We live in a culture that glorifies self-effort. This mindset is pushed at us from all directions, including health and wellness. It’s fine to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to see the doctor when necessary, but we mustn’t go overboard and think healing is something that physicians manufacture with medicine. Doctors can only go so far with their treatments—when they’ve done all they can but failed, God has already finished our healing.
This has everything to do with the finished works of Jesus Christ. Before we even came into existence, He knew we would need healing in our bodies and our souls. He willingly went to the cross to provide this for us. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Healing is firmly in the past tense and the matter is settled; we therefore don’t have to panic at a bad diagnosis or beg God to do what He already did.
We receive by faith what grace has already made available. This requires a decision to bring our minds into compliance and agreement with this truth, replacing fear with peace. We no longer have to let a negative report steal our peace, and we refuse to let symptoms, feelings, or circumstances define what God has already spoken over our lives. When the enemy lies to us, we know that God’s Word is the final authority and will never fail. “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17).
It isn’t God’s will for us to be sick. When Jesus encountered the leper who asked if He was willing to heal him, Jesus answered quickly and emphatically. “…A man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately the leprosy left him” (Luke 5:12, 13, NKJV). This demonstrates both God’s ability and willingness to bring healing, and it should leave no doubt in our hearts concerning His desire for our wholeness.
Meditating on what Jesus did anchors it in our hearts and minds and gives us peace. This is important, because uncertainty robs us of the rest God’s peace gives us. Genuine, unshakeable faith in His promise of healing protects it. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world… Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:2, 3, 11).
As believers, we have everything God has, including perfect health and wholeness. When the enemy sends thoughts suggesting that we’re not healed, we have authority over them. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). We defeat the devil by opening our mouths and declaring the truth of our healing. Our peace is our most valuable asset; resting in the realm of the finished keeps the thief from stealing what’s already ours.
