This is an email I received today and wanted to share.
Ecclesiastes 11:10 says "So remove vexation from your heart and put pain out of your body." Vexation means sorrow, grief, anger, provocation, hurt and idolatry. Idolatry because whenever we allow the sun to go down on our anger, failing to take our grief and hurt (or sin) to the cross, we turn to something else (an idol). Every place our parents have violated the Word of God in training us up, they have provoked us to anger leaving us with an unresolved issue (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). If not dealt with by sun down, it gives place to the devil -- an unresolved issue(s) (Ephesians 4:26,27).
Many times I have shared with a person that their pain and sickness is coming out of unresolved issues of the heart (anger, bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness...etc.). Most people tell me, I have already forgiven everybody and everything and am not aware of any unconfessed sin in my life. Generally on the surface, this may be true. My answer to that is this: If evil thoughts come out of the heart and then proceed out of the mouth (Matthew 15:18-20), take note and listen to what you say and think. You will soon discover as I have that your heart has many unseen and unresolved issues.
Thank God, He does not show us everything wrong with us at once. He uses the problem to show us the next issue of the heart He wants us to deal with. Healing is a process. In every problem area, either we need to repent and obtain forgiveness from the Lord for things we have done and/or we need to forgive someone else for their offenses against us. You cannot generally forgive by lumping everything into one prayer. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, praying over each area where we have let the sun go down on our anger and allowed bitterness to take over. Someone has said, "Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for someone else to die." Specific areas must be confessed (I John 1:9) and taken to the cross in order for healing to come.
Fear and guilt go together. Guilt itself is like a cancer. It dries out the bones and then effects the blood. This in turn affects the health of the whole body. Scripture draws a clear relationship between general well-being and the health of the bones. "A sound heart is life to the flesh; but envy (anger, passion, jealousy, rivalry) is rottenness (to decay as if by worms eating) to the bones (Proverbs 14:30). Guilt can have a profound and devastating effect on a person's body by producing tension which can increase and grow, hindering the immune system's ability to fight sickness and disease. If tension keeps building up inside, it will eventually be expressed in outbursts of anger or if repressed, will do further internal damage. Scriptures instructs those who are sick to call for the elders of the church. Notice that one of the purposes is to gain a clear conscience. "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord Jesus: and the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much " (James 5:14-16). When the elders of the church come to anoint you with oil and pray for you, it is important to follow the full instructions of this passage. Confess all your sins, especially the hidden ones that no one knows about except God and you - and satan. He is keeping you in fear and torment as long as you keep silent about them. The Scripture is true: "He that covers over his sins will not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy" (Proverbs 28:13) . If your sin damages others, it would be important to contact them and clear your conscience with them before the elders come. Express plainly how you offended them and ask them if they would forgive you. Also, forgive them if they have hurt you.
King Asa was an example of a person who sought physicians instead of God. In 2Chronicles 16:7-13, it says: "And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
Since a joyful (undefiled) heart is a good medicine a sad (defiled) heart will make you sick. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and in due time you will reap if you do not grow weary and faint. Psalms 103:2-5 says "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
God bless you
