Come out of the familiar into the spectacular!

Recently I was asked to go and pray with a lady who needed healing in her back.

The pain was becoming unbearable, and the medication wasn’t as effective as hoped for.

As I was driving over to her house, I was asking the Holy Spirit to give me insight and wisdom, asking him to lead me in how to pray for her back.

The bible tells us in Mark 16 to lay hands on the sick and they will recover.

“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

Upon hearing some of her story, I could see the pain in her eyes and recognised her brave efforts to mask all the effects of what she had gone through. She wasn’t bitter or even angry, but her heart was bruised and battered.

Science tells us stress affects all systems of the body including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems.

Our bodies are well equipped to handle stress in small doses, but when that stress becomes long-term or chronic, it can have serious effects on your body. So often we only treat the symptoms and not deal with the roots.

The Holy Spirit said that those pockets in her heart that were bruised and damaged needed healing first. The unhealed wounds of life were manifesting in her body as chronic pain. The roots had to be dealt with first. It’s like trying to hold a beachball under the water with our hands and the pressure of the water is pushing against us, till eventually the ball shoots out from the side up to the surface. Stress, trauma, PTSD when not healed have the same effects. What is going on in our hearts can manifest in our bodies. Depression is a symptom, suicidal thoughts are a symptom, anxiety, isolation, drugs of all kinds mask symptoms that are often rooted in some unhealed trauma. Medication can only do so much, but the great physician Jesus, when he heals he makes us whole!

I began to talk to her about the power of inner healing, giving her examples and testimonies from other people who had received healing from past trauma, hurts etc. We talked about how we protect ourselves and the coping mechanisms we use to help us function and stop us from falling apart. The need to survive and carry on, it’s flight or fight!

As we continued to talk, psychology, would call it triggering, but what was happening to her was the Holy Spirit was moving on those pockets of her heart that he wanted to heal at that moment.

I went into her home expecting to lay hands on her back and declare healing, but the Holy Spirit had another plan!

That day, despite the fear in her heart. She could have said no, I’m not ready, I don’t feel safe. Instead, she chose to trust the Holy Spirit in the manner of his choosing to heal her heart. As I led her in forgiving those who had hurt and betrayed her, I saw the pain and anguish leave her soul. Through her sobs and groanings the Holy Spirit released her from those years hurt that had taken up residency in her soul and body. With each forgiveness she spoke of things lifting off her and a feeling of lightness with herself!

Her greatest victory that day was to finally let go of the control, the self-protection, the walls

that she had built around herself to feel safe. It was a battle, she felt afraid as control had been her ‘protector’ for a very long time. But, as she experienced the freedom through forgiveness, making the exchange of the old for the new, she had the courage to let go of that ‘protector’ of control and allow God himself to take over the reins!

A Joy came, bringing a peace that passed all understanding. She won’t know how much physical healing has taken place until the medication that she’d taken would wear off!

However, her heart was finally free of many years of trauma. Living would take on a whole new dimension now!

I went into her home expecting one thing, ending up doing something totally different.

The pain that was etched on her face had gone. Holy Spirit never ceases to amaze me of the lengths he’s prepared to go to, to set us free from the traumas of life. I am in awe of his incredible love, kindness and patience and power. He always gives us choices and never condemns when we aren’t ready, when we want the comfort of the familiar.

I left her home, rejoicing and thanking him for allowing me to be part of the process of her healing. It is such an honour to co-labour with him and so humbling when I think of these words.

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

the moon and the stars you set in place—

what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them

Yet you made them only a little lower than God

and crowned them] with glory and honour.

You gave them charge of everything you made,

putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds

and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,

and everything that swims the ocean currents.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!” Psalm 8

May you choose to step out of the familiar and into the spectacular this year!

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,

for the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted

and to proclaim that captives will be released

and prisoners will be freed." Isaiah 61:1