7 Prayers That Work

  Praying Psalm 73:21-15 -- Oh Lord, I realize that my heart is bitter. I am all torn up inside. I have been misguided and mislead in my thoughts and conclusions. Do I seem like a dumb animal to you? Regardless of my limitations , you still want me. I belong to you, and you hold my hand tightly in yours. Your words guide me, your touch comforts me. You guide me toward the glorious destiny of your design. If I listen, you show me who I am and what I can become in you. Who else cares so much about me? May I never forget that my words and actions are for you alone. And you alone are my judge and my Redeemer. I love you more than anyone or anything. In Jesus' name, Amen. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;      I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2  When you pass through the waters,      I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,      they will not sweep over you. When you walk throu...

Jehovah Rapha, Heal my body and my soul. Protect me from disease and illness but use everything that you allow into my life to direct my heart towards you. I trust you and depend on you. Let me not be  afraid  of what happens to me and what I'm afraid will happen. You have my present and my future . I will follow you. Lord, heal my mind and my heart. Protect me from poisonous thoughts and beliefs. Root out my fear and my faithlessness. Heal me in every way, even the painful places like grief and insecurity.  I give every part of me to you. Only you can heal what's broken  in me. I trust you. Heal me. In Jesus' name,  Amen. Heal  me,  Lord , and I will be  heal ed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.-- Jeremiah 17:13 free image from Pixabay

 Oh, Lord,  You are the God of comfort . Teach me to grieve .  It makes me uncomfortable, but it's so necessary for healing and perspective. Help me to trust your love and care enough to lean into pain and trauma and the wild uncertainty of hard times, of personal and collective  crisis . You are a God of compassion . Teach me to grieve for others. give me perspective and empathy and sincerity that other people's experiences are different and just as traumatic and difficult than my own. Maybe even more! I want to be kind and willing to sit with them in their pain without passing judgment,  assuming I have the answers, or teaching them how to feel or act in their pain. You are a God of forgiveness . Teach me to be forgiving when I feel that someone has wronged me, misunderstood me,  or hurt me. You give us chances, over and over-- a thousand million chances to change, to repent, to revive, to follow. Help me repent of my own sin and refuse to be the judge...

Thank you , Lord. You are so good. All the time, in every situation, you have our best at heart. Your love motivates you to move mountains and change cultures so that more people can search you and find you. Thank you for your protection from this virus . Thank you for our homes, schools, friends, church, and virtual possibilities that much of the world can't access. Thank you for healthcare professionals and modern medicine. We are so fortunate. So blessed. And so easily frustrated. Forgive me for my selfishness. I want to revel in your goodness and in the faith that you make all things whole. You bring good out of a messy world and glory from disaster. I praise you and trust you. You are my Rock . "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."- -Psalm 19:14

Lord God, You are the God who Heals. You can stop this virus whenever you want. Lord, I don't want to interfere in your larger plan but could you slow down the path of this virus? Would you please in your mercy, protect the old from getting sick? Would you guard the children as they try to do school? Would you give parents grace, patience, and safety from getting sick? Lord, give the medical personnel strength to resist the illness, patience to tend to the sick, and time to recover ? Make this virus die out quickly. Reduce its reach. Let all those who know you rejoice and praise your name. Convict Christians who are being rude, selfish, bigoted, or judgmental to close their mouths and repent before you. Help those who follow you to be shining examples of love and mercy in action. May the whole world feel your love through the actions of your people. We give you praise and honor for your healing power and your relentless pursuit of those who don't k...

Okay, Lord, I'm sick. You know that. I've had this virus for 5 days now, and I'm just coming to you to pray about it. Perhaps you've heard me groaning at night, gasping for air, struggling to sleep. I honestly haven't thought about praying over this bug. I'm just taking my cold medicine and letting it run its course. Seems silly to pray, yet silly not to. Lord, please heal me. Heal my soul. Heal my body. I'm sick, and I don't take it seriously. My heart is craving selfishness, yet I believe myself a good person. My mind is critical and complaining, yet I consider myself thankful. My body yearns for a life of pleasure, yet I claim to be satisfied with you. I'm not satisfied. I'm broken. I'm sick. And at the moment, I'm incredibly stuffy and achey. What do you want me to learn about you today? How would you like to use me (other than bolstering the tissue industry)? Would you please heal me? I have work t...

Jehovah-Rapha,  the God who Heals, I ask for your blessing and healing over my friend who's sick. Disease is such a hard thing to understand. (Click here for "Prayer for a sick child.") I know you're a Healer and the Great Physician, so you don't delight in our pain and illness. I know you use it to draw people to yourself. Use my friend's illness. Use my friend's family. Use the trauma and grief associated with sickness, diagnoses, and fear for the future. Use it all. Make us witnesses of faith that you heal, that you love, and that you protect. You have plans for all of us. Your way is perfect. Help me to trust you for myself and for my friends, in sickness and in health. But Lord, please, take away this disease and bring glory to yourself through a life that's healed. Please heal because you are the Healer. Please comfort because you are the Comforter. Please sustain because you are our only hope. (Click here for ...

Dear Father-God, You know what it is to love a son, give a son, and lose a son, so you know what parents go through when they're worried about losing their kids spiritually, emotionally, or physically. There are so many ways, so many paths toward harm, so many intersections of peril where the world and the enemy in it try to snatch up our children, where the devil speaks lies about our love for them. I pray your power, love, and dominion over my children's lives. You have them, and you have a plan for them, even if they don't follow you or your plans. You will make beauty from the ashes in their lives. But, oh, I hate the ashes. Help me trust you with my children. Help me trust you with my friends' children. Help me to lament and request in faith, knowing you love them even more than we do. On behalf of hurting children, I pray for patience in affliction, healing from sickness, relief from pain, comfort in sadness, hope in hopeless...

Dear Heavenly Father, Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals -- Please protect and heal my loved one today. You created him, You love him, You have a purpose for him. It is Your nature to heal, restore, and renew. Please grant healing and restoration to him today so he can continue the calling You've given him. I trust You, and I trust Your will. I give You control (because You already have it), and I will show that by giving You myself and my worries. Rapha, Healer, You make all things new and beautiful. Heal my tired spirit and my anxious heart. Make me like You, full of hope and joy. Forgive me for the many times that I doubt because I don't see healing happening like I want it to. Healing is Your call. Your gift. Your perfect will. I love You. Amen.