The Gift of Healing
Some people are skeptical about the spiritual gift of healing, but I am not. There have been too many times in my life that I have experienced and given it. I am not talking about the dramatic theatrics of the 80s televangelists knocking someone’s forehead and the receiver swooning into a dead faint on the stage. That may be an act of healing. It is not one that I have experienced. What I have experienced is a family member moving a leg just a bit after a vigorous foot massage when no movement was there yet. I have experienced the healing of my soul after hearing a moving piece of music written especially for General Assembly. I have seen people counseled countless times after a divorce or death who before counseling could not seem to overcome their grief.
Spiritualgiftstest.com says: “The gift of healing allows an individual to heal others physically, mentally, and spiritually. Once an individual identifies how they can heal others, they should research the methodology and never stop learning about their field of expertise. To grow this gift a person must also seek out measures to grow their patience and fortitude.” There are many stories of Jesus and others using the gift of healing for those who were suffering. Jesus even gave his disciples the gift to heal. Since we are faith descendants of these Christians, is it no less likely that there are those among us with this gift?
For those of us who do not have the spiritual gift of healing, we are still called to exercise this gift with the possibility of gaining skills in this area. So here are four ideas to ease into the spreading of the gospel while using some of your God-given spiritual gifts:
1. The Gift of Touch
Consider a person who is alone in your church or in your community especially one who is not getting outside their house during this time. Plan with one other person to strictly quarantine for 14 days and plan a time to go see this homebound person together. Provide listening ears to that person, offer a greeting and departing hug if they are open to that and hold their hand or touch their arm while they are speaking if it seems appropriate. Your agape touch may be the only one they have received in months or even years.
2. Healing Prayer
There is a person in your midst who is suffering grief of some kind: divorce, death of a loved one, having to be the caretaker for someone who is no longer “themselves,” etc. Ask friends and/or church members to come together online to spend some time in prayer with that person. Ask each person to pray specifically for the need. Raise your hands to the screen or some other gesture that signifies that you are engaged fully in prayer and not distracted by other things going on in your home. End by sharing with that person a gift they have brought to you by being their friend.
3. Build a Hedge
I have found a hedge prayer important to me from a young age. It is not for everyone. However, the peace I have after praying is priceless. Ask God to place a hedge around a situation, a person, an event, or anything that you are extremely worried about or are having a hard time letting go of. I imagine in my mind, that worry and draw a line around it completely. Then I ask God to take my worry from me and place it with God, so it is no longer my burden to bear.
4. Heal Thyself
Reflect on the ways in which you need to be healed: physically, mentally, and spiritually. Make a list of self-care measures you can take to start that healing process. This means not simply taking a nap or giving yourself a manicure although those things might help you heal. Think about creative outlets that refresh your soul or go hold a baby if you have one available. You might find some things to do and be that will heal you mentally, physically, and spiritually.