A Greater Intercession
I’m writing this the day after my second chemo/immuno treatment. Quite frankly, it’s been a bit more rugged than the aftermath of my first treatment. A bit of queasiness hit last night. I’m hoping it will soon pass.
For now, I’m taking it easy and focusing on a bland diet. A nap is definitely on the agenda.
One of the great joys that Gwen and I are experiencing in this cancer pilgrimage is the cards, texts, and social posts that are flowing in from coast to coast. Thousands of prayers are being offered for my healing. I am truly humbled and grateful.
Interestingly, the Apostle Paul was also the recipient of such intercession. It came from the believers in the city of Philippi. If you’re familiar with the context of the New Testament letter to the Philippians, it was written from Rome, where Paul was in chains awaiting trial and facing an uncertain future.
He expresses his gratitude for his friends’ support with these words from Phil. 1:18-19, “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”
Mark it well. Paul hoped for release from this situation. And he affirmed the Philippians for interceding toward that end.
However, what’s striking is that he alludes to an even higher goal in the verse that follows: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20).
According to Paul, his overarching goal was that Christ would be exalted. If that exaltation would be manifested in deliverance from his dire circumstances, the apostle was prepared to rejoice in that.
Yet, to his way of thinking, there was something even more important, and toward that end, he longed for an even greater intercession. Paul desired that his friends pray that he would have courage to walk through whatever might come his way and that Christ would ever and always be exalted.
As with Paul, so with Gwen and me. If, in fact, the Lord chooses to heal me either directly or through treatment, we will give Him all the glory.
However, if His will for us is otherwise (after all, Paul did say, “whether by life or death”), we want to walk in courage and exalt Him even then.
So, if you are praying for my healing, we’re so appreciative of that. However, we would also be grateful for an even greater intercession.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Here’s how you can pray for us in the coming days:
PRAY that the side effects of this week’s treatment will be minimal and that Dave will manage them well.
PRAY that we would walk this pilgrimage with courage.
PRAY for total healing.
PRAY that Christ will be exalted in all of this.