How to Pray for Healing 

➤ by Pastor Gerhild Fulson

My Healing Journey

How to pray for healing is a HUGELY misunderstood topic. I’ve been healed from migraines, fibromyalgia, and cataracts. In each of these, it was not the usual type of healing prayer that brought full health.

It wasn't praying and asking my heavenly Father from the deepest recesses of my heart, saying to Him, "I have need of Your healing hand to touch me", or trusting in His sovereignty and tender mercies, begging for Him to heal me if it was His will, believing for a miraculous healing, or promising to be a missionary to Africa if He would only grant me physical healing.

No, I did none of these, which are usually done when people are sick, desperate, and in times of need. But yes, praise the Lord, I've been completely and fully healed! No more migraines. No more fibromyalgia. No more cataracts.

When sicknesses and health problems now try to attack me, which they do since we live in a fallen world, I've learned what to do. There's joyful expectation of perfect wholeness as the outcome.

Yes, you, too, can be healed from all kinds of sickness and be in good health!

Learning God's Word for Healing

What brought healing was an understanding of the Scriptures and applying them in my life. It was the power of the Word mixed with faith.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6

When I came across Hosea 4:6 in the Bible, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, it became obvious to me that I needed to gain knowledge, especially if I wanted to avoid being destroyed by the diseases that were attacking me.

Looking at Romans 10:9-10: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, and Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

This led to doing a study on the word 'saved' to learn what I had received when I had accepted Jesus as my Savior, 10 years earlier.

I looked up 'saved' in the original Greek text:

  • saved = (g4982) “sozo” means: to save, deliver, protect, preserve, do well, be whole, heal

Substituting the Greek definitions for this in Romans 10:13: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, delivered, protected, preserved, well, be whole, and healed!

What a revelation this was! 

Another scripture that confirmed this was Galatians 3:13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. That meant that I’d been set free (redeemed) from the curse of the law!

What is the curse of the law?

The curse of the law is outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. I searched high and low through these verses to find my sicknesses. When I came to Deuteronomy 28:61, it says, Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, are part of the curse! That meant that migraines, fibromyalgia, and cataracts were part of the curse, and now through Jesus, I’d been freed from them. 

Finally, 1 Peter 2:24 made sense … by whose stripes ye were healed. 

I realized I didn’t need to pray for healing. I HAD already been healed! 

This section 'Learning God's Word for Healing' can be read through quickly. It can be skimmed over, trying to find the quick way to get that divine healing. BUT, these verses and their meanings need to go from one's head to one's heart.

It was an understanding of the above scriptures that was the first step to having the healing power of faith work in my life.

But, my body was still sick. What to do?

Using God's Word for Healing

I had previously learned that Jesus had given us authority: I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, Luke 10:19. The first time 'power' is used in that verse, it's the Greek word, 'exousia', meaning authority. That's what Jesus gave us. The second time 'power' is used, it's the Greek word, 'dynamis', and that means power.

I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, Luke 10:19.

We've been given authority over the power of the enemy. We just need to use that authority!

Having understood those previous verses, here's how to apply them using that authority:

  • Mark 11:23-24, For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain [sickness], Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (brackets mine)
  • Proverbs 23:7, For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.
  • Matthew 12:34, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

I spoke to the migraines (aka, my mountain) and I commanded the migraines to leave, since I had authority over them, through the name of Jesus.

I commanded my body to line up with HIS Word. It was not asking God to heal me. He HAD already healed me, according to His Word. I needed to come into agreement with His Word. 

Because of that, if I could believe that I’d already received that healing, it would manifest. And that meant, really believing. Not just saying it. Not just declaring it. But actually believing it. This is where the understanding and knowledge of those verses in the first section, 'Learning God's Word for Healing' is crucial.

The following helped the 'knowledge' to sink in and become a reality that I’d already been healed by receiving sozo (salvation):

I needed to stop thinking about the sickness!  Proverbs 23:7, For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

How do I know if I’m thinking about sickness? I listen to what I say, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, Matthew 12:34. 

I needed to start speaking that I was healed, as though I was. I needed to calleth those things which be not as though they were, Romans 4:17, and to speak health even though it didn’t appear that I had it yet. 

