The Order of St. Luke The Physician in The United Kingdom Benevolent Society
Healing and a New Beginning
Christian Healing Ministry Pamphlets By Hilda M. Moore
INTERCESSION.
Since becoming involved in the Healing Ministry one of the questions I have been asked a number of times is "How does one pray for the sick?" So let us take a look now at Intercession. This is a particular form of prayer. It is a time when we put ourselves completely aside and think only of the needs of the person for whom we are praying. We can pray for a person who is sick. We can say; "Dear God, so and so is sick. Will You please make him better." That is a prayer; a perfectly good prayer but it is not Intercession. Intercession calls for more than that. When we intercede for a person we need to offer up something of ourselves. I would like to outline here a method that I personally like to use.
First of all relax the body completely. It does not matter what your position is either sitting or kneeling or where you are so long as you can relax and completely forget your own body, your own self. I find it is a good thing to always assume the same position and place as far as possible, as it is easier to relax that way but one is not always in a position to do this. Many of my intercession prayers have been said in the middle of a telephone conversation, going along the road, waiting on someone's doorstep, or the bus or wherever I happen to be when the situation arises.
The main thing is that the mind should be relaxed. Try to empty your mind of everything except thoughts of peace and quietness. Think of the peace of God which passeth all understanding and open your mind to receive that peace. Then think of God and His love for all men, and just rest in His presence for a while. Do not be in a hurry to rush into spoken prayer. A few minutes spent like this in preparation are well worth while.
Then when you have realised the presence of God offer Him your love; offer Him yourself to be a channel for the healing of the person for whom you wish to pray. Ask Him to take all that is best in you and to use it. Ask Him to take all that is worst in you and to transform it that it may also be used in his service. Ask Him to help you to remove from yourself anything that is likely to block the channel; anything that will stop His love from flowing freely through you to the person for whom you wish to pray. The next step is to bring this person into the presence of God. There is no need to tell Him what is wrong, as He knows the trouble far better than you do.
Many people waste their prayer time in describing to God all the symptoms of their sick friend and this is quite unnecessary. Just place him in the light of God's love. Picture God's love flowing through him and filling every corner of his being. Picture him as God intended him to be; fit and well, free from disease, free from sin; perfectly balanced in mind and in body, full of joy and happiness, going about his daily business, working and playing a completely whole individual, as God intended him to be.
The next step is to link your mind with that of God. In Paul's letter to the Philippians he said "Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ." (Ch. 2 v 5) To be reconciled to God does not mean merely that we are thinking ABOUT God. It means that we are beginning TO THINK AS GOD THINKS. It means that we are beginning to share something of the purpose and the will of God. Christ came to this earth to show us how to live and this includes our thinking. He tried to show us how God thinks; how to bring our thoughts into harmony with the divine thought. It is when we reach this point, this harmony of thought with God's thought, that God is able to use us. It is then that His power can work freely in us. It is then that we can become intercessors in the true sense.
To abolish the evil and the sickness in the world we have to abolish the wrong thinking, the fears, the resentments and the sin that is the root cause of it all. And we have to start with ourselves. We have to realise that our thoughts can either hinder or help God's care of us and of our neighbours. The more we can bring our thoughts into harmony with God's thoughts, the more spiritual power will come flooding into our lives destroying evil and creating good. And so we link our mind with the mind of God, picturing a person as God does a perfect human being healthy and happy and completely whole.
And now we come to the final stage of our intercession. We have asked God to heal our friend. We have placed him in the light of God's love, and we have linked our minds with that of God. What we have to do now is to show our confidence in Him. To show our trust and our belief that He will do the best possible thing for our friend. Not what WE think is best; and this is very important because when we bring a person to God for healing we do tend to tell what is wrong, and also to look for healing to come in a certain way the way WE think it should come. We need to have absolute confidence in God and to be able to hand the sick person over to God to deal with in His own way and in His own time. We must release him completely to God. This is the most difficult part of all because it might mean parting from someone we hold very dear.
