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Healing
of Spirit and Body
We
have all experienced it. You get a cut or scrape, and unless it is very
deep or it becomes inundated with bacteria, within a few days the wound
heals without medical treatment. Similarly, someone who is ill, receives
medical care and there is a period of time when the body heals to the
point of complete recovery or being cured. This process of natural
healing is activated repeatedly whenever disease, damage, dysfunction or
disorders affect any part of the body.
Medical science knows that the body’s ability to heal is
indispensable for successful restoration, repair and recovery after any
treatment. This is precisely the
reason that doctors tell their patients to allow time for healing after
undergoing surgery or other types of medical care. They know that
regardless of the most superb medical skills and scientific knowledge,
the process of healing is paramount. In
fact, there is general agreement that healing can be facilitated, but it
cannot be administered by any human being. Healing is a spiritual
quality that comes from God who is the only healer. He created
our bodies with this built-in mechanism to produce natural healing. But
because of our human imperfection, God has also made provision for when
our natural healing system becomes overwhelmed. Through Jesus
Christ He has given us access to His supernatural healing power. We
have the authorization to avail ourselves of divine healing at anytime -
”… that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
"He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”- Matthew 8:17. So, we do not have to wait until all
else fails before we call on God for healing. All we have to do is
believe and ask with faith.
If we believe that God is the supreme healer, then we must agree that
divine healing comes from His power. Therefore, when someone prays for
healing with faith, it is instantaneously activated in the spirit realm.
This is important to know because sometimes when the visible signs of
healing are not immediately evident in our bodies, doubts may arise. But
based on Jesus’ teaching we learn that everything in our physical experience actually begins in
the spirit. He said “ It is the
Spirit who gives life;
the flesh profits nothing…”
John
6:63. So
when God intervenes into our lives with divine healing, His Spirit
infuses our spirit with healing power to stop the destructive course of
disease or injury on our bodies. It does not matter whether medical
treatment is being administered or not. As we believe and stand in faith
we will experience the physical signs of healing; symptoms will go away,
pain will stop until the body is no longer threatened with
incapacitation or death from that particular illness or injury. Whether
we are seeking healing of a major illness or a minor injury, we must not
doubt or waiver. God’s healing power is not limited to any diagnosis,
prognosis, state of health or mental functioning. This is the reason
Jesus told us to “…Have
faith in God”. Mark
11:22, because He is the source of all healing. Therefore, while waiting
for the physical evidence of healing, our hearts and minds must be
focused only on being whole again. We must consciously feed our spirits
with God’s word and speak positively about what we expect; even when
our senses or others are telling us differently. Jesus says that answers
to our prayers are influenced by what we believe in our hearts and what
we say –“I
say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast
into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that
those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” Mark 11:23.
There is a belief that God uses sickness to either teach spiritual lessons
or to punish us for wrongdoing. But how could God be a loving Father and
hurt His creation to prove His love? Those beliefs are wrong for three
specific reasons. First, there are numerous scriptures in the Old and
New Testaments that proclaim the healing power of God.
Second, while on earth, Jesus did only what God, His Father
commanded Him to do, and healing of multitudes was a major part of His
earthly ministry. Third, Jesus fulfilled prophecy when He not only died
on the cross for our sins, but also took all diseases upon Him for our
healing – Isaiah 55:53. The truth is that God does not hurt; He heals,
and is not in involved with putting sickness or injury on anyone. The
fact that disease attacks our bodies is attributed to our flawed
humanity on a physical level, and our sinful nature on a spiritual
level. Plus we live in a world where we or others make decisions that
sometimes adversely affect our lives. Just think of nuclear energy,
biological weapons, vehicular engine emissions, crop fertilizers, drugs,
alcohol, cigarettes, land developments and forest clearings to name a
few examples. In varying degrees, they all adversely affect our health,
our living environment and ultimately our longevity. Yet we are not
entirely at the mercy of our environment. Regardless of our inevitable
susceptibility to death, we can choose to take actions that will prolong
our lives. First, we can ask for God's help in living a healthy life.
Next, we can do all that we are capable of doing to practice life style
habits that promote health and keep us safe. But most importantly, we
can trust God to heal our bodies when attacked by sickness, and to
protect us in circumstances over which we have no control.
God does not want to heal our bodies only; He wants to heal our spirits too.
On many occasions when Jesus healed someone, He told the person to go
and sin no more. This affirms that when we seek healing it is vital that
we confess all known sin to God and ask for His forgiveness. Healing can
be hindered if we harbor anger, resentment or unforgiving spirit. But as we surrender our hearts to God, His Holy Spirit empowers
us to forgive those who have wronged us and rid our selves of the toxic
emotions. Healing of our minds means believing in God’s power. A
mindset of unbelief or doubt will not promote healing. Jesus illustrated
the importance of believing when He asked a group of blind men seeking
deliverance – “… Do
you believe that I am able to do this?
They
said to Him" Yes Lord"
Matthew
9:28. Their response reflected their belief in His power to heal.
Even Jesus was impeded from healing when those around Him did not
believe - “Now
He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few
sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their
unbelief….” Mark 6:5-6. But when the people
believed and released their faith, Jesus healed them all. Scripture
tells us that
"Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing
sickness and every disease among the people "-
Matthew 9:35. Jesus’ healing of the masses proves undoubtedly that it
is God’s will for us to healed. However, it is up to us to take hold
of this divine provision for relief, restoration and recovery from
sickness.
Remember...
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God, created
our bodies with natural healing
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We
all have access God’s power for healing
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God
is the only healer.
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Healing
begins in our spirits
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We
will be healed if we believe in God’s power.
A
Prayer for Healing
Father
in heaven I pray that Your healing power is manifested in my body to cast
out all sickness and disease. Please heal my spirit O Lord, and forgive my
sins. Fill me with Your peace and help me to forgive others too. In Jesus name I ask that every symptom and
pain from disease, disorder or injury is removed from my body. Grant
that all treatment and medication work successfully to help restore my
health. Your word says that I am healed by the
stripes of Jesus Christ and I believe that I am healed. I thank You for
recovery with preservation of my life until I have finished my work here. I
give you the praise, the honor and the glory for answering prayer. In the
name of Jesus: Amen
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