Dad was a sick young man. I don't remember the list of illnesses but there were several including severe digestive issues forcing him to often eat only baby food. Pretty sure there was severe asthma preventing things like running. He wore leg braces for some reason. Apparently as he got older he got worse.
He said many times that he just didn't understand why anyone else would come to his grandma for prayer and leave perfectly well, but she prayed for him and he just got worse.
This continued until he was maybe mid 20s. I only guess at the age. He was discouraged, thinking he would die young. Then... Life changed one afternoon.
He had been seeking god., making the proverbial promise, "if you help me I will serve you forever". Bargaining with the creator of the universe. Years of that had led him nowhere but depressed and sicker. Finally he had enough.
This afternoon, alone on his back porch, he gave in. His Bargaining was over. His spirit broken. He prayed from his heart "I give up. Whether you heal me or not, I will serve you as best I can, sick or well. I am yours."
Immediately he heard an audible voice say " herbie (his nickname) of you mean that, catch that cow".
He looked up and just as he did, the family cow leaped over the fence and took off running. Truth is, he did mean what he prayed, and if this is what God wanted then he would try. He decided to take off hobbling after the cow best he could. Add his foot hit the ground, life changed in an instant.! He was perfectly healed just like that.
He kept on running and the leg brace flew away,. He was breathing and running! A true miracle. He caught the cow and brought her back.
Overjoyed he ran into the house and started eating. Whatever he could find. Things he could never eat before. Sure enough, he was healed.
Why? Apparently god needed dad to give up. Much like Abraham sacrificing his own son, my dad had to reach a place of total obedience regardless of personal cost. God does not bargain. It is foolish and presumptuous to try to bargain with the master of the universe. Once we realize that and submit to his will no matter what, he can bless us.
If he would not have taken the first step in faith, I am sure nothing would have happened. Faith is the beginning. Sterling of into the unknown, knowing we can trust God, is what he wants.
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord.
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