Prayer for the Sick
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love is so great and so unfailing, the sick should be encouraged to trust
in Him and be cheerful. To be anxious about themselves tends to cause
weakness and disease. If they will rise above depression and gloom,
their prospect of recovery will be better; for “the eye of the Lord is
upon them” “that hope in His mercy.” [
Psalm 33:18
.]
Submission to God’s Will
In praying for the sick, it should be remembered that “we know
not what we should pray for as we ought.” [
Romans 8:26
.] We do not
know whether the blessing we desire will be best or not. Therefore
our prayers should include this thought: “Lord, Thou knowest every
secret of the soul. Thou art acquainted with these persons. Jesus, their
Advocate, gave His life for them. His love for them is greater than
ours can possibly be. If, therefore, it is for Thy glory and the good
of the afflicted ones, we ask, in the name of Jesus, that they may be
restored to health. If it be not Thy will that they may be restored, we
ask that Thy grace may comfort and Thy presence sustain them in their
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sufferings.”
God knows the end from the beginning. He is acquainted with the
hearts of all men. He reads every secret of the soul. He knows whether
those for whom prayer is offered would or would not be able to endure
the trials that would come upon them should they live. He knows
whether their lives would be a blessing or a curse to themselves and
to the world. This is one reason why, while presenting our petitions
with earnestness, we should say, “Nevertheless not my will, but Thine,
be done.” [
Luke 22:42
.] Jesus added these words of submission to
the wisdom and will of God when in the garden of Gethsemane He
pleaded, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.”
[
Matthew 26:39
.] And if they were appropriate for Him, the Son of
God, how much more are they becoming on the lips of finite, erring
mortals!
The consistent course is to commit our desires to our all-wise
heavenly Father, and then, in perfect confidence, trust all to Him. We
know that God hears us if we ask according to His will. But to press
our petitions without a submissive spirit is not right; our prayers must
take the form, not of command, but of intercession.