I was flying interstate and had settled into my seat next to someone that was happily absorbed with his i-phone. I was looking forward to a quiet time with God on the plane. It was a short flight. I had stopped and prayed for someone at the airport, and did not sense that the guy next to me was someone that I had to “engage with” in any way and was happily anticipating a quiet trip.
As the final passengers boarded I looked up and saw Sarah. I did not know that was her name until later, but it was obvious she had been to my home town for some very serious surgery on her head … she was all bandaged up and was walking gently and carefully up the isle to the last seat, the one behind and opposite me.
As she walked down the aisle I just knew she was someone that God wanted to touch. I knew I had to stop for this one and so I said to Him that he would need to give me the timing and the words, because she looked delicate – emotionally and physically.
I picked up my book as we took off, and then later got my i-pod out and “soaked” in Him, uninterrupted for nearly the entire flight. As I soaked I could sense and feel Holy Spirit all around. I sensed angels entering the plane, stirring the atmosphere, and as I did I sensed that with the angelic increase a lot of darkness left, which made me smile … like the flick of a switch the light dispels the darkness.
I was travelling with two other Christian friends, although we were not sitting together and I wondered whether one of my friends was praying for someone at the time, enjoying the thought of the entourage from Heaven we must have been travelling with. I later found out that one of my friends also had an “assignment” on the plane – a single Mum who was deeply touched by the presence of God as he prayed for her.
The plane started its descent and my mind went back to the girl. I started noting a sharp pain behind my right ear and I wondered whether that was the point where she had been operated on. The anointing was very strong and I just knew that God wanted her dramatically touched.
Once the plane landed I quietly leaned back and spoke to the man travelling with her, who turned out to be her fiancé. I mentioned that I had seen she had been battling something significant and that I was a Christian and would love to pray for her, if she would like me to. He lent back and let me address her directly and as I spoke her eyes filled with tears, saying she would love for me to pray. She then went on to explain that she had been battling recurring malignant (cancerous) brain tumours, on the right side of her head – approximately where the pain had been on my head. She was returning home after surgery, during which they had removed some of her skull as well.
I could feel Holy Spirit in a strong way as we spoke and I suggested we get off the plane and pray in the terminal – she agreed.
Once in the terminal I explained to my friends what we were doing and they stood and prayed with me as well.
As we prayed she felt dizzy and a touch “drunk” and she swayed as the anointing came so we encouraged her to sit down. My friends stepped aside to wait discretely and I continued to talk to her and pray. As we spoke she told me that she was engaged to be married. I had already prayed that her skull would regrow and that the tumour would leave, never to return, telling the cancer to get out, and releasing health, healing etc. Once I found out about her wedding I prayed for her hair to grow back rapidly for her wedding day – some might say that something like this is insignificant given what she had been facing, but I believe God is interested in these little details too…
We continued to speak and I felt that she had known God, but was very angry with Him. I felt Holy Spirit ask me to ask her if she wanted Him back … I asked her if she had asked Jesus into her heart. She explained that she used to attend church but … I asked her if she was angry at God and she said “yes” and I quietly explained that this condition was not from God and went on to explain that we are taught by Jesus to pray “on Earth as it is in Heaven” (Matt 6:10 NIV) and since there were no brain tumours or cancer in heaven it did not belong in her body, that He could not give what He did not have … I asked her if she could forgive God, and she said “yes” and so she prayed a quiet prayer of forgiveness. I then asked if she wanted to ask Jesus onto her heart. She did and so in her own words she rededicated her life to Him … the anointing growing in strength and with her gently weeping as she did. I also spoke to her about the Holy Spirit, thinking as I did of Jesus’ warning of the empty house (Matt 12:44-45; Luke 11:25-26) and she gladly invited Holy Spirit to come into her heart and to fill her up …
I gave her details of a local Church and a contact there so she could attend and be encouraged. I gave her my own home number too.
Her fiancé had gone to get the car while we spoke and on his return she gently started to walk through the terminal, saying how giddy she felt with the Holy Spirit on her. I suggested she go home and rest and press into the presence she felt. I suggested she ask Holy Spirit for “more”, and bless what he was doing and in doing so He could continue doing what He was doing in her body. I had explained that sometimes it took time for the fullness of healing to come.
