Physician, Heal Thyself
I have been sick this month in a way I haven't before. January's deep freeze plus fatigue from too much travel, too little sunshine, and exposure to too many sick people finally did me in.
I won't go into the boring details. Suffice to say that none of the "systems" were operating and I didn't know which part of my body to treat first. Forced to stay home and work...err? rest, I languished between the bedroom and the bathroom with an occasional respite in my "lazy-boy" which served as a temporary office while I waited for the healing process to work itself out.
The saddest thing about all of this was that I fell sick only days after returning from conducting a seminar on "stress" in which I was quick to point out that too much stress could cause the body to fall ill as a form of self-preservation from burn-out ? DUH!!
To make matters worse, now that I was sick, my major concern was to get better so I could conduct another seminar in the week to come (good thing I didn't use myself as an example of good stress management at the seminar!)
All of this finally came to a head as I studied the Bible with some Chinese women online and they asked how a Christian should deal with future concerns. I quickly told them that Jesus showed us that we should live one day at a time trusting in God for our needs. It was at this point that I realized my own sin!
I had not only worried unnecessarily about the future (the seminar), I had also neglected to trust the Lord for the care of myself today! I wanted to feel on Monday the way I needed to feel on Thursday, the day I was supposed to leave for the seminar. Of course, the worry over this made me feel worse.
As I prayed about these things I realized that even if my health leaves me for a day or a lifetime, the Lord will never leave me ? Hebrews 13:5. In addition to this, His presence will provide for me each day whether I am strong or weak.
I am not all better as I write this article on Wednesday night before leaving but I am well enough to make the 11:40 train to Toronto tomorrow morning. Who knows? The Lord may restore all of my strength in time to start the seminar, or not. Either way, tomorrow belongs to Him, not me.
MM
I won't go into the boring details. Suffice to say that none of the "systems" were operating and I didn't know which part of my body to treat first. Forced to stay home and work...err? rest, I languished between the bedroom and the bathroom with an occasional respite in my "lazy-boy" which served as a temporary office while I waited for the healing process to work itself out.
The saddest thing about all of this was that I fell sick only days after returning from conducting a seminar on "stress" in which I was quick to point out that too much stress could cause the body to fall ill as a form of self-preservation from burn-out ? DUH!!
To make matters worse, now that I was sick, my major concern was to get better so I could conduct another seminar in the week to come (good thing I didn't use myself as an example of good stress management at the seminar!)
All of this finally came to a head as I studied the Bible with some Chinese women online and they asked how a Christian should deal with future concerns. I quickly told them that Jesus showed us that we should live one day at a time trusting in God for our needs. It was at this point that I realized my own sin!
I had not only worried unnecessarily about the future (the seminar), I had also neglected to trust the Lord for the care of myself today! I wanted to feel on Monday the way I needed to feel on Thursday, the day I was supposed to leave for the seminar. Of course, the worry over this made me feel worse.
As I prayed about these things I realized that even if my health leaves me for a day or a lifetime, the Lord will never leave me ? Hebrews 13:5. In addition to this, His presence will provide for me each day whether I am strong or weak.
I am not all better as I write this article on Wednesday night before leaving but I am well enough to make the 11:40 train to Toronto tomorrow morning. Who knows? The Lord may restore all of my strength in time to start the seminar, or not. Either way, tomorrow belongs to Him, not me.
MM
Comments: (1)
I understand and can appreciate all you do, I have two scriptures references for you. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2tim 1:7 and
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge?that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph. 3:14-21
I give you these because I believe you are doing what many of us cannot. You are presenting the gospel and equipping the church where ever you go with tools to carry on.
May God bless you with all His heavenly riches.
I believe you have the boldness and the abilities to proclaim the gospel as Paul did. I pray that God will continue to strengthen you both physically and spiritually, you are always in our prayers. Darren