Ministry Moments:
Linda’s Glee
by Lynn Ridenhour
click
here for Part I of this story
We were still dancing around the table in disbelief.
I had just witnessed my first miracle and it happened to me! My
left hand had just grown out to the exact size of my right. Linda, my wife,
and I had been sitting around our kitchen table. We were ecstatic, beside
ourselves as we danced. Finally, Linda spoke up, "…well, do you
think the Lord would heal my back?…"
"…I don’t know. Let’s see what the Lord’ll do."
That’s what the man on the tape said to say. Derek Prince always responds
with "…I don’t know but let’s see what the Lord will do…"
when asked if he believes the Lord will heal someone. That’s a great way of
putting it, for, as Derek states, it lets us off the hook. If God does do
something, we don’t take the credit. However, if God does not do something,
neither do we take the blame. Either way we’re off the hook—and that’s
faith. Total confidence in the Lord. We’re free to act in faith without
taking the glory or blame. And God is free to do as He pleases.
It’s also a great way to build faith. "…let’s see what the
Lord will do…" creates an atmosphere of anticipation. And that’s
half the battle. For faith works best in an atmosphere of expectancy.
Linda and I were "…in the zone." Expectancy was flying high
that night. It had been less than five minutes ago when I watched my left hand
lengthen before my eyes.
We moved out of the kitchen and into the living room. I grabbed a chair
from the kitchen table and placed it in the living room. Linda sat down. You
need to know that Linda had developed scoliosis in her spine at a very early
age. Her parents, being of meager means, could not afford her a bed so Linda
slept on a "roll-away." The curvature in her spine was
abnormal.
"…Lord, we thank you for healing Linda’s spine…"
I must say--it felt terribly strange talking to the Lord like that. As if
he were in the room and we were simply carrying on an informal conversation
with a very close friend. One friend asking a favor of another.
I had never seen the Shechinah glory before. Never even heard of it. We
were just a couple of Baptist kids (Linda was eighteen and I was in my early
twenties) who were recently married and in love. Linda and I both saw it at
the same time. There was a glorious cloud or brilliant light that came over
Linda. It was visible to the naked eye and we both saw it. Linda began to
tremble. Then came the tears of joy.
"…I see it. It’s all over me…" She was
weeping.
"…I see it too, hon…"
And Linda's spine began to straighten. Now I’m weeping.
That was thirty-one years ago. Linda’s spine has been straight since.
click
here for Part III of this story
