Healing at Starbucks?!?

To be honest, I was nervous. Even though it was just for my close friend, I was still nervous to pray for his healing. Doubt in God's goodness wasn't the problem. It was more that I was doubting whether or not I had enough faith. 

I felt the nudge to pray over my friend's injured neck the second he told me it was bothering him. We met up at Starbucks to talk about life and faith as we often do, but I could see in his eyes that he was not quite right. So I asked him what was wrong. He said "I pulled my neck the other night while praying." I was like, "huh?" What a crazy way to injure yourself! He said "Yeah, I was praying over somebody and I got a shake." By this point, I was chuckling. "That sounds perfectly in the realm of something God wants to heal for you" I offered through a smile. He agreed, and turned to buy some coffee. He was obviously in pain and could barely turn his head at all. That's when it got really interesting.

As I was standing in line behind him I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to offer prayer for Adam. I even debated just touching his neck right there in faith and asking God to heal it. Well, I hesitated…And then I lost my confidence in that moment to step out. I didn't do or say anything. So we both just got our coffees and sat down.

We had a great time hanging out talking about what we were studying and how God was teaching us, plans for the future, fears, and some ways we had slipped up lately. About two hours into the conversation we started to talk about stepping out in faith, and believing the fullness of the gospel Jesus taught and lived. Of course, healing was one of the main topics because Jesus was constantly healing people. Everywhere he went, he healed. As Adam was talking about stepping out in faith and how important it is you do it in the moment, I had to stop him. I was convicted. "I got to tell you, I felt like I was supposed to ask you if I could pray over your neck when we first got here. But I got distracted and obviously didn't do it. But yeah, I feel like it needs to happen." He smiled and said  "Yeah, well I'm ready. I will receive because it hurts." We both chuckled and agreed, sensing that God may be up to something.

We finished up the last conversation and began to head outside. I figured we'd just go to his car and then pray together, but he stopped about halfway there. I felt my nervousness bubble up and I said "here?" "Yeah, I'm ready. I promise I won't flip and flop around!" We both grinned and it was enough to take the edge off of the situation. So, we bowed our heads to pray. I began by asking God to align our hearts with His, so that we could partner in the work he wanted to do in that moment. And then, I put my hand on Adam's neck and began asking the Lord to bring his healing touch, and to establish His will and truths of His kingdom into Adam's body. By this time Adam had begun having what most would call spasms because the Lord was touching him. His presence was filling him from the inside out. God was healing him! Of course, that bolstered my faith and I continued to pray with new confidence.

By the end of the prayer, we were both smiling and there were tears. Adam began thanking God and rolling his neck around, up, down, and side to side. "I couldn't turn my head at all before we prayed! And the pain is almost totally gone!" Not only that, but we had just had an encounter with the living God. He showed up and strengthened our faith. He imparted to us the truth and reality that healing is real in a experiential way. Not just to heal Adam, but so we could partner with God in faith to spread His love and His will to others. Everything He does is rooted in love, including healing and miracles.What a joy and honor it is to co-labor with God through Christ Jesus. "Your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven." As long as we're here we've got work to do, and your role is irreplaceable.