I call to mind the story I heard of a mother who prayed desperately for her sick child to be healed. The child made no progress and was not expected to live. Then one day the mother suddenly realised that she was telling God what He should do instead of trusting Him to do what He knew to be best. On realising this she asked for God's forgiveness and offered the child to Him to heal, or to take according to what HE knew to be best. From that moment the child began to recover and was soon restored to complete health. It is when we leave the decision to God and get out of His way so to speak, that He is able to do what He knows to be best for us.
The next thing we have to do is to say "Thank You" to God. We have to say it immediately and not wait until we see if it is going to work, because if we wait it is showing a lack of confidence in God. In his letter to the Philippians Paul says "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplications WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God." (Chap. 4 v 6). We have to BELIEVE it is going to work and not just hope that it will.
But supposing that we do all this to the best of our ability and in good faith and our friend remains sick? What then? Do we lose our confidence in God? Do we think He is not going to answer our prayers? This is the point at which our confidence is of the greatest importance. This is the point when healing sometimes comes. This is where our knowledge of God can help us and give us the patience to wait for His answer.
This then is Intercession. First relax completely and realise the presence of God. Then offer yourself as a channel. Next bring your friend to God and picture him, as you would have him to be. Then link your mind with that of God. Finally we have to show our confidence in God by thanking Him immediately and without waiting till we see the results. You will see now what I mean when I say that Intercession is a particular form of prayer. It is not easy at first, and like most things that are worth while it requires practice. It means giving much of oneself. But those of us who are involved in this kind of work have come to realise that although we do not look for any reward, the rewards are great indeed. People for whom we have prayed frequently tell us how they have been uplifted and strengthened and given the power to go on. And this often happens before they have received any physical healing, and it also happens in cases where no physical healing at all is received.
Perhaps you are thinking that all this sounds a bit too difficult for you personally to do. Perhaps you think you do not know enough about the Healing Ministry to engage in this kind of work, or that you have not enough faith or belief of your own to pray for others, or that you are not good enough. People have said all these things to me at different times, but none of these things really matter. All that really matters is YOUR WILLINGNESS to be of use to God. You willingness to offer yourself to Him just as you are. To offer yourself unreservedly to Him to do with as HE wills. We do not need to be fitted beforehand for what God wants us to do, because He Himself will fit us for the work He has for us. I can vouch for this from my own personal experience. God NEEDS intercessors.
One of the greatest wonders of God is His infinite patience with us. He KNOWS our needs. He can supply all our needs but He will not force His gifts upon us. He waits for us to tell Him that we are willing to receive them. And so He needs us to come to Him, on behalf of our sick friends to do for them what they are frequently unable to do for themselves. It is a wonderful privilege to be called upon by God to be His assistant in the work of healing and a thing, which should not be undertaken lightly. But if we open ourselves to His guidance the difficulties we at first experience are gradually ironed out.
Intercession is a thing of joy and hope and like many other beautiful and worthwhile things it grows slowly. We are surrounded by evidence of this in nature. Look at an oak tree. It starts from an acorn and it grows so slowly that we cannot see any difference from day to day. We cannot see the tree growing but we do not doubt that it is doing so, and when winter comes along and the leaves fall off we expect to see it covered with leaves again in the Spring. Then, eventually after some years the tree reaches maturity and bears its own acorns and so the cycle starts again. And this is just as true of the growth of human character. When we offer ourselves to God as intercessors and show our willingness to learn, He takes us and shapes us, not only according to the talents and virtues we may already possess, but according to the work He wants us to do. We find ourselves doing all kinds of things that we did not dream we were capable of doing. And so human character can grow like this – very, very slowly. And thus can unfold God's purposes for us and we can become a participant in His work an intercessor for the sick.
