But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
#7. Healing
So, it's Saturday morning, and I'm sitting in Starbucks. Just had some awesome quiet time, and I'm ready to write. I'm still not finished with my Passion 2012 reflections, and today I want to write about healing. As I gear up to put my fingers to the keys, however, I can't help but be distracted by each new person who walks in the door of this coffee shop. Just knowing the personal turmoil I've been in before, and how good I was at hiding it from everyone around me, I wonder about the healing that each of these people may so desperately need. I wonder if they know how bad they need it. And I wonder if they know who the only person that could truly provide that healing power is.
Healing is an interesting process, but I've learned that it doesn't have to be a difficult one. Really, all we have to do is surrender. The key is remembering that there is always hope for you because God is about changing lives. We don't have to live in our regret, pain, guilt, or any other damaging emotion. Surrendering our past to God rewrites our future. He died on a cross so that we may be healed. What a beautiful truth.
Beth Moore preached an unbelievable sermon about healing at Passion out of Mark 5. One of my biggest take aways from her message was about pride (always a sore spot for me). She said that we are only as sick as our secrets, and it is usually what most needs to be healed that we tend to hide. We keep private the things that are keeping us from being healed and living the complete life the Lord has planned for us. One of the most beautiful aspects of Christianity, however, is that it's okay to not be okay. One of the single most beneficial realizations I've ever had is that in a community of believers who you trust and love, you don't have to keep secrets. I would have never been able to fully accept the Lord's healing power on my life had I not been able to share the hurt of my past with other believers who loved me and desperately wanted for me to enjoy the fullness of the life God has planned for me. I beg you...if you aren't a part of a small group or don't have accountability in your life, get it. It will change your life.
My Passion community group the night of the Beth Moore message wrecked me in a way I never expected. Our leader, Brad Horton, was talking about self image and how we can view ourselves if we keep ourselves from healing and understanding that in Christ we are made new despite any issue in our pasts. He said, "If you have a poor self image, that's pride. You are making yourself the center of attention instead of Jesus." Now, I don't know about you, but that cut me to the core. How selfish it is to view ourselves in a poor light. We are created in Christ's image. We are perfect in His eyes. How dare we view it any other way? Jesus should be the center of attention in every aspect of our lives, including how we view ourselves. If we don't look at ourselves and see Jesus, how will anyone else?
Our salvation is based on God's character and not our own. We can never be too broken or dirty for Jesus. Healing comes when we believe that and surrender everything to Him. Don't be afraid to let go. Don't be afraid to find someone to talk to. Don't let shame keep you from living the life the Lord has for you. Make Jesus your center of attention.
Healing is an interesting process, but I've learned that it doesn't have to be a difficult one. Really, all we have to do is surrender. The key is remembering that there is always hope for you because God is about changing lives. We don't have to live in our regret, pain, guilt, or any other damaging emotion. Surrendering our past to God rewrites our future. He died on a cross so that we may be healed. What a beautiful truth.
Beth Moore preached an unbelievable sermon about healing at Passion out of Mark 5. One of my biggest take aways from her message was about pride (always a sore spot for me). She said that we are only as sick as our secrets, and it is usually what most needs to be healed that we tend to hide. We keep private the things that are keeping us from being healed and living the complete life the Lord has planned for us. One of the most beautiful aspects of Christianity, however, is that it's okay to not be okay. One of the single most beneficial realizations I've ever had is that in a community of believers who you trust and love, you don't have to keep secrets. I would have never been able to fully accept the Lord's healing power on my life had I not been able to share the hurt of my past with other believers who loved me and desperately wanted for me to enjoy the fullness of the life God has planned for me. I beg you...if you aren't a part of a small group or don't have accountability in your life, get it. It will change your life.
My Passion community group the night of the Beth Moore message wrecked me in a way I never expected. Our leader, Brad Horton, was talking about self image and how we can view ourselves if we keep ourselves from healing and understanding that in Christ we are made new despite any issue in our pasts. He said, "If you have a poor self image, that's pride. You are making yourself the center of attention instead of Jesus." Now, I don't know about you, but that cut me to the core. How selfish it is to view ourselves in a poor light. We are created in Christ's image. We are perfect in His eyes. How dare we view it any other way? Jesus should be the center of attention in every aspect of our lives, including how we view ourselves. If we don't look at ourselves and see Jesus, how will anyone else?
Our salvation is based on God's character and not our own. We can never be too broken or dirty for Jesus. Healing comes when we believe that and surrender everything to Him. Don't be afraid to let go. Don't be afraid to find someone to talk to. Don't let shame keep you from living the life the Lord has for you. Make Jesus your center of attention.
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