Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

A few days ago we received a call from one of our “god-children” asking us to pray for healing.

Oh NO! Not again! Not another family facing the devastation brought about when doctor—a stranger—gives them a horrible report… uses the “C” word… changes their life forever.

My first reaction was, as it always is, pull out my sword and start swinging.

For the word of God is living, and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:11-12

This loved-one called for prayer support and there I am, on the phone spouting scriptures one after another, so fast she couldn’t possibly catch them all. The same thing has happened before.

During the night it dawned on me…’Ellen, you need to write this stuff down.’

I’ve done it before…but OK. Here it is again:

What God’s children do in the face of a horrible medical report:

1. Surround yourself and your loved one with God’s Word.
It is ALIVE and ACTIVE. Remember? And, it ALWAYS accomplishes what God sends it to do. (so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11)

The forces of hell cannot stay in the presence of the Word of God. Hearing the word sears the ears and terrifies the mind of demonic spirits, forcing them to back away from His (Christ’s) power. If you doubt me, read about how the legions of demons throughout the gospels reacted to God’s word, as spoken by Jesus Christ. Now you may ask, “Are you telling me sickness and disease are demonic?” Yes, in part. The word tells us man fell from grace with God because of a lie of Satan. Genesis 3 And Jesus is quoted as saying, “The thief (Satan) come against the sheep (children of God – followers of Christ) only to steal, kill and destroy“. John 10:1-18 Logic tells us sickness and disease also come simply because we live on this dirt ball called earth, in an earth-suit (body) that is fragile and prone to failure. Either way…demonic or systemic…God has given us hope and powerful answers both in the spiritual and in the natural.

a. turn off the secular music (rock, hip-hop, rap, country, whatever) and turn on praise and worship music. If you don’t have CD’s find a good Christian radio station and play that.
Why? First, when praise happens, God shows up. Next, true praise comes from God’s word, you’ll be filling your surroundings with the Word, even though you may not be speaking it into the spiritual realm. Praise and worship music will be inviting the Holy Spirit and God’s ministering spirits (angels) to surround you and work on your behalf. Hebrews 1:14

b. get out your Bible, look up, and write down, at least ten scriptures that speak of God’s willingness and ability to heal – then put them on mirrors, the computer monitors, and the fridge door.
Why? As a reminder of God’s promises to heal, as evidenced by the death of his own Son – to defeat all of our sickness, and diseases. “But he (Christ) was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed – and we were healed! We, everyone of us, have strayed away like sheep! We who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us” Isaiah 53:55-56 LB Every time you look at these reminders of God’s deep desire to heal his children (us) you will be less inclined to dwell on the report from your doctors and focus instead on what God wants for you and your loved one. This tells me “we were healed” by what He did for us. Were is past tense…get a hold on that!

c. while you wait, and when dealing with the medical profession you will be waiting, read the Word. If you don’t have it on your smart phone get a tiny Bible or Book of Psalms. Actually, get one anyway, since there will be places where the smart phone is not allowed, but the book will be just fine. Most hospital gift shops will have one, if they don’t, send anybody who asks, “is there anything I can do for you?” to get one for you. Read the Psalms, aloud if possible, under your breath in a whisper if necessary, but in such a way as to be putting the Word into the realm surrounding you and your loved one. At home you can play a CD of someone reading the Word…turn it down so it is barely audible. Even if you can barely hear it, it will accomplish God’s purpose and force the enemy’s crowd to back off.

“How do you know?” you may ask.

Well…we’ve been in God’s ICU before.

In March of 1990 Dick was hospitalized for three days with “something”. Medical science never did give us a firm diagnosis. Best guess was salmonella. He was horribly ill – sick unto death! I was horribly afraid. As he lay in the hospital bed fighting to stay alive, I sat in the chair by his side and read the Word. Out loud. For days!

The Holy Spirit gave us this Word. “The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness thou healest all his infirmities.” Psalm 41:1-3 RSV By April Dick was fine. God healed him.

In 1992 it was Valley Fever.  A Central California version of TB. Nasty stuff!  He was told he would miss at least six months of work. The only time he could sleep restfully and breath without coughing was when I sat beside him and read the word aloud. He went back to work in less than six weeks!

In May 2005 the diagnosis was stage three cancer. That’s a whole ‘nother story, but by August, after multiple biopsies and CT scans, there was NO cancer. Had never been any cancer…just another case of the enemy coming along and saying, “you don’t really believe what he said do you? Believe what I tell you instead…would you believe you have cancer?”

God has never, ever, failed us. But whenever we receive a bad report from the medical community, we go into full ICU mode. God’s word will do what he purposes for anyone….anyone at all.

2. Call everyone you know who understands the power of prayer.
a. Ask for prayer!
I find the account of a boy being healed in Mark’s gospel of particular interest. It is here Jesus says, “…all things are possible to him who believes…. This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Mark9:14-29, Matthew 17:14-21, Luke 9:37-43

Just keep in mind…there are plenty of “Christians” out there who do not believe in God’s healing for today. Before you ask for prayer, be certain, absolutely certain you’re asking a “believer”. You don’t want any ‘doubting Thomas’ praying in critical situations. Doubting God, raising questions, pitting a doubting will against His perfect will, all have dire consequences that we’re apt to overlook in the midst of a crisis.

b. put your situation on prayer chains and in prayer circles. If you don’t know of any, contact me, I’ll send you a list. Many churches will add your prayer requests to their routine prayer circles. *see rule a. above

3. finally, and importantly, Watch Your Mouth!
Why? Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34-37 And by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned. Why? Where two or more are gathered together and agree as touching anything, there I am in the midst of them. Matthew 18:18-20 And spiritual principles apply whether in the positive (it will be done by my Father who is in Heaven) or in the negative. Satan has ears and hears, and agrees with the lies. The whole purpose of God’s ICU is to surround the patient, and their family, with God’s healing power. The enemy is going to come along and say, “surely you don’t believe God will do that for you today! Look what happened to so and so.” Don’t agree with the negative reports and suggestions.

So…am I telling you that you can throw away your meds, forget about the doctor’s suggested treatments, ignore medical science completely? Absolutely not. Our doctor is a believer, too. He uses his God given talents and abilities to heal the sick and help us whenever we need help. I believe God guides and directs our doctors hands and makes a way toward healing where there seems to be no way.

In ’05, when Dick was in the hospital on the oncology ward for ten days, the nurses who cared for him were Godly women, praying women. Caring women! He was surrounded with compassion and faith, almost without exception. The on-call urologist we ‘happened’ to get was also a believer. God can and does use those in the medical community to fit His design and purpose.

It’s just that when a crisis comes along – and they will – we all have them – taking the steps that God has shown to further His purpose just makes more sense to me than panic.

I hope and pray this will help you begin to take the steps.