Healing Choices: Do You Want to be Healed?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choices: Do You Want to be Healed?   "When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?'" (John 5:6).

Long ago and far away I was diagnosed with clinical depression and began the hard work of deep, lasting, Jesus-led recovery. One day Jesus asked me, "Do you want to be healed?" I was reading in the Apostle John’s book and he was telling about the time that Jesus stopped by the Sheep Gate in ancient Jerusalem. There was a pool there where people waited for a chance to be healed by one of God's angels, but, as I read, it seemed like Jesus looked over and into my eyes. "Do you want to be healed?" It seemed like such a ridiculous question. Of course, I wanted to be healed! But, then, I knew what he meant. Was I willing to make a healing choice? Was I willing to do the hard work of facing painful situations, uncovering bitterness, and admitting to deep, resentful anger? Was I willing to give up my stubborn excuses that allowed me to stay the same, somehow seeing my sickness as more secure than my health? Was I willing to give up control, let God be God, and admit that I can't, but he can; or would I rather insist that I can, even though I can't, holding myself in a cycle of helplessness and hopelessness? By the pool at the Sheep Gate, Jesus asked an invalid of thirty-eight years: "Do you want to be healed?" His question swept through the man, swept through 2,000 years, and swept into the shadows of my soul. "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me . . . " (John 5:7). But there stood the Great Healer holding out help, acutely aware that we can't, but God can, knowing this to be true because he was on a mission that would provide the only way we can be re-created whole and healthy. Jesus was on the road to Calvary. The question lingers for you: Do you really want to be healed?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choices: Developing Self-Control   "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." (Proverbs 25:28).

Self-control brings with it the good feeling of competency. Like a finely tuned precision automobile, your life stays on course with the slightest touch of steering. The results of self-control are confidence and an inner sense of security. Self-control and self-discipline are also key factors in your success as you work through your hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Without self-discipline, you're less likely to consistently make the kind of choices that will help you heal. The Apostle Paul realized this when he wrote, "Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever" (1 Corinthians 9:25 GNB). Olympic athletes train for years in order to have a chance to win a brief moment of glory. But the race we are running is far more important than any earthly athletic event. So self-control is not optional for Christians. How do we gain true self-control? Admit your problem The starting point for developing self-control is to face this godly truth: I am responsible for my behavior. The Bible teaches, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:13-14). Do you see what that says? It says you do things because you like to do them! When I do something that I know is bad for me, I still might do it because I like to do it. I want to do it; it's an inner desire. Do you want more self-control? Admit you have a problem and be specific about it. Begin praying specifically about your problem areas. Put your past behind you In Philippians, we’re taught to forget what is behind and to strain toward what is ahead, to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus (based on Philippians 3:13-14). This verse exposes a misconception that will keep you from gaining self-control. Many of us think, once a failure, always a failure." But that’s simply not true. God's mercies--and our second chances--are fresh each morning. Failure in the past doesn't mean we will never be able to change as we move forward; however, focusing on past failures does guarantee their repetition. It's like driving a car and looking in the rearview mirror the whole time. You're going to collide with what’s ahead of you. Ask God to help you put your past behind you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choices: Self-Control is Not an Option   "For the grace of God . . . teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives . . . " (Titus 2:11-13).

As we discussed yesterday, self-control is not optional for Christians. The race we are running is for eternity, and so we’re to develop a strict discipline (1 Corinthians 9:25). Here are some other steps to help you gain self control as you make healing choices: Talk back to your feelings Do you let your moods manipulate you? God doesn't want you to be controlled by your feelings. He wants you to master your moods. With Christ as the Master of your life, you can learn to master your feelings. Talk back to them. Learn to challenge your emotions: "For the grace of God . . . teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives . . . " (Titus 2:11-13). God's grace gives us the power to make the right choices--ones that lead to healing. God gives you the ability to say no to that feeling, to that desire, to that impulse. Believe you can change The fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control--grow in your thought life. The seeds must be planted in your mind: The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act. God gave us the power to change our habits when he gave us the power to choose our thoughts. Does Romans 1:2 tell us to be transformed by working hard at it or by sheer willpower? "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). What are we to be transformed by--the renewing of the mind. When your self-control is being tested, you need to fill your mind with the promises of God. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." That's a fact. If you are a Christian, you can't honestly say, "The temptation was too strong; I couldn't help myself." The Bible says God is faithful. If you're a Christian, he won't let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. He never asks you to bear something that is bigger than the strength he puts inside of you through his Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choices: A Mind for Repentance   "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2).

