In communicating with readers, I find the most critical challenge of dealing with cancer (or any disease) is the “first step”. ALL the remaining steps depend on it.
Diagnosing “experts” can only disclose what they see as “facts” from certain data. Assuming these same experts can immediately prescribe your best choices for dealing with the “disclosed facts” is not necessarily a correct assumption. In such cases you are likely to receive advice based on a “one size fits all statistically based protocol” perhaps with an added “dose of fear” that makes a quick decision seem to be your best first choice. Fear is never a healthy motivator.
What, then, is the healthy “first step” in Facing Down Cancer? It is prayer–personal and private conversation with God. “One size fits all” prayer is little better than “one size fits all treatment”. So running from a doctor’s office to a church office to get your name on a prayer list is not what I mean. This is not a time to make any moves without the counsel of Holy Spirit who WILL show you EXACTLY where to step.
I would encourage you to be very cautious who you share your information with until you have a release (within your spirit) from God to do so. You do NOT want sympathy because sympathy is negative energy and it feeds wounds in your soul that could be at the very root of your health issue. Sympathy plants negative (toxic) thoughts that undermine faith by feeding fear. Jesus, Himself, never expressed sympathy but always compassion because, as He said many times, “I only do what I see the Father doing”. In every case, God demonstrated His desire to see the “needy person” fully healed and whole– and they were in EVERY CASE! Compassion always does something positive to help overcome the problem.
Does it not make sense to ask God who to share your “facts” with and how to do that sharing before you do so? I strongly urge you to avoid posting your situation on social media or in emailers hoping for some sort of overwhelming force to muscle God into doing what you haven’t even dialogued with Him about. Let God “drive this bus” from the moment you step onto it–from the moment you sense the first “twinge” of enemy attack. I use those terms because cancer, like all disease, is from the enemy. It is NEVER from God. If you have the slightest belief that it is from God, your prayer is totally undermined because it’s nearly impossible to ask God to change something you doubt He wants changed. If you are in a church and the leadership teaches that disease can be punishment from God or that “God can’t or won’t heal everyone.”; then, I urge you to find spiritual leadership that follows the truth regarding healing and health.
How, then, do you take that first step–private and personal prayer? Regardless of your level of faith; your past “right or wrong living per your own opinion”; your hours logged in a church pew; your knowledge of the Bible; your donations to charity; or anything else in your past or present, God has not moved away from His absolute love for you. Therefore, you start where you are and you get quiet in your spirit and soul. Your body will follow and calm down as well. Then, simply talk to God saying what is in your heart and be honest because He knows you already and has waited for this moment. Do NOT let the enemy into the conversation saying things to make you feel guilty or unworthy or hypocritical or whatever.
This prayer is NOT “let’s make a deal”. This prayer is about God’s promises to His children. If you are not a “card carrying member of God’s family or if you think you are the worst prodigal child God ever had, God is ready, willing and able to set you a place at the family supper table right now. You cannot do a single thing to become worthy and there is not another human being who can do that either. None are worthy except for one thing–receive the Lord Jesus into your heart so that He can hoist that burden off your shoulders. If you have received Christ, then it’s a matter of becoming a “believing believer” which means running to his waiting embrace. Many of us haven’t had loving earthly parents in our lives or we’ve had parents who did their best but we feel like we’ve somehow let them down. God is THE loving parent and He NEVER lets us down nor condemns us for falling short of what we think it takes to be His beloved.
This prayer is approaching God with an open heart and open ears. If we are honestly open to conversation with God, there is no limit to how He can communicate with us. He may use dreams. He may speak with a still small voice we “hear” in our spirits. He may speak in what truly seems “audible”. He may provide “signs” if we ask for them. God has a plan for you….for each of us…..and longs for us to ask Him to reveal it step by step. I caution you to let God move in His own pace for you; however, I urge you to stay in constant “touch” with your heart open and your spiritual antennae turned on. I don’t know if you’ve read my book, Slam the Door on Cancer, or not but I share my own story of being distant from God for decades prior to cancer attacking my pancreas and surrounding area. God met me where I was (not a good place) and walked me through a “connect the dots” adventure of healing neither I nor my husband (a physician) could have ever planned without God’s involvement.
Without question, the first step in facing down cancer is prayer–private, intimate, personal, honest conversation with God–regardless of where you are in your faith or your life.
