A Prayer for a friend who is ill.

Of course, it it is always preferable to pray with people in person. However in our modern society many times her friends are far away. Frequently the only communication is e-mail. How can you pray for someone over e-mail? I think you can. I think in these sorts of circumstances is effective and even powerful, God willing, to write out your prayer and send it to them so that they know exactly what you prayed. .

Below is an example of such a prayer that I sent to someone very far away yet very dear to my heart.

Our Heavenly Father,
This morning I lift before you my dear friend, who has been told she will have surgery. I ask that you hear my prayers on behalf of her and that you grant my requests, in the name of Jesus.
Father, I ask that you will relieve her of any pain or suffering she may presently be experiencing.
I also ask that you give her peace of mind, courage and relief from anxiety that certainly must be facing her.
If there is even the tiniest shadow of a doubt in her mind about her total assurance of salvation through your Son Jesus Christ’s death through the cross, please cast all such doubts away and grant her total and complete faith in you, faith that springs forth unto eternal life.
Please give her doctors utmost skill, knowledge, care and consideration for her leading up to the surgery, during the surgery and during recovery.
I pray that your divine guidance will prevent any errors of knowledge or judgment and that your divine hand will prevent any mistakes being made during the procedures and that the procedures will be successful and complete.
I also pray for her whole family. I ask that you give them all faith and comfort to endure this trial with her and that you give them wisdom and patience to help her prepare for and undergo this trial.
Father, I recognize that sometimes your will is beyond our finding out and that sometimes you have other better things in mind for your children which we may not know or even understand. However, I trust your promise that all things will work together for good for those that love God and are called according to your purpose.
I also believe your promise that when we ask for a thorn in the flesh to be removed and it is not removed, that this is so that in our own weakness, we should be made strong, strong by relying only upon you and to the glory of your name.
Heavenly, Father, you promised us also that if we ask anything in the name of Jesus that is according to your will that you will grant us our requests and hold no good thing back from us. Believing that promise, I ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son and my Lord.