Prayer For Family Of Someone Dying
Dear Jesus,
How remarkable it is to have a savior who weeps with me.
Back when I was in elementary school, I loved John 11:35 for its brevity. Jesus wept. My friends and I would giggle, pleased that we had discovered the second-shortest verse in the Bible. (The shortest verse, as we gleefully reminded each other, was
Job 3:2, He said.) I didn't pay much attention to the context of John 11: the story of how You were en route to the tomb of Your friend Lazarus, in the company of Lazarus' sisters Mary and Martha, mere days after Lazarus'
death. I didn't dwell long on the significance of Your tears.
How different that verse looks to me today. Today, as I see the casket topped with flowers that blur at the edges because my eyes go damp every time I look in their direction.
Today, as pastors and friends and family members speak about my loved one using the past tense instead of the present. Today, as the words of the hymns catch in my throat and render me mute. Today, as the hope I still hold to be true collides with the waves of sorrow suffocating me.
Today, Jesus wept means everything to me.
Today, I remember that You wept because someone dear to You and dear to people You loved had died. Even though You already knew the end of the storyeven though You knew that death wouldn't have the final wordstill You wept. You didn't stand aloof, offering textbook reassurances and condescending pats on the head. You heard the stories, clutched the shaking hands, walked to the tomb, and shed tears of your own. You grieved the loss, and You grieved with those who felt that same stinging loss.
Today, Jesus, I am thankful to worship a God who became human enough to weep with me.
Dear God,
You are God, and I'm not. You sent Jesus to be my Savior, so I must need to be saved. I need you to forgive the things I've done wrong in life. I need you to give me a fresh start in life. I need you to help me know my purpose. I want to begin a relationship with you. I ask you to come into my life. I want to learn to trust you. I want to learn to love you. I want to learn to love other people the way you want me to. So I ask you today with humility and honesty and sincerity to please save me as I put my trust in you.
I pray this prayer in Jesus' Name. Amen
God,
Help [Insert Name] discover your peace.
Let them receive your comfort.
Help them to be at rest knowing that you care for them,
and that you love them.
Calm their soul as they move into the afterlife.
May they spend eternity with you;
may they live forever in your presence.
Amen.
God, thank you for being with us right now. We confess that we don't understand why things happen the way they do. We don't understand why illness comes into our lives, but we do know that you walk every path of life with us. Remind Joe that you are walking with him right now. Remind Joe that you love him, no matter what he is going through. I also pray for Joe's family. Give them your strength as they care for Joe. God, we thank you that you never leave us, that you never forsake us, but you love us. We trust you, and pray this in your name. Amen.
Lord, you are the God who sustains us during our trying times. Today I ask that you hold [Dying person's name] family in your mighty arms and be their source of comfort. They face the reality of losing their loved one and it causes them much anguish.
You are the one who comforts us when we mourn and have promised to do so in Matthew 5:4. Bless this family with your comforting words and everlasting love. Help them to release their loved one to come and dwell with you forever. Let them know that he/she will be in a better place and will receive total healing from you.
Surround them with family and friends who will be there for them during their trying moments. Give them encouraging words to carry them through each day. Help them focus on the good memories they have of their loved one and cherish those moments.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Dear God,
You are God, and I'm not. You sent Jesus to be my Savior, so I must need to be saved. I need you to forgive the things I've done wrong in life. I need you to give me a fresh start in life. I need you to help me know my purpose. I want to begin a relationship with you. I ask you to come into my life. I want to learn to trust you. I want to learn to love you. I want to learn to love other people the way you want me to. So I ask you today with humility and honesty and sincerity to please save me as I put my trust in you.
I pray this prayer in Jesus' Name. Amen
Lord Jesus,
Come into my life.
I believe you died and rose from the grave.
I believe you live eternally in heaven.
Cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
Forgive me of all my sins.
Move into my heart.
I make you my Lord and Savior.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
I accept your gift of eternal salvation.
Amen.
God,
Bring this family peace.
Provide them with your comfort.
Let them know you tenderly care for each and every one of them.
Lead them to be reunited with their loved one some day.
Sit with them in their mourning.
Let your presence provide rest.
Thank you, for the gift of life that [Insert Name of Dying] brought to the world.
May he rest peacefully with you for eternity.
Amen.