A Prayer for the Sick
By Emma Danzey
James 5:14 says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.”
Whether it is a pesky weeklong cold during the start of the fall weather, a chronic illness, or a serious disease. We or people we know are living life today with sickness. God did not intend for us to be sick in this world. Our bodies were perfectly designed to be healthy and strong. However, when we sinned and darkness entered the world, sicknesses came to be.
There are times in the Bible when people believed that sickness was a punishment for sin. In John 9, Jesus is healing a blind man, and His own disciples asked who sinned in his family.
John 9:2-3 says, “And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.”
Of course, some sicknesses in this world can be a result of previous decisions made; however, the majority of the time, sickness is simply a result of the fall. However, I love how in John 9, Jesus points out that the blind man’s parents never sinned for him to be born blind; he was given blindness so God’s glory would be displayed. Today we are going to pray this over those who are sick in our lives. Jesus did heal this man and give him sight, so He is still our Healer who can remove illnesses and diseases from this world; however, if He does not, we can know with confidence that He can use it for a purpose greater than ourselves.
Let's Pray:
Jehovah Rapha,
You are the God who is our Healer. We come before you today on behalf of those in our lives who are sick. Lord, we know that you never wish for us to be sick, but You have allowed it in our sinful world. We pray that You would reveal Your great comfort to them today. Help them to feel seen and cared for by You. Father, give them hope, and gratitude even when in bed or stuck at home. Show them Your love through other people as they look out at nature and in their times praying and reading Your Word. Give them a special sense of victory today.
We pray for those who are dealing with serious illnesses. God, our hearts are burdened for them. We ask that they would know today that You are with them and have never left their sides. Give them continued hope and joy in the pain and suffering. Provide them with the best healthcare possible, give them the finances that they need, and help those who are sacrificing to take care of them in this illness. Lord, enable them to reach out for help when they need it and not allow pride to stand in the way. Give them Your grace each day and would you please do a miracle in their lives and heal them on this side of heaven? We pray, no matter what, that You would show Yourself in special and personal ways to them in their sufferings and that You would be glorified in their midsts.
We pray for those who are feeling run down today. We ask that you would strengthen them and give them rest. God, You give sleep and restoration to those who are weary. You strengthen those who need energy. You care for the broken. We ask that even for the most minor of colds that those who are sick today would be reminded that they are human and You are their God. May they find humility and strength in knowing that You care for their needs and help them when they are down. Give them renewal and physical strength for anything they might need to accomplish this day. We thank You for caring for every need, whether great or small. You are the Great Physician. You are the Healer. Do Your work in the lives of the sick today. Amen.
Photo credit: ©SalemDesign/BethanyPyle
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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