Healing, Body, Mind, Spirit and Soul: With the Word of God

Copyright © 2020 Eleanor Miller.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

ISBN: 978-1-5320-9693-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-9694-5 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 03/05/2020

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

The Start of A New Day

A Mother’s Cry!

A Different Type of Death

From The Outside Looking In

Sermon: Return to your First Love!

When Your Faith Has Failed

Sermon: Rooted and Grounded in the Lord

Calling it Quits

Sermon: Keep Running Until You Catch Your Second Wind!

Never Give Up on Anyone

Sermon: A Prison Revival

A Word for the Un-Compassionate Heart

Sermon: Our Enemies have Souls Too!

Bad News

Sermon: It’s Not Over until God Says It’s Over!

Remember, The Past is in the Past

Finding the Right One to Love

Sermon: He’s One in A Million!

Treating New Converts with Tenderness

1. An un-invited Guest!

2. Women from the Red-Light District

3. The Pot Can’t Talk About the Kettle

4. Striving for Perfection

A Funeral Message

Sermon: Healing and Cleansing for the Bereaved

Reflections

Sermon: Don’t Lose Your Focus!

Don’t Close the Book Too Soon

Sermon: The Next Chapter!

Work Cited

About the Author

FOREWORD

The word comes to us in various ways; through a message sent by one of God’s messengers; through a thought that is dropped in a person’s spirit which comes directly from God; by one of the many angels sent to watch over God’s people; or by the Word, which according to John1:1 is the Son of God himself.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us, For the word of God is alive and active and is sent to us by the Father.(NKJV) God’s Word can cut through to our spirits and souls and our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.

In times of distress we need to look to and listen to the Word for the answer to our problems.

Mankind, in self, do not have all the answers and there are times we need to rely on God’s Holy Word to speak to those who look to us for the answers to their problems.

Psalms 107: 19-21 reads Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.…NKJV

As Ambassadors for Christ, there is no harm in admitting that we do not have all the answers for the problems and concerns that people are faced with, but we can refer all who come to us for help to the Word of God.

God’s Word can heal the Body, Mind, Spirit and Soul. This might not be true in all instances, for there are times when persons must seek professional help, but even in those times it is God doing the work; for He works through His people.

Trust God to do what He instructs you to do; this applies to both the giver and the receiver, of the Word.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

May you find your healing whether spiritual, physical, mental or other, through the Word that has been given to others in this book; those who wrestled to find answers and solutions to their problems.

PREFACE

Throughout the bible we read of persons with various ailments; some sick in their bodies, some heartbroken, some suffering from bereavement, loneliness, despair, and other conditions too numerous to mention. But God was there during all these afflictions that His people encountered. In the Old Testament God used the prophets, judges, and kings to bring aid and relief to those who were in pain, distress, or experiencing hardships. In the New Testament God was also there and He used Jesus or the disciples of Jesus to alleviate the pain of those suffering.

Things haven’t changed that drastically, because today God still have people who stand ready to assist those in need, those struggling to make it from one day to the next. Preachers, Teachers, Evangelist, Prophets, Doctors, Missionaries and a list of other persons are willing to listen to and take on the cares of those who are experiencing all types of problems. The person who is suffering only need to open up and receive the help that is available to them.

It takes a special kind of person who can help others get through their ordeals when it seems as if those persons experiencing hardships are all alone and no one cares. I say a special kind of person because as the problems of someone else are unloaded, the person listening must be able to keep things in perspective so that they will not become depressed or burdened as a result of what is going on in another person’s life.

I often wondered how a doctor continues to go on day after day listening to persons who tell them about their physical or mental health without becoming overwhelmed? Every hour on the hour there is someone who has a complaint. But then I thought about the times that I had gone to the doctor and I watched how the doctor would look at my folder or bring up my chart on the computer. After studying the chart or looking at the computer screen, the doctor closes the folder or shuts down the computer screen when he or she is ready to go on to the next patient.

I realized that the way the doctor manages to keep things in perspective is when they finish with one patient, they close them out, or shut them down and then proceed to the next. Never do they let the patient’s ailments or conditions overlap with someone else. Doctors have learned how to move on.

But when you are dealing with spiritual matters and concerns of others, it is not that simple. It is hard to shut people down or close them out because the thoughts of that persons continue long past the initial meeting or conversation. Most of the time the persons being ministered to requires additional prayer. No, we cannot close the folder on them or shut them down, we must continually intercede on their behalf and keep them before the Lord. As Preachers, Teachers, Intercessors and Ambassadors of God, when we use the phrase my heart and prayers are with you it is with sincerity because it is our duty.

So, how does a person who spends much of their time listening to a plethora of problems and concerns of other individuals unburden when the listener become overwhelmed themselves?

I found the answer to that question when I looked at the many instances in the Bible when Jesus found it necessary to get away. There were times when Jesus went to an isolated place alone to pray; he needed time to himself.

