Nougat 27

Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to reflect on the gift of Healing

“The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Would that more of us were manifesting the spiritual gift of Healing in these days. For with the ongoing spread of Covid and other such diseases; coupled with the plethora of terminal and other illnesses, the need for healers is Great. Of course we are not disregarding the work of trained practitioners; for theirs is a gift of Healing in a different way.

Like the gift of the Prophecy, the spiritual gift of Healing is often a point of foment and even frustration. When we think of being healed, we are most likely to be thinking about the tangible shift from some form of Dis-Ease to a state of visible physical Wellness. Some of us might even consider procedures that provide a similar end result. And if we did; we are correct since Healing is roughly defined by the dictionaries as being free from illness or disease. Generally this includes our mental, physical and emotional well-being.

The Gospels and Acts reference several cases of Healing; by Jesus and the Apostles, which demonstrate different ways of Healing. One case includes an angel touching waters of a sacred pool; and others speak to restoration from Death. For me, this suggests that there is No one formula; and this is evident even in formal medicine. What is not always explicitly mentioned is the direct link between Faith and Healing.

No, I am not referring to the school of thought that places the onus of Healing on the faith of those seeking healing – whether for themselves or others. Rather I offer the implicit expectation that the Healer has Faith in themselves and/or the gift with which they operate. For, not many people would be open to seeking help from someone whose words begin with ‘I really hope this will work!’ More so, if the person claims to be operating by the power of God’s Spirit. This then links the gift of (Great) Faith with Healing, as one’s trust moves from what we can do in our strength to what God might accomplish through us.

Yet, it’s exactly the ‘proof’ of Healing that creates some of the greatest tensions around the Gift. Because we ‘need to know’ that it (healing) works before we are open to trust, we may not be open to hearing from God or God’s Spirit. But if we are in submission to God’s will, then we must yield to God’s Spirit, not our fears.

May we discern God’s direction that realizes healing deliverance for this world.

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May all we seek be found in Christ