Some are afraid to pray for healing. But all healing comes from God. He may heal through doctors, through medicine (as in the case of Hezekiah in II Kings 20:7), or through instantaneous answer to prayer. God is sovereign. And He has invited us to pray for all our needs, including healing of our bodies.

A study of the life of Christ reveals many answers to prayer for healing. He opened blind eyes, made the lame walk, restored paralytics and cleansed lepers. To conclude that He would or could not answer prayer for healing today is inconsistent with the Biblical teaching that God is un- changing.

In his excellent book: “Prayer — Asking and Receiving,” Dr. John R. Rice wrote: “I think I ought to say that in literally hundreds of cases I have had my prayers for the sick answered, some slowly, some suddenly, some at once, and others only after long waiting on God.”

As in all praying, prayer for healing should be subject to the will of God. And it is not always God’s will to heal. That is evident from Paul’s thorn in the flesh (II Corinthians 12:7), Timothy’s frail health (I Timothy 5:23), and the fact that Paul left his friend Trophimus at Miletum sick (II Timothy 4:20). To quote Dr. Rice again: “One who comes to pray for healing, either for himself or for another, must come saying, ‘…nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt’ “ (Matthew 26:39).

In praying for healing, then, let us ask God for the most and then leave the results with Him.