July 4th…it’s a very quiet holiday around here this year, and the weather is about as gloomy as I feel. Although I had good news yesterday, I am just feeling out of sorts today…not feeling much like celebrating.

In my devotional reading today, it said to speak what you seek…declare what is to be (Isaiah 45:21). How we respond when adversity comes will make or break us. What we say in the midst of our difficulties will have a direct impact on the outcome. Although I see with my eyes and hear with my ears what the medical report says, I don’t have to look only at the facts of the reports. I can look at GOD’s Word – the truths and promises in HIS Word. Declare the truth over the situation until it lines up with the facts of the Word of GOD.

In another devotional reading, it talked about the Great Friend. My Friend who is also my Savior – is ready to help, anticipates my wants and needs, has His Hand outstretched to help & encourage, wards off danger, is the voice of tenderness that soothes tired nerves, & speaks peace to restlessness & fear. He is my tireless, selfless, all-conquering, all miracle-working Perfect Friend…His Name is Jesus! Such a comforting message for today.

My devotional readings for July 5th were just as encouraging as the day before…seems that Father GOD is speaking and reaching out to me at every turn.

“Put on the full Armor of GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”  ~ Ephesians 6:13

My first reading for today was about standing firm during adversity. GOD doesn’t always deliver us immediately – HE uses challenges to stretch us & enlarge our vision. – We must remain faithful during our times of adversity. – I know GOD will use this adversity in my life…HE never wastes anything.

My second reading was about being invincible. GOD is with us at all times – controlling, blessing, and helping us. No one or nothing can stand against HIM. We can put our trust in HIM – place everything in HIS Hands. Trust HIM – HE is the Captain of our salvation.

I was alone in the office today as everyone was out sick. I was feeling pretty bummed, when I got a text from my Pastor friend, PD, asking me if he could come by for a visit & said he had something for me. I was so glad to hear from him and was looking forward to this visit GOD had so lovingly orchestrated.

When PD got to my office, he gave me a copy of an email he had received. He said when he read this email, he felt it was for me. He laid it on the table in his dinning room & went to his prayer room to pray. He said as he was praying, he began to make a wrapping motion with his hands…as if he were wrapping something. As he prayed he realized he was praying a Pastoral covering over me – which he said was different from praying for a friend. I was very touched by this. Then he told me as he was leaving his home to come and see me, his wife told him she thought he should take a copy of the email he had received that morning…she said the LORD laid me on her heart when she read it….he smiled and told her, he already had a copy for me and was heading out to see me.

We visited for almost two hours…the afternoon felt like it flew by. As PD got ready to leave, he told me he would be in continual prayer for me and truly believed, I was going to be just fine. I told him I was praying for a miracle, like so many cancer patience do…praying that there was some sort of mistake. That when the tumor was removed the doctors would discover, it wasn’t cancerous after all…I would soon learn, that was not going to be my miracle.