I often watch my kids play outside in the yard from the kitchen window. They're old enough now they can be trusted out there on their own (for the most part).
But, as any mom of boys knows, more often than not, someone is probably going to come in with a bump or bruise.
On this particular afternoon, I saw my younger son limping back to the house and I knew something was wrong. As he got closer I could see the sad look on his face. He continued to make his way closer and then he stopped, bowed his head, prayed and then started his limping back to the house.
When I met him on the back porch, he was crying, and I could see his knee and ankle were bleeding. He said, "Mommy, I fell. Can you clean me up? Oh, and I already prayed, so I took care of that part."
LOL! He already knew the absolute first step in his healing was going to be prayer. It was a proud mommy moment for sure, and I was happy to see my youngest carrying out our principle of "always go to the Lord first in everything."
I was watching a video series this week called "Bible Health Secrets." It was incredible to see how many health principles we need are already given to us in the Old and the New Testament, even details on specific foods.
But the first video in the whole series (9 videos long) was entirely dedicated to how prayer can directly impact our health and whether patients heal or not. It was amazing to see so many doctors, many of them with no religious affiliation, say that those patients who had a strong faith life and prayed during their severe illnesses (including cancer) were the ones that more often, experienced healing.
Wow! So incredible to hear, but I'm not shocked at all. I can name so many times in my own life when I knew it was God's hand that stepped in and helped me during my most difficult times, including my health.
And He clearly tells us He will in His word...
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." – Mark 11:24
And Jesus also said,
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." – John 14:13-14
The doctors in the video went on to say that people with faith tend to have a more positive attitude and were less focused on their worries and fears. Worry and fear triggers a chemical change in your brain which then creates negative chemical reactions in the rest of your body and yes, then, negatively affecting your healing process.
I don't know about you, but I've done my fair share of worrying and being fearful and it never changes the situation for the better. Actually, it just makes everything worse.
If you're currently working on making big changes to your health, like you've been told you have diabetes, pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, hormone imbalances... whatever the current diagnosis was, I'm going to show you how you can begin your healing process today with prayer.
Or, if your health changes don't include any specific health condition but you know you would feel so much better if you lost the excess weight, that too can be a big undertaking and I encourage you to use prayer as well.
Prayer does not need a specific structure, but here is a simple guide you can use if you're not sure how to go to the Lord in prayer.
First, thank God for all He has already provided so abundantly in your life. I know some days it may be hard to see where God is providing, but I promise you He is. If you're reading this newsletter on a computer or phone, God has provided.
Thank Him for the health information you already know, for your family's health or for the wonderful doctors or health professionals you have in your life. And thank Him for the little things as well... water, enough food each day, and the comfy bed where you lay your head at night.
Next, spend some time in confession and asking for forgiveness in any area of your life you know may not be quite right. Have you acted in a way you're not happy about? Have you maybe told some lies or were involved in something that is not honest? Whatever it is, you can bring it all to Him and He will help you make your wrongs right. (Trust me, I know this first hand!)
Now, bring your requests to Him. Please remember that God is not a genie in a bottle, there to grant our every wish, but He does hear every single one of our prayers and will always provide and give us exactly what we need when we go to Him in faith.
To help get you started, here is a very simple prayer you can start with today. I promise you will already feel a greater sense of peace after you say these words and spend this time telling Him what you need in your health journey right now.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for who you are and how you have already provided so abundantly in my life. Please help me to see those blessings from You each and every day and be a good steward of those blessings. I know You don't expect me to be perfect and You love me for who I am, but here are the areas of my life that I need to change. I ask for your forgiveness of these sins and I also ask for your strength to help me change. My strength and my will just don't feel like enough on most days, so I ask for Your mighty strength to be there when I feel weak. Today I am asking for your help with my health. I have these particular things going on (name them here) and I know I can conquer these things with Your power. I pray all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
Wow, I don't know about you, but I already feel better!
I urge you to make consistent prayer an integral part of your health journey. If there is something you have been struggling with for quite some time, this could be the missing piece of the puzzle for you. Invite God into your healing journey and He will amaze you with what He can do. He continues to amaze me every single day.
Are you ready to make God part of your weight loss journey? Look no further than the New Life Promise plan!