Word: Turning A Broken Story Into God’s Glory

In Luke 13:12, we read about a woman who was bent over for eighteen long years. Despite her ‘crippling’ situation, we witness her desperate struggles to get to the House of God. It was an effort to get out of bed; it took all her determination to get ready and leave her house; and every step she took bought a groan from her belly. As she passed by fellow worshippers, many wagged their heads whispering that she must have sinned to cause such a disgraceful disease. Many times, she tried to fix her impediment, but Scripture informs us that ‘she could in no wise lift herself up’ (Luke 13:11).

It is in this Text that we find one of Jesus’s most powerful statements, ‘Woman, thou art loose from your infirmity’ (Luke 13:12). This Word was not intended to be just a ‘Logo’ or ‘Theme slogan’ for some ‘Woman’s Department’. This woman’s story focuses on ladies who are at their lowest. Furthermore, there are many ladies around us who are going through similar types of brokenness. Our smile and chatter don’t mean that the pain is not there, the smile is just our way of dealing with issues we are not able to resolve right now. In the meantime, we are aware that we are broken and ‘limping’, but we have to keep ‘walking’. It is this obvious ‘limp’ that causes us to feel different; less-than; insecure; small; afraid; vulnerable; and even ashamed. There are times we feel overwhelmed by the ‘limp’, and we retreat into a place of security, protection, safety (our safe hiding place), to rest a while.

This is where God steps in. God sees our brokenness, He sees our ‘limp’ and loves us regardless. God does not heal us first (or fixes us first), then love us: No, God reaches out to us whilst we are limping. People of God, the Lord sees you limping; sees you hobbling; sees you battling; sees you trying to hide the stagger; He hears you try to explain over and over again why you walk the way you do. The Lord watches, as various people come offering an assortment of remedies, but like ‘the woman with the issue’, rather than get better, the situation appears worse (Luke 8:43-48). Now listen to what the Lord is saying: ‘Do not fear…I am Your Maker; I am Covenanted to you. I am Your Redeemer…I called out to you when everyone else forsook you…grieved you…and refused you… Today, I am going to gather you…and with everlasting kindness, I will show you mercy’.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
– Oh Lord, You are not governed, controlled, intimidated, or manipulated by the signs or symptoms of our present condition.
– Hence, Your command for us is to not to be afraid. You desire that we return to you, no matter what condition we may find ourselves in.
– Today God, You are shaking things around us for our good. Putting things right, so that we can move forward. Hallelujah. Thank You JESUSSSSS.
– It is not Your will for us to walk in shame, disgrace, embarrassment, or reproach. We rebuke these spirits, and step into the realms of the Holy Spirit.
– Today, we walk in God’s freedom. For it is Christ who has set us free, making us free indeed. Amen and Amen.