People have sometimes said to me I couldn't get involved in the Healing Ministry – “I am not clever enough to understand it". But I do not believe that God wants us to be clever in this way. I think He wants us to put our cleverness aside and to just trust Him and believe in His promises and to ACT UPON THEM. You remember how He said to the disciples "Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of Heaven, as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.'' (Luke 18 v 17). A small child has a wonderful capacity for trusting and this is how I believe He wants us to trust Him. Completely as a little child does. Then once we have established our trust in Him and acknowledged our dependence upon Him, we can then go on to use any cleverness or any gifts we may possess to do His work in the world.
A PRAYER OF INTERCESSION FOR THE SICK.
Loving Heavenly Father, we come to You just as we are, with all our faults and our failings. We confess that we are not worthy to do Your work in this world but we come because You have called us. You have no hands and no body here on this earth and You need us to be Your representatives here among Your people, so Father we ask You to take all that is best in us and use it in Your service. Take all that is worst in us and so transform it that this also may be used to Your glory.
We offer You our love take it and use it Father as a channel through which You can work towards the healing of ourselves and our friends for whom we pray today.
If we have been ignorant or careless of Your laws of health. If we have allowed our spirits to become a prey to worry, fear, or despair. If we have forgotten You, our Divine Physician; grant us Your forgiveness and help us to find in Your loving power our health of body and our joy of soul. We believe that Your will for all men is perfect health, perfect wholeness, and we come before You now believing that with You all things are possible. These are Your children Father, and they need Your help. We do not see them as sick people. We visualise them as completely whole and well people. Happy free from fear and anxiety, free from pain, straight and strong and able to go about their daily business. We bring them before You now into the radiance of Your love and commit them into Your hands in the sure knowledge that Your promises are still the same, yesterday, today and forever.
We thank You Father for hearing our prayer.
I would like to conclude this section by telling you the story of Jean. She had already had two coronaries and then 6 years later had a very serious one. While waiting for the ambulance Jean asked her husband to ring the Church and ask for the prayers of the group. Her husband; although not a Church going person, did as she asked and we held her in our prayers every day. She spent the next few weeks in Intensive Care where she had a series of heart attacks, which culminated in cardiac arrest. Her heart was restarted but her husband was told that her chance of survival was very doubtful and that if she did, she was almost certain to be brain damaged through lack of oxygen.
Jean survived and without any brain damage. This is her testimony. "Before I was discharged several of the Medical Staff told me how proud they were that they had been able to save me, and spoke of my recovery as "miraculous". But my husband was told that I was unlikely to last 2 years as my heart was so badly damaged. Now 3 years later I am able to do my own shopping and housework, drive the car and lead a reasonably full life.
The last time I saw the specialist he discharged me saying "I've been waiting to see if you would become strong enough to stand up to an operation to replace the heart valve, but it looks like I shall to wait another 40 years as the valve is working adequately. I asked "Doctor, do you think prayer would have helped?" He asked, "Do you?" I said "Yes, I am sure it has." To which he replied "Then go on praying my dear; we haven't yet discovered a way of repairing heart valves without surgery.”
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS.
This is something that is frequently offered to the sick at a Healing Service but many people have only a very hazy idea of the meaning, and as a result are sometimes reluctant to take advantage of this. The meaning is really very simple. Those of us who offer this service are acting as a human channel through which God can work. He needs us to use our love as a channel by which He can reach out to His other children. However we must be quite sure that our channel is free and open and not cluttered up with such things as criticism and the like. If we are to be a good channel and of use to God we must have nothing but love in our hearts for the person for whom we would pray. And this also applies to the person who is to receive this ministration. They also must see that their own heart is open to receive that love. They must also be free from all negative thoughts, free from all fears and resentments; free from anything that will block the flow of 's healing love that we are channelling to them.