As I meditated upon these scriptures, that 'knowledge' went from being head-knowledge to becoming heart-knowledge and became reality in my life.

Each of the diseases left (some more slowly than the others). Once I really understood those scriptures and my thinking and speaking were in agreement, the healing manifested.

The interesting thing is that these weren't miraculous healings.

I didn't wake up one day totally healed. The healing process was gradual. The 'knowledge' that I was healed became such a reality in my heart that I didn't even realize when the actual physical healing occurred. It wasn't until months later that I suddenly recalled, “hey, I used to have migraines.”

Twenty years ago, I was diagnosed with cataracts. It wasn't until three months after the diagnosis, when I had a scheduled eye specialist appointment on my calendar, that I remembered I had had cataracts. I suddenly recalled that the specialist wanted to arrange the date for the operation on my eyes. Since I hadn't cancelled the appointment in time, I went. After a prolonged examination, he finally said to me, “What did you do? You have no cataracts anymore. You can go.” I tried to explain to him, but he just shooed me out.

With the fibromyalgia, I didn't realize until two years later that I had suffered with it! I was interviewing someone for a volunteer position at our church school, when she said that she had fibromyalgia and wasn't sure how many hours she could work. I got goosebumps on my arms and chills down my back. I stuttered to her, “I used to have fibromyalgia!” That's when I recalled the pain and suffering I had had for years.

I still find it strange that I didn't suddenly realize when I could see clearly or notice that I now actually had the strength to walk up the steps and without pain.

The only way I can explain it is that the knowledge that I was healed, according to 1 Peter 2:24, was so deeply settled and grounded in my heart without doubt or unbelief (that's the faith), that the Word HAD to become reality. This settling and grounding of the Word in the heart happened gradually. It happened as one absorbs oneself in the scriptures (So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Rom 10:17), scriptures on healing, in this case.

Now when something comes to attack, I speak to that sickness, commanding it to leave in Jesus’ name, commanding my body to line up with His Word, and then declaring the Word that I’m healed. 

I’m careful with what I say afterwards. I don’t speak sickness. If I do, I realize that I need to meditate more upon His Word on healing again and refresh my understanding of the above Scriptures to drop them from my head to my heart once again.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Romans 10:17

How to Pray for Healing

Do I ever pray for my own healing? No, not in the sense of asking God to heal me.

Since I KNOW the Word that says I've already been healed (1 Pet 2:24), I use my authority (Lk 11:19) and command that sickness to go (Mk 11:24). I rebuke the devil, and he has to flee (James 4:7). I'm careful where my thoughts go (Prov 23:7) and listen to what I say (Mat 12:34).

When others ask for prayer because of a need of healing, either by asking the elders of the church or wanting healing hands laid on them in their time of illness, I will.

But it's not the "standard" prayer for healing. It's not asking our Lord Jesus Christ to heal them.

Jesus said: He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, John 14:12.

And what did Jesus do? He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38).

Therefore it's up to us to take our authority as a believer and do what Jesus said to do: Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give, Mat 10:8.

If there's time available, I'll teach the sick person what I've outlined above and share examples from the Scriptures where Jesus healed, working at building that person's faith. Then it's speaking to that sickness (Mk 11:24) in Jesus' name, rebuking the devil, and declaring that person healed, according to 1 Pet 2:24. After that, it's up to that person to either believe it and receive it, or doubt and go without that healing.

What's Most Important?

Following the above scriptures is how I’ve come to apply God’s Word regarding healing. If it were just based on my experience of life, it would have no value. It must be based upon His Word. However, this is all contingent upon being a child of God. 

Becoming a child of God is through believing in Jesus … doing what Romans 10:9-10 says: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Salvation brings us into relationship with God, our Father. Jesus died for us to open the way of salvation for eternal life. Once we have done that from our hearts, we are in right standing with God. We are now His child and have a relationship with him. Some would say this is spiritual healing. Actually, it's more than that. We've been given a new spirit (Ez 36:26) and he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit, 1 Cor 6:17. We have been given everlasting life!

Only as His child are the provisions of 'sozo' ours. Now we need to have insight into that knowledge and apply it to our lives. 

Jesus says in John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 

The thief is the devil, who comes with sickness and all manner of evil that steals, kills, and destroys us. 

