Saturday, November 13, 2010

Focus Topic: Health

Focus Scripture: Isaiah 53:5

Focus Team Member: Kely Knowles

What does it mean to be whole? It’s a word we use frequently but very rarely stop to study the meaning. The dictionary tells us that the word whole means “not broken, damaged or impaired, uninjured and unharmed.” Let’s keep that meaning in mind as we meditate on the focus scripture today. Isaiah 53:5 is a verse that is probably very familiar to many of us. The Living Translation words it in such a way to remind us that not only can we come to God for healing when we are sick but we can seek God to keep us from encountering sickness in the first place. The verse reads:

⁵ But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.

Jesus gave his life so that we could be whole! He died and was resurrected over 2000 years ago which means that the wholeness that he promises in this verse is already paid for-our job is simply to lay hold of what he has made available. So as we pray today let’s not just pray that God would heal our team members that may be ailing but let’s pray that his promise would be true that the beating that Jesus took for each of our brothers and sisters who are in Rwanda would provide for their wholeness (in body, mind and spirit) today and throughout the remainder of the trip.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for giving up your only son to be beaten and to die so that we could experience forgiveness and wholeness in our bodies. Jesus, we acknowledge the power of your death and resurrection and cry out for the promises of Isaiah 53:5 to be made true for every person on this team today and for each day of this trip. We pray that you would provide divine health to these men and women. God we also pray that if any person is feeling weak in his or her body today that you would be their Jehovah Rapha- their healer. Be all that our team needs today. We pray that their sleep would be anointed and would provide them the rest that they need to remain healthy as they prepare to minister. In Jesus’ Name! Amen