INNER HEALING: Ministering to Human Spirit Through the Power of Prayer

by Fr. Michael Scanlan

The Ministry of Inner Healing

Healing means that process by which what is wounded or sick becomes whole and healthy. Healing has
meaning in direct relationship to a negative situation or a specific hurt. Healings in themselves are subject to
explanation by natural processes. A spiritual healing is a healing by which spiritual stimuli accelerate the
natural processes. A miracle involves a change which cannot be explained through the ordinary operation of
nature. All healing is to be viewed within the context of healing the whole man, which means discerning the
will of God for the total person and his relationship within the whole body of Christ.

Whenever we pray under a genuine impulse of expectant faith, something does happen. There is a spiritual or
physical change. There are also times when in praising God together, healings occur without specific prayer.

Inner healing is the healing of the inner man - areas commonly referred to as mind, will, and heart, but
including such other areas as related to emotions, psyche, soul and spirit, and is clearly found in the ministry of
Jesus, whether in the exorcism events or under such phrases as “all kinds of sickness and disease”, or “every
sickness and every disease”.{Mat.4:23 and Mt.9:35}

Our experience is that the same healing is available to us today and that inner healings occur more frequently
after prayer than physical healing; also that many physical diseases disappear after a person has received an
inner healing. Our topic here specifically concerns inner healing and the actions of those who lead a prayer for
healing. To minister is to serve, and in our context to perform a service of the Lord for others: intercessory
prayer seeking health in the inner being of one who is present and seeking such healing. James5:16b – “pray
for one another that you may be healed.”

THE PEACE OF JESUS CHRIST

“Peace is My farewell to you, My peace is My gift to you. I do not give

It to you as the world gives peace.” John 14:27

The peace of Christ is different from what the world gives in the name of peace. It can be clearly discerned and
distinguished from what is not the Lord’s gift. There are many signs by which we recognize the peace of Jesus.
St. Paul makes it clear in Phil.4:4-7

“ Rejoice in the Lord always – again I say “Rejoice”. Let all see how unselfish you are. The Lord is
near. Let all see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds.
Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s peace,
which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

1. -Rejoice – because of the life of Jesus within us – a joy not dependent on outside events, but springing
from the reality of His indwelling Spirit that has overcome the world.
2. Unselfishness- Because our true security is in the gift of His Presence within us.
3. Anxiety dismissed – We are at rest within, knowing His peace that passes understanding.
4. Presenting our needs to God - in confidence and without fear, in every form of prayer.
5. Gratitude - That the God of peace is with us.

For St. Paul, peace is a rhythm of being and a way of living and relating that brings forth the fruits of the Spirit:
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, - Because - “those who
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are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Gal.5:22-24

These signs show the nature of the peace of Jesus, and therefore, the nature of the decisions to be made by one
who would walk in this peace by renouncing blocks to inner healing, such as jealousies, rivalries, competitive
spirits, unwillingness to forgive, nurturing wrongs.

THE PEACE OF THE WORLD: The peace of Jesus is distinct from that of the world, which says “deny
yourself nothing, release all passions,fulfill all desires, achieve all goals. The world’s methods can never
achieve the peace of Jesus, which views our past and our future as being in the domain of the Lordship of Jesus
Christ. This means that “ if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away and all
things have become new.” 2Cor.5:17. We are “not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the
renewal of our minds” Rom.12:2

FOUNDATION OF THE PEACE OF JESUS: Our foundation is built on the presence of Jesus, through His
Spirit, being at the center of our lives. The Holy Spirit is the power which makes this peace not like the world’s
peace. Control is yielded to Him, accepting and inviting Him into every aspect of our lives. It is in yielding to
the Spirit that we find the peace of Jesus. The Spirit reveals Jesus to us, reveals to us our place in the Body of
Christ and our relationship to them. He reveals the Father as Abba who has called each of us by name, and
given us a place in His Kingdom as sons and daughters. He is the Spirit of Truth who calls us to confront any
evils in our present or past life, knowing that the wounds , and even the memories of these experiences are
healed as we enter ever deeper into the redemptive love and freedom of the power of the Cross.

