“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” - 3 John 1:2 (NIV).
Of the many blessings from God in our lives one which deserves notice and everyday mention is the gift of good health. You only realize the magnitude of it when you fall ill. Suddenly, it occurs to so many of us, how blessed we have always been. It is easy to take for granted rising up easily every morning, full of energy and strength, to engage in any task of one’s dream. But come the day you are unable due to poor health then you know what you had!
There was a wealthy man whom I once met in America imprisoned in a nursing home. A banker he had been at the top of his trade where he met and dined with the mighty and powerful. He lacked nothing that money could not buy. But now he was bed ridden with multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease that gradually paralyzes the nervous system. With all his money he could receive the best medical attention 24/7. But still he could hardly move from his lonely bed. This is what he said, “I would rather be poor if I can only have my good health back!”
Good health is not one of those prayer requests or praises that features in many places. It’s is normal to praise God for granting one some material acquisition, land or that big job. Rarely do people stand up to praise God for granting them the miracle of good health. So many take their health for granted, and like the Jews during their sojourn through wilderness, often find it convenient to grumble, of that which they lack. They look around, despise themselves and cry out for “land and good houses!” Yet if all knew that one could have anything but without good health, where else can you enjoy anything you have!
Along with thanking God for the gift of life, we need to be constantly thankful of good health. Let us listen to good advice of how we can take care of our bodies for there is a lot in our power to enjoy good health. If we are careless with taking care of ourselves, we are like those blessed with land but starve it of good proper soil management, only to end up with drought. There is a lot in everyone’s power to enjoy good health, like watching your diet, exercising the body, and having good rest, among others.
But most importantly thanking God for good health, every single day, and agreeing with the Psalmist, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” (Psalm 103: 2-4).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God in heaven, today I rise to thank you for the good health you have given me and indeed I am so blessed; so let me rejoice in this gift of good health with gratitude, to serve you even more!
