Amidah 8 – Healing

Understanding we are sinners; Repentance of Sin; Forgiveness which comes from God; and Deliverance from consequences: These are all part of God’s love for us. But the love of God goes beyond. The love of God can bring healing.

The healing of God can be physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The healing that comes from God is always what we need. Healing is more than being cleaned from sin. It is more than deliverance from consequences. Healing is being brought back to where we were before the sin. Healing is the final step to the process of our redemption.

An example of healing is found in the story of the paralytic lowered through the roof in Mark 2. Jesus forgave his sins. The Pharisees did not believe he was cleansed and forgiven. To demonstrate God’s power, Jesus went beyond forgiving the man: the man was healed and walked away.

An example from the Old Testament is found in 1 Kings 5, where Naaman is stricken with leprosy. His maid pointed him to the source of healing. Through this story we see God confronting Naaman’s sin of pride, and bringing healing.

Paul wrote: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:6-7)

God wants us to understand His greatness and mercy. The process of healing shows us that even though all seems to be falling apart, we have a God who has the power and ability to make things whole again. Healing on earth is a foretaste of what will happen in heaven.

The prayer for healing is for those who need healing from their sin, those who have been impacted by the sin of others, and for some who just need to understand the miracles and power of God.

“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.” (Rev. 22:1-3)

The most important part of healing is spiritual healing. Through sin we are separated from God. This brings more sickness. God realizing this sent His Son into the world. Christ died that our sin might be forgiven. Through the gift of Salvation we are made well. When our relationship is returned to God and we love Him with all our heart, soul and strength (Deut 6:5), we are healed.

The Psalmist writes: “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,” (Psalm 103:2-4) Look at these benefits: forgiving and healing; redemption and crowning. This is what God wants to do as we come close to Him.