Verse for meditation
Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven (James 5:14,15).
The healing nature of God is evidently seen in the Bible from the beginning. Even from the time of the covenant that God made with the people of Israel stated in Ex-15:26 : "I am the Lord who heals you", the incidents of healing by God can be seen in various contexts - In Psalms (103:3, 107:20, 147:3), in Prophecies (Je-33:6, Is-53:3-5, 57:18,19, Mal-4:2) and in many places in the New Testament. The healing ministry was revealed in the public ministry of Jesus and the work of Apostles. At last, the Bible ends with a revelation of a tree of life with twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruits each month; and leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Rev-22:14) God's healing is holistic and multifaceted.
1.    Healing for the body (Ps-103:3, 1Pe-2:24, Is-53:5)
2.    Healing for the mind (Ps-147:3)
3.    Healing for the soul - for backsliders (Hos-14:4)
4.    Healing for the nations (IICh-7:14) Our country and its socio- political system need healing.
5.    Healing for the relationships (Ep-2:13-15). This is a healing to be taken place for the family and other social relationships.
There are many reasons for sickness. The sin, i.e., the evil nature of human life is one of the main reasons for sickness. The immoral life style and the misuse of our freedom invite various diseases not only to the individuals but also the society at large (Is-59:1,2, Rom-1:24-27, ICo-11:28-30). Further, disease also occurs by the will of God. St. Paul testifies that he had a thorn in the flesh which was given by God to keep him from being too elated because of his exceptional character of the revelations (2Co-10:7). He appealed to the Lord about this three times that it would leave in but God said to him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness" (2Co-12:9). Job was also affected by sickness with God's will (Job 1 & 2 chapters). Mean while, Luke testifies that a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years got healed by Jesus. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. From this incident it is said that diseases also occur by evil spirits (Luk-13:11). Furthermore the pollution is one of the major reasons for causing diseases. From the innocent children to the aged are victims of dangerous diseases due to pollution. God created man to take care of the earth (Gen-2:15). But man exploit the earth in its maximum level. As a result the balance of the earth has been highly challenged. Our air is polluted, soil is polluted and the water is polluted. Small beautiful streams, ponds, lakes and wells in the villages are disappearing. Food and vegetables are contaminated with chemicals. Mankind is exposed to its horrors of consequences. Even though the environmentalists raise their voice on one side, the other side of the present scenario is bleak and becoming from bad to worse. Thus, pollution contributes to a dismal picture of causing diseases.
Here it is essential for us to seek God's face and His will. We will trust in Him and pray for a holistic healing for our nation.

1. Holistic healing Is-42:1-9

As mentioned above the Bible shows a holistic healing which is a healing for the body, mind, spirit, relationships and for the nation at large. The Nazareth manifesto of Jesus also revealed the same (Luk-4:18,19). Prophet Isaiah speaks about God's servant: "I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon from the prison those who sit in darkness"  (Is-42:6-7, 61:1-3). This deliverance shows us a holistic liberation.

2. A house is broken for the healing of the sick  Mar-2:1-12

For the healing of the paralytic, to bring him towards Jesus, the roof of the house in Capernaum was removed (Mar-2:1-12). When we surrender our lives to God to be broken down for others, God will use us for His glory as the carriers of healing. Our home - family and the church should be the source of healing for the society. Let us give our lives to God.

3. Church : A center of healing

James the brother of Jesus is considered to be the author of the Epistle of James and the first Bishop of the church. Epistle of James was the first written document taken in the New Testament. He advises the church in this way: the elders from the church show, come and pray for the sick (Jam-5:14-16). Visiting the sick is one of the major ministries of the elders of the church. Church needed elders to spend some time with the sick, to give a touch of love to them and to pray for them in faith. Thus, the elders become the channel of blessings and healing for the Church. In the present scenario of the growth in the various kinds of diseases, the Healing Ministry of the church also should grow to a great extent. Now we also have to thank God of His blessings of potential growth in medical science and the enormous facilities available in hospitals and doctors in service. Let us thank God for the people who dedicate their service selflessly and honestly in this area.

Prayer

Compassionate God, Who neither breaks a bruised reed nor snuff out a smoldering wick, who heals all our diseases. We pray that You sustain us through our difficult times, heal our sicknesses, and further, give us and a loving heart, listening ears and praying lips to be channels of Your healing. So that our health would be restored and we would praise You, walking and jumping. Through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever more. Amen.

Humor

•    This incident happened in a interior village of England. An old lady who trusted for everything on God came with a sick hen to the Pastor. The Pastor read the prayer book for the hen. Before arriving her home the hen died. The old lady became very angry. She came back to the Pastor and complained. He said, "there is no possibility for such an event, but still I will check it up". He went inside and came back. He said "I am very sorry for my mistake. I wrongly used a prayer from the Prayer book. Instead of using the prayer for hen I used the prayer for horse resulting an overdose".
•    One Sunday satan had decided to frighten the people in the church. He appeared by shouting and screaming in front of the people. On looking at him all got frightened and started running out of the Church. But only one person remained sitting there without minding the satan. The confused satan asked him, "Are you not afraid of me"? He responded saying, "why should I fear of you?, Is it not your younger sister with whom I married to, and live with her for the past thirty years".