If you are a fan of contemporary Christian music, you may be familiar with the song “The Spirit and The Bride” by singer-songwriter, Matt Maher. The song inspired by Revelation 22:17 echoes the mission of the Holy Spirit and the Church to reach out to the broken, and to continue to bring forth the coming Kingdom until Christ returns. It is being a part of this Kingdom that drives every Healing Prayer Ministry to actualize and operate in the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit; taking the time to meet and pray with individuals who are in need. In our zeal to help bring forth the Kingdom, we must learn to use the gifts properly, especially, in order to fulfill our part in the mission of the church. To use any gift properly we first need to understand the gifts we are given and be prepared to listen to not only God but to the person receiving Healing Prayer.

Being active in Christian ministry almost my entire adult life, I can say I have experienced being trained as a prayer minister, and also as a recipient of healing prayer ministry, finding out first-hand how being gifted by the Holy Spirit and proper training can make a difference in the experience. 

During my first few years, I was not trained in how to pray with others or taught the importance of how to yield and operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. My misunderstandings left me with a continuous feeling of not being as gifted as other prayer ministers and feeling as if God only bestowed these gifts on certain people. I did not realize I was the one that needed to open the door and trust in the Holy Spirit or give credit to the way the Holy Spirit was using me at the time. Looking back, I realize even though I had these feelings, God still provided many amazing experiences, blessed the ministry and used me to bring others to Jesus. 

Then came a point when my life was in shambles. Nothing in any earthly sense could heal my brokenness. I knew I needed intense prayer. I began to attend various forms of Catholic centered services: Healing Masses, confession, prayer groups and retreats. Everything helped but not all provided a positive experience.  

There was one prayer group that I attended in particular that left an impression on my heart that I was being judged. Another time, I was at a prayer group and one of the members came to me after praying for some time and said “I feel that you are angry with God.” I went numb, I shut down to any healing that could have taken place at that moment, because I was just told how I felt. In the deepest part of my heart, I was not feeling angry with God, but I did feel confused, lost, hurt and broken. 

My life was in turmoil and during this time people around me would say, “Things can only get better” but they didn’t, things actually get worse. I was at a spiritual and emotional place where I was wondering when God would step in; I was looking for him and seeking him. I could not understand how this would be seen as anger. To reply in the most convincing way that anger was not in me, I put on my best fake smile, laughed and replied, “I don't feel angry.” After that I didn't return to the prayer group because I was embarrassed to think that someone could think I was angry with God.

Sometime after that negative encounter, I discovered a Healing Prayer Ministry at a parish where the prayer ministers were actively listening to a person’s story, their needs and asking questions of the recipient that would direct their prayers to Jesus in a way that made one feel less judged. Over time, through various retreats, confession and grace, I received an inner healing that allowed me to live life in a state of peace in the middle of the muck. This was my healing: learning to live!

The experience of my own brokenness taught me a great deal on how to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, with care for others. It also changed my reaction to and understanding of healing prayer. As a prayer recipient, I understand that I can respond in an honest way to help direct the prayer I am receiving. As a healing prayer minister, I have learned first-hand that when operating in the spirit, listening is always the best way to start the process of healing the broken-hearted. 

Healing ministry definitely was a help to me. Listen to the Matt Maher song here: