THE ESTABLISHED HEART, THE HEART ESTABLISHED IN GOODNESS
We have to establish some things in our heart about God before we can believe that He is a God Who heals us personally. It is one thing to believe that God heals everyone, but it is quite another matter when we are hurting and have had a bad doctor’s report, to believe God is healing us.
God is a good God. When you look up that word “good,” its original meaning indicates strength, abundance, fitness, firmness, validity, worthy, virtuous. God is a good God Who is full of goodness. That is Who He is. He is good. When I look up the word “goodness,” I see the word “kindness” over and over. God is full of mercy, kindness, loving-kindness, steadfast love, enduring love. He is kind.
He was so kind to us that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to this earth to take our place on the cross and at the whipping post for our healing and health. Jesus took every sickness and disease that will ever be known on this earth. He took them on His back and then on Himself personally on the cross. He chose to feel every symptom and pain of every sickness forever. Why? Because He is good. He is kind. He is loving. He loves us forever, eternally, steadfastly. His love endures forever. It makes no difference what you are facing in your physical body right now, God has already taken it for you because He is good and loves you totally.
We must believe that God is a good God. Over and over and over in the Word of God I read that God is good and His goodness and mercy endure forever. Let me give you a few examples.
Psalm 25:8,10 tells us that God is good and upright. His paths are mercy and steadfast love, and truth and faithfulness for His people.
In Exodus 34:6 and Romans 2:4 we read that God told Moses that He was abundant in goodness and truth. His goodness or kindness is intended to lead men to repent or change their minds about God and His will.
Psalm 31:19 tells us that God’s goodness is laid up for us who worship Him and trust Him.
In Psalm 33:5 we read that the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Psalm 52:1 says that the goodness or loving-kindness of the Lord endures continually.
Throughout the Bible (Psalm 107, Psalm 118, Psalm 135 for example) we are told to give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercy or loving-kindness endures forever. We are to praise Him for His goodness. He fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Psalm 144:2 We are to bless the Lord for He is our goodness.
Psalm 145:7 We are to pour forth from our mouth rejoicing and singing for God’s abundant goodness, mercy, loving-kindness.
Then, of course, the clincher, Psalm 23:6: Surely goodness and mercy (unfailing love) shall follow me (chase, run after, pursue, hunt me down) all the days of my life.