Prayer about death of a loved one

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Has someone you know recently lost a friend or a loved one? Prayers can help them through their time of grief. The Bible says “Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). This verse is more than a notion. There is power in prayer to help us through death and dying.

When someone we care about loses someone in their life, offering condolences, whether they be in writing or in person is never easy because you’re never quite sure what to say. People are often concerned about saying the wrong thing or coming off like they’re not genuine. Because of this, it’s easy to fall into the trap of saying something so generic that it doesn’t come off genuine.

The goal of expressing sympathy is to offer your compassion and concern for the bereaved. The most important thing you can communicate to a person who is grieving the loss of a friend or a loved one is that you’re there for them and will be there to support them in whatever way they need you to. One of the best ways to support someone who has recently loss someone is by praying for them. Here are six prayers for death and dying that you can offer a person has passed away, and also to someone who has suffered the loss of a loved one:

When We are Weak, You Make Us Strong

When our lives are running smoothly and devoid of trials, we have a tendency to rely upon our own human strength – strength that cannot compare in any way to Christ’s almighty and divine strength. However, when our life is beset with difficulties and storms, our strength fades away and we become weak. Yet, in these times of personal weakness, we can turn to Jesus and rely upon His divine strength and through that strength, face and endure these storms: Dear Lord, at this moment, nothing seems to be able to help the loss I feel. My heart is broken and my spirit mourns. All I know is that Your grace is sufficient. This day, this hour, moment by moment, I choose to lean on You, for when I am at my weakest Your strength is strongest. I pour out my grief to You and praise You that on one glorious day when all suffering is extinguished and love has conquered we shall walk together. Amen.

You are There for Us

God is there for us, especially during our times of grief and mourning. Sadly, grief is a part of the human experience. Loss is part of life, and grief is a natural response to loss. But we have the hope of Christ, and we know that He is strong enough to carry our burdens: Heavenly Father, there is none like You. Every day we want to praise You and worship Your glorious name. Today, we weep at the death of our loved one, but Blessed Father, we can rest assured knowing You are there for us, knowing we can find comfort and peace within You, in the midst of our tears and our grief. Lord, we shout Your praises, because You have turned our mourning into dancing. Amen.

We Thank You for Their Life

The Bible tells us that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46). This includes times of loss. This is a time we can use to reflect on the life they lived and thank God for having the opportunity to know them for this particular season of life: Heavenly Father, may Your name be honored. There is none greater than You. You are our refuge and strength. You are always ready to help in times of trouble. We praise You, Lord. We lift our hearts with praise. It is good to sing praises to You; our God; how delightful and how right! Lord, You are great and mighty in power. Your understanding is infinite. We than You, Father, for the Life of our loved one who has gone on to be with You. Thank you for their time on earth and the impact they had on our lives. We are thankful to You and we bless Your name. Amen.

Rescue Them from Their Grief

We know that the Lord is there for us during times of loss, because He promises to be present. We know that when we are feeling loss and discouraged that God hears us and has the ability to rescue us when we feel so low, we don’t know how to lift ourselves up. God has the ability to rescue us during grief: Heavenly Father, you can count the stars and call them all by name. Your power is absolute. Your understanding is beyond comprehension. You support the humble and bring the wicked down into the dust. You comfort those who mourn. We declare that those grieving the death of a loved one; mourning will turn into dancing. We confess that You are their rock, fortress and Savior in whom they will find protection. You are their shield, and the strength of their salvation. Father, You are their stronghold. As they call on You, You have promised to answer. We believe that You will be with them during this period of bereavement, rescue them from grief, honor them, and give them Your salvation. Amen.

We Send Peace for Those Mourning

Peace, by definition, is freedom from disturbance, quiet and tranquility. The Bible reminds us “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). When someone has recently lost a loved one, we can pray for that same peace which passes all understanding to come to them: Dear Lord, we ask You to send Your peace to those persons who are mourning. Continue to surround them with family, friends and loved ones who will offer words of comfort. Give them sweet and restful sleep. Lord, remove the spirit of heaviness, and give them garments of praise. In due time, bless their lives to overflow with laughter and joy again. As they take refuge in You, please help them to put their trust in You. Holy Spirit, we ask that You settle the hearts and minds of those who are feeling any guilt, resentment, bitterness, or anger. Help them not to look back but to press forward. Amen.

