Page 87 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 11

Forum “Guidance

Through the
“The concept of listening to God and moving in the power and authori- Holy Spirit
ty He gives to heal is strangely alien to many modern Christians. They
have become dependent upon medical science for their healing needs, During the
and upon the secular (both rational and occult) psychologies and the-
rapies devised for gaining personal wholeness” (Payne, The Healing Counseling
Presence, p. 44).
or Therapy

Oswald Chambers gives this wonderful directive for receptivity to God: Session:
when you hear God speak, “be reckless immediately, fling it all out on
Him” (My Utmost for His Highest, June 18). This fruitful recklessness is Blessings and
not the impulsivity of a lazy, self-indulgent counselor who lacks discipli- Problems”
ne and wisdom, but the radical abandoning of self to Christ that is the
way of life. To be clear, I am advocating abandonment to the Holy Spi-
rit by well-trained, ethically excellent mental health professionals who
practice with supervision, consultation, and continuing education. This
is sternly magnificent work that allows grace to build on nature, for we
must be excellent scholars and clinicians. But I believe our biggest pro-
blem with it is that it requires great humility.

“If he is to move in God’s power and authority, the servant of the Lord
must know that even the best wisdom of the day is insufficient. It can-
not fully grasp the mystery of the human spirit, soul, and body. Looking
to God and listening to Him is essential” (Payne, The Healing Presence,
p. 45).

As I described earlier, looking to God and listening to Him is natural to An article by Sarah:
us, and in truth it is the most practical and secure way to function. Yet http://emcapp.ignis.
to anything in us that craves certainty or control, or bows to any ideolo- de/5/#/98
gy, listening to God and moving on the Word He sends seems reckless.
Thankfully, this problem becomes a blessing as we die to those lesser
motives and live to Christ: References
Chambers, O. (2000). My
“The gifts and the fruits of His life are present and can radiate through utmost for his highest. Uh-
richsville, Ohio: Barbour
me. I am thus empowered by His indwelling Presence to heal in His Books.
name” (Payne, The Broken Image, p. 164). Payne, L. (1981). The broken
image: Restoring personal
wholeness through healing
prayer. Westchester, Ill.:
Cornerstone Books.
Payne, L. (1995). The healing
presence: Curing the soul
through Union with Christ.
Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker
Books.
Sanford, A. (1966). The
healing gifts of the Spirit,
([1st ed.). Philadelphia: Lip-
pincott.
Schmemann, A. (1983). Of
water and the spirit: A li-
turgical study of Baptism
([2nd ed.). Crestwood, New
York: St Vladimir‘s semina-
ry press.

86