Temporary or Permanent?

I have been reading this book lately and (LOVE IT!) I would highly recommend it to any of you who have questions regarding speaking in tongues, continuation of prophecy, etc. Of course, I agree with him, so if you think that you would agree with me, then you will also like his book. :)

As I was reading, I began to think of something. A Dr. Corley once mentioned how the healings done by Jesus were temporary and that forgiveness was forever. So simple and yet, of course! We may be healed from this sickness or that, but we will all eventually die (unless Christ returns or we get one of those Enoch or Elijah take up deals). But the forgiveness which leads to eternal life is ....well, eternal. This took me to my next thought. I help in the prayer room and pray for many of the prayer requests of those of the congregation and 80-90% of these requests are for temporary healings. I am not saying that we shouldn't pray for the temporary healing of one's physical body. We have not, because we ask not, right? But shouldn't we give supremacy to the need for permanent healings of those around us? It is quite interesting as I think of my own prayer life. In my time alone with God, I will continually pray for the salvation of those that are dear to me and even not so dear to me. But when asked for a prayer request for my church to share with me, I think through all of those I know "let's see, who is sick that I know of." Forgive me if I appear to belittle the asking of prayer for the sick and dying. I know the pain of losing my father, in fact it was 9 years ago today. I know there is much pain in the presence of sickness and death. We must continue to pray for these things. But should it hold such pre-eminence in my corporate prayer life? I must make a greater effort to ask for permanent healings in addition to the temporary healings.