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A Prayer about Comfort for Caregivers

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. 



A Prayer about Becoming Weak and Inefficient

A Prayer about Becoming Weak and Inefficient

…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31.

Gracious Lord,

I remember memorizing this verse 

as an achievement-oriented high school student, 

a fifteen-year-old eager to renew my strength 

and to run and not be weary. 

It’s easy to see now how I misunderstood 

a lot of what this verse was about, 

but I confess, in our achievement-oriented, 

efficiency-seeking society, 

it’s not always easy to remember 

that the gospel isn’t about strength, 

accomplishment, 

or efficiency.

Indeed, you were speaking to the Israelites in exile 

in these verses, 

assuring them in the midst of their frailty, 

in the aftermath of their sinful rebellion, 

that you would send a Savior:

“Comfort, comfort my people, 

says your God. 

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, 

and cry to her that her warfare has ended, 

that her iniquity is pardoned” (Isaiah 40:1).

Oh, patient and merciful God, 

help us to see that in our weakness, 

you alone are our strength; 

that in our idol of efficiency, 

you alone are our salvation. 

Help us to learn to wait on you, 

to watch to see 

what you are doing in our lives 

and in this world 

through the transforming love of Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ perfectly sufficient name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 40. 



A Prayer about God’s Grace for Our Sin

A Prayer about God’s Grace for Our Sin

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Romans 1:29-31.

 

Merciful Lord,

It’s impossible to read the list of sins 

describing people who don’t “see fit to acknowledge God,” 

and not see ourselves somewhere in it—

have I ever gossiped, 

speaking ill of people behind their backs? 

Have I ever been boastful and haughty, 

thinking I know the right thing to do 

about raising children, 

protecting from disease, 

or even teaching Bible study? 

Was I ever disobedient to my parents as a teenager? 

Have I ever wanted to possess what someone else has? 

Have I ever not only done these things 

but given approval to others who do them (Romans 1:32)? If so, I deserve to die for my sins (Romans 1:32).

I have, and I do.

And yet. 

By your mercy, 

through your undeserved grace, 

you have turned my heart toward Jesus 

as my only hope for salvation. 

Although I will continue to struggle 

with some of these sins 

until the day you take me home, 

“There is therefore now no condemnation 

for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Lord, help us to take stock of our sins. 

Forgive us when we judge others’ sins 

more harshly than our own. 

Open our hearts to our one true hope for salvation. 

And empower us to fight the battle 

against besetting sin 

through the might of your sanctifying Spirit. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen. 

Read Romans 1:18-32; Romans 7:7-8:1.



A Prayer about Overflowing Blessings

A Prayer about Overflowing Blessings

You prepare a feast for me 

in the presence of my enemies. 

You honor me by anointing my head with oil. 

My cup overflows with blessings. 

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me 

all the days of my life, 

and I will live in the house of the Lord 

forever. 

Psalm 23:5–6 

 

Heavenly Father,

You prepare a feast for us 

in the presence of our enemies.

You tend to us by anointing our head with oil (Psalm 23:5).

[Name ways the Lord has tended to you 

and fed you richly when you have been in trial or turmoil].

Our cups overflow with blessings. 

Surely your goodness and unfailing love 

will pursue us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:5-6). 

[Name ways you have seen God’s blessings, 

goodness, and unfailing love every single day this week].

We will live in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).

[Describe the security and hope of knowing 

that you are living in the Lord’s house forever, 

and no one can make you leave].

In the name of Jesus, our richest blessing,

Amen. 

Read Psalm 23.

 

A Prayer about Hope in Dark Valleys

A Prayer about Hope in Dark Valleys

Even when I walk 

through the darkest valley, 

I will not be afraid, 

for you are close beside me. 

Your rod and your staff 

protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4

 Lord, our Good Shepherd,

As we walk through dark valleys, 

valleys that feel like death, 

valleys that lead to death,

[Name some valleys you are currently walking through or have walked through.]

We will not be afraid,

[Name any fears you have felt.]

For you are close beside us.

[Name how you have known God’s presence with you.]

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort us.

[Name the protection from harm and the comfort in grief and pain you have known].

In the name of our comforting Shepherd, Jesus, we pray.

Amen. 

Read Psalm 23.



Prayer about Praying for Miracles of Healing

Prayer about Praying for Miracles of Healing

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, ‘If you will, you can make me clean.’ Mark 1:40

Life-Changing God,

Thank you for inviting us 

to bring all of our prayer requests before you, 

especially regarding healing. 

Throughout Scripture, we see you reversing the course of nature, 

healing supernaturally, 

as you did when the leper asked you to make him clean. 

Because you healed many people, 

we are invited to pray for healing.

And yet, may we remember, 

we should never treat you as a magician, 

asking you to wave a wand 

and reverse the course of nature. 

When our loved one is suffering and dying, 

eaten up with disease, 

may we pray to accept the reality of death

in your timing and in your way

as an answer to our prayer.

May we continue to lament the horror of death 

until the day Jesus returns to raise us all to new life 

in the new heavens and new earth.  

May we never forget 

your most miraculous healing work—

the raising of the spiritually dead 

to new life and eternal life. 

Lord, give us wisdom when we pray for healing, 

and give us acceptance of your every answer to prayer. 

In Jesus’ healing name. Amen.

Luke 2:29-31; James 1:4-5; Mark 1:40-44.