Good news and healing

Good news! How often do we hear that?

Everyday the newspaper, television, internet shows us news of disasters and tragedies which may either be man-made or natural calamities.

How do you feel after hearing or seeing such news? Of course, sad and sorry, right? Nobody in the right mind would be happy being under such circumstances or knowing about it. Sometimes just thinking about bad news could also make one sad, weak and sick...

Is there a connection between bad news and illness?

When I checked the old testament I found these verses...

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health." (Proverbs 15:30, NLT)

"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." (Proverbs 25:25, NIV)

And when I looked at what Jesus did it was both telling good news and healing disease and sickness... both go together.

The prophecy in Isaiah says, "The Spirit of GOD, the Master, is on me because GOD anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. GOD sent me to announce the year of his grace- a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies- and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by GOD to display his glory." (Isaiah 61:1-3, The Message)

Matthew 4:23 (NIV) tells us that Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Similarly, Matthew 9:35 (NIV) also states that Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

Matthew 11:5 (NIV) says "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."

How could hearing good news and physical health be related? Or bad news and diseases be linked? I think bad news causes stress. When a person is under stress, there is tendency to later on have weak body resistance. When the resistance is weak, then it is easy to be attacked by illness and diseases.

No wonder St. Paul tells us: "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." Philippians 4:8 (The Message)

O Lord, help me to bring good news and healing to those that I meet and encounter every moment of my life...