Healed of Rheumatoid Arthritis!

As a young child, I became acutely aware that rheumatoid arthritis ran in my family history. I also distinctly remember, around the age of six, hearing a voice in my head (obviously, not the voice of a friend) saying, "One day, little girl, you TOO will have this disease and there’s nothing you can do about it!"  My dad’s mother had a severe case of RA. I’ll never forget the sight of her gnarled, almost claw-like hands, horribly deformed and crippled from the ravages of this merciless disease. Because of the pain in most of her  joints, she had to use a cane to walk and every second of her day was dominated by terrible discomfort.  

A few years after her passing, my dad, in his mid 50’s, also fell victim to R.A. For the next twenty years, though we prayed and tried every medical treatment available at the time, he experienced a level of suffering no human should have to endure. It was absolute torture for him, and the agony and debilitation he experienced was something, to this day, that brings tears to my eyes. Despite this, both he and my mom gave their lives to God’s service, moving our family from New Mexico to New Jersey in the mid-70’s to serve more than two decades as missionaries in the Lord’s Kingdom near New York City.

As you might imagine, because of this history, I had some concern about my own health, especially as I reached my 50’s. My fears found their reward in June of 2008, when I too fell victim. At first, I experienced an excruciating, stabbing sensation in a finger joint of my right hand. Then came the swelling, redness and a deep, almost nauseating feeling of trauma in my entire body. It was, without a doubt, one of the most frightening sensations I’ve ever known. I immediately began to pray for myself, asking friends and family to pray for me also. Yet, the pain not only stubbornly remained, it got even worse over the next three weeks; my anxiety and worry increasing right along with it. 

But then, the Lord started working on me. Because of my absolute desperation to know the power and person of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit had already revealed some things to me that my dad, bless his dear heart, never realized. The Spirit reminded me about the true power of His healing, made possible when Jesus allowed the Roman soldiers to inflict those terrible wounds across His back.  I determined NOT to go the doctor, at least, not yet. I WOULD press in for my healing, because I knew it was mine to have. But I also knew I couldn’t do it alone. I needed help.   

When I called my dear friends, Ron and Glenda, and told them about the attack, they immediately began to pray for me over the phone. Some relief came right away, for which I was grateful. But a few hours later, back it came, even worse than before. So we met together in person and they prayed for me again, laying hands on me and speaking forth a declaration of my healing. Thankfully, the pain began to ease up a bit, but the trauma in my finger joint - the swelling, the redness, the soreness, remained. I hugged and thanked them and went home.  

The next day, the infernal pain was back again; not quite as bad as before, but bad enough to dramatically interfere with everything I tried to do, including sleep. That was it. Enough was enough! I began to decree my healing, speaking the same words Ron and Glenda had used when they prayed for me. I COMMANDED the demon of disease to leave my body! I also asked many Christians at work and church to lay hands on me and pray for me. It didn’t matter to me whether or not they believed God would miraculously bring my healing. I didn’t even think to ask!  Thankfully, no one turned me down.  

About two weeks later, as I continued asking people to pray for me (some people prayed for me several times!), I began to notice the stabbing pain and redness had declined somewhat. A few days later, the swelling also became less noticeable. A week or two later, the soreness slowly disappeared and now, on March 7, 2009, I AM COMPLETELY HEALED!!!  Praise God! I give You all the glory and honor and praise!!! I also give You my lifelong thanks for Ron and Glenda, who faithfully prayed for me these many weeks and whose humble petitions before the throne of God began the cleansing and restoration of divine health in my body. Thank you Ron and Glenda! I love you!!!!    

(P.S. Folks - this healing IS FOR YOU TOO!  By reading my story and claiming out loud, with your own voice, the power that healed me, you too can reach out into the invisible realm and PULL OUT HIS HOLY POWER for your OWN healing! You can do it!!! It’s there waiting for you!!! He wants to heal you, but you must contend for it and NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!!!)   

Janet R. Edwards

Sam Rayburn, Texas