Let God's Word Work Its Medicine In Your Emotions

Let God’s Word Work Its Medicine in Your Emotions

(Proverbs 4:22,23)

Today, so many people are hurting with emotional pain, put-downs, feelings of fear and anger. People who are hurt tend to want to hurt others. What a joy to know that He heals the broken-hearted and sets the captives free. He makes those of us who are emotionally lame to walk with restored souls and causes those with limited perspectives to see with hope, love and healing.

Illustration: The Bible isn’t a psychology textbook, but it gives us the wisest counsel for experiencing happiness here and now. Proverbs 17:22, for example, assures us that "a merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."

That simple statement was recently corroborated by the extensive research of Dr. Daniel Mark, a heart specialist at Duke University. The New York Times article that reported his findings carried this headline: "Optimism Can Mean Life for Heart Patients and Pessimism Death." The article begins with these words: "A healthy outlook helps heal the heart."

But Dr. Nancy Frasure-Smith, a heart specialist who has studied the effect of depression, anxiety, and anger, admitted, "We don’t know how to change negative emotions."

Faith in God, however, can produce that change. People who look beyond their present difficulty and put their trust in God’s goodness cannot help but be joyful.

It’s significant that our Savior said on several occasions, "Be of good cheer" (Matthew 9:2,22; 14:27; Acts 23:11). Knowing that life is filled with many crises, He encourages us with this word of reassurance: "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). —Vernon Grounds

All your anxiety, all your care

Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus. —Joy

No matter what happens, you can find joy in the Lord

(Our Daily Bread)

God’s Word is medicine — for any weakness or sickness in body, mind, finances, family, marriage, etc.

Whatever sickness or disease you suffer from, God’s Word can cure it. God’s Word is effective for any condition. It works as a preventative as well as a cure. There is no cost and no danger of taking an overdose.

1. Like any medicine, God’s Word must be taken to be effective. It will not work sitting on the shelf. And it has to be taken according to the directions.

But if you will follow God’s directions as faithfully as you would follow the directions of a human doctor, you will see wonderful results.

Follow the prescription for emotional healing, restoration and reoccurence of hurt:

PROVERBS 4:20-23 NKJ

20 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;

22 For they are life to those who find them, and health (medicine)to all their flesh.

23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs is filled with medicinal prescriptive cures for emotional, mental and spiritual pain:

A. You will gain a buoyed outlook on life that springs out of God’s hope instead of fearfulness. "The fear of the wicked will come upon him and the desire of the righteous will be granted." (Prov 10:24)Let the word of God help you fully appropriate the truth that He is the glory and the lifter of your head. For He is strength and shield, a very present help in the time of trouble. So you do not have to fear though the seas rage and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. You can drink from the never failing river of life that flows from the Holy Spirit that lives within you. (John 7:38) Jesus said, "He who believes in me from His inner-most being will flow rivers of living water."

B. You will be showered with blessings instead of violence, destruction and hurtful speech. "Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked." (Prov. 10:6)Thank God for the ability to expect great things from God so you can attempt great things for God as William Carey did in inspiring tens of thousands to begin the modern missionary movement.

C. You will persevere against evil of all kinds instead of being brought down by calamity. "For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity." (Prov. 24:16)Thank God for the ability to be resilient and bounce back from emotional let downs.

D. You will gain a greater respect for yourself as well as from others by walking in the way of His word instead of allowing circumstances or others to lead you into sin. "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard." (Prov. 16:14,15)Thank God you will be given an unending supply of energy, enabling and sustaining strength to do whatever God asks you to do with the help of Christ who gives you the strength and power.