CHAPTER THREE: THE MINISTER OF INNER HEALING

“All this has been done by God, Who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us the ministry
of reconciliation.” 2Cor.5:18

A. The Role Of the Minister: The word “reconciled” means to reestablish, restore relationships, make
things right. It describes the reestablishing of a proper, loving, interpersonal relationship which has been
broken or disrupted. Ministers reach out with the heart of Jesus, the love which desires our and their
freedom .
B. We are not called to become saviors or perfect models of peace. Jesus alone is Savior, our model of
peace. We are “wounded healers”. Our woundedness identifies us with others who are wounded, and
this very weakness becomes our strength, knowing that His gift of peace is a free gift , available to all
willing to receive it. It is not impeded by our unworthiness.
C. When possible, ministry should include two or more praying for the person. Represents the Body of
Christ and multiplies the gifts and ministries that are available: Both the gifts of the Spirit listed in
1Cor.12, and the gifts of compassion, understanding, empathy.
D. Ministers should expect that what they need to know and do will be revealed to them, and they would
have a confirmation
E. Ministers do not act in their own name, but rely implicitly on the name of Jesus. who should be at the
beginning and end of every session to bring the person into union with Him.
F. Authority Of The Minister:
1. The approach of the minister must rest firmly on the authority of Jesus, confident of the truth of His
word, knowing that the Lord wills to work through him to bring healing and wholeness to His Church,
and desires that we use that power in faith.
2. Come against evil with authority! Freeing others bound by evil forces in their lives must, at times,
precede prayers for healing. Use the authority in the name of Jesus to break the hold of what is not of
God. “Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the
enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm you.” Luke 10:19
 CHAPTER IV: DECISION
A. The most common barrier to the Lord’s healing is a failure to decide for such healing. There are those
who claim to want health, yet hold on to sickness to rationalize failures or as a security device to get
attention or sympathy. Others want healing from Christ, yet will not receive Him as Savior and Lord of
their lives. Many apparently religious and dedicated people have not made this decision. To
paraphrase Paul Tillich: “In 1Cor.1:24, St. Paul states that Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of
God. The people whom Jesus could and can heal are who did and do this self-surrender to the healing
power in Him, and this surrender is what we call faith.”
B. Blocks to surrender:
1.Unwillingness to forgive. Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling.
2. Forgiveness, coupled with confession in the Sacrament of Reconciliation has proven to be a source
of glorious healings.
3. Holding on to the guilt of the past.
4 .Trying to earn forgiveness.
5. Fear of depending only on Jesus. To decide for the Lord is to let go of the future and to believe that
He can triumph over all evil. Our response is to trust and praise Him for each day.

C. Our Decisions: We are called to decide for Jesus as Savior, as Lord, and as Healer. We are called to
decide to forgive, to renounce what is not of God, to accept healing from Him, and to stand in faith for
the healings we have received.
D. “Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and His mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you
may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.”Eph.6:10-11

