CONFESSIONS OF A RECOVERED NEURODIVERGENT #1

HEALING STRATEGIES: PRAYING FOR HEALING

In this blog series, I will be detailing what I have learned about healing for the neurodivergent. The healing strategies I will outline in this series are applicable in the vast majority of cases, as they all come from the Bible. I want to reassure you that healing is certainly achievable. These strategies will work since they are biblical, but you must believe they will work. Despite how are your circumstances, God has a great plan for you, and it has to be done according to HIs purpose, plan and will.

A SHORT TESTIMONY

At 74, I sometimes refer to myself as a "Recovering Neurodivergent". However, I don't let the moniker of being a neurodivergent define me, as I did for many years. I'll save you the gory details of my many years of "wandering in the wilderness". Suffice to say, I would often wonder (daily, many times) "What is wrong with me?!?!". I sought answers to my dilemma, but to no avail. My biological family had no problem asking me the same question - constantly. The word "stupid" was applied many times. My first marriage was a disaster, and I was divorced in short order. Women, for that matter, were a pursuit only for those who were "normal"; certainly, a real girlfriend or a wife was out of the question for "someone like me." Job hunting was my job in my 20's, as I hopped from one sales job to another with painful regularity. I was miserable and depressed, and in my early 30's, I had started to plan my suicide. The world certainly wouldn't miss me.

Then, the Holy Spirit intervened and saved my life.

I was shaving one morning, getting ready for work, when the strangest feeling came over me. I looked in the mirror. From somewhere deep in my being, my mouth uttered the words "People figure out how to do this thing called life, and I'm going to figure out how to do it!" I am absolutely convinced that the Holy Spirit said those words for me. I remember being totally invigorated, and it changed the course of my life.

HEALING STRATEGY 1: LEARN HOW TO PRAY

I know, I know. You have been praying fervently, yet nothing happens. You wonder where God is, or if He cares. Your frustration is many times at its zenith. As a pastoral therapist I found many times Christians miss out on what certain scriptures have to tell us and how powerful they can be in bringing about healing. Let's examine 1 John 5:14-15:

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

In other words, If you pray His will on your life, it will happen. Let's look at some examples of how we can pray scripture so that we know we are praying his will:

"Lord, I thank you in Jesus name that You are making me a person:"

"...of God you want me to be" (2 Tim 3:16)

"...with clean hands and a pure heart" (Ps 24:4)

"...after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13-14)

"...with a heart of worship (Matt 15:8)

"...whereby You are increasing and I am decreasing" (John 3:30)

or

"Lord, I thank you in Jesus name that You are blessing me and extending my influence"

(1 Chron 4:10)

"Lord, I thank you in Jesus name that You have made me a priest, your special possession,"

(1 Pet 2:9)

"Lord, I thank you in Jesus name that You are giving your servant success today by

granting me favor" (Neh 1:11)

There a literally dozens more that you pray.

"Lord I thank you in Jesus name that you healing me" would be a prayer that the vast majority of us have likely prayed, no doubt. And certainly, being healed is something that would seem to be in God's will. But why doesn't He answer many times? If it's His will, why not you cry out!

James 1 instructs us: " Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord."

We need to remember, God's purpose, plan, will must be respected. While your healing is much desired by you, what He wants from you is your faith and trust in Him above and beyond anything else. His plan for you is going to be different than others. Seek Him and worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Walk with Jesus intimately each and every day. Your "divergent issues" may not be resolved in the timetable you would prefer, what will happen over time is that your whole outlook will begin to change. You will begin to see yourself as God sees you, and not through the lens of a label. Work on becoming the person God wants you to be, not necessarily the person you think you want to be in our modern society. Jer 6:16 advises us:

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." You will only have true peace as you seek God's will and the way He has set out for you!

NEXT TIME: THE TYRANNY OF LABELS

About the author: Rev. Dr. Nick Marica is the Vice-Chancellor of Amherst Theological Seminary, and he has a D. Min. from Amherst Theological Seminary. He has his MA from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is the author of the book "The Walk Applied: Living the New Creation Life as a Citizen of God's Kingdom in a Secular World." He has also written "The Fasting and Prayer Handbook." Nick has been married to Kathy since 1985, and they are the proud parents of 3 children.

Contact Nick at nick.marica@srcministry.org

Facebook: Amherst Theological Seminary

Web: www.amherstseminary.com