People have experienced physical, emotional, and spiritual afflictions all the time, from the moment Adam and Eve turned against God following Satan’s direction to eat the forbidden fruit. From the common cold to chronic illnesses, from emotional pain to deep-seated traumas, from doubts and fears to spiritual crises, we all face challenges that affect our well-being and quality of life. In such times of distress, many people turn to various forms of healing, such as medicine, therapy, meditation, or prayer.
As Christians, we believe that God is the ultimate source of healing and that we can have faith in His power to restore us to wholeness. In this blog post, I will explore what it means to have faith for healing and how we can apply this belief to our lives.
What is Faith for Healing?
Faith for healing is the conviction that God can and will heal you from any afflictions as you trust in His promises and follow His ways. This faith is rooted in the Bible, which records numerous accounts of God’s healing power at work, as mentioned in the Old and the New Testaments.
- In Exodus 15:26, God declares, “I am the LORD who heals you.”
- In Mark 5:34, Jesus tells a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
- In James 5:14-15, the apostle James instructs the church, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”
Pray with Expectation
Pray acknowledging God’s sovereignty and goodness: God is the creator and sustainer of all life and He desires us to be well. As Psalm 103:2-3 proclaims, “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.”
Pray trusting in God’s promises: We believe that God has made promises to heal us, such as Isaiah 53:5, which says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.” Therefore you can expect to see the healing manifesting into you body because Jesus already paid the price for this. Healing is God’s Will.
Pray exercising faith: We access God’s healing power through faith. As Jesus says in Matthew 9:22, “Your faith has healed you.” This faith involves not just believing intellectually but also acting on that belief, as James 2:17 states, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
How to Pray
Having faith for healing is not just a matter of wishful thinking or positive attitude but a deliberate choice to trust in God’s power and follow His ways. When you pray for healing, you should do so in faith. Come before God with a heart of expectancy and confidence, believing that He is able and willing to heal you according to His will.
Pray with a surrendered heart
Before you even pray for healing, it’s important to surrender to God’s will and purposes, acknowledging that He knows what is best for us. As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). By submitting to God’s will, you can trust that He will work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). He can take you out of the pit of suffering and bring healing to your body and mind
Pray with the authority of Jesus’ name
Jesus has given us the authority to pray in His name. Jesus said that if ask anything according to His will and in His name and it will be done (John 14:13-14). When you pray for healing in the name of Jesus, expect to receive what you prayed for, knowing that Jesus is the one who purchased your healing on the cross (Isaiah 53:5). Receive Jesus as your Healer.
Pray with confidence in God’s character and promises
When you pray for healing, you can also have confidence in God’s character and promises. You can trust that He is good, loving, and faithful, and that His promises are true and trustworthy. Base this trust in the Word of God. As James 1:6-7 says, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” Therefore, pray and believe it is done. Don’t doubt or wonder ‘what if’ or say ‘I prayed but I still feel pain…’. You may feel in the natural but this doesn’t mean your prayer hasn’t been answered. Be patient and expectant.
Pray with gratitude and thanksgiving
It’s also important to pray with gratitude and thanksgiving, acknowledging God’s goodness and provision in our lives. As we thank Him for what He has done, we can also trust Him for what He will do. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Know that your prayer has been answered and be at peace. You can start giving thank to God for the answered prayer.
Pray with persistence
Pray with persistence, not giving up or losing heart, even if you don’t see immediate or complete healing. As Jesus said in Luke 18:1, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” God always hears our prayers prayed in faith, in the name of Jesus, and according to His Will.
Need a bit of guidance on how to pray? See below several prayers to help you pray according to the Bible. Contact me for any prayer requests or testimonies.
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