CHAPTER V: THE PROCESS OF HEALING

A. Calling Forth And Walking Back: A distinction must be made between those whose faith is strong
enough to face fully the realities of painful memories and those whose past pain is more than they
can face. Those who are aware of God’s deep love for them and believe that it is stronger than any
pain, suffering or fear that they might have can look at those memories and see themselves loved by
God even at the time of their greatest suffering. If faith to believe that God’s love is not stronger
than the painful memories, we ask the Lord to go back into the past memories and touch them with
His healing love. As minister, you could pray inwardly for the healing touch of the Spirit upon the
memories going forward, even from conception. As a result, other memories could surface and be
healed. For as long as the memories keep coming, keep praying for the healing power of the Lord
for the person.
B. Many disturbing memories can be built upon one root memory – like an iceberg. It is necessary to
get to the root – when it is healed, freedom is experienced in a series of other memories. Deeply
rooted memories are frequently healed by using visualization. Visualizing Jesus with them,
protecting them, holding them, taking them to the Father, to experience the love they may not have
received from their earthly father.
C. MEMORIES AND HEART: Broad general patterns - Hard heartedness, inability to respond to
other’s needs or to give or sacrifice for others. A judgmental spirit, harsh and demanding of self
and others, perfectionist attitude, fear of future events, sense of aloneness, abandonment, self-guilt,
compulsive drive for position and success. These patterns are present in what is otherwise a deeply
religious life.
D. In the New Testament, the heart is the seat of the divine operations which transform the Christian.
The Spirit is sent into the heart (Gal.4:6), the love of God is poured into the heart through the Holy
Spirit (Rom.5:5), Christ dwells in the heart (Eph3:17). Hardness of heart causes slowness to believe
the words of Jesus (Jn.12:40). Thus the healing love of God working in the heart is the dynamic
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 source and center of the healing of the whole person. Ministers intercede in prayer for the strength
of the person in the spiritual and sometimes physical pain of replacing the old heart with the new.
E. TRANSPARENCY: following both root memory and heart-healing, there comes a new
transparency. No more hiding, but the presence of Jesus who said: “I am the light of the world. He
who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jn.8:12. New hearts, new
life, new hope. As we receive the healing power of Jesus as Lord of our lives, there is not one
relationship which cannot be renewed, not one person that is hopeless. “May Christ dwell in your
heart, may He be the root and foundation of your being.”Eph.3:17.

CHAPTER VI: THE HEALING COMMUNITY

A. THE BODY OF THE LORD: Thus far, the minister’s role in inner healing has been emphasized.
What is the dimension of the community’s role? The Lord Jesus Himself affirmed the power of
communal love and faith, illustrated in one of the earliest healings presented by the synoptic
authors, Matthew, Mark and Luke, the story of the paralytic let down through the roof by his
friends. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” Then
He said, “Arise, take up your bed, and walk.” All three writers emphasize the inclusion of those
who had concern for the man. The faith of the individual is increased by that of the community.
There is special power available to those who come together in the name of Jesus. The Body of
Christ - the Church community - is meant to have this togetherness and fellowship - a body does
not function well if its parts are not working together. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered
together in My name, there am I in their midst.” ( Matt.18:20 ). “If we walk in the light as He is in
the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
(1 Jn.1:7)
B. VISUALIZATION: To see, in the mind’s eye, a scene unfolding before you – picturing in prayer
the Lord Jesus forgiving, loving, healing, mending broken hearts, healing fractured relationships,
forgiving and giving the ability to forgive. A way of picturing the action of the Spirit in our lives.
Tears and joy can be signs of a healing breakthrough, a reflection of His power and love breaking
bonds and healing hearts.

CHAPTER VII – THE SPIRIT TO THE CHURCHES

A. The Spirit says to us that “there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all ,
who is over all, and works through all , and is in all” Eph.4:5-6
B. God cares! His Spirit is reaching out to comfort and heal us in a way that preserves the good in our
technological and scientific advances, but completes them with new power. He is calling us to
believe in this great love, that He will heal with this love as we respond in expectant faith.
C. Faith is crucial! The Spirit is calling us to the Gospel dimension of faith. Not just doctrinal faith,
accepting certain beliefs as true, not just providential faith that everything will work out in the end,
but expectant faith, which expects God’s love to work in my life here and now. This is the faith that
releases God’s power in our midst, calling us to expectant faith that reaches to Jesus as our healer.
D. The Spirit is speaking to the Churches, calling them to a new fullness of life, affirming the good of
using the gifts to develop competent leadership, better organization, to research, and study the
meaning of the Scriptures.
E. The Spirit says: Wake up and believe – work while there is light. Be compassionate as I am
compassionate; heal My people. Heal them!

There is a clear relationship between the majority of sins that are confessed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
and the wounds and inner scars that are carried through life. The roots of many sins are found in one’s emotions
and psyche. Sinful behavior is often a symptom or an expression of the deeper root. This is especially true in
habitual sin.

