As I write this, someone dear to me is checking into the hospital to have surgery to remove a cancerous piece of his colon. Meanwhile, the son of another man very dear to me continues to suffer from epileptic seizures. The father of a lifelong friend is near death. And another friend is at the hospital hoping to deliver her baby. There is a lot of need for prayer — indeed, I am sitting here wondering what is the best way to pray for each.
If you are new to a life lived with Jesus, you may be wondering the same. There is always someone who needs prayer for their health. Perhaps even yourself.
The first place that comes to mind with examples of how to ask Jesus for healing is in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). There are so many examples of sick people coming to Jesus, or bringing their hurting loved ones to Jesus.
One man, with the horrible disfiguring disease of leprosy, came to Jesus and knelt down in from of Him. “Lord,” he said, “if You are willing, you can heal me.” Jesus told him, “I am willing.” That simple.
So this story gives me one way to pray for those I know of who need to be healed:
Lord Jesus, if You are willing, You have the power the heal my friend. Please be willing.
Father, if you are willing please turn the baby so my friend can have a natural birth.
In Mark 9 there is the story of a boy demon-possessed who was brought to Jesus by his father. At first the disciples tried to help, unsuccessfully. Then Jesus arrived. The father said to Jesus, “If you can do something, please have compassion and help us!” Jesus’ response was, “‘IF you can do something’? All things are possible for one who believes.” To which the father cried out, “I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!” Then Jesus healed the boy.
Sometimes, we need to ask God to help us believe in Him and His provision, to belief that He made us so He can also heal us.
Father, this seems such a frightening infection on top of everything else. [or — Father, I have been praying for years and the answer still seems to be “no.”] Help us believe that with You that all things are possible. In Your mercy, have compassion on my dear one and bring him complete healing.
In a story from Mark 10, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, cried out to Jesus, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” He would not be silent but cried out until Jesus called him over. Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted from him. “Teacher, I want to see.” Jesus healed him instantly saying that the beggar’s faith had healed him.
Also, in Luke 18 Jesus told a story about a persistent widow who daily brought her petition to a judge who finally relented just to get her off his back. Luke said Jesus told this story to give us the encouragement to keep praying and not give up.
These stories give me the courage to keep asking God for healing and health, no matter how long it takes. So you can keep praying as well. Don’t give up but keep asking.
The Psalms are also a great place to look for ways to pray for health and healing.
Psalm 41:3-4 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!”
Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
Father, You are the maker of all. You understand how we are made and are able to bring full healing. Heal my friends, oh Lord, and they will be healed. Sustain them on their sickbeds. Restore them to complete health. In Your great compassion, even as you did for the the blind, the lame and the leper, restore their lives and bring joy to those who love them. Through the Name of Jesus, I pray this, and for His glory.
One last thought: Ultimately, we have to remember that God is God and we are not. That He knows what we need before we ask it. That He also knows what must happen, what brings Him the glory, when to say yes and when to say no, even if we can’t see it or understand how that answer can possibly be good. But our God is a good God and a merciful Father who loves us. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)
Faith Gym 