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... From the Goodnews archives, January/February 2005

Healing Guidelines   Jan Knight, who is a retired doctor from Taunton in Somerset, for many years has been involved in the Church Healing Ministry. Below she shares some practical tips about praying for others.

"They will lay hands on the Sick..." Praying for healing is something that has gained much more acceptance in recent years, whether it is at a formal healing service or the laying on of hands and praying informally with family and friends and bringing their situation to God's healing presence. This autumn I have been involved in a number of training events in both the Catholic and Anglican diocese in my part of the world and below are some of the guidelines we have suggested, as well as a few of my own observations, which I hope people might find helpful. These guidelines are for healing services in church when prior to the service, time should be spent in prayer, confessing sins, building faith and building a sense of unity in the team. After the service there needs to be an opportunity for the team to receive prayer and share any concerns they may have about what happened. Even if people are not involved in praying for people at formal healing services, as Christians we should all be open to praying with family members or friends for healing if a need arises. This requires love and compassion and an expectancy that God can use you as a channel of His Healing love - remembering that healing comes in many forms and God knows what is best for the person at that moment. All that is needed is to ask the person if they would like you to pray, then sitting or standing , ask if you can put your hand on their shoulder or arm. Then focus your mind and heart on God's love for that person and His desire for their well being and pray briefly an appropriate prayer. If you don't know what to pray tell the person you will be praying silently and do so! In my experience people love to be prayed with. I know I love it when people pray for me as it makes me feel cared for, safe and valued, as well as the symptoms of distress or pain being helped as well. Children are fantastic pray-crs. They have great faith and expect things to happen, so encourage your children or grandchildren to lay on hands and pray for family members. It builds up a family and a community if we can all become relaxed and ready to pray for one another when the need arises. So let us all keep alert to the opportunities to be channels of God's healing grace. Don't forget to pray for your doctors too - that God will give them the skill they need. Remember Sirach 38, where the bible recognises that God heals through medicine too! Remember that God is the Healer, you are simply an instrument, so don't take credit for a healing or responsibility if there doesn't seem to be one. Be welcoming: smile, introduce yourself and ask their name. Listen carefully and keep your eyes open Do not counsel or give advice. Be gentle in words, brief and God centred. Ask permission before touching with the laying on of hands Do not stroke or caress - just gentle contact of hand on the shoulder or head or afflicted area. If it is a sensitive area suggest the person puts their own hand there. Be prepared for "resting in the Spirit" (when someone might fall to the ground in a kind of faint provoked by the Holy Spirit) but don't suggest or encourage it. Protect the person if they do fall and remain with them. Seek help when you know you are out of your depth. Everything said to you when praying for healing is confidential. Always be ready to leam from the experience of others. Never condemn someone for their lack of faith and never tell the person they are healed or to stop taking medication. Have plenty of tissues available. Work in pairs - if possible a man and a woman

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