Are you willing to be healed?
I love this story in Luke four where Jesus heals the man covered with leprosy.
“While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus he fell on his face and implored Him saying, “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean”. (12)
After stretching out His hand and touching the man, Jesus replied, “I am willing;’ be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. (13)
I love this portion of scripture because the man knew two things:
First, that healing comes from GOD. (If you are willing.)
And that secondly, that God can heal.
Sometimes I think we assume that God always mean to physically heal us. I don’t see in scripture where that is true. Even the apostle Paul wasn’t healed from his “thorn in the side.” And nowhere in scripture does it say that everyone who came or was brought to Jesus was healed. Many weren’t.
And therein lies the conundrum, doesn’t it? If we don’t know if we’re going to be healed, or if our loved is going to be healed, why do even pray?
I would suggest the answer is exactly because we don’t know. And remember there are degrees and stages of healing and quite often they require something of us.
For example, depression. Can we really ask for healing if we’re not doing our part by adopting a healthy lifestyle, making good choices, avoiding certain habits, activities, and people that are bad for our mental health, engaging in the spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study among others? Isn’t that like asking God to heal us of a broken leg without receiving any kind of medical help?
I know that in my own life, God’s healing of my depression (many years ago now) meant a lot of hard work on my part.
Healing, no matter what kind, almost always involves some effort on our part.
I think of my spinal stenosis. I’ve asked for healing while I continue to walk 40-45 minutes 6 out of 7 days a week.
There are at least four people I know that need healing. For some it’s terminal. Some are followers of Christ, some are not. For those that are, I’ve been praying that whatever healing and what type of healing God has for them, they will tap into it through prayer. For those who claim no such allegiance to Christ, I pray healing for them and ask for God to be glorified for whatever healing comes their way.
For my mom, I pray very specifically for her physical safety and ask God to pierce her brain somehow, someway, so she will realize her need to use her walker.
Finally, I believe in prayer for healing and I believe God can heal. I’m also cognizant of the fact that I don’t know what God’s plans are for the people I pray for so whether healing comes their way whether I see it or not, I still believe he is healing. After all, none of us sees the pain beneath the surface. None of us knows kind of healing is needed.
God bless and I hope you have a good day.
