A Healing Prayer Practice with Jesus (Luke 5 Reflection)

Blog by Gem Fadling

In THIS PREVIOUS POST I shared from Luke 5 how Jesus interacted with a man covered in leprosy.

A few months ago, while reading that story again, I was moved to create a spiritual practice. I’d like to share it with you today, and I hope it meets you in a place of current need.

But first, let’s revisit the passage:

Luke 5:12-16 MSG

One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.”

Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone.

Jesus instructed him, “Don’t talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed self to the priest, along with the offering ordered by Moses. Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” But the man couldn’t keep it to himself, and the word got out. Soon a large crowd of people had gathered to listen and be healed of their sicknesses. As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.

The authority of Jesus was profound. He did not respond as a product of his culture. He responded from the center of the Kingdom of God. Three phrases in this passage speak of Jesus’s way:

• I want to…
  • Jesus wants to heal.
• Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.
  • Jesus prefers that we model our healing—that is, live it out—rather than just using our words to talk about
• As often as possible, Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer
  • Of course people gathered after this healing. And yet Jesus removed himself from the crowds to engage with the Father and be refilled.

This is the Jesus way of healing. 

• Expressing his posture toward us.
• Encouraging us to live the realities of the healing.
• Modeling for us that even he needed rest, recovery, and refilling time in the midst of his ministry.

Instead of further explaining this passage, I want us to sink into it in a prayerful and personal way.

Spiritual Practice

Do whatever you need to make this time work for you. Take a walk if you’d like and dictate your thoughts on your notes app. Or sit quietly in your backyard with your paper journal. It’s okay to get creative with the how and where.

Move slowly through this process, pausing at each step as needed to think, to feel, to pray.

 RECEIVING [I want to…]

• Jesus wants to heal.
• Take a moment to imagine Jesus with you right now.
• Pause and allow one place within you to rise to the surface, some dynamic that may need healing—a place that feels tender, hidden, or weary.
• As it comes into view, share it with Jesus. Ask Jesus to bring healing to that place.
• Sit for a moment in the reality that Jesus sees you, knows you, and wants to help you.
• How do you feel as you sit with Jesus?
• What is it like to be met by him here, without pressure, shame, or hurry?
• Do you sense any invitations, ideas, or encouragements from Jesus?
• If not, it’s okay. Simply rest in his presence and remain open.
• Linger as long as you want.

EMBODYING [Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.]

• Take a moment to express your openness to the ongoing work of healing in your life.
• Even if you are still waiting for the fullness of your healing, consider Jesus’s invitation to live what he is doing in you.
• If Jesus were to bring even a small measure of healing here, what might begin to change in the way you live, relate, or respond?
• What does it mean for your life to quietly bear witness to his ongoing work?
• What might this look like in one ordinary moment of your day?

SUSTAINING [As often as possible, Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.]

• Jesus not only healed and served, he also stepped away to be with the Father.
• What does your soul need in order to rest, recover, and be refilled?
• What is one way you could take a step toward rest and connection with God in the coming days or weeks?
• Remain open and envision what this time of rest with God would look and feel like.

• What is one small, doable way you can honor this invitation soon?

CLOSE YOUR TIME: When you are ready, offer a heartfelt prayer, sharing your true feelings and thoughts with Jesus. Then linger in this space for as long as you like.

I do hope and pray that this practice based in Luke 5 will help you feel connected to the care and love of Jesus for you today.

Let me know if you try it on and what comes up for you. I always love to connect with those of you who respond to our emails.