Tag: Prayers for the Chronically Ill

Compassion

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Suffering a chronic illness affects people in different ways. Depression may come to live with some people. Results of depression’s visit can include bitterness and withdrawal from friends and family. For the Believer in Jesus Christ, it often mellows our heart to make us more compassionate. The chronic illness allows us empathy and often becomes the point of rapport where we can minister to others now walking down the pathway we have recently traversed.

Today’s Bible Verse:

2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 (KJV), “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

What the verse means:

The verses are a reminder of what a wonderful God we have. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy. He is the one who comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. Why does he do this? He does this where we can help other. When family, friends, or coworkers are troubled, needing our support, sympathy, and encouragement, we can pass on to them aid and comfort God has given us.

Praying using the verse:

1. Heavenly Father, we praise you for how wonderful you are.

2. We acknowledge you are the Father of our Lord Jesus.

3. We proclaim you as the one who wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in hardships and trials.

4. Thank you for teaching us how to comfort others by your example to us where we can give sympathy and encouragement.

Photo Source: Pixaby

 

Attitude

Posted in Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler2 Comments

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What do you when the doctor says you have cancer?
What if your spouse is the one with the diagnosis of incurable?
What if the future you had planned has just been erased?
The answer is to keep believing and trusting in God.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Romans 8:31b (KJV), “… If God be for us, who can be against us?”

What the verse means:

“If God is for us, then who is against us?” Who can be our foe or oppressor if God is on our side? The Apostle Paul explains how God is the one who justified us (Romans 8:33 ) and Jesus is the one who died for us (Romans 8:34). We miss out on life if we do not realize the extent of God’s love towards us. Jude tells us to keep ourselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21) because he knew that having this faith equips the saints to be powerful in the kingdom. Let the believer in Christ never forget that God chose you and called you to be his child. He died for you and sits at the right hand of the Father intervening for you. Nothing can sever the believer in Jesus Christ from God’s love. Understanding this will enable you to overcome any obstacle you face. Understanding this will rescue you from the fear that keeps you in chains.

Praying using the verses:

1. Heavenly Father we are going to be thankful to God – in spite of the illness.
2. Thank you, Father in Heaven, for being our Shepherd.
3. We praise You for meeting our needs where we do not want.
4. Even if our dreams and future are frustrated, we stand strong on our feet of faith.
5. Thank you, God Almighty, for our gift of faith and a positive attitude.

Photo Source: Pixaby

“Thy Will Be Done” is Now Available

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What do you do when the future you had planned for yourself, your child, or with your spouse is suddenly erased? A person confronting a chronic illness may feel uncertain about the future. Their hopes and dreams may be placed on hold or have to be altered. They may feel hopeless and helpless. “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” is a resource to help persons connect with the perfect love which casts out all fear, the love of Jesus Christ.

Available today in Print for $7.99

Available for Preorder – Kindle eBook

Delivers 11/1/2017 for $3.99

If you’ve already purchased the print version the Kindle eBook is only $0.99

$0.00 on Kindle Unlimited

Don’t Lose Heart

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Today’s verse helps us to have a confident acceptance of the reality of life. Part of learning to deal with a chronic illness is learning to not lose heart.

Today’s Bible Verse:

2 Corinthians 4: 16 (KJV), “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

What the verse means:

Christianity understands the steady decline of the physical body. Though we are rescued from spiritual death and alive with Christ, our bodies remain in the process of decay. The follower of Christ should recognize that our outer bodies are wasting away. From the moment of birth, we begin to die. It is inescapable unless the Lord Jesus returns first. Therefore, we should be released from infatuation with the physical body. The Christian’s faith is far from a fatalistic acceptance of suffering and awaiting death. Every believer in Jesus Christ has their eyes open to something else. That is the continuous restoration of the inner person. The Christian should be aware of increasing inner, spiritual strength. God does not forsake his children, but he gives us growing supplies of grace. The Holy Spirit works in us as an infinite well of life. This is a constant process of renewal. The Lord does not wind us up like a clock at the time of new birth and then ignore us. No, he gives daily spiritual energy. Let us never forget the physical and the spiritual are part of your life every day.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Heavenly Father, help us to not focus on our decaying or diseased body, but to realize that our inner self is being renewed daily.
  2. Lord, help us look to the things that are not seen, not the which are seen.
  3. God, help us look to the eternal, not the temporal.

Photo Source: Pixaby

Courage

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Facing a chronic illness is a scary daily challenge for both the person with the illness and the family. Through Jesus Christ, we can be strong and courageous.

How can we do this?

We cannot in our by ourselves. Daily the Lord Jesus our God goes with the Christian. We need to remember he goes with us. Today’s Scripture tells us the Lord will not leave or forsake the Believer in Jesus Christ.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV), “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

What the verse means:

Because Christians have God with them they should be of good courage. The courage comes from their confident assurance in God which faith gives. This confident faith in Christ allows us to bravely face each day knowing through him we shall have the ultimate victory.

Praying using the verse:

1. Heavenly Father, please help our family to continue to be strong and courageous in the face this illness.
2. Lord, we ask for Your comfort. Help us to not fear or be in dread of the challenges we are living through. Help us to not grow weary.
3. Thank you for letting us know it is the Lord our God who goes with us and that You will not leave us or forsake us.
4. We pray our family and loved ones would confess faith in Jesus Christ where they too can experience the comfort available to Christians.

