What’s consuming you?

‘Ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!”’ (vv. 12-15 NLT). There is a spiritual parallel between leprosy and life; both can consume you. Is that what’s happening to you today? If so: 1) Take your problem to Jesus. He can restore what you have lost and give you back your peace and joy. Cry out to Him. Forget about looking dignified; desperate people do desperate things, and God responds to desperate prayers: ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). 2) Whatever He tells you, do it! Don’t lay down terms to God. And don’t seek an identical experience to somebody else. Jesus told these ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests. Why didn’t He just heal them like He did others? Faith doesn’t demand explanations! 3) Be prepared to walk it out. ‘And as they went, they were cleansed.’ Sometimes when God gives you the answer, you have to walk it out in faith, each step bringing you closer to your deliverance. But nothing happens until you take that first step. 4) Don’t forget to thank Him. Only one of the ten lepers returned to give thanks, and Jesus noticed it. He still does! You can go to Him with confidence for your next answer when you remember to give Him thanks for your last one.