Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer for good health for yourself and your family is heard and it is a good and right thing to bring before the Lord, because He cares about your body as well as your soul.
You may have heard the words written to Gaius, that he would prosper and be in health even as his soul prospers. It is helpful to understand that this was a personal greeting from John to a dear friend, a loving wish for his well being, much as we might write to someone that we hope they are doing well. It is a beautiful wish and it reflects God's care, but it is not to be taken as a guarantee that faith will always mean perfect health. At the same time there is truth in the connection it shows. The health of the soul and the health of the body are related. What goes on in the heart and mind can affect the body, even changing our physical chemistry, and when the soul is prospering in fellowship with God it brings strength to the whole person.
God is interested in your health in practical ways as well. Scripture shows that He cares about how we steward the bodies He has given us, including what we eat and how we care for ourselves. Many of the instructions given in the Old Testament about food and about cleanliness had clear health reasons behind them, to protect the body and to prevent disease. We cannot ignore our part while asking God to give us strong bodies. Wisdom in diet, cleanliness, rest and daily habits is part of honoring Him with our health.
We believe that God is able to heal and that healing is for today. The Gospels show Jesus healing the leper, the servant of the centurion, Peter's mother in law, and multitudes who were brought to Him in the evening. Matthew connects this to the prophecy in Isaiah that He bore our sicknesses and infirmities, showing that His work on the cross touches both spiritual and physical need. He healed sometimes instantly and sometimes gradually, sometimes with a touch and sometimes with only a word, and sometimes through the natural process of healing that He Himself built into our bodies. All true healing is from Him, whether it comes in a moment or over time.
Yet not everyone is healed in the way we ask, and we do not always understand why. The apostle Paul prayed three times about his thorn in the flesh and the Lord did not remove it. Some of the most faithful and devoted Christians live with ongoing health problems, and that does not mean they lack faith or commitment. It is wrong to say that sickness always means sin or a lack of faith, and it is wrong to equate spirituality with physical health. We also want to avoid anything sensational or false that is done in the name of healing. Real healing does not need to be whipped into a frenzy. It rests quietly in the power and mercy of Jesus.
So we will pray for you and your family. We ask the Lord to grant you good health and to give you wisdom to care for your bodies well. We pray above all that your souls would prosper in Christ, growing in His Word and in His love, and that His peace would guard your hearts. We ask Him to meet every physical need according to His perfect will, to bring healing where it is needed whether quickly or gradually, and to give you trust in Him when answers are not immediate. May He guide you in every practical decision for your family and help you to respond to any trial with kindness and love, knowing that His ways are higher than ours and that His care for you is constant.
You may have heard the words written to Gaius, that he would prosper and be in health even as his soul prospers. It is helpful to understand that this was a personal greeting from John to a dear friend, a loving wish for his well being, much as we might write to someone that we hope they are doing well. It is a beautiful wish and it reflects God's care, but it is not to be taken as a guarantee that faith will always mean perfect health. At the same time there is truth in the connection it shows. The health of the soul and the health of the body are related. What goes on in the heart and mind can affect the body, even changing our physical chemistry, and when the soul is prospering in fellowship with God it brings strength to the whole person.
God is interested in your health in practical ways as well. Scripture shows that He cares about how we steward the bodies He has given us, including what we eat and how we care for ourselves. Many of the instructions given in the Old Testament about food and about cleanliness had clear health reasons behind them, to protect the body and to prevent disease. We cannot ignore our part while asking God to give us strong bodies. Wisdom in diet, cleanliness, rest and daily habits is part of honoring Him with our health.
We believe that God is able to heal and that healing is for today. The Gospels show Jesus healing the leper, the servant of the centurion, Peter's mother in law, and multitudes who were brought to Him in the evening. Matthew connects this to the prophecy in Isaiah that He bore our sicknesses and infirmities, showing that His work on the cross touches both spiritual and physical need. He healed sometimes instantly and sometimes gradually, sometimes with a touch and sometimes with only a word, and sometimes through the natural process of healing that He Himself built into our bodies. All true healing is from Him, whether it comes in a moment or over time.
Yet not everyone is healed in the way we ask, and we do not always understand why. The apostle Paul prayed three times about his thorn in the flesh and the Lord did not remove it. Some of the most faithful and devoted Christians live with ongoing health problems, and that does not mean they lack faith or commitment. It is wrong to say that sickness always means sin or a lack of faith, and it is wrong to equate spirituality with physical health. We also want to avoid anything sensational or false that is done in the name of healing. Real healing does not need to be whipped into a frenzy. It rests quietly in the power and mercy of Jesus.
So we will pray for you and your family. We ask the Lord to grant you good health and to give you wisdom to care for your bodies well. We pray above all that your souls would prosper in Christ, growing in His Word and in His love, and that His peace would guard your hearts. We ask Him to meet every physical need according to His perfect will, to bring healing where it is needed whether quickly or gradually, and to give you trust in Him when answers are not immediate. May He guide you in every practical decision for your family and help you to respond to any trial with kindness and love, knowing that His ways are higher than ours and that His care for you is constant.