The giving of the laying on of hands is not restricted to the Ministry, but can be given by anyone who will observe these conditions, and it need not be looked upon as something that can only be done at a Healing Service. It can be done at any time. Every time a mother soothes her crying baby by stroking its head she is channelling God's healing love to the baby through her own love for it. Many times I have placed my hand upon the arm of a friend who is sick or in trouble, and although not a word may pass between us, she knows and I know that a little prayer has just gone up to God on her behalf.
When the laying on of hands is given as part of a Healing Service it is a very wonderful experience for both the person who is giving and the person who is receiving it. One is very conscious of the nearness of God and of His great love for all men. And when the congregation also add their prayers the whole atmosphere is charged with love. It is this caring for each other that God can use as a channel for the healing of our sick or troubled friends.
The best thing we can do for our sick friends is to bring them to God in love. Whether we do it through prayer or through the laying on of hands, or simply by being a friend to them and listening to them while they pour out their troubles, it does not really matter as long as it is done in love. Love is the thing that matters most of all. Love is the key to the door. Love opens the way to healing. It is the love of God that makes healing possible in the first place. He has given us the means whereby healing can be obtained, and He sent His Son to show us the way. He has given us the capacity to love. It is for us now to do our part; to use this love for the benefit of His other children. To come to Him ourselves and to offer ourselves to Him as a channel through which He can work, and to bring our sick friends to Him so that He can pour His healing love out upon them and make them whole again.
OPENING PRAYER FOR A HEALING SERVICE.
O God our Father, teach us how to pray. Teach us not only how to speak to You but also how to listen to Your voice speaking to us. Not only to make our requests but also to worship and praise You; not only to confess our sins and accept Your forgiveness, but also to seek Your help in overcoming our temptations and our weaknesses.
There are many things we would thank You for; the loveliness of the springtime and the beauty of the trees and flowers as they come again to us after their winter rest. For the knowledge that they WILL come again however dark and dreary the winter has seemed. But we would most of all thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ who came into this world to teach us how to live. Give us the courage and the will to try to live up to the pattern He has set for us. Help us to use whatever gifts and whatever strength we have to help others to do this also.
We thank You Father for the opportunity of meeting together again this day in fellowship with one another and with You. We would remember all those who are unable to be with us. Some are sick and some are looking after others who are sick. For these we ask Your healing power and Your comforting presence; let them feel You near them; let them feel Your loving arms around them sustaining them in their time of need.
We would ask Your blessing also upon the speaker. Guide his thoughts and let him be a channel through which You will speak to us. Give us open and receptive minds so that we may go from here feeling that we have learned a little more of Your will for us in this Ministry of Healing.
We would also pray for the restoration of the Healing Ministry in the Church. Forgive us, O Lord that we have allowed this to fall into disuse in the past, and show us the way to bring it back into the Churches so that the Whole Church will again be inspired to teach and to heal.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ.
SHORT PRAYERS for use when giving the Laying on of Hands
The healing light now shines upon you. The healing love of Jesus Christ now rests upon you. Go in peace and in the knowledge that God's love is surrounding you. May He bless and restore you to complete wholeness of body, mind and spirit.
In the name of Jesus Christ receive God's healing love in your body, your mind and your spirit, in order that you may serve Him more fully with your whole self till the end of your days.
May the peace of God go with you and bring you and your loved ones that tranquillity of mind that leads to wholeness of body mind and spirit.
May the Father who created all things in the beginning bless you; may the Son of God heal you; may the Holy Spirit enlighten you, guard your body, save your soul, direct your thoughts and bring you safe to your Heavenly home.
May the peace of God come upon you, and bring you healing of body mind and spirit, that you may become a blessing to all those who you meet.
The healing touch of Jesus Christ now rests upon you, and His Divine Power at this very moment, flows through you to bless, protect and heal you.
They crossed the lake and came to land at Gennesaret, where the people recognised Jesus.
So they sent for the sick people in all the surrounding country and brought them to Jesus.
They begged him to let those who were ill at least touch the edge of his cloak; and all who touched it were made well.
Matthew 14- 34,36
“But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13 v13)