Elisa Morgan shared this true story about prayer for healing in the “Christian Parenting Today” feature of the Christian Reader magazine:
One night my 11-year-old daughter Eva noticed I was distracted as I tucked her into bed. I told her about a friend’s teenage daughter whose hair was mysteriously falling out and I encouraged Eva to pray for Amy. Her simple words, “Jesus, please hold Amy’s hair on her head,” touched me.
As the doctors experimented with different treatments, Amy continued to lose her hair. Eva continued to pray the same prayer: “Jesus, please hold Amy’s hair on her head.”
After six weeks the doctors determined Amy had alopecia, an extremely rare disorder where hair loss is unpredictable but can be complete and permanent. When I told Eva, she took my hand and closed her eyes. This time her prayer was different. “Dear Jesus, if you won’t hold Amy’s hair on her head, would you please hold Amy?”
Tearfully, I realized how sometimes God doesn’t move mountains; He moves us.
When you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus holds you close to Himself? He won’t let you go. If you need it, He will even carry you through.
In Psalm 103:1-3, David declared, “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 forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases….” What is your need? Bring it to Jesus. O praise and thank the Lord for His miraculous healing power!
When Jesus bled and died upon the cross of Calvary, He purchased our healing – spiritual, emotional, and physical healing. As the apostle Peter declared, “He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus can heal your body, your mind and heart, your soul. He is Jehovah Rapha – the Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26). Numerous stories in the Bible and in my own life (and also your life) verify this wonderful truth. Jesus brings healing and wholeness and restoration to those who are broken by sickness and sin. Sin unleashed sickness and evil and sorrow and pain into the world, but Jesus can heal every hurt.
Along with giving His name Jehovah-Rapha (Exodus 15:26), God gave the Israelites a promise: “I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians.” The Lord promises to protect and heal His children.
Does that mean we will never get sick? Sadly, no. #1 As noted above, sickness is a result of the fall of man (Genesis 3) and none of us are immune from it. Thankfully, we can bring all our needs and requests to Jesus (Philippians 4:6) and know that He hears us (1 John 5:14). #2 Sometimes sickness has a Greater purpose. As Paul learned in 2 Corinthians 12, sickness and weakness can remind us that Jesus is in control and that, when we are weak, then we are strong – because we realize that we must put All our faith and trust in Him. His power rests on us and He receives All the glory. Praise His glorious name!
This Sunday, January 29, we will continue our series, “Welcome to the House”, with the amazing truth that we are called to be A House of Healing. Do you need physical healing? Emotional healing? Spiritual healing? Jesus is your Great Physician! Please invite someone to join you at 10:35am either in the building or online for the Live broadcast on Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday at 10:35am to both locations.
The “Joy of Belonging” classes for current and new members will conclude this Sunday in the 9:30am Adult Bible Class. If you are interested in, or simply curious about, membership, this series of classes is for you. The Annual Meeting for members is coming up on February 12 and includes a free fellowship lunch for everyone in attendance.
Aloha ke Akua!