In light of the day’s reading, pause to reflect on the specific areas you long to see made new and how Jesus’s ministry calls us to join in that restoration. Let these shape your prayers today.
Jesus met pain, tears, and suffering with compassion, empathy, and relational and physical healing. So we respond to those in distress with dignity, compassion, and empathy, lamenting with those who grieve and honoring those who suffer toward the promised end, when God will comfort His people.
After you’ve read, spend some time in prayer about your call to reflect Christ’s comfort and healing toward others. Comment/share with the community anything that stood out to you or encouraged you from the reading or your time in prayer.
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59 thoughts on "A Ministry of Healing"
I feel like today’s readings are highlighting the importance of meeting people where they are and loving them and being with them regardless of what stage of life they are in!
As a teacher I find myself enthralled in an area of dislike, discontentment, and misery. I feel led to change this first with myself allowing others to see how changing our hearts to reflect God’s love can impact our community.
I am also a teacher and I feel the same way! We can be the influence! ❤️
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I believe that just as Jesus met pain, tears, and suffering with compassion, empathy, and healing, so should we respond to those in distress. It’s about dignifying their experiences, offering empathy, and walking alongside them in their grief. We honor those who endure suffering, recognizing their strength and resilience. And through it all, we look forward to the promised comfort that God will provide to His people. It’s a calling to embody Christ’s love and compassion in our interactions, especially during times of difficulty and sorrow.
John reminds us of the old command to love one another, highlighting Cain as an example of one who failed to do this and murdered his brother out of envy. Instead of following Cain’s example, believers must be ready to lay down their lives for each other, demonstrating love not merely in words but in actions and truth.
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Dear Lord Jesus. I thank you that you suffered and died in my place. By the stripes of Jesus I am healed. I pray that you Heal and these Dear Sisters in Christ! Show them your Glory Lord Jesus! Pour out Your Love! Let them know you are Restorimh thier souls. We run to you Lord Jesus! We ask you to Help us. Deliver us. Save us! Set us Free Lord Jesus! You are our Healer! Make us Whole! Give us Peace. Heal our Hearts! We cast all our cares on you! For you care for us! Let Your Kingdom come your will be done in and through our lives. In Jesus mighty name we pray! Amen!
Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:18 Little Children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and truth.
This little bit was shown by an amazing teacher whom I worked with and lost his battle to cancer this past week. I only had the privilege to work with him for the past 6 months, but his impact will be for a lifetime. His love for his students and the school was more than just words but in his action of coming back as many times as he could to teach our kids. Truly a light to the world, one of the most positive and wonderful people, blessed to have known him, and thankful he can now live in “peace” with our Lord.
What stood out to me is that we know love because Jesus laid down His life for us and that God is greater than our hearts. When we lose our confidence in our faith and in humanity God shows us that He is greater. He gave us His Spirit to help us when we are in need of His guidance. And we know the greatest truth about loving our neighbor because Jesus laid down His life for us. He begged for forgiveness on our behalf even as He was dying. What an amazing God and Savior we have!!
@Adrainne love your comment about when we lose our confidence in our faith God shows us he is stronger. AMEN! When in almost lost my dad my faith was very drained at the time my friend was just saying how she felt like God wasn’t there for her anymore. She lost her faith because of her job situation and was very frustrated little did she know that God would open a new job opportunity for her four months after her current job started to fail. What a great thing. She also went elk hunting recently and has never seen a bull elk or even had the chance to take one. She said on her way there. She was frustrated with God and said God if you’re real show up as a bull elk this weekend. Well, guess what happened? She shot her first bull elk!what a great reminder that God is always with us even when our confidence is lacking
Kimberly Z thanks for sharing this. I’ve really been struggling with my faith recently and I loved hearing about how God answered your friend’s prayers
Oh, INDIANA ELAINE… this preschool teacher needed to hear that today. Keep us posted on Steve’s surgery.
And, DONNA WOLCOTT… how very neat… the meaning of the sweatshirt!
Sleep well tonight, sweet sisters (and that includes YOU, GWINETH52!) ❤️
What a ministry it is to sit and weep with someone, or to purely share in their rejoicing with no jealousy. This is one of the most important things we can do as the body of Christ, I think. Just tonight a friend who was unable to bear children of her own told me that she and her husband leaned into the practice of rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. I believe in this too….but sometimes it’s too heavy to carry the emotional burden of so many people’s experiences, and also have compassion for the world more generally.
