I'm taking a risk by sharing these thoughts, because I'm venturing into an area of which I am no expert and really, only an observer. But, I'm trying to figure out what the Lord wants to teach me, so I need to do a little processing.
Since I've come to Latvia, I've been struck by the desperate need for people to experience God's healing power from addictions. Of course, my immediate American solution was to build an Adult Rehabilitation Center. It's still a dream of mine, but recently the Lord has been bringing stories into my thinking which challenge me to consider that maybe He has other ideas. First I read a book that Zoe shared with me about a women in Hong Kong who worked with gangs and especially drug addicts. Her stories are of dozens of young lives drastically changed, often instantly, by prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. And I think - why doesn't that happen more often? Then I just finished Jim Cymbala's Fresh Power. His approach is almost opposite the Hong Kong one, but the results are the same. People are dramatically saved from all kinds of addictions by prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. And again I think - why doesn't that happen more often?
I don't intend to offer solutions here or even hint that I have the answers. And I am not promoting one method or the other. In fact, I found both books to be weak in some areas. I am just sharing the process the Lord is taking me through. Which leads me to my Bible reading this week in Luke 8. This chapter is full of stories of Jesus' power to heal from a variety of deseases, physical and spiritual and cause miraculous things to happen in a variety of ways. Here's what struck me yesterday and again as I was reading this morning - each time Jesus healed or calmed the sea, His approach was simple and fairly unemotional. (OK, the swine herd was a bit dramatic.) There was no magic formula, no special words that were repeated every time or even singular method for how He 'touched' the needy person. It is the result that is always the same, people are instantly healed and lives are changed forever.
And again I ask, why doesn't that happen more often here and now (where ever you are?)
2 comments:
Good question! For centuries, all the church has was prayer, and people were healed from all kinds of things. I'm completely ignorant in this conversation because I don't have much experience with addictions or treatment or anything like that, but I do think we sometimes put our faith in programs rather than prayer. I gotta think a little more about this one.
This is the second time in two days I have told someone that I just read in Yuill's book THIS MEANS WAR about an alcoholic (and other addicts) being advised to "merely" call on the power of the Name of Jesus when tempted.
I'm still hurting over a terrible failure on my part to help someone (in our last appointment in America) overcome addiction.
So, I'm in the exact same place you are on the subject, but at least we're both thinking about it!
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