Sovereign God, Creator of the Universe and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

              

     We cry out to you against the evils of cancer, injury and illness! It seems as though so many we love are struggling against that those things right now. We don’t understand why and we know we don’t have to understand why. We believe you have a purpose for everyone who loves you even if we don’t know that purpose. We are confident you work all things out for good for those you have called for your purposes – those who choose to belong to you. We know you will help our beloved friends and family. 

•      Knowing that making our bodies whole is a simple thing for you, we ask you to  heal our friends
•      Provide for their financial needs.
•      Help them choose to draw close to you so they can live in that place where you wrap them with peace that though illogical, feels warm and relaxing. That protected  place where you can calm them and banish all fear. Soothe them so they can rest and sleep peacefully. 
•      Minimize pain and the uncomfortable symptoms that often come with treatments.
•      Allow our friends joy in the midst of this affliction.
•      Shower them with ineffable spiritual blessings.

•      Glorify your name through their suffering.

We thank you that you grant us the right to boldly approach your throne to request these gifts because of the work Jesus did on the cross. And we believe you will answer our prayer because we ask in your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.

Supporting verses: ESV

“But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” Exodus. 9:16

“O Lord my God, I cried to you for help and you have healed me.” Psalm 30:2

“And great crowds gathered to hear him (Jesus) and to be healed of their infirmities.” Luke 5:15 b

“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded.” James 4:8

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:6 – 8

“Let me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones you have broken rejoice.” Psalm 51:8

“Those who sew in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” Psalm 126:5

Adapted from the book How to be a Praying Mom by Jeannie St. John Taylor, Hendrickson Publishers.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

I praise you because you are a God of love. Thank you for being holy and righteous and calling us to imitate you – calling us to love the way you love. Give us eyes to see the world through your eyes of love. Forgive us for the many times we fall short. Thank you for accepting us, despite our tendencies to be unloving, as you lead us closer to your perfect love.

Remind us that love is an action, not a feeling. Help us act in love toward the people who wrong us. Give us wisdom to overlook flaws. Help us pray for others rather than resenting them. Help us bless rather than curse. Pull up any bitter roots that try to grip our hearts, and wind the tendrils of your love around them instead. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

Supporting verses:

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. . . . For this is the message we heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” 1 John 3: 18, 11

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.” 1 John 5:2

Father God, our Abba Daddy,

Teach us today that you truly are our heavenly Daddy and you love to supply our needs and give us the desires of our hearts. Just as we take pleasure in caring for our children and giving special gifts to loved ones, you enjoy caring for and giving to us. We aren’t bothering you when we ask for things for ourselves.

You want us to ask.

Over and over in the scriptures you urge us to ask you to supply physical, spiritual and relational needs, promising that if those requests fit in with your will and honor Jesus’ name, you will grant all of them. 

So as we go about our day today please remind us to ask you for help instead of

worrying. And help us not feel selfish or guilty for asking, because the answers you send will not only help us but glorify you. Thank you Father that we can pray directly to you in the name of your Son Jesus, amen.

Supporting verses:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. . . . If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:7, 8, 11  

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13, 14

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:7,8

“ . . .  so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:16b

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” John 16:23 b

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made knows to God.” Philippians 4:6

“In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” John 16:26,27

Father God, 

    You search my heart and know everything about me. You know what I’m thinking, and before I speak a single word you know what I’m going to say. No one could possibly count the many times your thoughts rest on me every day. I don’t understand why you would care so much about me, but I’m grateful that you do.
   
    Though I will never be able to fully comprehend your great love for me, I thank you with my whole heart. Thank you that you watch over me and my loved ones for our good to prosper us. Thank you that you will never leave me or forsake me. Teach me to seek after you with my whole heart, and help me remember the many benefits of knowing you and obeying your Word. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verses:

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they are more than the sand.” Psalm 139:1, 2, 6. 17 & 18

“When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:3,4

“I give you thinks, O LORD, with my whole heart.” Psalm 138:1

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb. 13:5b

“Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them,  that you may prosper in all that you do.” Deut.29:9

“. . . forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems you life form the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good.” Psalm 103:2-5

 

       O God, 
       You very great and we all need you. Even those of us who smile and appear successful on the outside are often hurting and lonely inside. We sometimes feel overwhelmed. It’s hard for us to comprehend that the Great King of the universe would see our pain and care about us and want to help us, but you do -- even the times our own foolishness caused our problems.

       Help us believe that you see each of us individually, that you love us and delight in every detail of our lives. We choose to lift our eyes to you because we know you are our hope. Enable us to wait patiently for you to renew our strength. Give us wisdom to recognize your answers when they come. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Supporting verses:

“O LORD my God, you are very great!” Psalm 104:1b

 “Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction. . . . Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his Word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction.” Psalm 107: 17, 19 &20

 “The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23 NLT, 1996 edition “Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.” Matthew 6:26 NLT

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1,2

“Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Be still in the presence of the LORD and wait patiently for him to act.” Psalm 37: 5,7

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  Is. 40: 30.31