As Christians, we read and study about the miracles of Jesus. How he laid his hands on the lame, blind and demon-possessed and they were healed. Often times, the Bible says that many people tried to touch it 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, but 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 occur anywhere there is someone who believes in healing.

Jesus’ healing ministry 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. In my experience, God’s healing power has a mind of its own. It flows when and where it is needed. Years ago, a secretary in an office where I worked had a headache and asked me if I had aspirin. I quickly replied, ‘No aspirin. Just healing hands and anointing oil. His response, ‘I’m taking it!’ They had never laid hands on him, but he found out about it from people he knew. So, I put my hands on her 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 storing goods 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 the healing. I was returning to the back of the store when my friend asked me to take care of the cash register. At that time, this actor was ready to go. I called his order 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 he finished his order. For a week or so after that incident, that actor would stop by the store and look out the window to see if he was working. We never exchanged words, but God traded his illness 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 avenues for my own healing. He has prescribed certain raw foods and juices to strengthen my body, and periodic and colonic fasts to cleanse impurities from my system. Also, God told me to listen to the Bible on tape as another way to heal both the spirit and the body. It has also led me to therapeutic massage to relax, nourish and heal my body. Usually after prayer and meditation 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 makes for 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 place 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 the battered women’s support group meetings. I taught about forgiveness and the power of the loving healing touch. It was a very emotional session and the women loved the head and shoulder massage. They did not have to remove their clothes, nor did they have to fear that the person touching them was going to 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, sacral head massage can be healing. Tai massage involves a therapist maneuvering the body with movement to balance the body’s energy levels. My therapist was from Thailand and she gave me wonderful Tai massages. Sometimes it would be painful, but afterwards it would feel great. One of her most memorable moves was while sitting on my lower back with her back against mine. He closed his 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 best luxury spas in Los Angeles. There were many believers on our staff and there were days when people would call to make reservations and at the same time ask for prayer. They came to the spa to find the cure. Corporate executives called to schedule appointments to boost morale among their staff members. From teachers, politicians, Hollywood celebrities, church and civic leaders; all came to the spa in search of peace and healing. It was a ministry; a community service that I would recommend to anyone.