Bent Over by the Pressure

“… and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.

She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her,

"Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."

Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”

Luke 13:11-13

Living life we have things to that overburden us, to be “bent over”.   We live in a world that has suffered from the afflictions of evil beings, we’re in a world of unclean spirits (John 14:30-31).  That’s why we carry the “tribulations” or “troubles” of this world.  As the crippled woman, we are crippled, bent over, and can’t straighten up.  That’s the pressure of this world; as in John 16:33 Jesus speaks of this world’s “tribulation” (NKJV) or “troubles” (NIV), interestingly, the root of Scripture’s Greek word used here means pressure—and, pressure bears down on us and we become bent over by the prince of affliction and pressure of this world, Satan.  

“But take heart! [Jesus] has overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).  And, you, like the crippled woman can have the pressure in this world lifted from you, because “the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  Free of troubles, tribulation, the pressure of  whatever is crippling your life.  Free! 

Take the time to talk with the Lord quietly, lift up your hands and let Jesus touch you just as he touched the woman crippled by a bad spirit, for “he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”  Jesus sees you, go to his call, let Him touch you. 

Set free!  Hallelujah! 

Owen <><