6 Bible Prayers for Healing and Restoration

A young lady sickly and lying in bed in a hospital room staringly infinitely outside the window

We’ve all experienced sickness at some point in our lives. During these ailing moments, we turn to God in prayer for healing and restoration.

The Bible tells us that God delights in hearing our prayers, and he promises to heal us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

In this blog post, I will share six encouraging biblical prayers for healing and restoration, which I hope will be encouraging and helpful for you.

The Bible has many encouraging prayers for healing and restoration. There are prayers for every human need. 

This abundance of prayers in the Bible is evidence that God delights in hearing our prayers. It means we can freely communicate with God about what physically hurts us. 

Regrettably, not everyone is familiar with the science of prayer, much less how to pray for healing. However, by studying and emulating the prayers of God’s people in the Bible, we can improve our prayer lifestyle.

In the first section of this post, I’ll share six prayers for healing and restoration. Each featured biblical prayer verse is followed by an analysis and interpretation of the verse, and finally a model prayer based on the interpretation. 

In the second section of this post, I discuss facts about biblical prayers for healing. I demonstrate why these verse-based prayers are not the only types of prayers you can pray. 

Let’s get to our list.

6 Encouraging Biblical Prayers for Healing

1. Prayer for Healing and Strength

Biblical Prayer Verse: 

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise. (Jeremiah 17:14, NKJV)

Insight:

Jeremiah was going through a difficult period. The prophet’s opponents had exhausted him to the point of illness. Jeremiah’s situation is an example of how some illnesses are caused by the pressure that other people place on us. 

Instead of withdrawing from God because of his illness, Jeremiah prayed to God for healing and deliverance. Jeremiah understood that healing is a divine act. In his prayer, he expresses his faith in God. 

We, too, must believe that God is capable of healing us. When illness strikes, it is time to draw near to God and pray for his deliverance.

A Prayer for Healing and Strength

I'm exhausted and sick, Lord. Please apply your healing balm to the areas of my body that are in pain. I pray that this illness will help me to grow closer to you. I pray to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

2. Prayer for Healing and Forgiveness

Biblical Prayer Verse 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; (Psalm 103:2–4,KJV)

Insight

Here, the psalmist reminds himself of the numerous blessings the Lord has bestowed upon him. Among the benefits he mentions are forgiveness of sin, deliverance from death, and healing from disease. 

According to the psalmist, the primary benefit is forgiveness of sin. This is extremely true, as the biblical record demonstrates that certain diseases strike us as a result of our sins, which are the result of our choices. 

The good news is that God is incredibly forgiving toward repentant sinners. In his mercy, God heals all diseases.

2. Prayer for Healing and Forgiveness

Forgive me, loving Father, for all my sins, transgressions, and iniquities. Save me from this bodily affliction and order my steps in the right way. I accept your forgiveness and healing in Jesus name. 

3. Prayer for Healing and Pain Relief

Biblical Prayer Verses: 

Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. (Psalm 6:2,KJV)  
“I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word!" (Psalm 119:107, KJV)

Insight 

In these two lament verses, David admits to being weak. He bemoans the fact that his entire being, including his bones, is in pain. 

The language of these psalms indicates that David was suffering from a serious illness. 

We don’t know what his illness was, but whatever it was, it was taking its toll on him to the point where he claims he was on the verge of death (Psalm 6:5). 

As he realizes the severity of his illness, he sobs. He is, without a doubt, in a hopeless and helpless situation. 

He begs God to have mercy on him and give him life (Psalm 119:107). Because David declares in the same chapter, “The Lord has heard my supplication,” the Lord intervenes and heals him (Psalm 6:9).

You, too, may be afflicted with a potentially fatal physical or psychological illness. Pray for forgiveness and health restoration. David pleaded with God for mercy; you can, too. God delivered David, and He can do the same for you.

A Prayer for Healing and Pain Relief

Dear Lord, you are the source of abundant life. You are the Only Way, the Only Truth, and the Only Life. I place my feeble frame in your capable hands. Restore and revitalize my strength. I pray in the unrivaled name of Jesus. Amen

4. Prayer for Healing and Forgiveness of Sins 

Biblical Prayer Verse 

I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. (Psalm 41:4, KJV)

Insight

The writer of this psalm makes a connection between sin and sickness. He acknowledges that he is ill as a result of his sin. Sin always has repercussions. 

