In the most intimate moments of our lives we recognize that we are incomplete. I would use the word deformed, because we are more damaged than we think, and, certainly we are further from God’s standard of holiness and healthiness than we too often imagine.
When we dig deep enough inside to recognize our “deformities,” we also hope for an easy path to healing. Some search out a new book, or, a new song, or, diet, or......!!!! In a short time, we discover that the new path did little to nothing to really “heal” the inside. The joy of wholeness and contentment eludes us.
If God does not heal us, we will not be healed. By healed I mean made whole— complete and righteous in Christ—as God intended us to be when He first created men and women. The prophet Jeremiah confirms that God can and does effect our wholeness: “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise” (Jer. 17:14).
How exactly are we to receive God’s healing?
The answer is simple: we will find healing when we spend time with God in His Word. There is no substitute for spending regular time in the Word of God—the written expression of God’s truth. In it we find everything God wants us to know about Himself, the world He created, our place in that world, how we are to live in it, and what awaits us after the world ceases to be.
When we ground ourselves attitudinally and actively in these words from God, we root our lives upon this firm foundation. As we spend daily time engaging God through His Word and the active ministry of the Holy Spirit within us, we plant His words into our minds. Then, as we live out the minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years of our lives, the Holy Spirit uses the time we’ve spent in God’s Word to bring to our remembrance the words He has spoken to us to assist us in making decisions that grow the life of Jesus in us and glorify our heavenly Father.
God is clear in the Bible: He is God of everything. This includes all that encompasses our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. God’s glory is seen in everything, because He made all of it. His sovereignty sits over all things, because everything belongs to Him. Thus He alone can make us whole.
Does this mean that others and other things cannot help us in our need for healing? No, and we should use the many counselors, and books, and seminars that are available. But, ultimately, the depth of help available through these is limited. Sometimes limited because we are masters of self deception. Sometimes limited simply because the causes and needs are so deep as to be hidden from even the finest of counselors.
God cannot be deceived, and He knows the depths of our experiences. Our maker can also be our healer. While all will not be made whole this side eternity. We can experience much more wholeness “in Jesus” than we have anticipated or experienced. The process of sanctification is the continued healing process begun at our death, burial and resurrection with Jesus.
If we want to be truly healed, start with submission to God, the Holy Spirit and God’s word!
(These thoughts come from the introduction to my book: Winning the war against the flesh. https://www.dwightpaulsmith.com/books)
This introduction sounds like it came from a guy who has spent a lot of time in God’s word! At a time when it seems Western Christians know little about winning the war against the flesh and even less about spending regular extended time in God’s word this book appears to be particularly timely! Can’t wait to get my copy.