⚕️ Healing Galing Forgiving ✍️

Are you sick? Weary? Experiencing backaches? Muscle cramps? Common headaches? Are you encountering prolonged days of extreme sadness? Irregular heartbeat? Abnormal blood pressure, etc?

In the Bible, specifically in Mark 2:5–11 and Luke 5:17–26, Jesus heals a disabled man. But notice what Jesus said to him first: "Your sins are forgiven," before instructing him to get up, take up his mat, and go home.

You may be wondering, as I did, why Jesus did not heal the paralyzed man right away? And why did Jesus mention first the forgiveness of his sins before healing him? Because Jesus wants us to grasp the connection between our spiritual health and physical misery via this story. Anything negative in us: anger, arrogance, envy, fear, gluttony, illwill, impatience, laziness, pride, slander and other form of unrighteousness poisons our spirits, and a "polluted spirit" cannot be disguised since it manifests in our weak bodily condition.

The truth is that a lack of connection to God makes every aspect of ourselves vulnerable to dangers even death. Without God in one's life, people are often worried because they rely entirely on their own resources to handle all duties, rather than seeking God and recognizing Him as a source of help. As the workload increases, so does the grumbling and whining, resulting in anxiety, palpitations, panic attacks, and even disrupted sleep due to overthinking.

Another example is how easily we become irritated when others do not do what we want or do not meet our expectations. We desire control over people while ignoring God as the Supreme Authority who rules over the universe and everything in it. We become enraged when we are offended, and we then become haughty, thus, we avoid the offender, ending in bitterness and unforgiveness, which also leads to a burdened life.

What about monetary concerns? We are attempting to preserve our money while ignoring the cries of the disadvantaged and poor around us. Is this sensible? Greed adds stress to one's life, which definitely impacts one's health. Try to breathe in and inhale repeatedly without exhaling. You can't and won't be able to, since it can make you die. The same applies to merely 'taking, getting, and never giving,' which, again, endangers one's soul and spirit.

Our attitude problem is the toxins in our lives that can break us. And a frail body is a sign that we need to improve our connection with the Lord.

Returning to the story of the paralyzed man, Jesus first forgave his sins, and as a result of being spiritually revived, the man stood and walked. Our imperfections are known to the all-knowing God. So, if we sin, Jesus commands us to confess, sincerely admit our mistakes, and repent (to weep from the heart, not from the mouth). Then, as the Lord promised (James 5:16; 1 John 1:9), expect Him to give you a complete recovery.

Jesus has the ability to rescue us from our afflictions (2 Chronicles 7:14). But first, let us cleanse ourselves on the inside, for our bodies, thoughts, emotions, and souls are all inseparably connected to our inner being. There will be no more broken spirits, shattered souls, or fragile bodies when we have Jesus in us because total healing is indeed possible in Him and through Him, who has the authority to forgive our sins and restore us to fullness.

Are you currently ill? Examine the root of your discomfort. Perhaps it's time to assess yourself, your attitudes, and your relationship with Jesus.

All praise to Jesus, the greatest physician of all time!🙏