That Piercing Sword..

27 Jun That Piercing Sword..

God delights in surprising us, I think.

Just when you think you know Him, you find, as did the Apostle Paul, His judgments are unsearchable and His ways past finding out.

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From what I understand, I have the misfortune of having a deviated septum, or simply put, a disproportionate nasal cavity.

This cavity, I am told, should be divided neatly in half, but mine is slightly anomalous, with one side being roughly two thirds the size of the other.

The result of this is frequent nasal congestion, sometimes progressing to sinusitis and eventually sinus headaches.

Terrible, painful headaches.

Piercing ones.

Headaches that make me feel like the left side of my head might just burst open and spill out.

And, quite regrettably, most medication does nothing at all, except perhaps make everything fuzzy.

So usually, when M/s Sinusitis makes its appearance, I simply resign myself to three days in bed.

Three days in which I can barely move, hardly eat, scarcely function.

Three days of pure agony. 

So this one time, I’m suffering from this hellish affliction, once again.

It’s early morning on day two, and I’m already anticipating at least another 48 hours of torture.

I peel myself out of bed, and just as my feet touch the floor, I distinctly hear these words in my spirit;

The word of God is living and active..

But I am unable refer to my Bible, as reading requires that I put on my glasses, which for some reason simply amplifies the pain.

(Can someone please explain why sinus headache plus reading glasses equals even more painful headache?!)

So instead, I make my way to my bedroom couch, cover myself with a warm duvet and try to sleep.

My twelve year old daughter, quite accustomed to this, comes and tucks herself in, at the opposite end of the couch.

It’s going to be a long day with Mummy – might as well catch up with some reading..

And for the next few hours, I drift in and out of sleep, as my daughter reads quietly at my feet, and the younger ones dash in and out of the room.

Every few hours I find myself awake, and each time these same words tug gently at my spirit;

The word of God is living and active..

I keep trying to recall the rest of the passage, but my mind is simply too distracted. My entire being seems centered on this one side of my head, and all I can feel is that vicious pain.

Ah, the misery of it!

At lunch time, my housekeeper brings me a bowl of fresh fruit, as I have no desire to eat anything else.

I gain a little strength and decide to move over to the living room.

As I do, I ask my daughter to pick up my Bible and come with me.

I find myself a warm corner, sit down and ask her to read the passage I’ve been hearing all day.

But my younger daughter grabs hold of the Bible, finds the verse and begins to read.

However, she’s only eight years old and Messrs New King James hardly had little girls in mind.

So she stumbles on big words and unfamiliar phrases, and in the end, my mind is unable to grasp the full import of the passage.

I lie down resignedly and try to sleep, but after a few minutes I hear the words yet again, softly, gently;

The word of God is living and active..

They just won’t leave me alone!

So finally, I sit up determinedly and ask my elder daughter to open the Bible and read the passage herself.

And she does.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Instantly, dear reader, and to my utter astonishment, the pain in my left temple begins to subside!

I ponder this for a moment.

And then I ask her to read again.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Ala? I’m quite sure this is not a healing verse!

Yet, I can distinctly feel the pain dissipating and a certain heaviness lifting.

Excitedly, I ask my daughter to read the verse yet again;

“For the word of God is living and powerful..”

And right there, dear reader, is a real demonstration of the grace and mercy of our Almighty God.

For within minutes, I am able to sit up and chat, in about an hour I can get off the couch, and by evening I’m happily enjoying a wonderful book, reading glasses and all!

But the most interesting part of this incident, I believe, is this;

This verse, Hebrews 4:12, is hardly what we might consider one of the “healing” verses.

Verses such as “By his stripes we are healed” or “He heals all your diseases” or “He sent His word and healed them”.

Verses that bring us comfort and relief during times of illness or pain.

It is simply a statement of the incredible power of the Word of God.

And the fact that God purposely uses it to heal me leaves me completely floored.

God delights in surprising us, I think.

Just when you think you know Him..

——-

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! Romans 11:33

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

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