The Healing Hand of Jesus
… And grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend your hand to heal. Acts 4:29-30
When I was in tenth grade, I experienced my first broken bone. I was playing basketball for Cypress Creek High School. We were playing our archrivals, the Cy-Fair Bobcats. The stands were filled, the energy level was up, and the gym was rocking. Early in the game, I was fouled and went to the free throw line to shoot a one-and-one (if you make the first one, you get another one). I shot and missed. Drag. When I went in for the rebound, I was pushed in the back with my left leg in an awkward position. I heard a nasty-sounding crack and went down hard.
I had broken my tibia right above the ankle. It was painful and debilitating. I was in a cast for nearly six weeks and missed the rest of the season. As much as I wanted to play, I could not. The bone needed to heal before I could be whole again.
THE NEED FOR HEALING
Everyone I know has been pushed in the back, so to speak, and hurt by the things of this life. Let’s face it: bad things happen to you and me that wound, cut, and break our emotional bones. What do you do when that happens?
1. Don’t deny it. That is what so many do. They act like nothing is wrong. They sweep the hurt under the rug and pretend it is not there. Bad plan! When I broke my leg, I convinced the coach that I was OK. They taped my ankle and let me go back in the game. I lasted one offensive play. You cannot run with a broken leg, and you cannot run with a broken life.
2. Get honest. There is nothing cowardly or wimpy about admitting you are hurt. Unaddressed hurts give the devil an opportunity to move in and wreak havoc in your life, because all hurt turns to anger somewhere down the road.
3. Get help. The Lord has healing hands. He can heal wounded hearts. He is the Great Physician. But, like any physician, He cannot heal what we do not bring to Him. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). “Cast your burdens upon the Lord, and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22). Don’t delay. Bring your wounded heart to the Lord Jesus, and let Him apply His healing hand to you. Furthermore, share your wound with a trusted friend or counselor. You will be amazed at how much better you will start to feel when your secret wound is out from under the shadows.
4. Start praising. God inhabits the praises of His people (see Psalms 22:3). The devil cannot stand to be around a person who is praising God. Fill your heart and home with music that exalts the Lord and keeps your mind on the things above. Remember, Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave. There is nothing He cannot do. Think on that fact, and let your heart fill with hope in the victorious, resurrected King of Glory!
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Love, |
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Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.
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