Catherine McVey – I am praying that you have a mild case of Covid, and that you and your husband recover fully and quickly. I’m sorry your stem cell transplant had to be delayed. I’m praying it can be rescheduled soon, and that it is successful in bringing healing.
K C – thank you for bringing the tragedy of uncaring around the Covid pandemic that is currently killing at least 2,000 people per week. It’s heartbreaking. My heart was broken almost three years ago when my mom died from it in April 2021, just when we were being told the pandemic was winding down. I was dumbfounded at how many people acted as if it was no big deal. People who said, “But don’t you think she really died from something else?” People who said they didn’t know anyone who died from it or even know anyone who had lost someone to it. Of course, there were wonderful people who expressed their sorrow and offered sympathy. It hurts to know that 8,000 families a month are still facing the horror of losing a loved one to this pandemic. May we show God’s love to those experiencing such grief. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” I pray God uses me to comfort those who mourn.
I feel like I’ve been looking to the world and temporary things to fill the void in my heart and find healing. I’m trying to focus on Jesus more and know that he is the only one who can truly heal my heart and fulfill all of my longings. I’ve been struggling with more anxiety than usual, and I have been just asking the Lord to help me feel more of his presence.
Reading Tina‘s story made me think about a former student in my school. His mother was lost to drugs, and his grandmother died of a brain aneurysm in his arms within a few months of each other prior to these horrific events, he had already given up on school and plans to drop out in the future, I got an update this week that said he was living with his high school girlfriend and he’s only in seventh grade. His situation seems impossible, but as Tina reminded us, BUT God. The seeds we sow today in his light grow as others water it and God watches it and ultimately Saves it!
Asking for prayers for my dad. He has had Psoriatic arthritis for 10+ years and now needs a new medication that will work for him to stop his joints from deteriorating and the pain. He has been in incredible pain for 4+ months now and he needs relief very soon. Praying for his complete healing. I know God is able to heal him even without medication.
Lord, I ask you to heal him here and now in whatever way You want. I ask for Your divine intervention in his life. Through his doctors and whoever You may use.
In Jesus’ name.
1 John 3:16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
We know love when we know God because God is love.
May I know God more and more and reflect His love to others everyday.
Happy Monday! What a great reminder about the lords comfort and healing for us. I am always so grateful for the comfort the lord has brought me during good times and in bad. It has really strengthened my heart. @Sarah D – praying you can make the best decision for you!
So much good in today’s readings.
Colossians 3:12-13 Talking about the Christian life. Reminds us to forgive just a Jesus forgives us. To put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Let us not love in word, but in action!
@Cee Gee thanks for sharing. The heart is something I have been dumbfounded by for years- what a great takeaway! @Tina I love hearing Gods action in your life!!! It is a beautiful testament to what He is capable of- thanks for taking the time to share with us the wonders of His love!!! God heals our hearts through Jesus- we cannot do it alone! Lord help me to lean in, dig deeper, and walk in obedience! ☮️❤️ peace and love sisters! Happy Monday!
Thank you, Tina, for your beautiful story. I had something similar happen to me a few weeks ago.
A student from 35 years ago got in touch with me through Linked In. He asked if I remembered him. I said yes, that he spent lots of time in my room after school. He said that was because he had such a rotten home life that he did not want to go home. We spent lots of time talking. Then he told me his life story. He had gone through a divorce, then his wife poisoned his kids against him so he lost his whole family. He sunk into a deep depression and started using drugs. He was in a deep dark place. He hated himself so badly that he would spit at himself in the mirror. He had many health issues, stroke and heart attack. He tried to take his life, but did not succeed. One night he had a dream that there was this man (Jesus) sitting under a tree and he motioned for him to come to Him. He went over to him. The next thing he knew, his head was in His lap and He was stroking his hair. He said it was like it really happened. He could literally feel the strokes. When he awoke, all heaviness was gone and he felt like a new person. He called to tell me he had found his way back to the Lord and he now had a church family. We both were crying!!
Teachers, you never know what happens to the seeds that you are planting!!
Since this happened he has had his identity stolen, lost his job as the business closed, and has been diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm. He will have surgery soon, but it filled with lots of fear as his mother died on the operating table from the same thing. Please keep Steve in your prayers.
Meme Faye, AGREE!! I thought the same thing this morning as I read Colossians 3:12. As I work in education and work with elementarty students, its important to respond to the children and even the teachers and staff with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience
As I was reflecting on todays passages, I was thinking of 1 Corinthians 13:13 Now these things remain: faith, hope, and love but the greatest of these is LOVE.
