Prayer for Spiritual Renewal in Sickness

O my God and Father! I perceive very plainly what Thy holy purpose is. Thou hast decided that this shall be my time of suffering, in which the sun of happiness shall be hidden behind the clouds, my health be gone, and my bodily strength diminished for a season. I thank Thee, my God, that, before Thou visitedst me with this sickness, Thou didst let me know Thy ways, and learn that the way of the cross is the way to heaven, and that Thou doest good to our souls even in sickness.

I perceive clearly, O God, that Thou wouldest turn me away from the world. Thou purposest to make the world distasteful and heaven sweet to me, in order that I may deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world; and that I may examine my own life, and turn to Thee in true repentance. When we are well and know nothing of trouble, we often act as if we were in the world only for the purpose of gaining earthly wealth, or of sharing in the pleasures, sins and merry-makings of the world, and following its ways and customs. But since such a course would end in our soul’s destruction, Thou dost, in Thy faithfulness, occasionally lead us apart, that Thou mayest speak with us alone.

O my God, it seems Thou wouldest now speak with me alone, and warn me to beware of the world’s sins, temptations, wickedness, and evil customs. Thou wouldest persuade me not to be conformed any longer to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may know what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Therefore, my God, I will now do as Thou wouldest have me do. If Thou wilt permit me to become well again, I will be better, pray more earnestly, avoid what is wrong, lay aside my former evil habits, shun the people and places which have been the occasion of my sin, and become a new creature.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. If, therefore, O God, Thou hast seen that I have been lukewarm in my religion and remiss in my prayers, but willing to sin and ready to enjoy the lusts of the world, Thou wouldest, through the sickness, arouse me to the thought of my salvation, and persuade me to arise from the sleep of sin. Thou sayest to me, “Awake, thou that sleepest, and I will purify thee from thy former uncleanness.” Thou desirest to remind me of death and of the end of my earthly life, in order that, if I recover, I may have learned to know and praise Thy almighty power, love and goodness in a manner in which I could not have known and praised them, if Thou hadst not visited me with this sickness.

O Lord, do Thou perform the work which Thou hast begun in me, to Thy glory and my soul’s salvation. Through this bitter medicine, restore health to my soul. Through these sharp incisions and pains, heal the wounds of sin. With this caustic, wash off my vices. And grant that, in true repentance and living faith, I may humble myself before Thee, and seek and find help, counsel, comfort, and forgiveness in the wounds of Jesus. Amen.