I waved her goodbye as she climbed into her car …
Sarah was sent from God. I know she was. She had a destiny and a purpose and God wanted her well. There were more coincidences around this whole event, but suffice to say I absolutely knew I had to stop for this one, and I know that Holy Spirit turned up … the airplane was pregnant with purpose, presumably with the angelic, ready to be released on a prayer, to minister to her for God’s goodness and healing to be released.
A heart turned back to Jesus, a young woman ready to step back into His arms, a healing being released … yes the battle has been won on the cross, yet she was still to see the victory in her body …
I hope she sees break through. I know we are all special, but she was special. I want her to be tumour free, for her skull to grow back and for her hair to be pretty at her wedding. I want her to enjoy her wedding day, grow old with her husband by her side and see her children’s children’s children grow. I want her to be full of life and health and vitality and strength … and if I want that for a stranger called Sarah, how much more does God?
“If [we] then, though [we] are evil, know how to give good gifts to [our] children, how much more will [our] Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 NIV)
I am trusting that:
“…the peace of God … will guard [her] heart and mind in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7)
We have the authority (Matt 28:18-19). Healing is in our hands (Mark 16:18). The Kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt 3:2), at our hand … Will we stop for the one and risk embarrassment, rejection, ridicule? Will we stop for the one and in doing so “risk” life being released through us by a loving God … ?
He wants us to release Him so He can touch a dying world … will we slow life down and release Him to others … and in doing so release life?
Sarah could be healed, and she could go on to live a long and healthy life …
There is a Sarah out there for us all, if we would just look for them, and then stop our business long enough to care and pray for them …
Look around, ask God for a Sarah and then dare to stop, … risk something and offer the Kingdom of Heaven … we have nothing to lose, but they, out there have life to gain because …
God is Good!
Beautiful, simply beautiful. Thankyou for sharing this.
To those who are timid in taking such action, as I have often been, God just told me to fear not!
“Fear not, for I am with you” says the Lord.
Let’s open our eyes, be aware of others – the one – and dare to speak in love and with wisdom, as you did after seeking it during the whole flight! And I pray many will follow this example! … especially me!
Yes prayer is powerful.
You have challenged me to couple Prayer with Action.
I’ve heard of a movement – if you can call it that – called Pay if Forward where the person in front of you has already paid for you! Think fast food drive through…. Fascinating social experiment to spread some love around.
Perhaps similarly we can Pray if Forward and act on that prayer, and open doors like you did in this story.
How much better is it when the person actually knows you did pray, agrees to that prayer by joining in it with you, and is faced with the reality that someone cared, someone stopped, for me!
It brings God into their world that day.
You encourage them.
You touch their heart in a real and practical way.
They think that if people care, so God cares.
You start or restart that life in Christ.
A relationship can start.
It triggers a moment for then to reconcile with Christ.
You create the opportunity to connect them with others in Christ, to continue their journey for life.
God does the work, you are the conduit. The willing vessel for the Holy Spirit to act through.
So Fear Not. Let God use us! Because… as you say, God is Good!
Hi there. Thank you for your comment. “Pray it forward” I like that! Jesus started the movement … we just need to keep it rolling. Movie “Pay it forward” is great too! Praying for people “as we go” or “stopping for the one” does release God into a life. Even offerring effects change. The strength of His anointing is incredible, because God so wants to touch the people of the world and it shows them he cares. There is a rising movement in the Body of Christ that is starting to take him out onto the streets, where ever they are … if I can do it, well anyone can … and as you so rightly say, God says: “Fear not for I am with you”. Thank you for your encouragement. I would love to hear how you get on, and I know it will be grand for … God is Good!
Your stories are awesome as you are so bold and obedient. They inspire me to step out as well. I sense the pleasure of God on you and your blog. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it all up for the rest of us…
Thank you so much for your encouragement. Let it be known throughout the world that God is Good! Thank you also for communicating how they inspire you to step out … I believe that is the purpose of these stories – if I can, anyone can, and if anyone can, we all can, and if we all do, because we all can, then together we will change the world! If you have stories of stepping out – let us know so we can celebrate His goodness … and by the way it is spreading … With love.