Psalm 103:1-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
There is nothing that made me feel more helpless as a parent than watching my child be really sick. When he was born at 25 weeks coming in at a whopping 1 pound 10 ounces, we were overwhelmed and scared. The doctors kept telling us all the different ways things could go horribly wrong, from the likelihood that our son would be severely handicapped to the very real possibility that he could die. Everything was out of our control as we watched the doctors and nurses do everything they could to give him a fighting chance. The only thing we knew to do was reach out to anyone and everyone who would pray for this little life and contend with us for him to live. I remember sitting by his bedside where he was covered in cords, attached to several life saving devices and telling God I needed him to be the God I read about in the Bible. I needed to see he was still the one who does miracles and who still heals today. At that moment, I felt God plant seeds of faith in me that together we have watered and grown for 22 years now. I still praise God for touching my son’s life and allowing our family to experience the God who heals. In gratitude and as a response to what God did for us, my family has been praying for people to be healed ever since.
God never changes. He is still the God who heals and does miraculous things. Sometimes he works in an instant, sometimes he works over time, and sometimes he allows us to walk through our circumstances and he carries us through. I don’t have any explanation for his methods because Scripture tells us we only have a small understanding of what is going on and God is the only one with the full picture (1 Cor 13:12). Nevertheless, we are given the command as part of the Great Commission to heal the sick in Jesus’ name(Mark 16:17-18). That means as believers, when we encounter those with the need for healing, Jesus has given us authority in his name to heal.
Looking at Jesus, he was so creative in how he healed. There was nothing formulaic about him. Rather, he leaned into the voice of the Father and did what was on his Father said. He made the lame walk (John 5:1-17), the blind see (Matt 9:27-31), the deaf hear (Matt 7:31-37) and even raised the dead (John 11:38-34). Leprosy was no match for Jesus (Matt 8:1-4). The woman with the issue of blood, he didn’t even do anything. She touched Jesus’ robe and was healed (Mark 5:25-34). Healing is completely dependent on God moving. Likewise, we must be tuned to the voice of God directing us. Praying for the sick does not have to be filled with lots of words. A simple prayer, “Be healed in Jesus’ name” is sufficient.
As the fast continues this week, let’s keep pressing into the Holy Spirit and ask him to anoint us to heal people as we pray. Pray for the sick to be healed, for the lame to walk, the blind to see. Let’s be praying together that people would be leaving behind wheel chairs and walkers, taking out hearing aides and leaving cancer free. Let’s ask for faith the size of a mustard seed to believe for miracles. Every miracle points to the glory and the goodness of God.
Listening Prayer: Holy Spirit, is there a specific person or type of sickness you want me to be focusing on as we pray during the fast? Is there any area in my life where unbelief is standing in the way of you moving through me as a conduit for healing? Pray as the Holy Spirit directs.
Prayer: God, thank you for Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension that not only bought our salvation, but equips us to continue the work Jesus did, including healing the sick. God, I pray you would increase my faith to believe when I pray in your name you will give me the authority to heal. I pray you would anoint my hands so when I lay hands on the sick they will recover. God, we lift up all those who are in need of a touch from you to heal. I pray you would heal the sick who come to Worship Prayer and Healing Gathering and beyond. May your supernatural healings increase in our church and in our region. May we walk out the fullness of the Great Commission including the healing of the sick. We know none of this can happen in our own power and we need you to move through us. Help us. Thank you, God! Amen.
Resources: Bible Verses on Physical Healing
Spend time in the Gospels reading through the life of Jesus and seeing all the healing miracles he did!
James 5:13-16
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Psalm 41:1-3
Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.