What Holy Spirit Taught Derek Prince About the Power of God’s Medicine

Derek Prince tells his story of being healed by taking God’s Word as medicine three times a day. He was in the British army in World War II in an Egyptian military hospital, lying sick with a chronic skin infection for 12 months. Derek was newly baptized in the Holy Spirit and he felt he was short on faith for healing, so God opened this Scripture to him: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). So faith can come. Derek asked God: “How can I ‘hear’ what the Bible has to say to me so that faith can come?”

Derek reflected that since doctors often instruct their patients to take their medicine three times a day, he would speak God’s healing Scriptures over himself after each meal, three times a day, as God’s medicine. Since he was in a military hospital with plenty of time, Derek did this daily, for three months, and he was completely cured! A person who listened to Derek’s testimony took God’s medicine for three days as well, and was also healed of a skin condition!

Scriptures declare:

“He sent His word and healed them” (Ps. 107:20). “God has put these in the church …. miracles, then gifts of healings” (1 Cor. 12:28). “If you diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases with which I have afflicted the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you” (Ex. 15:26).

The Prescription: Take God’s Word as Medicine

I can use the diagnosis of a doctor (as a guide) to help me gain an understanding of where my prayer is to be focused. God will assist in granting me a fuller diagnosis, since sickness is often intertwined with sins that invite demons (Deut. 28:1-14; Matt. 4:24). I embrace God’s prognosis, which is to repent, be cleansed, and put on Christ’s righteousness and the healing that Christ has purchased for me.

Take God’s medicine three times a day (if time is a constraint, then once or twice a day, but if your need is critical, then three times a day). When you see, think, feel and speak only what God says and feels about you, His healing and miracle-working power is released within you. The “God Sends His Word to Heal Prayer Encounter” below is easy to speak. Repeat it until you have your victory.

Employ heart prayers by using the language of the heart: To impact my heart, I must use the language of my heart. The language of my mind will not register as meaningful to my heart. The language of my heart incorporates the following seven elements: 1) It begins with the voice of the Holy Spirit, which is embraced as I choose to 2) speak it as 3) my personal and 4) present-tense reality. In addition, the heart’s language is 5) visual, 6) emotional 7) and utilizes biblical meditation to frame in my spirit the things God desires to birth in my life.

Psalms exemplifies heart-prayers. David prays using 1) affirmative statements that are 2) personal and 3) present tense:

• “You, O Lord, are a shield about me: (Ps. 3:3, NASB).
• “The Lord sustains me” (Ps. 3:5b).
• “You have smitten all my enemies” (Ps. 3:7b).

My declaration: I choose to speak God’s truth as my personal, present-tense reality, thus experiencing God’s medicine.

How to Take the Prescription: A Sample Prayer

Hebrew meanings inserted into Proverbs 4:20-23:

• My son (everything flows from relationship)
• Give attention to my words (focus with undivided attention)
• Incline your ear to My sayings (humbly listen, a willingness to be taught and to change)
• Do not let them depart from your sight (see God’s promises already fulfilled, Gen. 15:5-6)
• Keep them (hedge in with thorns) in the midst of your heart
• For they are life to those who find them and health (medicine) to all their body (entire being)
• Watch over (blockade) your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs (boundaries) of life.

Healing and miracles occur through a living encounter with the Living God (Luke 8:44-48). Merely speaking Bible promises as some sort of magic formula will not do the trick. What I say must flow from revelation in my heart, which comes as “He opens Scriptures to me” (Luke 24:32). So I tune to my heart to hear and see Him, and experience His healing power. I follow these steps as I take God’s Word as medicine.

I come before You, thanking You for these specific blessings (Ps. 100:4-5). Thank You, Lord, for _________. I am so grateful because ________________. I thank You—thank You—thank You—thank You, Lord. I sense Your presence and glory as I praise You (1 Pet. 1:8). You are wonderful! You are so good! You are perfect and worthy of all praise. There is no one like You. (Get involved emotionally. God lets us find Him when we are whole-hearted: 2 Chron. 15:15.)

I establish connection with You by tuning into the Holy Spirit. You are the river flowing within me (John 7:37-39).

I interact with You by honoring and responding to Your voice (flowing thoughts), Your visions (flowing pictures), Your emotions (flowing emotions), and Your power (the energizing flow that wells up within me).

I see—prayerfully visualize (Eph. 1:17-18) the Scriptures below, and as Spirit flow takes over, step into a vision, seeing Jesus present, speaking to me in these encounters.

I experience Your compassion—Forgiveness toward: self, others and God is crucial to receiving Your healing touch (Mark 11:25). I obey all instructions received through Scriptures and from Your Spirit.

I honor You by closing each prayer time with worship. Worship means “to bow down,” so I bow down (or kneel) and put (name infirmity or condition) into my hands and then lay it down before You, giving it to You. I am now free of this infirmity or condition. I bow down (or kneel) before You, my Lord, my Maker (Ps. 95:6).

