Praying for others

One of the most interesting things for me in my walk with the Lord is praying for others….

There have been times when I really do not want to pray for someone and then the Lord touches them.

There have been times when I really do not want to pray for someone and then the Lord does not touch them.

There have been times when I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to pray for someone and nothing happens.

And then, there have been times when I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to pray for someone and something happens!!

How does this happen? Why would the Lord tell you to go pray for someone and not heal them? Doesn’t God desire all to be healed?

If you don’t know how to answer these questions you have been in the same boat as myself. Last night I was at IHOP’s “Encounter God Service”  asking these questions to the Lord. It has been a long, slow, and every now and then exciting journey to learn why God does what He does when I pray for others. I don’t think I will ever fully know why He does what He does because I am man and He is God, but because of that very reason (I am man and He is God) I believe He will share hidden things to me (Daniel 2:22).

Here’s an entry from my journal that I wrote last night:

Tonight as I went up to pray for others I was feeling the Lord’s presence. I began praying for a man with a skin condition and I continually asked him if there was a change and continued praying, no result. I then prayed for another man, going through the interview process again of, “How does it feel”, “Ok we’ll pray a little more”, and “Try testing it out.” Again nothing. I prayed for a total of three people for a combined time of approximately 30 minutes. There was nothing but  many, “Bless you’s” and “Thank you for praying”.

I then went to the back right corner of the building frustrated at God. I was confused as to why He would call me to pray for people and not provide the power and results of my prayer. I began to worship as the worship team began to lead the room in, “In Christ Alone.” As I worshipped I felt confidence to once again go up and pray healing over people. I felt the Holy Spirit just as I had the first time I went up. The only difference between the first and second time praying was that I brought a friend/classmate of mine to pray with me. I was really holding onto the “two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, He would be there.”

This time the Lord revealed Himself in powerful ways. I was receiving visions over people (something that hasn’t happened in months) and we were seeing the God manifest Himself in our weak prayers!! My friend and I then split up and the Lord continued to use both of us throughout the room.

It was an honor being used as a vessel for Jesus’ healing power. Overall we saw an elbow healed, a man with hearing problems get healed, and we saw the Lord put a burden of intercession on a student!!!

After the service I went home and asked the Lord the 3 questions presented earlier. I felt more clarity on each one as I waited on the Lord…

God, how does this happen? (This meaning sometimes He heals, or doesn’t heal, regardless of what I pray or say.)

—This has always been an intimate topic for me. There have been nights when I do not want to lead worship and despite my heart and feelings in the moment of singing He comes.

—God is God. He does as He pleases. BUT HE LOVES PROCESS! The one thing I felt Him say to this question last night was, “I LOVE PROCESS.” He will use people to plant a seed, He will use people to water that seed, and He will use people to grow, mature, and eventually reap what was sown.

—The fact that God loves the process of restoration and of healing also ties in with the second question:

“Why would the Lord tell you to go pray for someone and then not heal them?”

—As previously stated He loves process.

—He also wants to promote faith and obedience. The faith comes from going, “Lord, You said You would heal them. I believe I hear Your voice and I believe that You will heal them. If not now then sometime down the road”. I have heard IHOP leaders say stuff like, “I feel like someone needs prayer for a left shoulder.” And no one responds. If that was me I would’ve been like, “I’m human, oh well.” But about a half hour later he’ll call the same thing forth and someone new is the room and they raise their hand and get healed. That comes from confidence that they heard God’s voice and faith that the Lord will fulfill what He originally said.

Doesn’t God desire that all would be healed?

—One of the mistakes we commonly make is that God always wants what we want. We need to realize His sovereignty in ALL situations. Even small prayer times, He is sovereign.

—God does desire that all will be healed. He sent Jesus to die that all who desire to be healed WILL BE HEALED (it just depends on whether God will heal them in this life or the next).

Read that last line again because that is the main point of this blog. God wants us to be healed so He brought us Jesus. Jehovah-Rophe (the God who heals). Whether on earth or in heaven we (believers) will be healed. Right now believers have resurrected bodies waiting for them!!!

Advertisement