“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

The One Who Heals!

“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.”
Matthew 8:16 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on knowing Jesus as the One who heals.  As Jesus encountered people, He not only taught them, He had compassion on them and healed them in every way imaginable.  While casting out demons and healing the sick was important work done by Jesus as He was here on earth, the most valuable work was the spiritual healing made possible by His death, burial, and resurrection.  Far too often in our prayers, we focus on a good thing — the physical healing of people — and miss a better thing, the spiritual healing of ourselves and others.  As you pray this week, focus on praying about some aspects of healing that you ought to seek for yourself and others.  Pray that  God would cover you in His grace as you seek forgiveness and healing of anything that would hinder your prayers.  Ask God to help you spend at least as much time praying for the spiritual well-being of people as you do praying for their physical health.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please pray each day for God to help you experience and share the healing which comes through Jesus.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Healed By God’s Mercy.  Pray that you would seek, and know, the mercy of God when you need healing from sin, and from the effects of sin, in your life.  Pray that you would help others know of God’s healing as you extend the same mercy to them that you have received from God.  “I said, ‘O LORD, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you.’”  Psalm 41:4 (NIV)

Tuesday: Healed By God’s Word.  Pray that you would know the power of God’s Word that can heal you from the deadly grasp of the grave.  Pray that your trust in God and His Word would lead you to share with others about the healing that can be had through the hearing and doing of God’s Word.  “He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.”  Psalm 107:20 (NIV)

Wednesday: Healed By Pleasant Words.  Pray that you would speak pleasant words and know the healing that you will both give and receive in doing so.  Pray that you would guard the words you allow into your life so the ones which take root in your heart and mind would bring healing.  “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)

Thursday: Healed By Confession and Prayer.  Pray that you would have wisdom in agreeing with those you have sinned against or those who have wronged you.  Ask God to help you pray with and for others, especially those you are in disagreement with.  “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  James 5:16 (NIV)

Friday: Healed By Christ’s Sacrifice.  Pray that you would know the complete healing that was purchased for you by the blood of Jesus.  Pray that you would be healed from the power of sin in order to live a righteous life.  “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”  1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

Saturday:  Healing For the Soul.  Pray that you would experience a wellness of the soul that brings healing.  Pray that things would go well for those around you as they experience a soul that is well.  Pray that a wellness of the soul would bring benefit to your physical well-being.  “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”  3 John 1:2 (NIV)