Must We Lay Hands on the Specific Afflicted Body Part?

No.

Jesus touched Peter’s mother-in-law’s hand and she was healed instantly of a fever (Matthew 8:14-15).  The woman with the issue of blood could not have touched Jesus where the problem was!  Many people were healed just by touching Jesus’ clothes.  As long as there is a physical connection, you don’t have to pray over the specific spot.

However, there are other cases where Jesus did lay hands on a particular spot: Eyes (Matthew 9:27-30, Matthew 20:30-34, Mark 8:22-25), and ears (Mark 7:32-37, Luke 22:50-51).  In other cases, Jesus simply spoke or ministered some other way, so it can work either way.

It’s probably a good idea to lay hands on the afflicted area where it is reasonable and socially decent to do so.  You should have enough sense to know that your hands don’t belong in certain places on members of the opposite sex, or even members of the same sex!  You should get someone of the same gender as the person being prayed over to lay hands on certain spots if it would be indecorous for you to do so.  You can then lay hands on the person’s head or something.  Remember the case of Peter’s mother-in-law.  Don’t get legalistic about where you put your hands.  Jesus did not require His disciples to take courses on hand placement for different illnesses.  Just believe what Jesus said – you will lay hands on the sick and they will get well!