Hello My Friends,
I have had a lot on my heart lately. Just as many of you, I often ponder the desires of my heart.
Each of us have different desires and callings — unique to our own lives. From the time I began to walk as a Christian, I have had such a desire to see the sick healed and the oppressed set free. I look at scriptures like these and they stir my heart:
Psalm 30:2
O LORD my God, I called to You for help and You healed me.Psalm 103:2-3
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.Matthew 4:23
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.Matthew 8:16
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.Matthew 9:22
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.Matthew 13:15
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
Ok, you get the picture. I could go on and on with healing scriptures. I just can’t accept anything that doesn’t seem to line up with God’s Word. I have some questions — between me and the Lord. I know that we live in a fallen world and that because of sin, sickness and disease is here in the world. I get that. But what I want to know is WHY we aren’t seeing this happen MORE than we do:
Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
As usual, I finally picked up a book that I started reading a LONG time ago. It is entitled “Healing the Whole Man Handbook” by Joan Hunter. Here are a few quotes that have stood out to me so far:
The passion you feel for ministry was put within you by God (page 15).
Answer the call that God places on your life (page 17).
Ministry goals will not be about you if they come from God (page 18).
To walk in the fullness of the anointing, which is the empowerment of your calling, your natural “fleshly” man must go to the cross and die (page 19).
If you are unsure of the call on your life, seek God for it. God did not make you and then leave you without direction and purpose (page 20).
As you die to yourself and live for others, His plan for you will unfold rapidly (page 20).
God gives you the desires of your heart because it is He who places those desires in your heart to start with (page 21).
I’ll stop there since this is plenty to chew on. Friends, I CANNOT lay down the passion to see people healed and free. It has been with me for many years. I remember years ago I had a dream where an angel came to me and said that God was going to use me for deliverance too. In my dream I stomped my feet (like a child) and said, “No, He said I would use my hands for healing” and the angel calmly said, “Deliverance is a form of healing.” Ok Father, here I am. Use me.
Here I am sharing this with a Mom who suffered a severe stroke, a father who has been ravaged by cancer, a sister who suffers from Crohn’s disease, etc … Do I have answers? No. Do I believe that some sickness comes from sin? Yes, some can come from generational junk. Do I believe that some comes without sin? Yes! Didn’t Jesus tell his disciples:
John 9:1-3
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
As usual, God has plans that we don’t understand. He did say that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, right?
With that said, I still think I must approach all SICKNESS with the idea that it ISN’T from God and IT MUST GO. I don’t see how I can approach it with a double mind. Does that make sense?
Trust me, I am praying for my family and I’m praying for my friends on here who are under such attack. At the same time, I am at the gate like a race horse, just waiting for God to release me — use me for His glory.
Zechariah 4:6
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.
Thank you for allowing me to ponder all of this with you.
Oh Beth ~ did you crawl into my mind today or what?!
I could have written this minus the dream and/or calling. but certainly the questions and ponderings. To watch my Dad die this year with lung cancer has hit me hard and my own health has done that and more. I don't understand so much. I claim HIS word, I know strongholds have been broken but I also know I have done some major work as far as generational stuff goes as well.
All I can say is I am with ya sister…thanks, it's nice to know we can ponder together and trust the Lord to answer us in HIS perfect timing and perfect way!
love to you friend
Beth,
What can I say, except, I could have written this post, my thoughts exactly!Especially since I have been under a satanic attack with my health since August of 2009.
Oh how blessed and challenged I have been today. Thank you for sharing your thoughts today.
Blessings,
Sue
Dear Beth,
I don't comment often here, but I wanted to tell you how encouraged I was when I read the title of your blog in my reader…I am heading towards my destiny. It just spoke some Truth to my heart that I felt the Saviour wanted to impart. Thank you for starting this blog. Thank you for searching out the deep Truths and heading toward your own destiny. You have encouraged me.
Blessings to you,
Lora
Hope you don't mind. I added a link to your blog on arise 2 write.
andrea
Hope you don't mind. I added a link to your blog on arise 2 write.
andrea
Dear Dear Beth,
Oh you have so touched home base with me too on this post. I'm right there with you. I've had such a strong sense that I was meant to pray for the sick, be there for the dying, be there to comfort, be there to lend an ear, be there even to heal in some areas and…I could go on too. Is He gathering us all together at this specific time…to make us even more aware…to bring us to higher and higher planes in our faith…only He knows, He has the plan all in store for each one of us and He will continue to lead and show us our ways ever so clearly. My love, faith, hope and trust remain ever so steadfast in Him. I will follow what ever He wants me to do with mind, heart and soul, not from my will but living within His.
Awesome Beth…just awesome. Thank you for laying your heart out here because it brings and ever increasing awareness to all of us as well. He's working within His people, oh yes He surely is.
Big Hugs,
Alleluiabelle
I believe God is going to use you in a mighty way to heal and help set free!!! I just love your heart!!
paula took the words right out of my mouth. Beth, God is going to use you for His glory…keep yourself an open vessel ready to be filled and used by Him.
Hugs,
MImi
I, too, have dealt with so many of the same questions and emotions, Beth. I think God can use us for His glory in so many different ways. The key, as you stated, is to be a willing vessel. You posted a perfect quote, "Here I am, Lord. Send me."
This is a powerful, soul-searching post. I'm looking forward to hearing more on this topic.
Love you,
Beth
Great thoughts my friend! I can't believe that all sickness is caused by sin, although I've heard it preached that way. God may not cause us to get sick. But He certainly can use it for His greater glory if we will let Him.
I agree with the other ladies. God is going to use you mightily my friend. Never give up on the desires of your heart!
May God use you sis in a very powerful way, love you.
SiS Beth i understand.This from the book which you show in your blog. —— If you are unsure of the call on your life, seek God for it. God did not make you and then leave you without direction and purpose. SO YOU HAVE A PURPOSE and DIRECTION just sit still hear God speak. WE can pray and pray, but it is also the doing. You know God as things for you to do.You know if you put GOD first then everything will be added unto you.Go and take the Word to the world and ?
Amen! This is another reason why I believe God linked our hearts together, because this has been the passion of my heart for years as well. Even in the midst of my son with heart disease, my Mom passing away from cancer, and many other obstacles, the desire to be used of God to see people healed & set free still remains, and in fact, is getting stronger than ever. Praise God for His timing and His promises, they ARE going to happen for us both.
This is great, Beth. God gives us the desires of our heart and what a beautiful desire to be used in the gift of healing. I'm believing that He will give you opportunities because you are willing to serve Him. To God be the glory. You inspire me.