Studies have shown that people who pray generally are happier and tend to live longer. Those are nice byproducts of prayer, but not why we pray. We pray because Jesus told us to. And He said that we can ask for anything in prayer.
I have the privilege of praying with and for people a lot. One of the most common things people pray for is healing – for themselves and for others. In today’s first reading from Isaiah 38, Isaiah tells Hezekiah, King of Judah, that he is about to die. Hezekiah prays and weeps bitterly. God says, “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you.” And Hezekiah is given fifteen more years of life.
Does God always hear our prayers? Yes. Does He always answer them? Yes, but perhaps not in the way or the time frame that we think. When we pray for healing and our hearts are open, God will grant healing. It may not be the physical healing we want. God may want to heal our hearts, our souls, our relationships, our loved ones. Healing will come when we ask God to heal us in whatever way He sees fit to heal us. Try it. It works.
Father, heal us. Heal our bodies, our hearts, our souls, our loved ones. Keep us always open to your healing touch, and whatever healing you think is best for us. Amen.
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