The Pursuit of Inner Healing

Shortly after I moved back to Northern California, I was discouraged trying to do ministry the way I saw it work in Pasadena, in the classroom. On the one hand I was sure that the LORD had sent me as a missionary to practice what I had been trained in inner healing and deliverance and my years of experience with RLM. However, I did not realize what it would look like and how important it is to first stand in my true identity in Christ in a different atmosphere and setting.

I called my good friend, Rose, for prayer. Rose asked if I had some time, she offered to “take me where the people are.” I said “Sure.” She guided me to a back part of the city where she grew up; an area I did not even know existed. As we drove up to the house she grew up in, she saw someone she recognized at the liquor store next door. She called out, “Hey!”.

I offered to pull the car over so she could talk to the person she recognized. A short conversation was had, and my friend introduced me to the people she knew. It did not take long before we were offering to pray for the two people we pulled over for, and quickly others caught on that my friend and I were praying for people. A small group of people gathered to receive prayer and hope and to hear that God sees them and loves them. Several people were touched by God that day in the parking lot of Woody’s Market and their lives transformed.

Two of those people, we would hear from again years later when we were reunited with them. A young man, “Phil”, a couple years later shared that after we prayed that day, he got arrested. But it was one of the best things to happen to him. While in prison, he recalled how we prayed for him and he gave his life to the Lord. Another person, “Tom”, was running from the law and life, estranged from his wife, in-and-out of dysfunctional relationships and addicted to drugs. He received encouragement from his relative, Rose, entered a rehabilitation program to overcome the addiction, became a mentor and leader in that program, reconciled with his wife and now has his own place and holds a job.

Jesus told his disciples when sending them out: “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:7-8) This is what we saw happening that day at Woody’s market. Seeds were planted. In God’s time, those seeds came to fruition, and we witnessed powerfully ministry happening “outside the walls” of the class.

First Peter 4:10 tells us, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” God continues to bless us in order to be a blessing to others, with what He has given us.

That is what RLM does. Yes, there’s inner healing and deliverance as needed, but it is all founded on our God-given identity in Christ. When we know who we are in the Lord, and who He says we are, we can truly stand in every situation and circumstance. Walking out what we are encouraged to do as it says in Isaiah 61:1, The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”