Have a wonderful morning and blessed week.
And to all my Shes on the western US especially my Southern California neighbors stay safe and dry this week <3
Good morning sisters, I joined you in prayer as I read along.
Nicole F. loved your comment
Sarah D. prayer that the Lord show you what decision to make and feel better soon.
Tina, that was a blessed outcome.
Wanted to share, this weekend I visited my son and family out-of-state. His teenage daughter had on a sweatshirt with symbols and I asked what it meant. G>^V, “God is greater than the Highs and Lows”. Do I hear an AMEN! Blessings.
Col 3:12-13. These verses spoke to me about how we are to respond to others. Not judging, or getting frustrated when they let us down but showing them grace.
Oh Tina! What a blessing! To have Heidi return AND bring someone with her who needed what you were offering!
But God…
And Stephanie Wilsey – I feel the same! In the past I have made excuses for not always jumping on the Meal Train for someone…And now that I am Steve’s main caregiver and could sure use a meal or two…Boy do I feel convicted! Don’t get me wrong…there are people we have helped. But I could have done more.
This was a good lesson this morning!
Prayers for all the requests and hugs to all ❤️
Apologies for commenting before reading your comments today.
KRYSTAL LORENZO, Your comment goes so well with mine! Love your observation. ❤
TINA – What a double, no triple because you said there’s more to come later [wink, wink], blessing! ❤
SEARCHING – Yes, Lord…amen! ❤
LOVED today’s reading! Ran out of time as I slept in an extra MUCH NEEDED 15 minutes. Since everyone was mentioning about Tina’s comment I had to read it myself. TINA…..this is SO WONDERFUL!! I love, love, love how God works!! So BEAUTIFUL! OUR GOD is so good for sometimes allowing us (you) to see a seed that was planted, GROW.
Happy Monday sweet She’s. Though I slept a tad over 7 hours, I still woke up tired and wanting to sleep more. Please pray as I need strength for more testing these sweet little kindergartners!
”Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, PUT ON compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,“
Colossians 3:12 CSB
Another version read, “clothe yourself with…”
A reminder that we have to put on these attitudes just like we get dressed every morning!! Have a great day SRT sisters! ❤️
Let us not love with words or speech but with action in truth. God is truth. Jesus’ love for all is truth. I am so thankful to have found this resource and excited to join this community!
From Got Questions: “First John 3:20 says, ‘If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.’
Here John reminds us that God is greater than our feelings of guilt, and He is greater than the mistakes we make when we sin.
Today, we often use the word heart to refer to the organ that pumps blood through the body. However, in the Bible the word heart usually refers to someone’s emotions or desires—the center of his will or his true self. This is true of both God and humanity. For example, God refers to King David as “a man after my own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). In other words, David sought to do all that God had willed. In Mark 7:21–22, Jesus says that out of a person’s heart flow sinful and evil desires.”
I understood that meaning as I read it in our verses, but I just needed a confirmation. The word condemn stood out to me and reminded me that we often get caught up in conviction and let it draw us away from God because we feel so unworthy. That’s the opposite of what He wants for us. He wants our conviction to lead to an acknowledgement of our sin, turn it over to Him, and return to fellowship with Him.
John 3:17 – For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
I think I can finally answer the question about what I would like to see made new. It is my heart. Ezekiel 36:26 (one of my absolute favorite verses!) says: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Praying each of us finds great takeaways from this last week of study! Thank you,
SHE READS TRUTH staff, for challenging us to reach deeper with each study!!!
Met over 2,000 miles away ***
@Tina ❤️ your story really speaks to me that we have no idea the impact on someone’s life when we are obedient to God. He can really truly use it and also- what is “impossible” for man, is not impossible for God! Here we are doubting God’s ability to transform and heal … We all do it. Thank you for sharing this testimony of your friend Heidi. I pray her brothers are also deeply changed, too.
I heard another story recently on Sadie Robertson Huff’s podcast. She had interviewed a woman named Dee Cekanor, who talked about how God had her have dinner with and pray over a homeless man who made fun of her because of her dwarfism. Years later, God has the same man show up at her church on the same day she is sharing a testimony. She is floored because they made over 2,000 miles away and didn’t expect God to heal this man and restore him to his children and wife. It’s an amazing story, definitely recommend the podcast episode. It is the “Whoa that’s Good” episode on January 24, 2024.
