As a Man Thinks In His Heart

Photo by Duo Chen on Unsplash

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.-Proverbs 23:7 

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. When I was a waitress, I trained waitstaff. I had to show them what to do, and then let them loose on their own to do it. They had to be able to see themselves as doing it though. If they didn’t think they could, then they wouldn’t.

When we first come to Jesus, he shows us what to do, and then we eventually do it. We have to see ourselves the way he sees us.

The disciples traveled around with him for three years. They watched him heal people. They heard the gospel. And they felt the love he shared.

After his ascension, and when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they began to do what He did. They preached the gospel. They healed people. And people felt the love they shared.

We are no different from them. We, who are born again, and have been baptized in the Holy Spirit can preach the Gospel. We can heal the sick. And we can communicate the love he shared.

He lives in us.

We have to see ourselves correctly. Just like the waitstaff I trained, we have to see ourselves doing those things.

Will we be perfect at first? No. Neither were the disciples. They did some more learning as they went. But they did it. And they did it like Jesus.

Jesus Heals by Danielle Hitchen

Jesus Heals by Danielle Hitchen is a board book about the healing ministry of Jesus for children. In the book, Hitchen retells the stories of healing found in the Gospels. There is a story for all the major parts of the body, head, ears, mouth, eyes, back, skin, legs, and body. She ends the book with the scripture found in 1 Peter 2:24. 

This is a very unique book. I don’t think I have ever seen a book about healing for children. And this one was very thorough. There are stories from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, including the raising of Lazarus from the dead. 

Mary fell at Jesus's feet and said, "Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Jesus went to the tomb and said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?...Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out."

-John 11:32, 40, 43-44

The illustrations that go with each story are soft and beautiful.  Each illustration also demonstrates the healing of the individuals found in the stories.

I really liked this book.  I love hearing the stories about Jesus healing people.  It demonstrates the goodness of God and who he is.  He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals us.

I recommend this book for parents of children of any age. Hearing about Jesus is what produces faith, and it is wonderful to teach them these truths when they are small, so they will know who he is and what he has done and is still doing.

Many blessings as you grow in the knowledge of him.
~Beth

To learn more about Jesus Heals, please visit Christianbook.com. 

Note: This post contains affiliate links from Christianbook.com. This means if you purchase one of these books after clicking on the link, I will generate a commission from that purchase. This does not influence my recommendation of the books.

Five Minute Friday: Willing

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes.  Today's word is  "willing"

And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him. While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.…-Luke 5:11-13 (Berean Study Bible)


I have been camping out in the book of Luke lately it seems. Luke was a doctor, and he is the author of this Gospel. When we read any kind of literary work, we should consider the author. The Gospels are co-authored, so to speak. Luke was moved by the Holy Spirit to write these words, the scriptures say. So, when we read this Gospel, it would behoove us to consider the vessel that wrote it, and the intention of the Lord in including this passage.

So, the disciples are with Jesus at this point, and Jesus is in one of the towns near/around Galilee. I would have to go back and read the full story, to figure out which town it was. And Luke was not present when this was written. It seems like I heard that Mary, Jesus’ mother, may have been the one to communicate this story to him.

This story says, a man came along who was covered in leprosy. He crossed Jesus’ path. We aren’t really told the circumstances of how he came along. He would have been considered unclean. The Jews wouldn’t have wanted him near them.

I feel like he had already heard about who Jesus was. I imagine this was a common event, for people to hear about Jesus and pursue him, especially those who were sick.

And then he calls him Lord. This was something you will see throughout by people who get healed by expressing their faith in Jesus. This is another one of those stories where people had heard something about Jesus, believed it, came to him, and were healed.

He did express the phrase, “If you are willing…” Maybe he didn’t know if leprosy was included in the list of things Jesus would heal. It was a skin disease that prohibited him from being around people, including his family. He was excluded, exiled, an outcast. Maybe he just needed that affirmation from Jesus, that he was indeed willing, for his faith to take off!

And Jesus expressed that he was indeed willing, but he touched him first. I haven’t noticed that before. He touches him first, which probably caused the man to exhale, an exhale of rest and faith. Because nobody was allowed to touch him.

And immediately the leprosy left him…Luke 5:13 (Berean Study Bible)

Five Minute Friday: Jesus Likes to Ask Questions

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes.  Today's word is  "question."

Begin 5 minutes.

Jesus likes to ask questions.  

A few times when he has spoken to me, it has been in the form of a question.  Why do you think He does that? Maybe because He wants us to come to realization of the answer for ourselves?

