WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
NOVEMBER 25, 2022
TOPIC: OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD PROMOTES GOOD HEALTH
BY T. O. BANSO
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8 New King James Version).
Illness is one of the causes of premature death. And disobedience to the Word of God is the primary cause of some illnesses. Obedience to the Word of God promotes good health.
Proverbs 4:20-22 says, “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh” (New King James Version). The Word of God will bring health to your physical body just as it will make your spirit healthy.
Keeping the Word of God will make you depart from evil, and, therefore, helps you to enjoy good health. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8 New King James Version).
Sadly, some have died prematurely because of emotional trouble, which if they had obeyed the Word of God, wouldn’t have been an issue at all. Anxiety and negative stress have killed some people prematurely. Often, one hears of heart attack, though there are other causes other than anxiety and negative stress.
Proverbs 12:25 warns, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression” (New King James Version). Some have committed suicide, because of depression. Jesus warned against worrying and said we should have faith in God (Luke 12:22-31; Mark 11:22). Worry changes nothing! Some people lose the battle to depression because they have no living relationship with God or they’re not obeying His Word that would have given them victory.
The antidote to worry and anxiety, according to the Word of God, is to commit everything you do, your needs, or your problems to God in prayer, and trust Him to take care of you. “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:4-5 New King James Version).
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (New King James Version). However, many will rather continue to use their limited wisdom to tackle issues that are, sometimes, beyond their abilities.
When anyone loses the peace of God, even over legitimate responsibilities of life, his health is in pieces. Anyone who doesn’t want to die prematurely or lose his health must avoid worry and negative stress. Some people are subjecting themselves to unnecessary stress because they’ve gone into ill-fitting jobs – jobs they have little or no temperament and aptitude for.
They, probably, went into the jobs because of the financial reward – good salaries and other benefits – but they can’t cope with the demands of the jobs, and they are stressed out daily. They don’t have enough hours of sleep; they don’t rest well. Such people don’t need to harm themselves or die prematurely. They must prayerfully quit their ill-fitting jobs, and let God lead them into jobs they’re well suited for, even if the financial reward is less. Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it” (New King James Version).
Other people disobey the Word of God and destroy their health by engaging in unnecessary competition and comparison with others. They struggle to live at the levels of others and own what they have. They set unrealistic goals for themselves, which put them under serious pressure that has negative consequences on their health. Competitive jealousy will hamper your health. “Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:4 New Living Translation).
Sexual immorality, gluttony, substance abuse, and the like are also sins that rob people of their health. Genuine repentance and obedience to the Word of God will go a long way to promote good health. It is good to listen to the experts on what to do to enjoy good health. But you must listen to God first. Obey His Word. It has effects on your physical, emotional, and mental health.
I am not saying every sickness or illness is because of disobedience to the Word of God but some are. That’s why James 5:14-15 says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (New King James Version). This suggests that there is a type of sickness that could be caused by sin.
Jesus said later to the man with an infirmity for thirty-eight years whom He had healed on the Sabbath at the Pool of Bethesda, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14 New King James Version). There is a connection between sin and some sicknesses.
If you’re currently battling with any illness, I pray that the Great Healer will heal you. That illness shall not kill you. If you know your illness is because you’ve sinned, repent, and receive forgiveness now. Ask Jesus to heal you. Stop living in rebellion against God. Obedience to the Word of God promotes good health.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I repent of any sin that has caused sickness in my body. Forgive me, Lord. I receive my healing in Jesus’ name. I pray for healing for those who are sick whether or not because of disobedience. Father, have mercy and restore health to them and heal their wounds.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
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