For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
—Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
The true nature of God is love. He loves you. He has plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Some people attribute things like sickness as being from God—that God causes bad things to punish them because of something they have done or to make them learn a lesson. I've heard people even say, "He can decide to hurt me if He wants because He is God." God does nothing that goes against His nature. Things happen in life because we live in an imperfect world where the enemy tortures us. Yes, you can learn and gain strength from the things that happen to you, but God is not the author of evil. He is the author of good.
The Hebrew names of God in the Word reveal God’s nature and His love for us. Some of the names are:
Jehovah- Shammah, is the God who is ALWAYS with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Jehovah-Rohi, our shepherd, is the God who keeps us safe and guides us. Jehovah-M’Kaddesh is the God who sanctifies and blesses us. Jehovah-Tsidkenu is the righteous God who gives us His righteousness—the God who loved us enough to die for our sins. Jehovah Shalom is the God who gives us peace. Jehovah-Jireh is the God who provides for all our needs according to His riches in glory. Jehovah-Rapha is the God who heals us.
Do any of these names of God make you believe He wants to harm you? Yet, some who love God and serve Him think of Him as a God of punishment and retribution. Why would anyone want to serve God if they believe He is just waiting to beat them up when they fail? God’s nature is love. He proved that on Calvary.
Some believe that sickness is a blessing sent by God. Illness is not of God. God has plans not to harm us. If we think illness is a blessing, why don't we ask God to make us sick? Do we tell our children when they are hurting that they are blessed to be that way? No, we hurt with them. We ache with them and do everything within our power to help them feel better. God hurts for us the same way. When His children are in pain, He feels it. Why would we ever question if God, our Father, wants to heal our hurts and sicknesses?
Our suffering does not bring joy to God. We need to look at sickness and other attacks of the enemy and declare that those things are not from our God! They don’t come from the heart of the Father who loves us so much that He would give His life for us. He is Jehovah-Rapha, our healer.
God is not the author of your sickness. God is good. The enemy is evil. Sickness harms you. Sickness attempts to destroy your future and the plans that God has for you. God is love, and He wants you to prosper and be in good health (3 John 2). God sent His Word to heal you (Psalm 107:20). God desires His Word to go deep into your heart because it brings life and healing to you (Provers 4:20-22).
We sing that God is our GOOD, GOOD FATHER (John 1:12-13). Let’s believe it. Let’s allow the Word to build our faith. God is good. He loves us and wants the best for us. We stand against the enemy’s evil. When we fight believing God wants all things good for us—that He wants us well, we experience the power and determination of God rising within us. We know that nothing that comes against us has any authority to prosper. We trust in His love that was more than enough for our healing—our needs—our fear—our circumstances. God is our authority.
“Now 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” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV). God wants to do immeasurably more than we ask or think. And this is according to His power at work within us. God has put His power within us. A good God is living inside of us. He is a loving, forgiving, healing, providing, and empowering God. Remember, He lives in us! So we are loved, forgiven, healed, and empowered! That is who we are in Him.
And He says, “I want to do more than you can ask or imagine." Grasp this! He has good plans for you—plans that don't harm you. He lives in you. You have the power and healing of God living inside of you. Believe what you have received and speak healing and life and joy and peace into your life. Experience the overwhelming and abundant love of God. Don't let the enemy steal and kill and destroy. God does more than you imagine according to the power that lives in you. Exercise your faith! Live what God has given you.
©2020 Lynn Lacher
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