Question: I have a friend (not a Christian) who is very sick. ls it appropriate to pray for healing for someone who is not a strong Christian, or perhaps not even a Christian?

Answer: Absolutely it is appropriate for you to pray for some to be healed, regardless of their spiritual condition. As a believer, it is not only appropriate, but also a wonderful thing to pray for healing. However, it should be with the understanding that God’s first priority for someone who is sick–believer or unbeliever–is for that person’s spiritual condition.

As His children, God is interested in our physical lives. The Bible tells us that he cares about the sparrow and the lilies of the field, so how much more does He care about us (see Matthew 6:15-33).

Does this same care apply to the unbeliever? Well, Jesus healed many unbelievers, and often he forgave their sins at the same time because they recognized that He was the Son of God. God is certainly able to heal an unbeliever, but He will always do it with a greater purpose in mind.

At the same time, God doesn’t always act in the way we think He should. Healing is a good example. We can pray for healing and believe that God should heal because He can. But again, God may have a different purpose in mind, and healing may not be the purpose.

So while you can pray for healing, pray even more for the unbeliever to come to a place of belief. Don’t preach, just pray, and let your own life be the best testimony you have.