healing Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

Healing In The Spit

Healing in The Spit by Kirk Hunt

When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

John 9:6-7 NKJV

Faced with a blind man, Jesus chose to make mud with His own spit then anointed the man’s eyes. Some would call Jesus’ actions humiliating. The blind man called those same actions healing. Too often, we are more concerned with the means rather than the outcome.

Healing the man’s blindness was the important part. The means of healing were far less important. So the blind endured having spit and mud rubbed on his eyes. He obediently followed Jesus’ instruction to wash his face in a specific location.

The blind man wanted to see. The indignity of his healing quickly gave way to the joy of vision. The price of God’s process is a bargain, considering the outcomes He gives.

Perhaps you feel that God has anointed your life with muddy spit. Maybe You feel humiliated as you follow His instructions to parade around in public before cleaning off the mud. God’s process does not always make sense to us, but His outcomes are always a blessing.

Follow His process and receive His ordained outcome. Your obedience is the price you must pay to receive His blessings. In the end, you will consider the whole process a bargain.

Think: Regardless of the means God chooses, it is the outcome that is important.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see what You doing, not how You are doing it.”

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Except This Foreigner?

Except This Foreigner? by Kirk Hunt

So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:17-18 NKJV

They kept their distance per the Law but that did not stop them from calling out to Jesus for mercy. They were lepers, men still alive, but rotting to death. Jesus sent them to the priests to be declared clean of their living putrefaction. None said thank you for their miraculous healing, “except this foreigner.”

He could not take another step. His slow, cruel death sentence had been lifted. His desperate separation from friends and family was ended. His days of being despised and feared were over.

How could you not be grateful? Why would you refuse to thank God for the enormous mercy and miraculous goodness you had just received? Looking at his restoration, this nameless foreigner knew the priests could wait. His gratitude on the other hand, could not.

So he did what the native-born would not. He ran to Jesus and kneeled to Him in thankfulness. The same voice that cried for mercy now cried out glory to God.

All ten received the same miracle blessing. All ten had their miserable and degrading suffering ended through healing and restoration. Only the foreigner, the man who should not have received anything, bothered with gratitude or appreciation.

What mercy have you received? What mercy have you given? Did you show gratitude to God for the privilege given to you or through you?

Think: God’s mercy is for native-born and foreigner alike. Am I grateful for what I receive?

Pray: “Lord, help me to give and receive Your mercy freely, and with gratitude.”

Who Comes Near To You?

Who Comes Near To You? by Kirk Hunt

And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

2 Kings 5:12 NKJV

Naaman stormed off, offended at Elisha’s response to his request. The prophet’s promise of healing and restoration was not theatrical enough for him. Thankfully, Naaman’s men could come near him.

Sooner, or later, you are going to respond the wrong way. Ego, frustration or misunderstanding will lead you to make matters worse. Eventually, you are going to miss your chance. Inattention, urgency or preconception will lead you to walk past the opportunity of a lifetime.

Who in your life can come near and stop you from making a critical mistake of commission or omission? Perhaps your friend will speak quiet cautions in a back room, or shout accusations at center stage. Either way, are you willing to hear the truth from someone you trust?

It requires humility on your part. It requires courage on their part. Both of you must possess the wisdom to know it needed to be said and why.

“Go wash in a dirty river. What have you got to lose?” Who has the heart and head to stop your mistake? Do you let folks close enough to know when or how to help?

Naaman nearly walked away from his healing. Someone close to him refused to remain silent. Naaman was smart enough to listen. How about you?

Think: You need Godly wise people close enough to help you.

Pray: “Lord, help me keep Your appointed helpers close to my heart and head.”

How To Heal

How To Heal by Kirk Hunt

And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’

2 Kings 5:10-11 NKJV

Naaman, and his personal security team, arrived at Elisha’s door in a chariot. Most men (or women) would go out and greet the visiting general. Elisha sent a messenger with healing instructions and did not see the man.

Naaman responded with anger. After all, a man of his importance and combat record deserves more and better attention. Certainly, Naaman’s mental image of his healing involved ceremony and dignity, not multiple dips in the muddy Jordan River.

Do you want God to heal you? Then be obedient. Do you want God to intervene in circumstance beyond your control? Approach Him with humility.