Jesus gives us life (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me, John 14,6) and He gives that life abundantly … and that includes all that the word 'sozo' means. 

Through Jesus, I have peace and joy, regardless of what's happening around me. Through His Holy Spirit, I'm also led, guided, and provided for in all that I do. I've lived this way for over 40 years. Never once has Jesus failed me. All that I've experienced has shown me that the Bible is the truth. 

Above, I've used “I” … but it's not just me. It's my hubby (healed from severe arthritis) and so many, many more, who have testimonies just like this.

It's really not just a list of steps to follow to get healing. Instead, it’s having a personal relationship with Jesus that brings about an awareness of what He has made possible for us to have.

Many people just accept Jesus to be saved and go to heaven. They call themselves Christians, may religiously go to church, and leave it at that. However, it’s actually learning from His Word and doing what it says that turns it into an amazing, exciting, healthy, and fully satisfying life!

What Can We Be Healed from?

Everything.

Every sickness and every disease ... (Deut 28:61) and that includes a cancer diagnosis. Everything is part of the curse, and we've been set free from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13)! That means we can be healed ... our entire being, and that includes mental health. Everything!

What about hereditary diseases? Absolutely. That's the type of migraines I had. I have been completely healed from those now well over 30 years.

Jesus is our example. As you read through the scriptures, watch what He did. In Acts 10:38 it clearly says that he healed ALL. That word 'all' in the original Greek means 'all, any, every'. Jesus healed all and He expects us to do what He did (John 14:12).

Powerful Bible Verses for Healing

These are the verses that I regularly come back to in order to keep the knowledge that applies to healing deep in my heart.

Because ... My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hos 4:6, I'm going to renew my mind ... Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God, Rom 12:2.

To know God's will concerning healing, having made known unto us the mystery of his will, Eph 1:9, I will study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Tim 2:15, by putting God's Word in my heart ... I have stored up your word in my heart, Ps 119:11

I recall that I have 'sozo' ... which includes health, since I've already done this: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, Rom 10:13, and For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, Rom 10:9-10.

I'm reminded that, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, Gal 3:13.

Because, 1 Peter 2:24 says, by whose stripes ye were healed, I use the authority given me by Jesus, I give unto you power [authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, Luke 10:19. 

I speak to the sickness, commanding it to leave, not doubting, but believing that I receive, For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain [sickness], Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:23-24.

I'm careful what I think because, For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he, Pro 23:7. When thoughts of "I'm still sick", "I'm going to die", or "It's normal to get arthritis when one's old", I take authority over those thoughts by casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor 10:5 and instead claim the promises of healing.

What are some of those thoughts?

  • Some people think that there's a greater glory by suffering sickness. There's no scripture for that.
  • Some think they need to have a daily prayer time (although very good to have), or go to church religiously, or tithe, but these do not affect the healing Jesus has already provided.
  • Some people believe that sickness comes from God. NO! There's no scripture for that. Instead, it says that all good gifts come from God (James 1:17). God is the giver of life, not death. 
  • Some think that they can only receive healing from someone with a healing touch. Not true. Yes, healing is one of the Gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:9) and that is ONE way to receive healing. But what happens if no one with that gift is available? What are you going to do?
  • Some think they need to feel the presence of God or else God hasn't heard them. We don't live by feelings. We live by the Word. God never leaves or forsakes us (Heb 13:5).

Make sure your thoughts are centered on God. Keep your thoughts under control. You have authority over them. You have authority over all the power of Satan (Lk 10:19)

Use your authority and see your healing manifested.

Final Word

I think one of the verses that has impacted my life the most is Hosea 4:6: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

People are sick. People are depressed. People are poor. People are worried. People are fearful. All because they lack insight into God's Word or how to apply it. 

But that's actually good news! It means that all of these are subject to change. It's up to us to dive into the Word of God to glean from it the truths that will set us free.

By following the steps outlined above, I have been, and continue to be, set free from afflictions. Yes, Satan tries again and again to bring symptoms. And, again and again, I counter with the Word. And, again and again, healing is manifested. Praise the Lord!

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I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, Luke 10:19.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20

Unless stated otherwise, all Bible passages quoted in orange are from the KJV translation.

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