How to Pray for Healing for Someone Else: Plus 7 Helpful Prayers!
One of the hardest things in life is watching someone we love suffer. Especially when they’re suffering from health issues. It can make you feel helpless because you don’t know what to do.
You can’t fix it. You can’t make it go away. You can’t even take their place.
But there is something you can do.
You can pray.
While it seems like a simple thing to do. Prayer is the most powerful thing you can offer to do for anybody.
Because you aren’t just praying and speaking words out loud. You are bringing them before the Lord who adores them.
The One who is in charge of Heaven’s armies. The One who has the power to do anything and everything that needs to be done in their life.
Praying for healing for someone else . . . is hands down the most powerful thing you can do.
How do you pray for healing for someone else?
When someone we love is suffering from health issues we may wonder how to pray for their healing.
- Is there a certain way we should pray?
- Certain words we need to use?
- Or does it even matter?
The truth is God hears our prayers no matter what words we use or how we go about it. But it can be helpful for the person we are praying for if we do the following 5 things.
1) Listen to them.
One of the best things you can do for someone is to simply listen to them. Let them vent about their struggles, pains, and the health issues they are facing.
Sometimes just speaking it out loud helps them to feel better.
By listening you validate their feelings and show them that you are there for them.
Plus, it helps you to know what they really need prayer for.
- Maybe they’re feeling scared or worried. And need to be reminded that God is in control.
- Maybe they’re feeling angry at God. And need to be reminded of God’s love for them and that He is with them.
- Maybe they’re feeling worn down and tired. And need to be reminded that God will be the strength they need.
By taking the time to listen you can figure out what they need the most . . . and then pray about that.
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
-Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
2) Pray for them.
Whether you’re offering up a prayer for healing for a friend, a family member, or for another loved one . . . interceding for them is one of the greatest gifts you could ever give.
While God doesn’t need our prayers, He does often wait until we pray to make a move. Miracle healing prayers start with someone simply being willing to pray.
And while that doesn’t seem like a big thing to do . . . it takes a lot of faith.
Because God may choose to heal them. And He may choose not to.
If He chooses not to heal them, we may feel like a bit of a fool for praying. But we have to remember that we don’t know everything that God is doing. We can’t see everything that is happening. But God does.
We need to trust God and be willing to offer up our prayers whether God answers them the way we want Him to . . . or not.
Because even if they don’t experience healing, our loved ones will benefit from seeing our faith in action as we pray over them.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
-Romans 15:13 NLT
3) Lay your hands on them.
If you watch other people as they pray for someone, they often put a hand on their shoulder or put their arm around them while they pray.
While this isn’t mandated anywhere in Scripture, (Jesus healed by both touching people and simply speaking over them) it is often a natural response to praying for someone.
A simple touch can allow us to feel connected to another person both physically and spiritually as they pray for us. While it doesn’t make your prayer any more powerful . . . it is a kind gesture to show the person you are praying for that you are there for them.
So, go ahead and try it.
4) Ask others to pray for them.
Ask your loved one if they are comfortable with you sharing their need for prayer with others.
We are stronger together. And by joining in prayer for a loved one, we can grow in unity while also petitioning Heaven on behalf of someone else.
It’s not that God needs multiple people to pray before He gets to work. In fact, He doesn’t need our prayers at all. But seeing His beloved children come together to pray is quite beautiful to Him. And it’s a very unifying experience for us.
“That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.”
-Colossians 2:2 ESV
5) Encourage them.
When you are done praying for them, then take some time to encourage them. Share some inspiring quotes or Bible verses that have helped you through hard times.
The Bible has many verses on suffering, trusting God, and His many promises to us that can be quite encouraging.
It also has many stories of people who have gone through times of suffering and shows how God worked in those situations. Which can be quite inspiring.
Just do what you can to encourage them.
