My good buddy Dave Willis recently released his book 7 Laws of Love. With his permission, I wanted to share with you an excerpt from it. It is a powerful book that can strengthen your relationships, and help you live a life full of love. Grab it here.

Healing flows from relationships. Jesus addressed (the women in Mark 5) as "daughter" to remind her that God was not distant from her. She was part of God's family. Jesus cared about her physical need, but he also took time to address her relational need. He does the same for you and me. 

An encounter with Jesus always has the power to bring healing. When love is present, healing is present. It won't always look miraculous, but it will always make a difference. 

I believe that most of us want to experience a supernatural encounter with Jesus. We want healing (physical, financial, emotional and spiritual) in our own lives, but we don't always know how to receive these gifts that Jesus freely offers to us. Below is a simple outline to follow.

Remember, Jesus is not a genie in a bottle or a vending machine that exists to give you what you think you want. He is your loving Savior whose plans for your life are much better than your own. 

The healing that love brings might not always look like you think it should, but in the scope of eternity, it will prove to be exactly what you need for your good and God's glory.

When you're ready to embrace healing in your own life, and are willing to be a conduit for God's healing in others, here are a few keys to keep in mind:

1. Believe in God's Power

Love brings healing, but it's never through our own power. It's always a result of God's power. We're vessels of love, but the true source is God himself, and he's also the source of real and lasting healing. Putting your faith and trust in him is the first step. (See Hebrews 11:6)

2. Pray with Faith

Anything worth worrying about is worth praying about. When you want to experience healing in your life or the life of a loved one, ask God for it. Sometimes God uses prayer to change the situation, and sometimes he uses prayer to change our own perspective about the situation, but either way, he's always doing something positive through prayer. (See Philippians 4:6-7)

3. Trust God no Matter What

God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggles and a reward for your faithfulness. Trust him, and don't give up! Don't base your faith merely on the outcome of your prayers. Base your faith on what God has already done to love you and save you. We usually won't see how the plans all fit together on this side of eternity, but he's promised us a home in heaven where his love and healing will be perfectly experienced forever. (see Proverbs 3:5-6)