Years ago my counseling practice was located in a building with a family physician and his staff. We had many productive discussions about how best we could work together to meet the needs of patients who were struggling with both physical and emotional issues of life.
Again and again, Dr. Howard Press would look me in the eye and say, “Larry, don’t look at the person’s problem, look at the whole person. If you only look at the problem, you will only see a small part of the person. Every person has many parts, and you must be certain that all of the parts are working together properly or the person won’t work properly.” Then, he would give me his “lecture” on the “person as a complex network of systems.” If one of the systems didn’t work properly, he would remind me, the other systems will eventually fail.
“Think of the cardiovascular system,” he would say. “If the heart does not pump blood to the brain, the person will die. It must also pump blood to the stomach, or the digestive system will fail. What good is the brain or the stomach if the heart quits?” It certainly made sense.
But, this idea did not begin with Howard. We read in Proverbs that God’s words of wisdom bring “life...and health to a man’s whole body.” The benefits of “walking” in God’s wisdom can do two things: It can keep us from making foolish decisions that will erode our spiritual, mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. And, if we are not well, it can provide guidance that will bring us back to a state of “wholeness” through Christ’s forgiveness and healing power.
Prayer: Lord, the solution to each problem we have is in Your Word. May we read it, accept it, and follow Your ways! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: Proverbs 4:22 For they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
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