Role of Faith in Spiritual Healing

God is a compassionate and merciful God who heals all diseases and infirmities. However, our faith in God’s healing power contributes immensely to the healing process. When Jesus healed the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, he said to her, "Daughter, Your faith has healed you" (Mark 5:34). When Jesus healed two blind men, He said, "According to your faith will it be done to you" (Matthew 9:29). And when Jairus requested healing for his daughter, Jesus said, "Don't be afraid, just believe, and she will be healed" (Luke 8:50). Listen to Peter’s speech to the astonished audience at the Solomon’s Portico after healing the crippled beggar. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. (Acts 3:16) With this speech Peter explained that the healing was not by his power or the power of his colleague, John, but was God’s doing through the power of the name in Jesus. This explanation illustrates that faith in the precious name of Jesus is exceedingly powerful. Peter invoked the name of Jesus and the beggar who had been crippled for years got up and walked. By invoking the name of Jesus, Peter showed that Jesus gave him the power and authority to heal. Here, Peter and John gave glory to Jesus for healing the crippled beggar, and emphasized what God can do through them. Therefore, when you pray in the name of Jesus, you must always remember that it is faith in Christ, not merely the sound of the name, Jesus Christ that gives power to your prayers. The name of Jesus should be used in faith and should not be used like a magic wand. Faith is complete trust and reliance in God and an essential characteristic of all human beings. It is the wonderful power of the mind that enables every human being to believe in unseen realities. According to the Apostle Paul, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11: 1). In its highest form, faith is the conviction and realization that as humans, we are spiritual and related directly to the Spirit of the Almighty God, and that through faith in the Spirit, we can do mighty works just like Jesus did. Faith is always involved in healing; faith either from the healer, the physician, or from the person (patient) afflicted.