2 Chronicles 16:9: For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Two years ago I spoke at a young adults gathering in Phoenix, Arizona. There were about 1,000 people jammed into a historic church building. After a time of worship, I just felt like God was up to something. I can’t explain it. But I knew I needed to change my message. I parsed back all the studying I did and preparation for the evening and taught out of my favorite Psalm.

 At the end of my study, my heart was pounding as I felt like people needed healing. I felt so much pain in the room, but I couldn’t explain it or put words around it. Slowly and cautiously I spoke out what I believe God was asking me to say. One particular thing I said was that God wanted to heal someone’s throat.

Honestly, I had no idea where this came from, but I literally felt something in my throat as I spoke these words. After the evening ended, there was a line of people who wanted to connect or be prayed over. One particular girl came up to me that night and said she had thyroid cancer and I KNEW I had to pray for her.

I put my hand on her shoulder and prayed for God to do a wondrous healing work in her life. That’s it. No fireworks, no shaking on the floor, no heaven’s parting, nor visions seen. I just prayed for her. That’s it.

But one thing I held on to was this: Don’t believe in miracles, depend on them.

***

Last month I was in Mesa, Arizona to speak at City of Grace’s Good Friday service.

I poured out my heart and taught a message on the last phrase of Jesus spoke on the cross.

It is finished.

All the work of sin and shame and sanctification happened on a cross on Calvary and Christ’s death brought us life. The power that raised Christ from the dead in alive in us. I preached my heart out. I meant every word. Again I felt like God was asking me to share His heart for someone in the room who had an auto-immune disease.

In a massive church auditorium as the worship band took the stage, I asked if there was someone in the room with Lyme’s disease. God clearly gave me faith for healing someone in the room and I knew we needed to pray for them.

The room was silent and no one moved. I asked again if anyone had Lyme’s disease. There was a moment of panic because if a prophet in the Old Testament spoke out a false word, the people could stone them?!

Friends, I had no intention of dying on Good Friday, so I held my breath as I saw a small movement of a blonde girl raise her hand in the back of the auditorium. Relieved that I wasn’t crazy and God has actually given me some words for this girl, I asked those around her to pray in faith for her full healing.

Following the service, I was approached by several people, but one girl looked familiar. I recognized her face, but her hair was different. She urgently pressed around people and waited in line to talk as each person made their way out of the meeting room. “Do you remember me,” she asked. I told her she looked familiar, but I couldn’t place her. She told me that we had met two years earlier in Phoenix and I prayed for her thyroid cancer. I immediately remembered her and with a quiver in her voice, she said, “I’m healed! I don’t have cancer anymore!”

Listen, I believe in God to do the impossible, but when He does, I’m still shocked.

In complete awe, I wrapped my arms around her and rejoiced over how faithful God was. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw a girl with blonde hair slowly approach us.

The girl who was healed of cancer reached out to the blonde girl and said, “I saw on Instagram that you were going to be here today and brought my friend to come hear you.” As I looked at her friend I recognized her face. It was the girl with Lyme’s disease who stood for prayer! “I brought my friend Kirsti today and she’s the one with Lyme’s disease. Can you pray over her?”

You guys, I died. Like literally, I was dead on the floor.

Crystal and Kirsti

Crystal and Kirsti

I’m not saying it was my prayers that healed Crystal’s thyroid cancer, but I firmly believed God used medicine and the miraculous to do a wondrous work in her life. Not only that, her faith was strengthened to the point of bringing her friend to church and I believe God wanted Kirsti to know His healing power was at work in her.

Shadows reveal there is a sun. Miracles reveal there is a God.

If you have questions about the Holy Spirit, so do I. In fact, I have more questions than I have answers. But what I do know is our God is a Living God who has the power to move and heal and provide and speak to us today.

For those who think I’m mystical, I don’t care because they are skeptical. I’m either wise enough or naive enough to believe that the God of the Bible is alive and active today. He wants to pour out His Spirit in us and on us to do what we are called to do here on earth.

2 Chronicles 16:9 reminds us that He wants to show Himself strong. Allow Him to show you how STRONG He is. The acts of the apostles didn’t end in Acts 28. We are disciples and apostles of Christ who are living out Acts 29 because the story of God doing the impossible is still being written. I’m no one special. I’m just a girl who doesn’t just believe in miracles… I depend on them.

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