A girl always feels better when she’s going home.
I hope you feel better.
I woke up this morning with one singular sentence on the tip of my tongue:
Never underestimate the power of better.”
Better, I thought. I haven’t given that word much thought.
Until lately, that is.
A girl always feels better when a bouquet of flowers come from her man.
Better is filled with possibilities.
Webster’s 1828, my favorite dictionary, sheds light on just how potent the word better is:
Defined, better (adjective) means:
- Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; applied to physical, acquired or moral qualities; as a better soul; a better man; a better house.
- More advantageous.
- More acceptable.
- More safe.
- Improved in health*; less affected with disease.
*Number five is definitely what was on my mind this morning.
A Week of Being Better
Beautiful is the woman who is built to last. When things go bad, she remembers everything happens for a reason. It will get better in time.”
A girl always feels better after a little spa treatment–hospital style.
I am a woman built to last, but 24 hours after surgery, I sure didn’t feel that way. I’m sure you know the feeling.
As I sat in the dark, on the cushioned window seat in my room, head down and hands folded, I prayed for help. Remembering words I had written earlier in the week, I was holding on to the promise of prayer. Waiting for some test results to return, I found myself heading to the panic zone. I needed things to get better.
At exactly 1:32am, I saw my phone light up. A text from a dear friend asking how I was doing.
I sincerely couldn’t believe it. What on earth was she doing awake?
My emergency-911-cry-for-help-prayer was simple: Please pray for things to get better.
I know she did. Prayer warriors are often dressed as “woman built to last who remember when things go bad, there is a reason.” They are 100% confident in a God who makes things better in time.
About an hour later, still sitting with my head down and hands folded, I picked up my phone again and saw an email from yet another “woman built to last.” She sent me this incredible “Life Prayer” by Ransomed Heart.
This one paragraph spoke the words I couldn’t seem to find:
I now claim the resurrection triumph of Jesus Christ and the power of his empty tomb against all forms of death and destruction come against me. By Jesus Christ and his great work, I cut off every attempt of my enemies to steal, kill, or destroy my life. As Jesus said, no one takes my life from me (John 10:18). Death has no mastery over Jesus now (Romans 6:9), and death has no mastery over me, for I am united with Christ, one Spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17). I am in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). And Christ is in me (Colossians 1:27). I claim the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus now, against every black law of sin and death and every foul power of destruction aimed against me. By the authority of Jesus Christ I bind and banish all forms of bondage and death from me, now—all spirits, all witchcraft, all foul powers. I cancel all claims against me by the work of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13-15). I claim the resurrection of Christ against my enemies and their devices, and I bind them from me and send them to their judgment, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ and to his everlasting glory.
And then the remaining hours until dawn, I prayed this one line: I cancel all claims against me by the work of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13-15).
Hours later, at the break of dawn (I kid you not), the nurse walked in. The test was negative. Relief and gratitude filled the air and the necessary information helped navigate the right medicine to help me get better.
“Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”
–Isaiah 58:8
I hope you feel better today.
I’m home now and feeling better. It will be a slow healing process that looks like a full liquid diet leading to a soft foods diet leading to six to eight weeks of letting my esophagus heal. I’ll be putting “The 12 Practices” into motion, especially the practice of contentment–boy, am I one hungry girl!
Know that I am praying for you. Maybe there is something in your life that you need to get better.
Remember this: “You are a woman built to last. When things go bad, remember everything happens for a reason. It will get better in time.”
(*For Noah Webster fans, this is a really fun piece from Innovation Nation: Noah Webster)
I am out of touch and only know that you are having medical issues but I have and continue to pray for you.
Hey Debbie! So good to hear from you. THANK YOU so much for your prayers. You truly understand the angst and struggle of medical journeys. In June, I was diagnosed with a rare digestive disease, Achalasia, that basically means the peristalsis of the esophagus stops working and the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) fails to relax. Surgery was to open the sphincter in order to allow food to get through to the stomach. No cure, only palliative treatment. I know God is in control and is with me. I am so grateful for your prayers.
This blog is so inspiring and encouraging. I have been praying for you over here in Scotland. I’m glad that the test results were negative and that you are ‘on the mend’. The prayer you’ve posted reminds me that we have authority in Jesus Christ to cast away any evil thing that is not of God and that God does heal and work miracles, even today in this day and age. Thank you for your vulnerability and display of faith. I am reading Max Lucado’s ‘Fearless’ and I too am learning to pray before the Lord when I am on the edge of fear and anxiety. Love you Mrs. Rardon! You’re an inspirational woman and always have been to me!
Dearest Rachel,
Thank you for your prayers and kind words. It feels good to be on the mend. When I received that encouraging email, which included the prayer, I sincerely wept. The words gave my heart the necessary courage to keep believing God. The most important line, to me, is…”I cancel all claims against me by the work of Jesus Christ” (Colossians 2:13-15). I know I repeated that one-sentence prayer a thousand, if not more, times. It resonated so deeply. You are the second person this week to mention Lucado’s, “Fearless.” I think I might need to get that for myself. Stay strong, Rachel, and keep writing your own story. It inspires me!
Dear Janell,
Congratulations for your Blog. I’m going to have my POEM procedere next week.
THanks for sharing your experience.
Greetings from Colombia.
Kelly
Oh Kelly,
Please let me know what time/day so I can be praying for you.
I am always here to listen and help.
Blessings,
Janell