healing (verb) - to make free from injury or disease; to make sound or whole; to make well again; to restore to health; to cause an undesirable condition to be overcome; to patch up or correct a breach or division; to restore to original purity or integrity
Synonyms: cure, fix, mend, rehabilitate
Antonyms: cripple, damage, harm, impair
Most of us learn very early in life how to help along physical healing: a bandage on a paper cut, a shot in the arm to prevent the flu, a trip to the pharmacy for an unpleaant tasting liquid to get rid of a cough, a stiff and uncomfortable cast to set a broken bone. As we get older, we learn it's all quite a bit more complicated than that, and we experience new types of injuries that an ice pack can't fix: being excluded from the birthday party of someone we thought was a friend, a bully's mean words targeting something we can't necessarily control, the grief of losing a grandparent or a pet, the deep ache of our first heartbreak. All wounds can and will be healed by the Father, but what we as His children tend to forget is that that healing will be on His terms, not our own. The "love of our life" may have broken our heart for God to show us what we truly need in a relationship that will honor Him so we can recognize it in our future spouse later on, or we may experience verbal abuse from an employer to both show us the strength it takes to finally walk away and also to help someone else in a similar situation in the future. It's not easy and it's almost always painful, but through the healing the Lord provides, we learn to lean on Him and come to Him with everything instead of relying on ourselves to try and eventually fail to fix ourselves.
This week's post includes seven songs that discuss the Lord's healing along with Scripture references that inspired them and that I was led to with each entry. All Scripture passages are from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible.
Wounded Healer by Audrey Assad (arranged by A. Assad, B. Shive)
Featured on Assad's 2017 album Evergreen, this song speaks to not only God's healing power, but His empathy towards His children's pain as well. Jesus endured unimaginable pain as He was killed in a manner still considered to be one of the most brutal execution methods in history: Roman crucifixion. Because of His wounds, we are healed of our sin and shame, made new again by His blood.
Image of the invisible/In our pain, we feel You near/God of Heaven in flesh and bone/By Your wounds, we shall be healed/Wounded Healer/We give our hearts to You/Wounded Healer/We give our hearts to You
Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
I Need a Ghost by Brandon Lake (written by B. Lake, J. Silverberg)
Released as a single in 2020, Lake sings of a God who heals instead of trusting in the trickery that tries to cloud our vision here on earth. The Holy Spirit was sent to us upon our salvation so that we can experience God living in us, healing the wounds that aren't just physical, but mental and emotional as well. He is not withholding, but generous in the relief He provides.
I don't need the smoke or mirrors, 'cause I know there's a God who's real/I don't need the lights to fool me, 'cause I have seen the God who heals/I know when I ask, I'll receive it, 'cause You're not a God who withholds/I hear You say, "Just believe me”/I need a Holy Ghost awaken in my soul/I need a love that glows, rattling my bones 'til the evidence shows/I need a Holy Ghost awaken in my soul/I need a heart on fire that'll never grow tired wherever I go/I need a Holy, Holy/Ghost, I need a Ghost/Holy, Holy/Ghost, I need a Ghost
Jeremiah 20:9 But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!
Same God by Elevation Worship ft. Jonsal Barrientes (written by S. Furtick, C. Brown, B. Lake, P. Barrett)
Featured on Elevation's 2022 album LION with vocals by worship leader Jonsal Barrientes, this song has been a favorite of mine these last two and a half years for how God has spoken to me personally through these lyrics. He keeps His promises, He parts our metaphorical seas, He overcomes what to us seems impossible, and He defeats our giants. He's been healing His people since time began, and He's absolutely not going to stop now.
I'm calling on the God of Jacob/Whose love endures through generations/I know that You will keep Your covenant/I’m calling on the God of Moses/The one who opened up the ocean/I need You now to do the same thing for me/For me, for me/O God, my God, I need You/O God, my God, I need You now/How I need You now/O Rock, O Rock of ages/I’m standing on Your faithfulness/On Your faithfulness
-Isaiah 12:2 See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me the victory.
That's the Power (Live) by Hillsong Worship & Benjamin William Hastings (written by B. Hastings, M. Fatkin, A. Pappas)
Featured on Hillsong's 2021 live album These Same Skies with vocals by worship leader Benjamin William Hastings, this song proudly declares the power of God in our lives as Christians. His very Name can do incredible things that humans can only barely dream of. He can, and will, heal the entire world.
There's a name that levels mountains/It carves out highways through the sea/And I've seen its power unravel battles/Right in front of me/Oh, there's a faith that stands defiant/It sends Goliath to his knees/And I've seen as praise unravelled shackles/Right off my feet/‘Cause that's the power of Your Name, and just a mention makes a way/Giants fall and strongholds break and there is healing/And that's the power that I claim, it's the same that rolled the grave/And there's no power like the mighty Name of Jesus
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Tremble (Live) by Lauren Daigle (written by L. Daigle, P. Duncan, P. Mabury)
Released as a single in 2021, Daigle sings of a God whose power causes everything on earth to tremble before His might. Only He can wipe the damage in our souls white as snow, tuning our hearts to crave the goodness and purity that only living like Jesus can bring. His children don't tremble in fear of their Father, but in awe and reverance.
I will tremble at no other name/My heart's surrendered to no other reign/I will bow at no other throne/And rest my heart at no other home/Let these hands lift no other crown/Let these knees fall on no other ground/Draw these eyes from the gold that won't shine/You turn this life from water to wine/And I tremble/I tremble, Lord/In your presence/In your presence, oh yeah
I Corinthians 2:1-5 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness - timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
Better Word (Live) by Leeland (written by J. Mooring, L. Mooring, K. Lee)
Featured on Leeland's 2019 live album Better Word, this joyous anthem reminds us of all the amazing things that have been and continue to be healed by the Blood of Jesus. Every wound, be it physical, emotional, or mental, is capable of being healed by the Father if we put our hope and trust in Him. When He speaks, every dark thing runs from Him.
Your blood is healing every wound/Your blood is making all things new/Your blood speaks a better word/Your blood, the measure of my worth/Your blood, more than I deserve/Your blood speaks a better word/It's singing out with life/It's shouting down the lies/It echoes through the night, the precious blood of Christ/Speaks a better word, speaks a better word
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Every Heart by Unveiled Worship, Lindy Cofer, & Lou Engle (written by B. Ming)
Featured on Unveiled's 2020 album Every Heart with vocals by worship leader Lindy Cofer and a spoken message by pastor Lou Engle, this powerful song echoes the cry of our hearts as Christ followers to align our hearts with the will of God. Through His healing of our hearts and souls, He guides us to everything good that He provides (the fruits of the Spirit). He's a light in the dark showing us the way to be whole in Him.
Break my heart for what breaks Yours/To be a reflection of Your great love/Let my life sing Your song/And echo the rhythm of Your great love/Let my praise be an action calling forth the harvest/That every heart will know and every soul will sing/Let my praise be a weapon, a light against the darkness/That every heart will know and every soul will sing of Your great love
Lamentations 3:22-23 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I truly hope these songs and scriptures spoke to your heart today, because I know they spoke to mine. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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