One day He asked the group of Pharisees a question, “Which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven, or rise up and walk?” (Luke 5)

That question was a huge question for us today.  It connects two things, forgiveness and healing.

Throughout the scripture, we see these things side by side.  In Isaiah 53, 1 Peter 2, Psalm 103, it is a repeated theme.

When the fall happened, sin and sickness entered in.  Everything began to die.

But when Jesus came, He took sin and sickness on His own body.  And everyone who believes in Him shall live.

My prayer is that we all would get a greater revelation of what Jesus did on the cross.  I pray that we would all see these two things connected, and gain a greater understanding.   I pray that we would understand that with forgiveness comes healing in every way.

He is still asking that question today, “Which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven or rise up and walk?”

End 5 minutes.

Five Minute Friday: Touch

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes.  Today's word is “Touch.”

“Just one touch,” she thought.  Her eyes surveyed the crowd. She must move quickly. There were so many people, and Jesus was moving. The crowds swayed like fields of grain in the wind or the ocean waves at night. It was smooth and slow, like a sweet, soft lullaby, and Jesus was at the center.

She kept repeating in her heart what she had heard about Jesus. “He is a healer. He loves the people. I am no different than them. If I can just get close.”

Suddenly, she saw a small break in the sway. She picked up her skirt as she was accustomed, trying not to touch anybody, but it was no use. The crowd was thick-too many people.

She was close enough to touch his shoulder, but then she remembered, the hem. The hem was where she must touch.

The son of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings the prophet had said. The blue thread. She knelt down slowly. It was better there. Maybe she could get away unseen, and not disturb the crowd.

She saw it. Now, to just reach out. She felt the fibers of the thread gently touch the tips of her fingers. Heat moved up her arm, and down into her stomach. Instantly the bleeding stopped. And so did Jesus.

A Foundation of Grace: Grace From the Touch of Jesus

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.  And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."-Matthew 8:1-4

Everyday I pray and ask the Lord what I should write about.  And everyday I feel like He gives me something.  Today is Matthew 8.

In Matthew 8, we have a story about a leper. We can learn a lot about Jesus through this man's story. 

In verse 1, it says great multitudes followed Him.  And then a leper came and worshiped Him.  The leper probably wasn't a part of the multitudes that day, because under the law, lepers were isolated from the rest of society.  When they were out in public, they were required to shout, "Unclean!" as they passed by so that others would know they had leprosy.

The man didn't shout, "Unclean!" that day, even though he may have been hiding from everyone else.  He came to Jesus, much like the woman with the issue of blood.  He had enough faith in Jesus, but still didn't make his presence known to everyone else, just like she did.

And he calls Jesus "Lord."  I love that.  You only see people who believed in Jesus doing that.  

Still uncertain of whether or not Jesus wanted to heal him, even though He knew He could, he says, 

Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.  

How many of us had said that to God in prayer?  I believe His will is that He is always willing.  Nowhere, not one place during the earthly ministry of Jesus do you see Him tell someone "no" or "wait" or "you are not ready" or "your sin keeps you from receiving my healing."  Nowhere.  He just heals people all the time, everywhere.  Because that is who He is.  He is the healer.

And immediately he is cleansed.  Immediately is one of my favorite words.

In this passage, neither Jesus nor the leper use the word sickness or healing though.  They used the word "clean" and "cleansed."  Those are lawful terms relating to sin.  That word "cleanse" is the same word found in 1 John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There is so much controversy around that scripture.  I believe that this is a salvation scripture.  I believe this is the scripture that demonstrates what happens to a person when they are born again. This is how a person becomes a Believer. If you look at the rest of 1 John 1, there is lots of discussion about darkness and light, and being in Him.  If you are in Jesus, the blood continuously cleanses you.  You don't need a repeat like the Israelites did yearly. That would put the burden of salvation back on you, and it's on Jesus now.

Back to Matthew 8.  Under the law, if you touched a person with leprosy, among other things, you would be considered unclean.  But with Jesus came grace, as we learned in John 1:17.  Jesus was a fulfillment of the law for every man and woman. So, when Jesus touched the man, grace was delivering healing and wholeness back to him.  

Then Jesus said something strange that I have always wrestled with.  He tells the man to tell no one, but the priest.  At first I just thought Jesus meant nobody, but after reading it again today and seeing that He could tell the priest, it made a little more sense. The man gets to tell the priest as a testimony.  As a testimony about Jesus.  As a testimony about the grace of God.  And the priest will examine the man and see for sure if he is clean.

