7 Ways to Ask the Great Physician to Mend Body and Spirit

Praying for healing involves praying with a confident faith in God's power and willingness to act. Jesus often emphasized the power of faith during his ministry, telling those he healed that their faith had made them well. God is a loving Father who has the power to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). When you pray with true faith, you’re declaring that you believe God can and will respond according to his perfect will, which includes his desire for you to be well. James 5:15 assures you: “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”

The emphasis here is on the prayer offered in faith. Expect the best from God. When you do, your faith transforms a wish into a powerful prayer that God appreciates. When you pray for your body and spirit to be mended, picture God’s goodness and how he has answered your past prayers in wonderful ways. Speak God’s promises out loud, remembering that even a small amount of genuine faith – like a mustard seed – is enough to move mountains. This will also help you move beyond doubt and despair with real hope that God is able to help you.

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The Bible is full of verses that affirm God’s nature as a healer, and declaring these promises back to him is a powerful form of prayer. So, incorporate Bible verses about God’s promises into your prayers. When you pray about God’s promises, your prayers are based on the powerful truth of God’s character and his commitment to you. This will strengthen your faith and invite the Holy Spirit to work through the Bible’s living and active words (Hebrews 4:12).

Jeremiah 17:14 features a prayer and a promise that you can adopt in your own prayers for healing: “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” This verse shows how prayer can be both a confession of need and a declaration of confidence in God’s power. In Exodus 15:26, God promises: “... I am the LORD, who heals you.” When fear or pain starts to overwhelm you, repeat God’s healing promises until they sink from your head into your heart, so you really believe that God will help you.

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When you think that you’ve made some unhealthy choices that could be contributing to your health issues, it’s important to humbly confess those unhealthy choices to God and turn away from them by asking for forgiveness and help in making healthy choices moving forward. While physical illness and injuries happen to everyone sometimes in this fallen world and aren’t necessarily caused by any personal sin, you can always benefit from confessing your sins regularly so you can receive God’s grace more fully. When you confess your sins, you’re lining up your heart and mind with God’s loving truth and accepting the forgiveness Jesus has already made possible for you. This humility breaks down walls and helps God’s love to flow freely through your life.

James 5:16 highlights the direct connection between confession and healing: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” This verse reminds you that any kind of healing – for body or spirit – often comes from removing the barrier of unconfessed sin, because it opens you up to receiving God’s mercy. The relief of knowing your sins are forgiven can lift a spiritual burden that weighs heavily on your body and mind. It allows the peace of God to settle into your spirit and gives you a cheerful heart, which, as the Bible says in Proverbs 17:22, is good medicine.

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The sacrifice Jesus made on the cross was not just for the forgiveness of sins, but for the full, holistic healing of humanity in every way. His suffering bought back everything that was lost in humanity’s fall. When praying for healing, it’s important to appeal to the finished work of the cross, because your right to ask for wholeness flows directly from Christ’s redeeming sacrifice for you. This is a wondrous privilege that can help you move beyond just pleading with God to claiming all the healing God wants you to have, according to his will for your life.

In 1 Peter 2:24, the Bible says: "‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’" The last part of this quote, "by his wounds you have been healed," refers to Isaiah 53:5 and is a promise you can confidently stand on. It means that healing is part of God’s redemption package for you. When you ask for physical or spiritual mending, you remind God, and yourself, that Jesus has already paid the price. You pray in the authority of Jesus’ name, knowing that the power that conquers death is also the power that can conquer your health issues. 

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God designed your body to thrive when you care for it well, and prayer is a vital way to ask for the strength and discipline you need to start well-being practices that support your healing process. While God can certainly intervene miraculously, he also often works through the daily choices you make about rest, nutrition, movement, and mental health. When you feel too exhausted, overwhelmed, or lacking in discipline to make those healthy choices, you can ask God to help you care about your physical health as much as your spiritual health.

God wants to partner with you in your health journey, giving you the wisdom and strength you need to live a healthy lifestyle. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This invitation is for both your body that’s tired and your spirit that’s burdened by stress. You can pray specifically for whatever kind of help you need to enjoy the well-being that comes from renewal and revival, spiritually, mentally, and physically. This will help you collaborate with your Creator to live the healthiest and best life you can. 

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God has created everyone to live in community and pray for each other on a regular basis. When you’re struggling with your health, don’t retreat into isolation, but invite your spiritual family in your church to pray for you. There’s a special power released when two or more people gather in Jesus’ name (Matthew 18:19-20), and sharing prayer with others can multiply your strength and faith. Asking others to pray for you is a beautiful way to rely on the body of Christ and the God who works through it.

James 5:14 advises: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.” The prayers of the community carry weight, and the act of anointing with oil serves as a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s presence and healing touch. Community prayer is powerful! So, don’t hesitate to ask your fellow church members to pray for your healing. 

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While it’s natural to want immediate relief, an important part of asking the Great Physician to mend you is learning to wait on him with patience and trust. God may not heal you when you expect, or in the ways you expect. God’s ultimate goal is your growth. Sometimes he uses a season of waiting or enduring to perfect your character and deepen your dependence on him. You don’t have to wait passively. You can wait with hope and keep growing during the time it takes for your healing to arrive.

Psalm 41:3 describes God’s sustaining and restoring presence with people who need healing: “The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.” God is with you throughout your struggle. When you pray for healing, be sure to include that you want God’s will to be done for you. Doing so invites God to bring you the very best for your situation, in the best ways and in the best timing. 

In conclusion, asking the Great Physician to mend your body and spirit can help you build a closer relationship with your Creator as you pursue healing. You can experience the healing power of God’s great love for you while you cooperate with him to mend the health issues you’re facing. God cares about every single one of your needs – in both your body and your spirit. So, continue to pray, continue to trust, and continue to rest in God’s healing love.

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