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I used to go
to church when I felt like it,
or if I had enough time.
I only prayed when I had a terrible problem. Sometimes,
my prayer was answered, but usually it was not. I was a
"911" Christian. Then in August 1994, I was
diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disorder that
interfered with my balance, coordination, and fine-motor
control.
Some friends, including my
husband, Bill, encouraged me to attend a prayer and
healing class at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in
July, 1997. What did I have to lose? I figured it would
be all right for somebody to pray for me. Nothing could
have prepared me for what was to come!!
I watched and listened intently
for the first two meetings, marveling over the wonderful
testimonies that were given. The instructor and students
kept referring to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, which
I asked someone to explain. I remained confused to a
degree on this, partly due to my own lack of knowledge
of the Scriptures. One of the concepts I did understand
was that the Holy Spirit could be invited into that room
to heal someone in the name of Jesus.
During the third class, I asked
for healing. The person who prayed for me asked the Holy
Spirit to enter my body and provide an outward
demonstration of an inner healing. He did!!!!! My arms
started moving around and my body started twisting. This
continued for about ten minutes. I was not causing this
movement. I cried all the way home, because I had never
really believed that there was a God. Now, I knew there
was!
Not long after that, I learned
that I was a child of God. Although I had heard this
many times before, it never meant anything to me. This
impacted me tremendously to know that God loved me. I
had been exposed to years of verbal abuse and I never
had an earthly father who loved me. I didn't even like
myself. It was such a comfort to learn that God did.
Unfortunately, I had a great deal of bitterness and
resentment built up over the years.
I learned that God is
Sovereign. He is the one who decides who, what and when
someone gets cured. He knew I needed inner healing and
healing of memories more than I needed the neurological
problem resolved. After all, the medical problem is only
a little inconvenience.
In the meantime, Bill and I had
read everything we could on healing, baptism in the Holy
Spirit and Jesus' teachings. We listened to audio tapes
and watched video tapes. We read God's word and
continued going to the healing class. Eventually, Bill
and I were both baptized in the Holy Spirit and turned
our lives over to Jesus.
As the months went by, I found
I could confess my sins and forgive those who had hurt
me. This was necessary before physical or inner healing
could occur. I went through some inner healing exercises
such as visualizing Jesus was in the room with me during
some traumatic incidents in my life. The Lord dissolved
my bitterness and resentfulness and I grew happier and
at peace with myself. I never had liked myself, but as
time went by, I not only began to like myself, I grew to
feel worthy of God's love.
Jesus is the same, yesterday,
today, and forever. I have discovered it is possible to
enjoy heaven on earth today, with all of God's promised
abundance and blessings. I have joy in my heart and the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. With God, all things are
possible.
Becky 1997 Hal's Note: Allow me as the teacher of this class to add
that Becky has become a very effective prayer warrior in
her own right. Many times I have seen others touched by
her ministry. Her husband Bill is now a pastor of two
churches in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
The following is a recent addition that shows how much
she has grown:
Highlights
of God's healing power in the Dominican Republic
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