“For I will restore health to you, and heal your wounds, because they have called you an outcast, for whom

no one cares.” Jeremiah 30:17

Yesterday at Celebrate Recovery, I shared a devotion called “healing is not stationary”. I'd like to share it with all of us this week. 

The words “heal” and "healing" imply that healing comes through intentional practice and continual application. Because healing is a verb, the journey forward may look different for each of us, but it always involves consistent effort from each of us.

The problem begins when we treat healing as if we have reached a destination. It's more of a stead progression. Healing is an ongoing process of showing up for yourself.

We get on a stationary bike and go nowhere. Stagnant water over time becomes infected with pollutants. I’m concerned that too many of us treat our hurts, habits and hangup in stagnant water, filled with the polluted thoughts of our past and with the poisonous feelings about ourselves.

In some instances healing is not like a cut that healed without a scar. We all have a sinful nature that works to open our wounds. That old nature can linger in the bloodstream of the soul. You see, our corrupted nature always tries to steer us to sin, drive us to doubt, and shackle us with shame.

A sure sign that our healing is stationary is when we wander in the wilderness of our wounds instead of progressing toward the promised land of freedom. 

There is a battle going on right now for our mind. And the truth is, whoever controls our thoughts controls our ongoing healing! If Satan and shame control our thinking then there’s really no hope, but if God controls our thinking then healing is powerful process. God is the giver of freedom and security. Satan is the guardian of stagnation and insecurity.

The river of regret is long, the lake of lies is deep, but the refreshing stream of grace is so healing to our soul.

Never forget that healing is linked to trusting the presence of God in our hurts and following Him through the unknown journey of life.

If you think that healing is accomplished by simply erasing the past pains, you will not experience healing as a forward thinking journey. Healing is better experienced when, for the rest of our lives, we exercise authority, through our relationship with Christ, over our past pain, our haunting hurts and the wounding words. 

God bless your healing!

Pastor Dave