Love and Faith Make for Healing and Praise

42b As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.
44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Luke 8: 42b - 48 (NIV)

I was born into a Methodist family and grew up listening to our preachers telling us that we should always praise the Lord for all God did for us. The summer I was 14 years old our family traveled to Kansas from south Texas to visit my mother’s brother and family. While there, my dad and I both woke up sick one Sunday morning. I had really bad tonsillitis -- again. I was to have my tonsils removed when we returned to Texas later that summer. Since we were ill, my mother decided not to go to church that morning, but she did go that evening. During that service, the pastor asked all those needing special prayer to raise their hand, which my mother and several others did. At the end of the service, the pastor asked those who had raised their hand earlier to stand. The pastor prayed, making special mention of those standing.

My fever broke while my mother was in church. By the time she returned, my fever was gone, and my tonsils didn’t hurt at all. My dad felt a lot better, too.

The next day, my mother took my dad and me to the doctor. The doctor examined me then asked my mother what was wrong. When she told him again that I had tonsillitis, he looked at her and said, “How can that be? She has no tonsils.”

My mother’s faith was so great that the Lord performed that healing miracle on me. From that day forward, I knew that the Lord definitely had a plan for my life. To this day, I sing praises and am constantly glorifying God!

For reflection: Recall something the Lord has done in your life that fills you with praise every time you think about it. Make a list of the times you have witnessed love and faith bring healing to you, loved ones or situations. Go in peace and with praises to God in your heart.

*Inelda Gonzalez is a Women’s Division director from Southwest Texas Conference and a member of First United Methodist Church in Lyford, Texas. This meditation is written to help United Methodist Women begin to prayerfully prepare themselves for the United Methodist Women’s Assembly, May 4-7 in Anaheim, Calif., and for the ensuing education, inspiration, and mission work of the organization.