You have a divine "Bill of Rights." From receiving answers to prayer to raising the dead, God has set aside for you a wonderful inheritance.

Included in this inheritance is the right to good health. God made sure of this spiritual birthright through Jesus. Like Him, you have a right to prosper in your physical body. The Bible refers to you as a joint-heir, or equal beneficiary with Jesus (Romans 8:17, The Amplified Bible).

Although Jesus is the Son of God, He came to earth as the Son of Man, born like any other human. His purpose was to show us how to live supernaturally-like superhuman beings in this natural world. Think about it. As a man, Jesus possessed the power to lay hands on lepers, correct blood disorders, open blind eyes and cast out demons. What do you think His attitude was toward sickness and disease? He didn't tolerate it-and you shouldn't either!

The Power to Live Healthy

Jesus was inheritance-minded, and inheritance-minded people possess "doggedness." In other words, they are tenaciously confident in the integrity of God's Word. Jesus' attitude toward sickness was a result of His study of the Scriptures. He knew with certainty that He had every right to exercise His God-given authority in the earth. Luke 4:18 tells of Jesus' confidence in Who He was, what was available to Him and what He was capable of doing. In essence, Jesus said, "I am empowered by the Holy Spirit to heal, deliver and set free those who are poor of health and in bondage."

What is your attitude toward sickness? Do you accept it as a way of life? Many believers settle for less than God's best where their health is concerned. Some have accepted the satanic lie that "God will put sickness on you to teach you a lesson." However, Deuteronomy 7:15 says, "The Lord will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt& " (New International Version).

You have the right to divine health. It starts with changing the way you think and speak (Romans 12:2; Proverbs 18:21). If you're sickness-minded and confess, "I'm sick as a dog. It looks like I'll never get over this," that's exactly what will happen (Proverbs 23:7).

Be like Jesus. Take a firm stand against sickness. He has already paid the ultimate price for your healing (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:24). Don't cancel out your healing by failing to eat healthy foods and exercising regularly. Supernatural health is maintained by using common sense. Do whatever it takes to become fit for the Master's use. God wants you well!

Protection - Your Right to Safety and Protection

Regardless of what goes on in the world-the threat of terrorism, war or outbreaks of disease-you should live with the confidence that God will keep you safe and protected. You have no reason to live in fear as long as you trust in His promise to shield you from danger. No matter what you see on the news, you must not be afraid!

God's Word is filled with promises to deliver His people from terror and destruction (Psalm 91:5). As you live in obedience to Him and confidently rely on His Word, you can rest assured that nothing evil will happen to you, and neither will any sickness or disease come near you (vv. 10-11). God has assigned angels to make sure of it.

However, the promises made in Psalm 91 will only become a reality in your life when you do what verse 9 says: "& make the Most High [our] dwelling& " (New International Version). In other words, you must trust in God completely, above anything and anyone, where your safety and protection are concerned.

Isaiah 54:14-17 says that by being firmly established in our righteousness-your right-standing relationship with the Father-you have a right to safety and protection. To be established in righteousness simply means to be firmly convinced that you are the righteousness of God. It gives you the right to benefit from all of heaven's resources in order to keep you safe.

Your part in living under God's protective covering is critical. You must build a daily regimen of: (1) reading and studying the Bible; (2) thinking in line with God's Word; and (3) confessing (or speaking) scriptures that deal with your safety. When you learn to live by these principles, you will achieve the results you desire.