An Amazing True Story
In August of 2004, I took my twelve year old son Andrew to a book store so he could have a quiet environment in which to do his homework. As he worked I browsed the section on religion and came across a small short simple book that caught my attention. I began to add to my daily praying that the organs in my body would function to the perfection that God intended for them to function because that was what I gleaned from the book. And I am a very healthy forty-five year old man…so I thought.
In October, I began to suffer from heart burn. My mother noticed it and urged me to go to the doctor. She explained to me, with no avail, that heart disease was a generational sickness and began to remind me of my grandfather’s unexpected death, her heart problems, and the list goes on and on regarding the Palmer side of the family. I listened, but did not respond.
In November, I went with the Palmer side of my family and celebrated Thanksgiving at my Uncle Jim Palmer’s beach house in Florida. My Uncle Jim shared with me his story about his open heart surgery and how he suffered from heartburn for years and ignored it.
In December, I went to my family doctor and explained all of this to him. He hooked me up to an EKG machine and said, “I don’t like what I see. You need to go to the hospital and have a stress test done.”
By this time I have been praying for the organs in my body for about five months for no particular reason…so I thought.
Well…I went and had the stress test done.
On January the 7th 2005 (my forty-fifth birthday) at 5:15 pm on a Friday, I am standing at the same book store where I purchased the book on ‘what to pray’ and my cell phone rang. It was my doctor. He never ever calls and this seemed very strange to me. He said, “Your stress test came back and shows that you have significant blockage in the left side of your heart. Don’t do anything to get your heart rate up. Take one aspirin every morning. If you have chest pain that does not go away or heart burn that anti-acids don’t cure in 5 minutes, call 911. Also, you need to schedule an arteriogram to go in and look closer.”
Now it hits me what organ I need to pray for! So we did. Around the end of January about thirty men laid their hands on me at a Tres Dias meeting. It was a powerful experience! Later that same week on January 29th 2005 I sat in my den in a chair and Vicki my wife, Andrew my twelve year old son, Margaret Ann my eight year old daughter, Mr. Vic a close friend, Jesslyn my cousin, her husband Will and their son Chazz laid their hands on me. Each prayed individually for my heart to be healed. Even little six year old Chazz prayed for my heart to be healed.
Now I have to tell you… something happened. I could just feel it. My son Andrew who is full of faith, jumped up and said, “Well that’s it. You are healed. Daddy, after that I don’t think you need to go to that doctor.” I said, “I believe you are right, but we will go and show them that Jesus healed me and that I am well.”
I also have to tell you that each conversation I had with the cardiologist he became more and more concerned that he was going to have do some repairs. He first read the stress test report and then later looked at the pictures that the report was written from. He even got input from another cardiologist. When he saw the pictures from the stress test he was convinced that there was blockage, but he did not share that with me until I got to the hospital to have the arteriogram.
After
five days of powerful praying by my friends and family, ( I did some on my
own, too) I was laying in the hospital bed just before they were to give me
the happy medicine shot, and the cardiologist said, “When we get in there
what we are going to do is try to open the blockage with a balloon and if
that does not work we may have to use a stint.”
I said, “Wait a minute, Doc. I don’t believe that. Let me tell you what I do believe. I believe you are going to find a healthy heart and healthy arteries.” As I said this, I stuck my hand out like a STOP sign. I refused to except what I knew by faith was a lie. He said, “If we find a healthy heart we will send you to a psychiatrist.” I laughed and said, “That will be good. I love talking to those guys”.
Well…the cardiologist did the procedure and found a healthy heart. He even commented on one particular artery and said, “Wow, that thing is the size of a middle linebacker.”
You have a Helper too. He can help you with all things. He knows what you need before you are even aware you need it. He is kind, extremely gentle, very patient, and full of good will to you, even if you think you deserve ill will. His grace and perfect love can get rid of all your fear, anxiety and despair. And best of all He is completely free and always available. Wake up! Come out of your trance! He is here! He made you for his good pleasure and has your ultimate best interest in mind. Seek Him out and you will find Him. He is your Healer and your Creator. You are not your own. You are His.
So… when it comes to all the problems and joys and works of your day, offer them to the Master Coach. He placed the stars in the heavens. And all things in heaven and earth were made by Him. His hand controls power and might. It is at his discretion that men and women are made great and given strength.
Roger N Daviston
Stephens Minister
Executive and Business Coach
