“A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you want to, you can cleanse me.’ Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand and said, ‘I want to. Be clean.’”
Mark 1:40-41 (The Message)
Jesus makes it very plain that he wants to heal the man standing before him. This compelling incident at the beginning of Christ’s ministry nudges me with powerful reminders when I want to pray for myself or others.
Reminder: God wants his children to be healthy, whole, and cleansed and God has the power to carry it out.
Being clean was crucial for the leper. Leprosy not only disfigured the skin but it was considered so contagious that sufferers were driven out of their communities and left to beg.
Although Mark’s gospel is sketchy on details, Jesus’ idea of cleansing goes more than skin deep. With clean skin the former leper could rejoin his family and community, his despair replaced with gratitude. No wonder he wanted to tell everyone what had happened to him!
Reminder: Restoration and gratitude are part of the wholeness package.
For me prayer for healing is less about reciting symptoms and obstacles God already knows about, and more about getting to know Jesus—what he says and does.
Reminder: Jesus still heals.
Prayer: Healing Jesus, Remind us to take seriously your passion to make us whole and aware your cleansing power goes more than skin deep. Amen
Question: How will these reminders influence my prayer life?
Written by Nancy Alice Morton
