979 Lepers In Your Head

We know Jesus healed the lepers. We know he gave sight to the blind, caused the deaf to hear, and made the lame to walk. But do we know he heals the lepers in our head today? Do we know he opens our eyes to see what we have been missing, guides us to listen to the right voice, and strengthens us to take the next step in the right direction? We know Jesus brought Lazarus back to life after 4 days , he gave a 90 year old barren Sarah a baby, he healed a woman who had suffered with a blood issue for 12 years, and he restored the paralyzed man who had been laying by a pool for healing for 38 years. But do we know he’s also not limited by how far gone our situation seems to be, how long we’ve waited, how it’s always been, or what we’ve always struggled with? Jesus’ healing is here for YOU. This is not out of reach for the Almighty. This isn’t hopeless. This isn’t beyond restoration. This isn’t ‘just the way it has to be.’ But maybe you’ve assumed what you suffer from isn’t on the list of heal-able diseases. Your sufferings are incurable. Your battles will never be won. You’ve come to the place of believing what’s going on inside you will remain in you and there is no cure. Seriously, do you think the thoughts in your head are beyond the touch of Jesus? Do you seriously think he can’t end the battle going on within your mind? Do you think he is incapable of calming the storm of your worry filled thoughts? Do you think he just isn’t concerned with the attack in your head that causes anxiety and depression? Honey, those are the lepers in your head. Those are the scars you hide that separate you from others. This is what makes you feel alone, like you don’t belong, like you don’t fit in. The lepers in your head. And the great news is, Jesus heals the lepers. When the rest of the world says ‘stay away, we don’t want what you have’, Jesus says ‘come, let me touch you and make you whole again.’ Mark 1:40-42 gives us the account of Jesus’ encounter with a leper. “A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Leprosy was considered a curse. You became an outcast when infected. Sores covered their skin and they were disfigured. Lepers were to stay on the outskirts of town and not come in contact with others. Their whole world changed when leprosy became their story. Outcasts from their family, no longer able to work or be at the markets, they suffered in the darkness away from the sight of people. When others came near, they were required to yell “unclean, unclean, unclean” as a warning of their affliction. But this leper was desperate for healing. Instead of hiding and keeping his distance, he came and knelt in front of Jesus and begged to be healed. And Jesus did the unthinkable, he reached out and touched him. Understand, this man likely hadn’t been touched since the day he got his first sore. No one wanted to be around him. People ran from him. But Jesus came to him. With compassion Jesus said “I am WILLING.” Now, here we are today with these lepers in our head. These stories that tell us we will never be good enough. These thoughts that overwhelm us and render us incapable. These fears that hold us hostage and diminish our ability to ever do anything different. If you were to ask Jesus if he is willing to heal you, I believe he would respond with compassion and say “I am willing!” Will you bring this to Jesus? Will you stop hiding in the shadows, declaring yourself unworthy, and boldly ask Jesus to heal you of the lepers in your...