Imagine riding in a speedboat on a lake with an automatic pilot set to go east. If you decide to reverse and head west, you have two possible ways to change the boat's direction. one way is to grab the steering wheel and physically force it to head in the opposite direction from where the autopilot is programmed to go. By sheer willpower you could overcome the autopilot, but you would feel constant resistance. Your arms would eventually tire of the stress, you'd let go of the steering wheel, and the boat would instantly head back east, the way it was internally programmed. This is what happens when you try to change you life with willpower: You say, "I'll force myself to eat less . . . exercise more . . . quit being disorganized and late." Yes, willpower can produce short-term change, but it creates constant internal stress because you haven't dealt with the root cause. The change doesn't feel natural, so eventually you give up and quickly revert to your old habits and hang-ups. There is a better and easier way: Change your autopilot--the way you think. The Bible says, "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2). The New Testament calls this mental shift repentance, which in Greek literally means "to change your mind." You repent whenever you change the way you think by adopting how God thinks--about yourself, sin, God, other people, life, your future, and everything else. You take on Christ's outlook and perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choice: Protecting Your Mind   "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Your mind is a special gift from God. It can potentially store 100 trillion thoughts. And it is a tool that God wants to use in your ministry to fulfill his purposes. That's why we have to be choosy. We have to control what--or who--we allow into our minds. What's true of computers is true with humans--garbage in, garbage out. The Bible says there are five things that we are to guard against: 1. We are to guard our minds against false teaching--The Bible encourages us to contend for, "The faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). That means the Gospel message that's been passed down for 2,000 years. How do you guard your mind against false teachings? Know the truth. If you know the truth, you can instantly spot a lie. Treasury agents are not trained to detect counterfeiting by handling counterfeit bills. They give them real bills and study them so well that when a counterfeit dollar bill is put in their hands, they immediately know that it's false. 2. We are to guard our minds against temptation--Psalm 101:3 says, "I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless." That's a good verse to put on your television. When was the last time you actually got up and switched channels because what you were seeing was worthless? When I start to feel tempted, I often say, "Lord, I mentally put on the helmet of salvation that Scripture talks about in Ephesians 6:17." What does a helmet do? It protects my mind. When I do this, I'm saying, "Lord, I want you to cover my mind with your blood. I will be guarding my mind from temptation." 3. We are to guard our minds against counterfeit spiritual experiences--Galatians 1:6-8 says even if an angel tells you something different than what the Word of God says, don't believe him. 4. We are to guard our minds against pride--Pride is the sin that God judges quicker than any other single sin. Aaron got prideful, and God smote him. Uzziah got prideful, and God smote him. Pride is the sin that got Satan kicked out of Heaven. People will tell you things that will puff you up. You have to remain humble and not let pride enter your mind. 5. We are to guard against an overworked mind--We strain our minds too much by overwork. This can cloud our ability to make sound judgments. That's why we need to have a day of rest every week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choice: Self-Control is Christ’s Control   "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

There's nothing you can do as well without Christ as you can with him. Any struggle you/re facing will be easier to conquer with his help. Don't make the mistake of thinking you have to clean up all your messes before you ask God for help. That's like curing yourself of a disease before you drive down and see the doctor. Go to God first and get his help in all your battles. The secret of self-control is Christ's control. Then, as you face temptations that are too strong for you to resist, remember he is with you and turn them over to him. Remember, Christ provides the power to change your life! But Jesus will also use two things to help you develop self-control: Avoid temptation It is just pure common sense: Don't put yourself in situations where you'll face temptation. If you struggle with alcohol, don't go into a bar. If you're struggling to lose weight, don't load the refrigerator with ice cream. Do whatever you must to avoid temptation. Make yourself accountable Find someone who will check up on you, pray for you, and encourage you in the areas where you want to develop more self-control. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." If you're serious about self-control, find another believer you trust and say, "I have this problem. I've confessed it to God. I've asked forgiveness, and now I want to ask you to help me. Will you be my 'buddy,' a person I can call on the phone when I need support and encouragement?" I believe God intends for every church to be filled with "buddy" relationships where people are accountable to each other, where they help and encourage each other in the Lord. Having someone hold you accountable is tough, but it works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choices: Controlled by Circumstances or Character   "It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities" (Proverbs 16:32).

