Were You On That Flight?

A Devotional by Margot Ciocco

Careful what you say - you may not yet see what is around the bend.

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue can bring 
death or life; 
those who love to talk 
will reap the consequences.







I've just finished reading the book The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven by Kevin and Alex Malarkey. While many probably read it to find out more about heaven and angels I think I was more profoundly touched by the people who from all kinds of places, were led by the Holy Spirit to be part of this miracle. My favorite story in the book took place at the scene of the accident. A neighbor in his yard heard the crash and ran to help and sat with the child and prayed and encouraged him till the EMT's arrived but the best story to me is about the faith of the Helicopter Transport guy named Dave. 

As Beth pulled into the parking lot at the hospital, she spotted a man wearing a MedFlight uniform. She quickly backed up, rolled dow the window, and called out to him, ""I have a six-year old son who just arrived by helicopter. Were you on that flight?" The man walked over to her " Yes ma'am. My name's Dave." "Is my son all right? How bad was it?" Looking into Beth's eyes, Dave said, "I have a question for you." Yes? Beth said quizzically. "Are you a Christian?" "Yes I am", Beth answered, wondering where this was going. "Then listen to me" Dave continued intently looking into Beth's eyes. "You're are going to go in the trauma room and you're going to hear some horrible things. In fact, they're going to tell you your son's going to die. But I laid hands on your son and prayed for him in the name of Jesus. I'm telling you, he's not going to die.  Now you definitely have a part to play in all this. The Lord is already beginning the healing, but if you go in there,  fear will try to attack your thinking. I'm not telling you to go in there and argue. Be polite and listen; they know what they're talking about. But as true as all their information is, God's Word can change all that. I prayed for your boy in the name of Jesus, and he's not going to die. But if you go in there and agree with what they're saying and start speaking that, he will die. You'll negate what's been started by my praying for him. But if every time you get scared or hear a bad report, you thank the Lord for His healing, He will do His part. Have you got it?"

I think Dave the paramedic's words are good advice to all of us as well. Our words are powerful, they set things in motion. God spoke and created and he has made us in his likeness. Our words have the power of life or death. Dave the paramedic said "But if every time you get scared or hear a bad report, you thank the Lord for His healing, He will do His part." Perhaps you have been given a bad report or a diagnosis that seems hopeless. Remember you serve a big God but like Beth in this story you must play your part. Don't give into the fear... If God has told you He would heal you - lay hold of that healing, don't let go, don't give in to dispair and hopelessness.

There is a spoof on the Lord of the Rings where rather than the laborious journey of trials, hardship and faithfulness the big Eagles that rescue Frodo and Sam at the end of the story are the ones that take the ring and drop it in the mountain and life carries on and everyone goes on about life as usual. Its an  easy fix but does not make much of a gripping story.  I think quite often as we go through our own journey of struggles and the ups and downs of faith that we wish God would just skip us past the hard stuff and just give us the answer to our prayer. I have come to realize that often His answers are part of a journey that must be walked out.  Here is a link to that spoof on the Lord of the Rings
I think sometimes we keep looking for the big miracle rescue when God sends us on a journey of little daily miracles and on a road with companions who help and encourage us to press on and to not give up. 

Prayer: 
Dear Lord I ask for courage to not loose heart when the answers you send to our prayers are not of the quick fix sort. I pray that you will help us to see the daily miracles of walking with you, and the strength and character that is developed in those who continue on the journey with you. Thank you for what you are working in our lives and for your plan and the roads it will cause us to walk down. There are so many things that we would miss if the eagles or the angels stepped in and just did the job for us. Thank you for walking with us day by day and help us to remember the words of Dave the paramedic. Lord thank you for your healing and transforming power at work in our lives.