A study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine discovered significant health benefits in just five minutes of Christian prayer, Fox News reports.

The researchers were comparing the impact of direct prayer with listening to music on a person’s worry and pain levels.

Direct prayer is defined as another individual praying in close proximity with a person experiencing pain and worry. It often included physical contact with the person praying holding hands with or touching the individual receiving the prayer.

The study group included 180 people who were seeking medical attention and were experiencing moderate to severe levels of worry and/or pain.

These individuals were randomly divided into two equal groups.

One group listened to music for five minutes, and the second group spent five minutes with a volunteer trained specifically in Christian prayer.

The two groups were then questioned about their level of worry and pain immediately after the sessions. They were then followed up two weeks and six weeks later.

While both groups showed improvement, the people receiving prayer had better results.

In terms of pain, the researchers found that the group who received prayer had greater reduction in pain levels immediately after the session and even at the two week mark.

When it came to worry, the researchers noticed even more benefits. Those receiving prayer had a “statistically significant” reduction in anxiety immediately after the session and also at the two week and six week mark.

The researchers also noted an additional peculiarity with the prayer group. They received the benefit even if they weren’t convinced prayer would work.

“We expected that patients who expected prayer to work would benefit more, but that wasn’t what we found,” said Katherine Jacobson, M.D., in an interview with Fox News. Jacobson is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and led the research team.

“Religious affiliation, religious intensity and expectancy of healing did not predict who improved,” Jacobson added. “Benefits appeared across a wide range of patients, including those not of the Christian faith and those who did not expect the intervention to help them.”

What impressed me about this study is the impact of short prayers. We tend to think that longer prayers are more effective than short ones.

But Jesus said that wasn’t always true.

 “And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words,” Jesus said. “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:7-10 NASV).

Basically, Jesus was saying that long winded prayers can actually be less effective than short ones.

When Jesus compared the prayers of a pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18, the Lord noted that the tax collector’s short prayer, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ (verse 13), was the one God heard.

So don’t be overwhelmed about trying to set aside enough time to pray throughout day. There is power in short prayers. They don’t have to be long, to be effective.

Secondly, look for opportunities to pray for people who are struggling emotionally or physically. If appropriate lay hands on them or hold their hands as you pray.

As we read about Jesus healing ministry, the Lord often touched people as He prayed for them.

Luke writes, “Now while the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He was laying His hands on each one of them and healing them,” (Luke 4:40 NASV)

In Matthew 8, Christ even did the forbidden. Jesus touched an unclean leper while praying for his healing:

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” (Matthew 8:2-3 NASV)

Touch is important. When we lay hands on people, this can serve as a conduit for the Holy Spirit to flow into them. This can result in renewed strength and encouragement.