Tuesday, May 30, 2006
What True Healing Really Is
In my devotional today, I was reflecting on last weekend when I hurt my ankle at Chewacla. I knew right away the Lord wanted brokenness in more ways than one. Not only did He want to heal my ankle, but He most of all wanted to heal my heart. That day I had let pride walk in. I had stupid frustrations toward other people. I was mean that day. I suppose these things had occurred days before, but the Holy Spirit spotlighted where darkness was in my heart. So, I fall, my ankle is hurt and before I can say, "ouch", the Holy Spirit moves in me. I confess my sins and praise the Lord for His mercy and His grace. Then the healing took place in my heart and then the pain in my ankle starting easing up as the swelling went down. I now truly believe that true healing is the forgiveness of sins. You must humble yourself. You might be able to believe that God can heal, but you must be able to deny yourself first. That is when true healing takes place. The truth does really set you free. I am a living testimony of that. That is why I believe Psalm 103 put the forgiveness of sins first and then the healing of disease second. You cannot have the second without the first.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits--
who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases,
who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Then Jesus told the paralytic his sins are forgiven in Matthew 9 and then told him that he was healed:
And He entered into a boat, and passed over and came into His own city.
And behold, they brought to Him a man sick with the palsy, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said unto the one sick with the palsy, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."
And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, "This man blasphemeth."
And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why think ye evil in your hearts?
For which is easier: to say, `Thy sins be forgiven thee,' or to say, `Arise and walk'?
But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins,"-- (then said He to the one sick with palsy) "Arise, take up thy bed and go unto thine house."
And he arose and departed to his house.
But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power unto men.
Thank you Lord for your healing!
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits--
who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases,
who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Then Jesus told the paralytic his sins are forgiven in Matthew 9 and then told him that he was healed:
And He entered into a boat, and passed over and came into His own city.
And behold, they brought to Him a man sick with the palsy, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said unto the one sick with the palsy, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."
And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, "This man blasphemeth."
And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why think ye evil in your hearts?
For which is easier: to say, `Thy sins be forgiven thee,' or to say, `Arise and walk'?
But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins,"-- (then said He to the one sick with palsy) "Arise, take up thy bed and go unto thine house."
And he arose and departed to his house.
But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power unto men.
Thank you Lord for your healing!
