The topic of healing is something I’ve been thinking of for a long time. I don’t have a problem believing God “can” do it. I have a problem believing he “will” do it. What are the true elements of faith? Its one thing to believe God can, but is it being presumptuous to believe God “is” going to heal? Isn’t that like saying God HAS to do what I ask, just because I believe he’s going to? Who am I to tell God what he’s going to do?
What is it the Lord requires from us to answer prayers for healing? He doesn’t need anything. He can do it whether we believe he will heal completely or not – even if it is replacing missing teeth or limb.
I have major health issues and doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong. I believe God can heal me. I just can’t allow myself to believe he’s “going” to heal me because I think I’m telling him what to do. I agree with you in that the problem lies with me. I just don’t know how to fix it and I’m sick of being sick.
I think you’ve described the problem perfectly. We know intellectually that God can heal us, but we can’t generate the faith that He will. Whether we think it’s presumptuous of us to ask, or know at some level that we don’t deserve it, or whatever, the fact remains that we don’t believe it can happen to us.
Does God have to do what we ask, simply because we believe He will? The Bible says yes! Matt. 21:22 clearly says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Of course God has the power to perform whether we believe or it not, but His word says that it’s our faith, not His power, that will determine the outcome. Because of the cross, you have been given the right to ask for anything in the Lord’s name and He will do it. Read John 14:12-14:
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Clear enough? James said that we don’t have because we don’t ask, and when we do we ask with wrong motives. (James 4:3). He also said that when we ask we have to believe and not doubt (James 1:6). When the father of the boy with epilepsy asked the Lord to help “if you can” the Lord replied, “If I can? Every thing is possible for him who believes.” The man answered “I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:21-24)
We’re all like that man and should begin by asking the Lord what he asked. “Help me overcome my unbelief.”