Coldsores are horrible. They are like a blister on your lip, and are highly painful. Often they swell so large that they end up making half of your mouth puffed up and swollen, with the raw skin sensitive to any touch. They give you feverish symptoms and headaches, leaving you feeling listless and lethargic as you try and deal with the - seemingly ceaseless - throbbing pain. Eating becomes a chore, as it tends to wipe away whatever ointment you have applied, and rubs the healing skin raw once again.
They are truly horrendous things.
And I get them really bad.
Often it only takes something as subtle as a change in the weather for one to begin forming. Or if there is a flu going around, sometimes I will get multiple coldsores instead of the flu. They announce their arrival with a slight tingly swelling, and it is often enough for me to be overwhelmed by a deep sense of dread as I run to the bathroom and apply whatever ointment I can find that promises a speedy healing. However, by the time I notice the early symptoms, it is generally too late and I have to face - at the very least - an entire week recovering from a swollen mouth. (sometimes, up to a month to fully get over them)
Sleeping becomes an agony, as I can't press my face into my pillow because the salve rubs off, and reopens the tender skin. The entire period of recovery is spent lethargically and sleep deprived. Often by the end of the whole ordeal, my lips become dry and cracked as a result of the ointment and it takes further time and remedies to return them to their proper state.
I know there are plenty worse things out there to have, but for me, coldsores are a worst nightmare.
About two nights before Jacob's birthday party, I felt the telltale tingle spring up on my bottom lip. I could have wailed with despair. Coldsores are highly disfiguring, and we were having a party in two days. I would probably not be able to talk properly around my swollen, blistered lip and would in all likelihood look like a monster to boot.
These were my initial thoughts, which - with some effort - I quickly rejected. "No," I told myself sternly with a sudden realization. "The devil does not have the authority to put this thing on me! I am the healed! Jesus bore the stripes for my health, and I do not have to put up with this!"
I resisted running to the bathroom and rummaging through the cupboard for the closest tube of Carmex or Zovirax. Instead, I sat on the edge of my bed and opened my Bible to my favourite passage that I like to confess regarding health.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul!
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." - Psalm 103:1-5
I read this out loud a few times, personalizing it with 'me' and 'my', when suddenly - like a bolt from the blue - a verse seemed to jump out of the passage and hit me.
"Who satisfies your mouth with good things." - Psalm 103:4
God satisfies my mouth with good things! The full impact of that verse and how it related to me was astounding and after my initial revelation, I immediately acted upon it.
"Father God, I thank you that you satisfy my mouth with good things! I command the devil to take his hands off my lip, and I claim this promise in Your Word for myself and confess it over my mouth right now." I held my finger on the offending spot on my lip and continued praying. "I thank you that Your promise in Your Word is true, and that you do satisfy my mouth with good things and I proclaim Your promise and Your Word right now in Jesus name, Amen."
Instantly in my lip I knew something had changed. I felt it with my teeth gently. It was still slightly swollen, yes. It still hurt a little to touch, but I knew something had happened, and without giving fear the time to root back in my heart again, I slipped off the edge of my bed to my knees, and I praised God and thanked Him for the healing He already manifested in me. After pouring out my soul in thankfulness, I jumped up and climbed into bed.
The next morning, I thanked God again for His healing before getting up. I then inspected my lip in the mirror. The swelling had definitely gone down, though the ache was still there. Nevertheless! I was not to be swayed: I knew Jesus had paid for my healing, I had claimed the promise of His healing, and that this coldsore could not exist on my lip for much longer because God's Word was at work.
I have to say, I forgot about it over the course of the day, and the moment I woke up the next morning, I remembered and bit my lip to check it. There was no tingle, and no pain. I leaped out of bed, turned on the light and peered into my mirror. The coldsore was gone. Not a trace of it remained, my lip was smooth and whole, as it should be. My lips were also grinning broadly by now. I praised God! This was incredible, because I don't think I could tell of one instance where a coldsore had appeared and then disappeared so quickly in my whole life. This was the first time I had ever thought to claim God's promise of satisfying my mouth with good things in this instance, and God's Word worked, just as it says it does.
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12
I find it inspiring, even though I know what God says about healing, seeing His Word in action in my life and in such a real and tangible way is enough to make me want to dance for joy. In this one instance of my life, God has proven what His will is for us regarding our health. It was not just a fluke; a random occurrence, or a rare miracle. "Miracles" like these can happen to everyone who needs them every day of their lives simply by claiming and receiving what God has already bought for us. What a Saviour is our Jesus, and how awesome is the God that we serve!
Next time a coldsore comes walking my way, it had better watch out: because I am the healed, and God is my healer!
"Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it." - Jeremiah 33:9
Praise God! :)
ReplyDeleteAmen! :) Thankyou, my Bek. xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful and encouraging testimony!!! God is our Healer!!!
ReplyDeletePRAISE GOD!
ReplyDeleteThat post brought tears to my eyes--to hear that there are believers out there that act upon God's word instead of moaning and complaining that life isn't fair... what a blessing to my day!
I have my own mouth healing story. xD One night I had a cold sore myself, and some kind of infection so bad that I couldn't stand it anymore... my dad and I prayed and commanded the cause of the pain to be gone, and the sore to be healed, and it kept hurting, but I kept claiming it, and by the next morning it was completely gone.
You really can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. :-D
Have a wonderfully blessed day,
-Jessica
I have just read this, my precious daughter, and I am grateful that the Word of God has taken root in your heart and because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, you are able to put your trust in the promises of God and shout the AMEN and have full confidence in Him. He is able to perform what He has promised. Ask, believe and receive. God wants us well!!! Love you xxx :o)
ReplyDeleteAll your comments have put such gladness in my heart!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: Yes!! God is our healer, Amen!
@Jessica: Thankyou so much for commenting, and for sharing your story as well! :D Your comment so encouraged me. Praise to the God in whom we can do *all things!*
@Mum: Your comment made my day. I love you. *hugs* xoxo
This is so neat! Isn't it awesome to know that God cares about little things in our life like a cold-sore? Amazing!
ReplyDeleteOh, it definitely is! Whatever concerns us concerns God. So Amazing! :D Thankyou for commenting, Lisa! :D
ReplyDelete