Pastoral Prayer - Heal Our Diseases

Holy and Mighty Lord,
You are our sovereign and good King. You wrote in Your book, every one of them, the days that were formed for us, even before we were born. You turned back the angel of death from the dwellings of Your people. You appointed the times and boundaries of nations and reign over those who rule in them. Your Son was lifted up on the cross, that all who were dying might look to Him and live. You hold the power of life and death, the power to heal all our diseases and redeem our lives from the pit, the power to work good in our broken circumstances and hope in the valley of the shadow of death.

Lord, we come to You in prayer as we face the suffering visited on us by this disease. You are our King and our Father, overflowing in greatness and goodness. Hear these our prayers.

We pray that you would be with our world as we seek to confront this epidemic. Mercifully bless the means, whether medically or in terms of public action, which are used to stay the spread of sickness. Strengthen those who labor in the work of healing, especially doctors and nurses and other hospital personnel. Give wisdom to our leaders, that they might make wise decisions that contribute to the common good.

We pray for those who are affected by COVID-19 and by the many other diseases that harry our mortal bodies. Comfort the afflicted. Support those who are in pain and distress. Bring healing to those who are brought low. For those beyond healing, give the comfort of Your graciously salvation, our heavenly rest, and the resurrection of the dead. 

Father, we pray that You would also provide for all those facing hardships as a result of this disease. For employees who face lost income or even lost jobs. For parents struggling to find childcare. For children stuck in unhappy or impoverished homes. We especially pray for the poor and the least of these, remembering Your special affection for them and the reality that they will be especially hard-hit in such a time of crisis.

Our prayer is that You would move, and also that You would call us to be Your ambassadors and agents in this world. Make our hands the hands of Jesus. Use our talents and resources as He used His. Let our words be full of peace and comfort, our actions embody self-sacrificial love, and our thoughts rest upon the unshakeable hope we have in You.

All of this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the great Physician, the resurrection and the life.
AMEN