Morning prayer · 25 October

Heal the sick

A single tree in a village clearing with many small bandaged branches, each wrapped wound sprouting a fresh green leaf, showing healing spreading through a whole community at once.

Lord, be kind to all our relatives, our friends, the people who live near us and everyone we know, and do them good as each one needs. Give your people everything they lack. Live in the homes that worship you and call on your name. Forgive our enemies and those who hate us. Give us a right and loving attitude to everyone, and to everything that is theirs. Visit those who are suffering and comfort them, and be a help that’s always there. Heal the sick, ease those in pain, help those who are being tempted, set the oppressed free, and give joy to those who are grieving among your people. Amen.

to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:3 (BSB)

Adapted from Matthew Henry, A Method for Prayer (1710), in plain words. The verse is from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Drawing: Mutter.