Sickness

God sent His Son to die on the cross so as to provide cleansing for our sins and healing for our sicknesses. Possibly the most challenging circumstance to pray over is when we are suffering from sickness or when we lose someone to sickness. The Bible says we are to praise God nonetheless, both during the good and the hard times.

(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 疾病 | 繁體中文 > 疾病)

Isaiah 53:5 ESV  But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

A prayer over our sicknesses

“Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you that Your steadfast love never ceases – even when I am not always close to understanding that love, especially when times are hard! Thank you for Your Word, and its promises that Your mercies are new every morning. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

You are ever faithful even when I am weak in my faith and trust. Help me to seek to renew myself each day with Your new mercies. Even though our bodies grow weaker, thank you that our spirits are renewed each day!

2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV  Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Father, thank you that You have made this body the temple of the Holy Spirit. Help me to take care of it as a precious gift from You. I repent for all the ways I have not been a good steward of this temple through (name the activity e.g. cursing myself, hating myself, wishing to die, smoking, taking drugs to numb my body, polluting my blood, sexual immorality etc.) Please forgive me!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Where there is sin in my heart that blocks my prayers from being heard and answered, I invite the Holy Spirit to please show me what it is and convict my heart to repent. Is there unforgiveness, bitterness, or hatted? Have I judged or blasphemed You, oh God? Is there unbelief that You care for and will heal me? I have been foolish to let anything come in between Your great love and me. I repent of (name the sin we have been harbouring in our hearts which quenches the Holy Spirit’s life-giving work in our bodies).

John 5:8-9,14 ESV   Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”  

I know that healing is in your hands, so I ask in Jesus’ name, for complete healing of this body from illness. Nonetheless, whatever happens, I thank you that my soul has been forever healed by His stripes on the cross and it is in that new spiritual body, that I will live with You forever.

Help me to remember how great a price Jesus paid to take on my iniquities and sin, by becoming a curse on my behalf, so that I can have this daily renewal in the spirit.

Galatians 3:13 ESV  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”

Thank you that His suffering can hardly be compared to my current suffering, and thank you that Jesus understands my pain. And I also thank you that my suffering now does not compare to the glory that awaits me. So help me stay focused on You and to stay positive, never losing the hope You have bought for me with Your own blood.

Romans 8:18 ESV  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

I bring all my cares and anxieties to Your footstool and lay them there, and ask that You fill me anew with the hope that we have in you. Thank you for all the people, experiences and opportunities that You have blessed me with, thank you for making me uniquely who I am.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV  Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

I praise You for everything You have done in my life and will continue to do. You are worthy of all praise.

In Jesus’ name, amen.”