One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Luke 5:17-19
Most loving Lord Jesus, I begin this day with a sense of urgency for a few friends. Though I don’t have to rip tiles off of a roof to bring them to you, I would if I had to. For you alone have the authority to forgive sins and the power to heal every disease.
You alone have the Spirit without measure. You alone gospel the poor… bind broken hearts… free captives… release prisoners… bestow God’s favor… comfort mourners… provide for grievers… and bring beauty, gladness and praise (Isaiah 61:1-3). What a Savior you are… and everything you do, you do with so much joy.
(As I’m thinking of a few of my friends, bring some of yours before the throne of grace).
Jesus, for my brother who is absolutely paralyzed with fear, grant him your peace and heavenly wisdom. He has every right to be afraid because he is living in a vortex of great darkness. Important decisions have to be made and broken people well-cared for. For your glory, show yourself as the God who is mighty to save.
Jesus, for my married friends who used to live face to face in kindness and affection, but now live back to back with rancor and stubbornness… raise the dead, O God of resurrection. There is no hope unless you replace stony hearts with hearts of flesh. Both of them need to come to the cross, and soon, but at least, soften one of my hardened friends. Bring somebody to gospel sanity so the other spouse will see beauty and tear up their ticket to Tarshish.
Jesus, for my friend who lives with three hours of sleep a night… unrelenting depression… and a constant death threat from a father who is already dead, I simply cry for mercy, Jesus. With wet eyes, not clinched firsts, I simply ask, “How long, O Lord? How long before my friend knows the freedom and healing you alone can give?”
This I know for sure, Jesus, you do all things well, even if you don’t do some things the way I want you to. So very Amen, I pray, in your merciful and mighty name.
