God’s intention is that you and I are as healthy as we can be!
The apostle John echoes it through his prayer:
In a different Bible version, this same piece of scripture reads as follows: “I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”
To prosper has to do with 3 things:
1. To be on the right path.
2. To intentionally move forward.
3. To grow.
So, when you do not prosper – grow or move forward in life – it may mean that there’s something stopping you to do so.
That is an illness, which can be physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, etc.
In other words, if you find yourself in such a situation, it means you need healing.
There are 4 steps that can help you begin the process of healing.
Tip #1: Diagnose The Illness
In order for any healing to take place, there is need for diagnosis. That is why the Doctor sends us to the lab or other places for exams and check ups. It is out of the diagnosis that the Doctor is able to give us a prescription, which in turn helps us get better.
There is hardly healing if the illness cannot be diagnosed.
An illness may be physical, spiritual, emotional or financial. In other words, it may be something that has to do with: body, mind, soul and spirit.
Whatever troubles you, what you still have to do, as a starting point for your healing, is to diagnose what’s wrong with you.
The exercise of finding out more about ourselves is referred to as self awareness. It allows us to be conscious of what’s going on in our personal lives.
Self awareness brings onto the surface the deep realities of our lives that we are unable to describe.
When you know something may be wrong in your life:
1. Talk to someone you trust. This could be a family member or a friend.
2. Talk to your Pastor or a spiritual leader you personally know.
Tip #2: Listen To The Little Voice
Part of the diagnosis of our illnesses requires us to listen to the little voice.
Listening appears to be pretty much impossible in our noisy world today. Doesn’t it?
There are two ways you can still listen, even in the midst of the noises around us.
1) Shut down all distractions in order to focus on what’s helpful to you
In other words, don’t pay attention to anything else.
Imagine driving and someone just insults you because you did not see their car coming ahead of you as you were just about to turn. That is noise, which can be shut down.
There are two ways you can do it. You could ignore it and continue looking for a parking spot. Or, you could simply apologize.
This is a choice you make. It is being intentional about selecting what to listen to during the day.
Sometimes, it may mean to turn off all notifications on your phone, computer and other devices so that you can focus on what most matters for a specific time of your day.
Most of my apps and programs on my laptop and other devices are often off when I would like to focus on what’s important in a given period of time.
Anything that can distract me from being my best, I get rid of it when I don’t need it. But, I can receive text messages or other messages on my other social media. I do that for my family and making myself accessible to my church members. All this takes discipline.
[bctt tweet=”Remember, life is not all about being right. Life is about doing the right thing! ” username=””via PasteurEmmanuel””] And the right thing is what keeps you as healthy as possible.
2) Keep track of what’s helpful for your health
This is an exercise that you can train yourself doing everyday. Most people recommend journaling as a way to do it.
Personally, I use Day One for journaling. This is an app I could recommend because I have used it for about 4 years now. It can also help you develop A Habit for Journaling.
There are also journals you can buy from most stores (physical or online) if you want to use a pen and paper to capture what’s happening in your life.
Journaling is one way that can help you distinguish the little voice from all the noises around you. The little voice is what will help you grow, prosper and be healthy, as an individual.
It is a skill, which you have to intentionally develop in you.
We can listen to the little voice in a variety of ways:
- Through our spouse, parents, family members, a stranger or our pastor.
- Through prayer, reading of Scripture.
- As you walk your dog, run, ride your bike or exercise.
- While driving alone some place, even during the shower and often a few minutes just before going deep into our sleep.
- During night dreams while we’re sleeping.
[bctt tweet=”You can’t control what you hear. But, you can control what you choose to listen to.” username=””via PasteurEmmanuel””] And what you listen to – the little voice- is what you should keep track of in your journal.
Tip #3: Follow The Sign
What you keep track of in your journal will help you clearly identify the little voice.
You will begin getting an idea of what area of your life is ill, and which needs help the most.
The little voices you have recorded will become eventually a sign.
This sign will help you be. It will help you identify what has prevented you from growing, prospering and being healthy.
In the Bible, Jesus presents Himself as the sign. He says these words: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Jesus becomes the sign that we should follow. The reason why we should follow Jesus as our sign is that He makes you and I:
- Be salt of the earth and light of the world.
- Be God’s witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit.
These two things point out back to Jesus, the Healer. He redeems, heals and helps us be at our best again.
Not only we follow Jesus, as our sign, but He makes you and I be the sign. As a result, we can influence and make an impact on other people’s lives.
Jesus uses the so many little voices to lead you to Him. It is in Jesus, we find our being, our identity and our best.
Tip #4: Do As Instructed
It is like being at the Doctor’s office. The diagnosis is done and you know what you’re dealing with. Now, the Doctor writes you a prescription. What you do next is what will determine your healing.
Being at the sign (or with Jesus Christ) is not enough to experience complete healing. In other words, being with Jesus Christ and doing Church stuff is not sufficient for you to experience good health again.
What matters is how intentional and proactive you are in responding to the signs!
In life, we respond in three ways through:
- Rejection.
- Questions (often resulting in belief or doubts).
- Obedience.
Don’t get me wrong on the second type of response: questions.
Here’s a healthy way to ask questions?
- Ask for better understanding.
- Ask for clarity.
- Ask to gain more insights for your personal growth.
A good response means choosing to act upon the information we have gathered (the little voice). This is about being proactive and intentional on how to live. And that is exactly what can lead to your healing.
[bctt tweet=”To obey is better than sacrifice.” username=””via PasteurEmmanuel””]
I would like to hear from you on how you have dealt with personal issues. Do you journal? How Do you do it? Do you have someone you can talk to?
This blog post is a reflection on the sermon, The Healing Power Of God, delivered at the United Methodist Church in Harris and Lake Park by Pastor Emmanuel on July 3rd 2016.
