For Physical or Emotional healing-Expectation is the Key
One of the hindrances to having expectation is being double-minded.
James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
- Do you want validation or sympathy?
If you are double-minded in this way, you may want freedom, but you are holding on to the problem at the same time. I am not saying those feelings aren’t normal-for an unbeliever, but since you ARE a believer in Jesus Christ, and understand that He came to set you free from the work of the enemy, your only desire should be to see God’s will done in your life, and glorify Him by putting away the needs and emotions of the old man which was crucified in Christ. Let the new man (your born again spirit) have his way by renewing your mind to this truth. Then your emotions will also begin to line up with God’s will and you won’t need empathy much less sympathy.
- Are you indulging the symptoms?
I’m not saying that whatever the symptoms might be aren’t real, or limiting you in some way, or are almost impossible to ignore. However, your belief in God’s will for you to be set you free should also set you against the symptoms so that you are not letting the devil lord them over you. Taking the authority Jesus has given you means resisting the problem and not giving place to the symptoms. Speak God’s truth about the situation and live to the best of your ability in that truth regardless of the limitations or symptoms. Continue to feed on the Word, and you’ll want to be free from anything the enemy is using against you!
- Do you want immediate relief or total freedom?
Wanting immediate relief is not the same as having the mindset of healing. Even when we know it is God’s will to heal us, we can be so focused on the immediate struggle, that we only believe Him to help us in the moment. Yes, we want the pain and suffering to leave right now, but if you are short-sighted ‘trying’ to get relief only, you most likely won’t stand long enough to defeat the enemy’s grasp on you even if the symptoms leave momentarily.
- Do you see faith as a work?
This is a common struggle for those that while they understand their healing is paid for by Jesus, they can’t rest in it and expect to receive. They feel that they need to do something to deserve it, earn it, or even work up their faith to get it. But faith simply responds to what one believes, and rest is a confident expectation that isn’t moved.
- Are you in an abiding relationship with God?
Receiving from God is not like an ATM machine, we put the card in and get our need met. Everything in the Kingdom of God comes by grace (God’s part) through faith (our part). But faith is a response to our confidence in God. This does not come by reading a scripture once. It comes from spending quality and quantity time with Him in the Word and in fellowship. When the Spiritual realm, what God says is true in the Spirit becomes more real to you than the symptoms, or the problem, then faith in God’s promises flow, and healing takes place!
Our expectation to be free is the key. And that comes from knowing your healing, or whatever else you need, is a gift that has already freely been given to you. All you need to do is reach out and take it. You must want it more than validation, sympathy, and even empathy. You cannot be willing to indulge the symptoms or your faith will not stand. And you must be willing to fight no matter how long or how difficult it is or the devil will push you to the brink of your breaking point every time. You must be convinced that healing is yours to take because it was paid for by the blood or Jesus.
Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7