seeking healing in the face of illness and brokenness

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To begin, find a space where you can be still and focus.

Then, follow the prompts below. When you reflect on scripture, feel free to look up a passage of your own or use the verses provided for you.

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Thanksgiving: Offer thanks to God. What has He provided for you today? What power does God have for which you are thankful?

Praise: Father, I praise you! You are the Creator, and you have compassion on your creation. You know how all living things function. Your knowledge and power can heal the brokenness in this world. You are Creator God, Healer, Redeemer!

Reflect on Scripture: Matthew 8:14-17 (ESV); Isaiah 53:3-6 (ESV)

¹⁴ And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. ¹⁶ That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

³ He was despised and rejected by men,
    a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
⁴ Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.
⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

The Lord’s Prayer: Walk through the prompts below, offering God your responses.

Help me submit to you, Father. I pray your will be done in my life and on earth as it is in heaven.

I ask you to increase my faith as I trust in you to heal the sick and hurting. Where there is brokenness in this world, bring restoration and wholeness. Please heal our bodies, our hearts, and our minds even as you save our souls. Thank you that by your wounds we are healed.

Father, the world is fighting a terrible virus, besides all of the other ways our bodies and spirits and relationships struggle. Many are experiencing trauma apart from physical illness. I ask you to heal: _____________________________.

Thank you for being the Good Shepherd who cares for his flock, who nurtures us when we are ill and carries us when we can no longer take a step. Thank you for perfecting your strength in our weakness and for healing all of our diseases. Thank you for healing the brokenness in my heart. I trust in you.  

Today, I have need. Please provide _____________________________. Thank you for being a good Father who cares for his children and provides all they need.

I confess I am a sinner. Please forgive me for my sin of _____________________________.

Please help me forgive those who have sinned against me. Lord, because you have forgiven me, help me forgive _____________________________ for _____________________________. Thank you for forgiving my sins and empowering me to forgive others as you have forgiven me.

Thank you for delivering me from all evil and that I need not fear any illness or threat of disease. Today, I ask you to deliver me from _____________________________ for you are _____________________________.

May you be glorified in my life today and forevermore.

Thank you, Father, for your willingness to sacrifice your son for my salvation and healing. Thank you for the hope we have of a day where there is no death or disease.

Neighbor Prayer: Spend a moment praying on behalf of any neighbors God lays on your heart.

Suggested Neighbor Prayer for: the sick, the mentally ill, and the first-responders

Lord, I pray for the sick. Please give them hope and healing. Draw the sick to yourself, reveal your power, and restore their physical bodies even as you renew their spirits. Please comfort them in their distress. Please help them feel like they are not alone.

Lord, I pray for the mentally ill. Please heal their minds and deliver them. Help those who need access to counselors and therapists and doctors in this time have what they need to receive support from professionals. Help those who need medicine have access to it. I ask you to bring them comfort and hope in the middle of a world crisis that can feel confusing, overwhelming, or stressful. Be the solid rock they can hold onto as they find rest and security in you.

Lord, I pray for the first-responders—for everyone on the front lines taking risks to meet people’s needs in an unusual time. Protect our doctors, nurses, EMTs, pharmacists, food workers, postal workers, sanitation workers, bank attendants, firefighters and police officers, government office workers—anyone working with the public—so that they can continue to do the job of caring well for us. Protect their families. Give scientists all over the world great wisdom to know how to develop quick tests, antibody tests, and a vaccine. May all of those serving and helping others be free of fear and full of faith and hope.

Say a special prayer for the helpers and the ill who do not know Christ, that Jesus would reveal Himself to them and save them.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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If you would like to conclude your time in prayer by worshiping in song, here is a version of the hymn How Great Thou Art sung by Chris Rice.