6 Common Prayers & Meditations for Those Who Are Sick
CaringBridge Staff | 02.28.22
When you have a family member or friend who is sick, you might feel a bit lost or helpless. You want to do anything you can to help, but don’t know what to do or say to make a difference.
In fact, the act of sitting down and praying or meditating can provide a great comfort, to both you and your loved one. Here are some simple words and prayers that other CaringBridge users have used personally and within prayer chains when a loved one is in need of healing.
Psalm 121
1
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Originally from Jewish Book of Psalms
May You Be Well
May you be well.
May you be cleansed and purified of all that isn’t health.
May every cell in your body wake up and fight.
May the powerful light of healing move into every part of you.
May you return to being purely you.
May you be well.
By Joanna Fuchs, American poet
Every Day and All Day
Lord, your life on Earth was filled with concern for the sick. Have compassion now on all who share your pain. Give them healing of mind and body, restore their strength and spirit. May they be comforted in the knowledge that we are praying for them and have peace by a sense of your presence.
By the Rev. Leonard Foley, editor of St. Anthony Messenger
Mi Shebeirach
May the Source of strength
Who blessed the ones before us,
Help us find the courage
To make our lives a blessing,
And let us say, Amen.
Bless those in need of healing
With r’fuah sh’leimah,
The renewal of body,
The renewal of spirit,
And let us say: Amen.
A Jewish prayer for healing
The Breath of Freedom
Fill those lungs
With strength
With courage
With glorious guidance
Of universal mystery
For it is the power of life
The breath of freedom
For your voice can sing
To change the world
Non-denominational message of healing
The Talqeen (Islamic Prayer for the Dying)
The leader of the Talqeen recites, “Allah, ease upon him his matters, and make light for him whatever comes hereafter, and honor him with your meeting and make that which he has gone to better than that which he has come from.”
Islamic prayer for the dying
Gayatri Mantra
God, my Lord, you are my savior, the destroyer of all distress, the mitigator of all pain and suffering, and the bestower of bliss, peace and tranquility. I surrender myself to you, oh, Lord, who are my father and my mother. Shower your grace on me, your child.
Hindu prayer of healing
What Words Do You Lean On?
What words have you shared or received that have given you a sense of comfort and healing? Feel free to share your prayers, meditations and well wishes in the comments below.
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Give me strength to get through this day and every one who is alone and struggling.
Thank you God
And all who are alone and need love and compassion ship. May those who read this help them from this day forward
It’s 2am and I am finding comfort in these prayers. Multiple illnesses afflict me. The night seems dark. I’m a poet. Writing verse aids me. So do these prayers. Please add me to your list of praying folks.
Lord heal my body and soul and others, in Jesus name I pray Amen,
I have compiled a booklet “Comfort my people” which has ministered to many through the years. It is available online to view at no charge: https://issuu.com/walkingthroughscripture/docs/comfort__comfort-2015-issuu
Printed copies are available at http://www.walkingthroughscripture.com (All proceeds used for printing and distribution.)
Excellent suggestions. Thank you.
Thank you. All your suggested healing words are wonderful resources for us to have as we make the journeys will our ill friends and family members.
When you are sick, you pray whether you believe in God or not. Lying on that gurney awaiting my fate, my surgery for stage IV oral cancer, there was no bargaining, no deals to be brokered or promises to be kept. My prayers were of gratitude for my family, appreciation for the skill of the world renown surgeon at my side and the hope for a tomorrow.
When vising fellow Catholics in the hospital or who are homebound, I recited a morning prayer I adapted from Goffine’s Devout Instructions.
Lord Jesus, we ask you to bless and heal [name] and guide the doctors and nurses to whom you have entrusted his/her care. Help him/her to see your will in this and to unite his/her suffering to your suffering and offer it up for your glory, in gratitude for so many benefits received from you, in atonement for his/her sins and to obtain your holy grace that he/she may overcome his/her sins and acquire the virtues he/she needs, Look upon us Lord Jesus in Your mercy. Amen.
Awesome thanks! Very uplifting
I have survived breast cancer twice and finally had bilateral mastectomies. I have had lung cancer twice and have been in remission for three years. I am now dealing with cardiac issues. Prayer is my best friend and comforter. I pray for others every day and know they also pray for me. Thank you for sending me these six prayers. I find great comfort in their words and will share them with others.
These are all wonderful, thank you so much.
My friend Jan, a Hodgkin’s survivor, sent me this lovely and uplifting prayer when she found out I had breast cancer:
“I arise today
through a mighty strength:
Love’s power to guide me,
Love’s might to uphold me,
Love’s eyes to watch over me,
Love’s ear to hear me,
Love’s word to give me speech,
Love’s hand to guard me,
Love’s way to lie before me,
Love’s shield to shelter me,
Love’s host to secure me.”
(adapted from a prayer by Bridgid of Gael, first millennium)