From Aletha Hinthorn's Come to the Fire devotions:
"A man in southern Sudan suffered for years from terrible migraine headaches. He was desperate to be rid of the headaches, so without a doctor nearby, he went to the local witch doctor.
"In the book Holiness, Howe Shute relates that the witch doctor assured the man, "Yes, I can help you, but you've got to find one of your closest relatives you really love and cut off that person's head. Bring the head back to me and I'll lay my hands on it and say the right words, and your headache will be transferred to this other head."
"The man was desperate so he agreed.
"It took him several days to determine the relative he would choose, and during that time missionaries arrived and set up a large screen. That night they showed the JESUS film.
In the crowd was the man who was still considering whose head he should get. As he watched Jesus heal many people, he thought surely this God could help him, too. So he prayed his first prayer to Jesus.
"'Jesus, if You can do it for them, You can take my headache away.'
"Later, the man reported, 'I felt a cold feeling move from my head all the way to the bottom of my feet. When that cold moved through my body, I was instantly healed.'
"The man became a believer in Jesus and is now active in his church.
"Thank You, Lord, for Your perfect timing that rescued this man.
"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness" (Matthew 9:35).
"But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture" (Malachi 4:2 NLT)."
I love stories like these, that show Jesus is still at work in the world, even today. It helps give me confidence that my prayers are heard and that God will answer.
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