The Gift of Health***It is SO much more than not being physically sick**
When I say the word health, what comes to your mind?
The 1828 Webster dictionary has the following insight into the word “health”
HEALTH, noun helth. [from heal.] That state of an animal or living body, in which the parts are sound, well organized and disposed, and in which they all perform freely their natural functions. In this state the animal feels no pain. This word is applied also to plants.
1. Sound state of the mind; natural vigor of faculties.
2. Sound state of the mind, in a moral sense; purity; goodness.
There is no health in us.
3. Salvation or divine favor, or grace which cheers God's people. Psalms 43:5,
4. Wish of health and happiness; used in drinking. Come, love and health to all; an elliptical phrase, for, I wish health to you.
Down below is something the Lord has taught me concerning “health”
When you think of a square, there are 4 exact sides which have 90 degree angles in each of the corners.
A person can be like that square- we are part: physical, metal, emotional, and spiritual. When we are like those 90 degree angles on each side, we are balanced.
Too much or too little and you no longer have a square. Those 90 degree angles are vital. So too, in our life.
Q: So what does this have to do with "health" you might ask?
Many times we just focus on the physical and or spiritual, or mental and sometimes emotional part of us, BUT what about all 4 of them ( at the same time) and how they are all a part of one great whole?
In the Bible dictionary we find the following under the word health:
In old English the word health denotes:
Healing Power
Deliverance
Salvation
Here are some examples of health meaning healing as found in the Old Testament
Isaiah 58:8
"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”
Exodus 23:25 Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.
In other scriptures "health" denotes deliverance/safety
Acts 27:34 " Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you.
Psalms 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance
Health can also mean salvation or in other words "saving health"
Psalms 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalms 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
In my patriarchal blessing, baby blessing, and many other priesthood blessings over the years I am told I am blessed with "good health" and counseled that as I live the commandments relating to it, I will be blessed. For most of my life I hadn’t seen “good health” as a gift. Nor, taken into consideration that there is much more to health/good health than not being physically sick/unwell.
*Disclaimer-that is NOT to say that I have never experienced sickness or addiction. I have had colds, the flu, dental work up the wazoo over the years. Had a sugar addiction and was really sick with pneumonia and had strep throat a few times and don't forget tonsillitis, that made me really sick for a long time until I had my tonsils removed as a teenager.*
healing, safety/deliverance, and salvation
The 3 are linked together, think of points on an equilateral triangle
Here is something that also relates to Health. We are spiritual beings endowed with physical bodies along with the emotional part and mental part.
Q: The Law of the Fast- what is its purpose???
A: In Isaiah chapter 58 we find out the following:
As we do so we will have abundant Life.
So having the gift of health=healing, safety, and salvation.
Going back to the square analogy
Adding up those four 90 degree angles and you get the following:
90+90+90+90=360 degrees
360 degrees=Perfection (whole & complete)
Recap
Isaiah 58:8 Exodus 23:25
Health=Healing, healing power
Acts 27:34, Psalms 32:7 Health=Safety/Deliverance
Psalms 43:5, 67:2
Health=Salvation
Many and I mean MANY more scriptures speak of this gift of Health (healing + safety/deliverance + salvation) and each one of us has an opportunity to seek it out for ourselves. What I shared is just like a little movie trailer/teaser.
The greatest physician of all is Yeshua! Did you know his name Yeshua actually means Salvation?
As we seek God with all our might, mind, and strength we will be changed, be aligned, and be balanced!
He will give us healing (not just physical), safety, and salvation!
***God will help people and heal them, but they must reach to him with their hearts. He's not demanding, but he does need their hearts or else his help is not for their salvation.***
Let us close with Psalms 91-promises of God and a prayer.
Psalms 91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.