Mon 20 Feb 2012
3 Simple Ways To Pray For Healing
Posted by Helen Calder under Healing, Prophetic Teaching
[9] Comments
I have a dream that every Christian will have the confidence and freedom to pray for other people, in any situation.
We serve a loving and supernatural God, Who longs to express His grace and power through us in our everyday lives.
Last week I shared some reasons why we can pray for physical healing, and today I want to share 3 simple ways that you can put it into practice.
It Isn’t about a Formula
When we start out, it can be helpful to become familiar with a few different methods of praying. It is a bit like having access to a toolkit. We can then use whichever method suits the situation—or pray as the Holy Spirit leads us.
When you look at how Jesus healed people in the Gospels, you see many different ways that it took place.
So when we pray, it is not about a formula, although you might find one way of praying for healing that suits you.
Contrary to what some people may try and tell you, there is no one best method to pray for healing.
If there was one superior method, then those healing ministries in the world to day that are getting the most results would all be using one method. But they are not—they all have different expressions of ministry!
3 Easy Ways to Pray for Physical Healing
Here are three different ways that you can pray for healing. I call them Petition (Asking) Prayer, Power Prayer, and Pastoral (Caring) Prayer.
1. Petition (Asking) Prayer
We petition God when we simply ask Him to do something—in this case to bring healing—in Jesus’ Name.
Petition is not inferior to other types of prayer—asking is powerful, and is the privilege of sons and daughters. (Matt 7:7-11, John 14:13-14)
Making requests of God should be done with thanksgiving—we pray with the confidence that He hears us, and has already provided the answer to our prayer. (Phil 4:6)
We see petition happening in the Bible when people came to Jesus asking for healing on behalf of themselves and others.
Petition prayer is a powerful witness to non-Christians because it demonstrates our relationship with God.
2. Power Prayer
Power Prayer is short, brief and to the point, rather like a ‘laser beam’ of focused prayer or command, using the Name of Jesus.
In Power Prayer, we exercise the authority God has given to us over sickness. This includes:
A. Praying using the authority of Jesus’ Name (Acts 4:10,30; John 14:12-14)
B. Praying or declaring scripture
God’s word has authority. Some scriptures we can pray include 1 Peter 2:24, Ex 15:26, Ps 107:20
C. Speaking a word of command to the sickness (Ps 107:20)
Jesus frequently used a word of command or pronouncement of healing. (Luke 8:54, John 5:8, Matt 12:13)
Peter primarily used the spoken word to bring healing in his ministry. (Acts 3:6, 9:34, 9:40)
3. Pastoral (Caring) Prayer
In pastoral care prayer, we aim specific prayer at caring for the person, not only for healing, but also for issues related to the illness.
The power of Pastoral Prayer is that we are praying specifically. It lets the person know that God cares and we care about their whole life related to that issue. (Gal 6:2, Rom 12:12)
Some things we can pray for include:
- Healing and Divine intervention
- Pray concerning specific symptoms as well as the underlying cause of the sickness
- Other family members affected by the need expressed
- Key events such as medical appointments, operations, and so on
- The medical skill of doctors and other professionals
- Other logistics relating to the illness—such as finance, help and transport
- Any emotional responses to the situation—e.g. fear, trauma or anxiety
I like to pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit for Christians who are in difficult times or require healing. They may have had a lot of emotion, or pain to deal with and can feel depleted emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.
Other Prayer Tools
Here are some further thoughts about prayer for healing:
Repeated Prayer
Repeated prayer show the people that we care enough to journey the distance with them. And God may use the power of recurring prayer in the process of healing. Jesus prayed more than once for a blind man, who was healed gradually. (Mark 8:22-26)
Two Points of Connection
a. Laying on hands
Laying on of hands was one of many methods that Jesus used to minister healing to people. (Luke 4:40)
Paul mostly used the laying on of hands and physical impartation to heal. (Acts 20:10, 19:11-12, 28:8)
The benefits of having a physical point of connection include:
- It can help build faith
- It reminds others and us that we are an agent, or representative of Jesus.
- It is a Biblical means of impartation (releasing the healing power of God through one person to another)
We should always ask people first to ensure they are comfortable with us touching them as we pray.
b. Anointing with oil
Anointing with oil is symbolic. It is recommended for use by leaders in the NT. (James 5:14) Jesus’ disciples also used anointing oil on one occasion in Mark 6:13.
We need to keep in mind that unchurched people do not understand the symbolism of anointing with oil, therefore it is may not always be appropriate.
