God's Promises are Real
It's been almost two years ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. That's how it is when you witness God at work.
My stepfather was in the hospital, dieing of cancer. I had the greatest burden on my heart for his salvation. My greatest fear was that he would die without accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.
He and my mother married when I was 10. He was such a wonderful blessing in our lives. Very gentle, kind and patient. A hardworker and good provider. He was really good to my mom, brother and myself. The only thing missing was a relationship with Jesus. Now as a child, growing up, I thought him nearly perfect. It was only after I became a Christian that I became aware that he was missing out on the most important thing in life.
His first round with cancer was in early 1995 and his surgery was successful. But a few years later, he began having some problems and finally almost 3 yrs later, they found out he had another kind of cancer. It took them too long to find it and it had spread. We didn't know just how much it had spread until after he died. I think he was trying to protect Mom. Anyway, we found out it was in his liver in the summer of '93. He began having chemo and it really wiped him out fast. He ended up in the hospital, and was so very sick and weak. He didn't have any appetite and seemed to just want to sleep. As the days turned to weeks, I began getting really worried that he would die before I ever got to witness to him. Up until this time, I had kept waiting for the Lord to bring the conversation about. I never knew how to lead into it or bring up the subject of Jesus. I didn't want him to think that I thought he was dieing,but I did.
One night I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I just felt like someone was sitting on my chest, I was so burdened. I got up and got my Bible. I said a little prayer asking God to show me what to read. As I flipped thru the pages, the words,"Jesus Comforts His Followers" caught my attention. I was in John chapter 14, verse 1 began, "Jesus said, 'Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me.'" Ok, now if that wasn't exactly what I needed God to tell me! As I continued to read, I could feel the very real presence of the Holy Spirit. When I got to verse 11 and continued reading, I knew I had to act on the promise I found. "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done. I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do. Those who believe will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it."
What a promise! I could ask Jesus for anything and He would do it. Now I knew whatever I asked, had to be according to His Will. I also knew the thing I wanted most was for my stepfather to be saved and I knew Jesus wanted that too. I also knew that He gave each of us a free will and would not force anyone to believe something. So I prayed, "Jesus I know you wanted me to read these words right now. I know this promise is for me and I am claiming it right now for my stepfather. I know that you won't force him to believe anything, it has to be his own free will. But Lord, I just ask that you not take him until I've had a chance to tell him about you. Please Lord, let him be well enough for us to have a conversation. Please give me the right words to say and help him to see the need for you."
I felt so much peace and excitement after I prayed. I had read that passage of the Bible before, but that night it took on new meaning. It was personalized in a new way. To be continued...
My stepfather was in the hospital, dieing of cancer. I had the greatest burden on my heart for his salvation. My greatest fear was that he would die without accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.
He and my mother married when I was 10. He was such a wonderful blessing in our lives. Very gentle, kind and patient. A hardworker and good provider. He was really good to my mom, brother and myself. The only thing missing was a relationship with Jesus. Now as a child, growing up, I thought him nearly perfect. It was only after I became a Christian that I became aware that he was missing out on the most important thing in life.
His first round with cancer was in early 1995 and his surgery was successful. But a few years later, he began having some problems and finally almost 3 yrs later, they found out he had another kind of cancer. It took them too long to find it and it had spread. We didn't know just how much it had spread until after he died. I think he was trying to protect Mom. Anyway, we found out it was in his liver in the summer of '93. He began having chemo and it really wiped him out fast. He ended up in the hospital, and was so very sick and weak. He didn't have any appetite and seemed to just want to sleep. As the days turned to weeks, I began getting really worried that he would die before I ever got to witness to him. Up until this time, I had kept waiting for the Lord to bring the conversation about. I never knew how to lead into it or bring up the subject of Jesus. I didn't want him to think that I thought he was dieing,but I did.
One night I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I just felt like someone was sitting on my chest, I was so burdened. I got up and got my Bible. I said a little prayer asking God to show me what to read. As I flipped thru the pages, the words,"Jesus Comforts His Followers" caught my attention. I was in John chapter 14, verse 1 began, "Jesus said, 'Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me.'" Ok, now if that wasn't exactly what I needed God to tell me! As I continued to read, I could feel the very real presence of the Holy Spirit. When I got to verse 11 and continued reading, I knew I had to act on the promise I found. "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done. I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do. Those who believe will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it."
What a promise! I could ask Jesus for anything and He would do it. Now I knew whatever I asked, had to be according to His Will. I also knew the thing I wanted most was for my stepfather to be saved and I knew Jesus wanted that too. I also knew that He gave each of us a free will and would not force anyone to believe something. So I prayed, "Jesus I know you wanted me to read these words right now. I know this promise is for me and I am claiming it right now for my stepfather. I know that you won't force him to believe anything, it has to be his own free will. But Lord, I just ask that you not take him until I've had a chance to tell him about you. Please Lord, let him be well enough for us to have a conversation. Please give me the right words to say and help him to see the need for you."
I felt so much peace and excitement after I prayed. I had read that passage of the Bible before, but that night it took on new meaning. It was personalized in a new way. To be continued...
posted by Jojo @ 6:08 PM
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