Many years ago, I used to think that in order to pray for people, especially for healing, that I would have to lay hands on them. This misconception that was rooted on my desire and not on God's, was put to rest one day at an emergency room visit.
It turns out that my mother had gotten ill and ended up going to the ER. While she was there, there was a little child that was waiting to be transported to a children's hospital by helicopter, but the little girl was scared and crying incessantly.
The mother was trying to calm her little one down so that her ride on the helicopter could be more pleasant and safer. However, no matter what the mother tried, the little girl kept on crying incessantly.
Troubled by the whole episode, I quietly began to pray for the little girl. I wanted to lay hands on the little one but that was out of the question. First, she was scared; second, her mother did not know who I was and I am sure she would have been alarmed. So I had no choice but to fervently pray quietly as I stood by my mother's bedside.
Then out of the blue, the little girl stopped crying. Not only that, she was actually being friendly with the paramedics and agreed to go on the helicopter with them, just like that. You should have seen the mother, and the staff. They were so surprised. They could not believe it.
So for those who insist that in order to do ministry and pray for people we have to lay hands on them or be there in person, I think they are mistaken. Sure it is preferred to have that extra personal touch. Of course we do not want to replace personal contact with virtual contact. However, we have to accept the fact that God is not limited. God can touch, reach and heal by any means necessary. There are no limitations that can stop Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ can work even when people submit prayers on a website.
