It all started when I wrote a tiny prayer in my journal. “God, show me your faithfulness today. I really need to be reminded of it.”
I woke early and spent some time in the Presence, then walked with my team to wash the feet of elderly folk at the church. The day before, I was pumped to wash feet, but as soon as I got there I didn’t feel it was my place. I didn’t know why, but I soon found out.
Upon arrival of the first elderly person to the church, I was relaxed and ready to go, whatever that meant. I was so desperate that I did nothing. Sometimes that’s exactly what the Lord wants us to do isn’t it (Psalm 46:10)? I sat back, observed, and quickly found out that God wanted to minister to me.
Enter Panou.
This old man, about 70 years old, slowly staggered his way on a short crutch through the back door of the church to get his feet washed. I saw the Lord ministering to His spirit and simply got to sit back and watch – I did nothing. Later, I noticed him sitting a few rows back with the most painful look on his face. Doing all he could to relieve it of any pain, Panou rubbed his knee, and the Spirit drew me in.
It was almost as if I was being gently directed with a hand from behind. “There it is Colby, right there…”
I asked Panou a few questions, then asked to pray over him. With a renewed spirit, I began to confidently pray and call a healing movement of Holy Spirit on Panou. In God’s faithfulness and at ‘thank you, Jesus’, Panou had hope in his eyes. The pain wasn't all gone, but his leg was better. We simply prayed again and asked Daddy to be as He is – faithful. Upon completion of the shortest prayer, because I had nothing to say, Panou immediately grabbed his leg and pulled his knee to his chest over and over.
With wide eyes and the biggest smile on his face, he looked free.
I asked him to stand up and try it out. Panou quickly stood to his feet and walked around the room without his crutch.
We ate lunch, then Panou literally leapt to his feet and jumped clear in the air a few times assuring that the pain was no more. Praising God, he strolled towards the exit to the beat of a new drum, carrying his crutch and hopping down the stairs like a little boy in love.
Four hours later in the middle of a marriage seminar, Panou arrived late. He came in without a crutch and literally danced down the aisle with hands held high to a faithful God. The whole room stopped. Everything ceased, at least in my eyes. Panou hopped up and down stomping his feet and stood on one leg at a time.
With the joy of The Lord, Panou invited everyone in.
The very next day the Lord reminded in me as He stirred, “Colby, My faithfulness is just as much for you as it was for Panou yesterday. And guess what? It has nothing to do with you.”