So, if Jesus needed some alone time, then it stands to reason that we too need time alone to collect our thoughts and put things in the proper perspective. We need time to reflect and unwind, we need rest.

This book is the result of my alone time with God. As I began to rehash in my mind the many occasions when persons sought directions and answer from me, the words and messages I gave to them now have a way of ministering to me also.

I realize that as servants of God, the messages that God instills in us can be used not just one time but repeatedly. Isaiah 55:11(KJV) reads, so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. The messages are meant to encourage individuals. If we abide in God’s word and allow the word to absorb into our lives; the word benefits all, the person ministering and the one being ministered to.

In this book some of the bible stories used to comfort and reassure those I ministered to are repetitive, but somethings need repeating; we must understand that God reveals the scriptures to us according to the need at that time. Although a scripture was used on one occasion to minister to one individual, the same scripture can be used at another time to minister to someone else whose dilemma is totally different.

As you read through the pages of this book imagine yourself as the one who is being ministered to; or better yet, imagine that you are doing the ministering. You may not be able to identify with every one of the characters, but I am sure you can sympathize with all of them from both ends of the spectrum; the hearer and speaker.

If you are a prayer warrior, pray along with me as I continue to pray for those who have asked for my assistance.

THE START OF A NEW DAY

The start of a typical day for me would be rising from bed and as my feet hit the floor, thanking God for keeping me through the night. No, not every morning do I immediately drop to my knees as I have often heard others say they do and pray; because some days arthritis will not allow me to do so. But with each new day whether kneeling, standing or sitting on the edge of my bed, I do pause and with a sincere heart, my voice is lifted to God; with words of gratitude and a spirit of jubilation I bless God for His grace and mercy for enabling me to see another day.

At the dawn of another day the mercies of the Lord are evident; each new morning, God gives me and others who rise, an opportunity to recognize and say God is faithful.

This morning as I go about my normal routine, today is not a typical day, more so than any other time I feel a heaviness in my spirit; the pressures of the past weeks, months and years are weighing heavily on me.

So, after taking care of my personal hygiene, getting dressed and fixing breakfast, I retire to my study to spend some time with God. Today I allow the dishes to remain in the sink, I allow the mopping and other household chores that I often felt compelled to do right away to wait. This day I feel should be devoted to just me and God alone.

It does a person good just to sit quietly and meditate with God; where you tune everyone and everything else out and pour out your heart to the Lord.

During this time of meditation and reflections a message that I preached many years ago is brought back to my remembrance. That message was titled Matters of the Heart.

The message emphasized the fact that seldom do women, especially African American women, and men take the time to ponder matters of the heart. Some may ask what are matters of the heart? These are our deepest secrets that are locked away in a special place where only you have the key; these matters haven’t been shared with anyone.

Luke 2:19 NKJV tells us that even the mother of Jesus, kept somethings secret. The scripture reads, "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Men and women wear so many different hats such as mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, friends, companions, advisors, maids, bread winners, pastors, ministers, along with a hundred or more other titles until time will not allow moments of meditation in areas related to our personal needs.

As a result, our hearts are filled with the hurts, desires, needs and the wants of years passed until we are like a bomb waiting to explode.

If persons would only take time to reflect and release their feelings, we would unlock decades of silent emotions yearning to escape. The release would be like a caged animal who has been locked up for a long time being set free.

Haven’t you seen a dog who has been chained up or caged and after escaping they run around and around, jumping up and down until totally exhausted? That’s the way some individuals would be if they would release everything that they have kept locked away inside of them.

If we would empty out our heart emotions it would be like being set free. We too would feel the same exuberance as the dog that is let out of the cage; Our actions would say that we are free of all the things that have caused us to be burdened down. Afterward we would be refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated, able to continue the many tasks that are demanded of us daily.

Because we fail to release, or empty out things that causes distress and anxieties, we eventually get burned out. At that point we are ineffective; we are no good to ourselves or others.

Just the other day I read where a pastor was taking a sabbatical from his church because he no longer felt close to God. It was evident that with the many demands on him, he had just gotten burned out.

Perhaps there were those who criticized him, but if the truth be told, haven’t we all been at that point? What this preacher needed is what we all need is a way to release.

If you were to begin to empty out your heart of things that you have kept locked away for a long time, what would be the result? Would it be like breaking down the barge to a dam where suddenly the violent waters begin to rush through sweeping away everything in its way? Or would it be like a faucet with a slow leak where drops of water trickle out drop by drop? These two examples are not effective ways to deal with Matters of the Heart.

For if we allow our feeling and emotions to rush out like a broken dam with no fore thought about what we are going to say and how we are going to say it, we risk the possibilities of destroying relationships with friends and family.

To the same extent, if we are constantly complaining and bickering about this or that, the same thing repeatedly, it could become annoying, just