Keto Acidosis.
That's the illness I developed last year. It happened suddenly and was nearly fatal. It turned our life upside down as a family, and we were having to have conversations about me not surviving this.
I've been a Christian for a long time. I didn't doubt the power of prayer. I had seen the effect of prayer. This time felt different. I knew prayer was the only answer. I would be praying with my wife in the small hours of the morning when I felt at my most anxious, and that was an obvious comfort. What I think made the most difference was knowing the church was praying.
My pastor had visited. I could be really honest with him, and knowing that he took that back to the church and he was praying really sustained me — knowing that he had the full picture of how serious it was. I really began to experience a powerful sense of comfort and reassurance that my church family was in prayer for me. I began picturing them praying, seeing them and my pastor interceding for me. This brought such a peace and a calmness.
I still wasn't sure I'd survive but I knew that wasn't all there was to it. I felt, I knew God was in control and His will was perfect. I had a peace and confidence that was from knowing everything was working together for my good. People cared. People prayed and God responded. In those nights in hospital when I was lying awake for hours the experience began to change from anxiety and fear to really just being able to rest in God's presence. To be able to praise and worship God in a fuller way than I'd ever known. To trust God without reserve.
Those times have become so important to me and I think have brought a change to my relationship with Jesus and how I live my life for God. I know lots of people were praying. Also, through this God was teaching me the value of relying on my church family to resist self reliance. We matter to each other. We carry one another's burdens. The power of a praying church is an incredibly powerful thing. I have no doubt it changed the outcome and my future.
Jim McNamara
Re:Hope Paisley
Is there anything you need to have others join you in prayer for? Don’t carry it all alone today.
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