During our USA stay, the state of Philadelphia was within fairly easy reach and a local person had recommended visiting a certain riverside town there. So off I went! The countryside we passed through on the taxi ride was lush and beautiful, but, on entering the town and setting foot on the pavement, I had a very uneasy feeling. There was something unsettling and “off” in the atmosphere that my Holy Spirit radar was picking up on. As I walked around a little more, it soon became apparent that this town was an active, liberal hub promoting new age lifestyles and a range of very dark spiritual practices. I honestly wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
The Holy Spirit had a timetable of His own, however! Owing to the more remote location, I would need to wait at least twenty minutes for the next available Uber.. My phone was now playing up and needed to be in direct WiFi range to work, so I went inside a nearby coffee shop. A few young ladies were serving behind the counter and one in particular, Melissa, was very helpful in sorting out my phone and Uber issues – as well as preparing me a piping hot coffee!
I couldn’t help noticing that Melissa had a sort of splint bandage around one wrist, so when the customer queue had died down, I went over to ask her about it. She quickly lowered her voice, explaining that she had pain from repetitive strain through the work she does in the coffee shop. She didn’t want anyone in the shop overhearing, in case the Manager found out and it worked against her in her job. I quietly explained about praying for people in pain and seeing God take their pain away and Melissa was happy to let me pray for her wrist. Her pain was a level 6/10 . This was a very brief window of opportunity, so I kept the prayer short and to the point, commanding all pain and strain to be released in Jesus Name and full healing freedom to come, all because the Father loves her!
Melissa tested her wrist out, turning it in different directions, and a big smile came over her face. The pain had gone and she could move her wrist freely. Yayyyy! She thanked me warmly as new customers entered and I received the notification that my Uber had arrived – and off I went again!
Out on the lodging verandah one afternoon, I noticed a lady in her forties having afternoon tea with her mother. They were about finished when the mother went inside the lobby. It was then that I saw that her daughter had a surgical boot on one foot. I wandered over to her and asked her what had happened to her poor leg! The lady – Lynn – explained ruefully that she had badly fractured her foot after falling awkwardly at home. She wished she had a more glamourous story to tell concerning her injury!
Lynn explained some of the healing journey she had been on – it had been long and difficult. When I remarked on how tough it sounded, she divulged that the whole thing had taken her to “some really dark places”. I knew I wouldn’t have long before her mother returned, so I explained that I love to pray for people going through physical issues and Lynn allowed me to pray for her. I prayed briefly - not just for full healing of her leg but actually for a deep heart healing for the places of darkness, restriction and hopelessness from the whole experience. Lynn seemed grateful and moved by this and was very happy to accept a little scripture card of encouragement just as I was leaving. Her mother returned just at that moment, perfectly timed by the Holy Spirit!
My final story is not actually about healing on US soil – but 38,000 feet up in air space!! On our return flight home to the UK , I was seated in a row next to a delightful retired American couple, Mike and Layla. They were heading to London for a little vacation. Layla had her headphones on and after reading and listening to music had gone to sleep.. I certainly didn’t assume that I would get to chat with her on this journey.. Once she was awake again, however, I noticed her walking up and down the aisle then standing in the floor well by our exit row. She was awkwardly holding her back, gingerly bending to and fro to try and relieve discomfort. This lady had back pain!!
Going over to stand with her and see if she was okay, Layla told me how she had been suffering from back pain the last few months since having hip surgery. I explained about ministering healing to people in pain and seeing God take their pain away. Having detected earlier that Layla and her husband are not believers, I wondered how she would respond. “Oh, would you pray for me?!” she pleaded. I didn’t need a second invitation! Praying for Layla was a case of pain reducing by degrees, and after three or four short command prayers, especially realigning her back/hip bones, Layla’s pain had gone! She was so grateful as she kept saying “That really is good now. I feel better!”
As she sat down for the rest of the flight, her husband gave me an odd look which honestly felt somewhat defensive but he was friendly enough and very attentive to his wife.
I checked how Layla was doing a couple of times through the flight, but not wanting to be intrusive or hassling. Her back continued to be comfortable and free of pain (Yay!!), she just had some stomach gripes from the flying. I gave her my card with contact details – perhaps she will be in touch one day. For now, I pray for the ongoing contact of the Holy Spirit with Layla and Mike’s hearts, drawing them towards the God who heals not just bodies but whole lives- into eternity!
Thank you Jesus for all these American adventures, and for Your divine healing in coffee shops, verandahs and aeroplanes at 38,000 feet! You are amazing!!!