Enforcing You: Activating Your Kingdom Identity in ChristSample

”For she kept saying to herself, “If only I could touch his clothes, I know I will be healed.” As soon as her hand touched him, her bleeding immediately stopped! She knew it, for she could feel her body instantly being healed of her disease!” 

Mark 5: 28 The Passion Translation

I am amazed by the tenacious faith of the woman “with the issue of blood.” Let’s discuss her reality for a moment so you can grasp the fullness of her actions. The Bible says that the woman had a problem that involved blood for 12 years. Not only that, but she had also been to many doctors and spent lots of money, yet her condition only grew worse. In fact, the Bible says she had “spent all that she had.” This means she was all out of resources, at her wit's end, and there was nothing left she could do. I can’t imagine how desperately she wanted to give up.

Also, consider that culturally, women who were bleeding were not allowed to touch people or be touched by other people. In fact, when amid a crowd, they were required to yell continuously, “Unclean, unclean” Can you only imagine? Let’s go back to the feeling of giving up and consider what comforts you find in those moments. Typically, we rely on people to soothe our aching hearts, yet she was unable to connect with others.

Note that this woman was faced with two possible realities, one based on her system and experiences, and one based on what she knew about Jesus. In a single moment, she had to choose, “Which one will I act upon?” “What do I want to believe?”  Isn’t it true that we face this same dilemma?

Despite the challenges this woman faced, despite the rules of her system, she chose to believe truth instead of her reality. But this wasn’t an easy decision to act upon. She had to struggle to push through that crowd, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Much the same, we MUST push through to get what is rightfully ours. Yet, she was determined!

I think the key to her healing was not just her determination, but rather her predetermination. Note that she believed to the point of stating out loud what would happen when she reached Jesus. In other words, she predetermined the encounter she had with Him. What a sweet reminder of what it looks like to persevere and be determined for Truth. 

What kind of encounters with Jesus have you determined for your day? Are you determined to press through your crowded schedule to touch Him? Are you expecting to be changed when you sit with Him? 

Let’s declare our truth for today together. “God, I declare that today, I will connect with You. I determine to press into your presence and I declare that I will be changed by your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.”