Heal me.
What do you need healing from?
Most of us have an answer to that. But do we ask specifically for God to heal us?
I thought I did. Until I read these words by Mark Batterson in Draw the Circle: "God does not answer vague prayers."
Batterson went on to say that when we pray vaguely, there's no way to know if God answered, and God gets no glory in that.
He also said, "Our responsibility is to simply discern what God wants, and then humbly yet boldly to ask God for it."
So my kiddos and I discussed this idea in terms of asking God specifically. They had no problem at all naming exactly what they want God to do for them...
Raise 15K for a deep well.
Conviction of sin and reconciliation with some very hard people.
Healing from a dairy allergy.
I struggled. I'd rather pray God's Word or pray specifically for my children or my family and friends.
But voice my deep dreams to God and ask Him specifically to fulfill them?
What if I ask and God says no? That's happened.
What if I ask and follow God into those dreams and they turn to dust? That's happened too.
And every time I ask and the answer doesn't come the way I'd hoped, it gets a little harder to voice the dream and hand it over to God again.
But since I'm a closet optimist, I keep asking because God keeps stirring the same dream.
I want to change the world, point people to healing in Christ, and provide for my family through the ministry of writing.
I long to see God's people healed of addictions that destroy them and those around them one slow step away from God at a time.
I long to see God's people healed from the pain caused by the sins of others. To see people who live in fear free to trust and believe God loves them and will use them to do amazing things.
And so I pray. For myself and the dreams that won't go away. For my children. For my family and friends. For strangers I pass along the way.
For dreams to live and grow and bear fruit.
For healing.
One verse I go back to often and insert loved one's names in or my name is Isaiah 53:5...
You were pierced for Amy's rebellion, crushed for Amy's sins. You were beaten so Amy could be whole. You were whipped so Amy could be healed. I believe Your death and resurrection accomplished Amy's healing. May Amy receive that healing from fear, from the past, from rejection, from constant shoulder pain. By Your wounds Amy is healed.
God may still say no to the specific requests for healing.
I've asked for healing from diabetes for over twenty years. And God has been clear He is using this disease for my good and His glory. Every time I go to the eye doctor and there's not even microscopic damage from twenty-six years with diabetes, God gets glory for that because that was one of my biggest fears and prayers.
I may not always like the answers I receive. But I believe God is honored when I ask.
Specifically.
Until He answers.
And He does answer.
So ask. Feel free to take the Scripture above and pray your name or a loved one's.
God is honored by honest, bold, God-sized requests.
After all, He's the only One who can answer those.
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