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          "As I stepped out of bed, I stood there bent over, motionless, and in shock by an intense pain that suddenly attacked my back. Paralyzed by this excruciating, unbearable blow, I cried out, “My God, what is this!”. I had been painless for years, and this feeling, so savagely violent in nature, could not have been a simple coincidence. This pain was similar to whiplash, which I had formerly experienced. Within an instant, several feet away from my bed but in front of me, a human figure appeared in a vision. Short in stature, wrinkled, and old, this man stood staring at me with a hard and brutal look. Bent over with a humped back, this big-headed man was dressed in a khaki shirt and shorts. As he tried to step closer to my bed, immediately Jesus appeared with his beaten and blood-striped back facing me. Almost automatically, I heard myself saying, “I serve you the back of Jesus! Look at the back of Jesus! I serve you the back of Jesus! Look at the back of Jesus!” As I declared these words repeatedly, the wretched man turned away in fear. Trembling, he walked away, never looking at the blood-stained back of Jesus. As he slowly disappeared, with every step he took, the pain in my back lessened. When he finally vanished, and following the departure of Jesus, the pain completely left my body, allowing me to stand erect. I rubbed my eyes in astonishment, and I knew I was not dreaming; I was wide awake. A few minutes later when I went to the bathroom to get ready for work, I asked my heavenly Father, “God, what was that?” He answered, “My daughter, I have opened your eyes for a moment so you can see what is occurring in the spiritual realm. I healed you, but the Enemy came back to bring sickness upon you. That was a crippling demon that attacked you, and if you had only gone back to bed, saying, I am sick and cannot work today, that crippling spirit would have taken over your body and condemned you. I opened your eyes for you so you could see that the pain you felt was unnatural, so you will not quit but fight.

          It was the Enemy attacking your body, trying to condemn you to your bed permanently.” In amazement and somewhat speechless, I uttered, “My God, my God, my God. Thank You.” As I reflected on this incident, I recalled my pastor’s sermons that would often remind us of the importance of the stripes Jesus took on His back for us two thousand years ago. Though we are healed, the Enemy tries to come back and bring symptoms of sickness to our bodies. Therefore, we must decide whether or not we want to receive the healing that is given to us through Jesus or if we are going to accept the symptoms the Devil is trying to place upon us. Therefore, it is very important that we confess only the Word of God at all times, regardless of how we feel or what we see, so we can claim and receive this healing. As I meditated on this and the words of my heavenly Father, I spent the rest of my day in prayer and praise, thanking God for His healing power and unfailing love. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isa. 53. 4–5 KJV). Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. (Isa. 53:4–5 AMP)"