21 July 2023 - Keep saying it to yourself
Matthew 9:21(NIV) She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
When I read this passage, something immediately stood out. She said to herself . . ., this woman was talking to herself.
The AMPC says, “For she kept saying to herself,”. The determination of this lady amazes me. For twelve years, she tried everything, but then she heard about Jesus, and kept saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored”.
How many times do we not get discouraged, tired and give up? But this lady kept on saying it, talking to herself.
Matthew 9:21-23(AMPC) For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health.
She kept the word near her, in her mouth and her heart, the word of faith. She recognised the power, authority, and majesty of Jesus. She had seen, heard and experienced what Jesus had done for others and kept on saying, ‘if Jesus can to it for them, He can do it for me.’
Romans 10:8-10(AMP) But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” - that is, the word of faith which we preach - because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord , and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes resulting in his justification ; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses , resulting in and confirming salvation.
And Romans 10:8-10(MSG) It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God - “Jesus is my Master”- embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!”
Despite the odds against her, she kept saying to herself, if only she could touch the garment of Jesus, she would be healed. What was she doing? She was expecting her miracle, and by her confession, she got connected to her miracle. She kept saying the same thing and it resulted in her miracle.
Matthew 9:21-22(AMP) for she had been saying to herself, “If I only touch His outer robe, I will be healed.” But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Take courage, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And at once the woman was healed.
What are you saying to yourself today? Are you speaking words of life or death? Keep speaking words of life; expect a miracle today.