When we say things like, 'That makes me so mad . . . so sad . . . feel so bad,' then we’re actually saying that circumstances control the way we feel. Yet, we do have a choice. We have the ability to make healing choices. We can choose to remain positive; we can choose to not let some circumstance 'make' us mad. The ability to control our reactions, to handle hurt without retaliating is called meekness. Jesus promised, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Meek people control their reactions toward life and this gives them far more control over a situation than if they simply react. If you are a meek person, you are no longer a victim. You control your choices. The best definition of meekness in the Bible is Proverbs 16:32: " . . . It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities." During World War II, the noted psychiatrist Victor Frankl was a prisoner in the concentration camp at Auschwitz. He said, "They took my clothes, my wife, my kids, my wedding ring. I stood naked before the SS and I realized they can take everything in my life but they cannot take my freedom to choose how I will respond to them." That is a freedom you will always have. How do I react? How do I choose to react to those people who hurt me? Jesus says we will be blessed when we show self-control. You might be thinking, 'That leaves me out! I can't control my reactions! I can't get them under control!' The secret of controlling your reaction is letting God's Spirit fill your life moment-by-moment. He'll break all those bad habits, all those patterns of reacting, all those old ways of being negative, defensive--reacting in fear, in anger, in sarcasm. He can break all those old patterns in your life and fill your life with power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). Some of us are stressed out by life, by circumstances, by relationships. What do we need more than anything else? We need to develop the quality of meekness; the quality of controlling our reactions by the Spirit God has placed in us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choices: Be Teachable, Not Unreachable   "If you accept correction, you will be honored" (Proverbs 13:18).

Meekness means you have a teachable spirit. Meek people are eager to learn. They know they don't know it all and they don't try to pretend they know it all. James 1:19 is one of my favorite Bible verses: "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." It tells how to control your temper. In fact, if you do the first two, the third is automatic. When you're quick to listen, and slow to speak, you will be slow to anger. On the other hand, if we're slow to listen and quick to speak, we'll be quick to anger. We need to listen; use our ears; and be teachable, not unreachable. When someone makes a constructive suggestion, how do you respond to it? Do you get uptight and defensive? Are you open or closed to new ideas? Are you open to change or closed to change? When we are meek someone can correct us because we're teachable, not unreachable. A few weeks ago I saw this sign: "I'd rather change my mind and succeed than have my own way and fail." Proverbs 13:18 says, "If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored." A meek person is not a weak person; rather, a meek person is understanding, not demanding; gentle, not judgmental. A meek person is someone who has made the healing choice to be teachable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Healing Choice to Forgive   "Never pay back evil with more evil . . . Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good" (Romans 12:17, 21).

What is your normal reaction when people hurt you intentionally? Retaliate! Get even! We're often at our creative best when we're thinking up methods to get even. But the Bible teaches we need to make a choice to forgive. Instead of reacting, we should take the initiative to forgive. In his book, Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am?, John Powell says he was walking down the street with a friend and they stopped to get a paper. The man selling the paper was discourteous and very rude. As they walked away, John's friend said to the man, "You have a nice day, now!" John asked his friend, "Is that man always that rude to you?" "Yes." "Are you always that nice to him?" John's friend said, "Yes, I'm not going to let one man ruin my day." The brilliant African-American scientist, Booker T. Washington, faced prejudice all his life, but he made a very significant choice about how he would handle it: "I will never allow another man to control or ruin my life by making me hate him." The moment you start retaliating or seeking revenge is the same moment you give up control of your life. You have allowed the person you're angry at to gain control of your life because you are reacting, which is a position of weakness, as opposed to forgiving, which is a position of Christlike strength. The Bible teaches, "Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, 'I will take revenge; I will pay them back,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choices: God Wants You Strong   "Then Jesus said to him, 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked" (John 5:8–9).