I think I need to have more faith in God’s ability to transform others, lol.
@Sarah D- praying the Lord gives you wisdom to know what is best for this season of your life. ❤️
@STEPHANIE WILSEY- may the Lord be near to you, your daughter, and your family. May you grow in love and peace, and may you see the Lord moving through your prayers and dependence on Him, concerning your daughter’s health (or anything else). I pray she also would see the Lord in her story as she fights cancer and find His peace in places where anxiety tries to creep in. God bless you both. ❤️
Have a good Monday, Shes. ❤️
GM She’s!
I loved the scriptures today and how we should truly live as Christians and love, differently from the world. Of course we know this, but it seems so hard to apply. If you are like me, I love to be around my church and Christian friends more so then around a group of unbelievers. It’s just the fellowship, the sharing of Jesus, and the joy and peace that comes from the time together! But God, we are called to go, tell and disciple. To share and give what we have, our Saviour! I like the profound statement Aimee DR shared…that Jesus Wept, even though He knew what was on the heavenly side for Lazarus. Even though we know that is Christian is going to heaven it is still sadness to lose them and for their loved ones.
Tina that is a lovely story. I think we will see many seeds come to fruition the longer we live and being sowing. Some sprout quickly and some takes years, but what a joy when you get the harvest!!
I am seeing it so much at our jail ministry in the short time I have been going, but they are so ready for the harvest! They only need the sowing and watering and the sunshine! Will they come out perfect, no, But God, He is good to use it! Nothing comes back void!! What an awesome promise!
Catherine McVey- She and her husband have covid and she will have to miss her stem cell treatment. Pray she and her husband will not have heavy symptoms and will feel better quickly and that her treatment will get rescheduled quickly!!
I am loving putting beautiful faces to name and seeing your families!! (and faces to prayers!) What a blessing!!
Jesus wept… like not just a few tears rolling down The cheek .. like wept ! That deep down sadness that causes you yourself
Pain.. that causes you to wail …that from the gut sorrow ..that is what it is to weep . And He did this .. and Does this for us .. in our moments of loss , affliction , sorrow ..: that’s how much he loves you and me.
I don’t know why 1 John 3:12 jumped out so much at me today… “UNLIKE CAIN…” I think I focused more on verse 11 in the past, where we are told that “…We should love one another.” So the active part of loving needs to happen, for sure, but the inactive part is of utmost importance as well. We need to remember how being “unlike Cain”… what NOT to do (emphasis mine) is what we also need to DO., you know?
Lord, help my sweet sisters and I remember what to do and what not to do in loving one another. Let us not murder our brother.
And, by the way… So. Good. Tina. ❣️ (I had to back up at first, because I was reading like you were talking about “our” Heidi. I was, like, whaaaaat? Heeheehee! I’m a ding dong!)
Curt Thompson says at our core we want to be seen and we want to be known. I think how true this is especially when a person needs compassion, kindness, and gentleness. They want others see what they are experiencing, understand it and know the person within the pain, suffering, and discomfort.
Yesterday’s sermon was on love…true love for others, not the cheap version the world tries to sell us. Lord, open my eyes to opportunities to love others the way you love me.
Kai update: he was doing well most of the weekend, then had a bit of issues yesterday with his blood pressure and air in his chest. They placed as chest tube and he’s all closed up now and stable again. Thank you for the continued prayers.
“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”
This morning I’m reflecting on what it means to be pure in heart and how I can grow to be able to “see God.” What needs to be healed in me? Eliminated from my life to become pure in heart?
I so agree, Ladies! This has been a theme for me ever since my daughter was diagnosed in cancer. I learned quickly where I have been unhelpful to others in the past and where others are not helpful to me in the present. People are focused in their own feelings of discomfort and let that take precedent over actually being compassionate. Lord, may we be a balm to others. Show us increasingly how to love as
Stephanie, your comment today hit very close to home. 17 years ago our daughter was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. I can very well relate to what you are experiencing right now. I will be praying for you and your daughter as you travel this journey that no one wants to take. I pray God’s peace will wash over you and for His will in your daughter’s treatment.
Good morning ladies! Thankful for God’s kindness to me, even when I don’t acknowledge it or see it. I would love your continued prayers, I woke up this morning with a cold/congestion. I was planning to do a disciple making team with my church starting this week, it is a 10 week group that has a big time commitment each week…but now I am wondering if it is wise. I am taking an online class for my masters too, and I was hopeful that I wouldn’t get sick this semester… I’m not sure what to do. I’ve been wanting to do one of these groups for awhile and I feel like life will always be busy…but maybe next school year I won’t be sick as much…we’ll see. Praying the Lord would show us more of himself today and that he would strengthen us to look to him in every moment.
