Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: James 5:14-15

 March 23

"Is anyone of you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will save the person who is sick. The Lord will restore him to health, and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven." - James 5:14-15 (ISV)

March is often known as "flu season." Yet if you should find yourself sick or suffering, you are not alone! God has not forsaken you or caused your illness. Rather God desires to heal you and offers comfort. How can this happen? James, brother of Jesus, says we should seek other Christians for support and prayer if sick. Since God's power is infinitely greater than ours, it makes sense to ask others to pray since God tells us to do so. Let others know if you are sick, suffering, or grieving so they can be aware and pray! All should be sensitive to needs of others. Yet when we need healing, it is important to remember a "prayer offered in faith" does not refer to the faith of the sick person but to the faith of those praying. God heals, faith doesn't! While all prayers are subject to God's highest good for us, prayer is a vital part of our healing process. Our most powerful resource in achieving lasting "wholeness" or healing is prayer. Results of faithful prayer are often greater than we thought possible. Some see prayer as a last resort when all else fails. This is backward. Prayer should come first.

Yet we need to realize Christ can heal us, not just of physical sickness, but spiritual and emotional sickness as well. There's no sin or problem too great or too small for him to handle. In the Bible, oil is both medicine and a symbol of God's Spirit. It represents both medical and spiritual aspects of life. God has created medicine and doctors as part of our healing process. It is unwise to separate the physical and the spiritual. Christ is Lord over both!

Prayer: Lord, touch me now with your healing peace and love. Thank you, God, that you are our Healer. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: God heals. Satan steals.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)