I love writing and writing poetry. I also love to read. I’m a very visual person. However, I’ve often noticed I can read through a lot of descriptive text and miss the picture the writer is painting. I’m more interested in the action and development of the story than in some of the other facets. When I want to see what the writer is showing me, I have to slow down and visualize it according to the text. I find all of this to be ironic since my own writing, especially my poetry, is very visual.

After I had finished reading the Bible today and I was going back to compile my notes, the Holy Spirit led me back to Luke 13:11.

And a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

Luke 13:11 (NIV)

I saw this woman bent over and unable to stand, and I saw her faith.

This woman was healed by her faith. The scripture doesn’t say the woman went to the synagogue to be healed by Jesus. For eighteen years, this woman had been crippled and couldn’t straighten up. Yet, where does the Lord find her? In the synagogue, a place of God. Jesus didn’t find her, like so many others, on a corner calling His name, or at one of His sermons. He found her in the best place she could be. Worshipping God. Waiting on God.

This woman could have given up a long time ago, but she didn’t. Despite her pain and her infirmity, she was there on the Sabbath to worship the Lord. He met her there, healed her, and delivered her from her pain and anguish.

Note the first thing that she did was straighten up and praise God when she was healed (Luke 13:13). This woman knew who Jesus was and who He represented, when those who were trained, the priests in the synagogue, did not. Only God could have healed her. They only saw someone who “worked” on the Sabbath. How tragic!

This woman likely went to the same synagogue for eighteen years seeing one priest after another who did nothing for her, but she was still faithful. We can only surmise what kind of attitude she received from these priests in the synagogue.

We must never give up. No matter what it looks like. No matter what we think God is doing or not doing. We must persevere through every trial and tribulation in faith. We never know when we may find deliverance.

I have some other notes from today, but when the Lord showed me this woman and her faith. I knew this was what He wanted me to share with you. I know my words cannot come close to the presence of the Holy Spirit that filled me and gave me this word, but I do hope the Spirit of God touches you and brings you what you need.

Do you know God? God knows you, and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart, and I receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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