Health
/Dearest Ones,
You are on my heart today as you begin your busy activities. Each of you is very precious to me as are all of my people around the world. Not a sparrow falls without my notice, and how much more precious are those who serve me with their whole heart. The devil is walking about like a roaring lion, but you are safe as long as you look to me and keep your eyes directed upward toward my heavenly Sanctuary where I am ministering for you.
The topic for today is "health." This includes mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health and well-being. Just as the law of God applies to spiritual and social health and happiness, so it also contains principles that govern physical, mental, and emotional health as well. In fact, the whole Sanctuary services were given to the children of Israel to maintain their health and well-being in every area of their lives.
First I want to address the effect of praise upon the mind. Because you live in a world where sin, sinners, and Satan have access to your minds to bring discouragement, fear, and foreboding, it can be difficult to resist dark and discouraging thoughts and feelings. But under the influence of my Spirit, a consistent positive outlook is possible, and even necessary to maintain health in every area of your lives. That is why praise is the first step in the Sanctuary. Praise is the language of heaven, and thus it is the antidote for depression and discouragement, fear, and even a critical spirit toward others. When you have a spirit of praise and thanksgiving, it reverberates throughout your whole system and connects your mind with me.
Next is the brazen altar where sins were confessed in the court of the Sanctuary. The purpose for repentance is to enable your mind to connect with my forgiveness mercy, and love for you, and unburden your soul from the effects of guilt, remorse and repining for mistakes you have made. These negative emotions can weigh upon your spirit and bring depression and even physical disease if they are not given to me for cleansing. Repentance also keeps you from listening to the taunts of the evil one whose goal is to lead you into sin and then separate you from my love and forgiveness.
The laver represents the Word of God, which is essential to mental, emotional and spiritual stability and health, for it echoes your thoughts and needs, and applies the eye salve of healing for the wounds that sin has caused.
Then you need the infilling of the Holy Spirit as exemplified through the seven-branched candlestick, for the gifts and graces of the Spirit are necessary to fill and rejuvenate your whole body and mind and spirit. Communion with me daily and hourly is as essential for your spiritual health as food is for your body. Prayer is the breath of the soul, and is as necessary as breathing.
It keeps you in constant connection with heaven, and allows the continual ministry of the angels and Holy Spirit to strengthen and hold you up under trials and temptations.
And last but not least, the Most Holy Place represents a continual communion with me and my Father, and the constant presence, guidance, and protection of the angels who are sent to attend your needs. Now perhaps you can see why depression and discouragement are unwarranted for the Christian who is following in my footsteps, for I know from my personal experience on earth how difficult it is to encounter the opposition of people and demons, and press on the narrow way by faith in me and the watchcare of my Father over every one of his children. The only hope is constant vigilance against succumbing to the temptation to be discouraged or fearful, but instead, looking constantly to me for hope and courage and directions to meet the daily challenges that come to every person who is striving to walk in the narrow way to the kingdom of heaven.
Now go to the activities of your day, but just remember that I will never leave you to the buffeting and taunts of the enemy of your souls, but you must reach out to me by the arm of faith and hold on to the promises that I have given you in Scripture, and the counsel and encouragement that is found in the Spirit of Prophecy through the writings of Ellen White. These are my gifts to you who are striving for success in the Christian life, and who want to be among the saved. I am pleased with your perseverance and your faith, and you shall certainly receive your reward through a daily connection and walk with me, and a life of happiness, peace, and joy in my soon-coming kingdom.
Never doubt, never listen to the taunts and lies of the enemy about your standing with me or my love for you, for the law is: "according to your faith be it unto you." [Matt. 9:29.] So if you hear Satan's voice of condemnation in your heart and believe in it, you will reap the results of your belief. But if you maintain your faith and connection with me and believe in my constant love and mercy and forgiveness for you, you will mount up as with eagle’s wings to receive the blessings that I have for you each day, and the life, health and happiness that begins even now and extends throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Lovingly, Jesus.
