By Brad Andres
Praying with the dying can be an intimidating thing. The time nearing death can be a very stressful and scary time for families and friends of the ill.
Let’s go over some of the basics of praying for someone who is nearing death. We’ve also included some sample prayers for the dying below to help guide you through this process.
If you do not know the individual, then spend some time getting to know them as a person. Ask them about their family, about their life. Find out what they are proud of, ask if they have any regrets. Discover what they believe the afterlife is going to be like.
(Read Bible Verses about Death, and Bible Verses about Heaven)
Once a rapport is established, albeit however small, then you can move onto the praying part. People need to know you care about them before you pray for them, and taking the time to ask about their life is one way to do that.
Therefore, following establishing a relationship, here are a few things to remember which will help guide you when saying prayers for the ill.
1. Do they know Jesus?
This is the most important question which you need to answer before praying with someone as they are about to pass onto the next life. If they do not know Jesus, you need to introduce them to each other as soon as possible.
In all actuality, if they do not know Jesus, then there is not much point in progressing further. Yes, you will still pray with them, for God’s comfort, peace, and rest, but if they are not going to inherit the free gift of eternal life, then what is the point? The point of praying those things is that maybe something will click, possibly the Lord could grab ahold of their hearts before death, and they may encounter Jesus before their passing. And besides, it is just courteous to bless someone in their dark hours of life.
Prayer To Know Jesus Before Dying
Lord Jesus,
Come into my life.
I believe you died and rose from the grave.
I believe you live eternally in heaven.
Cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
Forgive me of all my sins.
Move into my heart.
I make you my Lord and Savior.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
I accept your gift of eternal salvation.
Amen.
2. Pray for God’s peace.
Death can be frightening for some, and for others, death can be completely natural. Some who know Christ will face death fearlessly, while some others will be terrified. The same goes for those who are not in a relationship with Christ; some will be unafraid and some will be frightened.
As stated earlier, it will be good practice to pray for God’s comfort and peace regardless of that person’s level of relationship with Jesus.
A Comforting Prayer for the Dying
God,
Help discover your peace.
Let them receive your comfort.
Help them to be at rest knowing that you care for them,
and that you love them.
Calm their soul as they move into the afterlife.
May they spend eternity with you;
may they live forever in your presence.
Amen.
3. Pray for the Family
Just as death may be hard or easy for an individual, so can it be the same for any remaining family or friends. Sometimes when you have the opportunity to pray with the dying, you will be alone. Othertimes, family and friends will be present. Regardless, even if you pray this as you leave, it is still thoughtful to pray for those who will be mourning the person’s passing.
A Prayer for the Family of the Dying
God,
Bring this family peace.
Provide them with your comfort.
Let them know you tenderly care for each and every one of them.
Lead them to be reunited with their loved one some day.
Sit with them in their mourning.
Let your presence provide rest.
Thank you, for the gift of life that brought to the world.
May he rest peacefully with you for eternity.
Amen.
A final note to remember is that this time is an emotional and stressful time for all associated with the dying person. Therefore, you may be given a chance to pray, and you may not be given a chance to pray. Remember to respect all people’s wishes, and know that as you walk with God into the room, you are inviting His presence into the situation. If you pray these prayers on your way back home alone, it still carries power to allow God into the situation.
And we will finish with my prayer for you.
A Prayer for Those Going to Pray with the Dying
God,
Give this person strength.
Grant this person confidence.
Allow them the opportunity to discover if the passing person knows you.
Give them wisdom to know when to speak and what to say.
Let them bring your presence into the room.
Let them carry your love into the situation.
Encourage them with a special gift or your presence.
Amen.
If you’d like to submit a prayer request for someone who is ill, please do so below.
Brand Andres is a licensed minister and his passion is to help people understand the Bible and maximize
their God given potential for life.
Find him at BradAndres.com, and follow him on Twitter and Google.
www.praywithme.com
In new details about the case, it’s been revealed that the devout Christian couple prayed for two hours before their son’s death as he lay suffering in need of medical attention.
Image: Rodica and Emil Radita (Calgary Herald)
Rodica Radita refused to accept that her son had Type-1 diabetes and, along with her husband, withheld treatment for their son’s illness resulting in numerous hospitalizations over 12 years. Their son Alex died at 15-years-old in 2013 – weighing just 37 pounds.
Emil, 59, and Rodica, 53, are now each charged with first-degree murder.
In new details about the case, it’s been revealed that the devout Christian couple prayed for two hours before their son’s death as he lay suffering and in need of medical attention. Suspicions that the Roditas routinely resorted to prayer over medical care were confirmed after medical investigators relayed what they saw at the Rodita home when medical services were finally called.
“They said they went to church at, I think it was after 1800 hours, and they came home at about 2000 hours and that’s when the father said that he wasn’t breathing, so they prayed and they didn’t call EMS until sometime around 2200 hours,” medical investigator Shauna Mitchell told the National Post.
Court exhibit of Alex Radita on his 15th birthday, just months before his death (National Post)
In testimony given to Calgary court prosecutors, Mitchell said that several members of the Raditas’ church were in the home where Alex was found.
“They were in the home praying together,” Mitchell said.
From the National Post:
And she said it was possible the boy wasn’t breathing even before the couple went to church, as she was given conflicting reports from them.
She said the mother said was breathing at 6 p.m. that day, but his father said he wasn’t.
According to autopsy reports, Alex died from bacterial sepsis due to complications from starvation and neglect.
deadstate.org
-.-‘ Problem’s like that happen everyday, and never gain the full public view, and when they do, there is a bigger reason why it has…This is a classic example how the lack of understanding of what a person desire’s or wishes to be done onto one’s self
Think of it this way… if that child was 23 years old had a car a nice house, a great job, then she became termaly ill, would she do the actions that her parents done? Or would she have made her own choice to fight to live… But at the age of 23 she would not be a child, and she would be able to think for her self and deside if going to the doctor is worth it for her, and her family(mainly the cost of money) But her father and mother made those choice’s for her, which were made in the intrests of the parent’s and not the child, so therefore thats why the actions that they took is a crime… but they would lack the point of view of see’ing that from the action’s they took… so to them it was fate by god, by the eye’s of man and logic, would be act negligence. therefore by the point of view of the court system, they would be held acountable for there action’s. Even if the child were to say that she wants to die or dosnt want to go to the doctor, those thoughts could or would be created by the comment’s and information that there parents have told there child. (Mainly by saying that dont worry you dont need to go to the doctor “god” will heal you.) dang near brain washing…just forget the logical outcome of the illness that you have…God got’s a magical band aid for you 😀
But one thing that is true, money is also a key factor in effecting the judgment of the parent’s in any illness…But if people want to lisson to there own voice in there head and say its some other one… i respect what they say, make or think is true….but they and everyone should respect that of which is other’s people’s point of view, mainly because they would like there own point of view respected.
So i would just use there own ways to show them that what they have choosen is not correct choice for your child or for you…
Do onto other’s as you want done onto your self… Only work’s if you dont lie to your self… So the mother would put her self in the child’s spot, would she want someone els making all the choice’s for her? the answer is no, would she want someone els effecting what she thinks is true and not true, and making here point of view no longer her’s but brain washed into something els? Answer is also no… but yet she done such onto her own child… this is an example how people of the faith still do not understand what the true faith is all about… Sorry if it seem’s the word brain washing is to harsh.. but the word was created in china, as a method of raisen there kid’s to the parent’s or goverment’s point of view… so it seem’s like it matche’s the action that the parent’s have done…
Lovely world…-.-‘
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