Source: Pixaby

Tears

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Part of learning to deal with a chronic illness is learning that it is okay to cry, that the Heavenly Father cares about our tears. Today we look at what God’s word says about crying.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Psalm 56:8-9 (KJV), “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”

What the verse means:

Why would one keep tears in a bottle? The idea behind the keeping of “tears in a bottle” is a remembrance. King David, the writer of these verses, is expressing a deep trust in God. He knows that God will remember his sorrow. He knows God will remember his tears. He also is sure the God will not forget about him. David is confident that God is on his side.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Heavenly Father, thank you for tears. Our tears help us identify and deal with our feelings.
  2. Lord, thank you for letting us know crying is okay.
  3. It is comforting to know that our tears are noticed by God, that he keeps track of our tears.
  4. Pray that we will turn the sorrow concerning our chronic illness over to God.
  5. Pray that we would feel the freedom to cry out to God and let the tears flow when we need to.
  6. Pray that our family would be supportive, loving, and understanding during the times the tears flow. Pray he would just hold her during these times without questioning and comfort her.
  7. Help us to have the confidence of King David, the author of these verses, and say with him – for God is for me.

Photo Source: Pixaby

Praise

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As we care for ourselves or for a loved one with a chronic illness, often we grow tired and weary. As we tire we should focus on our Heavenly Father. The Lord God will strengthen and renew us as we praise him.

Today’s Bible Verse:

Exodus 15:2 (KJV), “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

What the verse means:

We get our strength from the Lord. We should praise God. Why should we praise him? We praise him to the honor of God. We praise him to exalt his name. We celebrate his praise. Praise is the Lord God’s only. The praise isn’t to magnify man but to praise the Lord.

Praying using the verse:

  1. We confess that the Lord is our strength and our song;
  2. The Lord is our salvation.
  3. He is our God.
  4. We praise Him and will exalt Him.

Photo Source: By Yinan Chen (www.goodfreephotos.com (gallery, image)) [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons; File URL; Page URL. Modifications by Jimmie Aaron Kepler.

Troubles are Temporary

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Have you ever felt like your problems were too big to handle? Have you ever felt life is hopeless? Have you felt like you can’t deal another day with your [enter your illness here]? I know I have. We need to remember our troubles are temporary. In Christ, our glory is eternal. Today’s devotional is a reminder why we should never give up.

Today’s Bible Verse:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (KJV), “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

What the verse means:

Today’s Bible passage tells us why we should never give up. We see that while our bodies are dying our spirit is renewed every day. We learn that however big our problems are in Christ they are small. The present troubles of our chronic illness will not last forever. They will actually produce a legacy for us in the glory that outweighs them and will last forever. We shouldn’t look at our present troubles but rather we should turn our eyes upon Jesus. Our Earthly troubles will pass but the things we presently cannot see will last forever.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Heavenly Father, we pray that we do not lose heart as we deal with our chronic illness.
  2. Lord Jesus, we know that while our outer body is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed by you days by day. God, we know this affliction is but for a moment in eternity’s clock and that you have greater things in store for us.
  3. God, we know this affliction is but for a moment in eternity’s clock and that you have greater things in store for us.
  4. Help us to not dwell on our present circumstances but to focus on the future have in Jesus Christ.
  5. Pray, we would continue to have the godly attitude that only comes from you as we face life day by day.

Picture Source: By Smack (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, Page URL; File URL; Modifications by Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Compassion

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Suffering a chronic illness affects people in different ways. Depression may come to reside with some people. Other persons can become bitter. Withdrawal from friends and family can occur with some. For the Believer in Jesus Christ, it often mellows our heart to make us more compassionate. The chronic illness allows us empathy and often becomes the point of rapport where we can minister to others now walking down the pathway we have recently traversed.

Today’s Bible Verse:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (KJV), “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

What the verse means:

The verses are a reminder of what a wonderful God we have. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy. He is the one who comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. Why does he do this? He does this where we can help other. When family, friends, or coworkers are troubled, needing our support, sympathy, and encouragement, we can pass on to them the help and comfort God has given us.

Praying using the verse:

1. Heavenly Father, we praise you for how wonderful you are.
2. We acknowledge you are the Father of our Lord Jesus.
3. We proclaim you as the one who wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in hardships and trials.
4. Thank you for teaching us how to comfort others by your example to us where we can give sympathy and encouragement.

Photo Source: Pixaby with modifications by Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Protection

Posted in Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler1 Comment

As I face the challenges of applying a yucky tasting prescription steroid gel inside my mouth twice a day and using a compounded prescription “magic mouthwash” that has a cocktail of four different prescriptions I find myself growing weary.

Remembering to use the magic mouthwash at the right times is critical. Swishing and spitting after meals, not before meals is essential where I don’t swallow the mixture’s medicine with food or drink. It is not for internal use. The steroid gel is applied to gauze and then placed inside the mouth in the appropriate location for fifteen minutes.

Even under a physician’s care, it was hard for me to place something in my mouth marked external use only. After removing the gauze the mouth feels like I still have the gauze inside of the mouth for about an hour. Plus there is that terrible taste. Add to that I made the mistake of going to a forum on the disease and treatment. It was scary as I read about people claiming to have lost the sense of taste from using the medication. It made me cry out for God’s protection.

Today’s Bible verse:

Psalm 3: 3-4 King James Version (KJV), “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.”

What the verse means:

What the verse is saying in today’s English is that God shields me like a force field. His protection is three hundred and sixty degrees. around me.  In Christ, I am both grounded in the reality of the situation and able to hold our head high. I know I am not alone. With all my strength I shout to the Lord. My cries do not go unanswered. He voice thunders His answer from His holy mountain. 

Praying using the verse:

  1. Heavenly Father, I pray to You and You alone. I confess You are our shield.
  2. Lord Jesus, You are our glory.
  3. Thank you for being the lifter of our head.
  4. We rejoice knowing we can cry to You and You answer our cries.

Photo Source: Francisque Millet [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; Page URL; File URL.