Stepping Stones: God Heals, But You Have to Help

25 July 2010

Transformational Tip

Don’t we all need some form of healing? How healthy is your Mind? Body? Spirit? God’s word tells us that He will restore our health and heal our wounds. The scripture tells us this eternal healing does not come to us because of what we “do”, rather it comes to us free of charge and in perfect abundance through Jesus Christ through faith. We just need to accept it.

On the flip side, our temporal healing, the healing for the time period represented by the dash on our tombstone…1963 – 20?…starts with receiving Christ’s gift. The Holy Spirit indwells us, but then we have a some responsibility if the ongoing sanctification or healing process is continue forward in our earthly lifetime.

Intentional decisions to not conform, but to be transformed, to put off the old self and put on the new, to act boldly based on our faith in God’s character, promises, and His teachings in the Bible…that is what we control and need to master.

Just like becoming good at a sport, music, academics, art….daily practice of specific fundamentals is essential. Putting on the Armor of God, regular prayer and confession, and being in the Bible….God’s instruction manual…are ways to engage in spiritual training. For training to work, we have to have intentionality, self-assessment, perseverance, and strategy to get to your goal…the Mind of Christ.

Today, ask yourself…What is my strategy?...and my commitment to these things? How do I exercise my free will? Is it consistent with God’s instruction? Pursuing these answers will determine whether your dash will be filled with healing and peace or further injury and pain.

Prayer
Dear Father, I know that I cannot earn my way to salvation; but receiving You, I have become Your child. It is with this power, which You have granted me, that I ask, through faith, for the healing of my body, mind and spirit. You tell me in Jer.30:17 “I will restore health unto you and I will heal thy wounds…” I believe Your word. I trust You God. I pray with humble confidence that You restore me to full spiritual, mental and physical health. Show me what I need to do to receive the healing in this lifetime, the renewing of my mind spiritually, psychologically, and even physiologically in my brain chemistry. Help me to understand what Your Holy Spirit is trying to show me and tell me so I can grow and glorify You. I pray today that You protect and lift the burdens of the entire Stepping Stones community according to Your will. If it is not Your will, then show them more clearly today how to access Your peace and comfort during their struggles. You know our every need Lord. Let us all remember that once we have trusted You as our Savior, You never distance Yourself from us. Let the assurance of Your presence fill us with joy and peace…regardless of our circumstances and our daily trials. I pray this in the name of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!

The Truth
For I will restore health unto you and I will heal you of thy wounds saith the Lord.
Jer. 30:17

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior
Titus 3:5-6

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Hebrews 12:1,8-13
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Stepping Stones Devotional

Lighthouse Network's Stepping Stones Community
  • Stepping Stones: Mixed Super Bowl Memories
    February 4-5, 2012

    Transformational Thought

    I’m a Steelers’ fan … born in the Pittsburgh area … so Super Bowls in the 70’s, my teen years, were unbelievable events as my beloved Steel Curtain smashed their way to an unprecedented 4 championships in 6 years. Teamwork, sacrifice, perseverance, commitment, intentionality, practice, heroes, legends, invincibility, power, role models. I learned so much through those fun Super Bowl Sundays.

    For a while though, Super Bowl Sunday also conjured up some terrible memories. You see, from late high school through college and into medical school, I made a lot of poor choices leading to many issues including a significant alcohol addiction. My worst memory ever: January 25, 1987, Super Bowl Sunday … middle of medical school, an awesome future ahead of me. It started off at a party with a bunch of med school friends. Through a series of progressively stupider decisions … consuming lots of alcohol, winning $600, more “celebrating” at a strip bar, driving drunk (after a severe snow and ice storm), 6 counts of aggravated assault, a cut, bruised and battered body … I ended up in a Newark jail. Could’ve gotten killed, or worse, killed others, several times that evening.

    Jail … it was what I needed at that time to protect me from myself, Satan, and the world … it was the best place to think. And God really spoke to me. I finally listened and decided that life according to my instruction book … my kingdom come, my will be done mentality … wasn’t working. My hole kept getting deeper and deeper over a 10-year stretch. I finally understood what Jesus did for me, and what God wanted to do in my life … transform me and bless me with an abundant life by fulfilling all my needs. I started to really know, love, and delight in my Lord. I finally decided to make Him not just Savior, but also Lord of my life.

    Well, it took me several years to sort it out and really appreciate that day, and now I look back and thank God so much for what He has done for and through me. My terrible memories of that one Super Bowl Sunday have been wiped clean with the blood of Christ. What He has blessed me with since then … spiritual growth, a loving wife, my girls, friends, profession, ministry, coworkers, experiences, has been beyond my wildest dreams, especially compared to being in jail facing felony charges. (Not wanting to test God, I always make sure I am in a safe place Super Sunday.)

    Today, realize that each decision, regardless of how big or small it is, has definite ripples. Are you measuring the ripple effect? Second, if you are experiencing difficulties, hope is in the Lord, not in your efforts or abilities. Third, if you have done some terrible things in the past, God will forgive and help you move forward, using even those events in powerful ways to impact you, others, and His kingdom. Lastly, after accepting Christ as your personal Savior, make the defining decision of your life on Earth to let Him be the Lord of your life. That’s when life really comes alive and makes sense as it pushes you to connect fully with Him. Life is your decision, so choose well. And enjoy the game.

    Prayer
    Dear Father God, You, Your love, and grace are truly amazing. I thank You for not leaving me even though I left You many times. Thanks for landing me in jail, so I finally could block out all the distractions of life and meet You and listen to what You had been trying to tell me for many years. Thanks for the tremendous opportunity to serve You and for Your willingness to use me in Your service … it is truly humbling. I pray this in the name of the One I delight in, Jesus Christ; And all God’s children say - AMEN!

    The Truth
    Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
    Psalm 37:4

    The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
    John 10:10

    I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
    Romans 12:1-2
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