Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Healing

I have pondered the question of healing for years. I get bothered by ministries that seem to broadcast that they can heal you and yet, I know that prayers of faith accomplish much.

In recent months, I have had a couple of experiences with praying for church family. One of the choir members told me that her arthritis was really hurting her that evening. She told me this privately. I reached over and touched her and prayed. I asked for God to take the pain away. I felt a compassion for her because I have experienced arthritis and I didn’t want her to hurt. Two weeks later, she came up to me and said, ‘Debbie, I have been meaning to tell you something. Remember when you prayed for me about the arthritis pain? Well, the pain left that night and I have had none since.” I simply smiled and told her that I was happy for her.

Last Wednesday night, our pastor called me aside to tell me that he had been diagnosed with a kidney infection and his back was killing him. He went on the say that he thought he might even have a fever. He wanted me to explain to Mark why he and his wife left before adult choir rehearsal. When he told me that he thought he might have a fever, I reached up and placed my hand on his forehead and check. I told him that I would tell Mark why they left and then I told him that I wanted to pray for him. He seemed rather taken back, I placed my head on his shoulder and prayed that God would take his pain away and allow him to fly like wings of eagles – pain free. Sunday, as Mark and I were leaving the church, the pastor quietly told Mark and me that when I got done praying for him, that the pain had immediately left and had not returned. He just wanted me to know.

I told him that God was good and prayer was powerful.

When Christi was a little girl, I got migraines frequently. She would rub my arm and pray and the headache would go away. She was started doing this for me when she was only 5 years old. I used to tell Mark that her prayers that contained the faith of a child were heard by my God.

Mark and I have prayed for other people and organized prayers for people that were given death sentences and they lived. One time a men was dying of cancer in a church we were serving. The cancer had gone away but had come back worse than the first time. This man and his wife asked for Mark and me to go to dinner with them one evening. They told us that he was dying. They had told the senior pastor and the chairman of the deacons and they had gone over all the legal documents and his wife and kids would be taken care of. I sat at this table and did not know how to respond. His doctor had told him that there was nothing left to be done and to get everything in order. I finally said, “Gary, do you want to die? What do you want from Mark and me?” Why in the world I asked such a heartless question is still beyond me. He replied no that he didn’t want to die but didn’t tell us what he wanted. He just sat there looking so very sad and beaten. Then I asked him if he wanted us to pray for him by arranging a group to meet at his house. He said that yes he wanted prayer. Mark began to organize a large group of people to meet at Gary’s house and to pray for him. Mark contacted pastors from other denominations. He told our pastor and chairman of the deacons about the prayer time and they laughed in his face. Later, we found out from others that our pastor was angry with Mark for arranging the prayer for Gary. He was telling them that the prayer would not work.

That evening a large group of people met at Gary’s house. We circled their house and prayed. As everyone came back into the front yard, Mark said, “This doesn’t feel right.” He instructed everyone to gather round Gary and his family and either touch him or touch someone else who was touching him. The group began to pray. It took the sound of a mighty rushing wind. The sound of the prayers all spoken together was amazing.

On Gary’s next trip to the doctor, the doctor brought up a method of treating other types of cancer. He told Gary that this treatment would probably not work for him but they could try if Gary wanted. Gary decided to fight. After the treatment, Gary went into remission. God had spoken. Instead of burying him, we were able to celebrate with him and his precious family.

Prayers and healing, prayers and faith and faith like a child are vital in our lives. Sometimes, God answers no and that healing doesn’t take place. But, many times, God says, “Yes.” Yes, to healing.

I have several more examples of times that we have prayed for people and they were healed. I used to be surprised but now I kind of expect it.

I have prayed so many times for God to heal my Michael of his dyslexia and yet, Michael is still dyslexic. However, when Michael was 16 months old, a specialist told me that my son had nerve damage and could not hear at all. I went to God in prayer for my son. I didn’t know that I could pray for healing – so I prayed for strength. I gave my baby to Christ and saw myself walk away from my child and leave him at the feet of my Savior. Two months later, Michael was tested again – and his hearing was perfect. Even though I hadn’t specifically prayed for God to heal him with my voice, my spirit begged God and He answered my prayer.

I have been thinking about these prayers and the movement of God since Sunday morning. Yes, God is good.

2 comments:

Bonnie said...

This is such an encouragement to me, Debbie. I so appreciate you sharing it. There are many times in my life...one in particular...that I have petitioned the Lord for something that I probably couldn't have gotten very many people, if ANY, to agree with me on. God has spoken so clearly to me His Words in Luke 11. The Holy Spirit can and will lead us how to pray. So when we truly seek God's will, we can be assured that He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us in how to pray. He will not disappoint us.

Luke 11

9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

I love you, ((((Debbie)))).

Debbie B said...

(((Bonnie))) I am glad that God is faithful. I am glad that His Word is still active and alive today. I love the verses that you shared.

Love,
Debbie