When we pray for healing, we often pray for healing from physical illnesses of all kinds. But maybe we also need to ask for healing from attitudes and habits that can prevent our faith from being healthy and whole. Here is one such prayer I wrote recently. Perhaps you might find yourself reflected in one or more of these petitions…
Prayer for Spiritual Healing
God of healing and wholeness, aware of those attitudes and habits that interfere with my love for you and others, I ask for your healing:
Heal me from taking the gift of existence for granted…
Heal me from taking my own precious gift of life for granted…
Heal me from the tendency at times to reduce my faith to a project, a set of rules to follow, rather than seeing my faith as a life-long loving relationship with you, with others, and with the world…
Heal me from judging others. Keep reminding me that everyone is carrying heavy burdens and waging battles I do not know anything about…
Heal me from the kind of certainty that shuts doors to greater wonder and knowledge…
Heal me from fears that cripple my ability to do the good you are entrusting me to do during my sojourn here on earth…
Heal me from my need to be right or to win every argument, thus missing out on opportunities for greater personal growth…
Heal me from the need to be in control which can hinder new experiences, surprises, and deeper trust and understanding…
Heal me from a tendency to fear or mistrust those whose faith, culture, skin color, language, and dress may be different from my own…
Heal me from measuring my worth by what I am able to buy and consume rather than what I am able to share with others or give away…
Heal me from a compassion that paralyzes me, from excuses that say, “I’m too old (too young) to get involved… I’m no expert… I’m only one person”…
Heal me from the loss of hope. Help me to believe and say with conviction, that, trusting in you and working with you and others, “A better world is possible!”…
Heal me from rushing around so much, I fail to notice or really engage with the individuals you put into my life every day.
Heal me from my lack of trust in your promises: “The Kingdom of Heaven is in your midst… Fear not, little flock… Behold, I am with you always.”
I ask for these things, Loving God, through the healing power of Jesus and the incredible power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
For reflection:
Did any petition catch your attention in particular. Do you know why?
Did any picture intrigue you today? Did it say something to you?
Is there anything else you think we need healing from?
I invite you, if you wish, to add another petition in the comments below.
Here’s a song that voices again our prayer for healing. Sung here by Aaron Jeoffrey, it is called simply, “Heal Me.”
I welcome you to add a comment below to connect with all our readers.
24 Responses
Thanks for this “Spiritual Healing” post on your Blog. Reading the healing statements and the lyrics from the hymn lifted my Spirit. Giddy up & God Bless!
Thanks Melannie – I liked the whole prayer, but especially the compassion one.
Like Jonah – “send someone else” is often my cry – but I usually end up doing whatever it is anyway!!! I sometimes find my role in Leadership very taxing!!
Thanks for sending us thoughts every week.
Take care. Best wishes, Caroline Duggan (Sisters of St Joseph, Adelaide. SA)
Good morning, Sr. Melannie…
Good morning, all…
Thank you for your incisive and timely prayer, as well as the perfect song selection. For various reasons, these days I find my hope waning, and so I needed to read, “Heal me from the loss of hope.” I need to believe — I WANT to believe — “A better world IS possible.” Again, thank you. The timing of your blogs is uncanny! Must be the Holy Spirit! Peace upon you, peace upon all!
The prayer that strikes me is “Heal me from my need to be right or to win every argument, thus missing out on opportunities for greater personal growth…” In these chaotic times, I needed to hear that prayer. Let us pray for more peaceful times in our communities, our country, and the world. Amen
As a self-admitted control freak, the prayer “ Heal me from the need to be in control which can hinder new experiences, surprises, and deeper trust and understanding…” made me realize that there may be much that I am missing.
Thanks for the healing prayers. I love this . I love to journey more deeply with God .
Sister Melanie,
“Heal me from the loss of hope…” is the phrase that resonates with me right now. Sometimes it is just hard to realize that God is still watching over everything in this world and trust that He is our only hope.
