Friend Or Foe?

James wrote, “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord!”

God’s power to heal has an important place in Scripture. In fact, of the 1,257 narrative verses in the four Gospels, 484 are related specifically to healing. We believe in God’s healing power and know He can heal. David also believed in God’s healing power and believed that God could heal him. But where did David begin in his plea for God’s help?

David was hanging on to life by a thread. He felt total rejection by God because of a major sin he had committed. It had become a life-defeating burden that was too heavy to bear, too big to overlook, and too obvious to ignore. In fact, he said that God “pierced him and His hand came down hard upon him.” He knew he was being punished by God for sinning against God. Punished, but not abandoned. Punished – yet pursued.

After thoroughly describing his mental, physical and spiritual sicknesses to God, he cried out, “I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.” In his wisdom and from his former relationship with God, he realized that God would not bring about physical and mental healing unless David first confessed his sin and need for spiritual healing.

There can be little doubt that sin and physical and mental illnesses are intimately connected. Yet, many only want God’s physical and mental healing. With God, all healing begins with confession and repentance – which brings spiritual healing.

Prayer: When we need healing, Lord, if we have sinned, may we first repent, ask for forgiveness and grace, and then experience Your healing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done. Psalm 38:18 

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