I’ve put together a Prayers for Healing Series. As an ordained minister and someone who has personally benefited from a deeper prayer life, I’m hoping that these prayers are going to be just the thing to inspire you to begin thinking more deeply about your healing.

Many people don’t know how to approach the topic of healing so they avoid it and hope that healing will somehow happen on its own. If that was going to work, it probably would have already occurred. To me that suggests that all of us who are suffering with long-time illness could benefit from some concentrated time in prayer. It’s not as difficult as you might imagine.

At first thought, praying for healing may seem like a nebulous and fuzzy thing to do. What would be my purpose? How would I do it? Doesn’t God know I’m sick and need help? For someone who prays often, it may seem like a no-brainer-guide that you don’t need.

However, I urge you to hang in there with this purposed activity. I believe you’ll find it incredibly valuable. Plus I ask that you come back to the Health Matters Show blog and podcast each week to continue and dig deeper into this marvelous goal. After you’ve read over each week’s material, please leave your feedback. It will aid me in making this a great resource for the public, which I plan to do. What you have to think and say about it could make a difference in how I approach each “day” and vicariously, it could be valuable to someone else’s life and recovery! So let’s get started now…

These prayers are designed to help you, as a mind, body and spirit, prepare and begin to accomplish the goal of healing. *Since this is a prayer series and I post a blog post and podcast once per week, this will naturally be spread out for you. I suspect that’s okay because that gives you plenty of time to master each individual prayer. As you work on each day’s prayer, be sure to spend your time in the presence of the Lord. Approach Him reverently. Talk to Him directly and say each word out loud. That allows for a more multisensory experience. Each step sets you up to begin your personal healing process.

At first, the prayers alone will help you approach God in the best manner. Say the prayers multiple times if you like. Later on in the process, some of it becomes more involved (e.g. not as quick or simple) and will call for you to take a personal, actionable role.

*It may help your continuity and train of thought to write down your answers. If you like, keep a journal of the whole process. Things to note might be how you feel, the thoughts that run through your mind, the new revelations that simply seem “to come” to you. This can be an exciting and inspiring time talking directly to God.*

Be sure to listen as your lips and tongue speak the words of the prayers, particularly to their sound and the meaning of each word. Consider these prayers as your personal communication with God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. You’re asking that He be directly involved in your healing! Ask Him to answer your prayers and provide you with exactly what you need. This adventure can be very powerful, if you do it earnestly and honestly.

We humans have all kinds of mindsets. Example, a fresh cheery one; a frumpy, grumpy get-out-my-way-today attitude and surely there are more. If you, as a child of God, are going to heal, it takes a reverent and spiritual mindset to approach Him. Without purpose or plan, “we” just as easily can get in our own way when we pray. It’s hard to stay on task by stating how we feel and ask for healing to take place.

Rabbit trails are a term I use for this; they are not only a word used in hunting. If I don’t have a plan and really concentrate on my prayer, my mind can so easily have me scampering down a rabbit trail. I get so side-tracked that I may not accomplish anything at all!

To begin with, at least for part of each day, pray earnestly. Thank God for what He has done for you; praise Him! Then, do not simply ask for what you routinely ask for in life, but go deeper and ask for what your heart is truly seeking. In this case alone, we’re talking about healing you from your personal chronic illness. For a long time now, society in general has not had much patience or desire to listen to the average sick person complain about how badly they feel. God always listens and is there for you any time you go to Him in prayer. If you approach your prayers with the right attitude, the right “posture” of a humble spirit, a hurting child and a loving man or woman always seeking God’s will, I not only believe that you can benefit from your time in prayer, but that you will reap great health rewards!

PRAYERS FOR HEALING SERIES:

DAY ONEDay #1) I thank you God for all that You do in my life. I ask You to set up my body, mind and spirit to be capable of living “well” in this world that You created. As I spend my days in worship of You, carrying out Your will and feeling grateful that I am alive, may I continue to grow. I realize that I don’t know everything. I pray that you reveal the necessary parts to me as I become a more mature, reverent and appreciative child of God. May I be open and honest. May I trust where You lead me, knowing that You are God and all things come in Your time, not mine.

Amen.