Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. (Hebrews 13:15)
“Please, will you pray for my friend?”
A woman stopped in my path as thousands of people dispersed after an evangelistic festival in Red Hills, India.
“She’s been lame since childhood polio.” She pointed to a twenty-year-old girl with her legs braced rigid and wearing a lime-green sari.
I’d seen God heal in three ways, immediately, through medicine, and in heaven. I wondered how he would minister to this girl. It turned out that she would minister to me.
As we spoke, the polio survivor smiled all through our conversation—not a Cheshire cat grin, but a mild turn of her closed lips.
Her friends gathered for prayer, and I asked the Holy Spirit how to proceed. Once again, he showed me the smile. Her peaceful countenance told me bitterness hadn't tainted her soul, in spite of personal tragedy. It was the truest form of life worship.
This girl was special, and Father was doing something greater than fixing her legs. She didn’t need me and my prayers, she only needed a little encouragement.
“Through your disability,” I said, “you’ve been chosen to present a sacrifice of praise that will honor God through eternity. Keep that smile. Keep praising God, and you will be rewarded far above me for eternity.”
When I see the smiling girl in paradise, I plan to tell her that I wanted to give her physical healing. Instead, she gave me an example of heroic joy. Her gift to me was far more valuable than what I wanted to give to her.
Prayer: Saving God, may I offer you the sacrifice of thanks in everything.