True Healing must accompany a person’s entire being as there is a direct relationship between physical, mental,
emotional, and spiritual health. None of these domains exists in isolation and they are dependent on one
another.

Healing can occur by either natural or miraculous means. Grace works most frequently through nature, and the
great majority of healings take place in this manner. The power of prayer releases grace that can accelerate
healing by natural means. Physicians and Psychotherapists play important roles in healing. A miracle occurs
when a healing occurs outside the ordinary operation of nature. Whatever the means, healing in all cases is
attributable to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Praying with an expectant faith is essential for the individual receiving prayer as well as the prayer team. An
expectant faith almost always results in some type of healing.

The focus of the book is on healing the “inner person”. While most of the encounters in the gospels entail Christ
healing the physical and spiritual, it is probable that emotional and mental health were not understood or
considered as prominent at the time. When Christ healed a person, they were healed entirely and sometimes he
initially needed to free one from bondage or sin, exercising the root, and the physical would follow.

The author states his experience is that he has witnessed more inner healings that physical healings in his
ministry.

The “Ministry” that is practiced is that of intercessory prayer, to serve and bring the Lord’s healing power to
others. The Ministry operates within a larger continuum that includes the healing power of the Lord through the
sacraments.

Inner Healing generally targets repressed memories, the subconscious and the disposition of the Heart.
Relational healing generally fall in this area. As both parties attain greater freedom through prayer,
reconciliation becomes more likely.

While we understand the basics of Inner Healing, it is truly a mystery and often the approach for each individual
can differ. Ministers must be in tune with the promptings of the spirit. There is no formula, but general
guidelines are useful.

II. The Peace of Jesus Christ

Understanding and experiencing the peace of Christ is essential for Ministry team members. There must be a
concept of this in order to discern the degree of healing that may be occurring and to what degree it is absent.

The peace of Christ is generally evident when one exudes joy and gratitude regularly and accordingly lives in
the present moment without anxiety and excessive worry. All cares and concerns are surrendered to the love of
God with confidence and trust. It is a peace that stands guard over our hearts and protects against the forces of
the world.

The peace of Christ is not dependent of our changing circumstances. One who exudes this gift prays expectantly
that our Good Father will hear him because he sees himself or herself as a child of God, adopted through Jesus.

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The fruits of the spirit flow freely in one who has this gift and is part of his daily life. Peace is dependent on
yielding our lives to the Holy Spirit and giving him the freedom to move in us as he wills.

Memories, conscious and repressed, have great impact in our lives. Rejection, Abandonment, Betrayals, Abuse,
and Trauma are significant events that can create binding chains without a proper understanding. It is essential
to bring Christ into our pain, and it is the Spirit that releases and heals. When the Spirit is released in our lives,
love changes everything. The peace of Jesus Christ is the source of inner healing.

III. The Minister of Inner Healing

As Ministers, our strength lies in our own weakness and woundedness. It is recognition of our own struggles
that gives us empathy and understanding. Recognizing our weakness, we can fully rely on the Lord to do what
only he can do.
It is essential for ministers to understand Christ’s personal love for them in order to enter into Christ’s love for
our brothers and sisters. You can’t give what you don’t have.

A minister must trust that the Spirit will reveal to them what needs to be discerned. In this way, one can be truly
present to his brothers or sisters.

Affirming God’s personal love for our brothers or sisters is essential. Scripture verses that speak to the heart of
the matter are invaluable in affirming God’s love and mercy. Sharing some of the minister’s own struggles,
however briefly, can be effective in establishing a trusting relationship in Christ. We come to our brothers and
sisters to share his gift of peace not as one who is superior, but one who has invited the Lord into his own
brokenness. We are ambassadors of God’s healing, as we ourselves have received this great gift.

This is the Lord’s ministry, and we are called to participate in it. Our trusting faith in God’s desire to heal will
assist in cultivating a spirit of expectant prayer.

