THE GOODNESS OF THE FATHER
Psalms 27:13, “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” NIV
Several weeks ago, I received one of the biggest shocks of my life. The kidney doctor I have been going to since May 2009 sent me to a Kidney Center. Within a couple days, I was on kidney dialysis three times a week for 3 hours and 15 minutes each time.
My first reaction was one of discouragement and oppression. In listening to the nurses and the employees along with the patients, it appeared this was a death sentence. The thing I had to deal with the most was guilt! Ten years ago, the doctor warned me that something like this would happen if I did not deal with my weight and eating too much. I guess I was living in pride thinking I am a faith man and nothing is going to happen to me that I can’t overcome. Really, I thought I was invincible! For the first time in my life I realized that I am a mortal man and my life on this earth will end at some point.
It took me a couple of days, but I finally got out of the flesh and began to seek the Spirit of the Lord concerning the situation. As I sought the Lord, He reminded me of the lunch I had with Pastor Scarborough a few weeks before. We were talking about our health and he simply said to me (this is before the kidney problem); “If you will lose the weight, all of the other things will come in place.” I believe this is the rhema that Father God spoke to me. I am now taking this very seriously and am losing the weight. I’ve lost over 19 lbs as of August, 3rd. I am also feeling better and getting stronger every day. This is tremendous progress as I have been struggling with my breathing for over a year and anything I tried to do was a real chore. It was so bad, I had even quit playing golf. But Hallelujah, I am on the mend!
As I’ve sought the Lord the scripture that I quoted at the beginning became real to me also. Again, I believe it is a rhema from Father just for me. Especially when you read it in the Living Bible, “I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me here in the land of the living.” It would not surprise me at all if I went back to the doctor and he said, “Rev. Willige, something has happened to your kidneys. We don’t understand it, but there is no sign of any damage.” Glory to God!
I’m kind of like David, remember in 1 Samuel 17:37, “The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” KJV The Lord raised me up when the devil tried to kill me when I was 6 months old. He delivered me from alcohol, He restored our marriage, He delivered me from a poisonous snake bite and He healed me of cancer twice. So these kidneys are but a light thing for the Lord. 2 Kings 3:18
It is an inconvenience and it has cost us several opportunities to minister, therefore, it has hindered our finances. But again, this is a light thing for the Lord! “I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see His goodness to me here in the land of the living.”
