Last week, I had the opportunity to accompany my husband on a brief business trip to Dublin. My first trip to Ireland!  He went to meetings on both days, while I had the freedom of the city to roam, explore and see Jesus at work!  

On the first morning, even before setting foot outside the hotel, Jesus had an appointment circled in the diary for me and a dear lady working in the hotel.  It was a rainy, cold day outside.  My plan had been to spend some time praying after breakfast, before rugging up then venturing out into the city streets to encounter people.  But Jesus’ timing was different to mine and His encounter time was NOW!

 As I prepared to leave the hotel breakfast room, a member of staff “Samantha” and another younger attendant were at the exit, ready to attend to breakfast guests.  After greeting them, I asked how they were doing today and whether they had any aches or pains?  Samantha immediately exclaimed “Oh, I have pain every single day.  It’s from rheumatoid arthritis and on a cold, damp day like this, it’s always worse.”  

“So you have pain right now?”  I asked.

“Oh yes!”  

“Where is your worst area of pain?”  

“Here in my back” – and she indicated the upper-mid section of her back.

I offered to pray for her pain to go right there and then, saying that I have seen pain leave peoples’ bodies many, many times, with just the briefest of prayers.  

I half expected Samantha to say that she appreciated my offer but was on duty and needed to be available for the guests.  But she said “Oh yes, thank you, Why not?!”  

Samantha reported that her current level of pain was 7/10.  That’s a lot of pain!

 She was fine about me placing my hand on her back area, so I prayed – no, commanded - all the pain to leave her back and all arthritis effects to be reversed.  

When I asked her if she was aware of any sensation in her back where my hand was, she nodded and said “Heat! I can feel this heat inside my back.”  (That kind of reaction always makes me chuckle as I naturally have such cold hands, both winter and summer!!)

Once the sensation of heat had abated, I asked Samantha to check out her back.  The pain level was less – about 5 now.  Good – but not good enough!!  

Explaining to Samantha that sometimes the pain leaves in degrees, she let me pray again and this time, after checking, her pain level was 2!  

“ Samantha, that pain has no chance now.  It has to go all the way!”  And commanding the final level 2 to leave and never return, asked Samantha to check her back again.  ‘There’s no pain!  It’s all gone!” she said. She was absolutely delighted!!

We had a brief conversation about why - and how - I do this. I sensed that Samantha needed to hear that I don’t have some special kind of “gift” enabling me to see people healed, but it’s simply because I am an ordinary believer who believes!  I believe that what Jesus did as He walked the earth, He said we could do too.  So that’s what I seek to do!  It’s the most fun and highest privilege ever!

At that point, Samantha had new guests arriving, so I blessed her and went to my room, thanking Father for such a delicious breakfast time!  

Later I discovered that Samantha was not on duty the following day.  Had I not met her today – and had the weather not been cold and wet and aggravating her pain – that healing encounter would most likely never have happened.  How amazing is the timing and kindness of God? !!