When She Heard About Jesus

"...she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak..."

Mark 5:27

Have you heard about Jesus? The woman with the debilitating issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) surely did. 

This woman suffered with massive "bleeding for 12 years" (v .25). She "spent all of her money on doctors and they couldn't help her...instead of getting better, she grew worse" (v.26). 

"When she heard about Jesus" (v. 26) she had a choice. In her frail, sickly condition she could push through the crowds and not let anything, or anyone get between her and Jesus. She knew she would have to go into a crowd where people could judge her, or she could fall into that comparison trap or hear the destructive gossip of her neighbors. Maybe she would be held back by the lies of the enemy telling her not to go to Jesus for help. She might be intimidated by the fear of opinions of others, or by any of the other worldly influences of the noisy crowd.

God gave her a gift of faith; she made a compelling decision by humbling herself and wanting to be healed by Jesus. What people thought of her didn't matter. She had her eyes fixed on Jesus and wanted to get close enough to Him to touch His garment. She would push through crowds to get close enough to Jesus to touch Him so she could be healed. She believed He was telling the truth to the multitudes during His three- year ministry on earth!

"When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, because she thought, 'If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.' Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized the power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched My clothes?' Then the woman, knowing what happened to her, came and fell at His feet and, trembling with fear told the whole truth. He said, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering" (vv. 27-30, 31-34). 

Yes! Instantly, He redeemed her and a supernatural transformation took place. Oh, the life-giving, restoring, healing, saving, refreshing, redeeming power of the blood of Jesus is infinite. When He calls us He transforms us from spiritual death to spiritual life; our old self dies and we're a new creation! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here" (2 Corinthians 5:17)! 

You know, just like that woman we have a choice, too, when we hear about Jesus. But what do we do? Turn our backs on Him because we don't see our need of a Savior? We don't want to change. We're too busy? Or in unbelief say, "He can't help me!"

Or do we want our lives transformed and revived? Do we want to overcome our personal issues or live with lies? Do we want to believe He is who He says He is?

You know, we too, can push through the crowd made up of the devil's lies, the comparison trap and addiction of social media, seeking celebrity status, idolatry, gossip, envy, jealousy, selfish, worldliness, fear of man, pride, unforgiveness, and unbelief! All of these things keep us from getting close to Jesus. Right?

So as the body of Christ, what if we humble ourselves and ask God to help us push through the worldly crowd of distractions that is keeping us from being close to Jesus? What if we begin to intentionally study Scripture, learn to pray faithfully and fervently, instead of coming up with excuses why we don't spend devotional time with Him? Do you believe there will be a transformation in each of us? Maybe our priorities and desires will change to glorify God? Maybe a Holy Spirit-driven passionate, close relationship will develop with Jesus and we will refuse to let anything or anyone crowd out our time, talents, and treasures of our hearts given only to Jesus!  

That dear woman "heard about Jesus" believing the truth: His blood was her cure. She was lavished with God's grace (Ephesians 1:7) because she pushed through the crowds of people-pleasing distractions to get close to Jesus.

Whew. Lavished. Redeemed. Saved. Healed. Peace. Love. Freedom. Jesus.

---Copyright 2022 by Polly Balint, NURTURE, pg. 67.

💖Polly

This devotional message is found in my 4th book, NURTURE. The link to Amazon for all of my books is in the sidebar on the right of this page. 

You Hungry, Sista?

 

What is your hunger pang? Are you hungry...for truth?

"...you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

John 8:32

 

Hey Sistas, does any of the following sound familiar?

She has a major case of battle fatigue from believing lies from her dark enemy. She’s been absorbing these lifelong lies about herself: that she’s worthless, good-for-nothing, and unforgiveable. She is truth hungry! Sometimes it’s so hard for her to feed herself the truth of God’s word because she’s exhausted from trying to resist the deceitful voices screaming in her head. Sometimes she gives into the lies and then clothes herself in guilt, shame, fear and anxiety. Her weariness wakes up her old belief system and it creates sleepless nights. Even her daylight hours seem to drag on and on.