Binding spirits from unforgiveness, resentment, deep inner wounds, rejection, and fear need to be removed.
When the time to pray is discerned, pray with authority and conviction. Renouncing spirits is important in the
authority of Jesus. A more focused deliverance approach to prayer may be required depending on the situation.
Ministers should be well versed in this area to continue, or seek assistance from prayer partners who have
received specific training in this area.

IV. Decision

One of the most common barriers to the Lord’s healing in people’s lives is a failure to decide for such healing.
Some are so attached to their illness as a way of life they subconsciously hold onto the familiarity it brings for a
variety of reasons. The illness almost becomes their identity. It is somewhat similar to those who are
incarcerated for any length of time being terrified of their impending freedom.

Many are trapped in their guilt, even after sacramental confession, convinced it is their penance from past sins.
They feel they must earn forgiveness. They are like the prodigal son who thought the best he could ever do was
be a servant in his Father’s house. They lack faith in the Lord’s goodness and mercy.

Another common barrier to the Lord’s healing is unwillingness to forgive. Forgiveness is an act of the will
rather than a feeling. It is a decision. When one decides to forgive from the heart, the Lord often heals the
wounds that may have been inflicted as a result of the occurrence.

Some have not surrendered parts of their lives to the Lord and are not willing to give up attachments to
particular sins. Many develop an attachment to self- sufficiency and have never trusted anyone. They are afraid
to make their future solely dependent on him.

One must possess true expectant faith that the Lord can heal them and that he will’s for them to be well.

It is important for a prayer team to discern areas of bondage or pain during conversation. The bridge for healing
must be constructed so it becomes possible for one to get to the other side. Prayer focused on eliminating the
barriers fertilizes the ground for the Lord’s work.

It is important to truthfully discern what degree of healing has taken place. Something takes place, whenever we
turn to the Lord calling on the Holy Spirit for healing. Our prayer is heard and a response is given.

The response to our prayer is always grounded in the Lord’s goodness and directed toward our eternal salvation.
The Lord may decide to only partially heal someone to keep them dependent on him, otherwise they will go
astray. The Lord may delay healing waiting for us to forgive our brother from our heart or to fully surrender to
him.

Just as important as any healing that occurs is to continue to walk in the new light we have been given as sons
and daughters of the living God. We need to make good decisions that help sustain the gift of health the Lord
has provided.

V. The Process of Healing

Memories are key when dealing with inner healing. Memories that are formed from traumatic occurrences often
lack coherence and understanding due to the emotional pain. Memories can be repressed as a coping or survival
mechanism. Painful and fearful memories are often used by the enemy as a breeding ground for lies about
themselves, others, and their relationship with God. Spiritual bondage is often attached to the lies the enemy
has sown regarding the event.

The approach depends on the minister’s impression of the degree of faith and understanding of God’s love for
them. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, one who lacks an understanding should be led very slowly through
the process, prompting them gently as they reach points of anxiety or pain. Pauses can be used to frequently
invoke the healing Love of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, laying hands as appropriate, at critical
junctures where pain is evident. One who has a deeper understanding of God’s love can be given a bit more
freedom in terms of the frequency of intercessory prayer at key moments.

It is important to discern between surface and root memories. Surface memories are things that may have
occurred in conjunction with an event either when it occurred or later. These memories are symptoms or hints at
what lies beneath. An example may be one who experiences fear of the dark, strangers, or intimacy may be
surface roots attributable to an experience of being left alone in the dark as a child.

When the root memory is healed, generally all of the surface issues or impacts of the event are healed with it. At
times, the healing is so deep and radical, a new peace and love is experienced somewhat similar to what some
experience during the Baptism of the Spirit.

Visualization can be a very effective way of introducing the Love of Christ into an event, especially if it
occurred in childhood. An example would be the Minister praying aloud that the person will see Jesus holding
their hand at the very moment of fright or terror.

The most frequently encountered memories to be healed are those involving the Father. The scars of an
unloving father relationship are at the root of so many other problems. Children and adolescents impression of
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God the Father is rooted in their impression of their father on earth. Those who have not grown up with the
unconditional love of their earthly Father will develop behaviors and coping mechanisms as a defense for the
underlying pain. Some may be appearing to live a life dedicated to God on the surface, but are in deep rebellion
interiorly without even realizing it.

