Saturday of Week Three
The Power of the Holy Spirit
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
—Romans 15:13
And so it happened a little over 25 years ago as I was about to turn 50. I seldom remembered my dreams, but I did that night. My grandmother, who had been dead for several years, came back in my dream to attend a great granddaughter’s high school graduation. As she was leaving to go back to heaven she asked me to come with her. I loved her so much and she was ever so persuasive. So I decided to go with her knowing that this was a wonderful place to be. We got to the pearly gates and St. Peter said, “You can’t come in. It’s not your time.” I awakened in a cold sweat.
I think my grandmother was trying to tell me that I would soon be diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and would have a mastectomy, chemotherapy and 50 radiations. When I came home from the actual diagnosis is when I encountered my meeting with the Holy Spirit. My best friend and my mother were with me when I got home that day. I said to them that there wasn’t anything I could do now. However, I explained I had nothing to worry about because I had turned everything over to the Holy Spirit. I knew that day that I would do my part and just let the Holy Spirit take care of me.
Fifteen years later, I had another mastectomy on the other side of my body—stage one microscopic cancer with no treatment. Then, twenty five years after the first diagnosis, a reoccurrence of stage four breast cancer occurred. I had chemotherapy again and a bad side effect of neuropathy in my hands and feet. I’m still going through treatment for cancer, which seems to be successful thus far, but I continue to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit as a great provider of peace and healing.
My life has been so blessed and called to do many things. I have been able to have had a rewarding teaching experience, played endless hours of tennis and golf, served in my church in many capacities, played in the Longhorn band, and I am still able to tutor mathematics in my home. You can’t imagine how much the God of hope has filled my life because I have always trusted in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a healing spirit. When the Holy Spirit is present, anything is possible.
How could we live our daily lives without the Holy Spirit shining through us?
Author: Sandy McDermott
Personal Reflection:
God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and people to reveal himself. Take a moment to pray and give thanks for God’s presence and relationship in your life.
Daily Action:
Leave an anonymous note or message of encouragement for someone who may need a reminder that God is present in their life. It could be a sticky note, a text, or even a small act of kindness.
