Posted April 16, 2014 · 12:00 am · Tagged:
BibleChristiancomfortdeathGodgriefhealinghopeJesusprayer
The past year has been particularly rough for my community. More than a dozen people of all ages have passed away, many of them due to car accidents and unexpected medical events. There are about five thousand people in my small New Hampshire town, so everyone has been touched in some way by these deaths. If you didn’t know someone who died, you knew someone who was close to them.
Last Saturday, the community church held a special service for healing and reflection. I was asked to write and read a prayer focused on hope and healing, and I wanted to share it here for anyone else who is in need of comfort and the reassurance of God’s love and presence. All Bible verses are from the NIV translation.
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Father God, we thank you for Your steadfast love and for Your constant presence in our lives. Even when life is difficult and we don’t understand what’s going on, You are there, guiding us through our grief and our confusion. As it says in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
We come to You, LORD, with the confidence that You are able to heal any hurts we have experienced, whether it is illness, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or other forms of heartache, grief, or disappointment. As it says in Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
We ask for Your healing touch in our lives and in the lives of all who are grieving, who are sick, who are hurt, who are confused. We thank You that You are attentive to our suffering and that You hear the cries of our hearts for healing. As it says in Psalm 10:17–18, “You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed.”
We thank you so much, LORD, for the reality that even though our lives and our circumstances may change, You are forever reliable, forever the same. Like it says in Isaiah 54:10, “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”
May we always rest in the certainty of Your unfailing, unchanging love. As it says in Romans 8:38–39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
– Teresa Santoski
www.teresasantoski.com
www.teresasantoski.com
Prayer for Inner Healing
When you are anxious and in a state of inner turmoil, your body’s systems interact in ways that are not good for your health. Conversely, when you’re in a state of inner peace, the body is in a calmed state. Your body functions well and good physical health is promoted. In order to achieve this inner peace, it’s important that you trust God in the process. If you are looking for inner healing, turn to this prayer:
Almighty and everlasting Lord, I come before You now in great need of Your mercy. You are the doctor and physician of my soul. I humbly ask You to send forth Your healing power into every area of my inner-woundedness. I surrender to You all areas of unforgiveness, especially those hurtful past events where anger and bitterness have been allowed to fester, causing harm to my physical health. By act of my free will, I choose to forgive everybody including the people who have hurt me the most. I release my desire to receive an apology, my need to be justified in my actions and my need for others to acknowledge the injustice. I surrender the entire debt of all my injuries into Your merciful hands. I denounce all forms of anger, bitterness and resentment, and command every evil spirit that has entered my body through the lack of forgiveness to leave now and go straight to the feet of my Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer for Comfort
God promises His people relief from all troubles in this life and in the next. Faithful people throughout the centuries witness to dramatic deliverance from sickness, financial woes and all manner of troubles. In times of discouragement and sorrow, we can turn to the Bible and prayer to be encouraged and consoled by the God of all comfort. If you are looking for comfort right now, turn to this prayer:
Dear God, some days feel too hard. I’m hurting, struggling, fighting fear and worry at every turn. But in the midst of it all, you haven’t left me to fend for myself. Forgive me for doubting You are there. Forgive me for thinking you’ve forgotten. Forgive me for believing that I somehow know the better way. You are fully trustworthy. You are all powerful. You are able. You are Lord over every situation no matter how difficult it may seem. You are Healer and will never waste the grief I carry today. Anything is possible with You. I pray not only for my own grief, but also for those who grieve today. I ask for Your comfort to surround those who weep. I pray for the peace of Your presence to cover our minds and thoughts, as you remind us, the enemy can never steal us out of Your hands. Amen.
Prayer to Heal a Friend
When we have friends who are ill, the first thing we want to do is help to ease their suffering, but it’s hard to know where to begin. It’s important that we pray for their deliverance and recognize that there is no healing that is too hard for the Lord, if it be His will. If you are praying for the healing of a friend, turn to this prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you that You love us. I know that You hate what this illness is doing to my loved one. I ask, in the name of Jesus, that You would heal this disease, that You would have compassion and bring healing from all sickness. Help me to trust in You. Amen.
Prayer to Mend What Is Broken
When you allow God to heal your broken heart, amazing things happen. Instead of wallowing in hatred and being better, stop focusing on the bad memories and tell yourself it was all for the best and that it was a great learning lesson. If you are looking to mend what is broken, turn to this prayer:
Heavenly Father, I call on You right now in a special way. It is through Your power that I was created. Every breath I take, every morning I wake and every moment of every hour, I live under Your power. Father, I ask You now to touch me with that same power. For if You created me from nothing, You can certain recreate me. Mend what is broken. Let the warmth of Your healing love pass through my body to make new any unhealthy areas so that my body will function the way You created it to function. Restore me to full health in mind and body so that I may serve You the rest of my life. Amen.
While doctors and medicine are a gift of God and He certainly uses them to bring healing – His power is infinitely greater than any human wisdom or prescription. If you or someone you know is suffering from a disease, illness, injury or emotional distress, remember that God is with you. The Holy Spirit is readily available to help us in every situation.
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