The Weekly Encourager – February 1, 2012 – How to Help: Prayer

When someone is ill, do you feel powerless and wonder what you can do to help? Several weeks ago I mentioned our brave friends, the Ferratts, who are going through cancer with all its suffering. Some of you may have a friend or family member in this situation now; if not, I'm sure you will at one time or another. Since I live too far away to give any practical help, I rejoice to read in the Ferratts' journal of how the Lord is meeting their needs locally. Their writings contain passages of thankfulness as well as needs. I thought it would be useful to summarize some of what I've culled from them. In many cases, I'll let the nuggets shine on their own.

My plan is to divide this into three Encouragers, with the topics Prayer, Practical Help, and Presence.

HOW TO HELP THOSE WITH CANCER OR OTHER SERIOUS ILLNESS

PRAYER
Come boldly before the throne of grace, confident that Jesus Christ sits on the Father's right hand interceding for all who are His, even when we don't have the words.

Pray for healing. Ask for and get specific medical updates if possible, so that your prayers can be more pertinent. Yet be sensitive to those who prefer not to discuss details.

Pray for wisdom regarding which treatment(s) to pursue.

Pray for patience while waiting between treatments and endurance during the treatments.

Pray for the fruit of the Spirit to be manifest in their lives, so that they may be a witness to unbelievers of the light of Christ.

Pray for humility, including the ability to let others serve them, especially if the sick person was quite self-reliant in the past.

Pray for good family relationships and for the children to understand what's going on.

Pray for the power of Christ to be shown in human weakness

Pray for encouragement of a deeper spiritual walk and a greater vision of things unseen.

Brion wrote,” As the patient it is very easy to focus, hyper-focus even, on my needs to the exclusion of others. How am I going to do this or that? If I do, what could happen? If I don't, who will do it for me? How do I ask another to do this or that without being intrusive, critical, or demanding? I am learning that God has allowed this metastatic paraganglioma in me, if nothing else, to humble me that I might be made willing to ask for assistance. When I need help, I am reminded that I am not as strong as I think. Rather than dismissing the notion of admitting a need in order to appear strong or avoid shame or guilt, I ought to be compelled to embrace that need as an opportunity to establish a relationship and be served by another.”

Another time Brion wrote, “Whenever I have entered the MRI tube, I have profited from considering the words from the Apostle Paul who wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9 of how God responded to him in time of weakness, “And he said, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." The Apostle Paul had been graciously served by God in Christ Jesus to meet his deepest need, that of forgiveness of sin. Paul still had his weakness (a "thorn in the flesh"), yet Paul had the power of Christ resting on him. I believe one outworking (of many) of that "power of Christ" for Paul was the fellowship of a renewed Corinthian church and others who had supported him in prayer and through physical means.

Lord, help us to pray for those who are ill.

God is faithful,