There is another category of healings referred to as “Heart Healings”. While “Memory Healings” are effective
in dealing with traumatic events, one’s attitudes in life can be directly attributable to their living environment or
to the degree they are indoctrinated into the culture of the world, and accepting these practices or beliefs as
one’s own. A child that is raised in a family of racists most likely will develop this trait as well. A heart healing
is necessary when the bondage is not necessarily attributable to certain events, but to the day to day
development of their spiritual identity.

It is Christ who dwells in our hearts, so even memory healings travel through the heart. All inner healings travel
through the heart into the beliefs, personality, and behaviors. Scripture is full of references to healing our
broken and stony hearts.

The path to “Heart Healings” is to heal relationship wounds or environmental influences creating a lack of love
or truth in a person’s life. Forgiveness is key in all healings but especially Heart Healings.

It has been found that incorporating visualization can be effective in healing relationships by inviting them to
visualize the Lord coming to them, reaching out and embracing them in a spirit of understanding and
forgiveness.. They are then asked to visualize the Lord reaching out and embracing the person they are having
difficulty with in the same spirit. Finally, both are asked to visualize the Lord with his open arms around both
bringing them together in a large embrace. While this can get emotional, it is a true reflection of what the Spirit
is doing.

As the minister senses the Holy Spirit changing a heart, their work is to be supportive and to discern with
wisdom the work being accomplished and to lead a person completely through the process, praising God for his
goodness and love. Affirming the work of the Spirit is also key to provide confidence in the experience of
healing that is occurring.

Sometimes the healing process extends over a longer period of time. One may experience something during
healing prayer, but the Holy Spirit continues the work over time releasing his love and peace at different
intervals. While there is some commonality, the Spirit works in each life individually in the way that he wills.

Follow up is important in healing Ministry. It is possible that healing is taking place in stages. Continued prayer
may be necessary. The Lord may be waiting for something additional to be surrendered to him or growth in
forgiveness, so the ministry team need to discern areas where strongholds or pain may still exist.

Often one has experienced healing when there is a new sense of peace and wholeness. There is an enhanced
ability to pray in terms of frequency and at a deeper level. One who has received healing is grateful and has a
new understanding of God’s love for them and their identity.

It is important to note that healing doesn’t mean there won’t be additional issues or problems in one’s life. What
is indicative of healing is the approach and trust in God to resolve issues as they occur as Lord of their life.

It is important for the Ministry team to praise God with the person being healed for his amazing goodness. It
reinforces God’s goodness to the person being healed and fortifies and humbles the prayer ministers to see the
power of our awesome God at work.

VI. The Healing Community

A true Eucharistic Community is always is continually in the process of being healed. In the Liturgy, we pray
“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be
healed”. The faith of the community is just as important as the faith of the prayer team and those receiving
prayer. It is faith that releases the power of Christ’s healing. The power of the Liturgy is amplified through our
core belief “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst” (Matthew 18:20)

The promises made by Jesus in his last discourse to the apostles gathered together in community in the 14th-
16th chapters of John further illustrate the Lord’s great desire to work powerfully through their future ministry
as the first cohesive Christian community.

Belonging to a loving, spirit filled community that prays with an expectant faith sustains the Lord’s healing and
recovery by ongoing support and encouragement.

Well-functioning Christian communities are built on personal relationships centered on Christ with a personal
knowledge and regular sharing of lives in face to face encounters where each is accepted and valued.

VII. The Spirit and the Churches

The Spirit speaks to the churches and calls them to a new fullness of life affirming the good of using the gifts of
God to develop, grow, and serve his church. The gifts of Healing are chief among them. It is an expectant faith
that releases the power of the Spirit and enables God’s love to flow in us and through us to others.

To be effective in ministry, the source of this power, the Lordship of Jesus, must remain central to the
Churches. It can never become secondary to a Church’s structure, leadership, teaching, or activities.