A Prayer Request

I sit here tonight staring at this computer screen wondering what I am going to write.  I have a post that was written a week ago that is scheduled to be posted in the morning.  However, my heart tells me that I must delay that post and write what is on my mind right now.  I usually come to the computer with a message or topic in mind, planned out in my head, and type the words that I have said in my mind over and over.  Tonight is different.  Tonight I write the words as they come from my heart while I sit and wait for a phone call.  To be honest I guess I should say that I write and then re-write, not exactly finding the words to say what I want to say.

So I will start by sharing a story from the Bible.

²⁹  And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰ Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. ³¹ And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.  Mark 1:29-31

In these verses of Scripture we see that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick.  We also see that immediately the disciples that were with Jesus at the time told Him about her.  I can hear that conversation in my head right now.   I can hear the words come from Peter’s lips as if he were whispering them to me right now.

Jesus, this is my mother-in-law.  She is sick and needs your healing touch upon her.  Jesus, I love this woman, she gave birth to my wife.  She is part of my family.  She is part of my life.  I’m asking you to reach down and touch her and heal her from this illness.  Jesus you know that I love you, but I want you to know that I love her too.  Please do this for me and my family.

Ok, well maybe that’s not what Peter said, but either way we see in the Scripture that they brought Jesus to see Peter’s sick mother-in-law.  The Scripture also tells us that Jesus healed her, the fever left, and she was up serving them.

What a beautiful story of a man who cared about his mother-in-law and wanted to see her get well.  What a wonderful story of the healing power of Jesus.  What a great finale to the story to have the woman grateful for being healed serving her Master, Jesus Christ.  If you continue reading this chapter in the book of Mark you will see that Jesus’ healing did not stop with Peter’s mother-in-law, it continued into the evening as more and more people were brought to Jesus to be healed.

³² That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons.³³ And the whole city was gathered together at the door. ³⁴  And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.  Mark 1:32-34 ESV

We see throughout the Scriptures that Jesus continued His mission of healing throughout His time here on earth.  But I know that this healing did not stop when Jesus ascended into heaven.  I know that Jesus continues to heal each and every day.  I know that He waits for us to bring to Him the next person who is hurting or is sick.

I tell you this story today, because as I sit here at this computer my mother-in-law is in the emergency room at the hospital while they run tests on her to determine the causes of her illness that has gotten progressively worse this weekend.

One of the saying’s my father used to say was “he loved __ better than Peter loved the Lord.”  You can fill in the blank yourself.  But I am telling you tonight that I love my mother-in-law as much as Peter loved his.  God has blessed me with a wonderful mother-in-law and  I am grateful for her presence in my life.

So I sit here tonight typing, waiting, praying for the health of my mother-in-law.  Like Peter, I am asking Jesus to reach out and touch her with His healing power.  I know that Jesus listens to our prayers just as He listened to Peter and to the prayers of all of those that were brought to Him that night.  I know that He will reach out and touch her as I make this prayer.  I know that she will once again serve her master, Jesus Christ, just as Peter’s mother-in-law.

So take a moment out of your day today to pray for someone in your life that may need a little prayer.  And while you are at it, throw in a good word for my family as well.  I appreciate you listening to my ramblings today and I appreciate your prayers.  Thanks.