" If Only I " steps

Friday, November 7 2014

Mark 5:25-34 contains what I call my "If Only I" steps. They´re the desperately needed, but often last resort, actions I often take to reach out to Jesus and find the healing and deeper intimacy I need.

Last month I took an "If Only I" step when I flew across the country and then drove 7 hours to join a group of women on a prayer retreat. Depleted following a hard season of ministry in Uganda, I knew I´d reached a point where I absolutely had to be engulfed in fellowship with praying friends. There, I believed, I could better wade through the negative thoughts that had crept in during trials - challenges that had crowded out my understanding of God´s love for me.

"If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed," the woman said as she unabashedly worked her way through the crowds to touch the hem of Jesus´ robe (Mark 5:28). And as a result of her reaching out to Him, the "terrible condition" that had plagued the woman for 12 years left her "immediately" (v.29).

"Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, ´Who touched my robe?´ His disciples said to him, ´Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, "who touched me?" ´

"But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realisation of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. And he said to her, ´Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over´" (vv. 30-34)

If there´s something plaguing you, prayerfully consider taking an "if only I" step and reach out for Jesus today! - Roxanne Robbins

Read
Mark 5:25-34 : 
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately he bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked "Who touched my clothes?"
"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, ´Who touched me?´ "
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Proverbs 3:7-8
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Question to ponder :
What do you need to bring to Jesus today as you reach out to Him in faith and trust?
What keeps us from seeking Jesus when we´re plagued by trials?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 Issue.