We live in a wonderful world of vast beauty created and crafted by our great God. David was so awed by this almighty God and His creation that he exclaimed, “O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.” He goes on to say, “The Lord rejoices in all he has made” (Psalm 104:24, 31 NLT). God rejoices in you also. Did He not make you?

But why is there so much devastation in the midst of God’s beautiful creation? When Adam and Eve gave in to the devils temptation and disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, sin infected all of God’s creation. The fall of man brought distress, disease, destruction, and death.

There is good news. Despite the destruction and disease set in motion by the fall, God has sent a healing word. David describes it in Psalm 107. “They drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distress. HE SENT HIS WORD AND HEALED THEM, and delivered them from their destructions. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving kindness and for His wonders to the sons of men!” (Psalm 107:18-21 NASB)

Are you facing distress? God has a healing word for you. This word is not a magical mantra. But it is a life giving word. David had this revelation. “When you send your Spirit, new life is born to replenish all the living of the earth” (Psalm 107:30 NLT). This includes you. The Word of God is not a dead letter. Martin Luther said, “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me. It has feet, it runs to me. It has hands, it lays hold of me.” Jesus said, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:53). God has a healing word for you, but it must be mixed with faith. (See Hebrews 4:2.)

Eleven years ago, I was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. I was told that a mass about the size of a grapefruit was rapidly growing in my chest, pushing against my lungs. The doctor seemed to give the verdict in a matter of fact and blunt manner. I guess there is no easy way to deliver such news. For a while, it seemed like just a bad dream. “He must have the wrong person,” I thought. As distress flooded my being, I called on the name of the Lord. God sent me a healing word. He reminded me of Psalm 103. It was a scripture I had read numerous times, memorized, and shared with others. Now the reality of it was put to the test. My healing was not instantaneous, but I can say with singer Andrea Crouch – “Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus I learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.” I’ve now been cancer free for over 10 years.

Consider how David tells us to apply this HEALING WORD to our lives when we face distress or dis – ease.

First – REJOICE IN THE LORD AND HIS WORD. David tells his soul to “Bless the Lord” (Psalm 103:1). Sometimes self-talk is beneficial when it helps take the focus off our problems and center them on the Lord and His Word. Joy arises when we rejoice in the Lord and His Word. “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” said Nehemiah. “A merry heart doeth good like medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Paul tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). And “Give thanks in all things” (I Thessalonians 5:18).

Second – REMEMBER THE BENEFITS OF THE WORD. “And forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit” (Psalm 103:2-5 NASB). God’s benefits are out of this world, but they must be mixed with faith. (See Hebrews 4:2.)

Third – RECEIVE THE WORD OF REDEMPTION. Fortunately, not everyone faces cancer, but everyone must deal with the cancer of sin. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God forgives and showers us with mercy and pardon. (See Psalm 103:3, 9-12.) Believe His healing word. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). Why is God so merciful? Jesus bore our sins and sicknesses on the cross. (See Isaiah 53:5 and I Peter 2:24.)

Fourth – RENEW YOUR MIND THROUGH THE WORD. For me, a large part of the fight of faith was in the mind. Faith and prayer helped combat negative thoughts of doubt, fear, and bad news. As I spent much time meditating on God’s Word, my mind was renewed and my faith was strengthened. (See Romans 12:1-2 and Romans 10:8, 17.) David reveals a secret of renewal. “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5). Cancer patients are instructed to eat nutritional cancer fighting foods. An eagle doesn’t eat dead road kill food. It eats high protein fish and food good for renewal. Do you need to be renewed? Let God satisfy you with the spiritual, nutritional living Word of God. Meditate on it. Believe it. Speak it. You don’t need to live on pins and needles when you live on the Word of God.

God has a HEALING WORD for you. Receive it and believe it. Receive the eternal word – Jesus. “For as many as received him gave He power to become sons of God, even as many as believed on his name” (John 1:12).