Prayers for Healing: Pray to Heal Sick Family and Friends

Wendy van Eyck

I Love Devotionals
Updated Oct 27, 2023
Prayers for Healing: Pray to Heal Sick Family and Friends

If you or a family member or friend needs healing, here are prayers you can pray for them today.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy" ~ Psalm 103:2-4 

About a year ago, I sat in an office where an oncologist told my husband, after three battles with cancer, that sometimes you just have to have faith. I sat there and thought about how the burden of healing sickness is never on the patient, how it is never even on a doctor, but it is always, always, on God. 

The burden of healing falls on my God, who knows his plans for me even when my hopes collapse around me. The burden of healing lies in my God, whose ways aren’t a faith formula, but a mystery. The burden of healing doesn’t lie in saying just the right words or praying something that sounds beautiful. And I don’t know about you but that frees me up to pray a little more boldly for God to heal.

Download your FREE Healing Prayer Guide HERE. Print these prayers and Scriptures to walk through God's healing.

10 Prayers for Healing

Prayer can be a powerful source of healing and comfort when dealing with physical and emotional pain. Whether you are praying for yourself or someone else, it is essential to remember that healing comes in many forms. Your prayer may be for physical healing of a particular ailment, or it could be for emotional healing from a loss or trauma. It may also be for spiritual healing from a crisis of faith. No matter what healing you pray for, it is important to focus on your faith and trust that God can heal and restore. Ask for God's guidance and strength, and take comfort in knowing you are never alone in your struggles. With prayer, anything is possible.

If you or loved ones are sick and in need of healing, whether physical, spiritual, or emotional healing, here are prayers you can pray for them today: 

A Prayer for Healing Sick Family or Friends

Lord Jesus, thank you that you love [name of the person who needs healing]. I know that you hate what their illness is doing to them/me. I ask, in the name of Jesus, that you would heal this disease, that you would have compassion and bring healing from all sickness.

Your word says in Psalm 107:19-20 that when we call out to you, the Eternal one, you will give the order, heal and rescue us from certain death. In the Bible, I have read of miraculous healing and I believe that you still heal the same way today. I believe that there is no illness you cannot heal after all the bible tells of you raising people from the dead so I ask for your healing in this situation.

I also know from my experience of life on earth that not everyone is healed if that happens here then keep my heart soft towards you, help me to understand your plan, and help me to be excited about heaven.

Lord Jesus, thank you that our hope for healing is in you. If there are doctors or treatments that you would want to use to heal this disease, I pray that you would guide [name of the person who needs healing] to them. I ask for wisdom and discernment about which treatments to pursue.

God, I thank you that [name of the person who needs healing] belongs to you and that you are in control of everything that happens from our first breath to our last sigh. 

Amen.

May this prayer for the sick guide your thoughts and communication with the Lord! Remember that the Holy Spirit intervenes when we do not know what to say. God knows your heart! 

Healing Prayer for the Sick

O Lord Almighty, the Healer of our souls and bodies, You Who put down and raise up, Who chastise and also heal; in Your great mercy, visit our brother (sister) (Name), who is sick. 

Stretch forth Your hand that is full of healing and health, and raise him (her) up from his (her) bed, and cure him (her) of his (her) illness. 

Put away from him (her) the spirit of disease and of every disease, pain and fever to which he (she) is bound; and if he (she) has sins and transgressions, grant to him (her) remission and forgiveness, in that You love mankind; yea, Lord my God, pity Your creation, through the compassions of Your Only-Begotten Son, together with Your All-Holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, with Whom You are blessed, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. ~ Source

Prayer to Heal Sickness

prayer to heal sick family and friends

Prayer for Cure of Disease

O Lord our God, Who by word alone did heal all diseases, Who did cure the kinswoman of Peter, You Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness.

O Lord, you who are able to put aside every malady and infirmity, grant aid to this Your servant (Name) and cure him (her) of every sickness of which he (she) is grieved; lift him (her) up from his (her) bed of pain, and send down upon him (her) Your great mercy, and if it be Your Will, give to him (her) health and complete recovery.

For You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, and to You do we send up Glory: to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and the ages of ages. Amen.

To Heal Pain and Suffering

I ask for your healing over every part of my life – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I ask that you’d make me strong and resilient for the days ahead. I know that you have a great purpose for those who believe in your name.

Help me not allow my days' distractions and struggles to weigh me down to the point of exhaustion. I know that your desire is for me to live this life abundantly and free. And my greatest desire is to reflect your love and light to a world that so desperately needs your hope.

For those I love who are facing cancer or a hard diagnosis, I pray for your covering of healing and grace. I pray for your strength and your great peace to fill their lives, reminding them that you are close. Thank you that nothing is impossible with you. Thank you that you’re fighting for us and you are bigger than anything this world throws our way.

I lean fully on you Lord, for You alone are able. I love you; I need you this day, and always.

In Jesus' Name, Amen. (Debbie McDaniel)

Prayer for Health and Healing

Almighty God,
you are the only source of health and healing.
In you there is calm,
and the only true peace in the universe.

Grant to each one of us your children
an awareness of your presence,
and give us perfect confidence in you.

In all pain and weariness and anxiety
teach us to yield ourselves to your never failing care,
knowing that your love and power surround us,

Trusting in your wisdom and providence
to give us health, strength, and peace
when your time is best;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen. (Source: The Nazarene, Vols. 7-9, 1922)

Prayer for the Sick: Health of Mind and Body

Almighty God,
you know that many great dangers surround us,
and because of our human frailty
we cannot withstand them.

Give us health of mind and body
so that we who suffer under sin
may overcome and win the victory in you;

through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Gregorian Sacramentary

Failures, Successes, Healing

Lord, I commit my failures as well as my successes into your hands, and I bring for your healing the people and the situations, the wrongs and the hurts of the past.

Give me the courage, strength, and generosity to let go and move on, leave the past behind me, and live the present fully.

Lead me always to be positive as I ‘entrust the past to your mercy, the present to your love, and the future to your providence.'

Source: Augustine of Hippo

Prayer of Healing for the Hospitalized

Gracious Father, all health and healing are gifts from your hand. We pray for [Name], give his doctors and nurses the wisdom and skill as they work for his healing*.

While he waits and faces many unknowns, calm all doubts and fears with the Word of your promise that nothing can separate us from your love that is ours in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39).

Speed [Name]’s healing if it is your will, and give him an extra measure of patience as he waits for you to work all these things for his good (Romans 8:28); through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Source: Paul C. Stratman

Prayer for the Sick and Suffering

O Christ our Lord, Physician of salvation, grant all who are sick the aid of heavenly healing.

Look on all faithful people who are sick and who love to call on your name, and take their souls into your keeping, and deliver them from all sickness and infirmity; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Liturgy

The Bible often speaks of miraculous healing through faith in God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Find spiritual and physical healing in these Bible verses filled with God's promises of comfort and strength - Healing Bible Verses.


This article is part of our larger Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray. 

Prayer for God's Help
Prayer for Strength
Prayer for Protection
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers

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