This post is about praying for healing. I don't always feel comfortable when it comes to praying prayers of healing. Don't get me wrong, I can do the pastorly thing. I know how to pray a prayer of healing that is biblical, encouraging and hopeful. I understand how to claim God's power as evident in His word while I pray. But that leaves me still with awkwardness and discomfort when praying for healing.
Can/do I really pray the same things for headaches as I do for terminal cancer? Do I really ask for God to work through doctors? Or do I insist on miraculous healing? Is there a difference in my selfishness in wanting miraculous healing, but not wanting to be that bold in faith and then praying for doctors to be used? Why are the specifics so awkward in healing prayers?
I am much more comfortable when I am one of many people praying for a "sick" or "injured" person. I am much more comfortable with the understanding that all of us are being brought to a place of having a restored body (heaven) and that all of us are slowly dying in this one. I am comfortable asking God to continue to restore us to Him if that looks like physical healing or not. In fact, I am very comfortable praying about people's sicknesses or injuries when I am alone. But out loud, I struggle with praying for a healing in front of people. What if I really don't think God wants to heal someone of their cold? What if I really don't think miracles are the answer to everything, or the best result in all situations?
What does everyone else think? I've been talking to many others in person about this. It is something many are uncomfortable with. An interesting thing to talk about.
That being said, I love praying for people and their situations, healing, or otherwise. If there is anything you want me to be praying about, let me know.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
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2 comments:
I've been thinking and arguing with myself on this topic for a long time. Don't have answers, just thoughts. I understand the concept of selfishness in prayer, given our failings as humans, the innate desire to improve (by whatever means), the use of prayer asking God to intervene, for all of the reasons and more, that you suggest, isn't surprising. There are "human" dangers in praying for "things" and "betterment of conditions" and "things" and then rejecting God when he doesn't provide them. Those are human failings, not God's. Is God disappointed in humans when we pray for the wrong things? As a human, I would think so but, I don't claim to comprehend what God thinks when we pray for the wrong things. What about when we pray for the wrong things for the right reason. Is God glad that we approach Him in prayer, even if we're bad at it and wanting earthly rewards and not eternal salvation? People have misused "faith" since before Christ and until the final salvation, will continue to do so. Recognizing God as the only source of true fulfillment is a start but, then human failings come into play. We have Christ's example of the Lord's Prayer as how to pray, but, is that enough. Is praying for "deliverence from evil" selfish. Is requesting "forgiveness of our debts/trespasses" selfish? If not (and Christ suggested those words), should we try to make "judgements" on others prayer requests?
Lot's of questions with not many answers.
Some of your questions I actually do know the answer to. "Is God glad that we approach Him in prayer, even if we're bad at it and wanting earthly rewards and not eternal salvation?" God is happy with all of the time we spend with Him.
"Is praying for 'deliverence from evil' selfish?" I don't think so. The Bible is clear that the devil is prowling like a lion, and has come to steal, kill, and destroy. For us to think that we can avoid the devil, or overcome him, is prideful. It is necessary for God to help us do this, and thus, praying for that help is not "selfish" it's just personal.
"Is requesting 'forgiveness of our debts/trespasses' selfish?" Again, no. It is personal, and it is out of our control, but it is a Gift that God loves to give us. It is the reason His son died, so that this gift would be ours.
"Should we try to make 'judgements' on others prayer requests?" Yes and no. This will depend on the trust the other person has given you. We should be judging of no one, unless the Bible, or that person has given us that right. I have mentors who should be judging my prayer requests, but have strangers who shouldn't. I act the same way. Some have asked for guidance and accountability, to which i judge as best i can, while many have not given me that right, which gives me no right to judge their requests.
"Is God disappointed in humans when we pray for the wrong things?" This is a far tougher one, and one which i cannot answer as definitively. Are fathers upset when young children ask for unhealthy things? Yes and no. There is a level at which God will understand we need to be taught, and there is a level at which we should have learned whatever specific lesson it is. God may be disappointed some of the time, and some of the time may be excited to pull us further in our understanding of him.
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