Blessings & Battlefields: A Healing Walk With God 3 Steps to Engage God’s Healing

Scriptures: Genesis 32:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalms 116:1-2, Luke 5:18-25

Blessings & Battlefields: 

A Healing Walk with God 

3 Steps to Engage God’s Healing Powerful Word 

Day One 

Walk with Him 

Have you ever woken up, looked at the date, and remembered… Today reminded me that 41 years ago was the day my mom went to heaven. She had just turned 39. She left behind many people, including her two daughters, aged seven and 12. 

We all have things that trigger our memory. Sometimes those memories are joyful and sometimes they are excruciating. In either case, when we remember, we can also give thanks. We can discover healing through God’s powerful word. 

How, when, and where we are healed is under God’s timing and sovereignty. He uses all kinds of people and ways to heal, but He is our healer. 

Has anyone ever told you, “I believe you can be healed?” 

Have you ever told anyone, “I believe you can be healed?” 

Sometimes we need to borrow from other people’s beliefs. Just as in Luke 5 when the believing friends lowered a man through the roof of the house to reach Jesus and His healing power. We too, can strive to be strong in our faith and belief, so those around us can borrow belief from us in return. 

I believe that all kinds of healing are possible through Him and with Him. His word tells us in Matthew 19:26 that “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Even though today’s date reminded me of a very painful time, my next thought was to thank our Lord God for His provision and protection that both her daughters and their families had made it 41 years from that day. Not all of those years were easy, in fact, my sister battled breast cancer and I’ve had three different cancer diagnoses in the past seven years. We have hereditary cancer genes. But we have come this far. Amazing and so praiseworthy! 

Walking with God is a glorious life. In fact, it is a grand life! Calling on him in good times and bad is being faithful, as He is to us. In Genesis 32 Jacob wrestles with God. He keeps wrestling until God blesses him. Our lives consist of blessings and battlefields. Some people may reference them as hills and valleys. Some may see them as separate entities, where we are either in a blessing or in a battle. 

But maybe we are continuously in both. Maybe blessings and battlefields are two railroad tracks running alongside each other. Blessings (hills) on one side of the track and Battlefields (valleys) on the other side of the track, both running parallel to each other. They seem to both be ever-present and constant in our lives. One side may have more weight at certain times, but both are still present. In both, we wrestle with God. In both, we thank God. 

Without His love, mercy, goodness, grace, and faithfulness, we would not endure. 

How can we “be” anything without Him? 

In all things, let’s walk with our creator and Savior, just as Jacob did. Let’s stand believing that we can and will be healed. The timing is His. For as it is written in Revelation 21:4, as we enter eternity, 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.

Faith is the victory. From His victory, we can walk with Him and be healed. 

Heavenly Father full of grace, wash your loving kindness and protection over us. You are our sun and our shield. You are our healer. Remind us to grab for your hand and your word in each situation. Remind us to remember how you’ve carried us in the past, and that you continue to carry us each day. Strengthen and increase our belief. Prompt us to always bring you thanks. Bless us with a lifetime of walking with you and believing your powerful word.

In your precious name,

Amen.

Scriptures: John 17:17, John 1:1, 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalms 33:6

Day Two 

A Healing Walk with God 

Applying God’s Healing Powerful Word 

Hearing that awful diagnosis or incoming news that is beyond comprehension can leave our bodies and souls incapacitated. That spot on your tongue is malignant – cancer. Your spouse has been unfaithful. Sickness, trauma, accidents, prodigal children, anxiety, financial challenges…There is no limit to what events can come our way, leaving us to say, “I’m sorry…What?” 

On and on the hardships of life can come. 

Any time we are told there is something wrong, what are we to do? 

Where do we go? How do we even breathe? And to whom do we turn? 

To our mighty Savior, our rock, and our foundation. 

Jesus suffered too. He came to this earth, our earth, to be with us. He came to rescue us, love us, and heal us. Yet, he suffered too. According to His word in Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Sometimes our finite minds cannot comprehend His ways. His word even tells us this in Isaiah 55:8-9 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

He is our ultimate healer, but when and where we are healed is under His authority. We may not fully understand. Even if we cannot fully comprehend His ways, we can still find comfort in them. May we find peace in that, instead of frustration. May we trust Him. 

When we are suffering, let’s remember that He gave us His inherent Word, through Jesus, our Bibles, and His Holy Spirit. 

He also shares His armor with us in Ephesians 6. We can and should use His armor to pray and protect ourselves. We should use it to fight the negative forces in our world and our ultimate enemy, Satan. 

According to Ephesians 6:17, we are to: 

Take the helmet of salvation,

And the sword of the Spirit,

which is God’s word. Amen.

The sword of the Spirit IS His word. 

