Meditate. Do you see the Lord as a healer today?
Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means "bitter"). Then the people complained and turned against Moses. "What are we going to drink?" they demanded. So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the LORD set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you." Exodus 15:22-26 (Underlined for emphasis.)
The Lord who heals you. God looks out for those He loves and who are obedient to Him. Here in this example the water was too bitter to drink. Ugh! Have you ever tried to drink water that is smelly or bitter? It is awful. We camped one weekend years ago near a town where they had a lot of sulfur in their water. We certainly didn’t want to drink that water, let alone even consider bathing in it!
Jesus was concerned about the
health of people in Israel. Healing meant to cure them or to restore to health.
One of the purposes of Jesus’ life on earth was to heal, as He explained to
John’s disciples.
At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their
diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who
were blind. Then he told John's disciples, "Go back to John and tell him
what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are
cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being
preached to the poor. Luke 7:21-22 (Underlined for emphasis.)
He empowered His disciples to go
out and heal others.
Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them
authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and
illness. Matthew 10:1
Casting out evil spirits. Are
those evil spirits causing emotional distress and mental illness? Read a couple
of examples about how those possessed with evil spirits acted and how the
families and people in their villages felt about them in Matthew 17 and Mark 5
and see if you consider these to be mental health issues.
At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for
them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, "Lord, have mercy on my
son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into
the water. So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal
him." Jesus said, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I
be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."
Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the
boy was well. Matthew 17:14-18
So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles--as he often was--he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. Mark 5:1-5
May is Mental Health Awareness
month. Jesus is still concerned about the health, including the mental health,
of those who love and worship Him. The best thing we can do to promote good
mental health is to know God by reading His word every day and acknowledge
Jesus as our Lord, Savior and healer. Then put your belief into practice with
prayer and caring practically for others. Prayer is a good beginning—it is
essential to a good spiritual life, but it is only the beginning. We need to
put our hands, feet and words into action by taking care of ourselves and
others. Keep your body moving. Know your own boundaries—be willing to say “No”
so that you don’t overcommit yourself. Talk positively to yourself and others.
Encourage others…talk to someone everyday…even if it is just a phone call. Seek
help from a counselor if you or your family is experiencing continued mental
stress. You call a plumber is you have a plumbing problem…call a counselor for mental
health assistance.
Prayer ~ Dear God, give us wisdom and understanding that we would be able to apply Your word to our lives and live in good physical and mental health. Thank You for the grace to know You and feel Your healing touch.
Verse of Salvation ~ Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Isaiah 58:7-11 (Underlined for emphasis.)
| Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. |
| 7 O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. |
| 8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.” |
| 9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6-9 |
© 2021 Text, photos and
illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted
from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
New Living Translation
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
Biblical search from
Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Parenting Day By Day -
Daily Devotional for Building Character
Available as an e-book
or paperback at Amazon.com
No comments:
Post a Comment