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A Prayer for Person(s) Overcoming the Death of a Loved One

Psalm 48, Psalm 23

Reflections of the Heart:

It is very difficult to say “good-bye” to a loved one.  The pain can be unbearable.  If you have experienced the death of a loved one, let the Lord love and comfort you.

Our Father in heaven, may Your Name be honored.  There is none greater than You.  You are our refuge and strength.  You are always ready to help in times of trouble.  We praise You, Lord.  We lift our hearts with praise.  It is good to sing praises to You, our God; how delightful and how right!  Lord, You are great and mighty in power.  Your understanding is infinite.  We thank You, Father, for the life of our loved one(s) who have gone on to be with You.  Thank You for their time on earth and the impact they had on our lives.  We are thankful to You and we bless Your Name.

Father, You can count the stars and call them all by name.  Your power is absolute.  Your understanding is beyond comprehension.  You support the humble and bring the wicked down into the dust.  You comfort those who mourn.  We declare that those grieving the death of a loved one; mourning will turn into dancing.  We confess that You are their rock, fortress, and Savior in whom they will find protection.  You are their shield, and the strength of their salvation. Father, You are their stronghold.  As they call on You, You have promised to answer.  We believe that You will be with them during this period of bereavement, rescue them from grief, honor them, and give them Your salvation.

Father, we ask You to send Your peace to those persons who are mourning.  Continue to surround them with family, friends and loved ones who will offer words of comfort.   Give them sweet and restful sleep.   Father, remove the spirit of heaviness, and give them garments of praise.  In due time, bless their lives to overflow with laughter and joy again.   As they take refuge in You, please help them to put their trust in You.  Holy Spirit, we ask that You settle the hearts and minds of those who are feeling any guilt, resentment, bitterness, or anger.  Help them not to look back but to press forward.

Write down the name of those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.  In addition to praying for them, call, visit or send an encouraging note to them.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Father, forgive the bereaved for any sins they have committed through thoughts, words, or deeds.  Forgive them if they have not meditated on Your Word to find comfort.  Father, forgive them if they have not been totally submissive to Your perfect will for their lives.  Forgive them for any hurtful things they may have said or done to the deceased.  Lord, help them to forgive the deceased if necessary.  Please remind them of anyone they need to forgive; and help them to forgive quickly.

Lead those who mourn not into temptation; but deliver them from the evil one.

Lord, the heavens tell of Your glory.  The skies display Your marvelous craftsmanship. You are the Lord, Most High, the great King over all the earth.  You reign over all nations. You are an awesome God.  We honor You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scriptures References for the Written Text:  Matthew 6:9, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 147:1-6, Isaiah 61:2, Psalm 30:11, II Samuel 22:2-3 Psalm 91:15-16, Isaiah 61:3, Matthew 6:13, Psalm 19:1

Today, I will trust God to:

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Updated on September 21, 2018

MsDora, Certified Christian Counselor, helps grieving persons by sharing practical suggestions and by her personal expressions of grief.

Three weeks before the first anniversary of my mother’s death, my heart is still sore. The memory of our interaction as Alzheimer’s patient and caregiver, as well as that of watching her exhale her last breath are still vivid. In recent days, I have aggravated the pain by unmindful actions like the following:

• lowering my voice during a conversation to avoid disturbing her;
• attempting to put matches and knives out of her reach;
• passing by and looking into her room to see how she is doing.

For the hundreds (including me) who experience confusion and emotional discomfort on or around the anniversary of a loved one’s death, the following Bible quotes* are meant to bring comfort, strength, hope and peace; also to conjure up precious memories when grief surfaces afresh.

