book review   

How to Pray for Healing

By Dr. Ché H. Ahn

Review by Rob Lee

“Bible-believing Christians certainly acknowledge that God is all-powerful. They use, without hesitation, the theological term “omnipotent” when describing God. However, we in [North] America sometimes have a difficult time bringing a practical application of this belief into our daily lives. Even in life-giving churches, the great majority of members rarely, if ever, see sick people instantly healed when they pray for them. Even less frequently do they cast out demons and raise the dead, as Jesus said His disciples did (see Mark 16:17-18).”

This quote by C. Peter Wagner, is from the forward of “How to Pray for Healing”, by Ché Ahn. I think the quote conveys some of the questions and frustrations related to praying for healing. This book responds to those questions and many others.

The thing I enjoyed most about this book is that Pastor Ché does not claim to have all the answers. I have personally experienced healing to be a mystery, and Pastor Ché talks about healing as a mystery in the introduction. This really helps free me from the questioning about why, when I or others pray, people are sometimes healed, and sometimes not.

Fortunately, we are not left with the mystery. While acknowledging the mystery, the rest of the book is about factors that will contribute to a greater frequency of healing. Some of the factors (and chapter titles) include the most important factor, the authority factor, the power factor, the faith factor, and the sin factor. By examining each of these factors which can contribute to or hinder healing, Pastor Ché helps to practically address issues and questions related to healing.

As is characteristic of Pastor Ché’s books, there are many great stories of healing to build faith to believe for healings when we pray. I so appreciate his honesty and humility to share stories where he was contending with uncertainty and questions. We sometimes look at people who are on the platform or on television as somehow connecting with God differently than how we relate to Him. By candidly talking about his thought process even as he was praying for the healing, we can see that Pastor Ché has no secret. There is no secret at all. We only need to be obedient and to believe that God can and will act – for us.

Another characteristic found in this book is that there are practical guidelines for us to consider when we are praying for healing. These guidelines can give us some direction as we seek to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, while not falling into the trap of some “guaranteed” five step method to successful healing prayers.

There are two helpful appendixes. The first is an interview with Pat Robertson, in which Pat again addresses the mystery of God’s healing power. The second appendix is a series of Biblical declarations by Larry Tomczak. These declarations are very impacting and powerful. Filled with Biblical content, they will increase our faith, if only we will consistently apply them by renewing our minds. How about this one, under the section of Health? “It’s His will that I prosper and be in health, even as my soul does prosper. Jesus of Nazareth went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil. He said, ‘I’ll remove sickness from the midst of you.’ He is the Lord, my Healer. I look not to the healing, but to the Healer – Jesus, my loving Lord. My body is for the Lord and the Lord is for my body. He bore away my sickness and carried away my diseases and by His stripes, I was healed.”

This book delves into the areas such as the hindrances to the release of authority, the different areas of sin that can block the release of healing power, and five practical guidelines during the ministry time. And all of this is done in a very engaging way that is extremely easy to read.

This book renews my desire to pray for people who are afflicted with illness to be healed. I recommend without reservation this book to every disciple of Jesus.