Knock, Knock. Who’s There?, January 21
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by David Gira
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20 NIV).
As my pastoral visit approached the end, I invited my parishioner and his family to join hands as I offered a prayer. I closed my eyes and began to intercede. I gave thanks, made our requests, and invited His presence into the hospital room.
At that moment, I felt something touch me, a soft brush across my shoulder. I closed my eyes tighter and continued praying.
A couple of seconds later, I heard a clanking sound before me. I opened my eyes and saw two white-sleeved arms stretched out over my shoulders from behind me. They drew back after having plopped the cafeteria tray onto the bedside table.
I continued my prayer. Amazingly, everyone else’s eyes remained shut. They had not even noticed the untimely meal delivery.
When the prayer ended, all were surprised to see the food tray. To my parishioner, who happened to be quite hungry, the food had appeared like manna from heaven!
In your cancer experience, you will long for God to come in—to your doctor’s office, treatment center, waiting areas, and hospital room. You will want him to come into your home, your office, and every place you go. You will want God to show up when you pray, when you are afraid, lonely, or disappointed, and when you reach the end.
While you might question whether God would really want to come into these places, the Bible tells a different story. For example, in our verse for today from the Book of Revelation, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Jesus is speaking to a church that appears to have been a mega-bad church. He had already said to them, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16 NIV). They boasted in their material riches, while failing to recognize they were spiritually broke.
You may think their door, and perhaps yours too, would be the last door upon which Jesus would knock. Yet despite our failures, and even the ugliness of cancer, He wishes to come in. Listen, and you will hear Him knocking and calling for you. He may even bring a tray of food!
Even in the coldness of a hospital room, when Jesus knocks on your door, good things can happen. When He enters and draws near, you can talk with Him, laugh and cry with Him. He can heal you and give you peace. You can have a wonderful relationship with God, knowing He is with you and loves you. All you need to do is open the door.
Prayer: Lord, I do desperately want You to be with me. Please come into my heart and never leave. Be with me in every place and moment of my life and my cancer journey. Thank You for loving me and coming to be with me. Amen.
Your Turn: Try praying this ancient breath prayer, or what others may call “prayer of the heart.” “Come ... Lord Jesus!” Breathe in “Come” and breathe out “Lord Jesus”. Do it slowly. Breathe in deeply. Pay attention to the Holy Spirit. Listen for Jesus’ knock and His voice. Breathe in this worship song, “Holy Spirit” by Bryan and Katie Torwalt.
Michael David Gira, Jr., Cancer Survivor
David was an ordained United Methodist Pastor and graduate of Duke Divinity School. He and his wife, Amy, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina with their three children. In 2017 he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. In his book, How Cancer Cured Me, he shares many ways he experienced God’s healing. After a 7 year battle with cancer, David is now joyously singing praises in God’s glorious throne room. His legacy lives on through his writing for Cancer Companions, as he continues to proclaim Christ’s hope and healing power to others experiencing cancer. https://www.davidgira.com/how-cancer-cured-me
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
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