From my book, Lean Into Lent, let’s talk about intercessory prayer:
LEAN INTO LENT DAY 17
(Jeremiah 17:14) Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.
Biblical leaders in scripture or prophets were not immune to disease or to trials. They teach us that we, in our situations, are part of the mortality that affects us all since the Fall of Adam and Eve. They taught us to call upon the name of the Lord in times of difficulty. Not only were physical sufferings recounted, but in times of seeking answers to puzzling questions, in times of testing, Biblical characters asked You to bless them. Can we do less?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I call upon Your Name as I bring before You those who are suffering from injury, ill health, disease, or difficulties I find helpless to heal. I am called to pray for those I love, for our nation, for our leaders, for those who, for some reason are on my mind through Your promptings to pray for them. Help me to keep my prayer journals up to date, rejoicing when my prayers are answered. Prompt me to visit them often, and to pray believing that You will intervene and bless those who need You in a special way. Thank You for the joy of answered prayer. Thank you that we can be prayer warriors, even on our electronic devices. We can pray over the phone with shut-ins. We can text messages of hope and encouragement. It is good to to be intercessors for others. Amen.
From my book, Restore My Soul Psalms: A Lenten Journey: My Psalm 321 Recovery
MY PSALM 321. RECOVERY (especially for Mary and Cathy and Becky and Julie today, 2026)
Almighty Father, Creator of All Things, Sustainer, Provider,
We praise Your Mighty, Eternal Name
When we see evidence of Your Power.
You ask Your people to pray, to pray ceaselessly,
And we are overjoyed to recognize
Your answers to prayer.
When we think of the desperate place we would be in
Without knowledge of Your grace and mercy,
We cry out in fear, unable to cope with life’s tragedies.
Yet, You seek, for Your Glory, to continue to bless us
With mercies we just simply can’t fathom.
It is with joy we see delicate infants in the womb,
Undergo surgeries and go on to live productive lives.
It is with amazement
We see bodies broken and torn in war
Brought back to us, adjusting as they must to new normal,
But able to praise Your Name with humility and honor.
And today, we rejoice that one dear to us
Is recovering from a horrendous accident
Because You will it so.
Thank You, Lord, that you calm the storms of life.
Thank You that you deter storms away from us.
Thank You for erecting strong walls of protection
Around us, winning battles we never knew existed.
Thank You for things we may never know about—
Godincidences which saved us from harm and danger
To Your honor and glory.
Forgive us when we take everyday occurrences as routine.
Forgive us when we fail to notice the nodding flower
A truly remarkable piece of creation we ignore.
We should know You provided it for us, a piece of beauty
In an otherwise chaotic rat-race day.
Forgive us for taking our health for granted
When it is You who provide each heartbeat and breath.
Forgive us for failing to hug the loved one
Who may not live to see another day.
Teach us to so number our days that we may gain wisdom,
As Your Psalmist proclaims.
Teach us to pray ceaselessly,
For we know our fervent prayers are heard
And Your miracles surround us every day.
We bow in reverence and thanksgiving. Amen.
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