So there’s this beautiful little story in Luke 8:40ff.

You probably know it. It’s about a woman who has suffered bleeding for 12 years. Physically debilitating; ceremonially unclean….she would have existed on the fringes of society.

And then one day Jesus comes to town.

And she wants what he has to offer.

As he’s walking through the crowds, she pushes her way through the crowds, and reaches out her hand and touches the edge of his cloak.

Jesus stops.

“Who touched me?” he asked.

He’d felt the healing power be released from his body.

The woman, unsure of what would happen, nervously trembling, tentatively admits to being the one who had touched him.

Jesus declares: “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

So she does.

She leaves. Healed. Restored. Having received from Jesus.

I was pondering this story this morning.

Picturing the woman.

Reaching out.

Stretching.

Behind her out-stretched hand was a hopeful, faith-filled heart.

She didn’t have a thought-through theology of healing.

She just had a simple trust that Jesus had something she wanted.

And it struck me that right there…in her out-stretched hand…is the basis of prayer ministry.

When we offer prayer on a Sunday or at other times…when we extend an invitation for anyone who wants to be prayed for to come….here’s what we’re doing…

We’re inviting people to be like this woman. To extend their hand to Jesus and be open to receiving what he might have for them.

We’re not promising healing. Or a certain result. We’re just expressing our belief that in Jesus is all we need.

And that because he loves us, he will meet us.

Prayer ministry is a simple expression of trust. A person comes. Someone else prays…trying not to get in the way of what Jesus might want to do.

Coming for prayer requires a posture of humility.

Like the woman. Acknowledging a need. Surrendering to Jesus.

It’s an area of kingdom life we are growing in as a church. But know this – coming for prayer doesn’t require a complex theology; it just requires a looking to Jesus and stretching out a hand.

And trust that he desires to meet you…

…and bless you.