Surviving MRIs and Other Tight Squeezes

Now I know how it feels to be toothpaste. I survived my first ever MRI today. Fortunately, several friends took the time to prepare me for the ordeal and I was confident as I slipped into my hospital gown and robe and hopped up on the table.

One of the best bits of advice I received was to ask for a cloth over my eyes as a blindfold so that I would not realize the close proximity of my snout to the top of the tube. That turned out to be some good advice right there!

I had already decided to employ one of my favorite meditation techniques that has served me well over the years – I call it Alphabetical Bible Verses. I have committed at least one Bible verse to memory that begins with successive letters of the alphabet.

A – And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

B – But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The
chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

C – Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5)

D – Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

And so on, you get the picture. The plan is to work through the alphabet remembering the verse, meditating on its meaning and praying toward its application.

After making it through the alphabet, I had a little time left in the tank, so I used the alphabet as a prayer guide. First, I prayed for Andrea, my wife. Then I prayed for Bekah, my daughter. She began first grade today and she was not excited about getting back into the school routine. Since I was on B, I also prayed for Mrs. Bailey, Bekah's teacher. As if she doesn't have enough challenges in her life, NOW she has Bekah for a student. She REALLY needs prayer.

When I got to C, I prayed for our church. We have some wonderful people, and I took some time to thank God for my church family, for the love they have shown me. I also prayed for some of the issues we face in our church as we search for staff, and I prayed earnestly for revival.

During the "C" portion of my prayer, my time was up. All in all, I found the MRI to be a pleasant experience, kind of relaxing. I probably could have enjoyed it more were it not for the aggravating voice telling me when to breathe, when to hold my breath, and when to breathe again, and for the annoying sounds created by the magnets moving about the "Tube o' Fun."

I share this with you to encourage you to face any anxious moments in your life by proactively and intentionally focusing on God. Meditating on Him takes our minds off our circumstances and focuses us on the ONE who is more than able to bring us through the circumstances we face. After all, that is what God promised when He said,

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. – Isaiah 26:3

Oh, and I know what you are thinking. . . . when I get to "X" I take a little creator's license:

EXcept the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. – Psalm 127:1