I was feeling down today. In my attempt to motivate myself, I wrote this --- and after reading it to myself over and over, I went away inspired. I thought I’d share it...
There once was a rich man who commanded a great army. He was a valiant man, but he had a terrible disease for which there was no cure.
When informed there was someone from a town far away who could treat him, he wasted no time packing his wealth and go to this prophet.
When he got to his destination, he went away disappointed and angry because he thought that the prophet was just going to wave his hands and clear away his disease. Instead he was told to dip himself in the dirtiest river in the area seven times. After his complaining, one of his servants convinced him to do so and he came away clear of his disease.
In a world like ours, I believe that without Jesus we simply have no chance. We have more things in our lives we are blessed with than we realize. Still there are times we just go around praying “Please God grant me this, grant me that”. Yet we don’t hear God saying “I already gave it to you.”
Remember that God created you, He loves you, He cares for you more than you can imagine. And he wants to bring change --- Good Change --- He wants us to experience glory after glory. God wants us to do well.
If you’re sitting there thinking “this is my lot in life, this is it”. I want to tell you that the best is yet to come.
In general, we all have done well in our lives. But for some reason, there is that one little thing that we just can’t get over.
Let me tell you something. God wants to give you healing and he wants to give you victory in every aspect of your life. He wants you to be healed. So let me ask you, is there something in your life that maybe is not well? Something in your life that maybe not too many people know about? Maybe it’s a relationship that has failed, or a career that was lost and you’re so ashamed that you’re just trying to get by day to day. God wants to bring healing in every area of your life.
Whatever your situation, bring it all to God. Naaman brought it all. He had to have believed it was going to bring him healing. He was prepared to win. God can bring healing and victory however he wants.
6 comments:
Dear Noel...I have always loved this story.
I used it so many times as a lesson in Sunday School.
Everytime I related it, I learned something new, myself.
I have three favorite parts in this true story from the Bible.
First of all I loved the little girl, that although having been kidnapped from her own home, and sold to strangers, loved her master, Naaman and his wife.....So much... that it pained her tender heart that Naaman was sick with the incurable disease of leprosy.
She told her mistress to tell Naaman where to go for help.
The maiden had done her part...She told him.
I love the part where the prophet told Naaman to go down to Jordan, the river of death and dip himself seven times into the water.
Noel,when I came to this point in the story, I would let one child do the actions of going down and coming up again and we would count each time...One...Two... Three... After each time of coming up, Naaman would check to see if he was any better...
"No" he would, say, "No better!"..What is the use of all this foolishness! The water is SO dirty! How can IT make me better?"
From the shore his servants would encourage him,"No Master! Down again!" Four...Five...Six..."Aw! FORGET it",This just isn't working at all!" .... "But no master!
"Down ONE more time!"
"Just ONE MORE TIME!"
Those servants would not give up in encouraging their boss and as stubborn Naaman slowly gave up, down he went for the seventh and the LAST time.
And when he came up he checked his skin and it was as fresh and tender and CLEAN as the flesh of a little child!
How wonderful, Noel!
The servants had done their part...They had not given up.They had encouraged him!
Now the third part I love...When all was said and done, after he had listened to these lowly but faithful people; his little maid, the prophet Elisha's messenger, and his own servants, and went into the Jordan River, Naaman was cured completely and he gave ALL the glory to GOD!
God had done His part! He cleansed him, I believe... inside AND out!
This is a story that the children loved to hear over and over again and they knew that the only way a child, even a little person who had sin in their heart could be cleansed was by believing in the death of the Lord Jesus for him or her on the cross.
Believe it or not Noel. my children were 3,4 and 5 year olds, and yet they understood and loved, and believed this story just because God said so!
And now Noel, you have brought back into my memory again this lovely passage from God's own word.
It is like springtime in my soul!
How often I have forgotten and have not been praising and thanking God enough for all He has forgiven me.
I must be realizing more and more each day what you have been saying here... "God wants us to experience glory after glory!"
Faith IS the victory!!
God bless you Noel!!!...from Terry
Terry, it also makes me realize that I need to be sure I am walking with Godly people --- people who genuinely care about me, people who want to win. If you wonder where these people are just look around, they are all around you. I am so glad to have met you.
Hi Noel,
Was fluttering past when the title of your post just reminded me of a song.
"You are my strength when i am weak,
You are the treasure that i seek,
You are my all in all,
Seeking You as a precious jewel,
Lord, to give up i'd be a fool,
You are my all in all"
Thank you for blessing me. Have a good week!
Oh Amelia....I love this song!
Can I sing the second verse with you?
"Taking my sin my cross , my shame,
Rising again--I bless your Name.
You are my all in all.
When I fall down , You pick me up,
When I am dry, You fill my cup.
You are my all and all.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is your Name.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is your Name,"
Every week the Sunday School children fight over who is going to pick this song first.
We have a very little Sunday School but when I listen to the 40 boys and girls singing this song in two parts,with all their hearts it just fills MY heart with praises!
Noel Lewis..this has been such a great post!!
See what you have done?....from Terry
I went to a woman's retreat and we sang it in three parts....it was most beautiful to perform...and my daughter (who attended the same retreat) was so touched that the entire congregation sang it at her wedding....very moving...
love the story Noel....thanks for sharing...
Blessings,
Donna
Noel- what a fantastic reminder!
"You have made known to me the path of my life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand".
-Psalms 16:11
How lucky we are!
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