Prayers for the Sick

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso

"Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, And He saveth them out of their distresses.  He sendeth His word, and healeth them, and delivereth them from their destructions." (Psalm 107:19, 20)

The Bible says that "men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1); and if ever there is a time when we feel in need of prayer, it is when sickness falls upon our loved ones, especially our children and life itself seems to be slipping from their grasp.

When our body systems fail, we reach out to our divine help.   And never does our merciful Lord turn from the soul that in sincerity seeks Him for help.   He is our refuge in sickness and in health.   The Psalmist said  "The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust..." (Psalms 18:2)

The Spirit of God says, "the prayer of faith shall save the sick."  People of God are blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit's power.   The calm assurance of faith that can claim all of God's promises.   The Lord's promise, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18), is a promise just as achievable now as it was in the days of the apostles.   It presents the privileges of God's people, that with faith, they could lay hold of all that He had promised. 

Christ's faithful servants are the channels of His working, and through them, He longs to exercise His healing power.   It is the work as sincere Christians to present the sick and suffering to God in the outreached arms of our faith.

And God will hear our prayers. Christ has said, "If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it." Again He says, "If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor." (John 14:14; 12: 26).   If we live in obedience according to His word, every precious promise He has given will be fulfilled to us.

The Scripture bids us, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed."  (James 5:16) 

As we pray for our loved ones, our prayers should include this thought: "Lord, you know every secret of the soul.  Thou art acquainted with our loved ones.   Jesus, our intercessory advocate, and your only begotten Son gave His life for them.  His love for them is greater than ours can ever be.   If, it is Your will and the good of the afflicted ones, we ask, in Jesus Name, that they may be healed, and restored to health.  

If it is not Your will that they be restored, we ask that Thy grace comfort and Thy loving presence sustain them in their time of sufferings."  Until that glorious morning,   when Jesus"...shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, (Philippians 3:21)  For in that day,"... the former things are passed away".  "He sendeth His word, and healeth them, and delivereth them from their destructions."

Ia manuia,

failauga p. anoa'i