Today, Jesus is our high priest, and we don't have to bring an offering or gift.  Jesus has already done it for us.  Because later on in that passage of scripture in Matthew 8:16-17,  Matthew echoes what Isaiah the prophet said in Isaiah 53:4,

...And He cast out the spirits with a word and healed ALL who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying " He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

Everything that happened for those in the Gospels is what happened for the Church with Jesus' death on the cross.  His earthly ministry was a picture of what is available to us, grace, forgiveness, and healing.

To read more in the series, please join me here, at A Foundation of Grace.

Faith Comes When You Hear About Grace

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.-Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. If you can see it, you don't need faith for it.

Oftentimes, when we talk about faith, people will feel condemned, like it is something they have to muster up. Faith comes when you hear something and believe it.

In Romans, Paul tells us how faith comes. So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.-Romans 10:17 (NLT)

In the Gospels, we see stories of people hearing about Jesus, and coming to Him. One of my favorites is about the woman with issue of blood. I especially like the story in Mark's Gospel.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”-Mark 5:25-34 (NKJV)


The Bible says she had been that way for a long time, twelve years. She hadn't been hearing about Jesus during that time. She had been looking for help elsewhere. But when she started hearing stories about Jesus, faith in Him arose in her heart. And she received her miracle.

But there is still one more piece that is a part of this story. Grace. That woman, under law, was not supposed to come in contact with other people. She was considered unclean. So, I believe that not only did she hear that Jesus would heal her. She heard that it was safe to be in His presence. She heard that He would not condemn her but love her. She heard that she was forgiven for whatever was potentially holding her in bondage. She heard that He was a healer.

So, that's what we need to hear, stories about Jesus, stories that build our faith in Him, and what He has done for us. We need to hear stories of His grace for us and that He is a healer.

We don't need to hear people's opinions, or about ourselves-those things aren't faith builders. We need to hear about Jesus, just like she did, just like it says in Romans 10:17 and that will change what we believe.

We need to hear it until it roots up all the weeds. We need to heart it until it becomes as real as the next breath we take.

You and I are no different than that woman with the issue of blood. He is saying the same things to you as He did to hear. "Daughter, your faith has made you well. God in peace and be healed of your affliction."


For by grace you have been saved (sozo-saved, healed, preserved, rescued ) through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,-Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

31 Days of Healing: Grace Causes Healing to Flow

The southern pool of the pools of Bethesda and fifth porch as seen from the south.

Photo courtesy of Lightstock and BiblePlaces.com.

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.-John 5:1-15 (NKJV)


I might like this story a little bit.  This makes the second time I have written about it in my series on 31 Days of Healing.  You can find the other post here.

This passage of Scripture has been a little confusing for me in the past, and I think for some other people as well. But recently, I looked at it again, and things I believe are significant opened up to me. I want to share those with you today.

It is important to note the setting of the event. We are told that the man is at the pool of Bethesda. The word "Beth" in Hebrew means "house." And the word "hesed" has multiple meanings including mercy, love, grace and kindness. So, the man was at a pool named "The house of grace." Also, the Bible says that there were 5 porches there. Five is also the number of grace in the Bible.

The sick man in this passage of Scripture had been that way a really long time, 38 years. That is longer than Jesus had been alive. Some people have surmised that he could have made it into the water if he wanted it badly enough. That may have been why Jesus asked him, "Do you want to be made well?" Because some people don't want to.

His answer though suggests he didn't have anybody to help him. He was just there. At this point in my walk, I don't think it is as significant to wonder why he hadn't been healed by being in the water already. However, I think it is very important that we examine how or why he got healed when Jesus came into the picture. I think this story is painted for us by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate how we can get healed too.

The man didn't know who Jesus was. So, it wasn't his faith in Jesus that healed him, like we see in other stories. But his story does have something in common with some of the other stories we are told about Jesus- freedom from the law.

Repeatedly we see Jesus healing people on the Sabbath. That made the religious leaders so mad, because they did not think Jesus could be from God because He was "breaking the law." He didn't come to break the law, but free us from it. In John 5, Jesus tells the man to pick up his mat and walk. It was unlawful for Jews to carry their sleeping mats on the Sabbath, because it was considered work. When Jesus said that to him, he was made well immediately! Immediately. I love that word. Immediately that man was freed from the power of the law, and Jesus put him under grace instead.

Grace causes healing to flow. It causes forgiveness and it causes healing. Throughout the Scriptures we see these two side by side, forgiveness and healing.