Important Things to Remember
Finally, important things to remember whilst praying for healing are:
- The basis for our prayer is not our ability, but what Jesus has accomplished on the cross. (1 Peter 2:24)
- Jesus healed people out of compassion. (Matt 14:14) Love is vital to praying for healing as it is in any ministry situation. (1 Cor 13:2-3)
- Never advise people to cease prescribed medications. If they believe they are healed, refer them to their physician for confirmation first.
- Acknowledge the mystery of prolonged or unanswered prayer and never place blame for this on anyone’s ‘lack of faith’.
In 2 Tim 4:20, we learn of a close associate of the Apostle Paul who remained ill. No answers were given. We are called to pray in faith, leaving the outcome up to God.
Other articles in the Healing Series:
7 Reasons Why You Can Pray For Healing
Discover Your Unique Healing Gift
Do you have any further thoughts or questions about the topic of healing? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching
On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church
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This is great!
In the ‘early’ years I used to look for the formula.
This blog got me thinking about the many different ways Jesus healed.
Do you think that if the blind man SAW Jesus spit on the ground and make mud to cover the blind mans eyes, he would have freaked out??? – I would have!
(Jhn 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,)
I think Holy Spirit helps us determine which way. For example, my daughter kept getting ear infections and it was frustrating. I prayed for healing – no healing. I prayed and asked why. “She’s been lying to you about ..such & such”, came to me. I asked her about it and she said “yes she did lie”. So she prayed and asked for forgiveness and was healed instantly. She hasn’t had an infection since and this was about 8 years ago. What a lesson for us.
It’s definately not about us – it’s all about Him and I praise Him because He does heal!
Wow, that’s awesome, Karen! Really what it comes back to is relationship, isn’t it? The key to releasing the power of God is intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
Hello Helen,
I came onto this site after receiving an invite to attend the Breakthrough Night at Endeavour Hills next Tuesday, 8/3.
This is a really informative and educational article. Personally, I suffered burns to my left arm in a house fire back in 2009, and it was during this incident that really cemented my faith once and for all. That’s a testimony for another day.
But what I’d been debating about is whether I should pray for physical healing. I have attended a conference by Bill Johnson (Bethel Church) a yr ago about healing, and attendees were standing up, being laid hands on, and praying for their infirmities to be healed. Some were instantly healed, but I observed most were internal afflictions.
I’m 90% at peace with my scarred arm. To be honest, it’s not as bad as most burn victims whom I have encountered, so I am already thankful for that. I guess I sometimes talk to God and ask Him whether He wants to heal it. I get the feeling He wants me to reveal the imperfections in order to get people asking, so I can share my testimony. I have no qualms about that, but being single and turning 32 this year, I kinda wonder if insecurities will creep up onto me someday when I am 40 or 50. I know God at a different level, so I don’t let things bother me. I do wonder about healing, and whether I should even start to pray about it. It’s not that I don’t trust God, I guess I’m more concerned about whether this is in God’s will at all.
But reading this article has somewhat helped me. I think I’ll start praying, and let God speak to me in His own way.
Thanks, Helen!
Hi Stephanie, wow! I sense God speaking to you at several levels as I read your thoughts. I do believe in persisting in seeking for healing over the long term. Jesus honoured such persistence in the NT and responded to it, so may I encourage you to keep the request before Him, and to not hold back when opportunities arise for you to receive prayer.
He will use your testimony wherever you are at on the healing journey, but don’t allow doubts (thinking that it is not God’s will to heal) to hold you back. (You mention Bill Johnson. He has some great teaching on this subject).
I also believe that there is a deeper level of peace and healing and security available to you, and that He is at work in your life in knowing Him as your Abba Father in a greater measure. And that He will use you to minister His life and healing to others. Would love to meet you at the Breakthrough Night if you can make it!
Hi Helen,
Wow, you’re QUICK!
Thank you for your reply, that’s really helpful. I haven’t spoken to anyone much about this, and have been trying to figure this one out on my own. Not doing well, I’m afraid!
I tried to RSVP to the email in the invite earlier before I came to this blog, but there was a permanent error in response. I guess I could just rock up to the event? Might bring a friend along.
I would love to meet you too.
Hi Stephanie, the list is to give us an idea for catering purposes, I have added you to the RSVP and yes, bring friends, you are all most welcome! Make sure you say hello on the night
appreciate ur teaching, God bless you. From nigeria
i need a prayer shawll frm u pls
Hi Larry, thanks for your request. We don’t send prayer shawls from our ministry.
However, I do pray that God’s healing power will be released into the person and situation that you are seeking His healing for, in Jesus’ Name.