“This is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith.” (I John 5:4) Lift up your eyes
In the Book of James are these words: “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise him up.”
James leaves the promise without qualifi cations, although both he and his readers know perfectly well that not all cases of sickness will be healed. Here as always where the effi cacy of prayer is taught the condition “if it is God’s will” is to be tacitly understood. Nonetheless, everyone knows that where intense and vivid faith exists—and that such was the case when James was written may be taken for granted—extraordinary cures occur.
Shirley Reeder, for one, possessed such a faith and took God at his word. In 1974 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Surgery was a must. But let her tell you her story in her own words:
“On the evening before surgery, during prayer, I had a vision. I saw Jesus carrying me. The experience was so personal and meaningful to me it was some time before I could tell anyone. But deep down I knew that Jesus loved me and would be with me for whatever lay ahead.
“Following my surgery the doctors thought the cancer was removed and that everything was fi ne. However, a year later I had a reoccurrence. The cancer had metastasized in both lungs. That is extremely serious. In fact, my chance for survival was very slim if at all.
“In our Bible Study group we had studied the prayer of faith in the book of James. After some soul searching, I made my decision. I asked the elders of the church to pray for me. On Nov. 17, 1975 at 7:30 in the sanctuary Bob Lanford, Kenneth Jones, Bill Reeder, John Troy and our minister, Clyde Nichols, prayed over me.
“The chemo treatments were tough, but the Lord gave me another gift—I believed I was going to get well. The Holy Spirit led me to many scriptures that seemed to be written just for me. I have been able to share them with others who are ill. God does things in such a wonderful way. On my birthday, when I went to my doctor, he told me they could fi nd no trace of cancer. What a great present!
“Today I am well, still thanking and praising God for what he has done. Over the years since, I have had my ups and downs like everyone else. When a crisis occurs I turn to Isaiah 41:10.
“Fear not, for I am with you, I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
Clyde Nichols is a retired minister, having served First Christian Church in Temple for 27 years as senior minister. He is the author of three books of devotionals and writes a religious column for several Texas newspapers, including The Reporter.
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