How To Pray When You're In Pain

Rick Warren

"Is anyone of you having troubles? Then you should pray! Is anyone of you happy? Then you should sing songs of praise! Is anyone of you sick? Then you should call the elders (leaders) of your church to pray over you and anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord. Then the prayer that is offered in faith will make the sick person well and the Lord will restore that person to health. And if that person has sinned, he will be forgiven. So then, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed! The prayer of a person living right with God is very powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it didn't rain for three and a half years!"


James 5:13-17

WHEN SHOULD I PRAY FOR HEALING?

1. WHENEVER I'M FEELING  

emotional pain , stress, or distress.  Internal distress caused  by external circumstances.    

"Is anyone of you having troubles? Then you should pray!" James 5:13a

King David: "In my distress I called to the Lord." Psalm 18:4

WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD TOO

"Is anyone of you happy? Then you should him sing songs of praise." James 5:13b

"Rejoice in the Lord always . . ." Philippians 4:4

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

2. WHENEVER I'M FEELING  

physical pain.  Without strength.  Bedridden.  

"Is anyone of you sick? Then you should call the elders (leaders) of your church to pray over you and anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord. Then the prayer that is offered in faith will make the sick person well and the Lord will restore that person to health. And if that person has sinned, he will be forgiven. So then, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed!"

Many Different Kinds of Sickness For Different Purposes

• SICKNESS FOR  

Death.  It's the sickness that's going to kill you.  

See John 11:4 & 1 John 5:16

• SICKNESS FOR  

Discipline.  Illness that gets our attention and to point us in a new direction. . 

See 1 Corinthians 11:28-32

• SICKNESS FOR  

Glory of God.  Your attitude while sick or in actual healing.

See John 11:4, 9:2-3

We're not in perfect heaven yet!
NOT every hurt is healed on our broken planet
But God can bring good even out of pain

"You have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him." Philippians 1:29 (NLT)

"Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." 1 Peter 4:19

HOW TO PRAY FOR HEALING

STEP 1: ASK SOME LEADERS OF YOUR CHURCH FAMILY TO PRAY FOR YOU

"Is anyone of you sick? Then you should call the elders (mature leaders) of your church to pray . . ." James 5:14a

STEP 2: LET THEM PRAY OVER YOU & ANOINT YOU WITH OIL

". . . have them pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord." James 5:14b

STEP 3: PRAY IN THE NAME OF THE LORD AND IN FAITH

". . . pray and anoint . . . in the name of the Lord. Then the prayer that is offered in faith will make the sick person well and the Lord will restore that person to health."James 5:14-15a

"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."Hebrews 11:6 

3. I SHOULD PRAY WHEN I'M FEELING  

spiritual pain. Guilt, shame, resentment.  

(Guilt, Fear, Doubt, Shame, Resentment, Anxiety, etc.)

"So then, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be HEALED! The prayer of a person living right with God is very powerful and effective."James 5:16

WHAT KIND OF PERSON CAN PRAY FOR HEALING?

Any believer can pray for anyone else for healing.

"Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it didn't rain for three and a half years!" James 5:17