For a Person Suffering from a Serious Illness

ETERNAL Father, strong to save! stretch forth Thy hand, and graciously heal Thy sick servant whom we remember before Thee. Our help is in Thee. Are we not Thy children, and art Thou not our Father? We bear our brother in the arms of faith into Thy presence, and we ask Thee to lift from off him the burden of disease and restore him to his family and his friends, in the fulness of health and strength. To this end we pray that Thou wouldest accompany with Thy favour the various agencies that are being used for his recovery. Give insight and skill to the physicians; tenderness and wisdom to the nurses; trust and confidence and good courage to those who watch and wait in sore anxiety. Fill the sick room with the brightness of Thy presence. O Thou true Physician, who hatest disease and pain and sickness, bring to Thy suffering servant, peace and rest and the healing gift of sleep. "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." Above all bestow upon him those spiritual blessings which are better than life. Let this present affliction detach and purify his heart and make it meet for Thy dwelling place. Give him patience that he may bear pain and weakness bravely; that he may abandon himself wholly to Thee and lie unreservedly in Thy hands. Grant him repentance and pardon for all the sins of the past, and fill his soul with visions of a holier future. Answer these prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy only Son, our Lord. Amen.