Now, more than ever, it is important that we know how to pray for healing both for ourselves and for others. With the fear of Covid-19 and the threat of disease epidemics, it is important that we face illness through prayer as opposed to fear.
We need to know how to pray for healing so I want to share with you some ways you can do that.
How to Pray for Healing
Have a Desire
You may think that I am crazy for even putting this. You may be telling yourself “duh, that should go without saying”. I think it’s so important though that I couldn’t leave it out.
If we are going to receive an answer from God, we need to have a desire to see God move.
There was a woman in the Bible who desired to see her daughter receive healing. She begged God to heal her daughter who was afflicted with an evil spirit.
At first Jesus did not respond. Because he did not answer, she came and knelt before him and worshiped him. She begged him to heal her daughter.
Long story short, he told her she had great faith. He then went on to say it would be done to her just as she desired. You can read the whole story in Matthew chapter 15 starting in verse 22 and ending in verse 28.
This leads me to my next point…
Have Faith
First and foremost, when we are praying it is important to pray with faith. It doesn’t matter if we are praying about healing or something else, we must ask in faith.
What is faith? It is a complete confidence in something. When praying, we must have confidence and believe that God will hear and answer us.
The Bible says that “Faith is the confidence of what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). Having blind faith or trusting God when we are faced with illness or other unknown circumstances is what will get us through.
The Bible says that whatever we ask for in prayer, we will receive if we believe [have faith] (Mark 11:24).
There was a man in the book of Mark (chapter 10) who was begging God to give him his sight. He went to Jesus and told him that he would like to have his sight back and Jesus said that it was this man’s faith that made him whole.
Praying with faith is one way to pray for healing.
Quote the Word
Growing up, my mom and a few friends were always really good at encouraging me to quote the word when I would be in bouts of depression.
As a teenager, I didn’t understand the significance of it but now that I am older, I’ve come to appreciate the biblical significance of quoting the word.
The Bible says that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). We have the power to speak life into any situation that we face.
The Bible takes it a step farther and says that if we speak to a mountain it will be moved (Mark 11:23).
I like to tell people that they should quote the word. They should do this not to remind God of what he said (rest assured he knows). They should do it instead to remind the devil of what is written.
Jesus was always quoting scripture when faced with a temptation from the devil. We should follow Jesus’ example and quote the word when we are faced with troubles or are seeking healing.
When you are praying for healing, quote some of your favorite verses that speak of healing. Doing this will build your faith and help to put the devil in his place.
Be Persistent in Prayer
In the Bible there is a parable about a woman who cried out to a mean judge day and night begging for him to give her justice over her enemy (see Luke 18:1-8).
This judge did not honor God and he could care less about the feelings of others. Despite this, he gave her the justice she sought because she was persistent in asking. We must be persistent when praying for healing.
The Bible says that some things only come to pass through “prayer and fasting” (see Matthew 17:21). Be persistent in your prayer life and God will answer.
God may not answer now, it may not even be this side of heaven but God always answers the prayers of his children.
Ask Other People to Pray Too
Oh dear one, this is a big one! If you are praying for healing you need to find two or three Christian friends that you trust and who will help you to pray for healing.
The Bible said that if anyone is sick, they should call upon the elders of the church and be prayed for. (James 5:14-16). This is important because the more that agree together with you, the better.
The Bible says that when to or three gather together to pray about something and they all agree on it it is done (see Matthew 18:19).
If you are sick and in need of healing, ask your friends to pray for you. You don’t have to go into detail if you do not want to just ask them to agree for your healing.
Are you well but know someone who is sick? Agree to be their prayer partner and pray for them each day.
There is power in numbers. When the people of God join together to pray for healing, miracles happen.
Conclusion: How To Pray For Healing
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I have shared with you how to pray for healing. I’ve shared four things that you should do when praying for healing.
Even though I’ve shared some of how you can pray for healing, I think it is important to remember that it isn’t so much how you pray but just that you are willing to pray.
God longs for you to seek him for your healing. God came so that you can have life and have it more abundantly (see John 10:10). That means that he longs for you to live a life free of illness and pain.
Oh, Dear one trust God with you illness, your pain. Seek his healing daily (be persistent) and have faith that he will answer you. In the mean time though, know that he will use what you are facing for good.
A Prayer for You
I know that I mentioned that it is important to ask others to pray for you so I would like to take an opportunity to join with you and agree with you for healing. Pray with me?
Father God,
I ask you to touch the person who is reading this right now. I pray that you would touch their body from their head to their toes. Whatever is wrong with them, fix it right now in Jesus’ name. If they are struggling mentally, give them peace, clarity of mind, and joy in instead of depression. Your word says that by your stripes, we are healed. I claim healing for my friend that is reading this right now. Thank you God for touching them.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Marianne Coyne
Thursday 28th of October 2021
Miranda, I came across your article and read it. You touched upon some very astute and important issues when it comes to receiving what we desire when we pray. Being whole in mind, body, and finances is so important to living an abundant and vital life - not just for ourselves, but for others, as well. Everything you said was in line with Jesus' teachings and actions. But, if I may, when you said ..." it may not even be this side of heaven..." negates all the wonderful previous things you voiced - faith (which is expectancy), persistence, confidence, etc. That we know of, Jesus never said, to anyone who came to be healed, "you will be healed, but maybe not on this side of heaven." Forgive me, but that is a religious and man-made doctrine. Though it's true not everyone is healed this side of heaven, it is not because God did not will it, desire it, or because it was not available for us, but because of some deficiency in our thinking, actions, or expectancy. In Mark 11:22-24 Jesus explains exactly how to manifest your desire when you pray. He didn't add an exception. Many things man cannot explain and so just makes up something that they think sounds good in order to placate someone. When we tell someone to have expectancy, determination and confidence, but then say it may not be answered while still alive on earth lowers the expectancy, determination and confidence. One cannot have confidence for a physical healing and also expect they may not get it while on earth where it's needed. No one needs a healing of the body in heaven because they won't have their body. I hope you can understand what I'm trying to say here. I'm not in any way tearing down your beautiful article, just trying to bring to your attention a negated statement.
You may not desire this comment on your blog, which is fine, but I hope what I've pointed out is taken with the good intentions it was meant.
Blessings,
Marianne
Leanna Hollis
Tuesday 23rd of June 2020
Good words! Thank you.
Hannah
Tuesday 17th of March 2020
Powerful post! Thanks for sharing all these tips. I particularly liked how you stressed the importance of our faith in getting healed.
Natasha
Tuesday 17th of March 2020
Awesome words and truths from God’s Word on healing. He so desires us to desire Him and to believe His Word. Love the Hillsong song as well...an old favorite ❤️Z
Miranda New
Sunday 22nd of March 2020
Thank you so much. That song is an older one but a good one. It is one of my favorite worship songs.