The Bible asks us to NOT be conformed to the pattern of this world’s thinking.
Today we look at 4 areas that can keep us stuck in our thinking whilst on a healing journey. I believe the woman with the issue of blood needed to change her thinking in these areas in order to receive her healing.
- Self-righteousness
- Not knowing God’s love
- Condemnation
- Victimhood
I pray this post will help you identify if any of these areas are keeping you stuck a little as you believe God for healing.
DO NOT BE CONFORMED
The world will teach us to feel bad about ourselves when we don’t tick the right boxes.
I know with many people with long term illness, there’s a condemnation if you’re unable to work or do the things that other people can do.
When illness seems unending it’s common to loose friends who are busy moving on with their own lives; again causing us to feel unloved, left out and not quite good enough.
Whilst non of this is our fault, if we’re not careful, these experiences can cause us to stay stuck, listening to the ‘inner-critic’, our internal personal pharisee!
(Image: Rebekah Ballagh Journey to Wellness)
But God wants us to not be conformed to the pattern of this world’s thinking.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Rom 12:2
Let me introduce you to an incredible woman who overcame worldly thinking in 4 crucial areas and positioned herself for her miracle.
1. PLACE GRACE ABOVE LAW
In order to receive her healing her heart was in alignment with grace and not law.
This woman with the issue of blood was Jewish so obedience was all she knew; it was probably quite hard for her to ‘break’ levitical law but she knew she had to in order to receive.
(The law at that time stipulated that those with a flow of blood were unclean and therefore not allowed in public)
The woman broke out of the religious programming and elevated grace the day she pushed past the crowds to reach Jesus. I don’t think we can receive if we have legalistic thinking.
I’m talking about self-righteousness
We cannot earn God’s favour or his healing through more praying, fasting, tithing or obeying the Bible perfectly; this is self-righteousness which only leads to striving, comparison and frustration.
Perhaps you think God ‘should’ heal you because of your obedience? I would say this falls under the category of self-righteousness. (Or maybe you think God won’t heal you because of all your mistakes?)
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Gal 5:4
Healing is all about what Jesus has done for us, not what we need to do for Him.
Stop and take a stock check; Is there any part of your belief system that is relying on self? Where are you not receiving God’s grace? What ‘shoulds’ are you believing?
2. RECEIVE THE LOVE OF GOD
In order to activate faith we need to ‘know and believe’ the love God has for us, 1 John 4:16. In fact faith is null and void if we don’t know the love of God. Gal 5:6
The woman with the issue of blood believed in the goodness of God; that He loved her and wanted her well.
In all honestly, I believe this was hard for a religious Jew, conformed to the law.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.
Eph. 3:14.
Healing is part of grace; and knowing God’s love gives us access to His grace; it’s our empowerment. Not all Christians have received the love of God. I know that’s true, because I was one of them!
Perhaps you feel God doesn’t love you because you’ve been ill for many years or that God just isn’t answering your prayers.
Everything in this woman’s world tells her that God is distant, unloving and angry but she knew she had to step out of this thinking and break the legalistic strongholds.
To be transformed in the area of God’s love is the first step in a healing journey.
See RECEIVE THE FATHER’S HEAR: STEP 1 IN HEALING
I believe the incredible woman had a massive revelation of God’s love. She knew that God was the solution to her situation, the gateway to her dreams, the freedom to her bondage.
How do you sense the love of God? Do you feel God is a million miles away? Or is He your intimate daddy God?
Here are some verses to start you off:
Zephaniah 3:17, Jeremiah 31:3, John 3:16, 1 John 4:16
3. DEVELOP SELF-COMPASSION
I wonder if the woman with the issue heard about how Jesus pronounced ‘no condemnation’ to the woman caught in adultery? Maybe she took those words for herself.
Her illness evoked shame and disgust. The most personal part of her body classed as diseased. If we’re not careful we can allow the world to feed inferiority and lack of self-worth.
I wonder if you feel shame when you think about how illness has forced you to live; the loss of so many years and the restrictions and limitations on life.
(Image: Rebekah Ballagh Journey to Wellness)
Do you feel ‘less than’ or ‘not good enough’ as a result? This is shame talking.
Do you have a good opinion of yourself or are you conformed to thoughts of shame?
The legalistic thinking of her community caused emotional distress and a stigma greater than her condition.
The antidote to shame and condemnation is the love of God and self-compassion. When we meditate upon the love of God and his forgiveness towards us, we learn to love ourselves.
See WHY FEELING UNWORTHY OF GOD’S LOVE HINDERS HEALING.
In order to receive healing, you must believe that you are worthy, lovable, accepted and deserving.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them
1 John 4:16
Ask yourself ‘Where is condemnation showing up in my world?’ Is with certain people or situations? What triggers you into feeling bad about yourself?
It is in these areas you need to be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
Try meditating on 1 John 4:17, Philippians 1:6, Isaiah 41:10
4. SEE YOURSELF AS A VICTOR
The Bible says we are overcomers, victors and ‘more than conquerors’. This is our identity in Christ. We are the head and not the tail.
The Woman with the issue of blood was no victim. She showed no signs of self-pity even though her circumstances were against her.
I imagine she lived a desolate life, away from other people.
She lived with rejection and ‘uncleanness’ from the world. Doctors couldn’t help her, she had no worldly hope. Her future and her dreams all gone.
In the world, our minds can be conformed towards the negative. In her shoes, most people would feel sorry for themselves but this incredible woman overcame the temptation to spiral down into self-pity.
(Image: Rebekah Ballagh Journey to Wellness)
Are you conformed to the worldly thinking of victimhood? Do you need to step out of this programming and allow God to transform you into who He says you are?
How different would your healing journey be, if you chose to disallow the law to steal any more of your life?
To receive the love of God to such an extent that His love overpowers any sense of judgment either from yourself or others and really walk in the freedom of who you are in Christ.
God loves you and wants you well but it comes with surrendering any external or legalistic thinking telling you you’re not worthy.
Are you unconsciously conformed in any of these 4 areas? What is your next step?
I hope this helps you today.
God bless
There are other posts in the series. Have you read