(An 8 Minute Read)
When we are faced with the diagnosis of a disease, persistent symptoms, pain, or even a timeline to death by a doctor, how do we handle it? For many of us, the natural inclination would be to go into fear and dread. We may resign ourselves to it and accept it as our fate. We may listen to guilt and think that we’ve done something wrong to deserve it. Or we may listen to accusation towards God and believe that He gave it to us for whatever reason.
The enemy would love to use each and every adverse situation to gain a foothold in our life so that he can determine our fate. If we agree with any of these thoughts, we are essentially making him lord of our life in that area and allowing him to lead us down that dark path to hopelessness, fear, dread and even death.
But there is another option, we can turn to our Heavenly Father, in faith, believing His plan and purpose for our life is for good and not for evil. This will take a conscious effort to resist the enemy’s projections of evil over our life. In order to be able to do this, we need to realize our value to Him and how He thinks towards us. We can go to God’s Word of truth and establish it in our hearts.
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7 KJV
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139:17-18 KJV
God’s desire for us can be found in 3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2 KJV
We need to establish in our hearts that disease and death are not from God; therefore we may conclude that they are ‘gifts’ from the enemy. So how can we be delivered of these things?
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. Ezekiel 18:32 KJV
We need to grab ahold of our Heavenly Father’s heart and seek Him with all of our hearts. It is through Him, Jesus the Word and the working of the Holy Spirit that our healing and deliverance come.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV
Just as we are saved by grace and not by works unto salvation, we continue to be set free by God’s grace from the law of sin and death that wars within our members.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 KJV
The word “grace” found in Ephesians 2:8, from the original Greek translation, can actually be defined as: “God’s divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life…”
So we can conclude that we are saved by God’s influence on our heart and our response to Him. We cannot save ourselves from the bondage of sin and death, disease, pain or any other thing. The enemy would want us to strive in drivenness and performance to try to save ourselves. People may be driven from doctor to doctor, from specialist to specialist. They may be driven from medicine to medicine or any other type of possible remedy. They may be driven from diet to diet, adding and removing supplements, trying different modalities and therapies. People may try to cast out every evil spirit, act perfect, and find just the right prayer, all in an effort to save themselves.
But here’s God’s heart for us:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
If we do all the right things but are driven by a spirit of fear, those things will be of little use or effect. However, if we submit ourselves to God and learn to put our trust and hope completely in Him, in His goodness, and tender mercies, He can begin to direct our heart in gentleness and peace to refresh us and deliver us and to heal us from the inside out.
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. Psalm 103:2-5 KJV
The enemy will try to keep our focus on everything that is happening in the physical – the pain, the symptoms, and the mental torment. That way he can distract us from seeking and pursuing our source of life and peace, our Heavenly Father.
We need to put this all into perspective, we are a spirit first, we have a soul and we live in a mobile home (our body). Think of your body as the encasement of a seed. It’s what we see externally yet it is designed to protect and house what is on the inside. What is on the inside is what really matters. That is what contains all of the elements and nutrients that are necessary for the plant to grow. This is like our spirit. Our spirit is who God created us to be, the essence of who we are. If we nurture it and fill it with good things and provide the proper soil, light, and water for it to grow, it can grow into a strong plant that bears good fruit. But if we neglect to give it the nourishment it needs, it will sprout into a shriveled little plant that cannot grow up into perfection. The health and stability of our spirit is of far greater importance than being hyper-focused on our external body. It too needs to be nurtured, developed and strengthened.
This is not to say that we should not take care of our bodies. The Word says that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and also needs to be taken care of. But we need to be aware of whether we are driven by fear to try to fix it on our own strength or being led by the Spirit of God according to peace and wisdom.
What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV
The amazing thing is that when our spirit is renewed in love and fellowship with God, our bodies will respond accordingly and line up with the health of our spirit! That’s the perfectness of God’s creation.
Here’s how this works physiologically: Every thought we have has an equal reaction in our body. Hormones and chemicals are released into our body by tiny glands in our brain in response to each thought. If we continue to focus on what is good, then our body will respond in peace and homeostasis which is the optimal state of equilibrium in our body in which it can function to its highest potential. However, if we continue to think on negative things like fear, for example, various stress hormones will be released into our body and over time can begin to break down various body functions and systems, most notably the immune system. This is an easy way for many diseases to start and to perpetuate themselves in our lives.
No matter how many supplements, meds or healthy foods a person tries to ingest in order to recover their immune system, as long as these stress hormones continue to be released into their body, they will counteract every effort. The body is unable to even properly absorb and use the nutrients it needs. The immune system may even begin to target food and various environmental elements and cause further symptoms and reaction as in allergies.
Fear, in any shape or form, is detrimental to our spiritual and physical health and well being. When we find ourselves faced with disease, symptoms, pain or death, fear is actually the worst place we can go in it. It needs to become our enemy on every level. We need to exercise our minds through submission to God and His Word to be able to recognize and to take those thoughts captive.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV
We need to let God establish our hearts in faith towards Him. It is never too late to reach out our hands to our Father in Heaven and ask Him to teach us and to direct our paths so that we can be led out of the bondage that we have found ourselves in. If we struggle with fear and unbelief we can say, as the father who was petitioning for his son’s healing said to Jesus, “Help my unbelief!”
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark 9:24 KJV
We need to believe that no matter where we are at, He can and will meet us and lead us to victory. Not by works, not by positive confessions that are driven by fear, but according to a simple childlike faith that looks to our Heavenly Father as our source, deliverer, protector, healer, and strength.
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him… 2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV
We can ask God to show us the hidden places of our heart that need to be healed or renewed without fear of reproof. We can be honest with Him about our inner thoughts and struggles, He knows them already! We need to have a heart like King David who said:
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:12-14 KJV
Even in the midst of everything that is raging in us and around us, we can find our refuge and strength in Him, we can hide in His pavilion and under His wings can we trust.
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Psalm 27:3-6 KJV
We don’t need to fear disease, death, pain or any other symptoms because our God already has defeated sin, death, and the grave.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV
If fear of death is already defeated through Jesus Christ our Lord, why do we still remain in bondage to it? He already has a plan for our deliverance. Besides, what is the worst thing that can happen? We die and go to heaven. The Word says that whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8 KJV
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 KJV
With all this in perspective, we need to submit our spirit, soul, and body fully to God and allow Him to mold us and shape us closer to His image which is His nature. As we line our hearts up with His, He will lead us in all things good, in the paths of righteousness, so that He can do the healing that He needs to in our spirit and body. Then He can recover us to the wholeness of life that He intended for us. It’s our choice who we will trust, fear unto death or faith unto life. So which will you choose today?
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 KJV
Blessings,
The Be in Health Team
