Desperate for Hem (or Him)

“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.”  Mark 5: 27-29

Father, we thank you that the Deeper Still participants will push through the obstacles and hindrances in front of them to come to the Deeper Still retreat to reach the hem of Your garment.  Father, we thank you that when they come, desperate for Your healing touch, that Your power always flows and heals.  We pray they would receive Your healing as they come.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

In Mark, Chapter 5, is the story of the woman with the issue of blood who pushed through the crowd because she had heard about Jesus.  She was desperate:

Desperate for healing. 

Desperate for the Healer. 

How desperate was she?  She dealt with this issue of blood for twelve years!  She went to many doctors and was not better, but rather grew worse!  I can only imagine her desperation.  Someone had told her about Jesus, about the Healer and she only knew she needed to get to Him.  No thronging crowd was going to stop her from receiving her healing! 

The women and men coming to the retreat are no different.   Some of them have lived with their affliction for twelve years or more.  Some may have even been to counseling or tried medication in hopes of being free from their issues.  They may not have an issue of blood like the woman above, but the very hope of finding freedom is indeed an issue of the Blood!  The Blood of Christ has covered it all.  Their righteousness, healing, and freedom has already been bought!  They just need to push through the crowd, reach out, touch the hem, and grab hold of it. 

“He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.’” Mark 5:34

As the women and men touch the hem of his garment and receive His power, He gives them a garment: a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  His garment makes us well, full of peace and healed.  They press through to receive healing and go out in peace, healed of their affliction. 

Thank you for praying that no obstacles will keep them from coming to touch the hem of Jesus.