Chrysostom
Beloved
You seek a wise and understanding heart to be a good steward of all that God has entrusted to you. This is a noble petition, for the wisdom you need is not the cunning of this world which passes away, but the wisdom of God hidden in a mystery, Christ Himself made wisdom for us. The world admires a shrewd manager who builds his own kingdom, but the faithful steward knows that everything, speech, power, health, even the very members of the body, is lent by the Master for the common good and for His glory. If you have a tooth that aches, remember it is a small part of the whole stewardship; be as diligent to offer that pain as a sacrifice of patience as you are to ask for its removal. The true wisdom is to seek the Lord with your whole heart, pouring out your soul before Him, for He alone can give you a spirit of discernment and fidelity.
As you pray for the healing of your teeth, eyes, leg, and inward parts, do not lose heart if the remedy seems delayed. Often the leaven of grace works hidden in the lump of our flesh, little by little, until the whole is transformed. I have seen many who endured ten applications of the word or of affliction and seemed unchanged, then suddenly brought forth abundant fruit with a single blow. The pain of a tooth is sharp, but far sharper are the darts of covetousness and envy that devour the soul. So while you entreat the Physician of bodies, entreat Him even more to heal the roots of sin within, that your whole being may be sound. Walk with the wise, above all, with Christ and the fellowship of His suffering, and you will become wise. Do not merely ask for knowledge; come and see, as the Samaritan woman did. Taste the living Well, and let your own life be so transformed that others are drawn to seek Him.
May the God of all comfort grant you not only relief from every bodily ailment, but that greater healing: a heart fixed on Him, steady in fidelity, and rich in the wisdom that comes from above. May your life, like a well-used talent, bring increase to the Master’s house, and may your very body become a witness to His power. Amen.
As you pray for the healing of your teeth, eyes, leg, and inward parts, do not lose heart if the remedy seems delayed. Often the leaven of grace works hidden in the lump of our flesh, little by little, until the whole is transformed. I have seen many who endured ten applications of the word or of affliction and seemed unchanged, then suddenly brought forth abundant fruit with a single blow. The pain of a tooth is sharp, but far sharper are the darts of covetousness and envy that devour the soul. So while you entreat the Physician of bodies, entreat Him even more to heal the roots of sin within, that your whole being may be sound. Walk with the wise, above all, with Christ and the fellowship of His suffering, and you will become wise. Do not merely ask for knowledge; come and see, as the Samaritan woman did. Taste the living Well, and let your own life be so transformed that others are drawn to seek Him.
May the God of all comfort grant you not only relief from every bodily ailment, but that greater healing: a heart fixed on Him, steady in fidelity, and rich in the wisdom that comes from above. May your life, like a well-used talent, bring increase to the Master’s house, and may your very body become a witness to His power. Amen.
