It's been almost two years since it happened, so I guess it's high time I sat down to write my testimony about how God has healed me of my diabetes.

I have had been diabetic for about ten years. It took me some time to accept it, and at least another five years before I started taking medication for it. You know how it is with doctors - we all suffer from the delusion known as "the myth of personal invulnerability".

Diabetes is what we call a lifestyle disease - a result of too much good food and not enough exercise, although genetic factors also play a part.

I diagnosed myself with diabetes more than ten years ago, but have never really been very worried about my condition. After all, I reasoned, dying early from the complications of diabetes simply meant going to heaven that much sooner (Phil 1:23). I tried to get some regular exercise, but never watched my diet. No one would ever have guessed that I was a diabetic from observing the way I ate, least of all my diabetic patients, to whom I often stressed the importance of diet and exercise!

The power of intercessory prayer 

Sometime in October 2005, I was prompted by God to ask my cell group to pray for the healing of my diabetes. 

I should explain that I had always believed, up to that point, in praying personally for my own needs and healing. If we have direct access to the Father, why should we need to ask someone to pray for us?

Because of this stubborn mindset of mine, I resisted God's prompting initially. He did not give up on me, and the urge grew stronger. Finally - by His grace - I obeyed, swallowing my pride and opening my mouth to ask for prayer.

After praying, one of my cell group members, Kenneth Lee, declared that he had no doubt at all that I would be healed. I confess that, at that time, I felt pretty skeptical of his confident assertion.

A change of heart

Over the next few weeks, however, I experienced a definite change of heart towards diet and exercise. I started lifting weights regularly and eating fewer carbohydrates (which all diabetics need to do). I found that I could easily forego the types of food I used to crave. God had given me a whole new set of tastebuds!

It was not long before I started noticing symptoms of low blood sugar, so I decided to stop my medication, while continuing with my workouts and diet. My blood sugar readings continued going down - in fact, they became lower than what they were previously while I was still taking medication!

I began visibly losing weight, to the extent that many of my patients started asking me if I was all right (in other words, was I suffering from cancer or AIDS or what!?!). These queries proved to be good opportunities to share about what God had done in my life - how my church friends had prayed for my diabetes, and how He had answered their prayers by giving me a change of heart.

A permanent change

It has been two years, and the changes have been sustained. Have I been healed of my diabetes? Yes and no. For all practical purposes I don't consider myself a diabetic, because my blood sugar is well within the normal limits despite the fact that I am not taking any medication. Nowadays my blood sugar remains normal even after a full meal, because of the fact that my body composition has changed (less fat, more muscle). Yet I know that if I fall back into my old eating habits and sedentary ways, and become obese again, my diabetes will come back.
 
God doesn't always heal miraculously - he sometimes ordains the use of means to obtain the healing. Hezekiah was ordered to lay a lump of figs on his boil. Naaman, who had leprosy, was told to wash himself in the river Jordan seven times. Both were healed only after they had obeyed.

The skeptical (including the skeptic in myself) would comment that this is not surprising, considering that I am simply applying what every doctor knows to be true - diabetes can be well controlled with a proper diet and exercise.

My reply would be: Yes, indeed - everyone knows WHAT to do. The problem is always in the application. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The Master Physician, after prescribing the means, supplies us with the ability to apply them. The real miracle, I believe, lies in my permanent change of heart towards diet and exercise. Those who've eaten with me before (and watched me eating) would know what I am talking about. God has wrought this change in me in answer to my cell group's prayer and to His glory.

Spiritual parallels

In this story of how God has healed me by changing my heart, I find the spiritual parallels striking. We are all sinful - spiritually diseased - knowing the difference between right and wrong, but not able (or even wanting) to do the right thing. It is only when God changes our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit that we develop a desire for spiritual things and start to disdain the things of this world. He cures us of our sinful cravings, but not all at once. Change does not occur in our lives without some spiritual sweat - self-denial, prayer, studying the Word - applying the means which God has prescribed for spiritual change. God Himself will help us in this.

In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him. ( Phil 2:12,13)

When God has changed us by the power of His Holy Spirit, it will be apparent to those around us. We are then called to be His witnesses. Let us "be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks a reason of the hope in us." (1 Pet 3:15)

Praying for one another

One final point: I now understand that God wants us to pray for one another. He has, in fact, said this in so many words: Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)  It was a humbling but necessary lesson for me, that sometimes God chooses to answer only the prayers of others for my needs.