Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Deep Calls to Deep

I found myself standing toe-to-toe with the dreadful and life-stealing “C” word. The very same word and type that attacked my grandpa and eventually took the life of my uncle. Not only had multiple clinicians felt its lump in my abdomen—a lump that had been causing me pain for the past several months and could be visibly seen by looking at my belly—but also, it had shown its face in my colon on a recent CT scan.  And with a size of 5.4 cm (about the size of an egg), it meant business.

Images from my CT scan. Notice the mass in my colon as indicated by the red outlines.

 

Although I’ve always had great faith, my foundation shook with the implications of this battle and the potential losing consequences (like having half of my colon removed and all the other horrible outcomes a frantic internet search can reveal). Right when I needed it most, the Lord reached down in the middle of my weakness and inoculated me with a fresh portion of faith. I was going through my electronic medical records trying to find the results of the current CT scan when I stumbled across results from another battle with the “C” word a year and a half ago. While in all appearances, it seemed that I had lost some ground in that particular battle (I had to have a hysterectomy because of an orange-size tumor in my uterus), turns out when they removed my uterus, the tumor was already gone. You can read about this amazing story in my previous blog The Devil Comes to Steal, Kill, and Destroy. Just knowing that God had healed me from the “C” word once before was all I needed to take down this generational giant before me now.

After gathering a small group of prayer warriors, my husband, daughter, and I went to war. Practicing what I preach, I fought just like I explain how in my short book Subject Your Flesh. For a whole week, I made constant healing proclamations, declared scriptures over myself, commanded my body to come under subjection to my God-given authority over it, and rebuked the disease and doubt.  I did all of this out loud and not in my mind so that my own ears (and the devil’s) would hear it. After all, the Bible says that faith comes by hearing.

The big day finally arrived. It was time to obtain biopsies of the mass so that we would know what type and stage we were dealing with and how much of my colon would have to be removed. Yes, I was a bit apprehensive, but I had a peace that I cannot even begin to explain. When I woke up from the colonoscopy, all I can remember is someone leaning over my bed, telling me they couldn’t find anything. I immediately broke into sobs and thanked Jesus. God had miraculously healed me once again, and I intended to praise Him for it no matter who was listening.

Photos from my colonoscopy of the spot where the mass was seen on the CT scan. Notice there is NO tumor and the tissue is healthy looking with NO indications of its previous presence whatsoever.

As all of this amazing story transpired, I often used the scripture about deep calling to deep. The spirit deep inside me called out for the deep things of God and petitioned for healing in the deep parts of my body. Every time that doubt came creeping around, I would say aloud “deep calls to deep,” as my heart attempted to dial up the Lord’s. Although I used this scripture a lot (like a gazillion times), I told no one. However, the Lord knew, and He sent me two different people who said they saw a vision of a great wall of water ready to wash over me. I immediately knew what God was confirming through them. When the enemy came in like a flood, the Lord rose up like a tsunami. He took what was meant for my harm and used it for my good. And when my heart cried out to His, His waves swept over me, washing away all my iniquity and cleansing me. When my deep called out to His deep, He answered with healing.

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; 
all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 
Psalm 42:7 NIV

Friday, October 7, 2016

The Devil Comes to Steal, Kill, and Destroy

Spring of 2015, an ultrasound showed an orange-sized fibroid tumor growing inside my uterus. The news dropped my family and me to our knees in prayer, asking and believing for a divine healing. Eventually the day of my scheduled hysterectomy arrived, and in all appearances, our prayers seemed to have been defeated. After the surgery, we received good news that everything was normal, but my husband and I continued to question why I was never healed. We just couldn’t understand.

Fast forward to Fall of 2016. While digging around in my electronic medical records, I stumbled across the pathology report for my hysterectomy. I never expected to find what I did. Right there, written in black and white, it said that no fibroids were present!

Each time I reread the words, I became increasingly aware of the healing miracle in my body, and waves of indescribable gratitude washed over me. Even now, my heart still swells with intense thankfulness every time I think about it. The Lord had answered our prayers, despite how things appeared.

This revelation, however, also flooded my spirit with righteous anger. For over a year, the devil had managed to lie to us. (How dare he!!!) But even worse…
  • The devil tried to steal the glory for the event.  He took credit for a defeat (which was actually false) and robbed God of the glory for the divine healing.
  • The devil tried to kill our faith, to convince us that prayers don’t really work—especially the ones involving miracles for ourselves.
  •  The devil tried to destroy my opportunity to have a life-changing testimony that could increase faith for others going through tough or uncertain times.

I say, no more!! And next time, I’m not falling for the deception.

If you are facing a difficult or even deadly situation, please know that everything isn’t always as it seems. God is working on your behalf whether you see it or not, and don’t let the devil convince you otherwise. Always remember that Jesus came so that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 KJV