Healer

Just before Christmas, my family received heartbreaking news. My mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and chemotherapy was inevitable. We celebrated Christmas in the Poconos with my entire family, but the heaviness of the recent news weighed on our hearts. There came a moment where we confronted what the future would hold. With tears in our eyes and the unknowing of what lay ahead, we prayed to our Lord, who heals. We placed our hands upon my mother and anointed her with oil, praying that she would be healed.

Just like the centurion who comes to Jesus asking for healing for his servant, we too should come to him with all our needs. Maybe you are like me and praying for a physical healing for someone you love, or for yourself. I know many of you have been praying for an emotional or mental healing, healing of a wound from your childhood, or healing in your marriage. I want to encourage you today that “The Lord Who Heals,” hears your prayers. In Luke 5:31–32, Jesus says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Jesus can heal your physical needs, but what he really wants to heal is your heart.

When we come to Jesus out of love and faith like the centurion, we can rest knowing that he will answer our prayers, though it’s important to remember it may not be as quickly or in the way we would like. My mother has not had a miraculous healing, yet, and she is still facing a long road of chemo in the months ahead. What I do know is that I will be there for her. My faith will only get stronger, and my heart will only get bigger for Jesus. 

Ultimately, this is what he wants from us. More specifically, this is what he wants from you. He wants your heart to be filled with faith, no matter your circumstances, to love the Lord, and trust in his healing power. Nothing is too big or too small for what he can do today.

Reflect

As you reflect on today’s devotional, listen to the song, “Healer”while you answer this question:

If your prayers haven’t been answered in the timeframe or the way you wanted, what is the posture of your heart toward Jesus right now?