Prayer and heart patients

Can prayer help people overcome heart problems?

A recent study headed by Dr. Herbert Benson concluded that prayer did not help heart patients recovering from bypass surgery.

From my own experience, I know prayer helps people recover from heart complications.

Over 15 years ago, I was asked to pray for a woman fallen to her kitchen floor because of heart trouble. I spoke over the phone into her ear telling her that God was with her, that God was her Life, and to not be afraid. She calmed down quickly. Her heart resumed normal functions and she recovered totally. In her ninth decade today, she is active and lives independently.

There are many questions the Benson study raises. For instance, what kind of prayer was offered for the patients? Was it a prayer of genuine spiritual understanding, or a formulaic prayer? Was it a prayer of deep and inspired love or an assigned repetition of words? The answers are important.

There will be countless more studies on the effect of prayer, but for millions who see the healing power of God at work everyday, no study is needed to confirm their faith. They know from experience, that prayer heals.