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Prayer for the Sick
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Not all understand these principles. Many who seek the Lord’s
healing mercy think that they must have a direct and immediate
answer to their prayers or their faith is defective. For this reason,
those who are weakened by disease need to be counseled wisely, that
they may act with discretion. They should not disregard their duty
to the friends who may survive them, or neglect to employ nature’s
agencies for the restoration of health.
Often there is danger of error here. Believing that they will be
healed in answer to prayer, some fear to do anything that might
seem to indicate a lack of faith. But they should not neglect to set
their affairs in order as they would desire to do if they expected
to be removed by death. Nor should they fear to utter words of
encouragement or counsel which at the parting hour they wish to
speak to their loved ones.
Those who seek healing by prayer should not neglect to make
use of the remedial agencies within their reach. It is not a denial
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of faith to use such remedies as God has provided to alleviate pain
and to aid nature in her work of restoration. It is no denial of faith
to co-operate with God, and to place themselves in the condition
most favorable to recovery. God has put it in our power to obtain
a knowledge of the laws of life. This knowledge has been placed
within our reach for use. We should employ every facility for the
restoration of health, taking every advantage possible, working in
harmony with natural laws. When we have prayed for the recovery
of the sick, we can work with all the more energy, thanking God
that we have the privilege of co-operating with Him, and asking His
blessing on the means which He Himself has provided.
We have the sanction of the word of God for the use of remedial
agencies. Hezekiah, king of Israel, was sick, and a prophet of God
brought him the message that he should die. He cried unto the Lord,
and the Lord heard His servant and sent him a message that fifteen
years should be added to his life. Now, one word from God would
have healed Hezekiah instantly; but special directions were given,
“Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil,
and he shall recover.”
Isaiah 38:21
.
“For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his
pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide