Stretch Out Your Hand

This morning, the Lord led me to read Matthew 12:7-13.  Jesus was in the synagogue, and the Jewish leaders were lying in wait to accuse Him, asking if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath.  Jesus, fully aware of their intent, exposed their hardened hearts.  There stood in His midst someone in need of healing, someone who needed to be made whole.  So Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand.  This is a big deal, especially in the Jewish culture in Jesus' day.  The man's hand would have been a source of ridicule, shame, and embarrassment, something that he most likely wanted to remain hidden forever.  And Jesus said, "Give it to me."  As the man trusted Jesus, the hand was completely restored.  The accounts never state that Jesus touched the man, so the Jewish leaders could accuse Him of nothing.  But in this, we see an ordinary man with a heart of humility and faith that stepped out toward Jesus and met the heart of the Father.

I don't know about you, but I am in need of restoration and encouragement.  And I want to meet the heart of the Father.  I want to know my heart matters to Him, that He loves me more than anything.  I want to see His Kingdom break through for me and everyone around me.  When I read this story, it brings me hope that He sees me, that He loves me, and that He wants to meet all my needs - physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, relational.  And it also reminds me that I have a part to play.  I must trust Him with all that is broken in me, even the most embarrassing, shameful things. And when I do, He shows up. In fact this morning as I read the account, Jesus said to me, "Stretch out your hands."  I first held them in front of me and saw something like a holograph of how withered they were.  I then felt compelled to lift them to Him and began to cry.  He spoke of how my hands were withered in a sense, keeping me from writing and working.  And then, He restored them and told me to write about what He had done.  I love when He renews me and gives me eyes to see.

I have been held back for some time and I haven't known what to do.  I have continued to pray and cry out.  I have continued to ask Him for help and pray with others for guidance, wisdom, breakthrough, etc., etc., etc.  I need help, and it came today...in the form of a Man once broken for you and me that through Him we might be whole again.

My prayer:  May we release all that is withered in and around us to Him, regardless of shame, embarrassment, or any other cost.  And may we truly be free, restored, whole, and well, living in and seeing breakthrough, that we might be the hands, the heart, the feet, and the voice of Jesus, the One who stretched out His hand for us.

Matthew 12:13 (NKJV)
Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.

Be Still and Know

Sometimes the most difficult thing we can ever do is be still.  Psalm 46:10 reads "Be still and know that I am God."  It's a great concept; it's a great life verse.  But why?  Why "be still?"  Psalm 46 lists a few of God's attributes:

• "God is our refuge and strength" (v. 1)
• "A very preset help in trouble" (v. 1)
• He remained in the midst of His city and protected it (v. 5)
• "He uttered His voice, the earth melted" (v. 6)
• "The Lord of hosts" (i.e., the God of angel armies) "is with us" (v. 7)
• "The God of Jacob is our refuge" (v.7, 11)
•  He "made desolations in the earth" (v. 8)
• He will be exalted (v. 10)

This is why we can "be still and know" that He is God.

I need to remember these things, i.e., who God is and what He can do.  I need to remember because for me, this is a season of being still.  I am recovering from a brain injury that occurred in early March of this year.  I still am unable to work in a conventional setting, only being able to see the occasional client, and I have a significant sensitivity to sound.  Even general conversation can be overstimulating, causing nausea, fatigue, headaches, etc.  

Please don't misunderstand.  I am grateful for many things.  For the second time in my life, I was able to walk away from a vehicle that rolled.  I am grateful that most higher function remained in tact.  I am grateful to have virtually no pain.  These are gifts, the very definition of grace.  I also am thankful for the many improvements that have come, especially in the past 4-6 weeks.  I attribute most of this to prayers received.  (Thank You, Jesus, for being my Healer.)  Yes, I am grateful for healing, even though it is occurring at a much slower pace than I would like.  I am grateful.

Being a scientist and specializing in nutrition, I look for things I can do to improve my health.  I realize that these efforts are not without merit.  However, the greatest leap in healing came recently after eight days away, staying with my aunt's dog.  The Lord told me I would return home completely different, and, as always, He was right.  During my time there, I found I was able to handle noises of the city without needing earplugs, something I had not been able to do for nearly 6 months.  The Lord led me on occasion to stop reading His Word and just watch a funny movie or show with Him.  At the end of my time away, I was able to drive home without earplugs, and I was even able to listen to music for a portion of the journey, fun old music like the Beach Boys and CCR.  And the evening I arrived home I was able to attend a party at my sister's and spend time with my nieces and nephew, all without earplugs.  A clear, convincing moment that rest and being still are perhaps the best medicine of all.

I live a life where intimacy with the Lord and stillness before Him are top priorities.  I love the simplicity of this and reap the blessings of the Lord's continual Presence.  I absolutely hunger and thirst for these times, a way of life of highly recommend.  Still, this time of recovery has been a challenge due to the need for complete rest - no reading, writing, phone, movies, walks, talks, etc. - absolutely no stimulation.  While this has been frustrating at times, I know its importance for healing.  Yes, the Lord shows me continually that being still is best, that when I wait for Him, He truly renews my strength.  He has shown it to me over and over again, just has He did with the recent trip away.  And I am blessed He is so patient with me as I try to stop trying so hard.  He continues to reinforce "being" as opposed to "doing," resting as opposed to striving, enjoying life as opposed to going through the motions.  I pray He reveals the same to you.  And I pray that He gives you the grace to rest and truly be still and know that He is God.

As Paul signed off in most of his letters, grace be with you...and peace, too.