The pain continued to grow worse through the night, so much so that at 12:30 a.m. I called and woke my Pastor to let him know what had happened so that he could prepare himself to minister that morning. However, I still believed that God could do a miracle. I prayed, asking the Lord to heal me and allow me to preach the message I had prepared.
For several days after that the pain was minimal as long as I kept the foot elevated, and the swelling even began to subside somewhat, so I assumed that it had just been badly wrenched. I made sure not to put pressure on it to aggravate it. However by the next weekend the pain and swelling increased so I went to have it x-rayed, and was told that when I fell the foot was broken (that was the pop I had heard), and I had torn some ligaments. Yes.........I had preached on a broken foot!
It was put in a cast and I was instructed to use crutches. The doctor said that because of my age it would take longer than usual for the bone to heal.. (I restrained myself from telling him that he didn't know the God I serve, who had already done a miracle for me.) The doctor estimated that I would have to wear the cast for about 4 weeks, and gave me an appointment to come back for a follow up x-ray and consultation in 2 1/2 weeks. I, however, believed that God could do the impossible just as He had done on that Sunday. When I got home I found a Scripture that was appropriate for my condition and began declaring it over my foot every day, several times a day, like medicine...."Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken." (Psalm 34:19-20)
About 5 days later I felt an intense heat in my foot...both on the inside and on the outside...yet it wasn't painful. Then I literally felt a Hand inside the cast massaging the sole in small circular motions... moving from the base of my toes down one side of the foot and up the other side. Then the Hand moved to the instep and massaged the areas where the ligaments had been torn. This lasted for about 40-45 minutes during which time I remained still and worshiped. The sensation of the heat happened again on two more occasions, both while I was at church.
When I returned 2 1/2 weeks later and did the follow up x-ray the difference could clearly be seen on the films. The first one had shown the bone sticking out, but in the second x-ray the bone was straight, and you had to look carefully to see where the break had occurred. The doctor said that I didn't need the cast anymore, and had it removed!! The only instruction that he gave was that I should continue to use the crutches for about another week and then gradually bear weight on the left foot as I felt comfortable.
The next day I attended our regular Friday night evangelistic and healing service, walking into the sanctuary without the cast but using the crutches as I had been instructed. However, during worship I found myself bearing weight on my left foot, without any discomfort. As the worship continued I had the same sensation that I had felt on the Sunday morning a few weeks earlier.....the swelling began to go down rapidly...so much so that I was able to walk with some assistance across the back of the sanctuary!!
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
