This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1John 5:14 (NIV)
In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean." Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared! Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, "Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed." Luke 5:12–14 (NLT)
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17 (ESV)
How Can I Discover God's Will for My Healing?
1. Ask humbly for a miracle.
When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean." Luke 5:12 (NLT)
"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." Luke 22:42 (ESV)
God answers every prayer with Yes, No, or Wait:
- God can say "No" because he is God.
"Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. " 1 Peter 4:19 (ESV)
When God doesn't heal, he wants to reveal.
- God can say "Yes" because he is good.
"Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24 (ESV)
- God can say "Wait" because waiting is good.
"Wait for the Lord! Be strong, and let your heart take courage! Wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
ACTION PLAN: Try setting aside 5 minutes each day this week to ask humbly for God to do a miracle in your life. Work to form a daily habit of asking the Lord for His provision, believing that He answers every prayer.
2. Search for God's will while I wait.
"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 (NLT)
"I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me." Proverbs 8:17 (NLT)
3. Listen for the voice of God's Spirit.
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth" John 16:13 (ESV)
"Do not quench the Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (ESV)
"While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God." Hebrews 5:7 (NLT)
ACTION PLAN: Go to a quiet, peaceful space and ask God to reveal His will for you in this season. Sit and listen for God's voice, knowing that the Lord speaks in a quiet whisper. Then reflect on your day and ask where the Holy Spirit moved in last 24 hours.
4. Spend time with the Healer!
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32 (ESV)
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." John 15:7 (ESV)
If we'd pray more for wisdom, we could pray less for miracles.
5. Enlist others to pray with me!
"I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19-20 (NIV)
Pray for each other so you may be healed. James 5:16 (NIV)
And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9 (ESV)
6. Embrace the mystery of God's will.
He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NCV)
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow! … Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we'll live and do this or that." James 4:13–15 (NIV)
ACTION PLAN: On a piece of paper, write down the Serenity Prayer. Try to take time to memorize this prayer, or even write your own version, accepting that while we don't understand God's will yet, we can trust that He is good and cares deeply for us.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.