shriveled?
“He addressed the man with the shriveled hand: ‘Stand up here in front!’ ” —Mark 3:3
Is any part of your life shriveled, withered, atrophied? Are you exercising your spiritual muscles, or are they atrophied because of non-use? Do you use the power given by your Baptism to evangelize, heal, free, and feed the broken, starving masses? Jesus wants to heal you. He wants every part of His Body and of our bodies and spirits to work properly (see 1 Cor 12:12-26).
Perhaps your ability to produce children is atrophied through the shriveling effects of artificial contraception, sterilization, or abortion. Jesus wants every part of your body to work so that every part of His Body can work (see Eph 4:16). Jesus calls you to come to Him and stand up in front of Him (Mk 3:3). He plans to undo the shriveling and withering, and use your reproductive system, body, spirit, and soul as He wills.
Many other shriveled people, and especially Satan himself, do not want you healed. By faith in Jesus, however, “stretch out your hand” (Mk 3:5). Put the shriveled parts of your life, and your entire life, in Jesus’ hands.
Prayer: Jesus, straighten out every area of my life.
Promise: Jesus “said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ The man did so and his hand was perfectly restored.” —Mk 3:5
Praise: Ralph awoke with a terrible headache and couldn’t see out of one eye. After attending Sunday Mass, his wife urged him to approach his priest for prayer. His priest prayed for him right on the street outside the church. A moment later, Jesus restored his sight and the headache vanished.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(For a related teaching on Keep Holy the Lord’s Day, view, download or order our leaflet on our website.)
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