God’s Word changes everything. In Isaiah 55:11 The Lord says, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purposes for which I sent it.”

God’s word has power and purpose. He doesn’t just speak to simply speak. He has given us His word to lean on and to walk with. We can pick up His word, as it is a sword-wielding against the evil one, and bow before God in our asking and praising. 

His word is alive and active. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 

Gracious God, our Savior, thank you for your creation of all things. Thank you for giving us life. Remind us of your Word and its transformative power in each situation. Humble us when we forget to come to you with all things. Help us to remember that your sword is your word, and we can lean on it, rely on it, and call on it. Strengthen our families and our world by helping us to depend on You and your word.

In Your name,

Amen

Let’s activate the transformative power of God’s Healing Powerful Word.

But how?

Scriptures: Psalms 40:1, Matthew 7:7-8, Philippians 4:6, Psalms 27:14

Day Three 

A Healing Walk with God 

Step #1 – SEARCH 

STEP #1 – SEARCH – ASK & RECEIVE! 

Notice this says STEP #1. Taking STEPS in life can be easier for some of us than others. A number of us are wired to do nothing except forge forward, taking steps, any steps, whether it’s a good step or a bad step. Others of us can hardly move, ever. We get stuck. 

For some of us, STEPPING can be circumstantial. If a “small” negative occurrence comes our way, we can muster up the courage to move forward, confidently. However, if a big boulder starts heading our way we can freeze, almost as if we are in a pan of fudge. 

I don’t know how God created you, but I do know that he has taught me in every circumstance to turn to him. Yet, especially in the hard, big boulder occurrences in life, he has taught me to STEP out and SEARCH for His word. 

He calls us to not just TURN to him, but also to STEP out to him, SEARCHING for His word. 

According to Matthew 7:7 ASK…ask God to bring you a specific scripture that you can stand on during this particular season. 

Be open to His leading. Literally open your heart, mind, and hands to go looking for a scripture that he brings your way. It could come to you from a friend speaking it, or through a devotional, a pastor, a video, a song, or even the Bible if you open it. ASK him to bring you a scripture to sustain you for this time, and possibly for all time. 

Let the Holy Spirit guide and lead you to FIND it. 

When He provides His specific Word to you, RECEIVE it! 

After my tongue cancer diagnosis, the pain in my tongue was excruciating. Tears fell down my face as we drove past the cemetery where I conceded I’d like to be buried, whenever the time came. 

My request was that a cross be on my gravesite in some fashion. 

As we turned the corner from that cemetery, the pain immediately began to subtly subside. I felt a confidence rising in me. 

Maybe He would bring me His Word for this time! As I walked into the house, I felt a pull to open a small book. 

In the book was Psalm 118:17 I will not die but live,and will proclaim what the Lord has done.

I was shaken! He brought me His word for this exact time. 

I had searched, asked, and received His word. 

And then, I took Step 2. I memorized the verse! 

Lord, we praise you. We thank you for calling us into a relationship with you above all else. Thank you for sending your Son to earth to save us and forgive all our sins. In each situation, remind us to take up the shield of faith which extinguishes the flaming arrows targeted at us. Help us to call on you for guidance and remain open to receive what you have for us, specifically Your Word.

You are our healer,

Amen.

Scriptures: Psalms 119:105, Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Psalms 107:20

Day Four 

A Healing Walk with God 

Step #2 – SOLIDIFY 

STEP #2 – SOLIDIFY – MEMORIZE that scripture. 

The root word from solidify is solid. Its definition is to make into a solid form, to make strong or united. I can’t imagine a better way for us to exist here on earth than to be solidly and strongly connected to God and his word. 

How can we engage in the transforming power of God’s word? By solidifying it in our lives. 

Write it down and place it somewhere to be found daily. BELIEVE what it says. 

Many of us BELIEVE in God, but do we BELIEVE God? 

Do we BELIEVE His Word? 

It’s a little-known fact that we actually create our own spaces. We create spaces that comfort us, love us back, and maybe even challenge us. 

Our spaces declare what we love, what pours into us, and who we love. I read a challenge once that suggested we may carry God in our hearts, but are our spaces declaring that same love? I immediately ran out and bought a cross that remains on our kitchen counter to this day. That cross claims what we hold true and what holds us. 

That cross and The cross claim what we Believe. 

What we place around ourselves reveals who we are. It shouts: This is me! 

What spaces have you created? What are your spaces saying about you? 

After God showed me Psalm 118:17, I carried a written copy of it in my purse. I had it on an index card in my calendar. I wrote it on a Post-it note and attached it to my mirror. 

I made a verse image out of it and kept it as my cell phone wallpaper! I placed it everywhere around me so I could memorize it, see it, and be constantly reminded of it. 

