Patient in Affliction

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – Romans 12:12 (NIV)

Flying home after a long week of travel, I received a TSA Pre-Check security pass, while my husband Paul had to go through regular airport security. There were long lines in each, but my line passed through with ease. Afterward, I searched the large crowded airport for Paul’s security line. When I saw him, I realized I was going to have to wait, patiently. I watched from the distance as he struggled with his belt, shoes, carry-on bag and cane. Then I saw the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease exacerbating. 

The affliction of Parkinson’s Disease makes everyday life a struggle, and stressful situations only make it worse. When he was being searched thoroughly by security, I could see Paul was trying to be patient as well. It broke my heart to see my once very capable husband afflicted with imbalance and struggling to cope with the stress of airport security. 

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

Paul and I are patiently allowing his affliction of Parkinson’s to bring us closer to God and to each other. We are patiently waiting for healing. We want the trials of affliction to do its work in us so we will be mature. 

To our old nature, we would never count afflictions like a neurological disease as joy. But the new nature looks for opportunities to allow the Holy Spirit to produce growth. The, “Why me?” of affliction has now changed to, “What is this affliction for? What do you want me to learn through this, Jesus?”

Isaiah 41:13 says, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Are you letting the Lord help you in your afflictions? Are you, in turn, helping others who are in affliction? 

In hindsight, I should have forgone my welcomed TSA Pre-Check pass and gone in the regular security line to help Paul navigate. But the Lord took hold of his right hand and helped him. As we pray for those who are patiently waiting for healing from afflictions, help them to keep looking to the Lord for help. 

Our God Hears,

Linda Cochrane

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My Holy Spirit

Recently, a new believer asked me, “When am I going to get my Holy Spirit?” She had heard about being filled with the Spirit and wanted this for herself. So she prayed for the Lord to fill her and asked others to pray for her as well. But she felt no different. When my friend came and asked me about it, I found the use of her word “my” so endearing. Brand new to the Lord, she didn't realize that “my Holy Spirit” wasn’t the best terminology, but she wanted His sweet presence. While the Holy Spirit comes in us to change our lives for Jesus, He also desires to work through us for the common good. Yet, my dear friend reveals how a heart awakened longs for everything Jesus has to offer us. 

The Spirit of God wants to be your Comforter, Counselor, Advocate and Empowerer for ministry. He wants to be your Guide and Teacher, your Renewer of life, and the Revealer of Jesus to you. So when was the last time you asked the Holy Spirit to fill you? If it’s been a while, perhaps you stopped asking because, like my friend, you didn’t feel any different. Don’t give up! God is faithful to His promises. In Acts 2:4, Scripture reveals that, “everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit …,” so much so that those around them thought they were drunk at 9 a.m. in the morning, and a revival broke out right there that would change the world for Jesus. Lastly, a man named Paul who was utterly transformed by the Spirit exhorts us in I Corinthians 14:1, “Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives — especially the ability to prophesy.”

Keep on asking the Holy Spirit to fill you with the love and power of Jesus!

- Linda Cochrane

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Our Morning Call to Prayer

“... let’s rise early and listen to birdsong.” Song of Solomon 7:11 MSG

When I was in Jerusalem, I heard the Muslim call to prayer. The call sent out over a loudspeaker from the local mosque started at dawn and was loud enough that no one would miss. As Christians, we do not have an audible reminder every day coming from our churches; however, in the spring, we do have the sound of birds singing His praises. What if we considered birdsong our morning call to prayer? The stresses of the winter season are now over and the sound of birds singing can bring joy to our hearts.

Often, trials and tribulations follow us into each season. Listening to the birdsong reminds me that I have made it through another season with His help. Each morning, when I answer His call to prayer, I take a break from those worries. I want to encourage you to respond to His call in Song of Solomon, 

“My beloved said to me, ‘Get up, my true love, my beautiful one, and come with me. Look! The winter is past. The rain is over and gone. Blossoms appear in the land. The time of the songbird has arrived. The cooing of the mourning dove is heard in our land. The green figs ripen. The grapevines bloom and give off a fragrance. Get up, my true love, my beautiful one, and come with me.’” Song of Solomon 2:11-13 (Names of God translation) 

Let's rise early, open the windows in our homes and in our hearts, and listen to the birds praising. 

Linda Cochrane

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