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Listen while you read: "He Keeps Me Singing"1 (Lyrics) |
Fighting a virus, especially the influenza virus, is something that I do not want to experience again. I can't remember the last time that I was so sick. When I first contracted the virus, it attacked me overnight. I woke up and could hardly breathe. Worried, I asked my husband to drive me to the hospital. I must have had a fever, because I couldn't keep warm. The waiting time in the emergency department seemed like an eternity, until finally, I heard my name being called by the attending nurse. I went for an X-ray on my chest, which revealed that I had contracted the influenza virus. I was given a prescription to be filled, and then I was sent home.
I just wanted to sleep, and drink ginger ale, and sleep some more, which I did for two solid days. This virus seemed to cling on for almost three weeks. It robbed me of my appetite and energy, and at times, I felt as if I were going to die.
During the two weeks of not feeling up to par, my writing was put on the back burner. I had no desire to pray, read my Bible, check my e-mails, or read a novel. I had literally no desire to do anything at all. All I wanted to do was sit in my recliner, curled up in a blanket, and let the television entertain me.
During this time of sickness, I knew that God was with me. He was with me on the ride to the hospital. He was with me when the technician took an X-ray. He was with me as I slept, and at the end, He healed me. Even though I couldn't pray, I knew that friends were upholding me with their prayers.
James 5:15-16 – The prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (NASB)
During the current flu season, let us be on the lookout for sick people whom we can uphold in prayer.
Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for being with us when we are sick. We thank You for doctors, nurses, and X-ray technicians. We thank You for medical research teams and for their discoveries. Sometimes, You heal us and sometimes, in Your omnipotence, You decide to call Your beloved children home. We thank You for friends who uphold us in prayer. Enable us to do the same for them. Help us to trust You in all things. Amen.
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May it be so, Rosemary.
Glad you’re better Rosemary! Thanks for writing and sharing.
Blessings.
What a timely and encouraging devotional! Thank you very much.
(SC, USA)
Amen to that! And God has miraculously healed me on many occasions when the doctors threw up their hands! How great is our God!
Dear Rosemary
I am so glad you’re feeling better. I understand this flu season is very bad. I pray you and your family stay healthy.
Oh Rosemary, what an awful trial, but praise God, you’ve recovered. Praying with you that God would heal all afflicted with this nasty flu and every other debilitating disease. Thanks for writing and sharing, my friend. Blessings.
Sorry to hear you had the dreaded influenza. I had it last year and ended up being hospitalized for eight days. I recovered as you did by the prayers of good friends.
God bless. Hope you continue to feel better.
Happy New Year Rosemary. Good Devotional, and good to know you are better from the flu. And just think… the positive of having it, gave you the “material” for this devotional.
Take care, keep well, and have a really good, productive year ahead.
Rosemary,
Thank you for your prayer in this morning’s Presbyterian Daily Devotional. I am thankful that God has healed you so you can continue with your writing. May you have a healthy, happy New Year with JOY and PEACE.
(ON)
Dear Rosy – sorry to hear you have been so sick, but equally glad you are now up and running again.
These flu bugs are indiscriminate and strike wherever, and whenever they like.
The good news is that even in our despair – in illness – we can hold tight to God and find inner comfort, despite the physical effects of the illness.
Stay well,
Blessings.
Dear Rosemary,
Thank you for reminding me to pray for people who are sick. There are always persons in the world sick without any ample care and without even hospitals when severely ill. And they need our Lord’s attendance and love and they need most of all the knowledge of God’s redemption in Jesus Christ.
Let us pray too for doctors, nurses, and missionaries.
For Jesus sake. Amen.
Keep writing, and I pray you’ll be healthy.
Hi Rosy,
I hate it when people say to me “I know exactly what you are talking about” But in this case I do. When I had my aortic valve replaced all went well and I was to go home in 4 – 5 days. But a fever developed, and intestinal problems. Every day when I woke up I still was still sick. After 14 days they sent me home as there was nothing they could do. So they said. I was sick for several weeks. I felt the same as you did. I litterally walked through the valley of the shadow of death. But the Lord saved me to continue His work. That’s how I feel.
Thank you for writing Rosy.
Wow. Pretty rough.
I think when we feel too sick to pray, or for some other reason, the Holy Spirit prays for us.
My Dear Rosy, I’m so sorry you have been hit so hard with what is crowding hospitals all over the country. So far, we have been free of even a cold.
We are very blessed and grateful. I will be praying for your healing. I want to hear soon that you are back to your normal self. God loves you and so do I.
What a timely message, Rosemary. In this season of sickness, it is good for us to remember that God is with us in and through all things. We are not a patient people usually, so I find that it is during these times of illness, inactivity, and inability to do anything but rest, our focus returns to our Creator and Great Healer, which I suspect is His intention all along.
I am so glad that you’ve come through that viral trial, as your writings are much appreciated.
Blessings to you and yours as you serve our amazing God.