Ellyn Sanna - Prayers for Difficult Times: Cancer (Pink)

2017 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Print ISBN 978-1-68322-318-4

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Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
R OMANS 8:26 NLT

W hen the threat of cancer falls over our own lives, we feel sick with fearbut we can also begin to rely on Gods presence in new ways. We realize that constant prayer is the only way to gain the strength we need. Prayer wont bring instant physical healing, but it seasons our hearts, making them able to bear things we never thought we could. We learn to surrender everything to God. Like Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, we pray that we and our loved ones be spared this terrible thingbut like Jesus, we also learn to pray, Not my will, Father, but Yours.

In moments of crisis, its hard to know how to pray. These prayer starters are intended to be launchpads for your hearts cries. Many of them come from the Word, claiming Gods promises of healing and victory. Use them to get your prayers startedand then keep going. And dont hesitate to simply pray with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. God will understand.

Jesus spoke to them at once. Dont be afraid, he said. Take courage! I am here!
M ARK 6:50 NLT

C aught in heavy winds at sea, the disciples look out in the darkness and see the shape of a man coming toward them. Theyre not sure whats going on, but they sense that somethings wrongand theyre terrified. But then they hear a familiar voice calling to them. At the very moment when theyre most afraid, they find themselves in the presence of the Lord. Then Jesus climbs into the boat with them, and the winds die down.

Facing the threat of cancer is a little like what the disciples experienced. Were not sure whats coming toward usand were terrified. But Jesus calls to us, saying, Dont be scared. Im here. He climbs into the situation with usand the winds die down. No matter what comes next, He will be with us.

Im not sure whats wrong, God. Im not even sure if anything is wrong. Maybe it will all prove to be a false alarm. But whatever happens, dont leave me. Stay close by. I cant do this without You.

Jesus, You know how scared I feel about this situation. I want to be like Peter, thoughbrave enough to even walk on water if thats what You ask of me. Ive never been in a situation quite like this before, and everything inside me is saying its not right. But You can empower me to do things I never thought I could. Help me keep my eyes fixed on You so I wont sink and be overwhelmed.

You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life. In the morning you will say, If only it were evening! and in the evening, If only it were morning!because of the terror that will fill your hearts.
D EUTERONOMY 28:6667 NIV

W hen we face the threat of cancer, our minds toss back and forth between hope and dread. We feel sick from the suspenseand theres no relief from these feelings. No one can say anything to take them away, and no matter what were doing, theyre always there, lurking at the back of our minds. When fear is constant, then constant prayer is the only way to cope. If you can worry, Rick Warren wrote, you can meditate, for worry is negative meditation.

Each time you feel that nagging, sick sense of dread, let it be a reminder to turn your attention to God in prayer. Let your fear be the voice of God calling to you.

My thoughts can find nowhere to rest, Lord. When Im working, I wish I were free to do nothing but worry. Then when Im not working, I long for something to distract me. I want to be with peopleand then I just want to be alone. The sense of suspense, the anxiety that my worst fears will become reality, feels like something inside me, gnawing on my insides.
O God, please help me!

Is that You, God? Are You here with me? Come closer, I beg You. Let me feel Your hand. Wrap me up in Your love. Take this terrible fear from me, I pray.

I cant seem to make the fear go awayso Ill give it to You. Please take it into Your hands. Thank You, heavenly Father, that You can use even fear to Your glory.

Wait for the L ORD ; be strong and take heart and wait for the L ORD .
P SALM 27:14 NIV

O nce all the tests have been done, theres nothing left to do until we get the results. Will it be good newsor bad? All we can do is wait. We wish we could do somethingbut theres nothing we can do to change the results. We feel completely helpless.