Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Monday May 27, 2019

Theme: MANAGING CHRONIC ILLNESSES

Text: “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9.

Comment: Severe trials can cause emotional paralysis. But we need to remain active through strong faith in God, because inactivity further devastates one’s moral strength. The Bible says: “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14) Dr. Paul Brand, an expert on the subject of pain, said in his book The Gift Nobody Wants: “When I confront intense pain, I look for activities that will fully absorb me, either mentally or physically. I have found that conscious distraction and the discipline of activity can be helpful tools in combating pain”. The best way to put aside pain is to care for the needs of someone else.  Such positive and outgoing communication enables one to use his or her experience to teach and encourage others and so spend time listening to them and helping them. One who is down with illness should throw himself or herself committedly to the work of God.  The person should read the Scriptures regularly, pray often, attend church activities faithfully.  One should not be a prisoner of his suffering. Irrespective of the problem one is facing, one who is alive is still very useful, therefore the patient  should make good use of his time by praising God all the time as David did. – Psalm 63:1-4.

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