A Prayer about Self-Care for Caregivers

by | Feb 27, 2025 | Caregiving, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Self-Care for Caregivers

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

Matthew 14:23

Caregiving Jesus,

Today we pray to correct a misinterpretation 

About self-denial we often see in caregivers. 

When you called us to deny ourselves, 

you never meant for us to deny or denigrate our humanity — 

our mental, emotional, and physical needs 

for rest, exercise, good nutrition, and medical care. 

Sadly, too many caregivers do exactly this, 

believing they are the only one 

who can tend to their loved one’s needs, 

and neglecting their own health. 

You yourself acknowledged your human limitations 

by sleeping and eating 

and taking time away from your ministry 

to pray and rest (Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 4:35-40). 

Lord, we pray that you would help our caregiving friends 

honor the bodies you have given them 

and humble themselves to rely on others 

so that they might get the care they need 

in this stressful season. 

In your caring name we ask.

Amen. 

Read Mark 4:35-40; Matthew 14:22-23; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Matthew 11:28-30. 



A Prayer about Wisdom for Caregivers

by | Nov 7, 2024 | Caregiving, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Wisdom for Caregivers

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

Wise and Gracious Lord,

Thank you for the wisdom you give 

for all of life’s hard stories and tough decisions. 

Today we think of our caregiving friends, 

who face weighty decisions daily 

concerning their loved ones’ care. 

Which medicine to try, 

how to get their loved one to comply with doctor’s orders, 

whether to take the car keys or not, 

how long to continue trying new treatments….

the list goes on and on. 

We pray for them, 

that they would hear you answering their prayers, 

perhaps in the form of helpful and wise counselors 

who have been there before them 

or in the form of gentle and kind social workers 

who understand the situation. 

We pray that you would deploy us 

as answers to their prayers, 

simply by offering respite 

or picking up mail while they’re at the hospital, 

or performing a simple task 

like walking the dog or delivering a meal. 

We pray that you would show them 

your deep compassion and forgiveness, 

especially if they are feeling a sense of failing their loved ones. 

Lord, in their hard caregiving days, 

may they truly know the rest and kindness of Jesus, 

our constant and caring companion.

Amen.

Read Proverbs 2:6; Psalm 91:1, 16; Isaiah 25:6-8; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.



A Prayer about Coming Alongside Caregivers

by | Sep 18, 2024 | Caregiving, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Coming Alongside Caregivers

….four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on the mat, right down in front of Jesus. Mark 2:4

Gentle Jesus,

Bring to mind the people we know 

who are acting as caregivers to the sick or disabled in this season. 

They often find themselves 

paralyzed with guilt or grief, 

with confusion and exhaustion. 

Show us how we can be like the four friends to them, 

laying them on the mat 

and breaking through barriers 

to bring them before you. 

May we serve them in practical ways, 

cooking meals and doing yard work, 

helping them navigate the insurance maze, 

staying with their loved one 

so they can make doctor’s appointments 

or go for a walk. 

May we serve them 

by listening to them,

by encouraging them to lament,

and by praying for and with them 

when they can’t find the words to pray. 

Help us, Lord, to have the faith and kindness 

of the paralytic’s mat-friends 

to bring our caregiving friends before you 

to ask you to heal and help them. 

In your caring name. Amen.

Read Mark 2:1-5. 



A Prayer about Clearing the Caregiver Fog

by | Sep 12, 2024 | Caregiving, Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Clearing the Caregiver Fog

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city…. Revelation 22:1

Creator God,

Today we lift up all the caregivers of hospital patients. 

You are with them, 

so you know the fog that sets in 

after days of caring for a patient 

in the hospital. 

It may feel like Pigpen’s cloud 

surrounding the brain, 

making clear thinking dusty

when it seems essential.

In the room dimly lit by fluorescents, 

the walls are two awful shades of beige, 

and before you know it, 

every thought and perspective is colored dingy beige.

Lord into this foggy space,

we ask you to send the radiating light of your Son, 

that the caregiver’s mind and heart 

might be transported 

to the glorious day to come. 

May she see the silvery river of the water of life 

glistening into this dim space. 

May she brighten at the brilliant greens 

and lemon yellows 

of the leaves of the tree 

for the healing of nations (and patients). 

May she imagine the better day, 

the eternal day 

when she and her loved one will taste of all twelve kinds of fruit, 

pomegranates and mangoes and juicy oranges and grapes 

bursting with the joy of it all.

Comfort the caregiver with this true hope, 

the hope of eternal glory.

In Jesus’ restoring name. Amen. 

Read Revelation 22:1-5.

**This prayer is part of a celebration of the one-year anniversary of the free online community, the NYD Network, which offers gospel-centered encouragement and equipping for issues of aging, caregiving, legacy, and end-of-life. Why not join today or invite someone you love to join? (It’s FREE!) Link: https://numberingyourdaysnetwork.mn.co/share/B5q0dGGIOR0f996K?utm_source=manual



A Prayer about Comfort for Caregivers

by | Aug 8, 2024 | Caregiving, Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Comfort for Caregivers

In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Matthew 26:12

Precious Jesus,

Thank you for this affirmation 

of Mary’s tender caregiving actions. 

May we remember 

that while she cared for you before you died, 

she could not save you. 

May we see that she, unlike the disciples, 

seemed to believe you 

when you said you would die, 

and that she came alongside you 

to help you die well.

We pray today for all caregivers 

who are watching their loved ones die. 

Fill them with your surpassing peace 

in the midst of anxious moments bedside. 

As beepers blare or breathing becomes shallow, 

remind them that it is neither in their job description 

nor in their power 

to prevent their loved one’s death. 

Free them from any guilt or sense of failure 

about the care they have given. 

Give them the hope of resurrection, 

the hope that their loved one will soon be well 

in a way they never can be on this earth.

And send us, Lord, to comfort the caregiver, 

to sit with her, 

to listen to her, 

to cry with her, 

to feed her, 

to care for her 

in her grief and sorrow. 

Give us the wisdom and insight only your Holy Spirit can give 

about how to care for the caregiver 

in these agonizing moments.  

In your caregiving name. Amen.

Read Matthew 26:6-13, 25:31-46. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Caring for Those Who Care for Others

by | Apr 13, 2024 | Caregiving, Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Caring for Those Who Care for Others

“casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you” 1 Peter 5:7

Jesus, our Great High Priest,

Today we lift up 

pastors, priests, and ministry leaders 

who care for your people. 

We confess, 

we don’t think often enough 

about how what their days look like, 

these hard days of comforting the broken-hearted, 

of sitting with the doubts and denials of your goodness, 

of bearing the burdens of so very many. 

We don’t think often enough 

about how the devil prowls around like a ravenous beast, 

eager to destroy 

their faith, 

their marriages, 

their children, 

their health, 

their homes. 

Now, as we remember our ministry leaders, 

we lift them up by name [name your ministry leaders], 

praying that they would indeed 

“humble themselves under the mighty hand of God,” 

confessing their own weakness 

confessing their need for your help. 

We ask that they would cast their cares 

and worries 

and fears 

and frustrations 

onto your broad shoulders. 

We pray that they would experience 

your mercy 

and love 

and comfort 

and pleasure 

in this very moment. 

Give them relief, 

and make us the answer 

to some of their prayers.

Lord, bless those 

who bless you 

by blessing us 

with the hope of the gospel.

In your comforting name. Amen.

Read 1 Peter 5:6-8. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker