Do It Afraid- Choosing Faith in the Midst of UncertaintySýnishorn

Matthew 8:1-3

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

If you are unfamiliar with the stigma surrounding leprosy, people with leprosy were not to go among the crowds. They were to be secluded, away from the general population. But this particular man found the faith to come and kneel before Jesus to ask for healing, to be made clean. The man with leprosy could face punishment for his appearance among the crowd, yet despite the fear, he appeared anyway.

The story continues to say, "Jesus touched him," which was against the cultural norm because people with leprosy were not to be touched. Yet, Jesus touched him and made him clean, immediately. He did not say come back tomorrow or in the future. He healed him immediately.

I believe that if we find ourselves in need today, God can do immediate work in and for us. Despite how scary our situation may be, He can.

Let's pray.

God,

In Matthew 8:1-3, I read that a man with leprosy was healed by your touch through his belief in you. Not only was he healed, it says he was healed immediately. I know you're the same God from that day, today. Thank you for giving me examples in your word that help build my faith and trust in you. Lord, today I ask for an immediate touch from you regarding my situation.

I put my trust in your word and have decided despite any fear or feelings, I trust you to fulfill this specific request immediately. May I continue to exercise my faith by trusting you and believing in your word, knowing full well you still perform miracles daily. I love you and I thank you in advance. May what you do for me cause me to spread the news about you all over my region.

In Jesus' name, Amen.