Good afternoon Sr. Melannie and all. Thank you for today’s prayer. Many of these petitions spoke to me. The song said it best for me when it asks “wake my soul from this sleep. Give me back the joy of when I first believed.” Guess I will be praying your prayer and listening to this song everyday this week. Thank you!
Good morning. Sister, you are one of God’s earth angels. He speaks to me in butterflies and rainbows and earth angels. Today’s topic is like a splash of cold water waking me up from being consumed by my need for control. Thank you for the prayer and the song. The song did wonders for my spirit. When that happens I always think, “Where does she find these songs?” Some of the songs are a healing that I didn’t even know I needed. May continue to bless you and to bless us with your writing. Have a wonderful week.
I love all your healing prayers, very insightful and on point. I’ve had the same requests at one time or another. Thank you for sharing. I could add one more request “ heal me Lord from the guilt that comes with fatigue and thinking I’m not doing enough and forgetting that you are carrying me. And that’s enough for now.” Thanks for another beautiful video song.
Good morning Melannie,
This is the one that hit home to me.
Heal me from a compassion that paralyzes me, from excuses that say, “I’m too old (too young) to get involved… I’m no expert… I’m only one person”…
Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful prayer. Unfortunately, there are times when we need to all slow down and remember all that we have been blessed with and to remember to share with others. Thank you for a such a meaningful reminder. I hope you and all who read your blog have a wonderful day!
Thank you for this. The entire prayer is beautiful but I especially need help with trust. My daughter(son’s wife) had their first baby today. She is a citizen of Canada and Kenya, and although she applied for US citizenship almost two years ago, she still hasn’t received a green card and is harassed at the border. Hence, they are staying in Canada right now. I trust God is working this through for us all, but some days it is so difficult for me.
Thanks again. This is very helpful.
Jill,
I read your post and as a grandmother it touched my heart. I pray for you and your family and all in these kind of heartbreaking situations. Kay
Dear Melanie,
Thank you for inspiring us once again. The need to be always right and to be in control hit me. Sometimes I feel like I’ve been on retreat when I read your blog. I love it. Hope you had a good vacation. Blessings on your week.
Dear Sister,
Such beautiful thoughts about healing that draw us closer to the heart of Jesus.
Thank you for these prayers and thoughts that help each one of us to be like a
sunflower turning toward the light of compassion. GBY. Sister Ave, O.P.
“Heal me from the kind of certainty that shuts doors to greater wonder and knowledge…”
I mostly related to the judging, being in control and need to be right verses. I guess those are all related to each other in many ways – I’m old enough to recognize these problems but evidently not smart enough to be able conquer them. But, there’s hope and the Holy Spirit so moving forward I’ll contemplate your words for each verse. Thank you
Sr. Melannie,
“Heal me from judging others…” It’s so easy to form snap judgments and to forget that we don’t know what burdens others are carrying. Thank you for the beautiful prayer!
I love the picture of Christ with the lamb. He has such a kind, loving and compassionate look.
Thank you for this beautiful and timely prayer Sister. Several of them resonated with me. I would also add a prayer to be healed from obsessing about past hurts and sins, my own in particular, and those of others against me.
Sr. Melanie,
I just read your blog (Friday) as I was crying and losing hope. Your words and the song gave me comfort.
Thank you and Happy Fourth 😋
Melannie,
On this 4th of July the following was certainly my prayer today:
Heal me from the loss of hope. Help me to believe and say with conviction, that, trusting in you and working with you and others, “A better world is possible!”…
Yes, we can do or part to make it possible in God’s time. Thanks for the beautiful prayers.
Hello Sr Melanie – an earlier post about how sometimes one person feels like having been on retreat after reading your blogs resonated with me. It’s true. Your writings lift me up and offer me hope and am sure it’s similar for others by their posts too.
Take care and keep inspiring us in God’s hope. Thank you!
I pray for those who are grieving and need a large dose of HOPE.
May they trust that God has the Best Plan and is there with them through this very difficult journey.
Peace be with each if us.