THE HEALING WORD: Everything Is Energy and We’re All Connected
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Bishop Jim Swilley begins a new Metron series exploring prayer, healing, intention, energy, and the power of human connection. Rather than presenting prayer simply as something directed vertically toward a distant God, Jim considers the deeply horizontal nature of prayer—the energy, compassion, words, touch, encouragement, and intention that human beings transmit to one another. Through Scripture and personal stories ranging from hospital rooms and Ken’s recovery to a remarkable encounter with a Muslim man in Nigeria, Jim argues that healing transcends religious terminology. Whether someone says, “I’m praying for you,” “I’m sending healing energy,” or simply, “I’m thinking about you,” the important thing is the loving intention behind the words. Sometimes the healing word is not a dramatic prayer at all. Sometimes it is simply letting another person know: I see you. I’m thinking about you. You are not alone.
Main Takeaways
- Prayer is relational and horizontal. Jim challenges the image of prayer as merely attempting to persuade God somewhere “up there.” Jesus repeatedly placed spiritual authority into human hands: “If two of you agree on earth…” (Matthew 18:19), and “Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
- We participate in one another’s healing. Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22-23), while James instructed believers to “pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). Jim sees these passages as emphasizing connection rather than spiritual isolation.
- Sometimes healing begins with simply sending a word. “He sent His word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20). The Roman centurion understood this principle when he told Jesus, “Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8-10). Distance did not eliminate connection.
- Don’t become trapped by religious vocabulary. “Prayer,” “positive intention,” “healing energy,” and “good thoughts” may sound different, but Jim argues that they can express the same fundamental human impulse: compassion directed toward someone who needs it. When people become obsessed with terminology, they can miss the spirit behind it: “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6).
- Spiritual confidence should leave room for mystery. Jim openly acknowledges that he has seen prayer seemingly produce extraordinary results, while other deeply loved people did not recover. Rather than pretending to possess definitive answers, he believes mature spirituality can hold faith and mystery simultaneously.
- Human connection can transcend doctrine. Jim recounts praying on a rooftop in Nigeria in 1981 when a Muslim man approached him and unexpectedly said, “May God hear your prayers.” Instead of trying to convert him, Jim felt that the moment itself was sacred. The two men walked and prayed together, teaching Jim something about spirituality that transcended their theological differences.
- Healing does not always require a dramatic prayer. A hand on someone’s arm, a text saying “I’ve got you on my mind today,” or a sincere word of encouragement can become prayer because it communicates presence, compassion, and connection.
- We are the Body of Christ. Jim ultimately returns to the idea that Christianity cannot be exclusively vertical. If we are Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27), then spiritual life must manifest through how we connect with one another. The horizontal dimension of the cross matters.
Quote from Bishop Jim Swilley
“Prayer and healing isn’t about doctrine. It’s about human connection.” — Bishop Jim Swilley
Another line captures the practical heart of the entire message:
“If somebody’s on your heart and on your mind, let them know. Send a word to them.” — Bishop Jim Swilley