However, since she’s a Christ-follower, this doesn’t happen to her every day, it’s just when she doesn’t put on the spiritual armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).  “If you hold onto my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
The blood of her Savior Jesus Christ has washed her clean and He delivered her from a deep dark abyss. Her relentless enemy –the enemy of all of God’s people – lies to her so she’ll fall back into her dark pit of despair. He thinks he can rob Jesus of this adorable trophy of His grace. But that’s not going to happen.  She is a follower of the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ and He says of His sheep, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). She is no longer a pit dweller; she lives in “green pastures” and Jesus “restores her soul” (Psalm 23:2-3).                

She has the Holy Spirit living inside of her and He reminds her to put her eyes back on Jesus, the source of all truth. “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

She cries out to God in prayer and He always hears her. She begins to feed herself on the truth of Scripture. “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).

He reminds her of His love and faithfulness. “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

He is her sovereign protector. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). 

He is compassionate. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). 

He removes her fears. “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1) 

He is good to her. “Taste and see that the LORD is good and blessed is the [sista] man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8). He promises to “surround [her] me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7). And He does. He turns her “mourning into gladness” (Jeremiah 31:13).

She sings. “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and game me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:1-3). The Sista has been fed the truth of God’s word and she daily devours it. Yes, it is the LORD who “fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:9).

💖--Polly Balint Copyright 2012 Totally Devoted 3, pg. 74

This is my third book. 

[Amazon link to all my books is on sidebar on right.]

Breakfast is Ready!

 God is serving up the Scriptures and has invited the whole world to come to His table and fill up our parched, famished souls.  He serves only the finest of life-giving food.

The Bible may look like any other book but don't be deceived by outward appearances. The Bible is Holy Spirit Power-Packed with truth, life, and promises to forever love, provide, and protect those who sit with Him at His table. There is also rock-solid forgiveness of sins for those who believe in Jesus. Yep. Forgiveness. That's true freedom that is only served by Jesus!  Look, "salvation is found in no one else, for there is no name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

But many will not come. They'd rather feast on the junk food of this world. Just think of the marketing in our culture. Brightly colored packaging, popular music in the commercials, it's all eye candy to sell a product. But that's the world. It's the stuff that never satisfies because it's not real food. It's GMO. You know, genetically modified organism in a laboratory using genetic engineering. Man has cooked this one up. But it looks wildly inviting and colorful!

Think about this: "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). 

God provides all-powerful food for our souls with His living word. It is "life to those who find it and health to one's whole body" (Proverbs 4:22); "For the word of God is alive and active" (Hebrews 4:12); "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).

When we feed on the word of God we become overcomers.
"You dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the One who is in you is greater that the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

Look what happens to the one who constantly feeds on the Scriptures: "Blessed is the one...whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers...for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction: (Psalm 1:1-3,6). 

All that looks like power, provision, protection, satisfied palate, and most of all love, doesn't it?

"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35).

Remember, His invitation is to the whole world. Did you RSVP?

💖Polly

A Shoutout to the Sisterhood

Copyright 2024 Polly Balint

We've all seen this. Little plants growing out of concrete sidewalks and driveways, right? 

Sisters, this is an awesome visual of God's promises to His children. We are the flourishing, fully alive plants rooted and abiding in Jesus, and this world is the concrete. 

I don't know how many of us stop and stare and wonder how this tiny, fully alive plant broke through the concrete? And the beautiful living plant...is growing!!! What? How is this possible?

But hey, many of us are probably too busy with being busy to stop, breathe, and praise the wonder of God all around us. Ain't nobody got time for dat, right? Well, actually we do have time. We seem to find time for what we want to do.

God shows us who He is through His Word, through music, conversations, and our circumstances. Yep. God also speaks to us through His creation.

"...He is to be feared above all gods...strength and glory are in His sanctuary...Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy...".  (Psalm 96:4, 11, 12)

God shows us who He is in all things ...and again, through seeing tiny plants burst forth through concrete! That beautiful fragile-looking plant has to be deeply rooted to burst through and thrive through concrete.  

I'll prove it.

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (I John 4:4)

"If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples." (John 15:7-8)

"The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy; I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) 

[Jesus said,] "...I will build my church and the gates of hell will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18.)

"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  (Romans 4:20-21)

[The disciples asked Jesus why they couldn't cast out a demon. Jesus replied,] "Because you have such little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:22) 

Sisters, this SHOUT OUT is for all of us! With faith in Jesus and embracing His powerful, loving promises instead of embracing the world, let us continue to believe so we can flourish in the abundant life He came to give us. Let's celebrate!

💖Polly