What Are You Focused On?

Years ago when I was in my mid twenties I discovered a lump on my left knee. I didn't pay it much attention because it didn't really hurt. I did notice it more however, as I became more active (walking exercising). The constant rubbing up against my knee bone forced me to take notice and grimace with pain. After I became pregnant with my first child the cyst would ache more often because of the weight I was gaining. My then husband practically begged me to go and see a specialist, but I continued to wave it off as unimportant. I ended up miscarrying the baby, and after the traumatic experience the pain from the cyst was relenting. I was forced to go and see a doctor. After the doctor examined my knee and ran a few tests, he determined it was not cancerous. Whew, that was a small weight lifted off of me. Ironically though, I was more worried about the surgery leaving a scar on my knee than not being in any more pain. I asked the doctor how big the scar would be and would it disappear over time. He assured me the scarring would be minimal and within six months I would barely notice I had had surgery. Me being the trusting person that I am believed every word the doctor said. I scheduled a date for the surgery and completed all the paperwork. I was still apprehensive about the scar, I mean, this was my beautiful knee, and I didn't want to add any more scars to my left leg (I already had two!).

After I returned home to recover I was anxious to see the incision to determine just how bad the scar was. Unfortunately the bandages placed on my knee to promote healing and protection from infections prevented me from seeing it. My post-opp appointment finally came and moment of truth had arrived. Voila - no scar! Uh...negative! There was a long, ugly, red vertical line with stitches still protruding out from my knee. I wanted to cry. The doctor sensed my impending tears and quickly reassured me, again, that the redness would go way and the scar would smooth out when the healing was complete. Looking at my knee I still doubted his words and decided in that moment long pants and longs skirts would be the only garments I would be wearing for a very long time.

Before my appointment ended the doctor asked me one more question, "Are you experiencing any more pain?" Hmph, wow, pain. "No, I answered, no more pain." I had been so focused on the scarring I hadn't taken the time to realize that I wasn't in any more pain! But wasn't that the whole point? Removal of pain? Don't we react the same way with God? We ask God to remove the sin and pain in our lives, but we constantly look for it, bringing it back to God instead of rejoicing over the removal of the sin and pain.
Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our sins from us" (GNTS). When we repent and ask God for forgiveness He performs spiritual surgery on us, immediately! What are you focusing on today? The scars or the removal of the source of pain..sin? Isaiah 43:25 states, "I, even I, am He who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (AMP).

Today, stop looking at your past sins, bringing them back to God or rehearsing them in your mind. Instead, begin to repeat Isaiah 43:25 over and over until you believe it within your soul. God said it, and unlike doctors, you can always believe in and trust His word. By the way, the doctor was wrong, the surgery did leave a scar, but its been so long I barely even notice it, and surprisingly, no one else does either. Refocus and rejoice. The pain has been removed!