Stand Firm- Anna’s Healing Story

This is an excerpt from my book Know: Truth- A Study on Divine Healing.

The first question I have been asked regarding this book is, “Why would you write your first book on such a controversial topic?” In which I laugh and say, “ I guess I tend to rock the boat, don’t I?”

After having my eyes awakened to Grace, God began dealing with a lot of unbelief in my heart concerning the finished work of Jesus (you can read about that awakening here). Divine healing was a big one for me!

I almost choked on my lunch the day I heard God say to me, “What if LifeShare Church was the healthiest church in San Antonio?” Say, what?!! That was not me; I promise you that!

I had no idea what that meant, but I took hold of it like a hound dog and dealt with unbelief and doubt concerning divine healing within my heart and mind. It took me four years of study and stretching to get my mind and heart to see what God wanted me to see. Although I am still growing, this book contains the slimmed-down version of what I learned as well as teaching on our New Covenant position woven through it.

We have many stories of healing because of our bold belief in the finished work, and one day I believe we will be the healthiest church in San Antonio (spirit, soul, and body), but it takes the church to be equipped in order to do so.

This book is for LifeShare, but I pray the entire church body can benefit from it as well.

This excerpt is about how I was healed in 2021.

Stand Firm

My Healing Story

In 2020, an uncontrolled microscopic virus brought the entire world into its submission. In defiance, our church stood in opposition by attacking the fear and continuing life normally with those who dared to challenge the widespread panic. Although a small handful did get sick, they recovered quickly as we practiced everything I wrote about in this book. Fear was given no room; neither was the virus- in thought or speech.

Rather than talk about what the virus was doing, we talked about what God was doing. We did not live in denial. We stood firm in truth if it attacked.

The following summer, the virus challenged us stronger when my family became the target. Unafraid, we fought it through prayer and health protocols.

One by one, we got better except for myself. Having been the loudest champion for healing truths, it was no surprise that I became the primary target. 

The second day after being admitted to the hospital, almost three weeks after getting sick, the doctor assigned to me entered my room clothed in layers of protective gear.

“Sir, I will not be moved to a ventilator. What needs to happen to keep that from happening?” I asked the doctor after he had listed my possible future scenarios. 

“You are a very sick woman. There is no guarantee of your recovery. You could improve, or you could get worse. My job is to try to keep you alive if I can, and if that means a ventilator, that’s what we will do.” He shrugged.

I suddenly felt a whirlwind of emotion. I stared in shock as the reality of what he was saying began to register.

My children’s faces rushed at me: future dreams of watching my daughters walk down isles dressed in wedding gowns, watching my sons take their wives, holding grand-babies, all were at risk. I had plans to grow old with my husband, and accomplish long-term goals of writing books and raising up leaders in the Kingdom.

Steel entered my heart as I thought back to the past few days that led up to this moment.

I had kept myself encouraged while I was sick at home and had not given into any fear, but I also slept almost the entire time and wasn’t aware of time.

One day, our dear church surrounded our home and prayed for us; my entire family, sick, watching from the inside. The faith they declared over us brought us joy. Even as I felt my health declining with each passing day, I whispered, “Jesus, I know you are interceding for me right now. I’m losing strength. I need your help.” I immediately felt strengthened, but I also felt like there was a war happening out of my control as I could not mentally engage. I left it up to Jesus to do what He said He would do.

Against my protests, my family chose to call an ambulance when my oxygen dropped to sixty-five percent. We were fortunate enough to have an oxygen tank that gave us five liters, but my lungs needed more than the tank could give.

After getting settled in a hospital room, I began receiving messages from various well-meaning folks who had heard I was sick. Mostly encouraging, there were some messages that, for the purpose of the overall theme of this book, opposed what a sick person should hear. When a sick person, who is fighting for healing is surrounded by unbelief from those who know Christ, it can make them introspective and moves them into a vulnerable position.

One person sent me a message listing Old Testament scriptures of humbling oneself before the Lord so He would have mercy and heal me.

Another quoted, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6. “It could be that you have pride in your life that is keeping God from releasing healing to you,” they said.

“Do some soul searching and get right with God; if you die, you need to be sure you’ll not take all that sin with you.” said another. 

As I lay in my weakest moment, I began to do some very unhealthy introspective “soul searching.” This law-based biblical advice only produced a sin-conscious mind and caused me to doubt. For about five minutes I entertained the thought that perhaps I got it all wrong and there is something I missed in all my knowledge of divine healing. The final blow came when the doctor entered my room to tell me that I may or may not make it. 

“Give me a day before you move me. I will be better tomorrow.” I said. He looked at me with a small smile. As he left, my thoughts centered on my family, and a wave of healthy anger replaced the introspection.

I took everything that did not line up with the truths written in this book and mentally dumped it, breaking agreement with it. I disarmed it of its power. Alone, in my room, I did war with my thoughts in such a way that I would be the winner.

God put a  picture of a woman dressed as a mighty warrior, with armor and weapons in my mind, and I suddenly remembered what to do.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Ephesians 6:10-17

With this scripture, I did battle.

I imagined walking boldly into the Throne Room of Grace, straight to my Heavenly Father.

I felt the accusation of the enemy, reminding me of sin and sickness. Screaming accusations and lies, he told me that I was proud and that God was holding out His hand of resistance toward me, and that I would die alone and forgotten.

Then I got spiritually dressed.

I put on the Belt of Truth by declaring the Word of God; that God is good and all His promises are Yes and Amen! He sent His son to die the death I deserved. Mercy picked me up and Grace clothed me and called me His.

Then, I declared that in Christ, I am righteous, pure, and holy, accepted by God. As I declared that over myself, I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness.

I then put on the Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace by declaring that because of Christ, I have peace with God; no longer a slave or under His wrath. I also walk in peace which is the power over chaos.

Next, I took up the Shield of Faith that stopped the lies of the enemy and put on my identity- a daughter of God, and then I spoke in tongues for an extended period of time (Sword of the Spirit).

I declared the blood of Christ shed for me. The stripes He bore were for my bodily healing, and I asked God to send the resources of heaven to help as I came into agreement with the Word.

I pleaded  Christ's blood on my behalf and knew that the enemy must bow to the name of Jesus. 

When I grew tired and needed a nap, I knew that it was done. The virus lost its accusing power, and I would walk from that room within the week, healthy.

I would live and not die.

Five days later, I walked around my room with a nurse watching to ensure I was ready to go home without any help from a machine.

She looked at me and smiled. “Mam’ you get to go home without an oxygen tank.” I smiled back.

I was healed.

A PRAYER THAT WORKS

The prayer above is the kind of prayer we must know to do for ourselves and for others.

It is not a passive prayer.

It is a prayer based on truth and conviction.

The enemy wants us to be cowards, but God has given us everything we need to be bold and courageous.

We are not merely pawns in a game of chess. God is not The Godfather, pointing to one person and declaring “they get to live.” And to another, “They die.” He told us what His will is. He gave it to us, through His Son.

He told us to take what He has given to us and use it.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

You can purchase the hardcopy here.