For a disciple of Jesus Christ, sickness becomes a tool in the hands of God. Job was brought to a new awareness of God through his sickness; and Paul enjoyed more of God’s grace through the thorn in his flesh. My first reaction to becoming ill should always be, “Lord, what is Your message in all this?”
Lord, do I have the right to automatic healing? Is sickness always an attack of Satan, and may I expel him by means of the cross? There are some sicknesses due to sin (1 Corinthians 11:30), some sicknesses due to Satan (Job 2:7), and some sicknesses for which there is no assignable cause (John 9:3). But all sicknesses, if used properly, are designed to be used to the glory of God (John 11:4).
Faith healing is not crassly demanding that God obey me. Rather, it is asking God what His will might be. In other words, I am to pray about praying. Paul asked God three times about the matter. If God reveals to me that He desires to heal me, then faith takes over and praying ceases; or conversely, if God reveals to me that sickness is to be my portion, for deeper spiritual purposes, then obedience takes over and I stop praying.
Does Jesus want me to always be well? Not until He has accomplished His purposes through my sickness, for having strong, healthy bodies is not God’s first objective for His children; godliness is (1 Timothy 4:8). The body is not without its value, of course, but I must present it to Him as a “living … sacrifice” (Romans 12:1), which gives Him the right to do with it as it pleases Him. If He treats my body with “weakness,” He will also give me the necessary “grace” to bear it (2 Corinthians 12:9).
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Thy word. Thou art good and doest good; teach me Thy statutes” (Psalm 119:67–68).
Daily with the King 