A Hurting Word...
"Doctor Mom" is usually in charge of first aid at our home! But today "Doctor Mom" needed someone to doctor her! A skin irritation, resulting from a chemical spray and too much yard-weeding, has had me crawling the walls with discomfort! But I've not been alone.For as my husband sped to the pharmacy for me, my Web friends crawled along with me, providing a listening ear, helpful tips (all the way from goo to gumbo!), and alot of prayers. (And by the end of this paragraph, your skin may be crawling too--sorry 'bout that--but thanks for empathizing with me...silly grin...!!)
First aid for the body is fairly easy to find! First aid for the heart? That's another story. For when a heart is wounded, badly bruised and broken, or just barely beating at all, there's only one place for us to go....won't you come with me to the Well? "The Great Healer" is waiting there, just for you today!
A Helping Word...or Two!
Wounded by a friend?...HE was...Jesus Christ was wounded "in the house of his friends!" Those He loved, served, and ministered to broke His heart--Peter denied him; Judas betrayed him; the crowd crucified him. In the midst of it all, He opened not His mouth. He retained a quiet, peaceful spirit, as they broke his heart. But it was not in vain, thank God--for you see, HE knows what you're going through. He was wounded for YOU--and He now lives in resurrection power to give you peace! Peace for a broken heart; peace for a disturbed spirit. Here's HIS first aid for you today--apply it; it works!
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27 KJV)."
Wounded by a foe?..HE was...Jesus Christ was attacked fiercely by the enemy of His soul, as Satan attempted to thwart God's Will and plan of salvation. He tempted, taunted, and tried our Lord in the wilderness; the wounds of the enemy were deep and hurtful. But in the midst of it all, He held His ground. With grace unlimited, He withstood every dart of the enemy. Hurtful? Yes, but not fatal, and NOT in vain, thank God--for you see, HE knows what you're going through. He was wounded for YOU--and He now lives in resurrection power to give you grace! Grace for the journey; healing for every wound by the foe. Here's HIS first aid for you today--apply it; it works!
"For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrrews 4:15,16 KJV)."
Wounded by the world?...HE was...Jesus Christ was wounded deeply by a world which despised and rejected Him. He left a splendored world to bring love and salvation to a sinful world--and they didn't want it. He fed them, healed them, loved them, and they yelled, "Crucify Him!" Yes, it broke His heart--but it was NOT in vain, thank God--for you see, HE knows what you're going through. He was wounded for YOU--and He now lives in resurrection power to give you love. Love that wraps itself around YOUR broken heart; love that heals, and sends YOU forth to serve a hateful, hurting world. Here's HIS hwlp for you today--apply it; it works!
"O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee; but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it, that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them (John 17:26 (KJV)."
The Wounded One, "The Great Healer", pours the oil on YOUR wounds--the oil of peace, grace, and love flow today in boundless supply to meet your need. And where do we find that supply? In His Word, at His throne, and with His saints! For just as the natural body heals itself, the Body of Christ loves, supports, and encourages one another. Thank God for His Word and the access you have to His throne through prayer; then thank Him too for faithful Christian friends who embrace you; who are servants of the Lord to minister His first aid to the wounds of your heart.
And that's the purpose of the Well! Week after week, letters come into my mailbox from around the world, and I thank God you are touched and blessed. A faithful visitor to the WELL, a dear friend, shared with me "The Cry of a Wounded Heart!--her original poetry, and the inspiration for this devotional. I am delighted to share it with you! May the Lord use it to bless and heal YOUR heart--and hers!
And that's just a word or two--from my heart to yours!
His Healing Word
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted...to comfort all that mourn...to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirt of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting fo the Lord, that he might be glorified (Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV)."
"Lord, I bring my wounded heart to You today. I need peace, grace and love--I need healing. Pour on the oil--I receive it! Now send me forth to heal my world! In Jesus' Name, Amen."
