A Prayer about Receiving a Dire Diagnosis

by Elizabeth | Feb 26, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer, Lent, Suffering

A Prayer about Receiving a Dire Diagnosis

Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. Isaiah 41:10

Mighty and Merciful God,

We lift up those

who have just received the bad news about their health

or a loved one’s health.

It was cancer.

There is no cure.

We’re not sure what’s wrong.

We know the panic

that comes in such a moment.

Our palms sweat.

Our hearts race.

The room gets blurry.

We have questions?

Can I endure the pain?

What will happen to my loved ones?

What about work?

Am I going to die?

Oh, gracious Father,

thank you for so many beautiful words

in your Word

that address our fear.

May all who have received a dire diagnosis

hear them now:

“Don’t panic.

I’m with you.

There’s no need to fear

for I’m your God.

I’ll give you strength.

I’ll help you.

I’ll hold you steady,

keep a firm grip on you” (Isaiah 41:10).

Oh, Father, thank you for these

and all of the other words you have given us

to comfort and calm our hearts.

May we all know your nearness

to the brokenhearted

in this difficult season (Psalm 34:18).

In Jesus’ merciful name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 43:1-2; Psalm 34.

A Prayer about Anticipating the Joys of Heaven

by Elizabeth | Feb 14, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection

A Prayer about Anticipating the Joys of Heaven

My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:23

Heavenly Father,

We confess, some of the descriptions of heaven

have made us think it would be boring.

People with wings and robes

floating around on clouds playing harps? Really?

Lord, help us to regain an understanding

of what the Bible tells us about heaven.

Here are just a few things we know:

First, the moment we die,

angels will carry us to be with you,

the triune God (see Luke 16:22; 2 Cor. 5:8).

Second, while we will not have bodies

when we go to the “temporary” heaven,

the intermediate state,

we do not become angels,

because angels are spirits

created by you to be completely different from humans (Heb. 1:14).

Third, one day, when Christ returns to establish the new heavens and the new earth,

we will receive resurrection bodies.

The angels will never have bodies,

but by your grace, one day,

we will have fully restored and redeemed bodies (1 Cor. 15:35-49).

Fourth, Jesus described even the intermediate state as “Paradise,”

telling the converted thief on the cross,

“Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 22:43).

Since Paradise also referred to the Garden of Eden,

where your holy presence lived,

we know that heaven gleams with your glory

and is far nicer than Hawaii.

Fifth, and last for today but not forever

because there’s so much more to say

about the joys of heaven:

St. Peter is not standing at the pearly gates with a clipboard

deciding who gets in and who stays out.

All who trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins

will go to heaven:

“Jesus said to her,

‘I am the resurrection and the life.

Whoever believes in me, though he die,

yet shall he live,

and everyone who lives and believes in me

shall never die.

Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Yes, Lord, we believe this.

Thank you for the joys of heaven we anticipate by your grace and mercy.

Amen.

Read Luke 16:22; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

A Prayer about Honoring the Elderly

by Elizabeth | Feb 6, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer, kingdom living, legacy

A Prayer about Honoring the Elderly

The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. Proverbs 20:29

Everlasting Father,

In a world that often marginalizes or mocks the elderly,

transform us into people who honor and value the elderly.

Even as we age, may we see your holy purposes for aging—

some may no longer have the energy to tend to babies all night long,

but they do wake up in the night,

and they can pray for those who do.

Some may no longer have the physical agility

to perform skilled labor,

but they do have years of experience

and can teach those who do.

Some may no longer have the responsibilities

of running a business,

but they do have the ability and wisdom

to give good counsel to those who do.

Lord, may we see the opportunities aging affords,

and may we embrace not only our own aging,

but the aging of others.

May we see that you call the elderly

to continue giving you glory

by learning and leading every day of their lives.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 20:29; Titus 2:2-5; 1 Timothy 5:1 .

A Prayer about Understanding Sickness and Healing

by Elizabeth | Feb 1, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Understanding Sickness and Healing

‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? John 9:2

Healing Lord,

Thank you for the compassion

you show the sick and those who need healing.

Correct wrong assumptions about sickness and healing.

Sadly, too many of us have been told

that if we just had enough faith,

or that if we got rid of the sin in our lives,

we or our loved ones would be healed.

You spoke directly to this harmful assumption,

when you corrected your disciples,

saying, “It was not that this man sinned,

or his parents,

but that the works of God

might be displayed in him” (John 9:3).

May we remember that you did not choose

to heal all of the sick and lame

on this earth,

only some.

In the case of the apostle Paul,

he prayed three times

that the thorn in his flesh would be removed,

but you responded,

“My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Lord, help us to trust you with our broken bodies,

whether you choose to heal now,

later,

or in eternity.

How we look forward to the day you return,

for then you will truly heal and restore

our broken bodies forever.

Amen.

Read John 9:1-41; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

A Prayer of Lament for Those Who Die Young

by Elizabeth | Jan 27, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer, Grief, Suffering

A Prayer of Lament for Those Who Die Young

He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!’ Revelation 22:20

Merciful God,

We believe you to be merciful;

help our unbelief.

We admit,

we struggle to understand

why you would take young people home

when it seems to us

they have so many more days

to bear fruit here on this earth.

Why, Lord?

Why do you take children,

a little girl who just professed her faith in you,

a young man who just shared his testimony to his entire football team,

a young woman who sang her love for you

to all who would listen?

We can’t understand.

We hurt with the loss of young ones

precious to us,

precious to their friends,

precious to their parents.

We know.

We know we are but dust.

We know we are frail and fragile

from the day you bring us into this world.

And at some level, we remember that we were made for more.

We were made for a life that will never end.

We were made for eternal glory,

to live with you in a home

where there will be

no more death,

no more pain,

no more sorrow,

no more mourning.

We know this.

In these hard days of grief,

open our eyes to see the day which you,

dear Lord Jesus,

promise is coming soon.

The day when we will be gathered together

with all those we have lost,

infants and children and young adults

and the very very old.

In that day,

we will see.

In that day, we may not know “why”

you took our loved one before we were ready,

but we will see your face,

and we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt

your goodness,

your mercy,

your love,

your kindness,

and most of all,

your joy.

Until that day comes,

fill our hearts with this eternal hope,

because of the death and resurrection

of Christ your beloved Son.

In his compassionate name we pray. Amen.

Read Matthew 26:36-46; Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 22:20-21.

A Prayer about How God Created Our Bodies

by Elizabeth | Jan 24, 2023 | body, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about How God Created Our Bodies

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

Creator God,

You have intricately fashioned our bodies,

beginning in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13).

You have counted the hair on our heads

and our tears in your bottle (Luke 12:7; Psalm 56:8).

Forgive us for failing

to proclaim the goodness of our bodies.

Help us to affirm with David,

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

May we treat our bodies

kindly and honorably,

as the very temple of worship

you designed them to be (1 Corinthians 6:19).

And may we use

our feet, our hands,

our mouths, our tongues,

to serve you and praise you all of our days.

In the name of Jesus, God-made-flesh. Amen.

Read Psalm 139:13-16; Luke 12:7; Psalm 56:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19.