will hear him. Your prayer chain - let's go ask them - God will hear them. Deep down, are you thinking maybe your prayer does not get there fast enough, good enough, did I word it right?
You see in that moment that day, God showed me that my request is heard and His power is sufficient. That day He spoke to me - Seek me first. That was four months ago. I have had success with my treatment with very little side effects. God answered my prayer.
Suddenly, that compelling notion to not request prayer made me realize it really was a way of me drawing close to God, creating more trust, more awareness and more faith than I have ever had before. I was developing relationships with others when I went to them first. God wants me to go to Him first and develop our relationship.
Let's be honest how many times have we asked for a concern to be on the prayer list before we even uttered a prayer to our Father? I'm guilty. Called your best prayer warrior and asked them to pray, before you prayed over it yourself. I'm guilty. Will I go back to asking others to pray for me - I sure will. But God took this opportunity to show me that He wants me to always go to Him first. Oh how He loves us!
Do I have prayers that have not been answered - I sure do. However, I am bold enough now to tell you that I will pray for you and truly mean it. He really does hear us and can answer - sometimes right off the trigger.
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
Mark 5:34
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
Love and hugs! Y'all keep praying!!!
©lisacarol99@gmail.com
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