Change of life

Did you know that the word circumcision is mentioned 87 times in the Bible? Why do men get all the publicity? Well, being a woman is no picnic either fellas. I was reminded of this the other day when a friend told me she barely got any sleep due to the effects of menopause. It reminded me of my ordeal. Now while the Bible does not specifically state what the condition of the woman was in Mark 5, I can empathize with her, because it sure sounded what like I lived through.

For 14 years I too suffered from continual bleeding. I went to numerous doctors who told me at 39, I was too young to be starting menopause, and it had to be something else. Like for the woman in Mark 5, it was expensive. One doctor wanted $15,000 to do a 15 minute procedure that would probably not be permanent, and I’d have to have it done more than once. The $15,000 was just for the doctor. The hospital, anesthesiologist, and whatever other fun things that get tacked on to my bill were extra.

Well, I wasn’t going to waste money on something that might not take, so I did my own research, determined it was menopause, found a solution, and promptly told my doctor to write me the prescription. Which he graciously did. I am normally a pretty happy-go-lucky person, but menopause made be a raving, angry brat. (I’d use other words that would actually fit better here, but this is a Christian blog.) I’m sure the poor doctor was afraid I’d bite off his head or something.

“Now, in the crowd that day was a woman who had suffered horribly from continual bleeding for twelve years. She had endured a great deal under the care of various doctors, yet in spite of spending all she had on treatments, she was not getting better, but worse. When she heard about Jesus’ healing power, she pushed through the crowd and came up from behind him and touched his prayer shawl. For she kept saying to herself, ‘If only I could touch his clothes, I know I will be healed.’ As soon as her hand touched him, her bleeding immediately stopped! She knew it, for she could feel her body instantly being healed of her disease! Jesus knew at once that someone had touched him, for he felt the power that always surged around him had passed though him for someone to be healed. He turned and spoke to the crowd, saying, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ His disciples answered, ‘What do you mean, who touched you? Look at this huge crowd—they’re all pressing up against you.’ But Jesus’ eyes swept the crowd, looking for the one who touched him for healing. When the woman who experienced this miracle realized what happened to her, she came before him, trembling with fear, and threw herself down at his feet, saying, ‘I was the one that touched you.’ And she told him her story of what had just happened. Then Jesus said to her, ‘Daughter, because you dared to believe, your faith has healed you. Go with peace in your heart, and be free from your suffering!’” (Mark 5:25-34 [TPT])

“Faith comes by hearing, and by hearing the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17 [NKJV])

After suffering horribly and spending all her money, she heard about the healing power of Jesus, and nothing was going to stop her. She pushed through the crowd to get close enough to touch Him. She kept saying to herself, if only I could touch his clothes, I know I will be healed. Her faith came by hearing. She heard first. She repeated her affirmation of faith. And then she dared to believe, acted on it, acknowledged it, and was rewarded with healing.

There was a huge crowd of people pressing up against Jesus. But only one of those people in the crowd had faith enough to seek a miracle. Jesus knew that and felt that faith when the woman touched the hem of his garment. And His power passed through Him to heal her, because of her faith.

The Words Jesus speaks to us are Spirit and life. (See John 6:63) Jesus spoke Spirit and life into this woman, telling her to go with peace in her heart, and to be free from her suffering. The Bible is a powerful, living, breathing Book that speak words of Spirit and life into us. And our faith comes by hearing those words spoken into us when we read or listen to the Bible. I know from my own experience that I am always better off after reading the Word of God. I also listen to different translations that I have downloaded, because in hearing the Word, it saturates me in a different way than just reading does. Personally, it is a winning combination for my life, because it stretches my faith to new levels.

So, hear, declare, dare to believe, acknowledge, throw yourself at the feet of Jesus, and then act on it, in faith, and it will bring you a change of life!

Just no pushing through crowds right now with our current world situation. Might not go over as well as it did for the woman in Mark 5.

© 2020 Fluffy Puppy Publishing All Rights Reserved