The night before
Last Wednesday Morning I had my fourth brain surgery to remove a recurrent brain tumor. I've come to realize that walking through trials in a faithful way is a way that we can serve others in the body of Christ as fellow believers (2 Cor 1:4) and to be salt and light to the world . I wanted to post something on suffering, yet as we were coming up to the day of surgery nothing new was given me.
I had absolute peace and confidence in God's work in my life. I did feel confident that what was happening was for His glory, was for good, for a reason, and in His control. The Friday before I did have a short struggle and time of fear and doubt, but some good friends came and prayed for me on Sunday. In that moment of powerful prayer, I felt equipped for going forward to whatever end. God works through people, and I have learned to lean heavily on those around me for help.
In preparation Tuesday night, in his kindness God's Spirit brought an passage to my mind. The Spirit speaks through His Word. He will use it to strengthen and encourage you.
Joshua 6:13-15This passage doesn't exhort the church body as a whole, but it met my heart Tuesday night, because in it I saw God giving His plan to take over Jericho to Joshua. That victory then would be His victory. His victory in His way. Joshua was along for the ride. In a like way, His Spirit communicated to my heart that I could lean on Him for this victory. By God's grace, I was sitting up in bed, talking a mere three hours after the surgery. And although I have a significant headache from typing this, I am sitting at this keyboard six days later, at home having typed this out. Thanks be to the Lord. We still await the results of the biopsy and appreciate your prayers, but are confident in the Lord's grace no matter the outcome.
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
Matt
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7 comments:
Amen! What a great encouragement. Praying for you.
Matt,
What an encouragement you have been. Your faith humbles me and we will continue to pray for you.
Love you brother!
I am inspired by your insight "that walking through trials in a faithful way is a way that we can serve others in the body of Christ as fellow believers." Seeing you walk through this up close, I can assure you that your service to me, Amy, and many others is real, substantive, and lasting.
-Mark F.
Good stuff, Matt.
Matt and Helen,
i was blessed this past week as i observed two sinners (saved by grace) simply taking God at His word; you didn't add or take anything away from that Peace, but you just walked by Faith. the quite peace you had, could not have been from human means but only on true dependence on God can that peace be found. i thought i was coming to be an encouragement to you but instead God used you to encourage and humble me.
thank you!
miss ya buddy and our times we had at flap jacks :) we will pray for you.
Matt, you are a great encouragment! I love the part where you said, "Joshua was along for the ride." We, too, are along for the ride. We watch in amazement what God does in, through & around us. I continue to pray for you (as I have since you had piano lessons so many years ago.)
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