Cortez 1 Dario Cortez Ms.

Ingram English 1102 April 12, 2013

Argument: Health Benefits of Praying

Praying has been a basic principle and practice of various religions around the globe. In todays society, praying has become a simple Bible verse or position of inclination and possibly a hand gesture/movement. Praying has lost its importance and true purpose in many Christians life in todays world. Praying was initially established to have a connection between God, to heal, to have a mind at peace, and to find assurance. All of these benefits correlate with mental, emotional, physical health and many more aspects of health. Through a process of research and inquiry, I have come to the conclusion that if one wants to bear fruits of a prayer, one must develop a healthy, effective, and constant prayer life. The English word prayer derives from the Latin word precari meaning to entreat or ask anxiously and earnestly. This Latin word is also the root word for the word precarious which is interesting since people usually pray when life seems precarious and uncertain (Thoresen 11). Though we might have some understanding of what praying is or when to use it, many are not getting the whole picture nor receiving the fullness of a complete prayer life. In the Old Testament, prayer was used constantly for repentance by the high priests, direction by prophets, petitions by Gods children, and intercession for another. In the New Testament, prayer was used to heal, to guide, to liberate, and as a form

Cortez 2 of worship. All these motivations for praying touch on every aspect of health and the majority of people dont take advantage of this power God has established in His children. Psalm 107:19-21 declares, Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. From this popular verse, Christians worldwide have learned that we can pray for protection and safety but how many of us actually use it and truly believe in it? A poll in1996 &1997 report states that 82 percent affirmed the healing power of personal prayer. Unfortunately only 23 percent of Americans have witnessed the miracles of prayer. Though its less than half, the existence and possibility of prayer power is shown in many lives true and worth becoming part of. In a more recent report, 74 percent of medical doctors believe that miraculous healings occur in todays era (Brown 1). As like in many religions, prayer is extremely involved when it comes to physical well being and used when illness strikes a life. Especially when medicine does not work as it should. (Brown 2). Prayer, on the other hand, should not be left for a last option or even second option. It should be our first since we should not be depending on medicine, which is only a creation of the Creator. Many phenomenal divine healings have occurred all throughout the world and especially found in the Pentecostal movement (Brown 21). The Pentecostal movement or denomination delves deeper in Gods supernatural power than most Christian denominations. The church motivates and testifies supernatural healing by proving with documentation and medical records that show their previous state of health and then their state after God has healed them (Wirzba 143). A driving force against this divine healing movement is the fact that sometimes the

Cortez 3 prayers do not exactly come to reality but work in other ways. For example, a testimony of a woman having a lump on her neck that endangered her life and she entrusted and prayed to God for healing but she did not receive it. Instead, God had healed her heart since she was worried, scared, anxious, and uncertain for the future of her children. She later felt as if she knew that God would take care of her family and she could go in peace (Clark 62). This of course is showing a healing in emotional and mental health since it wasnt her body that her prayer had worked on but instead her state of being emotionally and mentally healthy and in peace. Another testimony talks about a man who has a tumor and how he started to fervently pray for healing others laid hands on him like the original church did in the New Testament days. He found no improvement in his health but he had received from God that he should be praying for other people. He could not understand why God didnt heal him and now He wants him to heal others. He did just that and miraculously several were healed through the power of prayer. As time passed and he served God, a time came when finally his healing had come and it was necessary for him to enter into an unselfish servanthood in order for him to be cured (Brown 11). But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.- Matthew 6:33 Another factor that is important to take into consideration is the way you pray. Is it effective? Have you seen results? Let me tell you that there are many prayers and each have their level of effectiveness in an individual. Due to a close observation, an individual who is praying in a ritual or repetitive lifestyle experiences more negative emotion such as sadness, loneliness, and fear. A prayer with a lot of repetition and meditation and not much emotion only gave a religious satisfaction and an amount of peace. If one desires to be healthy in every aspect, you have to interact with God during a prayer by confessing,

Cortez 4 spilling emotions, and believing He is actually listening. These prayers through careful observation showed nothing but positive well being in the person and a healthier state of mind, body, and spirit (Thorsen 14 & Sherrer 31) What drives a prayer to be realized? How does this even work? Well, like any Christian will probably tell youFAITH. In a world before prednisone and Prozac, there was prayer; people have been cured of arthritis, asthma, asthenia, and many other ailments by faith throughout recorded history(Clark 60). Faith has existed for so long and is the key to activating a prayer and receiving your petition. If one does not ask with true certainty, then your prayer will not be accomplished. A prayer is like a plane and faith is its wings; without the wings it cannot carry out its purpose and intentions (Sherrer 14). Many people pray without faith and expect the prayer to become reality. Once the individual develops and grows in his or her faith, they will surely see that their prayer life will become stronger. Prayer has many advantages to those who believe in their prayer and in the one who is listening to them. Yes, I may be preaching but the goal a prayer should have is to help and not damage the prayer. Consistency, faith, style of praying, and knowing when to pray is essential in a healthy prayer life. If America is now experiencing several modern day miracles and healing, it just means praying has been elevated to a more important position in peoples lives. To become part of it is to become part of a whole new movement and life entirely. Health is just one door prayer can open. What does it take just to talk 5-10 minutes with the Creator? He might just have what you need.