Today I was at a Jesus Culture concert, worshiping with my friends somewhat towards the front of the huge auditorium that we were in, when I saw a beautiful blonde girl in a wheelchair who I felt didn't belong there. The music was playing and she was worshiping like everyone else, arms raise and wiggling around in that chair - I even thought to myself, "She doesn't need her feet to dance." Still, it broke my heart to see a girl who should be walking on runways sitting in a wheelchair, and I wanted to say something to her, but I chickened out and couldn't bring myself to pray for her. The good news is that I found out she occasionally goes to my church, which is crazy because my church doesn't have a lot of members as of yet, and there were thousands of people in the auditorium. Maybe I'll get another chance!

But anyways, praying specifically for healing is something that scares me. The most vulnerable, the ones in need of prayer, intimidate me the most. I don't have a problem praying for healing from my friends, but I'm scared to pray for a stranger, especially one in such a bad condition. I believe that "By His Stripes we are healed." I believe that Jesus healed people of all different varieties and with all different afflictions, and I understand that we are commanded to be like him. But something about me praying for that girl and her not getting up and walking scares me. I want to see it so bad for her, I really do. But I just don't believe that I will see it sometimes, especially if it's me who's praying.

Now, I'm not sure if you guys believe in healing miracles, but I do. I've had headaches completely eliminated and I've taken an ankle brace off after having prayer for my sprained ankle, and that can't be denied, because it happened to me. So if you don't believe in healing, it's probably not going to do you any good to reply to this topic saying, "I don't believe in it," because I'm going to have to have you explain to me why my headaches leave and my ankle was healed, if that's the case. What I haven't seen yet is healing coming when I pray for people, but that doesn't take away what happened to me. I want to hear from those of you who do believe. What do you think of this issue? Is it something that's wrong with the way I'm thinking, or perhaps healing just isn't for me?

Ok, first, because you're saying you don't want to hear from someone who's going to be against "healing", I'd like to point out that the Bible does say that if sin is in your life, God won't answer your prayers. Second, yes, Jesus did heal a lot of people in the Gospel accounts, however, the Bible also says in one of the Gospels (I forget which, but can easily look it up later) from Jesus that God made them to glorify God.

pray75 :  First of all it is of course absolutely OK to pray for healing, for yourself and for someone else.  I do believe in miracles, but contrary to what some people believe and teach, the Bible shows that it is not God's will to heal everybody.  God answered your prayers and that's great! Praise the Lord, but scripture offers no promise that the Christian will be free from sickness in this life.  Using the apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh" as an example from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:  "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me . . . Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christs sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong"
Paul did not assume that God would heal him.  He asked for it, but it did not happen.  God told him that His grace for him was enough and this caused Paul to be strong in His weakness.  You just have to read the book of Acts to see what I mean.

scripture never indicates that people did not get healed from their ailment or sickness because they lacked faith.  I personally have a problem with people who lives by that "philosophy".  The Bible also does not indicate that God heals those who "claim" or demand it.  People gets healed according to His mercy and God always does something for His glory.  It is God who performs the miracle and when we as Christians pray for healing for people and they do get healed, we must always place the focus on God an not on ourselves, lest we be exalted and not Him.  We must and should never steal God's glory.  With all sincerity - it's dangerous ground.
Also, read Acts 14 from verse 8.  When Paul healed a cripple man the crowd went wild and praised and exalted Paul and Barnabas.  Paul and Barnabas, seeing this, tore their clothes and immediately pointed to God and that He should get all the glory and not them.

By all means, pray for the girl.  If God wants to heal her, He will.  If not, He won't.  I just want to encourage you in this and do not beat yourself up about it if He doesn't bring healing. It does not mean you don't have enough faith.  We have the right to ask God for healing, but the result is left up to Him.

I've prayed for healing, and had small things happen. . . I think.

I can't rightly remember.

I have little hope in miracles, but I do believe in them.
I have just not had many good results.

One thing that I heard is to remember that there is a difference between miracles and healings.

A miracle happens instantly, a healing happens over time.

I've prayed for lots of healings and have been healed. . . of small things.
Unfortunately I don't know much about healings and miracles.

I think that God will do healings more often than miracles.

There is such thing as healing because......im one of them to go through such pain.....I pray for other people and results are clear because I want to help those around me.....I would like to share a testimony about myself sometime and see what you guys think.....

And if you would not have found her attractive, you would not even be contemplating this and if she would have been plain, you would have not even noticed her. Oh poor you.

Brigand : What's sad about that is it's probably true. I don't want to see anyone in a wheelchair, but seeing that girl in one really broke my heart. I think it was a combination of her beauty and the confidence she put out, despite her disposition.

pray75 :

Try to contemplate others who are in her place or worse also. Who might not be as pretty as her.