{"id":46162,"date":"2021-08-17T11:20:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T15:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=46162"},"modified":"2021-11-08T02:51:51","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T06:51:51","slug":"healing-power-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/healing-power-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"The Healing Power of God Is the Best Medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Can faith in God heal physical ailments? How can the simple act of believing and trusting in the divine principle help to cure a bodily disease?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Norman Vincent Peale, the author of The Power of Positive Thinking<\/em>, faith, when understood and applied in the right manner, can be a powerful factor in overcoming health obstacles. He argues that the amazing power of faith is not used enough in healing. Faith can work miracles, but these miracles are actually the result of spiritually scientific principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is how the healing power of God can be combined with medicine to help cure physical ailments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Can Faith in God Help Cure Physical Ailments?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many examples, backed by medical evidence, of the role of faith\u2014in combination with medical science\u2014in healing. Faith is the added element that boosts the efficacy of medicine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One great surgeon who combined science with faith, Dr. Hans Finsterer, believed that the healing power of God helped in his surgeries. He felt that true progress in medicine would be made only when doctors became convinced of the importance of God’s help in the treatment of patients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faith Is Tied to Healing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For many centuries, religious faith was tied to healing activities. The word \u201cpastor\u201d comes from a word that means \u201cthe cure of souls.\u201d \u201cHoliness\u201d comes from a word meaning \u201cwholeness.\u201d \u201cMeditation\u201d resembles the word \u201cmedication.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s generally understood that there\u2019s a connection between how a person thinks and feels: the mental state has an effect on bodily health. Since religion deals with thoughts and attitudes, it fits that the science of faith would be involved in the healing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To keep a state of health and happiness<\/a>, it\u2019s important to use medical science to the fullest but also apply the techniques of spiritual science.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author and playwright Harold Sherman was contracted to do a radio presentation with the promise that he would become a permanent writer. After months of work, he was let go and his work was used without credit. He was filled with anger and hatred over this injustice, and subsequently developed a fungus growth in his throat membranes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though he sought the best medical attention, the issue resolved only when he was able to give up the hate and find forgiveness and understanding in his heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God works through both doctors and ministers, and many physicians agree. Peale has encountered many doctors who believe the physical and spiritual are closely interrelated, finding that people\u2019s feelings of fear, guilt and hate are often connected to health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peale met a physician who explained that many of his patients need better thought patterns<\/a> more than medicine\u2014their feelings of guilt, fear and resentment are toxic. He found himself trying to fix their spiritual troubles as well as their physical ailments, prescribing religious and inspirational books to help them live better. He believed that ministers, such as Peale, have an important role to play along with doctors in the healing of patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other medical friends found that high blood pressure was connected to repressed fear, and diabetes (Shortform note: In this case Peale would be referring to Type 2 diabetes) is connected to grief and disappointment. In such situations, doctors can monitor and lower blood pressure and provide insulin, but no complete cure can come until people find a better understanding of their own emotions, which can be found through religious faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medicine Plus Faith Creates Healing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From readers and listeners, Peale received numerous examples of healing in which the element of faith is present. In each of these instances, the best resources of medical and psychological science are utilized in combination with spiritual science resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faith can add to medical therapies and bring about well-being if it is in God\u2019s plan for the patient to live. Obviously, we all have to die sometime. In the cases of faith-enhanced healing Peale has investigated, he found certain factors to be present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n