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

Abba Daddy, Son and Holy Spirit,

Open our eyes to the Truth that our nation’s problems are not about “the economy stupid.” They are because we have turned away from you. We’ve closed our eyes to corruption, welcomed other gods, and renamed sin “disease.” Open the eyes of our nation to recognize our need for you. Open the eyes of each of us to know where we personally miss the mark.

Help us repent and become more like you.

Teach us to accept your forgiveness as we forgive others.

Help us fervently believe there is always hope in you.

Convince us that as you heal our hearts you will be healing our nation.     

And then, though we don’t deserve it, in wrath remember mercy. For the sake of your own name -- because we’re still known as a Christian nation. Build the character and strength of our country as more and more Christians repent of wrong and grow into strong followers of Christ.

You are sovereign and nothing is impossible for you. We cry out to you, Jehovah, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Supporting verses from the Holy Bible English Standard Version . . .

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14

“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!” Psalm 31:24

“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.” Psalm 66:10

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:11

“In wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2

O LORD!

Help me! I’m feeling frightened and desperate today. I want answers. I need hope. I need more faith. I know you promised that if I ask, you’ll answer.

Period.

You promised! And I'm asking.

And you will do what’s best for me and my loved ones.

I know your Holy Spirit prays for me when I don’t know how. I need you to pray for me today, Jesus. I long for your ineffable groanings to rise to the Father on my behalf, requesting what I don’t know how to ask.
Help me believe the Truth that

•         You are working and answering even when things look bleak.  Even when I can’t see it.

•         You love me even when I don’t feel your love.

•         You never leave me.

•         I can trust you completely.

Help me rest in you, knowing you are there. Believing you are answering. I will wait for you in Jesus name. Amen.

Supporting verses: from the ESV version of the Bible

“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you’”Luke 17:5,6

“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

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. . . For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be ale to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:26 - 28,38

“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

“But I  have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131:2

 Father of Love and Truth,

You observe the details of our lives. You watch every action and hear every thought. You know how often we fall short of your plans for us --  and yet you still love us. We belong to you. Your Word tells us we are to imitate you so we can be holy as you are holy.

You are Truth, Father, and you want us to speak Truth – not just to one other but in our in own hearts. Thank you for providing the tools for us to search for and find Truth through the Bible. Your Word is Truth. All your commandments are true. You you’re your Spirit of Truth – the Comforter -- to dwell in us and reveal Truth.

Help us value Truth and not turn from it. Give us the courage to face the Truth about ourselves and others even when it is painful. We give you permission to call us up short when we’re tempted to be dishonest and twist the Truth.  Thank you that we can face our flaws without fear because you will forgive any sin we acknowledge. And as we confess and ask for forgiveness, you heal our hearts.

We pledge to seek out and speak Truth. Give us the wisdom not to be fooled by deceitful smooth words and help us accomplish that without judgment or rancor. Please guide us to think noble thoughts and speak pure honest words. We pray these things in the name of your Son Jesus. Amen.

Supporting verses:

“God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” Psalm 53:2,3

“Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart.” Psalm 15:2

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16, 17

“But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true.” Psalm 119:151

“Sanctify them in your truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17

“Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth.” Proverbs 8:6,7