- Remind them that God loves them. (1 John 4:10)
- God is with them. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
- And that God is working even in this. (Romans 8:28)
Keep being there for them. Keep loving them. And keep pointing them back to Jesus.
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
-Isaiah 43:1b-3a NLT
7 Encouraging Prayers for Healing for Someone
Sometimes it can be hard to find the words to say. It can be a little intimidating to pray for someone else, especially if you are praying out loud over them.
The following 7 prayers to pray for healing for someone else can help you if you find yourself stuck. Use them as inspiration to start praying for the ones around you who are suffering and are in need of God’s healing.
Urgent Prayer for Healing for a Friend
Dear Lord,
I come to you today in urgent need of healing for my friend. Their body is weak and they’re in desperate need of Your healing touch to bring relief to their suffering.
I know You can work miracles. And I trust in Your power and love. Please give them the strength, courage, and faith to endure this trial. And work Your healing power in their life.
I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Miracle Healing Prayer for a Loved One
Dear God,
My loved one needs a miracle. My heart is heavy because I know how much their body needs healing. Please guide the medical professionals who will be taking care of them and guide them to the best treatments that could lead to their recovery.
I believe in Your power to heal. And I trust in Your love and mercy. So, I trust that You will do what is best in their life.
Give them the strength and courage they need to get through this difficult time. And draw them close to You.
Amen.
Prayer for a Sick Person
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today because someone I know is sick and needs Your healing touch. I know You are powerful. That You can heal and restore. And so I’m praying for Your healing touch on them.
Comfort them with Your love. Give them peace of mind. And may they feel Your Presence and know You are with them.
Bless them with wisdom and insight to find the best care. And may Your healing power be at work in their body.
Thank you for hearing my prayer.
Amen.
Short Prayer for Healing and Recovery for Someone
Dear Jesus,
I come to you today with a heavy heart and a deep desire for healing for someone I know. I need You to touch their body with Your healing power. To bring complete restoration and recovery to them.
Grant them the strength and endurance to face each day with hope and courage, knowing You are always with them.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer for Someone in a Hospital
Dear Jesus Christ,
I trust in Your unfailing love and mercy. And believe You can do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine.
So, I know You can heal this person I know who is in the hospital. I know You will give them the grace they need to face what they are going through. Guide the medical staff who are treating them. And use this situation to draw them close to You.
Give them comfort. Strengthen their faith. Bring them peace of mind. And remind them You are with them all of the time.
Amen.
Short Prayer for Healing for a Friend
Lord God,
Please help my friend who is going through a very tough time. I ask You to heal them from the inside out. To work Your healing power in their life.
Guide the doctors and nurses caring for them. Show them the best treatment so they can find the best possible outcome.
Thank You for being a loving and caring God. I trust that You will answer my prayer for my friend in Your perfect timing.
Amen.
Prayer for Healing for a Family Member
Lord Jesus,
I come to You today asking for Your help and healing for my dear family member. They are struggling with this illness and need Your help.
Grant them the strength to fight this battle. And help them to know they are not alone.
Give the medical staff the knowledge and skills to provide them with the best possible care. And guide them toward a full and speedy recovery.
Amen.
What is the Best Way to Pray for Healing?
The best way to pray for healing . . . is to simply pray. Sometimes we get stuck worrying that we won’t say the right thing. Or we wonder if God will even answer our prayer for healing.
So we don’t say anything.
Which isn’t right.
While God doesn’t need our prayers to move on our behalf and heal our loved ones, He does often wait for us to pray in faith.
So, go ahead and pray.
- Pray for their healing.
- Pray out loud over them while laying hands on their broken body.
- And ask others to join you in praying for a healing miracle.
Knowing that it’s not about the words you say or how you pray. It’s simply about the fact that you are willing to bring them before the Lord, having faith that God will hear your prayers.
And He will answer them in His perfect way. And His perfect timing.
If you find this encouraging then please share it!
And be sure to check out these awesome prayers as well!
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