Without a doubt, the psalmist was not the chief of sinners, as he speaks of God sustaining him in his integrity. 

This indicates that the author was not a hopeless cause; however, he pleads for healing on the basis of God’s mercy. He is ill and bedridden (verse 3,4); his adversaries speak ill of him and wish him death, spread falsehoods about him, devise schemes to harm or harm him, and declare that he will never rise again. 

His close associate turns on him and abandons him. All of this occurs while he is ill. He responds by pleading with the Lord for mercy. 

He continues to bless the Lord in his current state because he has faith in God’s ability to heal him. He pleads for mercy a second time (verse 10) and requests that the be raised.

Perhaps the above experience rings true for you and speaks directly to the situation you are in right now. It most likely sounds very similar to what you’re going through right now. 

 But I want to encourage you to keep the hope alive that the Master of the Universe will help you recover from your illness. Continue to pray to the Lord, and He will heal you in His own time.

A Prayer for Healing and  Forgiveness of Sins

Lord Jesus, infuse my soul with your mercy, peace, and love. To you, my Lord, I repent of all known and unknown sins. Liberate me from the bonds of sin and disease. You are the only one who can heal me. Amen.

5. A Prayer for Healing for a Friend 

“And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her - please.” Numbers 12:13

Insight

The background to Numbers 12:13 is the story of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam’s sibling rivalry. 

Miriam was dissatisfied with her prophetess role and envied Moses’ leadership position. She instigated her brother Aaron to challenge Moses’ authority. 

She questioned Moses’ marriage and leadership. 

Moses did not retaliate or attempt to defend himself verbally in response to the accusations leveled against him. He lets God defend him and only spoke when interceding on Miriam’s behalf. 

God struck Miriam with leprosy to show His displeasure. It is through Moses’ intervention that Miriam’s  health was restored. 

In his prayer, Moses prayed for Miriam without resentment. 

Take note of how simple Moses’ prayer was. His prayer was brief, straightforward, but it was also urgent. 

This teaches us that our prayers do not have to be complicated in order to be heard by God. 

Moses interceded on behalf of Miriam and reconciled her to God. He prayed to God to heal her of leprosy. 

Moses’ prayer demonstrates that we can also intercede on behalf of our friends and even adversaries.

A Prayer for Healing for a Friend

Dear Lord, I am praying for my friend's recovery. Heal his/her wounds and bring healing to his/her soul. Take away his/her sorrow and pain, and renew his/her strength. Help him/her to see your love in the midst of his/her pain. Help him/her to trust you even if he/she doesn't see how you can heal him. Lord, have mercy on him/her. In Jesus' name and for His sake, I pray. Amen.

6. Prayer for  Healing (Patience and Perseverance in Sickness)

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16–18

Though the preceding verses are not prayer verses, they teach us an important lesson about prayer and patience. 

Paul recounts in this passage how he bravely faced and overcame numerous adversities throughout his life. He was beaten numerous times and became ill on occasion, but he persisted. 

What was Paul’s secret to overcoming adversity? Paul acknowledges in his second epistle to the Corinthians that He has no control over what happens to him externally. 

Paul admits that he maintains his composure regardless of the state of his outer being. 

What consoled him was the renewal of his “inner man.” He was at peace with himself and regarded his current ailment as transitory. 

This brief affliction pales in comparison to the glory that is to be revealed, according to Paul. While the trial is brief, the glory about to be revealed dwarfs everything else. 

While he struggled outwardly, the hope and glory of God’s future sustained him inwardly. 

We, too, can have that peace of mind in our “inner” man as we wait for God’s healing to take place as our outer man wears away. 

