Prayer for the Afflicted and Those Who Are Suffering [My brother in Christ, Perry Copus]

My friend and fellow pastor, Perry Copus, will have surgery to remove cancer on Thursday, April 24. Please pray with me:

Omnipotent, eternal, and merciful God, You are the Savior of all, especially those who believe (1 Timothy 4:10). You have commanded through the apostle that prayers be offered for everyone (1 Timothy 2:1). On behalf of all who are suffering under affliction and hardship [namely, Perry], I beg you to uphold them with the consolation of your grace and to support them with the help of your might. Clothe with heavenly power and strength those who sweat in the most grievous agony of satanic temptation. Make them partakers of your victory, O Christ, powerful victor over the devil. May the refreshment of Your heavenly grace encourage those whose bones are dried up by the fire of sorrow. Uphold all those who fall and raise up all who are bowed down (Psalm 145:14). Be gracious in allowing illness so physical sickness may be a spiritual medicine. May those who are ill recognize that sickness is an attendant of sin and a forerunner of death. Give them strength o faith and patience, O true Physician of souls and bodies. Restore them to their former health, provided that it advantageous to their eternal salvation…

Help those who are suffering dangers and misfortunes so they may possess their souls by true patience (Luke 21:19) and, denying their own will, take up their cross (Matthew 16:24). As they take up their cross, may they follow him in whom they believe and who died on the cross. Kindest Father, I specifically entrust to your care those who are poised at the gates of death, those who hover between time and eternity and who wrestle with all their might with this last foe. Make them firm, O powerful Victor over death. Free them, O glorious Ruler of life, so they are not drowned by the waves of temptation but are brought to the port of eternal tranquility. Have mercy on all, You who are the Creator of all. Have mercy on all, You who are the Redeemer of all. To you be praise and glory for all eternity. AMEN.

Meditations on Divine Mercy. Johann Gerhard. Trans. Matthew Harrison. CPH:2003.