Today I kept it really simple. I've been traveling a lot so I'm exhausted and frazzled. My mind is in a million places with all the things that I need to do. I've been avoiding spending that one on one time with God in the last couple of days, which is not something I'm proud of. But honestly, I just don't feel that I have the time or the energy to give to anyone right now, God included. However, I NEED that time. The more frazzled I am, the more overwhelmed I am, the more exhausted I am, the more I need God. I finally resorted to a simple prayer because it's all I had to give:
God I need more of you. Set a fire in my soul that I can't contain, that I can't control. I want more of you. Give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness. A hunger and thirst for your presence, a hunger and thirst for an intimate relationship with you. Fill me with your unfailing love. Let the power of your Holy Spirit come upon me. Fill every single nook and cranny of my life.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
4 Reasons Why God Cares About Your Health
A question I hear often is, "Does God really care about my health?" Below are the four reasons why I believe that God truly does care about your health.
1. God wants a personal relationship with you
First and foremost, God wants a relationship with you; a personal, intimate relationship. In fact, he compares the relationship that he has with us believers, to a relationship between spouses.
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her," Ephesians 5:25 ESV
Let’s use that comparison in this situation. Can you imagine if your spouse didn’t care about your health? Would you ever refrain from telling your spouse that you were sick? That would just be weird right? Imagine getting diagnosed with cancer and not involving your spouse in your treatment options. Let’s say you’re having surgery. Your spouse is usually involved in making the decision to have the surgery, they are by your side during pre and post operation; they are involved in every detail. In the same way, God wants to be involved in every detail. He wants that kind of relationship with us. Where we go to him in all situations. Where we lean on him for support, strength, and guidance. Our health is such a big area of our life on this Earth and because of that, it becomes a big part of your marriage as well. In the same way, it should be a big part of your relationship with God.
2. God is compassionate
Our God is a compassionate God, and he is especially compassionate when it comes to physical health. If you’re a person that struggles to see God in this light, I highly encourage you to stop reading this blog and open the gospel of Matthew, (chapters 8 - 12 are a good place to start). Count how many times Matthew tells us that Jesus felt compassion for the sick. Time and time again, the people would come in droves to see Jesus. No matter how much he would try to withdraw from the crowds, the sick would find him. No matter if Jesus was tired or hungry he always spent time with them and healed their every disease because he had compassion. Don’t get tricked into thinking that Jesus doesn’t care about your health because he’s too busy dealing with more important things. Jesus has deep compassion for the sick.
3. Jesus himself experienced pain
Often times we forget that Jesus was fully human. We forget that he felt pain. Not just the excruciating death he suffered, but the everyday pain as well. There are many times in the gospels where it mentions him being tired and weary and in need of rest. It only makes sense then that a God who experienced all kinds of pain, would be a God who would care deeply about the pain we are going through. I know for me, I have a lot more compassion for people once I’ve walked in their shoes. I care a lot more, and am willing to help a lot more once I’ve experienced similar hardship.
4. Jesus commanded his disciples to heal the sick
In Matthew 10, Jesus sends out his disciples in pairs to spread the gospel. In verse 7, he gives them these instructions:
"As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons."
If God didn't care about our health, he wouldn't have ordered his disciples to heal the sick. Notice that was the second thing he commanded behind spreading the gospel, which means it mattered to Jesus then and it matters to God now! Don't let Satan trick you into thinking God doesn't care about your health!
1. God wants a personal relationship with you
First and foremost, God wants a relationship with you; a personal, intimate relationship. In fact, he compares the relationship that he has with us believers, to a relationship between spouses.
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her," Ephesians 5:25 ESV
Let’s use that comparison in this situation. Can you imagine if your spouse didn’t care about your health? Would you ever refrain from telling your spouse that you were sick? That would just be weird right? Imagine getting diagnosed with cancer and not involving your spouse in your treatment options. Let’s say you’re having surgery. Your spouse is usually involved in making the decision to have the surgery, they are by your side during pre and post operation; they are involved in every detail. In the same way, God wants to be involved in every detail. He wants that kind of relationship with us. Where we go to him in all situations. Where we lean on him for support, strength, and guidance. Our health is such a big area of our life on this Earth and because of that, it becomes a big part of your marriage as well. In the same way, it should be a big part of your relationship with God.
2. God is compassionate
Our God is a compassionate God, and he is especially compassionate when it comes to physical health. If you’re a person that struggles to see God in this light, I highly encourage you to stop reading this blog and open the gospel of Matthew, (chapters 8 - 12 are a good place to start). Count how many times Matthew tells us that Jesus felt compassion for the sick. Time and time again, the people would come in droves to see Jesus. No matter how much he would try to withdraw from the crowds, the sick would find him. No matter if Jesus was tired or hungry he always spent time with them and healed their every disease because he had compassion. Don’t get tricked into thinking that Jesus doesn’t care about your health because he’s too busy dealing with more important things. Jesus has deep compassion for the sick.
3. Jesus himself experienced pain
Often times we forget that Jesus was fully human. We forget that he felt pain. Not just the excruciating death he suffered, but the everyday pain as well. There are many times in the gospels where it mentions him being tired and weary and in need of rest. It only makes sense then that a God who experienced all kinds of pain, would be a God who would care deeply about the pain we are going through. I know for me, I have a lot more compassion for people once I’ve walked in their shoes. I care a lot more, and am willing to help a lot more once I’ve experienced similar hardship.
4. Jesus commanded his disciples to heal the sick
In Matthew 10, Jesus sends out his disciples in pairs to spread the gospel. In verse 7, he gives them these instructions:
"As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons."
If God didn't care about our health, he wouldn't have ordered his disciples to heal the sick. Notice that was the second thing he commanded behind spreading the gospel, which means it mattered to Jesus then and it matters to God now! Don't let Satan trick you into thinking God doesn't care about your health!
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