Prophetic actions and a memorial—What prophetic action would You have me perform with conviction and intensity to release this healing (2 Kings 13:18-19)? What memorial would You have me carry throughout the day as a reminder of this healing, so that my faith is stirred up (Josh, 24:27)?

“God Sends His Word to Heal Prayer Encounter”

This prayer is woven from Scripture. It is to be spoken from the heart, so speak slowly, pause, see (picture) and feel what you are speaking. Be childlike, fun-loving and relaxed as you encounter Him. See Jesus seated on His throne in the heavenlies, next to His Father, having purchased your victory over sin and disease.

See, feel and speak: I lift my eyes to the heavens and behold You, Jesus, seated on Your throne, clothed in majesty and power. I come before You, my Lord, thanking and praising You for all You have done. I thank You that whenever I have called upon You for help, You have heard my cry and come to my aid. I thank You that in Your mercy, You healed all who came to You. I come! Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed. My healing will be to Your praise and glory. I thank You that Your words are life to me and health to my whole body.

See, feel and speak: You send Your word and heal me. You provide instructions concerning the path I am to walk and the steps I am to take so I can be free of all sin and all sickness. Lord, what instructions would You give me to resolve this (name the condition), and since forgiveness and walking in compassion is so central to healing, is there a need for me to forgive myself, others or You, God, for any perceived wrongdoings? Are there sins connected with this infirmity? I incline my ear to You. I listen as You speak.

Lord, I honor what You have spoken. I inscribe Your words upon the tablet of my heart, seeing them, feeling them and embracing them. (See yourself doing what He has asked you to do. It is recommended you re-read what the Lord has just spoken—picturing, feeling and seeing yourself doing it. And if you need to dialogue more with Him about how to do what He has asked, then add that dialogue to your journaling above.)

See, feel, and speak: This condition and these sins are not mine. They are not from God. They are from the kingdom of darkness. They have no place in my being. I break all agreement with ungodly pictures, beliefs and words spoken by myself and others and this resulting physical condition. (Take time now to be specific, and list these and repent for each one, and see yourself adapting righteous behaviors that replace sinful behaviors.)

I command all demons affiliated with these sins, and this condition to leave now, in Jesus’ name. (List the demons by name and command each one to leave in Jesus’ name. Their names correspond with the sins they magnify.)

See, feel, and speak: Lord, I walk in Your truth that by Your stripes, I am healed. I repent and return to You, so that my sins may be wiped away, and times of refreshing may come from Your presence, oh Lord. You were pierced through for my transgressions. Your blood washed away all my sin. I am clothed with Your robe of righteousness. I am empowered by Your Spirit. Thank You, Lord!

See, feel, and speak: You are my wisdom, anointing and power. I receive Your love, compassion and healing power. You are my Healer through whatever means You choose! I see myself as You declare I am. I declare and decree that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am blessed and empowered to overcome (name sin(s), illness, condition). I am Your workmanship and Your handiwork. You have empowered me to walk in righteousness and divine health. You are my source. I thank You that Your power obliterates the prognosis of man.

See, feel and speak: Jesus, healing power streams from You. Everyone sought to touch You. I lay down the barriers of my strivings and self-effort and reach out to touch You. I cry out to You, my Healer. I reach out my hand and touch the fringe of Your cloak (pause as you do this). I speak to this (name infirmity), and to the root cause of it, and I command it to leave now, in Jesus’ name! Leave now, in Jesus’ name! Leave now, in Jesus’ name.

Thank You, Lord, that by Your stripes I am healed! Your kingdom power and authority is manifest in my life right now. You proclaim healing to my entire being. I am washed with the water of Your word. I invite the cleansing power of Your word to clean my cells, including all cellular memory and to reprogram my DNA to conform with its original design. I am cleansed. I am free. Thank You, Lord. I rest in Your finished work.

I fix my eyes on You, Jesus. I choose friendship with You and Your words of life, which You have spoken over my being.

I speak Your words of life to my body and call my body to attention to align with them. Body, hear the word of the Lord. You will live and not die. Breath of God, breathe upon me (breathe in deeply). Body, receive the breath of the Lord. Healing is the children’s bread. I am a child of God. I receive Your healing of my spirit, soul, and body, now.

What prophetic action and memorial of this new freedom do You propose to me as I desire to be reminded, throughout the day, to walk in faith?

Create the memorial or do the prophetic action now.

Lord, I create an altar of praise in my heart to honor the good work You have done in me. I choose to praise You now because I see the miracle already completed. I know You are faithful to perform Your word. I reject fear, doubt and relapse. I meditate on Your healing and instructive word spoken over me. I walk in Your healing. I walk in Your counsel. Lord, You are so good! {eoa}

Mark Virkler, Ph.D., has authored more than 50 books in the areas of hearing God’s voice and spiritual growth. He is the founder of Communion With God Ministries (cwgministries.org) and Christian Leadership University (cluonline.com), where the voice of God is at the center of every learning experience. Mark has taught on developing intimacy with God and spiritual healing for 30-plus years on six continents. The message has been translated into over 40 languages, and he has helped to establish more than 250 church-centered Bible schools around the world.

This article originally appeared at cwgministries.com.