Groundhog Day

I'm in a time warp.  I can't believe it's already Thursday.  It's like Groundhog's Day.  Same thing over and over again every day.  Although, the circumstances have changed.  The leak in the esophagus has turned into the stitches coming undone.  Instead of 2mm leak it's now 1cm.  Ari now has two chest tubes in her left chest to drain what's leaking out of her esophagus.  She has an infection from the leak and has been battling a fever on and off.  The surgeons have not yet decided what they're going to do at this point.  It's a catch 22. If they decide to operate they won't be able to until the infection is gone.   They can't fully cure the infection until she stops leaking.

I shed tears easily these days and this letter brought on some more.  This letter is from Great Grandma Steadman's first cousins Curt and Barb. Curt is a Pastor of a church in Kansas and Matt has known since he was a kid.

Dear Matt and Nina,

We were sorry to hear about the recent set back with Arianna.  It’s time for a permanent turn around in your circumstances.  There is power in our words and when our words agree with God’s Word there is nothing that is impossible.  God is watching over His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). 

First, know that it is God’s will for Arianna to be healed.  Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Since there is no sickness in heaven, it must not be His will for there to be sickness here on earth. 

Second, any mistakes that the Dr.’s or nurses have made in the treatment of Arianna need to be forgiven.  This is not to say that you haven’t forgiven but we’re just covering all the bases because it would be easy under the circumstances to feel resentment.  Forgiveness is an act of the will and is not dependent on whether we feel like forgiving or whether they deserve to be forgiven.  Unforgiveness can hinder the blessings of God.

We want to share with you a number of scriptures that you can speak over Arianna every day, even many times a day.  Proverbs 4:20-22 says, “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.  Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their whole body.” In essence these verses say to keep your focus on the Word of God (Bible) not on the circumstances.  The Word spoken in faith will bring health to Arianna’s body.

Speak the following scriptural promises over Arianna.  As you do it again and again, faith will rise because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 

Ps 118:17: “I shall not die, but live, and tell of the works of the LORD.”

Put Arianna’s name in this verse.  “Arianna shall not die, but live and tell of the works of the Lord.”

Isaiah 53:5: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes we are healed.”

Isaiah 54:17: “’No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.

Jeremiah 30:17: “'For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds,' declares the LORD."' God wants to not only heal Arianna physically but also heal her emotionally from all the trauma of not being able to be held plus all of the surgeries. 

Also, we have seen tremendous things happen by speaking blessing over people.  In the Hebrew the word to “bless” means to speak God’s intentions and purposes into someone’s life.  His purpose for Arianna is healing.  You can say, “I speak blessing to Arianna.  I speak blessing to her stomach and esophagus and I say that she is flourishing and healthy and growing with a growth which is from God.”  You can also speak blessing on the Dr.’s and nurses saying, “I speak blessing on the Dr.’s and nurses and that they will walk in wisdom and knowledge and understanding in their treatment of Arianna and that You will be with them and guide them to be Your instruments to restore Arianna to perfect health and wholeness.” 

Try not to talk much about the way things are but declare what God’s will is for Arianna.  Talk about Arianna as if she were already healed because in God’s eyes she is.  Romans 4:17 says that we can “call the things which do not exist as existing.”  In other words, you can begin saying that Arianna’s esophagus is attached to her stomach and not leaking even though that isn’t a manifest reality at this moment. 

Also, you can be speaking the Word over yourselves as well as you need God’s grace and strength for all that you have been through. 

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9: “And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."

Philippians 4:19: “And it is he who will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.” – TLB.

We will continue along with many others in our prayers for you and Arianna.  Kenneth Copeland had a prophetic word for the body of Christ.  He said that God told him to tell the body of Christ that “everything is going to be all right.”  He also said that God told him that 2012 is going to be “a year of great joy and miracles.”  Keep reminding yourself of those promises.  God’s got special plans in store for Arianna. 

May grace and peace be multiplied to you!

Curt and Barb