For 38 years the man was paralyzed in a sickly cycle of passive dependency, coping to make it to the end of each day, longing for something else. It's the kind of circular survival thinking that traps us in a death-like state where we’re ruled by our fears and our stress, far removed from the abundant life Jesus promised. Then Jesus said, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." He gave the man an option: "You can get up and walk, step into faith and leave behind your fear. God is strong, and he wants you strong." Like our own steps of faith, the first step was surely the hardest for the man. He had 38 years of experience telling him his legs would not support a walk; he had no experience in trusting this man named Jesus. It took courage, energy and pain to take the first step, but then, he had one step of experience telling him Jesus might be right; two steps telling him Jesus could be right; three steps telling him Jesus must be right; four steps telling him Jesus is absolutely right. Jesus didn't enslave the man; he liberated him, empowering him with choice and independence from his fears. When we're paralyzed in confusion and fear, the questions remain: - Do I want to be healed? - Will I do whatever God says to be healed? - Will I pick up my mat and walk, making godly, healing choices? - Will I step into faith and walk away from my fear? Pray--'Father, I want to be healed. Help me in my unbelief. Be my strength and my boldness. Amen.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Healing Choices Jesus Made for You   "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Matthew 26:41).

Read this as a prayer: On the night before you died, you prayed for me, that I would be as close as a heartbeat to the Father (John 17:22). On the night before you died, you called me friend, no longer a servant, because you'd taught me everything the Father taught you (John 15:15). on the night before you died, you came to me with bloody sweat dripping down your face and arms because you'd stared straight into the future with eyes wide open at the truth, while I hid behind the covers of my deep, denial sleep. On the night before you died, you shook me and seemed to ask, "Can't you watch with me? Come beside me, friend, and wait the time with me" (Matthew 26:40, author paraphrase). On the night before you died, I saw a man intimate with sorrow, but also the Word become man, "the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). On the night before you died, you understood my struggle, but never demanded that I understand yours. You whispered, "I know how it is, brother, the spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (based on Matthew 26:41). On the night before you died, I saw you, friend, so full of sorrow, yet, on that night you proved to be the better friend, still the teacher, still the brother, still thinking of me above all your own needs, the Lamb of God on mission to redeem faulty friends, like me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choices: A Shared Life   "For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them." (Matthew 18:20).

God intends for us to experience life together. The Bible calls this shared experience fellowship. Today, however, the word has lost most of its biblical meaning. Fellowship now usually refers to casual conversation, socializing, food, and fun. The question, "Where do you fellowship?" means "Where do you attend church?" "Stay after for fellowship" usually means "Wait for refreshments." Biblical fellowship is experiencing life together. It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other one another" commands found in the New Testament. When it comes to fellowship, size matters: smaller is better. You can worship with a crowd, but it's hard to fellowship in a crowd. The body of Christ, like your own body, is really a collection of many small cells. The life of the body of Christ, like your body, is contained in the cells. For this reason, every Christian needs to be involved in a small group within their church, whether is it a home fellowship group, a Sunday school class, or a Bible study. This is where real community takes place, not in the big gatherings. God made an incredible promise about small groups of believers: "For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:20).

 

 

 

Healing Choices: Authentic Friendships   "But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God's Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:7-8).

In Biblical fellowship, we should experience authenticity. Authentic friendships are more than superficial, surface-level chit-chat. They involve genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing. These friendships develop when we get honest about who we are and what is happening in our lives. They develop when we share our hurts, reveal our feelings, confess our failures, disclose our doubts, admit our fears, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer. Unfortunately, this level of authenticity and intimacy is the exact opposite of what we find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, we often become involved in pretending, role-playing, politicking, superficial politeness, and shallow conversation. We begin to wear masks, keep our guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in our lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship. It's only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, "If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other . . . If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves" (1 John 1:7–8). The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in God's light, we can bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are. Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again. Why would anyone take such a risk? Because it's the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed" (James 5:16).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healing Choices: A Healthy Dependence   "I mean that I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you" (Romans 1:12).

In authentic Christian fellowship we learn the art of giving and receiving. We learn healthy ways to depend upon each other. The Bible says, "The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part" (1 Corinthians 12:25). Mutuality is the heart of fellowship: building reciprocal relationships, sharing responsibilities, and helping each other. Paul said, "I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you" (Romans 1:12). All of us are more consistent in our faith when others walk with us and encourage us. The Bible commands mutual accountability, mutual encouragement, mutual serving, and mutual honoring. Over fifty times in the New Testament we're commanded to do different tasks for one another" and "each other." The Bible says, "Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification" (Romans 14:19). You are not responsible for everyone in the body of Christ, but you are responsible to them. God expects you do whatever you can to help them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PurposeDriven.com Rick Warren, John Walker