healing

I am reading about healing. I read Andrew Murray's biography last month. He was a South African preacher/evangelist/author/leader around the turn of the last century. When he was 51 he lost his voice for 2 years. He went away to different climates and saw specialists... but he still could not speak above a whisper (and that only limited) without doing even further damage to his vocal chords. Finally he went to England and while he was there went to a faith healing center. That is where he learned about God's desire to heal His people as it says in James 5. It was there that his faith grew and he then began praying prayers for healing.

Before that he had done all he could with doctors and medicine. Not just in South Africa but in Europe as well. And his voice improved for a short time and then got worse again. But in all that quiet He drew close to the Lord and began to examine his heart. Asking the Lord - if there be anything in him - any reason why the Lord would allow this kind of discipline. And when he was at the faith healing center - as he studied scripture with the leader there ... the leader showed him that disease is chastisement for the believer - and once the reason for the chastisement is discovered and dealt with - then the disease is no longer necessary. That disease is designed to bring us into to full submission to God.

So after much prayer and after Andrew's faith was grown - he prayed and was healed. His voice was restored and sounded clear and perfect - better than it had ever been, and for the rest of his days he never had another issue with his voice. He also believed that healing was meant to establish a moment by moment union with the Lord - to maintain that flow of health. So he gave the working of his voice completely over to the Lord in complete surrender and in much praise.

As I think through this I am thinking of my own pain. I have struggled with much pain in my neck, back, arm, and now shoulders for years now. It now only continues to get worse, there is not a day that goes by that i am not in some kind of pain - it is just a matter of where and how much. I have not studied this enough to know all the correct theology but I do know that the Lord can and does heal. And when I read the gospels - Jesus never turns away from anyone who needs to be healed - if they ask - He heals. Why would he do any less for me, His own daughter?

Recently, I asked my husband to pray with me about healing. It was one of the most spiritually intimate moments of our marriage. We touched each place that it hurts, he prayed and then I prayed. We ended up in tears as we prayed. I felt in that moment that the Lord does indeed want to heal me ... He also gave me a pretty strong impression that praying only once would not accomplish the mission - but that we had to persist. I am now also wondering if perhaps I need the Lord to show me for what reason he has allowed this chastisement into my life and what I need to fully surrender to Him. It's a good question and I think I am ready for Him to show me the answer. There is so much in my body - especially my food issues that needs to be turned over to Him.

So here goes something new! Here we go - praying for healing!

Oh how I am longing for the freedom to come - Oh how I am longing to praise God for the freedom He will bring!