Jesus came to bring grace, and to remove us from living under the law. The Bible says that,

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),-Galatians 3:13 (NKJV)

Everything that Jesus did during His earthly ministry was a picture of what would be available to us as New Testament Believers.

As New Testament Believers, we are not under the law, but under grace. And grace is what causes healing to flow.

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.-Romans 6:14(NKJV)

31 Days of Healing: The Lord's Supper, Part 2

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.-1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NKJV)

In 1 Corinthians 11, the Apostle Paul is writing to the Church at Corinth.  He is explaining to them the Lord's Supper and addressing some different issues they were having when coming together to participate in the Lord's Supper together. I want to just focus on verses 23-26.

Paul tells the Church in this city that "he received from the Lord."  That means that Jesus told Paul what He said to the disciples that night he shared the Lord's supper with them.   Jesus told Him.  I find that really cool that the Lord would illuminate Paul on His exact words.

So, Jesus tells Him that He prays, takes bread and breaks and gives it to them.  He tells them that this is His body which is broken for them.  Why would His body be broken for them?  I go into detail about that in Part 1 of the Lord's Supper.  You can read that here.  But, to be brief, it was for the physical healing of our bodies.

Next, Jesus takes the cup, and tells them, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood."  The new covenant means they are no longer under the old. His death and the shedding of His blood would move them into the new. His blood was shed much from the time the rulers and authorities took Him, until His death on that cross.  Blood rolled out of His hands and feet. He was the lamb of God, put to death for our forgiveness.

Then He tells them and later relays to Paul that they are to do eat the same kind of meal "in remembrance of Him."  They are to eat the bread and drink the cup.  They are to eat the bread and drink the cup to remember Him, to remember the broken body for their healing, and the shed blood for the forgiveness of their sins.

Nowhere in this passage of scripture does Jesus or Paul tell us to confess our sins. Nowhere in this passage of scripture does Jesus or Paul tell us to ask for forgiveness for our sins.  It has already been given.

The Lord's Supper is a reminder of what He did.  

He finishes the explanation with,

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

These words give us insight into the Lord and what this is all about.  For as often...He wants us to do this regularly.  Eat the bread and drink the cup.  You remember the broken body and the blood.  In doing this, you are proclaiming His death, His broken body, and His shed blood for you. 

You are not proclaiming your sin.  You are proclaiming your freedom from it!  You are proclaiming your forgiveness!  You are proclaiming your healing!

I pray that the next time you go to this you will experience more freedom and healing than you ever have before. 

Many blessings in Him,

Beth

To read more in the series go here:

31 Days of Healing: ALL Things Are Possible!

The enemy of our souls is a liar.  He will tell you your situation is hopeless, that it is over, and this is just not true. There are many men and women whose stories tell us that nothing is ever hopeless with Jesus.

*The man born blind from birth was healed by Jesus. He instantly received his sight.

When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated Sent.) So he went and washed, and came back seeing.-John 9:6-7(NKJV)

*The woman bleeding for 12 years was healed.  Her blood flow instantly stopped when she touched Jesus.

When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.-Mark 5:27-29 (NKJV)

*The man at the pool of Bethesda who hadn’t walked for 38 years was immediately healed by Jesus.

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.-John 5:8-9 (NKJV)

*Malchus’ ear was instantly restored by Jesus after Peter cut it off with a sword.

And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.-Luke 22:50-51 (NKJV)

*The man laid at the Temple Gate called Beautiful who was lame from his mother’s womb was instantly healed.

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God.  And all the people say him walking and praising God.-Acts 3:6-9 (NKJV)

*The man at Lystra who had been a cripple from his mother’s womb was instantly healed after hearing Paul preach.

And in Lystra, a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.  This man heard Paul speaking.  Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!”  And he leaped and walked.-Acts 14:8-10 (NKJV)

*The widow of Nain’s son was raised from the dead.

The He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He presented him to his mother.-Luke 7:14-15 (NKJV)

*Jairus’ daughter was raised from the dead.  

Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.  And they were overcome with amazement.-Mark 5:41-42 (NKJV)

*Tabitha was raised from the dead.

Then Peter arose and went with them.  When he had come, they brought him to the upper room.  And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.  But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed.  And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.  And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.  Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.-Acts 9:39-42 (NKJV)

All of these will tell you it is not hopeless. Nothing is ever hopeless.  It isn’t over until you are in the ground, and then Lazarus would tell you otherwise.

All things are possible to him who believes.  Keep fighting.  Keep believing.  Don’t give up.  God is faithful. Your answer is found in JESUS.

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”-Mark 9:23

To read more in the series go here: