As Christians, we read and study about the miracles of Jesus. How he put his hands on the sword, the blind and demoniacs and they were healed. The Bible often says that many people tried to touch him and those who did were healed. Even charismatic churches practice the biblical principle of laying hands on the sick to administer healing. Jesus said that believers will lay hands on the sick and they will recover, yet too many Christians do not believe in the miracle of the healing touch. Others believe that healing can only occur within the church building and only after the word about healing is preached. What I want to explore in this article is the non-traditional healing touch that can happen anywhere there is someone who believes in healing.
The healing ministry of Jesus permeates the work I do wherever God sends me. When God called me, he simply told me that he would heal people with his word and with his power moving through my hands. It has been my experience that the healing power of God has a mind of its own. It flows whenever and wherever it is needed. Years ago, a secretary in an office where I worked had a headache and asked if she had any aspirin. I quickly replied, ‘No aspirin. Just healing hands and anointing oil. Her response, ‘I’ll take it!’ They had never laid hands on her, but she found out from people she knew. So, she laid her hands on him and the power of God almost took over that little office. Not only was he cured, but God revealed to me what he did to cause the headache. Then, while I was stocking supplies at a friend’s store in Hollywood, a famous actor walked through the front door and I immediately felt in my spirit that he was sick. There was a tug on my spirit to release healing. He was walking back to the back of the store when my friend asked me to take over the cash register. At that time, this actor was ready to go. I uploaded the order from him and the moment he handed me his credit card, the healing power passed from my hand through the credit card to this man’s hand, and he felt it. I pretended not to notice, but he kept looking at me as I finished his order. For a week or so after that incident, that actor would walk by the store and look out the window to see if he was working. We never exchanged words, but God traded his sickness for healing, and no church songs or Bible verses were mentioned between us. I simply obeyed the Spirit of God and the healing was released.
Likewise, God has given me paths for my own healing. He has prescribed certain raw foods and juices to strengthen my body, and regular fasts and colonics to cleanse my system of impurities. Also, God told me to listen to the recorded Bible as another way to heal both spirit and body. He has also taken me to therapeutic massage to relax, nourish and heal my body. Usually, after prayer and meditation, it is the only moment of relaxation that is given to me. But there have been days when the Holy Spirit has commanded me to go to the spa. There is one particular spa in Santa Monica, California, where the moment I show up, God is there. The masseur is very spiritual and loves God and it becomes a holy experience, and then I can sit in the quiet room and pray for hours.
God has blessed me with massage therapists who have healing powers in their hands. There have been days when my allergies were out of whack or one day my legs and feet were swollen and an emergency massage with my favorite therapist took care of the issues. I even invited a therapist friend of mine to bring her massage chair to one of my battered women’s support group meetings. I taught about forgiveness and the power of loving healing touch. It was a very emotional session and the women loved the head and shoulder massage. They did not have to take off their clothes, nor did they have to fear that the person who touched them would abuse them. It was wonderful!
Which massage offers the best healing depends on the ailment. For example, a stressed person would greatly benefit from a basic Swedish massage. If you have stiff muscles and aches and pains from activities like sports, then a sports or deep tissue massage can be great for pain relief. For people with severe migraines or head and neck pain, Cranial Sacral massage can be healing. Thai massage involves a therapist maneuvering the body with movement to balance the body’s energy levels. My therapist was from Thailand and gave me wonderful Thai massages. Sometimes it would be painful, but afterward it would feel great. One of his most memorable moves was as he sat on my lower back with his back against mine. He locked her arms under my armpits and rocked back and forth as he stretched my back. Another healing massage that has worked wonders for me is called Lymphatic Drainage. Improves the body’s natural circulation.
I had the pleasure of working for one of the top luxury spas in Los Angeles. There were many believers on our staff and there were days when people would call for reservations and ask for prayer at the same time. They came to the spa to find healing. Corporate executives called to book appointments to boost the morale of their staff members. From teachers to politicians, Hollywood celebrities, church and civic leaders; they all came to the spa in search of peace and healing. It was a ministry; a service to the community that I would recommend to anyone.