Tag: healing

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Heal Me O Lord

Thus says the LORD . . . “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit. The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds” . . . Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise.  (Jeremiah 17:5, 7-10, 14, NASB)

More from the Prophet Jeremiah!  In this passage, he writes to convict the Kingdom of Judah of its deceitful heart.  Both collectively and individually, Judah had gone astray from the God of Israel, and had worshiped the idols of the surrounding nations.  We’re told that God is jealous for the attention of His people, and this would not stand.  From the time of Moses until the last days of Judah, God had warned all Israel of the consequences of idolatry. 

Jeremiah begins this segment with “Thus says the LORD,” so listen up!  God says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.”  So if “blessed” = “happy,” then we’ll be happy if we put our trust in God.  Indeed!  God next compares the person who trusts in the Lord with “a tree planted by the water.”  The healthy tree isn’t afraid of heat or drought; “its leaves will be green”; and it will always give fruit.  So the person who trusts in the Lord won’t falter when the going gets tough, and will be consistent in his Godly attitude. 

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed...

Jeremiah 17:14 image.  Found at Praise Jesus Today, http://www.praisejesustoday.com/heal-me-o-lord/

Next, God talks about the human heart:  “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”  The Bible tells us to guard our hearts, because that’s the origin of all sorts of evil.  We’re also told to bridle our tongues, because with our mouths we reveal what’s in our hearts.  God answers His own question:  “I,  the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.”  Jesus said that the Greatest Commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”  (Mark 12:30)  Coincidence?  I think not!  We’re to love God with everything we are. 

Last, we hear from Jeremiah:  “Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise.”  God has the final say on healing and salvation.  I’m still waiting for healing from my ALS.  God may not heal me in this life, but He can.  He doesn’t heal everyone.  And that’s okay with me, because He has the plan, and it’s better than mine (mind you, I’d prefer to sit up, get out of this bed, and walk away, but it’s up to Him!)!  I’ve put my trust in the Lord, and I know my destination when I’m done with this life!  “For You are my praise!”


Worship:  “Healing is in Your Hands,” by Christy Nockels

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Lazarus

So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb.  Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.  Jesus said, “Remove the stone.”  Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”  Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”  So they removed the stone.  Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”  When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”  The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”  (John 11:38-44, NASB)

The verses above are from the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus, friend of Jesus, and brother of Mary and Martha.  In John’s narrative (Chapter 11), Jesus is making His way to Jerusalem, where He will give Himself up to die on the cross as a sacrifice for you and me.  On the way, He learns that His friend has taken ill, and then dies.  The Master, on hearing of Lazarus’ illness, says “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” (v. 4)

Jesus delays His arrival in Bethany until four days after Lazarus’ death and burial.  He wants to show His disciples yet another miracle “so that you may believe.” (v. 15)  Finally arriving at the tomb, Jesus gives the command to “remove the stone” from the opening. (v. 39)  His next command, “Lazarus, come forth,” (v. 43) is most startling.  Imagine the sight of the man who was dead, straining to walk out from his tomb, looking like a mummy!  But because of this miracle, many believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God!


“The Resurrection and the Life,” author unknown, found at  Resurrection Lutheran Church, resurrectioncatawba.com
I was once dead in my sins.  But God, in His infinite mercy, sent His Son to die on the cross as the only acceptable sacrifice, that if we would only believe in Jesus, we shall have everlasting life.  Much like Lazarus, Jesus figuratively called me out of my tomb so that I would have abundant life.  If you’re a follower of Jesus, at some point He told you to “come forth!”

I pray often for my healing from this ALS.  As there is no known cure for my disease, if I’m to be cured, it would most certainly be a miracle from God.  He would definitely be doing it for His glory!  But while I wait to on the Lord for His work, I pray that everything I say and do would be for His glory!  May God use me to glorify Him one way or the other, healed or not!

Worship:   “Rise Up (Lazarus),” by CAIN