Additionally, James reminds us that trials, including sickness, are an inescapable part of life and that the most critical thing is to exercise and maintain faith. 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4, NKJV)

A Prayer for Healing for Patience and Perseverance in Sickness 

Please, Lord, heal me completely. Deliver me from my anxiety and worry. I pray for patience during this time of distress and pain, confident that you will heal me. While I wait for your deliverance, I pray for the grace to persevere. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

More Scriptures on Healing and Other Life Situations

1. Prayer for Deliverance from Trouble

“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:6

2. Prayer for the Sick and Distressed

“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.” Psalm 31:9

3. Prayer for Sick and Weak

“Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony” Psalm 6:2

4. Prayer for the Sick and Abandoned

“The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health." Psalm 41:3

5. Prayer for the Sick and Lonely

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” Psalm 42:11

6. Prayer for a Life-threatening Situation

“The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; forgive all my sins.” Psalm 25:17–18

7. Thanksgiving Prayers after Healing and Restoration

“O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.” Psalm 30:2

But first, some facts about scriptural prayers.

Facts about Biblical Prayers for Healing

1. Biblical Prayers for Healing Were Prayed by Sinners, Not Saints

The Bible prayers for healing were made by sinners like you and me. 

While the time, circumstances, and events that prompted these people to pray have changed, our fallen human nature and challenges have not. 

Sin remains sin, and man remains open to wicked impulses and sicknesses as he was before. God is still God and His dealings with men remain unchanged as well. 

We must approach God in prayer with the assurance that He accepts us in our sinfulness and that He will hear us. 

2. Biblical Prayers for Healing Are Not the Only Ways to Pray

You do not have to limit yourself to reciting scriptural prayers only. 

Those who uttered these prayers had no idea that they would one day be recited as a standard for prayers. 

The Bible keeps the humanness of these prayers to remind us that it is the petitioner’s motive and attitude that matters, not the formulas and recitation.

3. Biblical Prayers for Healing Are Not a Secret Power Formula

Scriptural healing prayers are not a secret power formula for quick results. Some of those who sought God in prayer in the Bible did not receive immediate responses to their petitions and pleas. 

God’s promises and healing are not hurried or delayed. God is the secret power to Healing. Wait for God to respond; He will.

4. Biblical Prayers for Healing Are Not a Permit to Neglect a Healthy Lifestyle

Scriptural healing prayers aren’t a pass to live in defiance of all health laws. Prayers for healing do not negate the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

Some diseases arise as a result of our failure to follow God’s health standards. God desires for us to be in good health and to make decisions based on our common sense. 

Disease prevention does not imply a lack of faith in God. Following and observing high standards of hygiene is a requirement of faith-living. 

We need to eat a well-balanced diet, drink clean water, get plenty of fresh air, and engage in regular physical activity to avoid many ailments.

5. Biblical Prayers for Healing Are Not Complicated

Our prayers for healing do not need to be difficult. Sometimes all we need is a simple, random utterance. The characters in the Bible prayed to God in simple terms. 

For example, a two-word phrase, “Lord, help!” was all that was required to deliver Israel from their predicament. 

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death” (Psalm 107:19–20, NLT).

6. Biblical Prayers for Healing Are Offered in Faith

We are to pray in faith, trusting that God will heal us. Christ stated that He had come to heal and restore the world. At the start of his ministry, Christ read the following Bible prophecy and applied it to himself. 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me, to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;” (Luke 4:18, NIV).
God is always looking out for our best interests. When we pray for healing, we must have faith in God's Power to heal, for “such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.” (James 5:15, NLT)

7. God’s Willingness to Heal

God is the one who heals and restores us from all kinds of ailments. During the early stages of their exodus, God promised the children of Israel that if they remained faithful to Him, He would keep them free from all diseases. The Bible says, 

"If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians.  For I am the LORD who heals you." (Exodus 15:26 ) 

As they continued their journey through the wilderness, God reiterated his promise to heal them in Exodus 23:25, declaring, “I will take away sickness from among you” (Exodus 23:25, NIV). 

This demonstrates how eager our heavenly Father is to hear and respond to our requests. When we pray to God, we must trust that he hears us and is willing to cure us.  

Final Thoughts

The list of healing prayers provided in this article is by no means complete. However, I share this list in the hopes of encouraging you to seek God’s healing and restoration. 

A list of customizable sample prayers can be found in Rebecca Barlow Jordan’s article.

God loves you and has a plan for your life, so keep that in mind. Approach His throne of mercy with faith, knowing that He delights in hearing your prayers.

Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16, KJV)

May the good Lord bring healing to your soul, body, and spirit.


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