This morning (Sunday), my daughter got up much earlier than usual because of violent pains in her lower abdomen and went down herself to take some painkillers. It was the first time she was in such a pain. I made a few comments about the medicine she had taken (which was not the most effective), and immersed myself in my Bible without getting sentimental or emotional at all about her ordeal.
A few moments later, she came to complain that she was still in pain and I told her to wait for the medication to take effect and she left. However, 15-20 minutes later, I heard her gasp, whine, and then cry louder and louder. I do not remember when she last cried like that; but knowing her and aware of what was happening behind the scene, I closed my door and ignored her ‘shouting’. She was not pretending; but at the same time, as she hates being ‘ignored’, in the present situation, in addition to the pain, there were also cries of frustration. It was so unusual that her sister ran out of her room in a panic to see what was going on, and found her in the guest room. After talking to her, the sister came to inform me of the situation and I told her I was already aware of it. The sick one followed shortly after, now crying and rolling herself on the floor. I asked her to get up and stand next to her sister; then, told her three things:
1. Remember that you are Christian.
2. This can become the story of your life: henceforth, you can go through with this on a regular base, or it can be the first and last time that you have such a pain: the choice is yours: the ball is in your camp.
3. As for me, t;e devil will not and cannot determine how I spend my day.
I concluded saying: ‘When this will sink into your mind, you will know what to do. ‘
She wanted to go, but I realized that she was so focused on her pain and upset that I was doing nothing about it, that she had hardly listened to me. So I asked her sister to repeat what I had said to her; and as she was trying to understand the message, I made her notice that she had calmed down and stopped crying. In other words, the pain was not as sharp as she said and thought. Half an hour later, she was singing praises in the bathroom and getting ready for church. In the car, she told me that when she finally got my point, she decided to ignore the pain and follow her Sunday routine; she was still suffering; but instead of going on fixing her thoughts on the pain, she decided to focus on the Lord and the service. Remember that as long as Peter stared at the Lord, he walked on water. As soon as he began to worry about the raging sea around him, he began to drown. I then explained my attitude…
· I had deliberately not given her a medicine which was more effective; so she would not see it as the magic bullet. I had neither laid hands on her, nor prayed for her, for the same reasons: I would not always be there and did not want her to depend on 'my' prayer as another magic weapon. The Bible exhorts us not to be enslaved by anything (1Cor 6:12).
· The only one, who had an interest in inflicting such pain to her on a Sunday morning and could possibly make her miss the worship, was the devil. Therefore, she had to react appropriately by resisting him with a firm faith, and he would flee from her (1Pe 5:8-9; Ja 4:7). She needed to know her authority for such matters and tell the devil his plans had failed and she had every intention to praise the Lord as usual on this beautiful day that He had made. You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free (Jn 8.32): I wanted her to be free.
· It is absolutely out of question that I dance to the devil’s tune. As soon as I realized what he was up to, I continued reading my Bible as if there was nothing, refusing to be distracted by a distressed daughter. I did not throw myself into useless prayers or painkillers: I believe in the liberating power of the Word spoken with conviction in the surrounding atmosphere.
A few minutes after entering the church, the pain was gone and she was able to minister as usual … I have no doubt that this is the last time we’ve heard of that. The devil will have to find something else to scare her and to try to destabilize me.
Lk 10:19, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”
Take control of the events of your life.
Enjoy your week and God bless!
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