“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings…” Philippians 3:10a.

When you encounter suffering, do you lean toward hopeful faith or hopeless despair? How do you lift your heart and head?

In the midst of my mom’s horrific seven-year battle with cancer, I see the evidence of His hand on our lives. In this desperate place, He restored us and made us shine for His glory in unimaginable ways. If He had healed her back in 2012, I would still be blind.

In the deepest darkest part of 2018 on a morning my sister came to pick up our mom for her care taking turn, I wrote in my journal, “I am afraid. Today Mom goes to Sis’. I am afraid I will never see her again. I’m sad and mad that my sister must now carry this responsibility, it’s too heavy. Lord, give her strength for each day of this great task. Amen.” My fears overwhelmed me.

My mom’s digestive cancer grew worse and by April of 2018 she went in for an intestinal bypass. By December 2018, the tumors grew in size and she needed a colostomy (they create an exit for your waste that now goes into an external bag you wear attached to your skin). This surgery is difficult mentally and comes with a steep learning curve of self-care.

Our mother was so physically worn out from surgeries and the loss of 98 pounds. By January 2019, we had Palliative Care nurses coming to our homes as our mother teetered on the edge of 89 pounds for many weeks.

On one particularly hard Palliative care visit, my sister and I escorted the nurses as they left. They were sweet women who over the weeks came to love our mom. They wept as they encouraged us to be strong, and warned us that the end looked near. As they drove away, my sister and I straightened ourselves out as we prepared to enter our home. We were receivers, bearers, and tellers of bad news. This was hopeless despair and not hopeful faith!

For months, I told people the worst of the bad news about my mother and halfheartedly asked for prayers. My whole body held the worry of the cancer winning. I reflected on my thoughts and saw how hopeless I was imagining this cancer. I even played a funeral scene over and over in my mind. Where was my hopeful faith?

The physical exhaustion of this sickness zapped my body’s strength. My mind was not on God. I had a heart full of sorrow, not displaying the inheritance of joy. Time passed and I was unaware of life. Nothing in my life was integrated. My heart, soul, mind, body, and strength were scattered. Finally, I crashed and God spoke into the quiet space.

“Breathe. Renew to rejuvenate. Dig deep to restore Whose you are. Revive what you know as truth.” I heard my own voice trail, “What I know as truth….”

Truth is, my Father is a GOOD Father. He orchestrates order, not chaos; peace, not fear. His love is everlasting. He is always available. He is unfathomable. He hears me. God loves me. I am HIS. 

Where was I displaying any of this truth?

It was time to Rise Up and Joy Up. It was time to DECLARE what was not, use my mouth to speak to this mountain in Jesus’ Name. It was time to declare, “My mother is healed. In Jesus’ Name.” I declared it, then my family declared it, now our church declares it, and even my mother’s own lips declare, “I am healed. In Jesus’ Name.” 

The posture of my heart and mind realigned to a hopeful faith fighting FROM victory. Thankfulness and praise came out of my mouth. Taking on the attitude of Christ, as challenging as that is, made way for my Good Father to have His glory.

Today, my mom weighs 102 pounds, and for the first time since 2012, the doctors told us, “The tumors are stable.” Hallelujah! Praise Jesus! My mom is full of life. She manages her colostomy bag, diet, attitude, and life. Additionally, her doctors approved her request to travel to Switzerland to celebrate her sister’s 80th birthday this past July! That’s not what doctors or nurses said she’d do. That’s not what our minds and mouths used to say. The devil will no longer steal, kill, or destroy because Jesus said He came to give us life and to give it ABUNDANTLY! (John 10:10). Receive it!

There is power in His Word. Start speaking life today. Start speaking what is not into being (Romans 4:17). Just show up to life in His power, believing He will use your circumstances for good and conform you into the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29). Press in and know Him and the power of His resurrection while you fellowship in His sufferings remembering it is by His stripes we are healed – mind, body, soul, and strength (Phil 3:10, Isaiah 53:5).  Whew! Now, go take on the day that HE has made and be glad and rejoice in it!

Why do you train? How does your training help you lift your heart and your head to God’s truth? 

 

Michelle is a stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom of one, mother of two (10 and 19-college student) and married nearly 30 years this November to her college sweetheart, Doug. Michelle uses Revelation Wellness in her community to bring Moms and Kids together in a fitness program.

Thank you for reading along on the Revelation Wellness Blog this week! This week, we are celebrating the book anniversary of The Wellness Revelation: Lose what weighs you down so you can love God, yourself, and others! In these pages, you will learn how to live well both physically and spiritually so that you are best equipped to love and serve others from a whole heart. Have you read The Wellness Revelation yet? If so, we encourage you to post a picture of you with the book and share how it’s impacted your life! Writing an Amazon Review of the book is one of the best ways to spread its goodness to others! We encourage you to pick up a book, find a friend, and find a Revelation Wellness Instructor in your area to go on The Wellness Revelation Journey!

Workout with us in this #wednesdayworkout! For more workouts like this, visit RevWell TV!

AMIA’S DRUMSTICKS – “EXIST ON PURPOSE”

Grab your paint stir sticks, whatever you can click together and get ready to move to the beat. This workout will be a surprisingly fun and challenging time! May your heart and lungs move in time with His beating love for you! (ALL LEVELS) (REVELATION 4:11; DRUMSTICKS)