Happy Saturday beautiful daughters of God. May this day find you bathing in God’s grace & blessings! For today Im going to share a devotion Ive shared before. Im struggling greatly today with the topic and so God led me back to it for meditation. I am still struggling but with God I can accept that things are the way they are. Im getting way ahead of myself, though. Take some time to seek God in prayer before continuing. Luke 22:42 (NIV) says: 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Garth Brooks sang a song about unanswered prayers. Once I became a Christian that song bothered me because I came to realize that God always answers every prayer we utter. The fact of the matter is that sometimes His answer is “no”. I have psoriasis. You may or may not know what that is but I’ll give you a little bit of information about it because it’s important to this devotion. Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease that affects the skin. Skin cells grow much more rapidly than normal and in the areas that are affected with outbreaks this causes thick white flaky and scaly skin. It’s unsightly, itches intensely, and can be excruciatingly painful. It causes concern in those around you who aren’t educated in what it is and they either stare in fear or disgust or else they question what it is and if it’s contagious. I don’t mind the questions but the staring and looks of disgust are heartbreaking. It frightens unfamiliar children and they don’t want to have any physical contact with you. I love children so this is extremely difficult. There’s no cure and even the most aggressive treatments haven’t helped in my case other than temporarily. I’ve prayed to God over this many, many times, asking for His healing or at least for relief from the horrible symptoms. I’ve gone before the elders and prayer warriors at my church and had them pray over me for healing. Yet I still suffer greatly from it. I’ve been told about Job so many times that I feel like I know the man personally and sometimes that makes me feel better but then I’ll start itching again, or my skin will began cracking from the cold, or it’ll be summer time and I’ll want more than anything to wear shorts or short sleeves in public without having to feel like I’m more beast than beauty. God’s answer has continually been “no”. “No” is very hard to hear for anyone but when it’s for something like this it’s easy to fall into self-pity but God has revealed something to me concerning this. In Luke 22:42 Jesus, the Son of God, God in flesh, our savior and creator, asked God for something and God said “no”. God didn’t remove the “cup” of torture, shame, and death that Jesus endured for us. Talk about a revelation, sisters. If God feels it’s appropriate to tell Jesus Christ “no”, then who am I as a worthless sinner to expect special treatment? I don’t like this disease and I can’t imagine that I ever will. I am sure that I will complain from time to time about it and question why God would choose to allow me to suffer so. I’m sure I will pray many more times for God’s healing and continue to return to His throne again if He continues to say “no”. But child of God, I have to be humble enough to accept God’s will for me, whatever that may include. At the end of the verse Jesus said “not my will but thine be done”. I want to honor God by having the same attitude as Jesus had when God told him “no”. I pray that the next time you pray and God tells you no that you will reflect on this verse and remember that even Jesus Christ, King of all Kings, was told, and humbly accepted, “no”. Prayer: God, it’s hard for us to accept a no when we want something so bad but Father, I thank You for Your infinite wisdom and that You know what’s best for us and provide for our every need. Help us to always focus on the bountiful blessings you bestow on us and to never dwell on the things we seek out in flesh that You say “no” to. Lord, You created this body and though it may not be beautiful in man’s eyes, it’s beautiful in Yours and You have made me exactly as You would have me to be, psoriasis and all. I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Bless each lady who reads this devotion and guide them in all their steps. I love You, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 04:19:10 +0000
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