Intercessor October Article

As I sat here this morning trying to write this Intercessor, or I should say trying not to write it, I got a pretty big lesson in obedience. I had sent Rene an email claiming I was having writer’s block and maybe we would run September’s issue one more week. As soon as I hit send, the Lord said, “Writer’s block, really?” I have known for weeks what it would be about, yet to me there is something about saying it in here that sort of makes it official. I’ve announced it, there’s no going back. When I say something in the Intercessor, I am acknowledging that this is what I truly believe. As I struggled with this issue this morning, the Lord asked me, “I thought you were ready? How can you tell me you are ready if you won’t say it?”

A few weeks ago, I had a revelation of sorts. I realized that the Lord is preparing me for some changes in my life. After I wrote last months Intercessor about my new leg and not understanding why I was being so blessed, I realized that this new leg is more than just a blessing. It’s partially a reward for doing something I said I would do, but it is also a preparation for what is to come.

I think it was a couple of years ago now that Joel did a sermon on Luke 9. I don’t know when we started our journey through Luke, but chapter nine seems like it was a long time ago. Anyway, Luke 9:59 says:

“He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

Joel spoke about how we often say we are committed to doing God’s will and serving the Lord yet we put conditions around it. Let me do this first or that and then when that’s finished there is always something else we have to do first. That sermon was a real wake up call for me because I had literally been saying, “Let me bury my father” for years. I committed my life to Christ years ago and want the remainder of my life to be serving God in whatever way He chooses. I have often said I will go where you send me but I have also been saying just let me bury my father first. I have to stay here until he passes.

As most of you know, my father passed away August 5th. Shortly after he passed, I recommitted myself to serving the Lord. I said, “Ok, this is done, I am ready to go where you send me, what’s next?” And it was right after that all of the pieces of my new leg began to fall into place. I think my first appointment with H.O.P.E. was on August 10th. Hence, the feeling that this is a reward, I meant what I said, I buried my father on September 7th and now I’m ready for whatever He wants. I also see it as a preparation as if the Lord were saying, “Ok, now that you’re ready we need to fix this first.”

I received my new leg this week and though there is still work to be done on it, I repeatedly see His perfection in its creation. From the custom liner, which came out perfect, it fits like a second skin to the ease with which I am adjusting to wearing it and the improvement in my walking. The person he chose to craft this leg is awesome and I can see why he chose this person to be the vessel through which he poured out this blessing, she is exactly what I needed.

I don’t know what God’s plan is for me or where all this is leading. I think that is the main reason I am hesitant to “say it.” What I do know is I am ready for whatever it is, and I can honestly say, I will go where He sends me and do whatever He wants.

~~~Marty Fichman