God does not need to move or act because of your impulses or whims. His power is absolute and sovereign. You came to Him because of your needs, not His. Trust His eternal wisdom for the answers and solutions you need.

Consider His august majesty and the legions of angels at His beck and call. Speak your request in humility, knowing the God of all creation has what you need. When God speaks, respond in obedience, confident that His answer come from His love for you.

Think: Your healing is going to require humility and obedience.

Pray: “Lord, I come to You in humility and obedience for my healing.”

The Burden In His Heart

“The Burden In His Heart” By Kirk Hunt

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 NKJV

It was 1990-ish and I sat alone in a room of white men and told the story from my heart. “White cops do not stop to help black men.” I was there to learn about how to minister. Instead, I discovered a burden in my heart I did not know I had. A hurt I would have otherwise kept hidden.

My Christian brothers listened carefully to a viewpoint they did not expect to hear. They could not reject my story without rejecting me. So, for a little while, they helped me bear my burden. Their obedience to Jesus helped begin healing an infection that could have disqualified me from ministry.

I did learn a lesson about ministering to men and women during that day. Whatever you think, a man’s experience is his experience. He is correct about what he felt. You may not understand or agree, but you cannot reject the story that comes from his heart without rejecting him. And it may be appropriate for your heart to ache with him.

I struggle when men and women tell me hard, painful stories about their earthly fathers. My memory of Poppa Hunt remains my most valuable possession. Still, I believe the story they share from their heart. I then lead that hurting soul to Jesus, our Healer.

In the coming days and weeks, God’s people will be ministers of healing, reconciliation and restoration. It starts with a willingness to accept the heart the story comes from. Then lead them humbly and graciously to Jesus. Bear their burden, for a while, so that healing can begin.

Think: Reconciliation and healing begin by bearing someone’s burden.

Pray: “Lord, help me to bear someone’s burden, as Your instrument of healing.”

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Healing Instruments

“Healing Instruments” By Kirk Hunt

if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

I am horrified. Each black man could have been a nephew, cousin, brother or one of my precious sons. Each policeman could have been a nephew, cousin or one of my Gospel brothers. “God where is Your healing?”

There is pain and outrage as the carnage continues. There is fear, anger and despair as the body counts climb. The cycle of violence can only be broken through reconciliation and restoration.

Clearly, America needs healing. God’s power is the only source powerful enough to cleanse the infection and mend the wounds. Consider this: He will use His people to do the work.

The image is not of held hands and gentle songs. The picture is of the hard, painful labor of self-examination and repentance. There will be the hard, sweaty work of choosing a different, better way. After that, there will be grueling practice until righteousness becomes an engrained response. And through it all, we will have to start trusting each other.

God is our source, but we are the instruments. It will take everyday men and women, just like you, to reach out to others in grace and humility. Consider someone else’s heart and mind, first and last. Do the hard things that end the violence and fear.

There may be hot tears and harsh words. That is okay. Healing will begin after the infection is cleared and the wounds begin to close.

Think: I am God’s instrument of reconciliation and healing.

Pray: “Lord, we seek Your face. Heal our land.”

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When Monsters Witness

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“When Monsters Witness” By Kirk Hunt

And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

Mark 5:20 NKJV

Jesus paused before getting in the boat. “Go home and be a witness,” He instructed the man he had just saved. Messiah then left the monster where He found him, but not as he found him.

Some folk recognized the formerly possessed man from across the street. Some only realized it was the same man after speaking with him for a while. All understood the complete change that had happened in his life.

Your witness is important. Only you can tell your story correctly. The evidence of your life cannot be denied.

You do not need to embellish or exaggerate. Just tell the straight story. Especially the part where God intervened in your life.

He-who-was-a-monster did not need to embellish or exaggerate. His calm, steady eyes told a story of healing and restoration. His rational, peaceful manner spoke loudly of supernatural power and grace.

Compassion from heaven fell on a man everyone else had written off. Power from God had healed and restored a lost cause. All he had to do was testify in short, simple words.

You have an account of what God has done for you. Be a witness. Just tell the truth.

Think: Who better than you can tell your story of God’s power?

