Life is never just all roses and dreams come true. We’re given temporary bodies that get tossed by temptations. But within our fragile vessels, we’ve also been given a spirit through which to relate with God in our trials. When we offer up powerful and personal prayers for spiritual healing, we connect with Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals.
Our physical bodies, or our mental capacity, won’t heal indefinitely here on earth—but our spirit is being renewed always.
So even though we will fight at times to regain or maintain our physical or mental health, the most important battle we will fight is that of spiritual warfare. The enemy is on the prowl, desiring to fool us that our spirits are too demolished to heal. But the Bible says otherwise:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – 2 Tim. 1:7
In fact, these bodies that eventually fail us, are housing the divine:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own... – 1 Cor. 6:19
We are not “our own” or on our own. And when our spirit is battle-weary, we can pray for God’s supernatural healing.
What Is Spiritual Healing and What Does the Bible Say About It?
The Bible has a lot to say about the healing only God can give. God knows that on earth we are all fighting not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
And from the beginning, when God breathed into the dust that we are, our human spirit came into existence. This spirit is how we make contact with God. In John 3:6, we read, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
And once we receive Jesus, he takes up residence in our spirit. However, we have a very real enemy who wants to wound and steal that spirit, and its many fruits...love, joy, peace...and especially our faithfulness.
Continual prayer is our protection and our prescription for spiritual healing.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7
The more personal you make your own prayers, the more powerfully you will feel them drawing you into the heart of God. Here are five suggested prayers to invite spiritual healing today:
5 Powerful and Personal Prayers for Spiritual Healing
1. A Prayer of Repentance to Heal a Spirit of Regret
Sometimes the spirit is trapped in self-condemnation. Choices, mistakes, detours, or even unforeseen outcomes can hold your spirit hostage. Tend to it with prayer.
Dear God, my spirit is heavy with humiliation. I have made mistakes that are hard for me to even bring to you, even though I know that you know my every breath. I know you sent Jesus to cleanse us all of sin, but I still feel like I have to be perfect or it doesn’t apply to me. Can you reach into my spirit and assure me that I am forgiven?
Hear my prayer of repentance and guide me in the way everlasting. Help me believe you when you say in Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far have I removed your transgressions from you.” Protect my spirit while it heals, so that I won’t make the same mistakes again.
I praise you for your healing power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
2. A Prayer to Heal from Unforgiveness
Life can surprise us with situations that feel unforgivable. Inconceivable, even. Yet, Jesus knows. And he hasn’t asked you to condemn. He came to remind you that you will overcome. So pray your unforgiveness into his hands, and let him heal your spirit.
Oh, Lord, my soul is sick with hurt and anger. Holding on, like I am, to the memory of the pain inflicted on me is keeping me trapped in a dark place. I can almost see the heavy chains around my hands and feet, bolting me in the very situation that caused my shame.
Help me to stop reliving the moments of hurt. Cover me with your healing. Give me your strength to forgive. Give me your eyes to see those who hurt me the way you do. Heal me of my unforgiveness and free my spirit to trust and love again.
In your mighty name, amen.
3. A Prayer for Spiritual Healing in Brokenness
God is himself a relationship. He is love. And he desires our relationship with him be the focal point and genesis from which all our relationships flourish. But, we live in a broken world. Sin, selfishness, lies, betrayal, cheating, gossip, and more infect and shatter our relationships with others and test our faith.
God is able to heal you from the wounds of spiritual brokenness. No matter how long it takes you to heal, God is the source of the miracle. Come to him with anything that’s broken, and ask for his healing.
God, I’m so thankful you want to be in relationship with me. My spirit is overwhelmed with sadness. It’s so scary to show a happy spirit to the world again, when my hopes in my earthly relationships have crumbled. It feels like a fever that won’t subside.
Can I give this relationship entirely to you, the Great Physician? Even though my faith is failing, I bring you my part, in supplication and prayer with thanksgiving, that you would show me your power. Show me your great plan so I can stay in step with you.
I trust you to heal what is within your will and for the good of all. In your powerful name, amen.
4. A Prayer for a Spirit of Courage
Fear is a beast. In a world battling viruses, economic upheaval, political unrest, homelessness, and an endless host of spirit-attackers, fear can bully even the strongest spirit into hiding. We want to disconnect from everything rather than connect to our source of healing power. Whatever you’re afraid of, God knows. Open it all up to him, and ask him for the spirit of courage he promises.
Dear God, my fears are getting the best of me, and I just can’t get well in my spirit. I feel shaken, frustrated, and terrified. Will you show me your plan is good? Will you take this anxiety now and exchange it for peace?
Right now, I choose to believe that you did not give me this spirit of fear that’s toying with me. Lord, breathe into me again, the spirit you breathed into me when you created me. Reassure me that you are holding me even when waters are deep and storms continue.
Pick up my spirit, God, and embolden me to be a front-line believer with a courageous spirit. Amen.
5. A Prayer to Cultivate Fruits of the Spirit
Jesus makes it clear in his story about the vine that the state of our spirit is a reflection of our connection to the source. If you find your spirit sick lately, evidenced by some sour fruit – like lack of self-control, meanness, or any other symptom of a sin-sick world – come to the vine in prayer and be nourished.
Father, I feel like a branch broken off from the vine. I come to you in prayer today to wrap myself fully around you. Develop in me a spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
I give my regrets, anger, anxiety, fear, and all my soul wounds to you for healing. I cannot do it alone. As I pray, I surrender every obstacle I prop up to reject your presence in my spirit. Renew in me a steadfast spirit of faith in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The Power of Prayer When it Comes to Spiritual Healing
Prayer is proof that you belong with a power greater than yourself. It acknowledges that we have an enemy, life is hard, we can be hurt, and there is one source of healing. Even the doctors, scientists, nutritionists, therapists, and other earthly healers are participating in God’s design...offering their knowledge only by the grace God supplies.
Praying the words in your spirit, and even using the Word of God, frees you from self-imposed traps of hiding, condemnation, and fear. It activates supernatural strength. Jesus alludes to this when he says,
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. – John 6:63
Open your spirit to God in prayer, and let him be your healer. God knows how hard it is to bear. Proverbs paints this picture:
To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. – Proverbs 18:13-16
As sinners in need of a Savior, our loving God wants to renew our weary spirits. He has given us a healer, and a gift to invite his healing. Come into his presence, and let the healing begin.
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Mark 2:17
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Kieferpix
Lia Martin loves to inspire others to lean into the Lord daily. She's a writer, editor, marketer, former Crosswalk.com Faith Editor, and author of Wisdom at Wit's End: Abandoning Supermom Myths in Search of Supernatural Peace. When she's not cultivating words, she loves walking in nature, reading, exploring the latest health trends, and laughing with her two wonderful kids. She blogs at liamartinwriting.com.
This article is part of our Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
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Prayer for Peace
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Good Night Prayers
Prayer for Healing
Prayer for Protection
Prayer for Anxiety
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