If you have read my posts in the last couple of years, you know that I have been privileged to report several wonderful, incredible miracles. God has allowed me to be a part of them to not only build my faith, but to be a part of building yours as well. Are we not strengthened and encouraged when we read and hear of the Lord’s miraculous manifestations amongst the Body of Christ? I know I am, for it underscores what I know and believe!

Though I have been privy to many miracles and healings, even recently, the miracle received in my own eyes, yet there are just as many, and more, that seemingly can’t receive. This has bothered me, for they too are faithful ones that believe, and yet something is missing. The key that unlocks the door to what they desire so much.

So, a few months back I asked the Lord to show me, Why? Why Lord, do some get healed and others don’t? Why are some seemingly not able to receive? What are we missing?– for it surely isn’t because of you! I have seen time and again the blame laid to God when their hope didn’t manifest. Frankly, it’s time to stop blaming God and look within. Too often we try to stuff Him into the box that fits our understanding instead of asking for our understanding to be enlightened to His Truth.

You see, God doesn’t arbitrarily pick and choose whom He wants to heal and those He doesn’t. He doesn’t decide if you’ve prayed hard enough, or said the perfect words. You don’t need to find that person that has that extra anointing or says just the right prayer. They may help you, to stir up your faith, but He is your Healer. He simply asks you to believe His Word, because it’s already been done. If you believe it, your faith will manifest.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6

I have found, that many think they believe but they put limits on their belief. Some won’t believe it is done until they see it manifested in their body. They are sensory driven and this is not faith; it is actually a form of doubt. I will believe it when I see it. Some believe for a time, but they have an expiration date attached to their belief. I will believe for this long, but if 6 months goes by and I haven’t seen it yet, then I guess He doesn’t want to heal me. There are those who say they believe, but their words talk their problem rather than speak their faith. Still others, receive their healing manifested, but when the enemy challenges, which often happens, they immediately say, “Oh, I thought I was healed but I guess not”; when what they needed to do was refuse it to ever have entrance to their body again. Maintain your healing!

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Some say they are sick because God is trying to teach them a lesson. No, no, a thousand times no! He is GOOD. He is our Healer! Would you choose to make your children sick, in order to teach them a lesson?

If you don’t understand, do what I did–ask Him!

Last week I was walking down the hall at work, not thinking of anything in particular, when the Lord spoke to me, not audibly, but in my spirit. “Receiving healing is like entering into partnership.” Hmm. I had never thought of it like that. I was working and needed to focus on my demanding job, so that is all He said and I didn’t spend any time that day thinking on it.

The next morning when I woke up, immediately I had a vision of Jesus with His hand extended, as if waiting for a handshake. The vision remained, as Wisdom reminded me that God cannot lie and that Jesus backs His Word, in fact, He is the Word–He cannot deny Himself.

“The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful–for he cannot deny himself.” II Timothy 2:11-13

“God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the amen through him, to the glory of God.” II Corinthians 1:19-20

We seem to have lost the art of the handshake. When I was growing up, men would come to an agreement, or a business deal and a hand would be extended. When that hand was offered, it meant ‘I will do what I have said’–you can take it to the bank! A man’s handshake was his bond. It was understood that it wouldn’t be broken and the person that likewise shook with them knew it. Trust that didn’t fail. I don’t see that much anymore. Why? Have written contracts replaced honor? We no longer can trust? I have been burned many times by men who didn’t stand by their word and I have therefore lost trust, respect. Have we carried this ‘don’t believe it until we see it’ into our faith?

Jesus extends His hand to you.

If there is any lack of Truth, the lack is not on God’s part. In other words, if your life is not lining up with the Truth of the Word, it’s not God that has failed. He will never fail you, or fail to perform His Word–come up higher!

Have we reduced what Jesus did for us at the Cross to a mere tradition?

He suffered a horrific death that we might have abundant, everlasting life. During this Easter season, it is well and good that we honor Him and remember what He went through to accomplish this; but are we truly living the abundant life or just reading about it?

Many choose the tradition of fasting during Lent. Praise God that you want to honor Him, but does it change you or are you simply saying thank you? I’m not asking you to stop if it is important to you, but asking you to consider . . .

Wouldn’t it be a greater honor to Jesus if we received the fullness of the Cross?

If we were to live healed, in peace, rest, freedom from fear, fully protected, well provided for, and abundantly giving? Daily experiencing an intimate friendship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and partaking of every promise Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection has procured for you?  It’s been over 2,000 years since His agonizing death and resurrection, and yet we’re still struggling with the same questions.

Wouldn’t total, unshakable belief say, thank you, more than fasting or words could ever express?

He bids you to find each promise and shake His hand!

It’s there, extended to you, do you see it?

Shaking His hand, means you agree that His Word is True and you receive it, without question. You shake His hand and it’s a done deal! Never to doubt again. With every lie the enemy produces against you, you remind him, and yourself, that you shook on it and it’s already settled. This, my friend, is entering into His rest. For He has already healed you, it was done at the Cross. He’s already provided all you will ever need to live this life abundantly, it was done at the Cross. You don’t need to cry and beg, it is already done. He rested, because His work was completed. . . and it is for you! All you need do is believe and shake on it–Shake His hand!

It is finished!

“Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. If you turn back your foot from the sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 58:6-14