Last month I did an update asking for prayers on CJ’s condition in which I said she was feeling weak, not eating well, and we were concerned that she may not improve. In response to that, one of our dear friends who has fought cancer twice herself responded that they are always praying, and asked me “Are we still praying for victory?” That question convicted me a little and made me think. Having been a pastor for 40+ years and seen countless faithful friends struggle and pray for their loved one to recover from cancer or some other deadly situation, I realize that most of the time God does not “miraculously” heal loved ones the way we might hope for. And I know that when even dear Christian friends hear that the cancer is advancing and that we are now on hospice, our “default” prayers tend to turn to asking God to be gentle as the person is dying and that the end will be peaceful and not be painful. Trust me, if CJ or anybody gets to the final stages of life, I would cherish that prayer and pray for that myself! BUT, at this point, we are not there! CJ is feeling better and stronger this last week or two, and has been going out to shop with me often, and has been planting flowers around the house all week. As a matter of fact, she went to Meijers by herself this morning because she is tired of shopping with me and my penchant to hurry her along and not allow her to shop “her way”! I’m sure some of you   women can identify with that!

Anyway, are we still praying for victory? ABSOLUTELY! And for Christians who know their Bible, victory has two levels of meaning for us.

1) As we put our faith and hope in Jesus, we ALREADY have victory over sin and death! Yes, we will ALL die physically, even if God heals us for a season. But because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, he promises that our soul, the real you and me that lives in our body now, will live with him forever, if we put our trust in Him! Jesus says in John 14:19 “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you will also live”.  This is Jesus’ unfailing guarantee to all who trust their lives to him. So, we ALREADY have victory in Jesus over death! Mature Christian believers realize that our future life in God’s Kingdom will be amazingly, unbelievably better than anything we can imagine here, so that takes the “sting” out of death for us. We have already won that battle through Jesus, as Paul says so beautifully in Romans 8:
¹⁵  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷  Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. ¹⁸  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  ²⁸  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.³¹  What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  ³⁵  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  ³⁷  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2) BUT, beyond the eternal victory over death we already have, sometimes Jesus intervenes in the natural order of the world and “supernaturally” changes things to draw attention to him and his glory! In these “victories over the natural effect of sin in our lives”, these are always about God and his love, power, and Kingdom, not about us!

So, getting back to CJ for a moment, I ask you to also pray for God’s victory over the evil of cancer in her body! When CJ began this difficult journey about 14 months ago, God led her to II Chronicles 20:15, which says ‘This is what the Lord says to you: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, BUT GOD’S!”

– Notice, this battle belongs to God, not us. I can’t tell you how many times we have wanted to take control of this battle and tell God “please do this and have these results!” And when it doesn’t go our way and the results are not good, it’s easy to question God and want to take matters into our own hands! We don’t dictate to God what he will do. That’s a hard lesson to learn, especially when you have no control over things and feel helpless. But I also know that whatever God’s plan for this battle is, it will be perfect from his perspective!

– Notice also, God says for us not to be afraid or discouraged in the process of the battle! Sometimes that’s really tough when the news is bad, but God has slowly strengthened our faith in this area through these 14 months. My favorite “go to” verse now has become Isaiah 41:10- “So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand!”

So, dear friends, are we still praying for victory? You better believe it!! Not only our guaranteed eternal victory over death, but victory now, over this evil of cancer in CJ’s body!

I know that’s a “big ask”, especially when scans don’t look good and your doctor says you now have “months, and not years, to live”. But for God, such healing is nothing at all for Him! God is not phased by that which brings fear to us; rather, he calls us to trust him in the storm and expect him to bring us through it for his glory!

SO, would you specifically pray with me for these requests:

– CJ has a CT scan tomorrow. Pray the results might be good and show a decrease in cancer growth. But if there is an increase, pray thankfully that God is still in charge and that is not his answer. Pray that through his divine touch and/or through the treatments she is taking, God will reduce the cancer, lead to healing, and use this journey to encourage others and point to his power and grace in our lives.

– Pray for us to remain strong and unafraid, even in the down times of the journey.

– Pray for all of us, CJ, me, and you as well, to trust God for the good plan that he already has for our lives, now and forever!

We have recently enjoyed and found encouragement from listening to messages from Dr. Tony Evans. What a great preacher! (You can get all his messages free on Youtube!) He recently did a message on the story from Mark 4 where Jesus calms the storm on the sea. Remember, Jesus & his followers took a boat to the other side of the lake. Halfway across the lake, a terrible storm arouse, so vicious that even these veteran fishermen are afraid for their lives. And Jesus, meanwhile, is taking a nap in the boat! Fearing for their lives, they wake Jesus up and cry out “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus calms the waves and gently rebukes them saying, “Why are you still afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Dr. Evans pointed out that in these life-threatening storms of life, we are prone to cry out to God in desperation and fear. But then he reminds us that at the beginning of the story, Jesus ALREADY said “let us go over to the other side!” When God promises us something, he always delivers on his word! Even in the storm, Jesus expected them to trust him for the promise he had already given them!

 Pray with us, that in the midst of this continuing, sometimes fearful storm, that we will keep our eyes on Jesus, and not the waves. God has already won the victory for us over death, and has spoken amazing promises for our future! I believe that God has also won the victory over the cancer in CJ’s body, and I invite you to pray in faith along with me for that hope.

And may you also keep your eyes on Jesus, not on the waves that seem to be around you at the moment! In those times, please remember my favorite verse:

Isaiah 41:10- “So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand!”