Romans 12:15 stood out to me this morning. I feel that we are living through a time of toxic positivity. We do a good job of rejoicing with others but I feel that we are lacking in weeping with those who weep. Everything is framed as doom scrolling and
Jesus, You wept seeing human pain even though You knew Heaven on the other side. Help me to always show such love in support of others. In Jesus name, Amen
Tina, your story today blessed me so much. We have to keep on loving with God‘s love and hugging and listening. This gave me hope for a few people in my life today! Thank you for the encouragement to keep on persevering in love!
Love God, believe in and love Jesus, love each other, don’t be surprised if the world hates you.
Simple to understand, not always easy to do. Lord, please guide me today.
TINA ❤️ thank you so much for sharing this story. What an encouragement to continue showing love to others.
KELLY (NEO) ❤️ Amen!
Colossians 3:12-13 I know I’ve read this before but it hit me differently today. In such a divided world we need more compassionate hearts, kindness,humility, meekness, and patience. Lord help us all, help me! Lord, help me to have a compassionate heart towards humanity.
Thank you for the prayers for the passport- I got it! Today we have court at 10 AM, and the judge will decide if I get to travel or not with my foster baby. Thank you for the prayers, it’s all in the Lord hands. Pray you all have a wonderful week of healing and blessings!
Being a citizen of God’s upside-down kingdom should contrast greatly to those around me who are not (yet)…
Lord forgive me for the times when I want to blend in with the world instead of standing out as one of Your children. :-/
CATHERINE MCVEY – prayers that your stem-cell treatment goes well
KAREN ELIZABETH – continued prayers for Kai
MEGAN WARLICK – any updates on your friend’s baby who was in the NICU
RACHEL – any updates on your friend’s 15-year-old daughter
TINA – rejoicing with you in Heidi’s transformation
Sometimes, we are blessed to see the seeds we sow grow into oaks!
As some of you may know, I am blessed to feed physically and spiritually (please God) in the job that I do..
Today’s readings took me to a recent event, where seeds of long ago had bloomed into something wonderful.. I would use Simeons words ” With my own eyes I have seen (your) salvation..” Praise God. ❤
Heidi, used to come for food with her brothers, who were not the best of characters. Their parents had died when they were young, but the older was old enough to take care of the younger ones, so they stayed together, without somehow going into the system. So, when the brothers were fighting, were picking on others, or swearing at the staff, you would often see or hear Heidi too. Oftentimes, on arrival, I would leave my kitchen, and give Heidi a hug, and ask how her day or week had been, the response was often a load of foul language and anger based.. ❤
Eventually, they were barred, and they moved away..
BUT GOD..
Fast forward some 8/9 years, and a lot of new faces later, one Monday morning in walks Heidi with another lady.. Her demeanour was different, her appearance changed her language, no colour. She had changed! I had to look twice!
As she approached me, she said..”You are still here? ”
I nodded, and she rushed towards me with a hug that would have melted the iceberg that sank the titanic.. Her next words, the tears come as I write.. Thank you. Thank Thank you. Thank you. ” she kept repeating until I held her at arms length and asked what for.❤
BUT GOD..
God is so wonderfully good..because when you think what you are doing is falling on a hard heart, or in one YOU believe, there is no hope for, or a waste of time, God is using whatever you are doing, whatever your good intentions, for good! Trust me, because Heidis next words had me floored.. “For the hugs, for the never giving up on me, and for always making time for me..” Tears freely flow, now, as I praise God, from whom, absolutely, every blessing flows.
I would have said, the last time I saw Heidi, that her life, whilst she was with her brothers, had no chance at anything..or ever improving..
BUT GOD..
Showed me that day that healing is possible in any situation. Heidis began with an ear, to listen, ever the colourful language. Time, that she probably had never been given, and a hug.❤
This could have been the end of this story,
BUT GOD..❤
Heidi had brought a friend, who needed help, and she had brought her to us, telling the friend, ” this place saved me”
(There is more to this story, but that’s for another time.. Promise..)
BUT GOD..
AMEN.
Happy Monday dear hearts, wrapped in love, hugs and prayers for healing, guidance, grace, hope, blessings and miracles..❤
TINA Thank you for your story
❤️