Theme: MANAGING CHRONIC ILLNESSES
Text: “Hear my voice O God in my prayer. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy”. – Psalm 64:1
Comment: Once diagnosed as having a chronic disease, the true worshipper of God should first of all take the matter to God in prayer. The steps outlined by Apostle James for the person in crisis are very relevant to us here. We should pray, give ourselves to singing praises to God, invite the elders of the Church to pray for us and we should exercise faith in the prayer. (James 5:13-16) We should remember that unless God gives His healing the treatment by the doctors will be ineffective. Hence medical people say “We treat but God heals”, while in Psalm 65 verse 2 he says “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come”. We should always bear in mind the fact that Jesus Christ was sent by God to deliver us from sin and its consequences, including death. (Hebrews 2:9,15) “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) He knows our sufferings and is able to give us comfort, help and hope by God’s grace. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,” He says, “and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” – Matthew 11:28-29, New King James Version.