Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2, NLT

A couple of weeks ago, Allison and I went to Jefferson City, Missouri over the weekend to spend time with our son, Joshua, and to celebrate his 28th birthday. This year, out of the blue, or more likely out of the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I thought about Joshua’s birthday dinner from many years ago. Our family had taken him out to eat at one of his favorite local restaurants, where I had an unexpected encounter with an extremely kind gentleman who now happens to be a partner of Christ Church. This gentleman, seated on the restaurant patio just a few tables away from ours, walked over to our table and said, “Dinner has been taken care of for your table. I want you to know you mean a lot to us.” I was astounded on two levels. First, I was astounded that dinner was covered. We were celebrating our son’s twentieth birthday. Celebrating a birthday means you don’t eat cheap because a round of desserts must be ordered!  Secondly, I didn’t know how deeply significant the impact was that I had had on this man and his family.

After we finished off dessert, I again thanked this kind gentleman. He responded to my thank you by saying, “I want you to know that if it were not for your prayers, the prayers of others, and God, our son would not have been healed.” You see, several years ago, before this act of kindness, his son was battling cancer. I remember visiting his son in the hospital on numerous occasions and praying for healing. Through the medical community and the praying community of the church, Jesus healed his son.

I left the restaurant that night filled with gratitude, as well as humility. I was grateful for his son’s healing and his continued good health. I felt humbled because I’m overwhelmed at the thought that God invites you and me to be a part of his healing power through prayer. The late Dr. Dennis Kinlaw wrote one of my favorite books on prayer titled, Prayer: Bearing the World as Jesus Did. Kinlaw tells the story of being interviewed on a television program. Not long into the program, the interviewer asked Kinlaw, “What is the most staggering thought you have ever found in your walk with God and your study of Scripture?” Kinlaw reports that he sat for a moment, uncertain how to respond. Then he said, “The most staggering thing I have ever learned is that the eternal God—who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—has invited me to enter into the conversation with that exclusive group.” The interviewer stared at Dr. Kinlaw before saying, “That does sort of blow you away, doesn’t it?”[1]

It should blow us away that when we intercede for another person in prayer, we are joining in the conversation with our Triune God. In addition, it should blow us away that through our prayers, we play a role in Christ’s healing ministry in the lives of others. When Jesus sends out his disciples in Luke 9, one of the reasons for them being sent out is to heal. We, as the body of Christ, continue the healing ministry of Christ. Does that mean that everyone for whom we pray is healed in the way that we would have hoped? Obviously not. You and I have prayed for people, and yet the healing came through going home to be with the Lord. But just because we didn’t get the answer we had hoped and prayed for does not negate Jesus’ charge to “heal the sick” and God’s invitation to be in conversation with Him on behalf of others.

Who do you know that needs healing? Will you have a conversation with God on their behalf? He invites you to do so.

[1] Kinlaw, Dennis F and Christine Albertson. Prayer: Bearing the World as Jesus Did. Anderson: Indiana: Frances Asbury Press 2012, p. 1.