GOD’S WORDS OF HEALTH (2)

“It will be HEALTH to your flesh, and strength to your bones” – Proverbs 3:8

It takes a Relationship founded on Faith to appropriate GOD’S WORDS of HEALTH: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eye; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be HEALTH to your flesh, and strength to your bones” (Pro.3: 5-8). Other versions of the Bible translate the word “strength” as ‘refreshment’ and ‘nourishment.’ Sound Health and Strength – refreshing and nourishment – are the results of a vibrant relationship with the Lord, which depends a great deal on the extent to which one cherishes His Words.

Here in Proverbs 3, Wisdom – personified by Christ – presents some fresh lessons and instructions to His children; as to not forget His doctrine, but heartily attend to His precepts and ordinances. He revealed the results of trusting in the Lord totally rather than dependence on oneself, acknowledging Him in everything and seeking direction from Him for every step; having the fear of God, and fleeing from evil. These Instructions of Wisdom, which come by God’s Word, are the means to peaceful and healthy living. The happiness or sense of fulfilment, profit, preciousness, pleasure, and usefulness that come from Wisdom are stated (vv.13-18).

WORDS are vital to HEALTH: “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the TONGUE of the WISE PROMOTES HEALTH” (Pro.12:18). Unkind words can pierce the heart like a sword, an instrument of death. A fool’s words are like the piercings of a sharp sword; a wise person’s words like HEALTH. Our words may inflict great harm. Foolish words may be harsh, lacking love, selfish, mean, angry, ungodly, or corrupt. They leave others to be emotionally drained, hateful, bitter, resentful, and scarred.

The tongue can hurt others or heal their anxieties and sorrows: “Anxiety in the heart of a man causes depression, but a GOOD WORD makes it glad” (Pro.12:25). Snide remarks, undue criticism, cursing, and false accusations hurt, and should not be uttered by believers (Col.4:6a). Proverbs 16:24 also says: “PLEASANT WORDS are like a honeycomb, SWEETNESS to the soul and HEALTH to the bones.” Do our words leave people bleeding or healing, wounded or strengthened, provoked or perfected?

In particular, GOD’S WORDS are critical to SOUND HEALTH. The Bible is the Source of Faith for Health: “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” (Pro.4:20-22). Such devoted attention to God’s Word should be the attitude of every Believer. The Word – heard, received, and believed – is health or medicine to our flesh. Medicine must however be administered, to be effective. Many people erroneously substitute belief in healing for actual taking of medicine – God’s Word.

No medicine works by simply believing in its efficacy. It must be intentionally and deliberately applied. There is no real profit derived from believing in food without eating it, or believing in water and not actually drink. God’s Word is a Healing and Health agent. Inherent in the Word is the power to effect Healing and sustain Health: “HE SENT HIS WORD and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psa.107:20). Medicine will work for whoever takes it. And, to be effective, medicine must be taken according to prescription. It’s the same with the medicine of God’s Word: It must be according to the Great Physician’s instructions.

It is only as God’s Words access the heart and abide that they produce Health in the body. To manifest Health, the medicine of God’s Words must penetrate to the spirit through meditation. The art of meditation includes: attending, hearing, muttering, musing, and pondering on the Word. Revelation knowledge of Words of Health must be accompanied by confessions of the same. However, just like it takes time for medicine to work, consistent and patient applications of the Word are required to produce enduring results.