Faith and Health Summit 2022 Mindful Together
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PHW Book Club Discussion: The Circle Maker, Prayer Testimonies

Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator · February 27, 2014 · Leave a Comment

Thank you for joining the Partners in Health and Wholeness Book Club. You can officially sign-up here. Through it, we hope to engage people of faith in discussions over why our health matters. Our current choice of reading is “The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson. Just look for the picture of the apple on the books and you will find past Book Club entries. While prayer is not a replacement for good health choices and appropriate medical care, as people of faith, we believe prayer plays an essential role in our lives. In addition, studies have shown it can improve medical outcomes and that it boosts physical and emotional health.

We will officially start this reading on March 6. You have a chance to get the book and grab a friend or two to join along with you.

Last week I shared the story of my uncle passing away, and how I knew that the Lord heard my prayer through the many years and hours of praying for his healing.  The Friday night that I found out he had a week to live; I immediately started praying more earnestly to the Lord. The Lord had instructed me to carry out certain prayer methods from then until Tuesday. I didn’t know why Tuesday, but I knew that the Lord hadn’t given me a word for Wednesday or beyond. When Tuesday came, I prayed as the Lord had lead me, and that evening my uncle left this earth. I can look back on that time and smile because the Lord had clear signs that He was walking with me and our family through this huge ordeal.

Then, however, I was confused and hurt. Didn’t you tell me to pray? Doesn’t Your word, the Bible, say ask all these things in my name and you will be given them? I can’t tell you I have the answers to these hard questions, but I can tell you that my relationship with the Lord has jumped a couple of hurdles and it has gotten deeper. Prayer is more profound than what we can imagine, and I want to explore it with all who desire. You can read below of different prayer testimonies from people of faith.

I was having so many medical problems, and being the health liaison person for PHW I was thinking, how can I live this as a testimony? Do I look healthy? My body was in pain, and I had weight that I needed to lose. I went with a doctor’s monitored weight loss program and it didn’t work. I started praying and was lead to do a weight-loss surgery. I’ve lost sixty plus pounds, and I feel so much better. My back didn’t get any better, but I’m working with that work-related injury. I’m thankful for this revelation and conviction.

-Francine McLaurin, Robeson County

Mom’s surgery is a prayer answered. In December she came down with congestive heart failure and I called the ambulance to rush her to the hospital. Once the doctor came, he drew a picture of mama’s heart and what was going on. The upper region was doing what it was supposed to, but where the blood was going to then be pumped to the rest of the body was not. The doctor explained this is why he has to do surgery and implant a pace maker. Previously, she was advised not to get one because of her age. After the surgery, the doctor explained that mama’s heart stopped on the table, and we were going to revive her, but they didn’t have to because her heart started up again. I believe it was nothing but the hand of God. It is amazing.

-Yvonne McGraw, Richmond County

Our church is currently praying for a young man who is on a ventilator and whose health we desire to be restored, or for the Lord to give him safe passage to the other side, and to give him the opportunity to stay right with Him. In His infinite wisdom, our answers might be yes, it might be no. But the intimate act of praying to Him, draws us closer to Him. 

-Quessie Patterson, Bladen County

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Health

About Joy Williams, Former PHW Regional Coordinator

I am passionate about health and faith. Children, families, and elders have my deepest love and concern, and I've cultivated a heart for dance, plants, cooking, water, chilling with great friends, and talking about the matters of the heart. I love the Lord and seek to bring myself and others closer to The King Most High.
Learn more about PHW and our efforts to improve the health of God’s people: healthandwholeness.org

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