I kept it in front of me until I had memorized it. 

Even after I had memorized it, I kept His word surrounding me. There is no limit to the ways we can solidify His word in our lives. But, if we don’t have it in our spaces, we will forget. We won’t be reminded because our human hearts and minds wander. We must purposely surround ourselves with our Lord, memorizing His word, and walking a surrendered life each day. 

Memorize and Believe! 

Psalm 119:105 says, Your word is a lamp for my feet,a light on my path. It comforts our walk with our God.

Let’s take up His word by first ASKING him to bring it to us, and then receiving it in our hearts and minds. 

Let His Word seep into our hearts and minds. Nourish our souls with His word. 

Meditate on it day and night. 

And then…Take Step 3. Speak it! 

Our Most High God, you created us in our mother’s womb and knit us together, knowing every intricate detail about us. We desperately need you every day. Please help us to recognize that we are incomplete without you. We ask that You complete us in the ways you see fit, cleansing our hearts to be bent toward you, serving you and others. Solidify your word in our souls. Help us to remember it and call on it daily.

In your Glorious name we pray,

Amen!

Scriptures: Romans 8:17, Mark 9:23, Ephesians 6:16, Psalms 107:20, Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 4:13-15

Day Five 

A Healing Walk with God 

Step #3 – SPEAK 

STEP #3 – SPEAK – SPEAK His Word! 

Then God SAID, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3 

SPEAK specific scripture OUT LOUD over yourself daily. 

SPEAK specific scripture OUT LOUD over others daily. 

Whatever the need is, SPEAK His Word OUT LOUD over it daily. 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 

Three times a day I went to my “Praying Place,” commonly known as my closet. You and I recently talked about how our spaces declare what we love. Finding and creating your very own “Praying Place” has nothing to do with WHERE that place exists. It has everything to do with WHO you are loving and praying to. 

Be open to His leading on where to create your “Praying Place.”It can be anywhere…church pews, cars, coffee shops, closets, parks, lunch break tables, bedsides. It can be ever-changing, too! Different Praying Places for different seasons. Humble yourself before our Lord and talk to Him. 

Jesus doesn’t care where we talk to Him! Just talk! 

There, in my “Praying Place,” I laid it all down at the altar, His altar. 

I was on my knees, Praying and SPEAKING His scripture out loud, three times a day. Day in and day out. 

Not only three times a day physically surrendered in my closet, but every time I had a negative thought throughout the day, I would whisper His word. 

If I couldn’t speak a full scripture, out loud, 

I simply whispered, “Jesus.” 

Jesus. We ask all things in the mighty name of Jesus. We come under His authority and His supernatural strength, submitting to His will. We speak His Word coming from His victory. Jesus. 

God tells us in Isaiah 55:11 

So is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desireand achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

His Word that comes from His Mouth will prosper and accomplish what He sends it to do. We are not God. But according to Romans 8:17, we are co-heirs with Christ. 

We too, can call on and speak His word. We will suffer as He did and be glorified with Him. As we live, suffer, and give thanks in all things, we can glorify Him by speaking His word. 

For weeks on end, in my closet, I spoke out loud over myself: 

·But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was on him,and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 and 

·I will not die but live,and will proclaim what the Lord has done. Psalm 118:17 

By the time I went in for surgery, postponed due to COVID, my tumor had shrunk. The doctor’s exact words were, “I am in agreement with you that the tumor has shrunk at least by 30%.” I went from requiring eight surgeries, to two. I went from an 8-day hospital stay to 48 hours. 

The initial pathology report said the tumor was in the muscle and nerve of my tongue. The pathology report after surgery showed NO tumor in the muscle or nerve of my tongue. No further treatment required. 

His miraculous power is the only answer. 

The tongue has the power of life and death, says Proverbs 18:21a. 

Search, Solidify, and Speak. 

Ask for His guidance, Receive His Word, and Believe His Word. 

Memorize His Word and Speak it out loud. 

In the end, Revelation 19:15 tells us Jesus will return on a white horse with a sword spearing from his mouth: Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.

According to the Expositor’s Greek Testament commentary, “The victory of the messiah is single-handed where the word of messiah’s mouth is the sole weapon of his victory.”If Jesus uses his word as the weapon to conquer evil, the final evil, then who are we to not use it in our everyday lives? 

Father God, we praise you for who you are, the creator of the heavens and the earth. You are our rock, refuge, and fortress. You deliver us from evil and guide us in all things. You are our provider and our healer. Increase our faith. We believe, Lord, help our unbelief. Help us to seek you for your specific Word which is our light. Solidify that Word into our souls so we may claim it out loud, relying on You.

It is in Your glorious, mighty name we pray,

Amen!