Related Articles
Table of Contents
Topic:FORGIVENESS AND HEALING ARE CLOSELY RELATED
I knew a pastor whose fingers were bent over and twisted with arthritis.
He said, “Pastor Osteen, one day I made a
decision to start living a life of forgiveness.” Every time he
thought of someone toward whomhe had a wrong attitude, he
would forgive that person..He said, “I would lie in bed and
think of people as I prayed. If someone came to my mind, Iwould forgive them. As I drove the car, if someone came to my
mind, I would forgive them.”
Several months after he made his decision to live in forgiveness, finger after finger straightened up, and healing came into his body. Eventually, he was completely healed! God did not send the sickness, but this pastor’s obedience unlocked the door to healing in his life. God is pleased with us
when we forgive.
Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things youask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will
have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you haveanything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in
heaven may also forgive you your trespasses But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:24–26).
There was a woman in our church who had a large tumor.
Based upon James 5:14–15, we anointed her with oil, laid hands on her, and prayed for her, but she did not get healed. Later on,
in one of our church services, I taught on this principle of forgiveness. Afterward this woman came to me and said, “I did
not know that unforgiveness was locked away in my heart. I had no idea that I had anything against anyone.”
Many times people who are seeking healing need to walk in forgiveness.
She continued, “The Holy Spirit brought my mother-in-law
to my mind and something that happened years ago. I was not aware that I held anything against her, but the Holy Spirit
showed me that I had resentment locked away in the recesses of my heart. I had never truly forgiven her.”
After she forgave her mother-in-law for whatever had happened years before, the tumor disappeared. When you open yourself up to God and say, “God, search
my heart and show me how I can change,” He will help you.
Forgiveness and healing are closely related. Many times people who are seeking healing really need to walk in
forgiveness. Forgive and be healed! It may not always happen instantly, but it will happen!
