Jehovah Rapha (God, My Healer)

False Gospel

There is nothing Biblical about the "name it claim it gospel". If you just believe enough or try harder or give more then God will honor that and provide for you. If he hasn't then you must be doing something wrong!! This is unfortunately believed by thousands of people and is a totally false and an extremely exhausting gospel. 

What We Should Really Know About Jehovah Rapha

Exodus 15:25 "Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them."

As I read this passage I realized that my 'piece of wood' is God's word. There is true healing in His word. People want to be freed from their physical and mental ailments, but God wants something much deeper for them. When He does chose to heal us it is for His glory and for our benefit. If He doesn't chose to heal us it is for His glory and our benefit. Jehovah Rapha has a perfect plan and will use every aspect of our lives to bring about a deeper love for Him and a greater glory for Him. I used to ask for the different 'thorns' in my life to be removed and God's word reminded me that He is sufficient in all things and has a reason for allowing each issue in our lives, even the ones He allows us to bring upon ourselves.

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."   (2 Cor. 12:9, 10) 

James 5:13-16

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 

I'm so thankful that the Lord gives us power in prayer. This verse is often misused or misquoted. I will pray this way, but try to remember to ask for God's perfect will to be done. We make our requests known and trust Him with the outcome. His plans are not our plans and His ways are not our ways. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. " Isaiah 55:8

Jehovah Rapha, God my healer, but not always the way so many people try to teach that He is. He is the ultimate healer because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I long for the day that we have total healing and are part of the new creation.

One of my closest friend lost her father this week. My heart is broken for their family, but I also know he loved the Lord and is rejoicing in Heaven with his new body. Our deepest desires were to see him healed and we cried out for him in his final hours, but God's plans are not ours. We trust His sovereignty and perfect will for the Platt family and are so thankful for 'Papa Platt', 'Pa Platt' or 'GPops' testimony. "Well done, thy good and faithful servant!" We will miss you!

Tearing Down Walls

Jehovah Jireh

I'm on yet another journey in my walk with God. The more I trust Him the more I see areas where I have built walls. I'm praying that God will continue to help me tear down those walls and let Him reign completely in my life. There is TRUE freedom in Christ!

 

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV) 

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
(Psalm 107:19-20 ESV)

 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
(Isaiah 12:2 ESV)

Can I trust God with my pain?

In Genesis 22:1-14 God shows himself as Abraham's provider. He provides a sacrifice for Abraham. God has provided for us in ways that we will never understand. He provided Christ as our sacrifice Hebrews 9:28. He bore our sins. When we trust Him with our hurts and allow him to open old wounds so that they can be healed then we are able to move forward in our walk and in turn begin to walk others through their ordeals and help them in the healing process.

My goal is to diligently listen to God's word and trust Him to work through my life to glorify Him. This doesn't mean being free of pain, but there is freedom in His word that gives us a peace that passes all understanding. 

    Surely he has borne our griefs
        and carried our sorrows;
    yet we esteemed him stricken,
        smitten by God, and afflicted.
    But he was pierced for our transgressions;
        he was crushed for our iniquities;
    upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
        and with his wounds we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:4-5 ESV)

Lord, Help us to not be wise in our own eyes, but to have your wisdom. Turn our bitter experiences, pain, and sorrow into something sweet that we wouldn't change for anything because we know that you have a purpose and will use those issues in our lives to give you the glory. Help us to recognize that you are better and the goal is to dive headlong into your word and trust you with the outcome of our lives. Help us to be bold for your kingdom and to never forget who we serve. May we be a light in this world.

Everyone Wants to Heal

The Pier

The end of the Pier––

I know I must plunge into this water

But what if, the what if happen to me?

I tremble and shake and cannot decide

if I should jump feet first or go for a dive?

I wish someone could push me so I wouldn't have to decide.

What waits in the water, what lies beneath the calm surface?

Will the waves carry me out to a roaring sea

or gently toss me back to Thee?

A Sequel

Jump, jump, jump ––  you can do it!

Your whole life has been a preparation for this leap. 

Can't you see the Lord has a special plan?

It's not your plan.

He leads you on to places far beyond your reach.

Each event in your life has been designed

by Him for something unique.

Don't be afraid––leap! His arms will catch you. 

You'll never hit the water...

Instead, He wants you to fly!

His love will sustain you, help you grow

You will soar like an eagle high in the sky

Free to be all you were meant to be!!

                                                 Susan Fitch

I know it's been a while since I have been on here, but it seems like the right time to start again. My hearts desire is to see people healed spiritually. I know we would all like to be healed physically, but the truth of the matter is that from the day we are born we are on a trajectory for physical death. Because sin entered into the world we are forever battling our flesh both spiritually and physically. The only hope is in Christ.  Jesus said,  "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 

There are so many man-made religions but only one way to be forever satisfied. 

In the past I have worked through some of the names of God. I love doing this and am praying that I can share some of that here. So, my next post will be on Jehovah Jireh (God, My Provider).

Sharing Life

The Prayer of Faith

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

(James 5:13-20 ESV)

I've started getting together with some friends at a coffee shop to just get to know one another and learn how we can live life caring for one another's needs. One of the areas I think the American church is lacking in the most is real community. I'm currently reading a book called Radical Together by David Platt and with every page I find myself nodding my head in agreement. One of my favorite quotes from his book is this:

"Is your church and mine willing to put on the table every program we've created, every position we've established, every innovation we've adopted, every building we've constructed, every idea we've formulated, every team we've established, and every activity we have organized? Are we willing to ask God if there is a better way to use the time, energy, and money he has given us for his glory in the world?"

I want to ask myself these questions and apply them to my personal life as well as how I live in community with those around me. There are so many wonderful and great things we can be doing with our time, but ARE THEY THE BEST THINGS? God certainly doesn't want us to act out of guilt and pride when we serve others. If we are, we will only end of failing at our practices and feeling miserable in the meantime. He gives us the grace and power to do His will and won't ask us to perform tasks that He isn't able to accomplish for us. I'm praying for the Holy Spirit to move in a mighty way in my families lives, my churches life, and in my community. I know we are able to do amazing things when God is the one driving us.