Prayers & Scriptures for Time of Illness
A collection of prayers appropriate for times of illness from Come Healing God, by Joan Guntzelman and Lou Guntzelman (Liguori, Mo: Liguori, 2005). View online catalog >>
Prayers for Time of Illness
Scriptures for Time of Illness
Prayers for Time of Illness
Blessing
In the Hebrew Scriptures, God tells
Moses how to call down a blessing. Among
these instructions are the words:
“May God’s face be uncovered to you.” (Adapted from Numbers 6:25)
In our sickness, when we feel a great need
for God’s help and blessing, when we feel
God is absent, or when we have trouble
finding where God is, we might use such a
prayer for ourselves. God said that when
such words are used, “I will bless them” (Numbers 6:27)
When I feel all alone and cannot find you,
O God, uncover your face to me.
When my body is failing, and I’m growing
weak and helpless,
O God, uncover your face to me.
When I find myself in darkness and don’t
know how to make my way out,
O God, uncover your face to me.
When I just need to know you are here,
O God, uncover your face to me and
bless me.
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In Terminal Illness
Some pray to you, attentive God,
for a return to health. I cannot, for my ill-
ness is terminal. I will die I in some weeks or
months. For what, then, do I pray?
I pray that I may know you are at my side.
You created me from nothing, and have
guided me and loved me through all these
years. Though no other person can accompany
me as I pass from this world into eternity,
you can, O God. I am never alone. May
I become more aware of your presence.
I pray that you help ease my fears and
strengthen my faith in you. My fears remind
me of my weakness and sins; may my faith
remind me of your love and forgiveness. My
fears say my life will end; may my faith hint
of the intense life you will give me. My fears
say I will leave forever all those whom I love;
may my faith tell my heart we will meet
again with an even greater love.
I pray most of all in my final days that I
may come to know you more, my God. Only
in you will I find that for which I hunger.
May I be able to make my own the words of
your servant Augustine, who wrote so movingly,
“Late have I love you, O Beauty so
ancient, O Beauty so new.”
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Breath In Me
Breath in me, O Spirit of God,
and drive all evil away.
Renew my soul and heal my body,
lift my heart this day.
Help me know how close you are
and your great love for me.
Strengthen my faith that whatever comes
I can say, “Let it be!”
For you love me so, that nothing occurs
that lies beyond your will.
So take my chaos, pain and doubt
and bid my storms be still.
Calm my worries, weaken my fears,
change my darkness to light.
For here I stand, the one you made,
in whom you take delight.
Scriptures for Time of Illness
Psalm 23: The Lord, Shepherd and Host
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures you let me graze;
to safe waters you lead me;
you restore my strength.
You guide me along the right path
for the sake of our name.
Even when I walk through a dark valley,
I fear no harm for you are at my side;
your rod and staff give me courage.
You set a table before me
as my enemies watch;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and love will pursue me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come
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Psalm 27: Trust in God
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom do I fear?
The Lord is my life's refuge;
of whom am I afraid?
When evildoers come at me
To devour my flesh,
These my enemies and foes
Themselves stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
My heart does not fear;
Though war be waged against me,
Even then do I trust.
One thing I ask of the Lord;
this I seek:
To dwell in the Lord's house
all the days of my life,
To gaze on the Lord's beauty,
to visit his temple.
For God will hide me in his shelter
in time of trouble,
Will conceal me in the cover of his tent;
and set me high upon a rock.
Even now my head is held high
above my enemies on every side!
I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and chant praise to the Lord.
Hear my voice, Lord, when I call;
have mercy on me and answer me.
"Come," says my heart, "Seek God's face";
your face, Lord, do I seek!
Do not hide your face from me;
do not repel your servant in anger.
You are my help; do not cast me off;
do not forsake me, God my savior!
Even if my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me in.
Lord, show me your way;
lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
Do not abandon me to the will of my foes;
malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me.
But I believe I shall enjoy the Lord's goodness
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!
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Psalm 121: The Lord My Guardian
I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
From where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
God will not allow your foot to slip;
your guardian does not sleep
Truly, the guardian of Israel
never slumbers nor sleeps.
The Lord is your guardian;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
By day the sun cannot harm you,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will guard you from all evil,
will always guard your life.
The Lord will guard your coming and going
both now and forever.
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Isaiah 40:28-31 God's Care
Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The Lord is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagle's wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.
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John 14:1-4 Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled
Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God;
have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.
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Used by permission from Liguori Publications, Liguori, MO 63057, 1-800-325-9521, www.liguori.org