Prayer For The Sick

PRAYER FOR THE SICK 

I’m so grateful that God hasn’t left us hanging on our own to muddle through tough times.  We’ve gotten this far through in this pandemic and let’s give thanks for that and do one more day as well as we can in the love and care of God.

We want to give our time today to praying for the sick.  You see the statistics here in Canada at the time I’m preparing this blog.  So many of us have benefited from the prayers of others when we were ill.  Let’s “pay if forward” and pray for these many who are suffering today – here in Canada and in other places around the world.  We pray in faith because God’s word tells us:

Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.  James 5:16

Heavenly Father we come to You because we know You care about the sick more than any of us do.  Whether they are dearly loved relatives and friends of ours or people we don’t know who are loved by others we come to You today asking for healing on their behalf.

We know we’re just ordinary people but we are people who love You and who know that You have power to do what we are asking. 

On one occasion, a leper came and threw himself down in front of Jesus, pleading for his healing, saying, “You have the power to heal me right now if only you really want to!” Being deeply moved with tender compassion, Jesus reached out and touched the skin of the leper and told him, “Of course I want you to be healed—so now, be cleansed!” Instantly his leprous sores completely disappeared and his skin became smooth!  Mark 1:40-42

We remember the leper who came to You, Jesus, telling you: 

“You have the power to heal me right now if only you really want to!”  and your immediate response, filled with compassion was to reach out and tough him and say:  “Of course I want you to be healed—so now, be cleansed!”

So here we are today, asking for your mercy on those who are sick with COVID-19 whether at home or in hospital, whether having only a few symptoms or on ventilators and seemingly hopelessly sick.  We ask that You would bless and minister to each one so they are restored to health in body and mind.  In the name of Jesus we speak healing to vital organs,  We bless lungs to be cleared of infections and oxygen levels to increase.  We pray for immune systems to fight off this virus. and for strength to return to tired bodies.  For those who are near and dear to us we pause now and bring them to mind and call out their names to You as we pray for healing for them ….

We pray for those who are sick and suffering in long term care facilities where they can’t have families near them.  Perhaps their minds are not even clear and they don’t really understand what’s going on.  We pray a special blessing of comfort and peace on them as You bless them physically. 

We pray for children who are ill with the virus.  They are like little lambs and we ask You to carry them today close to Your heart.  Relieve their pain. Guard them from fear and danger.  Watch over them and bless them so they can quickly be restored to perfect health. 

We also ask God that You would comfort each one who is ill and suffering with a sense of Your goodness.  Encourage them and give them patience as You work healing and restoration in them.  We pray that not only their bodies but their whole being will be restored to right relationship with You and that they will live the rest of their lives in honour of You and in service of Your kingdom purposes.   

Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.  Matthew 9:35

Lord, as you went through cities and villages preaching and teaching the good news of the Gospel and healing every disease and every affliction, so we ask now that You would walk across the face of this earth from town to town and city to city and heal the sick of this COVID-19 virus.

We know that people like the army commander came to you on behalf of a sick soldier and even though he and you were miles away, still at Your word the soldier was healed.  So we look to you today, Loving God, as we pray for those sick with this virus who have to be distanced from us that You will speak the word and they will be healed.

We bring all of these needs before You, our Loving Father, trusting You to help us in our time of need.  Amen

We know that not everyone we pray for gets well but we also know that the more we pray the more healing takes place.  So let’s give up complaining about our inconveniences today and replace it with praying for the sick and let’s see how God turns things around in response to our prayers.