Illness, Healing & Faith

The Bible is full of accounts of healing, particularly in the Gospels. There is no doubt for the Christian that God can heal, and hopefully there is no doubt that He can still do this today. In the Bible, Jesus often said to those who came to Him: “Your faith has healed you” (e.g. Luke 8:48). He required people to have faith. You need to recognise that Jesus is able to heal.


        I do have to say that sometimes it does not seem quite as straight forward as merely having faith - dare I say this. Excuse me if I offend anyone with this angle, but sometimes, even a lot of the time, God seems to allow us to suffer. If we are faithful, and have prayed, we have to trust God that He knows what He is doing, if He leaves us unhealed. Having said this, I acknowledge and want the kind of faith with which big-name healers are anointed (and other gifted Christians also); those Christians who go to large meetings, placing hands on many people and seeing hundreds and thousands of miracle physical healings.


Perhaps I am saying that there are in a sense two levels. One is that God can and may heal in a certain situation, but you are not certain whether He will, based on your experience that not everyone is healed. It is possible that you may have a lot of faith that healing will occur and it still doesn’t happen. Also, of course, there might only be a little faith present, yet the person does get healed! Perhaps all that we can conclude from this is that God is sovereign; we cannot fully understand Him. The other level is one of certainty where there is such a strong level of the Holy Spirit present that those praying know healing will occur.


I also believe that God can bring miracle healing to those who have hearts bound up with hurt. Although emotional healing such as this is often gradual, the Spirit can come in power and bring total, or a great amount of restoration, at one time. I pray that this site would be part of such miracle healings, wherever we have the opportunity to encourage people.

Bereavement

          Losing someone is hard to accept, but we do not have any choice about it. When someone you know dies, it stuns you. You are forced to face the reality of death, and to try to comprehend its meaning. If the person that has died was very close, you can feel like part of yourself has died. It takes time to recover from the shock and the pain, so give yourself time. Because the loss is permanent, the aspect of our lives that that person represented is permanently affected.


         Despite our hurt or our fear we always have hope in Christ, no matter how we feel. We can know the comfort of God, as His Spirit comforts us and stays close to us. Welcome the Lord in to your deep feelings. Invite Him to help you make sense of your emotions and to define how you felt about the person who you have lost. He understands your situation - the complexities of your past experiences and all of your thoughts. He can help mend the gap that you probably feel inside.

A Prayer For Patience

Dear Heavenly Father,

Praise be given to Your Holy name for Your forbearance and mercy. You have dealt gently with Your children in love. You have been patient with me in my humanness and stubbornness.
Lord, through the work of Your Spirit, prompt me to be more jubilant in hope, more patient in times of trouble, and more consistent in my prayer life. Teach me, Lord, to wait with faith and expectancy, and may my trials be seen as times for growth in grace. Through Christ our Lord, I pray. 


Amen.

A Prayer For One By The Bedside

Father,

Please forgive me of my sins and particularly for taking Your promises and love for granted. You provide us relief from our tedious days through Your Holy Word, and permanently fill the void in our lives through the love of Jesus Christ. Help me serve as Your instrument during my life and concentrate on matters that have eternal significance. In Jesus’ name,
 
Amen.

A Prayer Before Going Home

O Lord,

Thank you for restoring my strength and making it possible for me to return home. As I give thanks for those who have cared for me, help me to be mindful of others who have health care needs. Be with me now as I return to my daily duties so that I might guide others as You have guided me.
 
In Jesus’ name, 


Amen.

A Prayer Upon Receiving Bad News

Father,

I’ve just heard those dreaded words that I’ve prayed not to hear. My spirit is shattered.
May world is falling apart.

I want to fight, to rebel, to flee from the reality of this, yet I know that You are there.
No matter how angry, deserted, disappointed I feel, Your love will never let me go. You will provide Your sustaining courage regardless of the future. Please grant me and my loved ones courage for whatever lies ahead. Help me to remember that You do understand everything about me, and want me to come to You laying all my burdens at Your feet.
In Jesus’ name, 


Amen.

A Prayer To Sleep

Dear God,

As I lie here seeking another good night of restful sleep, give me the peace of mind and the ability to relax.

Fulfill my needs for mental and physical restoration so I may wake up ready for another beautiful day which I hope You will allow me to live to enjoy with praise and thanks to You and our Lord Jesus.
 
Amen.

Prayer For The Heart

Our most gracious and merciful loving Lord and Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your compassion and loving kindness. You know and supply all our needs.

Lord, You seek those who are lost, bind those who are broken, strengthen those who are sick. I know You are with me, O Lord. Your rod and Your staff will comfort me from affliction and protect me as I walk through this time of illness.

Dear Lord, I pray for Your continued divine care in my time of special need.
Please heal my heart, Or Lord. Give knowledge and strength to those who administer to me. Lead their hands and fill their hearts with Your inspiration and love.


Lord, I pray for those other than myself who have similar problems. May Your healing hand also touch their lives and their hearts and fill them with the love which comes only from above.
 
In Jesus’ name I pray.


Amen.

A Prayer For Strength

O Lord,

In this time of need, strengthen me. You are my strength and my shield; You are my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 


I know, Father, that Your eyes go to and fro throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts long for You. The body grows weary, but my hope is in You to renew my strength.

I do not fear, for You are with me.

I am not dismayed or overwhelmed, for You are my God. I know You will strengthen me and help me; that You will uphold me with Your righteous hand. Even as the shadows of illness cover me, I feel the comfort of Your strength, Or Lord.

Amen.

A Prayer For Loneliness

Lord,

I turn to You as my source of strength when I feel so alone. I think of Christ and know that the loneliness He felt in Gethsemane and on the cross must have been far greater than I feel now. Still, I find my feelings difficult to bear.
 
Thank You for being so accessible and understanding. Help me to overcome my isolation and to reach out to others once again.
In Christ’s name, 


Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father

Who Art In Heaven

Hollowed Be Thy Name

Thy Kingdom Come

Thy Will Be Done

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Give Us This Day

Our Daily Bread

And Forgive Us Our Sins

As We Forgive Those Who Sins Againsts Us

And Lead Us Not Into Temptation

But Deliver Us From Evil

Amen...

Prayer For a Patient Facing the Birth of a Child

Heavenly Father,
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I thank You that the God powerful enough to create heaven and earth cared enough to create this new life within me. Thank You for this special gift of love. Please keep my baby and me healthy and strong as the time for delivery draws near. Give strength to my body so that I can bring up my child in this busy world. Give strength to my soul so that I may teach my child to know what is right or wrong. Give strength to my spirit so that I may lead my child to know Your love for himself or herself. I pray all of these things in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen.