By His Wounds

1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

When I first started this journey, I had never before understood that Jesus took our diseases as well as our sin when he died on the cross for us. I know this idea can be (and is) widely argued, but let me just say that I am an analytical person. I do not accept new viewpoints without thoroughly checking them out. So I've checked this out. I think the most convincing proof for me is that the people who believe this are miraculously healed. I am one of them.

Yes, I am ready to declare it. I have been healed! When I first found out that I had the PET scan scheduled for the 25th of June, I felt fear. I wanted to believe that I would be healed by then, but what if I wasn't? Then I'd need more chemo. And I didn't want more chemo! (honestly, chemo is awful). So I thought, I'll just need to pray really really hard that I'll be healed by then.

Then God spoke to me about this. As you can see in 1 Peter, it says by His wounds you have been healed. Past tense. I need to believe it, and accept my healing by faith. Once I realized this, I prayed that God would give me a pure childlike faith, free of doubt.

I know that some of you don't know me. And many of you do know me. And either way, I understand if you're thinking, "Oh, poor Rachel. Why not just wait for the scan? Why take a risk of saying you're already healed when you don't have any proof? You're setting yourself up for disappointment. Worse yet, you could make God look bad." Or perhaps, "Saying it or not saying it isn't going to change the outcome of the scan. Why set yourself up like this?"

Here's why: Mark 11:24 says: Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Granted, I could just believe in my heart (and not tell all of you on my blog). That would at least keep anyone from being uncomfortable about my claim. But I reasoned in my head (see, I still am a reasonable person) that if the doctors said I was healed, I would rush to tell everyone. And I believe God more than doctors, and if He says I am healed, then I am healed. So there you have it.

Of course I still have "What ifs" pop up in my mind. But I don't entertain them. I get rid of them with the Word of God.

I am listening to Nichole Nordeman's song "Healed" right now. The lyrics are below. At my "I'm Healed" party that I previously mentioned, I plan to sing this. Or (dare I dream?) maybe Nichole Nordeman herself would come and sing it for us! Okay, now maybe I am losing it. :)
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Healed

Oh, We stutter and we stammer till You save us
A symphony of chaos till You play us
Phrases on the pages of unknown
‘Til You read us into poetry and prose
We are kept and we are captive till You free us
Vaguely unimagined ‘til You dream us
Aimlessly unguided ‘til You lead us home

CHORUS:
By Your voice we speak
By Your strength no longer weak
We are no longer weak
And by Your wounds we are healed
And by Your wounds we are healed

Passed over and passed by until you claim us
Orphaned and abandoned ‘til you name us
Hidden and disclosed ‘til you expose you hearts

CHORUS:
By your death we live
It is by your gift that we might give
That we might give
And by your wounds we are healed
And by your wounds we are healed

What kind of love would take your
shame and spill his blood for you
Save us by His wounds
By your wounds, we are healed
By your wounds, we are healed
What kind of love
By your wounds, we are healed
Tell me what kind of love is this
By your wounds, we are healed.