Free from your disability {Luke 13}
4:29 AM
By Lisa Thayer
Are you ashamed of
something or many things from your past? Have you always been nit-picky?
Maybe some people describe you as particular. Do you hold a
longtime grudge against someone? Do you put your husband or children
down? Do you put down a coworker or boss? Do you look at hypocrisy
around you in anger or disgust?
Do you recognize the crippling effects of these?
Are you like this woman
who has been crippled by some life circumstance and even the people around you
don't realize it? Yet, Jesus, stoops all the way down to her,
and calls her forward in front of everyone, and tells her she is free!
(v. 12) Free from this bondage! The synagogue leader hadn't
even noticed her! She'd been coming for 18 years and he hadn't seen the
crippling effects of what held her hostage. Satan is so clever! He
disguises sin from all of us.
Have you ever wondered
why the synagogue leader was so upset? Is this Jarius the synagogue leader
we read about back in chapter 8? It says here in verse 17 that the people
were humbled and they glorified God. What happens to humble people?
Have we judged these people ourselves and thought they were not worthy
because they didn't treat this woman ‘right’? Have we judged this woman? Are we being
hypocritical? Are we like this synagogue leader and have not recognized what
a sabbath rest truly is? Jesus is our rest from works now, just as He is
the gate to heaven, where we will rest in Him forever. There is no
sabbath rest besides Jesus. He alone satisfies the requirements of the
law, and He alone provides the sacrifice that atones for sin. He is God's
plan for us to cease from the labor of our own works.
Last week I received an email from Sylvia Gunter and it happened to arrive a day after I began researching for my post. I could not have said it better…
Isaiah 42:3. "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice." Psalm 147:3. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds to the promises of God for healing. In His humanity Jesus knew all your griefs, your rejection, your shame and guilt, your infirmities, your wounding, your suffering, your tendencies to go astray (Isa. 53:1-6). He identified with you in every respect, because He was made like you in every way. Therefore He is able to come to your help (Heb. 2:17-18). He understands feeling bruised, broken, wounded, and barren. He turns them to shouts of joy (Isa. 54:1). He is your healing sacrifice.
Healing prayer is about applying God's healing words to wounded, helpless, and hopeless places of life. Isaiah said that God takes our wounds as an opportunity to display His glory (Isa. 61:3). That's how God can be glorified in the broken places. In the end He "will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Rev. 21:4). God can restore what the enemy plundered. He said, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten" (Joel 2:25).
Let the Holy Spirit of truth touch those things He wants to touch, and be blessed to partner with Him to do His work. Give Him all blocks to healing, especially unforgiveness, inner vows, judgments, and hopelessness. Be blessed with the healing love and compassion of Jesus touching everything from the past. Be blessed as Jesus lifts from you the scar tissue of past wounds, be they physical, verbal, emotional, or mental.
Let your spirit lead the way. Choose release, choose to open the doors of the prison of fear. Ask the Holy Spirit of truth to minister truth, and let Him bring you into His light. Be blessed as He heals deeply at the root, not just put a band-aid to cover over the injury.
Be blessed with the comfort of the Lord for all negative emotions. Look into the face of your tender Abba to heal them all. Allow Him to minister His healing. He feeds you with gentleness and kindness, nourishing you with hope in him, drawing you deeper into His grace.
God told Hezekiah, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, I will heal you." It is as true today as when it was spoken then. He responds to our tears with healing. Jeremiah said, "Heal me, and I shall be healed indeed." God remains faithful to you. Rest in those words. Breathe in the love and healing of God.
Your Comforter indwells you. He administers comfort and healing in every area of hurt. Be blessed in the peace of God with His joy and strength. Be blessed in the courage of the Holy Spirit. The risen Jesus living in you is bringing you resurrection power. Align yourself with the Spirit of Christ Jesus every moment of every day. Be blessed as He washes those areas that were tender and raw. He brings back to life those parts of your being long denied or buried. Be blessed that He is everything that you need.
Your heavenly Father honors your tears that seek Him, your patience to wait for Him, your eyes to behold Him, your heart to meditate on Him, and your life to show Him forth in the power of the Spirit of Jesus your Lord.
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