Copyright by Our Daily Blossom | Source Comfort

1. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5).
2. I will comfort you . . . as a mother comforts her child (Isaiah 66:13).
3. For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. (Psalm 49:13).
4. Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you (Psalm 55:22).
5. I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips (Isaiah 57:19).
6. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears (Isaiah 25:8).
7. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant (Psalm 119:76).
8. God himself will be with them . He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).
9. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer (Psalm 94:19).
10. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Author: Jignesh | Source Strength

1. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).
2. I cling to you ; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8).
3. The Lord is my strength . . . I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Psalm 28:7).
4. My spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever (Psalm 73:26).
5. And He said . . . “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV).
6. O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! (Jeremiah 32:17)
7. O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! (Psalm 22:19)
8. As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength (Psalm 138: 8).
9. Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong (Ephesians 3: 17).
10. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

Copyright at Bible Verse Images | Source Hope

1. Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! (Psalm 42:11)
2. Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. . . Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness (Psalm 51:11).
3. Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them (Psalm 10:17).
4. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died (1 Thessalonians 4: 14).
5. I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying (John 11:25).
6. But those who die in the Lord will live; their bodies will rise again! (Isaiah 26:19)
7. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God (Psalm 146:5).
8. Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.
   You will lie down unafraid (Job 11: 18, 19).
9. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory” 1 Corinthians 15:54).
10. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope (Acts 2:26).

Author: Jignesh | Source Peace

1. I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).
2. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die (Isaiah 57:2).
3. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3)
4. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. . . Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. (Philippians 4: 6. 7).
5. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him (Romans 15:13).

Memories

1. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV).
2. Those who are righteous will be long remembered (Psalm 112:6).
3. Blessed are those who die in the Lord . . . for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them! (Revelation 14:13)
4. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do (Ephesians 6:8).
5. Now stand here quietly before the Lord as I remind you of all the great things the Lord has done for you and your ancestors (1 Samuel 12:7).

*Quotations are from the New Living Translation unless noted otherwise.

How would you celebrate the life of a departed loved one on the anniversary of his or her death?

Questions & Answers

• Question:

  What Bible verse can I use as a memorial on a headstone for my father and my mother one year after their passing away?

  Answer:

  My favorite memorial verse is from 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (New International Version): “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

  Next in line is “Those who are righteous will be long remembered” (Psalm 112:6 NLT).

  May you have many pleasant memories of your parents as you revisit your loss.

• Question:

  What would be a Bible verse I can use for a memorial verse on a headstone about my daughters passing from suicide?

  Answer:

  Please accept my sympathy on the loss of your daughter. I pray that you find some peace and comfort to help you through your grief.

  Your daughter’s life and death will not be in vain if the verse on her headstone encourages those she leaves behind to hold on tightly to the love of God. One such verse is found in Romans 8: 38. I would quote a part of it:

  “Neither death nor life …can separate us from God’ love.”

• Question:

  Is it wrong for a Christian to celebrate the anniversary of the death of a loved one?

  Answer:

  On the anniversary of a loved one’s death, it is helpful for those left behind to meet, reminisce if they care to, and encourage each other in the healing process. What would be wrong is for the Christian to think that the dead can participate. Psalm 146: 4 puts the departed one in the grave, without any ability to think. So, my opinion is that, with the knowledge that the celebration is for the living, not for the dead, it is appropriate.

• Question:

  Can we do a remembrance for the dead in Christ?

  Answer:

  The “Remembrance Process” website summarizes six reasons for the remembrance, and I agree:

  1) To acknowledge the reality of death.

  2) To acknowledge the emotions associated with the death.

  3) To acknowledge that the relationship with the person who died has shifted from physical presence to memory.

  4) To acknowledge changes in personal self-identity.

  5) To ponder and search for new meaning in life.

  6) To receive the loving support of remaining family and friends.

  That said, please note that all the purposes of the remembrance have to do with the living. Yes, the living can but the dead cannot participate or receive any benefit from the remembrance. Psalm 115: 17 and 146:4 denies that they can.

  A remembrance for the dead in Christ may have the added objective of reminding the living to follow in his or her steps.

• Question:

  What verse can I use for the death anniversary of my brother?

  Answer:

  Thanks for the question. You can use one of the following verses below. Choose the one which best agrees what you think about your brother:

  (1) We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV).

  (2) Those who are righteous will be long remembered (Psalm 112:6).

  (3) Blessed are those who die in the Lord . . . for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them! (Revelation 14:13)

• Question:

  What quote can I use for what a friend we have in Jesus?

  Answer:

  I think that you are asking for a quote which mentions Jesus as a friend. Here’s one from John 15: 14-16:

  “You are my friends if you do what I command. . . Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you.”

© 2017 Dora Weithers

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