God invites us into His great story of redemption from our brokenness through His gift of friendship. He, as our ultimate provider, gives us everything we need to “friend” in a way that reflects who He is.
This month, we are going to be looking at the story of the “man on the mat” found in the Gospels. In this story, we find Jesus healing a paralyzed man as a result of the faith displayed by this man’s friends. Four men carried the paralytic on a mat; unable to reach Jesus through the crowd, they made an opening in the roof and lowered him down before Jesus. Jesus, seeing their faith, healed the man and told him to pick up his mat and walk. The story highlights Jesus's power to heal and forgive sins, as well as the importance of faith.
We see the lengths we are able to go when we believe God has good things for our friends. The effect of lowering a friend through a roof on a mat because we believe, that much, that Jesus will heal him. We see this act of faith resulting in the miraculous healing response of Jesus.
Our faith is important. It’s powerful. Not only did the man on the mat believe in God’s healing power but his friends did also. There is authority in surrounding ourselves with people who also believe God for good things.
I want to invite you to listen to our latest episode on the podcast today as we ponder a few “thought starters” that I believe God intends to meet us in and encourage us through.
Once you finish this episode, I encourage you to download the below free printable reflection sheet. Inviting you to sit with the Lord in your quiet place with Him, desiring to know more about how to be a faithful friend who believes good things for her people. I believe God will meet you there!
- Britt Goff #wheatfulwednesday #wheatfulwomanpodcast
More to reflect on:
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What hope does this concept of “being saved by the faith of a friend” give you?
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Who are your few that God has placed around you that you can believe His goodness for? Name them.
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What does it look like to pray, to sit with (in your presence, not your words), and to encourage well?
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How are you doing this now?
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How do you long to do this?
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What do you desire to learn about this?
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Is there someone that comes to mind that you see doing this well? How do they do it well?
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How did Jesus do this well?
Go deeper with us today
Join us for our “Wheatful Woman” podcast episode
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Wheatful Woman: the term we use to describe our community of women based on our founding verse Psalm 81:16. God created us for personal relationship with Him and relationship with one another. We pray W&HC would be a place you find resources to dwell in God's goodness, the hope found in His love and to get connected with other women walking with Him.
Our Founding Verse: Psalm 81:16 ESV But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.