Pray: “Father-God, help me tell the story of Your power in my life.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

When Monsters Come Home

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“When Monsters Come Home” By Kirk Hunt

“Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Luke 8:39 NKJV
Read also Luke 8: 26-39

Not too many minutes ago, he was a monster. Now the soul behind the calm eyes is only intense about serving Jesus. Still, Messiah sends His new convert away. “Go home and tell them how God has blessed you.”

For most of us, “home” is a place of joy, comfort and security. What happens when you return home from the deepest and darkest places the enemy has to offer? Are you happy to return where you started? Are they happy for the recovered soul or leery of the returning monster?

More souls than the monster need healing. Those who dwell near, or in, the (former) monster’s lair need reconciliation and restoration. The folks at home need to hear the story of how God’s power can heal anyone. And how specifically God healed the monster they know best.

The former monster walked through the town and was recognized by everyone. He stood before the door in borrowed clothes and called out to the first of his victims. And once again, he had an improbable story to tell.

This time, he could be calm and collected. This time, only the voices of kith and kin whispered in his ears. This time, only the power of God controlled his actions.

Think: Who better than the restored can tell the story of the power of God?

Pray: “Father-God, Your power is supreme in reconciliation and restoration.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Blessed Perception

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“Blessed Perception” by Kirk Hunt

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Matthew 13:16 KJV

There is no equipment failure. There is no some sensory denial field. There is the choice you make.

You choose to look into His Word. Or you choose to run. Probably screaming like a little kid. There is no third way.

Jesus was talking to His Disciples about the Pharisees. He was also talking to His disciples about their choices. You do not heal a sick soul by accident.

Looking into God’s truth can hurt. A lot. His Word is full of power and holiness. His truth will react fiercely with your sinful nature and imperfect character. There will be at least some fury and furor as His purity drives out your profane. I know this from experience.

The good news is that His Word will heal you. In ways you did not anticipate, yet alone desire. Folks will see your change and want to know why and how.

In the end, you will be grateful for your transformation. The folks around you will also be grateful for your healing. After giving them relief, your healing will also give them hope.

It is a blessing to look into God’s Word. Make the choice to be healed, by seeing and hearing His strong medicine. Try not to flinch too much.

Think: I want to hear God’s Word and truth because it will heal me.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see and hear Your Word so that I can be healed.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

See, Hear and Live

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“See, Hear and Live” by Kirk Hunt

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 13:15 KJV

Healing can rarely be forced on someone. For best results, you must cooperate with healing. And the first step to true healing is knowing you need it.

The Pharisees of Jesus’ time knew all they wanted to know. They were the judges of wellness and sickness. Their interpretation of righteousness superseded every other version.

Jesus spoke to the elite few and they rejected Him, His message and they remained soul-sick. Jesus spoke to the ordinary many and they accepted Him, His message and they were soul-healed. The difference lay in the eyes and ears. One group wanted to hear, see and understand.

Want to stay sick? Easy. Run from His Word. Refuse to hear His truth.

Want to get well? Easy. Look into His Word. Insist on hearing His truth.

Of course, His truth has a sharp edge, no matter how softly worded. God’s Word hits hard, no matter what side of the tracks you live on. The question remains: do you want to be healed?

You have a choice today: healing or sickness. It is that simple. It is that easy.

Think: I want to hear God’s Word and truth because it heals me.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see and hear You so that I can be healed.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Tell Your Story

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“Tell Your Story” by Kirk Hunt

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

John 9:25 KJV

It should have been a celebration. There should have been rejoicing with happy tears and ecstatic shouting. Instead the sour faces of a grim inquisition pressed the man. A man guilty of receiving miraculous healing.

That morning he was a blind beggar, dependent on the few coins tossed his way in pity. That afternoon light and color flooded through the once dead orbs he called eyes. How they calmed him down, I’ll never know.

Still, he finally faced the elite leaders of the synagogue. He didn’t need his new, beautiful vision to see their cynical, ugly intentions. Fearlessly, he told his story, regardless of the consequences.

What great and miraculous thing has Jesus done in your life? Are you willing to tell your story? Regardless of their intentions, they need to hear the truth of His power in your life.

Whether you face a joyous celebration, or a somber tribunal, tell your story. Explain the change. No one can tell your story better than you can.

Think : I need to tell my story of Jesus’ power in my life.

Pray: “Lord, Help me to tell my story of You. No matter what the audience looks like.”