Insulin For The Heart

…all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. Luke 6:12-26   I remember the summer I visited my paternal grandmother who by this time had been diagnosed with diabetes. While I was there I watched as she gave herself a shot of insulin in her thigh everyday. This shot of insulin enabled her to be with family, friends and experience all of the unexpected moments of life. In other words, physically, insulin was her lifeline. I remember thinking; “I hope I never have to do that to myself,” while at the same time I was so proud of her courage. While a bowl of cereal would have been fine for me and my two sons, she insisted on getting up at the crack of dawn to make sure breakfast was ready. Had she chosen to disregard her medical need she would not have had the energy to do that. Last night I dreamed that I had to give myself insulin shots. When I inquired as to where I should place the needle I was shown that I had to insert the needle directly into my heart. The dumb look on my face apparently woke me up as I lay quietly wondering what God needed me to understand. Then alarm went off. Like insulin, the word of God is the needle of encouragement that must be injected in to our spirit. Everyday we must encourage ourselves with the promises that God’s word provides. It enables us to be with our family, friends and experience all of the unexpected moments of life with praise and thanksgiving. God’s word is our lifeline.

Lifeline

‘Why could we not cast it out?’  Mark 9:14-29  There are times when nothing we try seems to work. It doesn’t matter what it is; strongholds such as deep seeded habits, anxieties and ways of thinking are difficult to change. This doesn’t mean that change won’t happen, rather simply a reminder of our dependence on God’s grace as we continue to strive in the spiritual life. To live by the spirit is to be guided by the spirit (Galatians 5:25-6:10), and prayer is our lifeline. Use it regularly and live.


Psalm 141:2, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16