You can Avoid taking ownership of what you don’t want in your life.
Yes, you know, don’t you, that we can be in control of our lives; more so than most realize. We all have the power to choose using the power of the will, given to us at creation. Here are some powerful faith lessons I have learned on how to take control of our lives by not taking ownership of something not wanted. There is a couple who experienced life threatening cancer. In this brief, I show how she [they] leaned on God’s word and learned some ways to grow their faith.
Cancer Did Not Get the Last Word:
I know of a couple [names and places are not used to protect privacy] who had a seriously horrible experience in this area which came about when the wife was diagnosed with cancer. After having bad symptoms and being told by one caretaker that it was menopause, she was then diagnosed by two doctors, one after the other, and then referred to a cancer treatment specialist who did in fact verify that it was endometrial cancer. It was a real shock to hear the doctor give the diagnosis and then tell her she would have to have a hysterectomy to remove the cancer. She would also have to have chemo therapy and radiation treatments as well.
Of course he and she both prayed about this diagnosis often asking for courage and guidance. Very soon after the diagnosis while praying about this and asking for guidance in how to help her, he received from God “DON’T OWN IT.” “Don’t claim you have it.” Then he thought. “We cannot lie about it. How can we deny the cancer?” Again God inspired him to “Use words that do not claim or own it; don’t accept ownership but don’t lie! Don’t deny the diagnosis; just declare that it does not belong to you. Take no ownership in your thoughts, your words, or your prayers.”
So he shared this with his wife and they began changing their words. Words in sharing with loved ones and friends and words used in prayer. Instead of her saying “I have …she would say “I was diagnosed with.” And for him, he would say “she was diagnosed with.” The began to ask for God’s help in using proper words.
I learned this couple also began to change the words in their prayers. Their prayer was that God would heal her and help them to get rid of this cancer which did not belong to her. They prayed for courage and guidance as well as healing. They prayed once for healing and help and thereafter their prayers were giving thanks that it was gone and thanks for leading and guiding and for courage. Praying this way helped to build their hope and faith and keep doubts from taking hold. They had learned not to take thoughts that were negative or doubting and to replace them with positive thinking.
Before doctor and chemo appointments they prayed for their doctors, nurses, and other caretakers. She kept the doctor and chemo appointments and took meds as prescribed. He accompanied her to chemo and separately they prayed while she was in treatment. The after affects of the chemo therapy was agonizing and during this time doubts were rampant. They were bombarded with thoughts of doubt and fear which they had to learn to dismiss or replace with positive ones.
Finally the chemo and radiation treatments was over and shortly thereafter tests showed the endometrial cancer gone. Yes, it was time for rejoicing and for thanking God. Life began to improve, though not entirely herself because of ongoing side effects of the chemo therapy and radiation. Little by little she regained strength and began adjusting to changes brought about by this horrific experience.
And just as life was improving for her, she began to experience issues which prompted her to see her doctor again. Yes, it was cancer, again, only this time the diagnosis was Lymphoma. Another life threatening experience, but this time a very severe form of advanced cancer which had already spread to the liver before it was diagnosed.
Shocked, and shaken to the core she was in another battle for life. It would be an understatement to say it was a real shock. Shock went from real to extreme when the doctor told her she had advanced lymphoma cancer which was already in her liver, and he did not give her much hope of survival.
Treatment included surgery and chemo therapy again, and prayers again. Yes prayer, and thanks giving for leading, guiding, and healing. She told of times when she was about to crater with doubt, fear, and depression when she would receive a leading from God to read the bible or a certain book. She said she did that and would immediately regain her feeling of hope and faith.
Praying “According to” NOT “If it be” God’s will
As she fought for her life, both he and she were plagued by doubts. By this time they had learned that doubts would come to mind no matter how strong their faith. They also learned when doubts come calling, to dismiss them by replacing doubting thoughts with positive ones; and reinforcing your positive thinking with positive prayers. Yes, positive prayers worded to be “according to” God’s will. Speaking, Praying, and acting “According to” NOT “If it be” God’s will. They learned that their thoughts kept, word spoken, and actions must line up with God’s word.
Acting in faith and hope, they began learning to control thoughts. They spoke, acted and prayed “according to His will” as closely as they understood how. They knew from past experience that a persons thoughts can evolve into words with can be recorded and kept in the heart. They believed that there was the spiritual force of the Holy Spirit working for them when they used proper words and actions powered by faith driven prayers. Here is a list of phrases they learned to use without lying. Of course old habits are hard to break so they leaned on God’s words.
- I am experiencing symptoms of …
- I was diagnosed with…
- I am being treated for…
Before doctor and chemo appointments they prayed for their doctors, nurses, and other caretakers. She kept the doctor and chemo appointments and took medications as prescribed. He accompanied her to chemo and separately they prayed while she was in treatment. Their prayers during treatments were “thanks that the treatment were effective.” The after affects of the chemo therapy was agonizing, and during this time doubts were rampant. They were bombarded with thoughts of doubt and fear which they had to learn to dismiss or replace with positive ones.
Today, many years later, she is cancer free. She has some scarring but is cancer free. Thank God for leading, guiding, and answering prayers!
This reminds me of a promise from God which I learned from this couple’s battle with cancer. As most of us know, lessons can be learned during hard times. Here is a profound discovery and learned truth brought about by this couple’s cancer battle; learned while leaning on God’s direction they were led to this scripture.
These verses hold THE SECRETE to answered prayer. 1 John 5:14–15 reads as follows:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Follow me next time for more of God’s Design for Man. Would you like to contribute to help keep us online.
Recommended reading in the New King James Version of Bible. [and there are many more]
- Galations 5:22–23
- Psalm 32:8
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- 1 Peter 5:7
- Romans 4:17
- Romans 12:2
- Hebrews 4:12
- Hebrews 10:23
- Ephesians 6:12–13
- Hebrews 11:1
- Ephesians 3:20
- Jeremiah 29:11
- 1 Corinthians 16:14
- Proverbs 18:21
- John 6:63
- 1 John 5:14–15
- 1 Corinthians 2:5
