Prayers For The Chronically Ill: 60 Prayers: The Bible Speaks to Life Issues, #1

By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Life can be unpredictable, and we never know what the future holds. When a chronic illness strikes, it can feel like everything we had planned for ourselves and our loved ones is suddenly erased. It can leave us feeling lost, scared, and alone.

 

In Prayers for the Chronically Ill, you will find a source of comfort and hope. This resource is designed to help you connect with the perfect love that casts out all fear - the love of Jesus Christ. Through powerful prayers, you will be reminded of God's love and faithfulness, and find the strength to face the challenges ahead.

 

Whether you are struggling with an illness yourself or caring for a loved one, these prayers will provide the comfort and support you need. They offer a way to turn to God in times of trouble and to find peace in the midst of pain.

 

If you or someone you love is confronting a chronic illness, let Prayers for the Chronically Ill be your guide. It is a reminder that no matter what happens, God's love is always with us, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Poetry and Prayer Press
• Release date: May 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223114437

Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Jimmie Aaron Kepler is a full-time nonfiction writer, novelist, poet, magazine and trade journal article writer, and award-winning short story writer.  He was born in San Antonio, Texas, to a career military father and stay at home mother. He lived in six states and attended eight different schools before graduating high school. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History degree with minors in English and Military Science, Master of Arts and Master of Religious Education degrees, as well as the Doctor of Education degree. Before writing full-time, he has worked as a US Army officer, religious educator, Christian school principal, corporate trainer, and IT software application engineer. A widower, he lives in North Texas with his wife and cat. You can read more about and by Jimmie on his blogs: jimmiekepler.com and survivalblogforwidowers.com.

Book preview

DAY 1

ACCEPTING GOD'S LOVE

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness accepts God’s love.

What do you do when the lab results or physician’s diagnosis erase the future you or your loved one had planned?

As you or your loved one confronts a chronic illness, you may feel uncertain about tomorrow. Your hopes and dreams at best are placed on hold.

At worst, you face an alternative future to the one you had charted. Feelings of hopelessness, despair, and helplessness may engulf you.

When you are uncertain about the future, you need a perfect love which casts out all fear. You need the love of Jesus Christ.

If you are a caregiver, you may ask, What is a chronic illness or disease?

A chronic disease is one lasting three months or more, by the definition of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Vaccines or medications don’t cure chronic illnesses, nor do the diseases just disappear. Examples of chronic illnesses are:

Alzheimer's disease

Arthritis

Asthma

Cancer

COPD

Crohn disease

Cystic fibrosis

Diabetes

Dementia

Epilepsy

Glaucoma

Heart Disease

HIV/AIDS

Multiple sclerosis

Oral lichen planus

Parkinson's disease

Sickle cell disease

Today's Bible Verse:

1 John 4:18 King James Version of the Holy Bible (KJV), There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

What the Verse Means:

John says that perfect love produces courage in the day of judgment. It casts out fear.

How does the perfect love of Jesus Christ accomplish casting out fear? Perfect love casts out fear because it produces a likeness to Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Judge.

There is another way in which love produces boldness. It does this by its casting out fear. The entrance of perfect love through Jesus Christ is for fear a cease and desist letter. It is an order to quit.

When love arrives, it brings hand in hand with itself courage. Boldness is the companion of love, only when love is perfect. Just professing Christians can experience this perfect love of God, a love that casts out fear.

As Believer's in Jesus Christ, we can face the future, including a chronic illness, and even death with the peace that only comes from Christ's perfect love.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to getting God’s peace. Appendix A explains how to become a Christian. You can accept Jesus Christ today.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

Lord Jesus, thank You that there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.

Heavenly Father, help me keep my mind focused on You and Your love for me.

Remove any fears I may have as I look to the future.

Provide Your grace to meet the challenges I encounter daily. I cannot travel this journey alone but can with You.

Help me know with no doubt that as a Believer in Jesus Christ, my ultimate future is in Heaven.

DAY 2

IT’S OKAY TO CRY

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness realizes it is okay to cry.

Daily living with a chronic illness or caring for a loved one with a persistent disease will bring tears.

The Heavenly Father cares about our tears. Today’s Bible verse tells what God's word says about crying.

Today's Bible Verses:

Psalm 56:8-9 (KJV), Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

What the Verses Mean:

Why would God keep tears in a bottle? The idea behind the keeping of tears in a bottle is a remembrance. King David, the writer of these verses, is expressing a deep trust in God. He knows God remembers his sorrow. He knows God remembers his tears. King David also is sure the God will never forget about him. David is confident that God is on his side.

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

Heavenly Father, thank You for crying and the resulting tears. Teach me to understand and accept that my tears help me identify and help me deal with my feelings.

Lord Jesus, thank You for letting me know crying is okay.

Almighty God, it is comforting to know that You notice and keep track of my tears.

I turn the sorrow concerning the chronic illness over to Yahweh-Rapha (God that heals).

I pray that my family and I would feel the freedom to cry out to God and let the tears flow when we need emotional release.

I pray that my family and friends would be supportive, loving, and understanding during the times the tears flow.

I pray I would just hold on to God during these times without questioning and accept God’s comfort.

Help me have the confidence of King David, the author of these verses, and say with him - for God is for me.

DAY 3

WORRY

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness is managing worry.

Within the last four years, they diagnosed my wife with neuroendocrine carcinoid and Melanoma cancers. We were told if the Melanoma cancer doesn’t kill her, the neuroendocrine carcinoid will.

While I won't get into her sickness or her chronic illness’s medical details, I will share