13th. October. 2020. Daily Devotion.

“If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” ~ Exodus 15:26

Here is a commentary on the above passage:

One of the many “Names of God” — that is, the names by which God calls Himself — given in the Old Testament is Yahweh Rapha, which means “I AM, the Healer.” We often think of the Old Testament God as a rather strict and wrathful figure, but God is God and has never changed (although His relationship with humanity has). He has always been merciful and a God who heals those who have faith in Him.

The first use of rapha in the Old Testament is a physical healing in Genesis 20:17, “Abraham prayed to God, and God healed (rapha) Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.” But the word is also used for other kinds of healing, as well as the physical; and in fact, if you reflect for a second, you will probably conclude that God is the source of all healing.

Wise physicians will say, “I do not heal people, I treat them; only God can heal them.” Thus, if we need to be healed emotionally or spiritually, we should turn to God, first and foremost. This is also the Rapha God; David calls out in Psalm 41, “O Lord, be gracious to me. Heal (rapha) my soul, for I have sinned against You.”

Our souls can become as sick as our bodies, and the effect is even more devastating in the long run. And it is God, and God alone, who can truly heal our soul. I believe people know it when their soul is suffering because they feel sick. Our soul is connected to our body and our emotions while we are alive on earth. If we eat poison, our body gets sick. If we listen to poisonous people, our emotions get sick. And if we allow ourselves to ingest spiritual poison, without repentance and a prayer for forgiveness, our very soul will become sick.

We all have little sins hanging around that we could be doing a better job with. Just try working on it, praying on it, and avoiding it for one day, and see how you feel. You will find something missing — pain, perhaps pain that you have become so accustomed to that you didn’t even realize it hurt. Try it and see. M Barge.

Lord, help me to avoid this sin for a day, and cleanse me from it, that I might feel your mighty healing power. Amen.

Prayer for the Morning

Heavenly Father, I thank you that I have wakened up alive this morning, once again to witness the magnificence, the glory of your creation. Even on the dreariest of days, when the weather doesn’t suit me, let me rejoice in the taste of heaven you give us on earth. For the hottest, muggiest day; the coldest and most bitter weather; the clouds, the rain, the wind and snow, the lightning and thunder — these are all your creations, oh Lord, and all of them have a great beauty if I just take the time to see it.

Should I be blind, what would I give to see the cloudy rainy day that I complain about? Should I be deaf, how much I would long to hear your thunder! When I lie dying, how sweet it will seem to have been bundled up against a chill wind, or to be soaked in sweat as I work in the heat and humidity. Let me be always filled with gratitude for the world you have given me, great God, Father and creator of all that is. Amen.

Prayer for Unity Among Christians

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace to take to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions.

Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord: that as there is but one Body and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful God, hear our fervent prayer for all who suffer from the coronavirus.
May those who are infected receive the proper treatment and the comfort of your healing presence.
May their caregivers, families and neighbours be shielded from the onslaught of the virus.
Give solace to those who grieve the loss of loved ones.
Protect and guide those who strive to find a cure,
that their work may conquer the disease and restore communities to wholeness and health.
Help us to rise above fear in the name of your Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.